The Climb by D. R. Perry

Author:D. R. Perry [Perry, D. R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: LMBPN Publishing
Published: 2023-07-10T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

The string of days between Rec Week and Halloween flew by. Classwork was intense but nothing I couldn’t handle. Especially after Sadie organized a study group meeting each Sunday night.

Teaching made learning come easier, at least for me. Sharing ideas in discussions we often didn’t have time for at school boosted everybody’s understanding.

In Registries, I learned more about the director-general’s role, specifically about investigating or verifying extramagi and how that had changed over the last handful of years. The office’s scope had widened to include other extrahumans, including magical shifters and changelings with talents or elemental magic.

Appointments were no longer required to happen at a school. Instead, they could be at a medical office. Mia nodded when I brought this up on one of our garden dates the week before Halloween.

“I made my appointment earlier today. It’s with my neurologist, Dr. Silver. Partly because he suspects the migraines are associated with my magic, but also because it’s the second most comfortable place to be if I get one.”

“Professor Watkins also said you’re allowed to have people there with you.”

“Yes. Sid—I mean, my father is coming to mine. I messaged Mat about it on the way here, but he said months ago that he’d go. Would you mind coming too?”

“I’ll be there. Where and when?”

“In December, the second to last Friday of the school year, an hour after school. It’s in Dr. Meister’s building but upstairs.”

“That’s when I’m due to re-enchant my bracelet, but right after school.”

“I guess we’ll both have company at our appointments.”

“You don’t have to go to mine. It’s the energy part, not the on-and-off switch.”

“I want to.”

“Well, thank you. It feels adulty, going to medical appointments together.”

“Yes. In a good way, though.”

We continued the work we’d been doing, putting the personalized touches on our costumes for the Masquerade Ball at the Hawthorne Hotel. After we finished, we stopped for hot cider from a street vendor on the way back to Hawthorn.

The dance was on Saturday, a public event that only third years and their dates from the magical schools could attend. Cristina got us all excited by group texting us about it while we got ready. She’d been there with Pip last year.

It lived up to the hype. The ballroom wasn’t enormous, as Sam had implied when he’d turned it down as a wedding venue. That was fine since the entire first floor of the hotel accommodated the event. Portable parquet covered the lobby and hallway carpet with club lights overhead. Magipsychic screens on the walls let ballgoers in those areas see and hear the DJ and band.

As in previous years, Auraleus Voltaire played the event. Christian, the ghostly goth and New Wave DJ from Koto filled his off-set time. I could see him thanks to Feles, but it was easy to imagine what he looked like for most of the guests. A floating headset that spun tunes as if by magic, or at least invisibly.

As spectacular as the setup and music were, I was more interested in everyone’s costumes.

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