Like a Language

Chapter Eight: Declaration of Intent | Part 2

Through her thoughts, Thirtyx caught glimpses of Rhea’s stylus dodging around protruding branches to form a complex purple sigil. “Almost… there! Alright, Benn. I’ve got control. Do your thing.”

“I’ll never understand magic,” Seerla muttered. “Rhea and Benn can’t have possibly trained for this exact scenario, and yet, they know how to weave together bits of disconnected knowledge to do exactly what they want.”

Thirtyx chuckled. “I’ve come to think of magic sort of like a language, with sentences building on words that build on letters. Of course, Benn—admirer of magic theory that he is—would probably put me in a headlock if he knew I was simplifying it like that.”

A hazy purple sigil appeared on the hedge, growing steadily brighter like it was burning its way through the foliage. At long last, the strokes broadened until they melted into each other, forming something that resembled an arched door.

Benn stepped through, followed by Rhea. “Incredible,” Seerla breathed.

“Yeah… you think I’d be used to it by now, but it never gets old.”

Once the doorway faded, Thirtyx found himself temporarily blinded while his eyes readjusted. This clearly wasn’t a problem for Rhea, who threw herself at him, arms squeezing so tightly his back popped in multiple places. “Twins, we were worried about you. It’s so good to see you.”

“I held my own,” Thirtyx groaned. “But it would be a shame to survive your absence just so you could strangle me.”

Rhea swatted him with the back of her hand as she relented. Benn clapped him on the shoulder. “Seriously, though. We felt awful that we couldn’t write to you. Grimm was worried the letters would get intercepted—especially by the faculty.”

“Good call,” Seerla said darkly. “All the professors tried to badger details out of him that first day. It was impressive how he stood his ground. I don’t think I could have done it.”

“Yeah, well, I’ve had lots of practice. Now can we get going?” Between Benn and Rhea glowering about the professors’ exploitation attempts and Seerla showering him with compliments, he felt the wild urge to burrow into the forest floor. “Seerla, what’s our best option?”

She frowned in thought. “We have to avoid the lake at all costs. A lot of selkies came to the benefit, then they probably went to bask, so the east side of campus is out. Sneaking in through the academic building would be the easiest option, but I know of at least three study groups meeting tonight. Isn’t the one for the Magic Comp happening now?”

“Agh, yes,” Benn grumbled. “I don’t even want to think about how behind we are on that.”

Seerla tapped her chin. “Do you know if they’re doing classwork or practical training tonight?”

“Classwork,” Rhea and Benn answered the same deflated tone. Thirtyx fought to suppress his grin at their comical synchronicity.

“Okay, that makes it easier.” Seerla began to pace. “It means we could take the long way through the forest to the rec field, cut across that to the dorm, and sneak around to the side door the Selkies use. You can trick the door, right? I think I’ve even seen Kove trick the door, and he’s in remedial magic classes.”

When she shuffled to a stop, she found all three of them gaping at her. “What?” she demanded. “It isn’t that hard to figure out.”

Benn breathed a weary sigh. “It is, actually. But after the week we’ve had, my brain feels like it’s been minced, boiled, and blended into a stew, so I don’t have the energy to argue. Thanks, Seerla. You’re being a big help.”

“Boiled in a stew, huh?” Rhea mused as they set off toward the trail. “I’d say mine is more like it’s been stuck under a heat lamp after being drowned in hot oil until it’s dry and crunchy.”

Seerla let out a prolonged groan. “I skipped dinner to help set up for the auction. Do your brains have to be food? I’m starving.”

“I think I have a spare sandwich in my bag,” Rhea said. “Palace food and all! If you get us back undetected, it’s yours.”

Seerla wrinkled her nose. “I appreciate the gesture, but I don’t see an ice box, so I’m not sure I want a two-and-a-half-day-old sandwich. Thanks, though.”

Thirtyx sorely wished Seerla could be as satiated as he was by the knowledge that the sandwiches were a couple bars old, at most. He mulled over the taste and wagered that she’d quite like it if she were a Verith. “Right,” Benn said hollowly, suppressing a grin. “Yeah, we should probably throw those out, huh?”

When Seerla wasn’t looking, Rhea gave him an incredibly exaggerated eye roll. Thirtyx had to bite his lip to keep from laughing.