I groggily opened my eyes, awoken by the sound of someone pounding on my door. I knew it was Beau, coming to pick me up as promised. But I wished it hadn't been him and that I could stay in bed all morning. I had been up far too late scrubbing and washing my skin to get rid of the awful smell of rotting garbage just hours before. Yet, the pounding on my door persisted, and here I was, wide awake.

“I’m up,” I half groaned, half yelled, only to get more pounding on the door.

I climbed out of my warm, comfortable bed and padded across the cold floor and opened the door. “I said I was up.”

“Downstairs in five minutes,” Beau snapped back then began stomping up the stairs.

My first day of rest was not off to a good start. What even was the time?

I looked for the tall clock next to my desk and saw it was just after four in the morning. It was cruel.

I dressed and did my best to look presentable, but I didn’t put my best effort into the matter.

I donned my coat and hat and proceeded down the stairs, where the carriage was waiting. I climbed inside and sat down, immediately leaning back and closing my eyes only to snap them open when the door to the carriage reopened.

Beau entered, and a groggy half asleep Al joined me on my bench a couple minutes after that. He still smelled faintly of garbage.

Al grunted once in acknowledgement as he leaned back in his own seat and closed his eyes.

I closed my eyes and let sleep reclaim me.

“Out!” Beau snapped loudly, startling me awake.

Al grumbled and exited first. I followed with my own grumbling.

Beau didn’t say a word as he led us around the building and down to the lower level. From there, it was down the long hallway and up several flights of stairs until we were outside the dean’s office. “Wait here. I will collect you after your elemental box slots.”

“Elemental box? But that’s not until 9:30,” Al protested as I checked my own schedule. It seemed we had the same time slot again.

Day 5

Time:

Location:

Elemental Box Reservation

9:30-10:30

Room 1B

“Don’t care,” Beau replied flippantly, stalking away and leaving us behind.

The secretary wasn’t even there. I tried listening but nothing was coming from the dean’s office, so I couldn’t tell if she was here or not.

“This is your fault,” Al said as he ran a hand through his dishevelled hair.

I furrowed my brow, “How could this possibly be my fault?”

“If you hadn’t been so infatuated with silly badgergirl, we never would have gotten involved. She had a guard. As soon as she told you that, you should have let it go,” Al argued.

“Then why did you follow me? You could have left it alone, then I would be the only being called up,” I countered.

Al yawned and then smiled. “Yeah . . . well . . . still your fault.”

I shook my head at the dogboy and couldn't help but smile back with begrudging amusement. Maybe it was all my fault? I didn't really understand why I'd raced off like I had last night. Worse, I didn't understand why we'd been called up to the Dean's office this morning. I didn't think we'd broken any rules and we certainly hadn't caused anyone any trouble.

I paced a few minutes but had no idea how long it would be before the dean showed up, but I had a feeling Beau was punishing us by forcing us to wait. I considered working on my Mana Control or Manipulation, but I recognized my need to calm down.

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I found an open spot on the hardwood floor, tucked my legs under me, and closed my eyes. I inhaled deeply through my nose, feeling a rush of scents coming to life inside me: wood, oak, cedar oil, papers, ink, wheat, leather, fresh rain, burnt ozone, wet garbage. I pushed each scent away as I exhaled and focused on the sensation of my lungs filling and my diaphragm expanding. With each inhalation and exhalation, something mysterious and energising began to grow within me. I opened my eyes and smiled; I was onto something special here. I cleared my thoughts and refocused on the rhythm of my breath—in through the nose, out through the mouth—feeling the energising something grow stronger with each cycle until it consumed me. I could sense Al breathing from across the room but ignored it. This was a time to focus on myself.

I quickly lost track of time. It was only when I heard someone clear their throat from just centimetres away from my face that I snapped out of it and opened my eyes. I was startled at seeing the elderly goatwoman standing so close. I frowned when she started cackling. Groaning, I leaned back on my hands. I’d been sitting way too long in a single position. Twisting my neck from side to side as I stretched, a message suddenly appeared.

Congratulations! You have learned to focus inwardly and find a state of calm. The Uncommon Skill Meditation has been added to your list.

I smiled and relished in my accomplishment. I managed to learn the Meditation skill in less than a week. After just two classes. Then I tried to move and winced. My body moved stiffly at first, my legs and backside a little numb from sitting on the hard floor.

“And just why do you look so pleased??” the dean asked, frowning at me.

“I just learned Meditation,” I answered, unable to stop the grin crossing my face. A grin that grew wider when I saw the look of disbelief on Al’s face.

“Oh, well, congratulations. In my office, both of you,” the dean ordered.

Al and I went in. We each took one of the chairs in front of her desk.

The dean sauntered into the room, taking her time. She slowly hung her coat on the rack by the door and started a fire, not even sparing us a glance. When she finally made her way to her desk, she studied us for a minute in silence before speaking. “Beau reported there was an incident last night involving you two, Bella Brightwood, and a possible assassin?

“Assassin?” Alphonse and both asked at the same time.

“No, it was someone watching that badgergirl,” Alphonse tried to explain. “Just some stalker.”

“A stalker?” the dead asked incredulously, “Well, I have an incident report to fill out. Tell me everything that happened last night.”

Alphonse started, “Belov found someone suspicious, and instead of calling the guards or asking for help, he decided to chase whoever it was. I followed him thinking I might help him stay alive. He lost the trail and the suspect got away.”

I wanted to snipe at Al for telling such a one-sided farce. That was not what happened.

“Mister Romano,” the dean started, “Would you like to try again? Have you forgotten I’m a mind reader. I know when people lie, even through a lie of omission.”

Al blanched. Clearly he had forgotten. He told the story again. This time it was mostly the truth and not the watered-down version.

“And why did you follow him?” the dean asked.

Al hesitated, glancing at me cautiously. “I felt like I had to help, like it was the only choice that made sense at the time.”

The dean nodded, “I see. And Mister Belov, do you agree with his version of events?”

“Mostly,” I grumbled.

“Mostly? Please elaborate.” the dean prompted.

I sighed, “After talking to him, I understand why he joined me in the pursuit, but Comrade Alphonse made many mistakes and was ultimately responsible for the suspect getting away. He is lucky there wasn’t a trap waiting for him and that neither of us got hurt. If he does not learn to temper his impulse to rush in, it will get kin killed, himself included.”

Al looked at me with not a small amount of anger and a little bit of shame.

The dean didn’t look pleased with me either. “And do you accept your responsibility in this failure?”

I let out a tense breath and nodded, “I do. I gave chase, initiating the entire event. I felt confident in my ability to follow the suspect without putting myself in too much danger. As soon as Comrade Alphonse tried to join me, I should have aborted and returned to the pub and filed a report with the authorities. Instead, I was overconfident and continued my pursuit. My decision to continue could have gotten myself or Comrade Alphonse killed. For that, I apologise.”

“Hmph,” the dean grunted then cast her cast back to Al who looked completely ashamed now. “Mister Romano, anything to add?”

Al shook his head.

“An apology? Nothing?” Dean Weber prompted.

“I’m sorry,” Al mumbled.

The dean frowned. “Very well. While neither of you broke any rules last night, you didn’t make safe decisions either.“ The dean’s gaze lingered on me for a moment, as if telling me I shouldn’t have put Alphonse in harm's way, before she continued, “Still this is a learning opportunity for both of you. Mister Romano, I want ten pages on pursuit tactics and tracking on my desk first thing in the morning at the start of next week. Mister Belov, I want ten pages on team dynamics by the same time. Am I clear?”

Al and I both nodded.

“Good, then you’re both dismissed,” the dean finished, dismissing us.

Al and I didn’t say a word to each other on our way down to room 1B for our time slot in the elemental box.

Beau picked us up as promised and brought us both back home, not that I went up to my apartment. I had a grocery list that needed to be filled before my tutoring session with Chef Mustafa.

As soon as I returned home, I got to work infusing the ingredients with mana, preparing them for the next day. It was good I started when I did. I finished infusing the ingredients a few hours before Chef Mustafa was due to arrive.