"...I think the Fire Witch has an insider at the university," I mutter. "I think I know who too..."
Kelsi and I exchange a look and nod.
"Professor Vutha?" exclaims Ben, his eyes suddenly perking up.
"She was the one who knew a bunch about witches," says Kelsi, counting on her fingers. "Mara had issues with students right after she met her, and she is someone with a position to make an anonymous account on the university forum. She did say some of the books you... borrowed from her came from her personal collection too. I mean, I know weird people, but that teacher had demonology and necromancy books!"
"We should confront her," nods Ben. "If we go to the university and report those posts as a... an attack on Mara's privacy, I'm sure they can find who was behind it. I already looked it up, but there's no way they can't find who made that post, even if they tried to create a private account. People have to use university identification; I double-checked."
I nod and turn to Kelsi.
"Can you go and confront her with Ben? She's just a human, she won't be able to do any magic or harm you with it. We need to know which of the witches she works for, and if she was the one who set the fires."
"Sure!" nods Ben with a large smile.
"Of course, boo. But what about you? Don't you want to come?"
"...There's someone else I should have asked long ago," I sigh.
Liam grabs another pancake with a sigh.
"The Earth Witch?"
"Yes. She definitely knows more than she said, and now that I am powerful enough, she won't be able to avoid me or try to play any tricks on me."
"What if one of the other two attacks?" frowns Kelsi. "I don't mean to underestimate you, but if you have to take on two witches by yourself... Mara, you just came out of the hospital, again!"
I grimace.
"I know. First, I don't think Ravena would attack me now. She's an Earth Witch, and she was already reluctant to attack the first time. The Fire Witch... she hasn't shown herself yet, so I can't really tell. The Water Witch is the one I am worried about, but she stays south, probably in the sea. I don't think she'll show herself if I meet Ravena in the north."
"Okay," she sighs.
I smile. She's clearly still worried about me, but for once, I'm rather confident in what I'm doing.
"Spark!"
They all turn heads, but as expected, my cat just hops onto my lap as I call him, rubbing his gold and black head against my chest.
"...I swear he had more black last time I saw him," grumbles Kelsi.
"Kelsi, Spark will be coming with you," I state.
"What?" she exclaims.
Ben scoffs on his pancake.
"He's my magic cat," I chuckle. "He'll help you if you're in trouble, and I'll know right away too."
"What trouble?! You're the one about to get in trouble, why do I get to take the cat? I already have Benny–!"
"Please?" I insist. "I'll feel better sending you to a witch specialist if you take him with you."
She keeps frowning, but I grab Spark and put him on her lap. Kelsi glances down at the cat, unsure.
"...Okay, but first, the cat better behave. Spark, I do tolerate you, but no biting or claws, okay?"
"Meow..."
