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"Neither do I" He sighed "That’s one of the reasons I think the university will be good for you"

"Are you sure the kind of els use is the same as Arcanes?" I’d pondered that question a lot lately, but hadn’t arrived at any conclusions

"It’s got to be," he said, scrolling through the stats on his phone "You use aether like the rest of us" He tapped his chin in thought "Although, I don’t recall seeing Nightliss use a staff or wand for a focus Hell, I don’t even re words"

Since the intent mattered more than the words used to activate a he was al a nerd as me

My shoulders sluel ever"

Shelton clapped et down on yourself, kid--er--man I had almost zero potential when I went to Arcane University Hell, they sent me to the Science Acadeift"

"Wait aan eyebrow "The Overworld has a Science Acadeht across the valley from Arcane University" One corner of his mouth twitched into a s "If it hadn’t been for one professor who thought I orth a damn, I probably wouldn’t be the man I am today"

"He rin

Shelton laughed "Yep Good old Miles"

"This is the guy who pushed ot it"

A trickle of hope washed overto school will help ht I didn’t have the gift" His lips twisted with obvious distaste "They sent ed zero So they sent me to Science Academy I fit in with the techies just fine, but Miles saw Arcane potential insoruff, uncaring mask slid over Shelton’s face "Nah I think I had too much coffee"

I knew better than to probe hiot that look on his face Bella, on the other hand, didn’t seem to care, and usually pushed Shelton until he locked himself in his study and watched space movies at full volume

"When do I need to take the assessment?" I asked

"The sooner the better" He checked the calendar on his phone "Looks like they open for business toet it over with"

"Gee, it sounds wonderful when you put it like that"

He wrinkled his nose "I hate standardized tests They’re the work of the devil"

I couldn’t agree more

After lunch, I spent the rest of the afternoon practicing By late afternoon, exhaustion hung like lead to every limb, and nausea clawed at ripped the sides of the sink, and heaved It took deep breaths to keep lunch fir new Every so often I would draw in y than my inner reservoir--Arcanes called it a well--could hold, and it would stretch to acco, and it sucked

The reenish tint to e and wondered if all of this was for nothing So toward ers flexed on a shadowy clawed hand as it reached fore vanished I splashed water on my face

"You okay in there?" Shelton said froaround Or runted "If you barf, make sure to spray air freshener The odor nearly caused me to hurl last time"

I rolled my eyes "Thanks for your concern You’re the best friend a person could have"

"Hey, I’ ca shrieked Two clawed hands of blackfor my throat I yelled and spun to face whatever it was And found…nothing

I closedwith ust Hot, dank air touched h of the undead chilled le" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>