Page 173 of Obsidian and Frost

I beamed down at my phone for a moment, before putting it away.

“So, you and Kelsana are becoming more than mentor and mentee regarding the moral use of Dark Fae magic, I see,” Sylas commented as he did the same with his phone, then regarded me.

“I guess we’re becoming friends.” I smiled to myself. “We’re going to go out to that fusion bar nearby. I know it sounds silly, but I couldn’t have imagined being in a place to do that a few months ago—to venture to an unknown place and with a new friend at that. When I first came here several weeks ago I was still very much in survival mode, having my panics, my power eruptions, being closed off in so many ways to people and experiences. But now there’s you and Lazriel in my life. I’m taking classes not just from the standpoint of acquiring more knowledge and skills as a means to protect myself against my enemies, but for actual fun and interest. I’m using my shadow magic and even my frost in fun ways too. I’ve made a friend. I was even able to counsel Cassius on not living in survival mode anymore. He was shocked about a lot that I conveyed that day, but me being able to do that was definitely one source of that shock. Because it wouldn’t have been fathomable long ago.”

“I’m truly happy for you. You’ve come a really long way.”

“I mean, I did almost have a setback when Lazriel and I discovered those vampires watching him, when I briefly thought the threat against him could bePuritas. But I was able to move past it and accept I was just being paranoid.”

“You almost had a setback because of that?”

“Yeah. I did.”

He worried his lip between his teeth. “I see.”

“What?”

“Nothing. I just would absolutely despise that for you after how far you’ve progressed.”

“So would I.” I gestured at my watch. “I might even put this away soon.”

Intensity flared in his eyes and he shifted his weight uncomfortably.

“It was just brief, Sylas. Besides, what we’re all building together, it’s set in stone, you know? I promise you don’t need to worry.”

Before I could say more, a sharp clapping cut through our conversation and all those around us of the sixty students gathered around the room.

We turned to see Professor Drenn Voxe striding in, a whole lot of power rolling off him.

He certainly cut a severe figure with his towering and broad frame, his shaved head with a scar sliced down his left cheek. His crimson-gold eyes glowed as he smiled out at us and gave a chin lift here and there. He was wearing combat leathers with no sleeves, revealing tons of tattoos and draconic markings all over his arms and his back.

“Welcome, eager students,” he spoke with a voice that boomed through the entire room with barely any effort.

Although the tone was pleasant and even accommodating.

The guy was a walking contradiction, really.

“This class will explore what happens when raw power, supernatural instinct, and emotion collide,” he began. “Throughout this year, you will learn how to harness that collision into something formidable. Now, to be clear, this isn’t about silencing your magic or taming the animal within for you shifters out there. It’s about partnering with them.”

Huh.No wonder Lazriel liked him.

No repression here, just empowerment.

I was all for it.

I saw Sylas smirking, though not fully trusting in it, a lick of suspicion present.

That was him.

What wasn’t was this withdrawn state he’d been in lately. There was a heaviness weighing on him that neither Lazriel norI knew the source of. He hadn’t spoken about it and we’d given him time, but he still hadn’t offered anything up.

So that was it. I wouldn’t upset this dinner that Cassius was making such an effort over so the four of us could bond. But right after we got back to the Academy, we’d have it out with him.

It honestly bothered me that after everything we’d been through together, all the ups and downs, everything that had been spoken, he seemed to still be carrying burdens alone, rather than sharing them with our unit.

Even as we began class and immersed ourselves in sparring across Circles to understand how different magical types functioned and also could impact, amplify or destabilize the power of others, he stayed in the background, no showy magic, just going through the motions. Verynothim.

Things had come so far now, I wouldn’t let anything impact that.