by Jessa Ford
Cora repressed the urge to beam and simply said, “Willem, Tiegly, this is Xave. I believe I was just telling you about him.” She wrapped her arm around Xave’s back as if it were the most natural thing in the world to be nestled into his tall frame. Too many seconds passed before anyone spoke. Willem finally managed to mumble a greeting and Tiegly continued looking at Cora and Xave, dumbfounded. It took an immense amount of self-restraint not to laugh in Tiegly’s face. Cora regretted her previous thoughts. She was wrong; Xave was a life saver. “We were just going to head out. Lovely meeting you both,” Xave bent down and pretended to whisper something in Cora’s ear. She swatted at his arm and laughed in response. He led Cora away without waiting for Willem or Tiegly to respond.
When they were finally out of earshot Cora burst into laughter. “Thank you,” Cora finally managed to say once she regained her composure. “I don’t know why I let her make me feel like such a fool.” She shook her head. “I assure you, you were the least foolish person there,” Xave continued walking in the direction of the exit while his mind raced at the memory of holding Cora close to him. It was as if it was the most natural thing in the world to touch her. “At any rate, you’ve proven you can bend time when it’s unpredictable. I’ve seen enough for tonight,” he held open the gate to the park so Cora could exit. Pleased with her evaluation, Cora suddenly felt unburdened. For at least one night, she would ignore everything and just be a girl in a pretty dress. “Do you want to walk a bit more? Like really walk?” she asked when they neared the trolley. Xave responded with a quick nod and they continued at a normal pace toward their part of the city.
As they walked they made small talk, which was actually now akin to a conversation amongst friends, even if neither would admit it. Cora asked more questions about Xave’s upbringing in Arvendry, and for once Xave asked Cora questions about herself. She shared stories about her parents and how she used to sneak out around the same time at night to try to walk to the library. Upon hearing that story, Xave actually chuckled, causing Cora to laugh as well. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. You are always in the library well past close,” he looked down at Cora who was thankful the darkness hid her flushed cheeks. “Excuse me, but I believe my status as an employee grants me that benefit.” She put her hands on her hips and pursed her lips. Cora pulled the cape tighter around her shoulders as they walked. Not one to miss even the most minute detail, Xave removed his jacket and placed it around Cora’s shoulders without saying a word. On any other day, she would have protested, but she didn’t want to ruin how nice the night had turned out.
While they had fully intended on catching the trolley at a later stop, Cora and Xave ended up walking the entire distance back to his home. They arrived long after the Mid-Season Festival had ended, still deep in conversation, finally stopping awkwardly in front of his door. “I should probably be a good date and offer to get you all the way back to Starbury.” Xave scratched his head and stood on his front step. “Not to worry, I have a feeling I’ll make it home in two seconds,” Cora winked, “but let me give you this.” She moved to take off Xave’s jacket and he stopped her.
He paused, holding the jacket snug around Cora’s shoulders and glanced down at her. Cora didn’t speak. She looked up at his dark features that always seemed to draw her in. His hair, which had been meticulously styled for the Festival was now back to its normal disarray. Xave dropped his hands and quickly stepped back. It was as if they both realized something had shifted between them and weren’t sure how to act. “Good night, then,” Xave muttered and opened his door. When he turned around Cora was gone, but the scent from the flower he’d placed in her hair still hung in the crisp night air.
When Cora arrived at her room she sat down on her bed and sighed. She was surprised by how much she ended up enjoying the Mid-Season Festival; more surprised by how she enjoyed Xave’s company. Not once during their walk back to his home had he aggravated her or made her want to pull her hair out. Speaking of hair, Cora gently unwound the braids Soph had expertly constructed earlier, and let her long trusses tumble past her shoulders. She gently took the rose and pressed it between two pages in one of her notebooks. Cora was careful to hang Xave’s jacket and Soph’s clothes on the back of a chair. She then got dressed for sleep and lay in bed, unable to stop her mind from racing. Her heart, she realized, had been beating faster since she left Xave’s house, and she didn’t want to think about what that might mean.
✽✽✽
The next few days passed uneventfully. Cora had a few days’ break at home before the second term started at Starbury. She was already well into second term reading material, so she didn’t even have reading to distract her. Her parents reveled in her presence, doting on her and stuffing her full of food. Cora forgot how much she missed her mother’s cooking. She thought of Dari and Xave often. She realized she and Xave hadn’t discussed meeting over the short break, and he never mentioned if there was anything she needed to do before returning to Starbury.
Cora also wondered if starting the second term would be significant for her rescheduled Reading. Martin had assured her he was handling it, but she knew the more time passed, the more suspicious it looked. Cora had lied to her parents numerous times about it, which made her cringe. It was agreed her parents should remain in the dark about her gift, which was hard enough. Lying to them about being ill, or being on the waitlist to redo her Reading was another thing altogether. The longer she put off a second Reading, the sooner they would realize something was amiss.
The break from Starbury passed quickly, and before she knew it, Cora found herself back on the trolley to the other side of Telgria. The second term, she discovered, was essentially a continuation of the first. Her courses only changed in intensity, but for Cora it made no difference. In the afternoons Cora looked for Xave in the library, but he was nowhere to be seen. She hadn’t seen him since the Mid-Season Festival. She refused to admit she missed his company. It was because of the impact it had on practicing her time bending, she reasoned.
At the end of her first week back while she was returning the cart to the information desk she finally decided to ask Dari. “I have a question about my training,” she spit the words out, and Dari motioned for her to meet her in the office. “Is everything going okay? Are you and Xave ready to kill each other?” The old woman suppressed a smile. Cora shook her head, “No, actually, he’s been surprisingly accommodating. I just wondered where he went. I haven’t seen him since the Mid-Season Festival, and I was just eager to continue my training.” Dari raised an eyebrow, “The Mid-Season Festival, you say?” “We went for some real-world application of my um…gift,” Cora whispered the last part. Dari withheld any further comments on the matter.
“He should be back soon. He’s out checking on a few more names. There have been a high number of magic-related disappearances lately.” A shadow fell over the old woman’s face. Cora couldn’t imagine what it must have been like living through Nikol Delmarno and then be faced with the possibility of having to experience it again. Both women mulled over the silence for a while before returning to work. For the rest of the day, Cora couldn’t shake the cloud that hung over her. It was easy to get lost in the wonder of having magic. It was easier to let herself forget the reason she needed to master her ability at all. Her mind reeled with scenarios that made her stomach churn until the clock finally struck close, and she raced back to her room.
✽✽✽
Xave watched Cora leave the library and crept into the building when she was a good distance away. As he suspected, Dari noticed him before he saw her. “If I didn’t know any better I would think you’ve been avoiding Miss Vaunderly.” Xave’s expression remained neutral and he simply replied, “I’ve been considering what we can do next for her. It’s taken some time to analyze her skillset. Plus, you’ve been sending me out on quite a few errands lately.” He made a face at Dari who grumbled an inaudible response. Truth be told, Xave knew exactly why he’d been avoiding Cora.
He couldn’t get the Mid-Season Festival out of his head. He found himself smiling when he thought back to the conversation they had as they walked back to his home. They were so similar they could probably be friends, and he was tempted to admit it to her. Cora’s animated stories about her childhood made him think back to his own. He’d spent many a night cooped up on the roof of his mother’s home with a book, taking a break to try and see the ocean. Later when he’d moved to Telgria and lived with his father’s aunt—who had no intention of ever keeping a child in her home—Xave escaped to the roof to read and try to see all the way to his mother’s house. It was likely he and Cora had spent many nights, heads in a book, waiting for something bigger than their small worlds.
✽✽✽
Cora was restless when she arrived in her room. Soph was out at a book club, which made Cora laugh. She was certain Soph would be the life of the party, despite having not read the book. She looked at the time and groaned. It was early, all things considered. She also had the entire next day free of classes and work in the library. Her mind was going to send her into a spiral. Training with Xave would have been a good distraction. She kept reminding herself it didn’t matter if Xave effectively disappeared. He bothered her on his good days; it was preposterous to miss his patronizing comments and irritability.
She continued to pace around her room. She considered reading, but she was no closer to finding a link between disappearing magical students and the decrease in magical gifts, either. Not that she expected to find the key so soon after learning about it. Martin, Dari, and Xave had been trying to figure it out for years, after all. Finally, Cora threw her hands up in protest. It was useless staying at Starbury. If she left soon she could arrive at her parents’ home just as the last trolley was arriving for the night. Maybe another night at home will give me some clarity, she mused, and closed her eyes as she reached inward for her magic.
FIFTEEN
Cora’s mother nearly squealed with delight when she saw her daughter standing on the doorstep. She pulled her into a giant hug before Cora could even explain what she was doing there. “Vindel!” her mother shouted, “Cora’s home!” In seconds her father appeared behind her mother, a giant grin spread across his face. He, too, pulled Cora into a hug. “Did you miss us so much you had to come back?” Cora’s father winked at her. Cora laughed in return, “I suppose so. That and I have an entire day free tomorrow with nothing to do. I thought it wouldn’t be the worst idea to spend it with two of my favorite people.” “She’s buttering you up to cook,” Cora’s father nudged her mother who shooed him away. “As if it would even be an imposition.” She shook her head and left in the direction of the kitchen. Cora’s father turned to her again and asked, “Well then, what’s the real reason you’re here?”
Cora expected her father to see through her. He was always quick to notice when something was wrong. Cora sighed, “I guess I’m just feeling a little off.” She sat next to her father on their couch and sighed. Her father looked at her contemplatively and then responded, “Are you worried about your second Reading? I’m sure you’re getting nearer to the top of the waitlist.” Cora felt another twinge of guilt. “I don’t know. It isn’t just that. I guess I’ve been thinking a lot about what comes next.” Cora’s father nodded, “I won’t say your first Reading result didn’t shock us, but I don’t see it as a prison sentence. You are in a unique position, Cora. Your future has many paths. No matter how many Readings you take, that won’t change. You’ve always been a very special girl. I have no doubt whatever path you take will lead you to extraordinary things.” Cora wished she had the same confidence in her future as her father did. Granted, he wasn’t aware of all of the variables at play. Regardless, she leaned over and hugged him. “You’re right,” she smiled, “this is exactly why I came home.” She sat with her father watching the fire until her mother returned with a plate so full of food Cora wasn’t sure she’d even make a dent in it before she burst.
The next day Cora woke up late. She was surprised to find she was able to sleep with such ease. She lazily made her way downstairs where her mother was waiting for her in the kitchen with warm bread and freshly squeezed juice. “This is probably what I miss the most,” Cora closed her eyes and breathed in the smell of the bread. “Not your mother who painstakingly woke up early to make your favorite breakfast?” Her mother joked as she joined her daughter at the table. “I suppose she’s not bad to spend time with either,” Cora grinned.
“Speaking of spending time with someone,” Cora’s mother suddenly looked seriously at her daughter and Cora paused mid-chew, “I ran into Willem before he went back to school. He mentioned he saw you at the Mid-Season Festival with someone.” Cora was certain her ears were burning. She wanted to march right into the School of Building and demand to know what right Willem had talking to her mother. He’d made it clear her friendship wasn’t important to him, after all.
“He was misinformed,” Cora swallowed and waved her hand in front of her face as if what her mother said was trivial. “The librarian at Starbury sent her employees to deliver some items. We saw Willem and his date on our way back to Starbury.” Cora was sure her voice caught on the word date, but if her mother noticed she didn’t say anything. “He just mentioned it looked like you two were having a good time, is all,” her mother studied her face, and Cora was tempted to freeze time and flee. Not that that would help prove her point any better. “Sure, I guess we get along okay.” Cora shrugged and shoved another large chunk of bread into her mouth. “Well, I’m glad to see you’re making friends so easily.”
Cora almost scoffed at the idea that Xave was her friend, but then again, how else would she describe him? Something had definitely shifted between them, and it wasn’t just the Mid-Season Festival. Cora trusted his knowledge as a Time Bender, and Xave believed that Cora could control her gift. He saw her as more than just an Unreadable. He had seen her before she knew she had a magical gift, too, which meant something. Cora groaned internally and finished her food.
After a delightfully uneventful day with her parents, Cora rode the last trolley back to Starbury. She considered time bending, but found she didn’t mind the slow pace of the trolley. Her father had given her something to think about, and her mind was slightly more at ease. She was ready to get back to her research, however. While on the trolley, Cora decided she was ready to dig into the science behind magical gifts. She felt like she had a solid understanding of the capabilities and limits of each. What she questioned, however, was how and why none of the magical gifts ever interacted or crossed paths. If Nikol was really back and trying to alter someone’s magic there had to be research on the subject. More importantly, there may be a clue as to how to stop him.
After stopping to chat briefly with Soph, Cora raced to the library and climbed the rickety steps to the third floor. With the aid of candlelight, she gathered all the books she wanted to start with and found her familiar seat at a table in the corner. Most of the light would be hidden from view, so it would still appear as if the library was closed. As always, she paused every so often to stretch or reposition herself. Since tapping into her time bending gift, it was hard to sit still for long periods of time. She quickly got lost in the familiar pattern of words and copious note taking. Cora didn’t realize another person had joined her.
“Excuse me,” a voice cut through the silence and Cora stilled, “but I believe this building closed hours ago.” Xave’s familiar voice was a welcome sound to Cora’s ears. She bit her cheeks to keep from smiling, which was a surprising reaction. “Care to explain how you got up here then?” She turned to see him leaning against a stack of books, his arms crossed as he studied her. As usual, his expression was a mix of amusement and mystery. His eyes, gray as a fog, still held a hint of mischief. Before Cora could begin to ask about his recent trip, Xave spoke, “There’s one more thing you have to practice that we haven’t gone over yet.” “Okay, hi, nice to see you too,” Cora shifted in her chair to fac
e him completely.
The corner of Xave’s mouth turned up and he continued, “You’re going to move something or someone through time. It isn’t as hard as it looks--just a bit cumbersome to make sure you’ve got a good hold on something, and be aware of two objects instead of one.” Cora was both intrigued and excited to practice her time bending again. She stood up and began to put away her pile of books. Xave came over to help as she blew out the candle without thinking. “Ugh, sorry, habit.” She reached in front of her to find the candle and Xave placed his hand on hers and stopped her. “It’s no problem.” Just as he did after she was summoned for her second Reading, Xave pulled Cora close, and moved them downstairs before she could fully grasp what was going on.
Cora stood in silence outside the library when they’d stopped moving. She wasn’t sure what to say. “Okay, Cora. I want you to take me back to your room,” Xave said plainly, and she nearly choked. “You’re going to try to move me through time. It’s late and I don’t want to make you take me to my home and then have to return.” Cora swallowed. Of course. He was trying to be considerate. “Do you want me to walk you through it?” Xave almost sounded impatient again, which was oddly comforting. Cora shook her head, “I think I understand the basics. Sorry in advance if I bump into anything or drop you out onto the campus somewhere.”
She took a deep breath and moved to put her arm around his torso. She could feel muscle underneath the thin material of his shirt, and for a moment she was unsure how she should hold onto him. Cora closed her eyes and focused on how she and Xave, not just she, stood within the space around them. She saw how the breeze moved the trees outside and mentally mapped out the space between the library and living quarters. As usual, her blood began to buzz when she opened her mind and reached for her magic. “Since I’m larger than you, it will be helpful if I step with you, at least to get us going,” Xave spoke softly. Cora paused and then let her magic take over. “Now,” she commanded, and they both lifted a foot off the ground. Cora expertly avoided any roadblocks and arrived with Xave in tow at her door at an astonishing speed. She stepped back and looked up at him. “Well?” He smiled, “I think you understand the basics.”
