Inspired

Chapter Eight: Declaration of Intent | Part 6

Professor C sighed. “To declare your intent to Comp this late in the term, you need—”

“The headmistress’ permission?” He withdrew the signed form from his jacket. She opened it with a dumbfounded look and stared at the signature for an uncomfortable amount of time.

“I watched her read and sign it myself,” he attested. “It’s not a forgery. It would be pointless to try that, anyway. All you’d have to do is ask her about it, and then I’d get in far more trouble.”

The distant sound of bells chiming 12th bar seemed to bring Professor C back to her senses. She moved her eyes with an intense deliberateness from the paper to Thirtyx. “The four weeks of extra work you missed—I expect you to catch it up.”

His heart leapt. “Yes, ma’am.”

“We have study groups on Corspane nights to discuss readings and review additional essay assignments.”

“I’m aware, Professor. I’ll be there.”

“If I get any indication you’re not giving this your all, I’ll have a chat with the headmistress. Do you understand?”

“I do, ma’am. Thank you.”

“Take a seat on the left side of the class.”

Thirtyx hurried away before she could change her mind. He felt the multitude of eyes on him, but he kept his own eyes low, raising them only long enough to acknowledge Rhea.

And her look of betrayal.

Thirtyx took the blessedly free seat next to Seerla.

Professor C began the lecture, but Thirtyx was too wired to pay it the attention it deserved. He anxiously awaited the itch in his head and the subsequent ramblings from Rhea and Benn, but it never came. From the furtive glances Thirtyx stole at Rhea, he surmised that they were, instead, discussing it without him.

Great.

Seerla, on the other hand, slipped him a note less than five minutes in. Is this real? Are you actually Comping for law?

He found himself smirking as he wrote back. Yeah. Someone inspired me with their story last night. I’ll have to tell you about it later.

Seerla’s mingled amusement and awe as she read made Thirtyx’s insides bubble with joy.

When class ended, he braced himself for Rhea’s ire. He considered dawdling again, but at this point, not knowing how she felt about the decision was worse than knowing. He made his way to the door where Rhea waited just outside.

“What in the wide, ever-sprawling universe just happened?”

She didn’t sound angry, at least. He chanced a grin. “Maybe you guys looked like you were having so much fun studying for Comps that I just had to join in.”

“Uh huh. Nice try, Venmagalion.”

“Venmagalion?” Thirtyx put his hand over his heart in mock offense. “I’ve been demoted to a last-name basis?”

“I think I have to! A real friend would have told me he had a crush on Seerla before deciding to take a whole Competency exam for her!”

Thirtyx halted. Rhea glided smoothly in front of him and crossed her arms as if awaiting an answer.

“Okay, first of all, I don’t have a crush on Seerla.”

Rhea raised an eyebrow. It was a familiar look—the one she gave him while dissecting his words in search of a lie. “I don’t!” he insisted. “And second, Seerla did inspire me, but I’m not taking the Law Comp for anyone but myself. Last night, she explained why she wants to study law, and it really struck a chord.”

“Struck a chord. Is that what we’re calling it these days?”

Thirtyx shook his head with a bitter sigh and pushed past Rhea. It took her a few steps to catch up. “You seriously don’t think you have a crush on her?”

“I don’t!”

“Did the Veriths slip you one of their voodoo, dark magic, more-valuable-than-ore lying potions just so you could deny your crush? No wonder they’ve always lost the throne so easily.”

“Rhea.”

“Fine, fine. I’ll drop it.” She trailed off in a chuckle that rose moments later into a full-bodied cackle. “We really should leave town more often, though. I like this new fiery Thirtyx.”

“What does Benn think of all this? I know you were talking to him.”

There was that itch he’d been waiting for. I have… so many questions. But most of them are about you and Seerla, so I’ll keep them to myself.

Rhea’s cackle ramped back up as Thirtyx rolled his eyes. And to think I missed you two while you were gone.