“Taira, why are you still here?”
The lab assistant was diligently copying notes, her head bent over a desk cluttered with papers. Above her, a magical lantern glowed, casting a pool of light in the otherwise dark room.
Snow slowly melted on my fur coat as I walked through the lecture hall toward the young witch.
After graduating from the academy, the girl had decided not to leave Godamn but to become my lab assistant instead. She’d confessed that my example inspired her, and she too wanted to study healing magic, so she became my apprentice.
This academic year at Godamn would be my last as a teacher. After that, Taira would join me at the hospital.
“Everyone’s already gathering in the courtyard,” I said, peeling off a glove and resting a hand on her shoulder. I lowered my voice, as if sharing a secret. “I think I saw Tyren and Oliver outside.”
With a sigh, the girl set down her pencil and looked up. I froze, instantly sensing the tension in my assistant’s mood.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s happened yet,” Taira said, shaking her head as she stood up. “But something will soon.”
“What are you talking about?” I tilted my head in confusion, but my assistant turned away, wrapping herself in a woolen scarf as she walked to the window. I followed her.
Snow blanketed the entire academy grounds. In the courtyard, children ran around shouting and laughing, while ghostly steeds and wyverns pranced among them. The wyverns, who had never dared to leave Godamn, had settled into an old, unused building. They let the children approach them without hesitation. Gerry was once again being tormented by Claude, though since that memorable rescue, their squabbles felt more performative, like bickering between old friends. The beast spent less time perched on my shoulder these days, preferring to race around with the kids. Miss Lorwood stood surrounded by old friends and a few new teachers, animatedly recounting something. I figured she was trying to retell the events from the last Midyear Festival at the academy. Both children and adults occasionally paused to glance around, and I knew who they were waiting for.
But the rector, as always, would be the last to arrive.
Thanks to Dorain’s influence, Godamn hadn’t been left short of teachers this year. The demon had managed to recruit some excellent specialists. I suspected Zagir had played a role in that too. On top of that, the academy had secured support from the mayor of Haol and several benefactors from Shedan. Over the summer, renovations were completed, and in the fall, new desks and blackboards were purchased. Most of the classrooms in the main building had been updated.
“I’ve got a bad feeling,” Taira said, wiping the smile from my face. I turned to her in surprise, raising an eyebrow.
“What’s bothering you? You can tell me.”
“I don’t even know what would be worse,” she sighed, lowering her head. “It’s about Mr. at Rogad.”
I frowned in confusion, looking at the distressed girl. Now, a cold, slippery knot of fear began to twist in my own chest.
Our wedding was set for spring. I hadn’t wanted a ceremony—memories of my marriage to Josef were enough. Back then, everything had started out just as beautifully...
But Dorain’s father had managed to convince me. This wasn’t about some ethereal “union of souls” but a public ceremony that would later play a small part in Moriar’s election campaign. At first, Dorain had been against it, not wanting to pressure me into anything. He’d planned to give us a quiet, peaceful happiness. But I couldn’t withstand the angry growls of two demons and eventually agreed to Moriar’s proposal.
Dorain had stayed on as rector and had no plans to step down anytime soon. He’d easily accepted my decision to return to work at the hospital.
What could this young witch have learned? Had she seen something in a vision, or...
“What’s wrong with him, Taira?”
She lifted her reddened eyes to mine, her lips pressed together in sorrow, then pointed toward the fence.
“Her.”
The witch’s tone made me deeply uneasy. I quickly turned and looked in the direction she indicated. Under the light of a lantern near the fence stood a woman. Even from this distance, I could tell she was a demoness. After spending time with Dorain’s friends, I’d gotten much better at recognizing them. A striking blonde in an expensive fur coat, with flawless hair and makeup, stared intently at the entrance to the main building.
“Who is she?” My voice trembled. Taira sighed and crossed her arms over her chest.
“I don’t know. But she comes here pretty often. She showed up after summer break. At the start of the semester, I saw her meeting with Mr. at Rogad in town.”
I’d never considered myself the jealous type, but suddenly, a sharp pang clenched my insides. Taira turned to me and gasped.
“Miss Mion! It’s not what it might look like! I saw them arguing.”
I glanced at my assistant, bewildered, and bit my lip. Planting a seed of doubt is far easier than uprooting it later.
“It’s true!” the witch insisted. “What I’m feeling is much worse than betrayal or any personal conflict. This demoness comes here often, trying to meet with the rector, but he keeps brushing her off or ignoring her. I don’t know what she wants, but she’s going to cause something terrible.”
Taira gently touched my arm and whispered, “And it’s connected to you. I felt something like this before... back when your ex-husband showed up... but that time, I had hope I could do something, influence the outcome. Now, I feel helpless. I’m scared, Miss Mion. All I can ask is that you make the right choice!”
It felt like all my thoughts had been swept away, replaced by a blinding snowstorm in my mind where nothing made sense—no feelings, no questions, no decisions.
At that moment, the children in the courtyard erupted into joyful cheers. Loudest of all was Kir, who’d somehow managed to mount a wyvern and was charging straight at the rector. Dorain casually waved a hand, and the boy froze midair while the poor creature ran on. Claude and Gerry raced after Kir, laughing hysterically.
Dorain shot them both an exasperated look but didn’t dwell on it. He gave a brief speech, congratulating the students on the Midyear Festival. As he spoke, his eyes scanned the crowd, searching for someone.
It took a moment, but our gazes finally met. In that instant, I lifted my head and looked at the stranger by the fence. She was gripping the bars, staring intently at the rector of the Academy of the Cursed. Dorain followed my gaze, spotted the blonde, and quickly turned away, as if pretending no one was there.
He looked at me again.
Abruptly ending his speech, he raised an illusion. The fence and the woman behind it vanished instantly, replaced by a forest, shimmering garlands, and festive attractions. The children rushed toward them with excited shouts. Dorain extended a hand in my direction, gesturing with his fingers to invite me outside.
“Everything will be okay, Taira,” I managed to smile, wrapping an arm around the girl as I led her toward the academy’s exit.
“I hope so,” she whispered.