Zoe Baxter ran her tongue across her lips. “Indeed. You don’t use a focus when ‘stepping’?”
Eva shook her head. “Never been in a position to get one, nor have I needed one. Is that a problem?”
“All magic at Brakket is taught with a wand,” she said while marking down additional notes, “but students are free to adapt to any focus they wish to specialize in. Fociless magic, on the other hand, is almost unheard of.” She stopped writing and gave a pointed look. “Are you entirely human?”
With a noncommittal shrug, Eva said, “I’m pretty sure both my parents are human. You’ve met my father. My mother is deceased, but I don’t think she was anything special.”
“Hmm,” Zoe marked down another note. “Now then, where did you learn all this?”
“Books.” At Zoe’s raised eyebrow, Eva continued, “I currently live out of a hundred year old hospital turned retirement home that has been condemned since before I was born. There is a hidden bookshelf that had a handful of books.” Not a complete lie, even if the hidden bookshelf was installed by Eva.
“Well the age would explain the runes,” Zoe mused. “In any case, we can discuss that later. Per your earlier question, I am indeed here to recruit you, as you put it.
“Brakket has a fund set aside to offer a scholarship of sorts to talented individuals such as yourself. It is a six-year schooling with optional summer classes to catch you up on any nonmagical interests you may have. We provide room and board on campus..”
Eva nodded. “That sounds good,” she said, “but as much as I want to say yes right now, there is someone here I cannot simply abandon. At least not without speaking to and making sure they can handle themselves while I’m away.” It was downplaying the issue a bit. While her master would likely not blink an eye if she ran off, he would definitely hunt her down. He would not be so passive as to allow his life’s work to go to waste.
“If I can give you the answer tomorrow,” Eva continued, “I am meeting with them tonight.”
Zoe considered for a moment. She clasped her hands together and held them just under her nose. “And if I ask,” she finally said, “you won’t tell me.”
Eva shook her head. “Perhaps after I speak with them, with their permission.”
“Very well.” Zoe reached into her suit and withdrew a folded pamphlet. “Some additional information for you, plus a card with my name on it. Tap it three times and I will come find you.” She stood across the table. “I’ve got another student in the area to acquire.” She extended her hand. “You have three days Miss Spencer.”
“Eva, please,” she said as she nodded and shook her offered hand. “I look forward to our next meeting.”
—
Most people would be terrified of entering a hospital turned retirement home turned abandoned horror building. It would be perfectly reasonable for them to feel that way. The possibility of running into trigger happy squatters or teens looking for a cheap thrill or cheap makeout spot, not to mention the creepy atmosphere such a place exuded.
Yet the former McKinzie Retirement Center was the only place Eva felt at home.
The runes were usually enough to keep the miscreants away. Even if they failed, blood magic permeated the entire second floor. People who weren’t Eva… well, she wouldn’t envy their experience.
Still, you couldn’t be too careful. Eva flipped through a book in the main lobby. Each room in the building had an accompanying page that would list occupants. Her name in the lobby was the only filled in page. She replaced the book in a drawer, careful not to disturb the layers of dust.
Eva headed up to the second floor. She kicked off her shoes and left them at the top of the stairs. The first floor might still look like it hadn’t been touched in twenty years, but Eva spent time and effort cleaning the second floor.
Eva slouched off her book bag in her room and headed straight for the shower, shedding her clothes as she went. She twisted the shower head just enough to complete the runes she etched into the inside of it. Soon enough she was soaking under the hot water.
Sighing, Eva turned off the water and walked out to dry herself. She picked up her clothes and dropped them in a hamper. Replicating a washing machine with runes was something she had significantly less success with. Instead, Eva relied on a small coin operated laundromat.
Eva pulled her work clothes out of the wardrobe. The pants were some rugged hiking pants she had borrowed from a sports store. Her boots were generously donated by the same store.
