“But that’s impossible,” Paige says. “You can’t train the hottest magic to deal with ice. It isn’t a matter of training; the four magics are fundamentally different.”
Mr. Donovan nods. “That’s what we’re up against,” he says. “There’s always going to be typical seasonal weather, not to mention harvest and botany. There is no shortage of work or need for us. But that need is growing, and we have to figure out how to meet it. For now, we will continue controlling what we can and training you to be the strongest witches you can be.”
I think back to the wildfire training, how I couldn’t hold the magic of so many summers. In my training with Sang, I’m working toward being able to confidently hold the power of the witches around me. But even if I master that, it won’t help with this. I’ll still be holding summer magic in summer and winter magic in winter.
What Mr. Donovan proposed is impossible, just like Paige said.
“So, what should we do about the heat wave next week?” Jay asks.
“Our summers will try to teach you how to manage it. That’s all we can do.” Mr. Donovan offers a smile, but it’s unconvincing. “Once the heat passes, we’ll get back to our normal training. Are there any other questions?”
No one says anything, even though there are dozens of questions written on all of our faces.
Class doesn’t end for another twenty minutes, but Mr. Donovan walks around his desk, grabs his things, and says, “Class dismissed.”
Chapter Sixteen
“Work on your relationship with your magic now, because it’s going to be the longest relationship you have.”
—A Season for Everything
“Well, Clara, I’m impressed with your progress thus far. You’ve got a long way to go, but this is definitely an improvement.” Mr. Burrows sounds surprised, and it reinforces my dislike of him.
Knowing my progress is what allows me to keep training with Sang instead of him is the only reason I smile and say, “Thank you.”
“Give me just a moment with Ms. Suntile and Sang, won’t you?”
I nod and walk to the edge of the control field. There should be snow on the ground and ice covering the pathways around campus. But the ground is bare, and the pathways are dry. The heat will arrive tomorrow, bringing worry and anxiety with it.
And it’s not just any heat. We’re expecting a four-day stretch of temperatures in the one-tens, unheard of even during summers in Pennsylvania and supposedly impossible in the winter months. It’s terrifying, this intense heat we had nothing to do with creating.
I can’t help the dread that rises in my stomach, knowing this is a harbinger of what’s to come if we can’t get things under control.
Mr. Burrows is doing most of the talking as Ms. Suntile and Sang nod along. Every time I start to think Sang and I are building some kind of trust between us, something happens to tear it back down.
It’s not his fault, of course. I know Mr. Burrows is his mentor, and they have a lot of history together. A lot of trust between them. But the way he smiles so easily with him and laughs at his jokes and nods his head… It makes me question everything again.
The three of them disperse, walking off the field. Sang smiles and waves, and I nod in his direction. Mr. Burrows catches up with me, and we walk toward the center of campus.
“I’d like to give you a test before I hand you back over to Sang,” he says. “It’s not ideal, given the heat this week, but it’ll have to do.”
My stomach feels like it drops right out of my body. A test with Mr. Burrows, with his constant judging and pacing and note-taking, sounds unbearable. I’m not going to be of much use with all this heat.
“What kind of test?”
“It wouldn’t be a true test if you could prepare for it in advance, now would it?”
I readjust my bag. “I don’t understand what good any of this is doing when it won’t make a difference in what’s happening out there,” I say, motioning to the places beyond this campus.
“But it will make a difference,” he says. “We need all the witches we can get, and you’re our most powerful one. Or you will be, when I’m done with you.”
I fight the urge to roll my eyes. “I just get the sense that nobody really knows what I’m supposed to be capable of, other than ‘greatness.’ What does that mean in terms of my magic?”
Mr. Burrows hesitates. “You’re right, to a certain extent. We don’t really know. But everything we do know points to an incredible power we’ve barely scratched the surface of. And we’ll never discover the full extent of your abilities unless you stay committed to your training and keep putting in the work.”
The vagueness of the answer frustrates me, but at least he’s being honest. I nod and turn to leave, but then he says my name. I look back at him.
“I know this is a grueling process and it feels like you’re going in circles. But that accident with Paige? Had that happened a year ago, it would have killed her. You’re getting stronger every day, more controlled. And it’s going to be worth it.” He nods as he says worth it, and even though the mention of Paige rouses the fear inside me, it’s the first time Mr. Burrows has said something even remotely encouraging.
Maybe I judged him too harshly.
“Okay. I’ll keep putting in the work,” I finally say.
“I know you will. Meet me at the sundial Wednesday morning at eleven, and we’ll do our test. Then I’ll be out of your hair again.”
I nod and head to the dining hall, leaving Mr. Burrows behind. It’s packed by the time I get there, and once I have my food, I walk to the winter table and find a spot at the end.
Dinner tonight is a hearty potato soup, a food I
