Rorke had to calm me down somehow, and he spent a considerable amount of time doing it. “The Word of Power is innately volatile and thus hazardous to everyone if the wielder does not abide by the natural progression,” he said. He sounded so old for his age, but his status as a young maister made more sense as we spoke. At the very least, he had that wizard vocabulary.
“What ‘natural progression?’” I retorted. “How much theory can one take before the spellcasting comes into play? I read about the courses; I read all about Cinderfall Academy and then some. Why place all the focus on study without any time for admonitions. I don’t think I am asking for the world, maister.”
“You do not know what you are asking. Not yet… That you believe anything definitive may come from a single incantation is your first mistake.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Potential is not determined in mere moments, yet you create tension from impatience.”
“Say that five times fast.”
“Pardon?”
“If you don’t want to teach me anything, that’s fine, teacher, but don’t try to stop me.”
“On the contrary, I don’t endeavor to impeed anyone. You do not take kindly to my lessons and therefore treat them as the obstacle instead of the path.”
“Grr.”
“Gr,” he replied monotonously.
I began my trudge outside of the classroom. “This isn’t over,” I said. And as soon as I found my way outside, I realized my error and stormed back inside. As the maister watched my every move, I clenched my sack of books. “This is my sack,” I told him. “It is not for you. I am sure you have your own.” As quickly as I came, I left, but not before he gave his farewell.
“See you soon.”
***
To my surprise—I don’t know why—there was a bumbling boy trodding near the green courtyard as if waiting for someone. Before I knew it, his eyes fell on me with their usual bulge, right before he wore that dumb and innocent smile.
“Hello, Lux!” Roy was stiff as a board, standing there, which made the smile somewhat sinister. “What are you doing?”
“Nothing, Roy, just exercising. What about you?”
“Looking for you.”
“What for?”
“As there are no lessons, I thought we might make headway in Tome Study. There is no time like the now. What do you say?”
“Why haven’t you gone home for the free weeks?”
“My family would have already gone on to pilgrimage by now. Rana Sofia is a long way from the capital on foot, and there are no warpstones. It is a very old city. Have you ever been?”
“I have never been on a pilgrimage, Roy. I am not exactly a defender of the faith. Besides, I’m not predisposed to traveling.”
“Is it because of your leg?”
“What do you think!” I snapped.
He looked at me, the whites of his eyes sober and surprised.
“I’m sorry, Roy. You are not the one I’m angry at.”
“Are you angry at someone?”
“Maybe.”
“My mother would get upset as well, mostly at my father for drinking too much of the Savior’s essence. Eventually, he left and never came back. As is The Will of The Seven. At least, my mother would say so. If They will it, I can get by on my own. You don’t have to tutor me, Lux.”
Goodness me. Right then, I had to wonder if I could possibly make any more sense of the boy or if the attempt would ruin me. Perhaps, I didn’t have to know more than I aleady did.
“No, Roy. It’s fine. Get your stuff. Let’s study in the library.”
“Okay!”
I wish I was as easily excitable.
After making plants with Roy, my first instinct was to search for Elise, but I shoved that thought away as I knew she would be near undiscoverable. The girl had a knack for stealth and never had to be found unless she wanted to be. And, although several teachers made a stink of her tardiness, no kind of severe disciple ever found her… as far as I was aware. I don’t know what kind of magical charm Elise had, but she certainly had someone’s favor.
However, through the double doors of the chamber, I noticed a familiar ponytail on the other side of the librarian’s scowl.
To my surprise delight and delightful surprise, someone was already waiting for me in the library when I entered. No, it wasn’t Roy. While his dimples had their own kind of charm, my near shock came from the person sitting across from him with her book already open.
“Look who I found!” Roy said in a gloatful manner.
“What twist of fate!” I exclaimed.
Elise rolled her green eyes from the text book and straight to me. “What fate? Don’t ever use that word! I’m here. I study. I am just as studious as the next worm.”
“Says the girl who copies my notes,” I said, taking the seat next to her.
“You are better at taking notes, and thus I achieve more by doing less. What is smarter than that?”
Roy said the next set of words with a completely straight face. “But don’t you enjoy learning from a quiet, serious lecture?”
Elise’s smile couldn’t be more condescening. “No, Roy. We cannot all be so special. Thy head is larger, like the rest of thee. Perhaps one day…”
“Thank you, but I envy the size of your head, Elise.”
Elise glared like a lioness. I laughed. Their comments bounced back and forth, I laughed before I made the attempt to get our lesson underway. The greatest hurdle to a sane study session with these two was the entertaintment. I couldn’t lament lost time when my sipirits were up. On the contrary, I didn’t want it to end. Elise had a sharp tongue, but she would eventually realize that she couldn’t pierce oblivion
ns216.73.216.206da2
然後按「加至主畫面」