#periculum

“... and that is why I think you would make a good addition to the Academy, Miss Hart.” Headmaster Cromwell finished, stapling her fingers over her desk. “You were one of our finest students, and from what I heard, you gained quite a reputation on the field. Our students would appreciate learning from someone so talented at your age.”

I said nothing, only staring blankly at the wall behind her. There was a spider at the corner of the ornate ceiling, weaving its web. It was the little things that kept me grounded. 

Cromwell blinked, clearly expecting a response but receiving none. “Well then. Here is your schedule for the semester,” she slid a sheet across the desk to where I sat, “and your room assignment. You will be living with the other professors; if that is satisfactory?”

Again, I said nothing. 

Cromwell cleared her throat, starting to seem flustered. “Someone had a request to have you as their next-door neighbor. An Mx. Sanguine, I believe? They also requested to show you around the campus, just to refresh your memory.” 

Finally, that provoked a response out of me. I bit my lip, hard, until I could taste copper and my inner turmoil. 

Fuck. Rainier was still here. 

A soft knock sounded from outside the room, and Cromwell peered over my head to glance at the door. “Ah, that should be them. I leave you in capable hands, Miss Hart, and I hope to hear all about your first day soon.” And then she shuffled me out of the office into the hallway, where Rainier was waiting with an awkward grin. 

“Clark! It’s good to see you again, it’s been years.” Rainier ran a slightly trembling hand through their curls. 

They were taller now, their hair longer, their stubble has grown into a beard... 

“You got glasses,” I stated. 

They laughed, tapping the slim golden frames. “Yeah, I’ve become such a librarian huh? They’re enchanted to help relieve eye strain. For those days when I’m stuck in the stacks until late at night.” 

I said nothing, flexing my hands again and again. Rainier glanced down at the leather gloves, and then back to my face quickly. I raised an eyebrow and they coughed. 

“I guess we should get going, huh?” Rainier started walking down the hallway and I followed without a word. “Not much has changed since you left. Headmaster Cromwell offered me a job right after I graduated; said my skills would be useful in identifying artifacts, plus I teach a few classes on the side. It’s fun, and the kids are really great too. Oh! Darkmore finally retired, he said he had enough teaching brats who constantly set their eyebrows on fire proper evocation mag- Clark, are you okay?” 

Suddenly there I felt a sharp pain, and I realized that I was clenching my fists. I relaxed my hands, embarrassed. “I’m good.” 

Rainier looked worried. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have mentioned that, are you sure you’re okay? If you want to stop, I can take you to the staff apartments and you can rest in your room, or I could get you a glass of water, or-”

Frustration started to bubble up again. “Rainier!” I snapped, and they flinched in surprise. “I’m fine. Let’s keep going.”

A mix of emotions danced in their eyes, but finally, Rainier relented. “Alright. But let me know, okay?” 

I folded my arms, looking away.