Juniper wanted to come today, but I was too nervous to let her tag along, so I don’t have her to console me or to tell me to stop biting my nails.
But the thought of her voice is enough to get me to lower my hand. I cross my arms over my stomach, gaze darting to the door, where Professor Stone’s third-year student assistant,Nella, appears every ten minutes or so to fetch the next student and escort them to the practice room for the exam.
I jump when the door opens, and Nella steps into the doorway. She holds a clipboard and what looks like a quill enchanted to never run out of ink—I should definitely get one of those. Scrunching her forehead, she works down the list, then says, “Maeve Vandermere.”
I’m not sure if I’m relieved or frustrated. Both, I guess. I’m terrified, but I want to get this over with so I can run back to my dorm and flop into my bed and sleep for an eternity—or at least until Samhain. I’m definitely not missing the festival this year.
Maeve stands and moves gracefully toward the door, all eyes on her as she pushes her glossy hair over her shoulder. Before stepping into the hallway behind Nella, she tosses a glance at me and winks one purple eye.
Then the door closes, and I’m left to spiral into more worrisome thoughts.
If I fail, will that be it? Will Headmistress Moonhart expel me? And even worse, what if I totally fuck up and set something on fire? What if I set ProfessorStoneon fire?
With a groan, I lean forward and rest my forehead on my desk.
Goddess, I just want this to be over.
FOUR STUDENTS LATER, NELLA STEPS into the room and calls another name.
“Lyra Wilder.”
For a moment, I don’t move, just stare at her like she’s here to escort me to my own fiery doom.
“Lyra?” She tips her head and arches a brow curiously. “Is that you?”
“Y-yes,” I say, then push to my feet too fast, causing my chair to tip back and fall to the floor with a clatter. The other students titter with laughter, but I don’t care. It’s not like they understand how much is riding on this moment for me.
And I get an even heavier sinking feeling when I realize these are just midterms—and I have to make it through another two and a half years here without accidentally setting fire to all the irreplaceable tomes in the library or burning down the exotic greenhouse plants... again.
Grabbing my bag, I slip the strap over my shoulder, then right the fallen chair and follow Nella into the hallway.
“Are you okay?” she asks as we set off down the hallway together. “You look a little pale.”
“I’m fine.” I swallow hard and flex my fingers into fists at my sides.
“Nervous?” Her voice is light and friendly, like she’s never been worried about a midterm in her life.
I let out a scoff. “That would be an understatement.”
“You’re going to do just fine,” she says comfortingly. As we approach the door to the elemental magic practice room, she says, “It helps me to face away from the professor as I perform my magic—then I can pretend I’m alone, just practicing like it’s any regular day.” Her shoulders lift in a shrug. “Maybe that’ll help you too.”
Doubt it.
“Maybe,” I say, stare locked on the door. “Thanks for the tip.”
Nella flashes me a bright smile. “Anytime. Good luck!”
She opens the door and gestures me through, and I take a deep breath before stepping over the threshold.
Professor Stone stands at the front of the room, a book open in his hands. The sight of it makes me queasy.
It’s his gradebook, the book that determines whether I pass or fail.
I wish I could enchant it to give me passing marks.
“Miss Wilder,” he says as Nella closes the door behind me, leaving me to my fate. “Set your bag down by the door, then come stand in the center of the room.”
I do as I’m told, but my feet feel leaden as I walk to where the professor indicated. The room is completely bare, apart from golden runes that glow on the walls, ceiling, and floor. The runes make the practice room resistant to elemental magic, so it’s safe for students to use their magic without fear of burning something down or sending a typhoon gushing through the hallway.
