Academy Arcanist (Astra Academy Book 1) by Shami Stovall

Academy Arcanist (Astra Academy Book 1) by Shami Stovall

Author:Shami Stovall [Stovall, Shami]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Capital Station Books
Published: 2022-08-22T16:00:00+00:00


Chapter 22

Professor Helmith

It felt like a dream made reality.

Professor Helmith walked into the room, and I couldn’t breathe. My chest tightened as I strode past all the other students. A few of them shot me odd sideways glances, but I didn’t care. I had been waiting to speak to Professor Helmith for what felt like an eternity.

Technically, the last time I had seen her had been month ago.

It felt like a lifetime’s worth of events had happened between then and now.

Would she be proud that I had become an arcanist?

“Professor?” I asked as I approached, smiling even though I was trying not to.

She turned to me, her lavender eyes striking. No one else had her color of eyes.

And she wore a sleeveless dress, revealing the blue and pink swirling tattoos flowing across the skin of her shoulders. No one else had those kinds of tattoos. What were they? Why had she gotten them? They were storm clouds, stylized and glittering.

Her inky hair, black as midnight, fell straight and beautiful all the way to her shoulder blades. None of her locks blocked her ethereal whelk arcanist mark. The spiral shell of her eldrin was woven between the seven points of her star.

Her eldrin wasn’t around, however.

Still, it was amazing to see her in person.

“I’m so happy to see you,” I whispered as I made it to her side.

But the expression she gave me afterward…

Professor Helmith pursed her lips and knitted her eyebrows. “Good morning. Please take your seat.”

She spoke as though she were talking to a stranger.

Ice ran through my veins.

Professor Helmith must have sensed my shift in mood. She tilted her head slightly and forced a smile. “Hm? Is something wrong?”

“Professor Helmith…” I found it difficult to speak. “It’s me. Gray.” When she didn’t immediately respond, I continued. “You helped me in my dreams.”

Maybe I looked different? Maybe in my dreams, my appearance was altered? Why would she stare at me as though I were insane? This wasn’t…

This wasn’t how she normally acted.

“Oh!” Professor Helmith placed a hand on her collarbone. “Gray. Yes. I’ve been meaning to discuss your dreams with you. But after class, all right? We’re already behind.”

“I…”

She reached out and touched my shoulder with a gentle graze of her fingertips. “I’m so sorry. I’ve been so busy these last few months. I’ll explain everything after class.”

For a brief moment, I almost believed her.

I wanted to.

By the good stars, I desperately wanted to think this was her.

But in my heart…

I knew this wasn’t Professor Helmith.

“Oh, of course,” I said as I stepped away. “Sorry. It’s just been forever since we spoke. I keep forgetting how busy you are.”

She smiled wider. “Excellent. We’ll speak afterward. Now, please take a seat.” She motioned to one of the tables.

I didn’t know how or why, but this woman was an imposter. Even the way she walked to the desk at the front of the room—it wasn’t with the fluid grace of a dancer. It wasn’t like Professor Helmith.

My head buzzed as I ambled my way over to a table.



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