Page 84 of An Arcane Education
“Temperamental, that one,” Professor Showen mutters, closing the door behind us. “Anyway, what can I help you with?” she asks brightly.
She settles into the chair behind her desk, and I sink into the one across from her. For a moment, I simply breathe in the warm, spiced scent of her office and take comfort in the cozy, cluttered space. A moment of peace before the severity of the conversation.
“I was hoping I could talk to you about something related to my father.”
Her expression softens as she threads her fingers together and leans forward, giving me her full attention. “Of course.”
“So, I found a letter from him…” I start. “It wasn’t very long, but he mentioned two people in it named Charles and Melinda. Do you have any clue who he might be referencing?”
She chews on the end of a pencil as she considers the question. “I don’t think so,” she finally says with a shake of her head. “Was there any more context? Last names?”
“No.” For some reason, I don’t mention that he told me not to trust them. If she doesn’t know who they are anyway, it’s a moot point. “I figured it was a long shotanyway, but I thought that if anyone might know, it’d be you or Dr. Lowry, and I don’t want to speak with him.”
“I understand. Is he still giving you trouble?”
“Not as much anymore,” I answer. He has ignored me for the last few class sessions, which is a step up from before, though still not ideal.
“Good. Are you doing okay otherwise?” she asks with a sympathetic smile.
“Yeah,” I lie. “Just busy as always.”
“Well, please let me know if there’s anything I can do to help you. I’ll admit that I don’t often get this close with students, but I’d love to have you over for tea again. I appreciate your company, and you remind me so much of your father. Ava has been asking about you, too.”
I smile. “I would love that. And I hope Ava is doing well.”
“As well as she can be.”
I thank Professor Showen for her time and head out, deciding to go to the library and lose myself in homework until my next class since I know a nap will be impossible despite how exhausted I am. In any case, the weight on my chest has lightened marginally after my conversation with Professor Showen. She’s become almost a motherly figure to me over the last few months, providing gentle guidance and warm affection.
I’m so lost in my own thoughts as I walk into the library that I almost don’t notice Alaric.
He’s sitting at one of the small tables in the front corner directly beside the younger Dr. Aldrich. The exhaustion he’s been exhibiting for the last couple weeks seems to have disappeared aside from the dark circlesbeneath his eyes. He’s smiling, both of them leaning in toward each other as they sit side-by-side. When he reaches up to tuck a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear, she subtly bites her lower lip and laughs at something he says.
Jealousy and anger flare in my chest. The gesture, while fairly innocuous in the grand scheme of things, is my final straw, just another reminder of his constant lies and manipulation. Two days ago, he was insistent he’d use the next forty-eight hours to deal with the tragedy at hand. But now, instead of finalizing his research that he’ll be required to report or, you know, reporting a dead student, he’s flirting with the pretty blonde professor with no evidence of guilt or worry.
My vision blurs with hot, angry tears as I turn around and head back in the same direction I came. I’m done with his games. Maybe my candle spell on Monday worked after all, and this was the truth I was meant to see. I’m just another pawn in this fucked up game that he’s playing, and I refuse to be a part of it any longer. I’m done with relying on him to handle things, to tell me the truth without constant hedging and pushback. I’m taking matters into my own hands now.
I barely even feel the frigid wind on my face as I tramp right back to the castle and up the stairs to the Chancellor’s office. Her secretary glances up at me when I enter. “Can I help you?”
“I need to speak with Chancellor Aldrich. It's urgent.”
“Do you have an appointment?”
“No, but this can't wait. It’s about student safety.” I use the words intentionally, knowing they can’t reasonablyturn down my request if I relay it as a safety matter, which it is.
“Give me one second.” The woman stands and pokes her head into the door behind her, speaking quietly enough that I can’t hear what she’s saying. But when she comes back out to her desk, she says, “Go ahead. She has fifteen minutes until her next meeting.”
My pulse pounds in my ears as I enter the large, imposing office and sit across from the intimidating woman, who’s eyeing me with curiosity. I nervously rub at the rope bracelet that I’ve barely removed since Professor Showen gave it to me, reminding myself why I need to have courage.
“Miss Harver. This is unexpected. My secretary says this is urgent?”
I nod, clenching my hands together in an effort to get them to stop shaking. “I have two things. First, I wanted to ask you about something my father had written in a note I found from him. He mentioned people named Charles and Melinda. Do you know who they might be?”
Her expression stays neutral when she answers with the same sentiment as everyone else has. “I’m afraid those are incredibly common names. I’ve known multiple people by those names over the years. Without additional context, I’m afraid I can’t help you.”
I’m not surprised by her response, but the disappointment aches all the same. It was worth a shot.
“Okay. That’s not the urgent matter. I just wanted to ask before we got into the real issue.”
