Chapter Three

“I’m such a dumb-ass.” I said.

“I should not have slept through yesterday.”

I was supposed to meet with my dad for some “discussions”.

Really he just wanted to lecture me on something, but I had to attend nonetheless.

“He’s probably pissed at me; oh well, it was inevitable. He was probably looking for an excuse to lecture me on something, might as well be this.”

I listen to the loud crashing of rain on my window, and debate actually seeing him today or not.

“It’s not like he could get to me here. He wouldn’t be allowed onto campus without a permit.”

It wouldn’t take long for him to get one though. He’s got a stake in so many things as an investor, he could probably just convince one of his friends to let him borrow theirs.

“Oh well.” I say, as I start to put on my rain gear.

“Might as well let him get it out of his system before he returns to the family estate.”

I leave the dorm, preparing for the argument yet to come.

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While I’m making my way to the campus main gate, the rain picks up. It’s getting hard to walk in.

I make my way to an awning for cover, and I’m not alone. A tall (taller than me even) cat-folk woman finds cover in the same place as me.

“It’s such a deluge out here!” she exclaimed, “I almost forgot how bad it could get around here; I haven’t seen rain like this since I was in school!”

“Yea…” I say.

“Oh sorry, I didn’t properly introduce myself. I’m professor Lena de Lafayette! Nice to meet you Triss!” she introduced herself.

“Wait, how do you know my…”

“I like to get to know all of my students before they have me, I’ve been making the rounds, but I haven’t gotten to your dorm yet.” She explains.

“Why do you do that? And why didn’t I see you at orientation?”

“I only just arrived in the city yesterday, so my TA was there in my place. But I’m taking up too much of your time! The rain will let up in like fifty seconds, so you better get to your meeting.”

“How do you…” I try, but she interrupts me again.

“So before you leave campus for today, let me give you a word of advice.” She starts, her expression turning serious. “Don’t tell anyone about the book. Not your family, not any of the other faculty, not even your friends. Keep it absolutely secret. Under no circumstances is anyone but you to know about it. Do you understand me? Cool! See you in class.” She rushes out into the rain.

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“Wait!” I try, but she’s gone before I can get a word out.

How does she know about the book? Why can’t I tell anyone about it?

In my confusion, I barely notice that the rain was starting to let up, just like she said it would.

“She’s probably a divination specialist.” I conclude. Far-seers are rare, but not so rare as to be unheard of. I just wish they didn’t always have to be so obtuse.

I’ll have to ask about what she meant about the book later.

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It doesn’t take me long to find the place he is staying. The address led me to a large mansion, probably owned by one of his “friends”.

It’s the kind of mansion that you don’t live in. It looks nice, but everything in it is just to impress the guests who visit, or to show off at parties.

Nobody actually lives in the house.

By the main gates, I saw a gruff looking man with the company crest on his armor.

“Ah, miss Ovalia, the master is expecting you; right this way.” He said as I approached.

I was quickly led inside.

“It is good that you are here, the master was growing impatient. I dare not think what he might have done should you had not come.”

“People shouldn’t talk about things that aren’t their business.”

“Of course ma'am.”

I am led to a small office space, where my father is waiting for me.

“Thank you, that will be all.” he said, dismissing the servant.

He did not look at me for a long while; filling out the paperwork on his desk.

“Do you have anything to say for yourself?” He finally asks, not even bothering to put down his quill. “Well? Mind explaining where you were yesterday?”

“I was at the dorm, sleeping.”

“Do you expect me to believe that? Because I don’t.”

“You can simply ask the security on campus, I’m sure someone can confirm I never left the dorm yesterday.”

“Look, you!” he slams his hand on his desk. “You can’t just snub your obligations like this. You were supposed to be here, in this office, yesterday. I don’t know where you were, but you weren’t here, and that’s the problem.”

…

“So that’s how it’s going to be. Huh? One day you’re going to have to stop this nonsense. Once you’ve married, you’ll no longer have time for your “flights of fancy”. That day may even be coming soon. I’ve been in talks about Baron Lavoisier’s son. He’ll be looking for someone to marry soon, and it would be very profitable for the family if you pursued him.”

Just the thought of it makes me want to hurl. He’s gone, one moment admonishing me and the next moment he’s engrossed in his scheming.

“You know I can’t do that, a noble title, even a minor one, is nothing to scoff at. I’d be hanged for even trying.”

“Now normally, that would be the case, but there are rumors that the Baron’s son is desolate. If it is true that he cannot father a child, his brother will be next in line, not himself. He will however, not be disowned, and thus still nobility. Don’t you see? This is my chance to get in with the nobles; I’ll probably come out of this with massive trade deals. All you need to do is convince the fool to marry you. Hell, even if he marries someone else, it would still be profitable for you to become his concubine. Are you even listening?”

“Yes, you’re trying to set me up to die. I heard you loud and clear.”

“Listen to me, that may not be the case, if…”

I’ve checked out of the conversation. I just don’t care anymore.

I wait for him to finish, just tell him I’ll try, and leave. There’s no convincing him.

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“Gods dammit! He is such an ass-hat!” I scream into the uncaring sky.

I am pacing around in an alleyway, lamenting my lot in life.

“Be a good wife! He says! Try to seduce a fucking noble! He says! He can shove that bullshit up his pretentious ass!”

I just stand for a while, letting the rain fall onto my head.

In a fit of rage, I rip the book off of my belt and chuck it into the street. Then I let my frustrations out onto some crates, kicking them until they break, spilling their contents out onto the ground.

“Fuck.”

I turn around, to see the book lying on the ground near me; undamaged from getting thrown around like a rag-doll, and sitting in the mud.

“You’re not helping!” I yell, kicking it away again.

I start smashing some of the fruit that landed on the ground.

“I wish he would just ignore me! Go back home! Leave me to my magic, it’s more fun and less deadly than anything he wants me to do!”

Seemingly in response to my shouting, when the book lands again, it’s open to a new page. It’s titled, “A simple anti-detection spell! For the times when you need to be sneaky!”

…

“Okay, I see how it is. Yea, Let’s do that.” A semblance of a plan starts to form in my mind.