Xara tucks a silky strand of her dark hair behind her ear, studying tiny words of her textbook. Her eyes throb and she blinks at rapid pace, letting the moisture return. Today's the day of her Mage History quiz, and after the disappointing grade on her last assessment, she had forced herself to study, and study hard. As a result, she'd hardly gotten any sleep last night. Which, she supposes, taking a sip from her water, isn't the right preparation for a quiz, but she had no choice. Professor Gaire's voice is monotone, so boring and lifeless it had almost lulled her to sleep.

Xara sighs as she heaves the book shut, stuffing it into her bag. The sun shines on the far end of her table, and she watches the spots flicker as students block the light. For last minute prep, she had woken up even earlier than usual, just so she could review. She isn't sure if it had any effect, but Xara hopes it did. She cannot fail this test too. With the first quarter progress reports getting released next week, she needs to score high.

Xara glances back, her head suddenly feeling as heavy as a mountain troll. Her hair falls back as she rests her head against the chair. She hadn't bothered brushing it and putting it in her normal braid crown. It just seemed like too much effort.

The school library is a wondrous place, a location that had Xara gasping the first three times she visited. Huge columns loom above, and an ever-moving escalator takes students to the shelf they need. It's all quite simple; press the shelf number button, and the shaft cranks you up. The first time Xara went, it seemed as though her stomach had dropped from under her, splattering against her crisp shoes. She willed herself not to look over the edge. The library itself may just be the tallest room in the Academy, reaching almost 60 feet above the tops of the spires. Huge glass paneling allows for lots of light to illuminate the space. It's quite a nice place, in all honesty, to spend one's time.

But right now, with her sleep-muddled mind, the only place she dreams of is her unmade bed. And of seeing Vieva's reaction to her messy bed. That cracks a smile from her. So far, rooming with Vieva Bestel has been quite amusing, albeit sometimes irritating. The girl is so nitpicky about everything, which can simultaneously amuse her and annoy her.

Xara slowly packs up her things, her limbs moving slower than a snail. At this rate, she won't make it to class on time. And having a fail in Mage History is bad enough; if she has tardies on her record too, her mother just may have a cow. She had given Xara a large speech on how grades are important, how she mustn't take this opportunity for granted, and all the other nonsense you hear from the other teachers.

She slings the bag over her shoulder, proceeding to spill her supplies and books all over the floor. Students pick their way around it, either not noticing, or not caring. Xara curses colorfully, schooled in the art by her brothers. For Cassamire especially, cursing comes as naturally as breathing.

"That's quite the tongue you've got there," pipes a deep voice from behind her, bemused. She whirls on her heels, and rears up to stare into the face of an upperclassman.

A very handsome upperclassman. 

Xara tries to fight her blush, but from the grin on his face, she assumes it didn't work.

"Surprised?" she asks, kneeling to pick up her fallen things.

"Not particularly. You seem like the kind of girl who would say things like that. No offense."

"None taken."

"Do you need help?"

"Nope," comes her short reply, even though her mind begs for her to say yes. Her body is sore from being hunched over.

Xara clambers to her feet, and promptly stumbles into the boy. She bites her teeth, hard. He chuckles. The sound rumbles across her skin, and shivers writhe through her body.

"Are you sure?"

"Mmm-hmm." She adjusts the strap. "Who're you?"

"Caedric. Caedric Bestel." She jerks at the name.

"I didn't know Vieva had a brother."

He shakes his black mop of hair. "I'm not her brother. I'm her cousin."

"Ah."

"And you are?"

"Xara. Xara Roffinnes." A twinge of recognition.

"Are you-"

"Yes." She snaps. "I'd rather you not talk about it."

He nods, looking downcast. Xara's cheeks heat again.

"It was nice meeting you, Caedric."

A half-smile, a quirk of his lips. "Same to you, Xara Roffines. Will I be seeing you again?"

"You can try," she retorts. His laughter follows her all the way to the exit.

✡✡✡

Xara looks back, but the boy-Caedric-is gone. She can practically hear Cassamire's teasing voice in her head, his whoops. She wonders if he and Caedric Bestel are in the same classes. She nods her thanks to the librarian, who pushes her glasses farther up her crooked nose. The woman hasn't uttered a word the entirety that Xara's been in the library.

She takes a sharp left and almost trips over a large black book. Once she catches her footing, she crouches, observing the finite details of the cover. There's no title, just engravings and a lock. It doesn't look like any locks she's ever seen; it's a smooth circle, with some sort of weird sigil on it. Xara frowns. She can't recognize it.

She picks up the tomb and is greeted with a hum, so loud it fills her blood. It's almost as if her veins are... singing. Reaching out to the peculiar black book.

Swiping a look on either side of her, Xara discreetly tucks the large textile away, staggering under it's extra weight. With a grunt, she shoulders the bag and scurries out of the room. Once she's alone, she'll work on opening the lock. 

>>AUTHOR'S NOTES:

this was a fun one to write. I'm sure we've all been in that place, frantic last minute studying for a quiz, so it was definitely fun to include those kind of dynamics in this fantasy. not to mention Caedric is one of my favorite characters.

i hope you enjoyed this chapter, and I'll see you next time!

peace&love,

raniaditi