Page 101 of Liminal

“Soul vessels,” I murmur as I read. It references necromancy being used to store a soul outside the body, preventing the user from dying. “Knowledge hunger. Eternal un-life. This doesn’t seem of much use. I’m dead, and I don’t have a body to preserve. And it says that the caster’s physical form still decomposes swiftly and requires the heavy use of restorative magic to retain its former state. My body is…” I trail off, looking away sharply. “Well, it’s not decomposing.”

I’m not disappointed. That would mean that I had hope to begin with, which I didn’t. Not really.

“But think about it,” Leo presses. “The Arcanaeum is tied to you, much like these soul vessels are?—”

“This specifically references highly enchanted jewels or trinkets.” I put the paper down. “I don’t think a building is suitable—Jasper, are you okay?”

The other arcanist has gone white, his pupils pinpricks against the deep brown of his irises.

His muscles are tense, the beautiful tan of his skin paled to almost ashen.

“Jasper?” I snap my fingers in front of him but get no response.

Then he starts to seize.

His limbs shudder, then flail, his elbow passing right through my lower abdomen in a blaze of sensation that catches me completely off guard. I fall backwards into the wall to avoid another touch, but it’s too late. The damage is done.

No time to focus on that now. Jasper is still seizing.

Everyone starts speaking and moving at once, concern etched into their features as they swarm him. Trying to get close to him right now will only put me more at risk. The Arcanaeum senses my train of thought, tugging me down to my office.

I reappear downstairs beside a forgotten cupboard, sending books flying as I knock aside stacks in the search for a vial that was in here—no. The other cupboard?

It takes three minutes of frantic searching to find it, and by the time I return, Dakari has managed to lay the other arcanist along the bench while the others mill around in concern. At least they’re not all crowding him now, so I can get close without risking myself.

Floating over them, I keep myself invisible as I tip the bottle up and over his face. Thankfully, I don’t need him to swallow. The potion evaporates into a fine green mist the second it makes contact with his skin, pouring through his eyes, mouth, and nostrils. Within seconds, he’s slumped against the leather seat.

“What was that?” Eddy asks, pushing her brother out of the way as she approaches the table.

“If I had to guess,” I begin, merging with the room just in case. “I would say he was trying to break through the ensorcellment that wiped his memory. Either that, or it’s unravelling and inadvertently causing mayhem.”

I lower the table and tilt the bench until he rolls onto the surface, then use it like a stretcher to float him back towards the room he shares with Dakari.

“Either way,” I continue. “I think it might be best if we cancel tonight’s tutoring. Tomorrow?—”

“It’s the second match of the season,” Lambert interrupts. “Remember? I thought…maybe you’d watch me play again?”

Sighing out a long breath, I nod before realising he can’t see it. “I’ll watch.” Purely because it provides something to keep Jasper and Dakari’s minds off their somewhat involuntary stay here. “Dakari, would you show Eddy up to the clock tower door? I’ll show her upstairs once I’m sure Jasper isn’t at risk of another episode.”

Without another word, I abandon them, following after the floating table that’s already most of the way across the parapet. Jasper’s colour is already returning, which means I can finally take my eyes off him for long enough to examine my belly.

Big mistake.

My entire midsection is cracked. If I twist, I can tell that the damage goes all the way around to my spine, stretching as high as my shoulders and as low as my hips.

I’ve frozen in place, but a noise from behind me spurs me forwards. For the time being, I shut myself into the room with Jasper, locking the door as my chest rises and falls in rapid breaths that make the cracks shift and splinter.

This makes what happened to my arms look like nothing, but it also means that only my legs and head remain exempt from the damage. Fear grips my throat, paralysing me even though I know I should be focusing on Jasper, who’s curled up on his side now that he’s been transferred to his bed.

“I can’t do this,” I confess to the ever-listening walls. “I can’t. I…I’m scared.”

I thought I was being sensible and my precautions were paying off. I thought I’d come to terms with the fact that there was only one way having them around could end. Lambert’s shower was pushing my luck, but I survived. Everything was fine. But now two accidental touches in one day?

I should’ve sealed myself in the clock tower. I should’ve never agreed to tutor them. I should?—

“Kyrith?” Jasper whispers, dragging me out of my spiral. “What happened?”

“Shh.” It’s like a switch flicks inside of me, and I float closer to him, taking in his bloodshot eyes and the pallor of his skin with analytical eyes. “You need rest. You triggered the ensorcellment on your memories. I think it’s caused some damage.”