“His name tag even says Stephen. Was that his name before?”
“Let’s just grab our books and get out of here.”
Juliana nodded. She kept expecting to run across someone or
What she could actually do to defend herself from a ghost, Juliana hadn’t the slightest idea. Nevertheless, she turned on her ferrokinesis spell the moment she set foot in the store.
One couldn’t be too careful after the mishap with the imp the other week.
That was a class Juliana could look forward to. Most practical magic classes over the previous year were simply below her skill level. She could see the combat class becoming one of her favorites if they actually practiced tactics and strategies.
If they sat around tossing spells at each other at a second year level… well, Juliana would deal with that if it happened. She had enough of that during Professor Kines’ mage-knight club.
“The least they could do is put all the school books together,” said Eva as Shalise pulled a book off the shelf for her. “I understand that this is a regular bookstore, but a shelf in the front along with a list sent by the academy would simplify everything.”
“I think they want us to browse and buy.”
Juliana frowned as she glanced over the titles on the shelf next to her. “All these are in the Rickenbacker Library. I’d assume they’re at the Gillet and the main library as well. In fact, the main Brakket library is more than twice the size of this entire shop.”
“Why do they need three libraries?”
“And three nursing centers? What about all the swimming pools and hot springs? Does anyone even use those?” Juliana shook her head. “Mom said that all the doorways were supposed to connect to the same buildings out in the Infinite Courtyard. I guess something went wrong. Like, disastrously so.
“When that failed, they should have consolidated it all into the main building. They should have spent money developing their marketing division instead of all the amenities that no one uses.”
“All that was probably from the marketing department,” Eva said. “They were trying to make the school more appealing than its competitors.”
“Why is Brakket in such low standing?” Shalise asked with a quirked head. “I don’t find anything wrong with it, unless you count z-zombies.”
“My mother said that most other schools teach much faster. Students casting elemental attacks by the end of the first year without problem. The pace Brakket takes causes people to look down on us.”
“What?” Shalise dropped half the books in her arms as she spun to face Juliana. “How?”
Juliana just shrugged. “I don’t go there. Mother insisted that Brakket’s methods were better in the end.”
The brunette all but deflated. She stooped down and picked up her books while mumbling under her breath. When she stood up, her head still hung slightly. “I wonder if Professor Baxter knows how they do it.”
“I’d assume so. She is the theory expert.”
“I’ll have to ask. She didn’t tell me when I was asking about tutoring last year,” Shalise sighed, “so I doubt she’d say anything now. I’ll try anyway.”
“I wouldn’t worry too much,” Eva said. She laid a gloved hand on Shalise’s shoulder and gave a light squeeze. “We’re already on the Brakket track. Arachne, Juliana, and I can handle most anything. Keep improving those runic gloves and you’ll be fine until you can use the thaumaturgical lightning.”
“Yeah,” Shalise said softly as they started heading towards the front counter.
Juliana set her own armful of books down and waited.
The last time they faced the owner of Toomey’s Tomes, he had no kind words to say and even less patience.
Yet the man at the counter just sighed and put down his book. He rung up their purchases without a word. Not even a ‘did you find everything alright.’
His sunken eyes didn’t linger on the group. The moment Shalise finished paying, he picked up his book and set to reading.
Even still, Juliana couldn’t wait to get out of the building. Maybe if they had proper lighting rather than the eerie faux candlelight and a working thermostat.
