Magister Orion storms around, his heavy footsteps shaking the floorboards. Agitation rolls off him in waves as he gesticulates wildly. "Absurd! Your magic is a part of you, girl. It''s not some accessory you can cast aside when it''s inconvenient!"@@@@


    Marcus steps forward, pulling me behind him in a protective stance. His eyes narrow as he watches Magister Orion''s erratic pacing.


    Layla darts between us, her hands raised in a placating gesture. "Magister, please calm yourself. We don''t want a repeat of the last time you set the library on fire."


    Tinker groans, her mechanical wings drooping. "It took a decade to duplicate all those ruined books. Please, Magister. Let''s not go through that again."


    Magister Orion freezes, a sheepish expression crossing his face. He takes a deep breath, his shoulders slumping as he turns to me. "My apologies, Ava. I let my passion get the better of me." He sighs, running a hand through his salt-and-pepper hair. "I must confess, I had an ulterior motive in agreeing to teach you.


    I had hoped that once you were introduced to our world, you might choose to stay here as my student. You see, the magic we share is dying out. It''s been centuries since I''ve found someone to teach."


    Glancing at the books flying in the air, lazily flapping their pages like wings, a frown tugs at the corners of my lips. "How is that possible? There''s magic everywhere here."


    He shakes his head, his eyes wrinkling at the corners with sadness and the harsh passage of time. Centuries, he said. Centuries. I can''t imagine being alive so long. Just like Sister Miriam, he''s lived a life I can''t fathom.


    "The magic of the Fae and the magic that humans can wield are separate entities. They come from different sources, follow different rules."


    "I don''t understand. How—"


    Magister Orion cuts me off with another shake of his head. "It''s a long and complicated history, one we don''t have time for now." His gaze shifts to Vanessa and Marcus, his nose wrinkling in disdain. "Are these the pack you speak of?"


    He smells like a burning forest when he looks at them, Selene observes. There must be a history there. Fae can be hostile to any non-Fae, but this goes beyond that.


    Anyone with eyes can see that Magister Orion has no respect for them, but I wonder at the history behind his dissatisfaction with their presence.


    Still, feeling the frustrated tension in the two who followed me here, it feels dirty to hear how he speaks to them. Not wanting it to go on any longer, I wait until his eyes once again meet mine, leaving my face blank, trying to imagine myself as someone stern and unyielding.


    The best that comes to mind is my mother''s face, a vision that makes my soul cringe from the baggage that comes with it, even as I can feel my face settle into the expression that I think mirrors her personality the best.


    Bracing myself for his reaction, at the possibility that my demands will cause friction between me and the man I''m hoping can keep me safe from my own power, I speak.


    "Vanessa." This time, it''s Layla, who looks at us with apology. "I promise he''s like that with everyone. So it isn''t discrimination, just all-around jackassery."


    Magister Orion scowls at the gnome woman, drawing himself to his full height. "To all a mighty wizard a donkey—"


    "—is accurate," Tinker cuts in, ignoring his immediate deflation. She smiles at me, with an edge of desperation. "Please don''t let his personality deter you from his teaching. We all gave up on him centuries ago, and it''s only made him worse."


    Magister Orion settles into a chair with an aura mostly reminiscent of a sulky child. It''s hard to get a read on the man. He''s aggressive and yet seems kind. Overly passionate about his magic. And kind of... silly.


    The Fae are an interesting people.


    Selene sneezes again, catching everyone''s attention. This time it''s five desperate ah-choos in a row, and even Marcus'' normally blank face is pinched with worry.


    "Is she going to be okay?" Vanessa asks, reaching out to rub Selene''s ears.


    I''b pfine.


    "She says she''s fine, but it''s even affecting her voice up here." Tapping my head, I frown. "How''s that possible?"


    Vanessa rubs Selene''s head as my wolf leans further into her caresses, milking the situation for attention.


    Ab not. Ab miserable.


    Her voice is like typos in my head.


    "Psychosomatic, maybe?" Vanessa ventures.


    "Unlikely. The effects of the wards reach farther than the physical plane." Magister Orion points at the wolf. "It''s likely even her mental faculties are somewhat slow and befuddled. She''ll be fine after some time away from the wards."


    If Selene''s so deeply affected by this place, there''s no way we can stay here for my training.


    Can, she insists.