Page 84 of Malcroix Bones Academy

Most students also used spells that took detailed notes, summarized texts, transcribed their thoughts and ideas word for word, and so on.

I’d been warned it wouldn’t be a good idea to rely on some of those spells too heavily, the summarization spells in particular. But some, like memorization spells and auto-transcription were more or less expected, as long as the thoughts were one’s own and all sources were attributed. The professors all warned us in various ways that they had numerous, highly-reliable spells to check that students weren’t using magic to cheat.

I had no interest in doing that, anyway. The whole point was to be able to do the magic myself. But, given my course load, that meant I had to schedule good chunks of my week down nearly to the minute.

Miranda wasn’t the only person who’d commented on this.

During one of our library sessions, Caelum Bones demanded to see my schedule, as well, possibly because we shared a lot of the same classes.

“What in the bloody hell do you think you’re doing?” he’d demanded, glaring at me like I’d just told him I intended to chew off my own arm. “Are youtryingto make yourself a target? Or are you one of those martyr-types who’s only happy when they’ve driven themselves into complete exhaustion for no reason?”

With him, it had been a lot easier to get annoyed, rather than defensive.

“How many courses areyoutaking?” I’d thrown back.

“What possible difference doesthatmake?” he’d retorted.

“I’d just like to knowhow muchof a hypocrite you are,” I snapped. “I already know you’re in at least one of my electives, and you seem to have all the same first-term requirements as the rest of us, even though?”

“I already know how to fly?” he’d cut in coldly. “Yes, Shadow, I know how to do a lot of things you don’t. I’m a bloody warm body in there.”

When I only rolled my eyes, his voice grew biting.

“I know how to fight, too.”

“So I’ve heard,” I snapped.

“I fightwell,”he added, darker.

“I’ve heard that, too. Believe me, your reputation as a brute precedes you?”

“So why are you asking me why I can handle more electives than you?” he asked, incredulous. He hadn’t seemed remotelybothered by my actual remarks. “You need to be working on thebasics,Shadow. You’re leaving yourself too open. Painting a bloody target on your back, more like.” He went back to scanning my schedule, his mouth and brow pulled in a hard frown. “What the fuck are you doing in praecurology? You can’t evengoto Overworld legally.”

“You’re in there,” I reminded him.

“And again, I say… so what? You and I are not the same.”

“My mother was a praecurus,” I said stiffly.

“I’m aware,” he snorted. “That still doesn’t answer my question.”

I’d snatched my map out of his hands at that point, and stuffed it back in my satchel. “How is my course schedule any of your concern?” I’d asked coldly. “I wasn’t aware our agreement meant you got a vote in every single aspect of my existence.”

“Maybe I just don’t like the idea of my little mongrel exhausting herself so badly she can’t handle my magic,” he smirked.

My jaw tightened. “Wanker.”

“Whore.” His eyes darkened. “How’s Hollywood, by the way?”

I’d stared at him, briefly thrown, then huffed and rolled my eyes.

“He’s absolutely fine,” I said.

“Oh, I think you’re only saying that because you don’t know the difference.”

“I thought I was a whore?” I scoffed.“Shouldn’tI know the difference? And this obsession you have with Draken is reallyboring,by the way?”

“I could say the same.” The smile didn’t reach his eyes. “And just because you’re a randy little mongrel doesn’t mean you’ve any discernment in who you shag.”