33. Preparation is Key

Preparation is Key

A s we step out of the restricted section, I clutch the torn page tightly in my hand, guilt simmering in my chest. I mean, who ruins books unless they're completely desperate? Apparently, me. I shake the thought off as we make our way back to the dorm, but the feeling lingers like a bad aftertaste.

Sebastian walks beside me, casual as ever, but there's something about his calm presence that helps me relax. The sun's already starting to set, and classes are officially done for the day. Students are everywhere, heading home in clumps or alone, talking about their day or plans for the weekend.

I check my phone for what feels like the millionth time—still nothing from Derek. A tiny spark of worry flares up. It's not like him to go radio silent for this long.

Sebastian glances at me, raising an eyebrow. "You know, you could just call him."

I shake my head, slipping the phone back into my pocket. "If he's still getting chewed out by his parents, I doubt he's in the mood for a chat. He'd have messaged me if everything was fine by now."

Sebastian hums in agreement but doesn't push it. Instead, we keep walking, the sounds of other students filling the space between us.

I check the time, and a thought crosses my mind. "I'll check in on him later," I say, more to myself than to Sebastian. "Right now, I need to find somewhere to practice this new spell and work on some counters."

Sebastian nods, falling into step beside me. "Makes sense. You'll need to be prepared for tomorrow."

I glance at him, his easygoing demeanor keeping me grounded, even when my brain wants to spiral into worry about Derek or Kyla's inevitable takedown. "Thanks for coming with me," I say, offering him a small smile.

Sebastian smirks back, his eyes sparkling behind those glasses he's still wearing. "Wouldn't miss it for the world. Plus, you know me—I'm always up for a little chaos."

I laugh softly. "Yeah, I bet you are."

As we walk, I start thinking about where to practice. I know it needs to be somewhere secluded—somewhere we won't get caught. The last thing I need is for someone to report me for unauthorized spellcasting. My mind races through possible locations.

Sebastian interrupts my thoughts. "You thinking about that abandoned courtyard near the south side of campus? It's usually empty."

I blink, surprised. "I was actually."

He chuckles. "Great minds think alike."

I give him a playful nudge. "I'm pretty sure that's just because we're both troublemakers."

He grins, not denying it.

After a quick stop by my dorm to grab my wand and change into something a bit more practical for spellcasting—no help from Sebastian, thank you very much—we head down toward the south side of campus. My new gear is much better suited for what I've got planned: fitted black leggings, a cropped hoodie, and my trusty sneakers. If I'm about to throw some serious magic around, I need to be able to move without worrying about tripping over myself.

Sebastian leans against the doorframe as I finish adjusting my hoodie. "You know," he says, "I kind of miss the black dress."

I roll my eyes, smirking. "Save it for later, Romeo. We've got work to do."

He grins, pushing off the wall as we make our way toward the courtyard. The walk isn't too long, but the sun's dipping lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the old stone pathways. The courtyard we're heading to has a bit of a reputation, mostly because it's been abandoned for years after some... less-than-ideal events.

When we get there, it's as eerie as ever. The courtyard is hidden behind a wall of overgrown ivy, with cracked stone pillars and half-collapsed benches scattered around. Once upon a time, this place was used for duels and combat magic practice—until some witch accidentally summoned a storm that took out half the courtyard, leaving it in shambles. Apparently, it was too dangerous to rebuild, so the school just blocked it off, and it's been mostly forgotten ever since.

I glance around at the dilapidated stone arches and the broken fountain in the center. "You know," I say, my voice echoing off the empty walls, "this place has character. I kind of dig the vibe."

Sebastian raises an eyebrow, following my gaze. "You like ruins?"

I shrug. "It's got a story, right? And hey, no one's going to bother us here."

"Fair point." He steps closer to the center of the courtyard, where the ground dips slightly. "Still, let's keep the storm-summoning to a minimum, yeah? I don't think they've fixed the lightning ward."

I chuckle, twirling my wand between my fingers as I follow him. "Don't worry, no storm-summoning today. Probably."

He watches as I start pacing, getting a feel for the space. "You really think you're ready for this?" he asks, his tone more serious now.

I glance at him, my confidence unwavering. "I have to be."

He smirks again, though this time it's softer. "Go easy on me when you practice, alright? I doubt you'd enjoy my company if I suddenly lost a few limbs. Or, you know... anything else."

I pause, then shoot him a wicked grin. "You mean that particular body part?"

Sebastian raises an eyebrow, his lips twitching upward. "Call it a valuable asset."

"Please," I snort. "As if I'd ruin that before we've even gotten more use out of it."

He laughs, the sound bouncing off the walls, but there's a genuine warmth behind it. "Glad to know you've got your priorities straight."

"Oh, trust me," I say, pointing my wand at him playfully, "I do."

The banter lingers in the air for a moment before I flick my wand toward an old column, sending a small spell its way. The pillar cracks slightly at the force, and I feel the buzz of magic settle in my veins. This is exactly what I needed. The tension, the release—magic flowing through me like an old friend coming home.

Sebastian watches me closely, arms crossed but eyes bright with intrigue. "Alright, show me what you've got. Just... spare the goods, yeah?"

I stand in the middle of the courtyard, my wand loosely held in my hand. It feels... strange. I haven't used it much since I learned to cast magic without one, and now that I'm here, preparing to go all out, I can feel the tension in my fingers. The weight of it is different from when I just use my hands. It feels more deliberate, more powerful. Maybe that's why I've avoided it for so long.

Sebastian stands a few paces away, arms crossed, watching me with that same smug look. "You gonna stare at the thing all day, or are you actually going to cast something?"

I give him a look. "I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm a little hesitant here. It's been a while since I've gone full wand-mode."

He shrugs. "Can't be that scary. I mean, what's the worst that could happen?"

I raise an eyebrow at him. "You really want to know the worst?"

His grin widens, clearly enjoying himself. "Enlighten me."

Without another word, I flick my wrist. No incantation, no warning. Just a tiny twist of my wand, barely a movement at all.

CRACK.

A bolt of lightning shoots from the tip of my wand, striking a nearby pillar dead-center. The stone crumbles into dust, the air thick with the smell of charred rock.

Sebastian's grin falters as he takes a step back, his eyes flicking between the destroyed pillar and me. "...Okay, I take it back. Maybe don't use that on me."

I smirk, lowering my wand just slightly. "You're lucky you've got vampire speed. That thing wasn't even targeted, and I'm pretty sure you could've dodged it."

"Pretty sure?" he echoes, the humor creeping back into his voice. "I'd prefer guarantees when it comes to dodging lightning bolts, thanks."

I laugh, twirling the wand in my hand as I consider my next move. "You want guarantees? Maybe I should work on some targeting enchantments. How about a little Veritas Percutio ?"

"Veritas Percutio?" he repeats, crossing his arms as he leans against a cracked pillar. "Isn't that a truth-based tracking spell?"

"Yep." I nod, feeling a little more confident now. "Basically, the spell seeks out its target, and the truth of their location is revealed. If Kyla tries to dodge, the spell will follow."

Sebastian's smirk returns. "You plan on chasing her down with a lightning bolt?"

I shrug, raising my wand again. "Maybe not lightning, but something a little more... precise." I take a deep breath, feeling the magic pulse through me. " Veritas Percutio ," I murmur, flicking my wand in a quick, sharp motion. A bright, glowing orb of light forms at the tip, then shoots forward, curving around Sebastian with ease before colliding with the remains of the pillar I'd just destroyed. The light pulses, growing brighter as it hovers over the rubble.

Sebastian whistles. "Impressive. But does it actually track people?"

I glance at him, smirking. "You offering to be a test subject?"

"Absolutely not," he says quickly, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "I like my body parts right where they are, thanks."

I laugh, lowering the wand again. "Fair enough. But I might work that spell into my arsenal for tomorrow. Kyla's not going to know what hit her."

Sebastian nods, still watching me with interest. "What else are you planning to throw at her? I assume you've got more than just lightning bolts up your sleeve."

"Of course," I say, adjusting my stance. "I'm not just aiming for power, though. I need versatility, too. Something to keep her on her toes." I flick my wand again, this time aiming for a patch of cracked stone near the fountain. " Lux Vinculum! " I shout, and glowing chains of light shoot from the ground, wrapping around the fountain and pulling tight.

"Binding spells, too, huh?" Sebastian comments, stepping closer to inspect the glowing chains. "That'll come in handy if she tries to run."

"That's the idea." I nod, admiring the way the chains pulse with magic. "Plus, they're reinforced with a little anti-hex magic. Good luck breaking free from that."

He looks impressed, his eyes flicking between the chains and my wand. "I can see why Derek warned me about your wand skills now. You're like a one-witch army."

I shrug, trying to play it off, but there's a flicker of pride in my chest. "I don't know about an army, but I know my stuff."

"Clearly." He steps closer, his voice dropping slightly. "But you might want to save some of that energy for tomorrow. Don't want to tire yourself out."

I chuckle, twirling the wand between my fingers again. "I've got plenty of energy left, don't worry."

Sebastian's smirk returns, and he leans in a little closer, his voice low. "Just promise me you won't blow me up by accident."

I roll my eyes, poking him with the tip of my wand. "As long as you don't give me a reason to."

"Deal." He steps back, crossing his arms again. "Alright, what's next on your spell-testing list?"

I think for a moment, considering my options. "How about Glacies Vinculum ? A freezing chain spell. Perfect for immobilizing someone mid-fight."

Sebastian raises an eyebrow. "And that's... different from the light chains how?"

"Different material, different effect." I shrug. "The light chains just bind. The ice chains freeze, making it harder to break free. Plus, they're less predictable."

I point my wand at another cracked pillar, murmuring the incantation under my breath. " Glacies Vinculum! " Frost-covered chains burst from the ground, wrapping tightly around the pillar and covering it in a thick layer of ice. The temperature around us drops, a faint mist forming as the ice spreads.

Sebastian steps back, looking impressed. "Alright, I can see why Kyla might be in trouble."

I lower my wand, satisfied with the result. "She's definitely going to have a hard time dodging this."

"Good," he says, a hint of satisfaction in his voice. "But don't forget—she's going to be pulling out all the stops tomorrow. You can't afford to hold back."

I nod, my mind already racing with strategies. "I won't. I'm ready."

"Good." He steps closer again, his eyes dark and serious. "Because I want to see you win. And I want her to pay for everything she's done."

I meet his gaze, my grip tightening on my wand. "She will." For a moment, we stand there in the abandoned courtyard, the air heavy with the weight of what's to come. Then, with a flick of my wrist, I dispel the ice chains and take a deep breath.

"Alright," I say, tucking my wand into my waistband. "That's enough practice for today. Let's go find Derek and figure out our next move."

Sebastian nods, his smirk returning. "Lead the way, witch."