After debating a response in my head, I came up with nothing useful. Instead, I turned around to her.
Claire’s iris sparkled up, and she smiled at me, pinching her eyes.
“I’d be honoured to be your friend,” I said the only thing left on my mind, to which she clasped my hand and placed it on her heart. It was raving between her full chest but I didn’t envy her. My heartbeat caught up to the speed of hers.
“You make me happy,” she whispered.
We continued to rest in silence until she remembered her library duty.
“Can I go with you?” I asked as I was getting impatient to have my hands all over the books.
Together, we exited the infirmary and before going to the library, we took some chalk from Harriet’s classroom. Claire explained that it counted as academy property and since she, a Di Centi, was the owner, all things belonged to her. Besides that, she showed me the cafeteria so I could pick up my meals and the office at the gate where I would leave my letter to be sent.
When I handed over the coins, the office worker refused to take them. “Postal service is included in the general fees.”
After we reached the crosswalk and entered the alley, Claire noticed my nervous looks at her and asked me what was on my mind.
“You said, ‘Oh, no,’ when you first met me here.”
Her cheeks flushed, she stuttered in search of words. “Excuse me,” she said, “I didn’t mean it.” She scratched her head, then, gesticulated left and right with her hands.
“Did I scare you?” I asked and was sure that must’ve been it since I looked like a corpse, but she shook her head in response.
“It’s the lover’s cross,” she explained. “You’re supposed to fall in love when you meet here for the first time. My parents did.”
I stood quiet, since companionship and lust were the only things I knew, and I’d lost the latter months ago.
“Tonio and Elvora, too, but that didn’t last,” Claire giggled, but her voice trembled with uncertainty. “Doesn’t mean anything, it’s just academy lore.”
I followed her through to the entrance, where a Professor was sitting buried in books.
“Professor Arend,” Claire spoke a lot louder than usual, almost shouting at him, “I brought a friend with me.”
He didn’t look up to us but nodded and swung open the doors, with nothing but a motion of his hand.
After she manoeuvred a book-wagon through them, I could enjoy the high stacked shelves around us. I’ve never seen more than a handful of books in one place. My fingers tingled again as I eyed the titles of the books we passed.
We proceeded to a little lodge, hidden between the shelves. There, Claire pulled out a bottle of red wine from a chest and pressed it into my hands. “Pilini’s Best, try some.”
“Here?” I asked in confusion.
The wine was not for my own pleasure. Even though she knew I was a Witch, how far would she tolerate me trying a ritual on academy ground? I hesitated, instead of revealing my plans.
She rolled her eyes and pulled out two chalices. “Yes, here,” she said and ripped the bottle out of my hands again. “Smell it.”
The filled chalice gave off a stinging scent. My nose itched, and I held back a sneeze with all my might.
“Intense, I know, Pilini’s Best.” Claire took a big gulp and waited on me to do the same.
My neck muscles stiffened and I couldn’t enjoy the wine, instead, I snooped through the shelves to ensure Professor Arend was still sitting in his chair.
“Don’t worry about Cassius,” Claire giggled.
“You know him well?”
“I’ve been working here for years, even before he started losing his hearing. He’s one of our patients, I mean my father’s, and now, Tonio’s.”
“You work?” My question came off more surprised than I intended it to be.
“What? Because I’m rich?” She scoffed and lowered her head. “I don’t get an allowance because I can’t use it for anything. Whatever I want, they just give it to me, there’s no need for money. I’m crazy, remember?” She gulped down the rest of her glass, poured in new wine and emptied it. Afterwards, she tried to fill mine, but I declined.
“I’ve got some work to do, Bryon will take me home later so you don’t have to wait for me. We’ll see each other tomorrow,” she said, sorting the books in the wagon.
“Tomorrow?” I asked.
“The festival. Afterwards, party at my place. I’ve got The Waves of Romance to perform. We can dress you up real pretty.”
“Fine,” I said.
She was about to disappear behind the corner.
“Wait! You think I can borrow some books?”
“Sure. I’ll go prepare your library card.”
I searched through the shelves in the magic—myth section and picked six books.
When she came back, she raised her eyebrows. “Only three at a time,” she said and noticed how hard it was for me to pick the favourites.
Practical magic, history books, and one that caught my attention the most titled Four Wonders of Gods. It would explain the four kinds of magical abilities. Witchcraft was excluded, as the authors of these books were Northerners. I didn’t let go of them.
“You know what,” she said, “I don’t even care. Just promise to bring them back intact.” She noted the book titles on my card and put a stamp over it. “Oh, and… don’t be mad, I sent you some clothes,” she added before waving me goodbye and continuing her work.
Rushing inside the loft, I placed my new books on the carpet by the fireplace and gathered the things I needed for the ritual at the altar.
Before I set it up, I cleansed the room with smoke.
Afterwards, I rubbed the vomit off my chest and threw the dress into the bathtub to soak it before washing.
The ritual’s instructions mentioned leaving all earthly possessions off the body, even the jewellery. With the chalk, I copied
