— — —
“As I am sure many of you are aware, I am the new dean, Martina Turner.”
Martina Turner scanned the audience. Her eyes paused briefly on Eva.
Not surprising, really. Despite her trying to cover it with her hair, Eva’s blindfold still made her stand out more than others.
“I am deeply honored to become the new dean of Brakket Magical Academy. I wish to say a word of respect towards my predecessor, Rebbecca Halsey, who has elected to retire after the events during Halloween and the following weeks. She has paved the way for me to take this position. I and the rest of the staff wish her a fond farewell and luck in her future endeavors.”
There was a pause as Martina Turner bowed her head slightly. The rest of the staff had mixed reactions. Some followed her lead, others exchanged glances with each other before also lowering their heads.
Eva noted that neither Wayne Lurcher nor Zoe Baxter bowed their heads.
“Brakket Academy was founded on the principle of readying the youth of tomorrow for the challenges that life has to offer. Sadly, it has failed in this with regard to the six students who lost their lives on Halloween night. I would like to take a moment of silence in remembrance for them.”
She bowed her head, deeper this time. None of the staff hesitated in their own bowing. Several students did as well. Eva heard at least one sob softly somewhere in the auditorium ahead of her.
“This is not acceptable,” Dean Turner broke the silence.
“We will be reinstating several programs that were removed from the school by its previous dean. Programs that will prepare students for all situations, not just cushy government jobs or work as an enchanter.”
“Professor Kines has offered to start extracurricular lessons in self-defense and offense. A mage-knight club, if you will.”
She gestured a hand back to the lightly waving botanist. If the blood in his cheeks was any indication, the scrawny man was embarrassed about the whole thing.
“I highly encourage everyone with even the slightest interest to attend. First and second year students may have a harder time due to their proficiency with magic, but I am certain they will gain valuable skills. Professor Baxter, who teaches a combat oriented seminar during the summers, offered to assist if his class gets too large.”
Martina repeated her gesture towards Zoe Baxter. The stern woman just gave a nod of her head and no increase in her pulse.
“Professor Price will be starting up a combative golemancy extracurricular class designed for fourth year students and above.”
A petite woman actually stood up and gave a light curtsy.
“Several other programs will be starting up next year. Until then I encourage prudence when dealing with any unknowns. Please inform an instructor if you feel anything is amiss. Your safety is paramount.
“Thank you for giving me this time to speak and this opportunity to turn things around for the betterment of Brakket Magical Academy.”
Martina Turner turned and left the stage without further comment.
“That was shorter than I expected.”
“Don’t jinx it, Juliana, one of the other teachers could still jump up and start talking.”
“No. It had to be short unless she wanted to cut into class time,” Eva said. “I mean, we only met ten minutes before class started. If she planned for a long speech, I’d hope she would have us assembled earlier.”
“Well, what now?”
“Let’s head to class early. I’d like to talk to the professor about my water magic.”
Eva shook her head but turned to follow Shalise anyway. Despite their encouragement to focus on her air magic, she was still attempting to diversify into both water and fire.
Her fire magic demonstration made Eva more than a little nervous about the integrity of their dorm room. Luckily it hadn’t been bad enough to activate the sprinkler system.
Eva stumbled forwards almost immediately as she followed Shalise, but caught herself on a seat. Someone left a chair out of place that she missed while scanning the floor. She brought her flecks of blood tighter together and hurried to catch up with Juliana and Shalise.
Shalise looked back at the noise. Concern bled into her face–literally from Eva’s perspective–when she realized what happened.
Eva just smiled and shook her head. “I didn’t see the chair.”
“Do you need someone to–” Shalise stopped and bit her lip.
“I’m fine. Just need to be more careful watching where I’m headed.”
Juliana knew how she moved around. Zoe Baxter eventually got in on that secret as well. Eva hadn’t told Shalise yet. She seemed disturbed enough by Eva’s hands. That could wait another week.
Part of the problem were her toes, but not by much unless she tried to run. New eyes were a much more pressing matter than new feet; especially because Arachne was ready and willing to offer her legs.
It wasn’t just stumbling into things now and again, or missing objects lying right in front of her.
Without eyes, Eva couldn’t step. Or wouldn’t step. There was too big of a risk of something going wrong, some chair left out of place.
Not looking where she stepped is how she nearly lost a leg the first time. Arthfael blasted his healing aura for an entire summer and even then, Eva had been lucky. The pane of glass she stepped into was thin enough to leave only a sliver of meat and bone behind.
The thought of stepping into something thicker sent chills up Eva’s spine. Especially if something vital was disrupted.
Juliana and Eva took their seats at the front of Yuria’s classroom. Shalise headed to the front of the class and demonstrated her water problems with their young instructor.
At least, that is what Eva assumed Shalise was doing. She didn’t want to accidentally disrupt any magic with her flecks of blood.
“She really came back then? And seemingly uninjured.”
Eva half jumped out of her seat. Being able to see in every direction didn’t help at all if she didn’t pay attention. It was still a quirk of her sight she was getting used to. Eva did a quick check of everything around her while Juliana spoke to Irene.
“One of the nuns healed her, it seems. I guess her hand was completely unusable before then.”
“I don’t know what I’d do in that situation. I don’t know that I could come back.”
“I would. Definitely. Brakket might be a boring town, but home wasn’t much better. At least during the school year there’s something to do here.”
Some of the students had the same idea and headed straight to class. Others mingled out in the hallway. Eva couldn’t put a name to any of the circulatory systems apart from Jordan, Max, and Shelby.
And one other person. The only reason Eva recognized her was because she’d been staring at her for the last ten minutes.
Martina Turner strode down the hallway. She entered the classroom’s open door with little flourish. After giving the classroom a once over, she took a seat at the very back of the room.
All conversation died as everyone, including Yuria and Shalise, took notice of the dean.
“Carry on as you were. I’m here to observe. I’d like to see how my staff operate their classrooms.” Her voice carried throughout the classroom just as easily as if she had a microphone and a stage to stand on. A real speech giving voice.
“Of course,” Yuria said hesitantly. If Eva had to judge by her heart rate, the poor professor was both intimidated by and not expecting the dean.
Martina Turner seemed to pick up on some cues as well. “You’re not in trouble. This is not an audit. I merely wish to know the ins and outs of my school.”
Conversation slowly resumed and Shalise asked another question. The professor quickly pulled out her own wand and began waving it around. Very nervously. If she hadn’t been a water mage by trade, Eva imagined that Yuria would be spilling the water just as much as Shalise.
Eva almost rejoined the conversation between her two friends. Her mouth snapped shut before a word could spill out. Something at the edge of her sight caught her attention.