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If I have a choice between tests, I’ll pick a dialogue or mathematical challenge before accepting a combat challenge. In the unfortunate event that I’m stuck in a combat challenge, I’ll try to run if there’s anything bigger than a goblin. Possibly even if it’s a goblin, depending on how mean he looks. Spike traps are not my friends. Spike traps are the enemy. I will avoid them at all costs.
There is no fencing term I’m aware of for drawing a pistol and shooting your opponent in the face, but that was what it felt like when I heard his final words.
Social interaction, however, would not be so easily denied. It was a pesky creature, incessant in its hunt.
It was too early for me to interact with the living, and in spite of my general fondness for Sera, she still was another entity and thus a toll on my exhausted mind.
“That’s your idea of a good line? Please, Corin. I know you haven’t been to a school in years—” “That’s low, ‘sister’—” “—but even you should have higher standards for dramatic monologues. You never know when you might need one.”
A tall, hooded figure dressed in all black was standing in my doorway. A wickedly curved knife was in their right hand. My first thought was, “Why is there an assassin in my doorway?” Quickly followed by, “Ohreshassassinquicklyduelingcane.” I’d been warned to be prepared for threats, so I had my dueling cane within reach. I reached. I knocked it on the floor. Welp, life over. I’d like to say it’s been fun.
She snapped her fingers and vanished in a jet of smoke. “Huh.” I examined the smoke. “I thought that only theatrical villains did that.” Jin reached down, picking up the fallen potion vial. “Evidently, that woman is a theatrical villain.”
In terms of firepower, there were a lot of options. Mages, unsurprisingly, loved researching new and exciting ways to explode things just as much as anyone else.
I felt my hands quiver at the unexpected contact. I... wasn’t used to being touched in a way that didn’t involve violence, at least not in the last few years. It helped that it was Sera. I pictured when we’d held hands as children. It had been perfectly normal, even comforting, when we were little. I hadn’t associated touching with pain back then.
“Ah, it’s the prodigy of idiots.” I barely resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “And a good morning to you too, professor. As always, your kind words bring warmth to my frigid heart.” She folded her arms. “Don’t you snark at me, boy. There’s only one seat for snark in this office, and I’ve had it claimed for quite some time.” “I suppose a duel of wits for the chair is out of the question.” Vellum chortled. “Please, child. Have you ever heard the phrase ‘death of a thousand cuts’? That’s what the last fool who challenged me got, though the truth was that he could only comprehend one jab in those
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No amount of reassurance could completely neutralize an irrational fear.
I raised my free hand over my heart. “I’ll have you know that I almost considered participating in a play once. I’m practically a professional.”
“I’d gathered that from the fact that you look like you just found a group of assassins in your breakfast.” I nodded sagely. “Delicious, but suspicious.” Sera’s lips twisted into a half-smirk. “That rhyme was a little weak, but I’ll give you credit for effort.”
Oh, the sharpness of my wit. Truly it cuts me more deeply than any other.
After a while of studying in that room, I came to the belated realization that Derek and Vera were flirting nearby. And by “I came to the realization”, I mean Derek eventually told me, “We’re flirting, can we please have some space?” Fair enough, Derek. Fair enough. So, I, Corin Cadence, master of understanding human mating rituals, left that room to the two of them and tried not to think about that too much.
