Page 29 of Trivium

“Hmmm.”

The girl in the front row who looked startlingly like Zeina spoke. “What creature are you dealing with?”

“Why does that matter?” Kaplana asked curiously.

“Because if their magic is of the mind, they could be influencing the squad mate. Controlling the situation in their favor.”

The professor eyed her. “It’s Ahmina Ori, yes?”

The girl nodded.

“Go on.”

“It’s possible their mind is influenced by a creature. Which means it doesn’t matter what their impromptu strategy is as it can’t be trusted.”

“What if the creature has physical magic?” Kaplana lowered her glasses, looking Ahmina in the eyes.

Ahmina thought for a moment before speaking. “Even more reason to stick to the directive.”

“Why is that?”

Ahmina folded her hands in front of her. “Strategy is our first Defense, Alchemy our second. Slaying is third as it is much more physically risky for our Defenders. Alchemy should be attempted first. And there’s a possibility…”

“Possibility of?” Kaplana pushed, breaking the silence Ahmina fell into.

“The creature being a Rainback Shifter.” Hushed whispers fell over the room. “Undocumented, rumored really—but it can steal another creature’s body and magic. Some even say it can take on the qualities of two creatures at once, appearing as a creature with a physical ability, one that wouldn’t influence the squadmate, while using the magic of another creature to spin a story that benefits them, including pushing for a physical altercation.”

Impressed, Kaplana smiled. “Yes, very good, Ori. Our Defense team has never encountered a confirmed Rainback Shifter, but it’s in our best interest as Defenders not to rule it out. Next time, don’t speak out of turn.” Ahmina’s mouth tightened, but Zeina could feel her pride, even from the closet.

Students talked excitedly as they filed out of the Amphitheatre at the end of the lecture, their energy carrying them into the hallway. Zeina waited a couple minutes after the room had emptied before she released herself from the closet, climbing the steps in a hurry. But just as she was about to push through the giant wooden doors, they swung open and she ran headfirst into Rina Hashiluna, Professor of Alchemy.

20

ZEINA

“Ahmina. You startled me.” Zeina froze, unable to speak. Professor Hashiluna was one of the younger professors; if it weren’t for her clothes she could be confused for a student. Her shiny, straight black hair hung down to her waist, and her almond eyes glared down at Zeina. “I thought you were in my afternoon lecture.”

“Extra practice.” The lie was out of Zeina’s mouth before she could think about it. Professor Hashiluna sighed at her display of incompetence—or perhaps she thought it eagerness. Either way, she looked annoyed. “Alright, then. Take a seat.”

Zeina did what she was told and sat in the middle row. She considered sitting where Ahmina had in the previous lecture, but the thought of sitting at the front of the room where everyone could see her made her skin crawl. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, putting two and two together. The familiar face. The girl, Ahmina, looked so similar to her that Professor Hashiluna thought she was Ahmina.

She didn’t know what shocked her more: that the professor mistook her for Ahmina or that there was a lecture in the Amphitheatre immediately after the previous one. She had studied the schedule all week; there wasn’t supposed to be another lecture in this room for hours. Something was off.

Students trickled in, books in hand, and Zeina pretended to be very interested in something on her arm so that no one spoke to her. Finally, after what felt like forever, Hashiluna began.

“Welcome. It looks like you found the lecture despite our location change. Thank you for your adaptability as the Apothecary is temporarily unavailable.”

“Since when are you in this lecture?” The man beside her leaned in, talking over the professor's instructions. Zeina glanced at him quickly. He was lean, with windswept golden hair and a single tattoo of a phoenix on his inner forearm. Second year, if she had to guess based on his level of confidence. First years tended to wander around the campus like lost children. Even the more arrogant first years had a sort of nervousness about them, like a creature was about to jump out at any moment. This man looked relaxed compared to every first year she had seen.

Why would a second year be taking a first-year course? She was about to respond when the man said, “Couldn’t get enough of Hashiluna’s wrath, hey?” He lowered his voice. “I avoid this woman like the plague.”

He spoke to her like he knew her. Like he knew Ahmina. Think, think, think. Adrenaline flooded her veins; she was used to thinking on her feet but all she could squeak out was a short agreement.

“Where are your books? It’s not like you to go anywhere without them.”

She sat up straight, forcing herself to act more like Ahmina had in the previous class. Knowledgeable and eager to learn. “I don’t need them; everything I need to know for this lecture is in here.” She tapped her temple. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, before shrugging and leaning further back in his seat.

“Why are you in this lecture?” she asked, curious.