Chapter 17

Marelda's POV

This boy is something else. As I listened to his theories on elementals and Selene's magic, I was entirely blown away. This sounded like something we'd learn in advanced magical theory classes—something I'd never take because I'm crap at theory and it would only make me miserable. I much prefer practical application.

"So what will you do, then?" I asked.

"I'll wait," he said. "Not much I can do. It'll be annoying, but I can wait just fine. Now, do you have any plans today?"

"No, why?" Well, I did have a bit of homework, but it was winter break, meaning I had a few weeks to take care of that.

"Because I'm bored and would like company as I wander around town. You game?"

"Why not?" I shrugged.

His smirk had something wicked about it. "Have you ever been to Odd Types?"

Only Luca. I swear, only him. As it happened, previous to this I'd never been to the local second hand bookstore, Odd Types. It was similar to Random's Items, but with a little more organization. If anything, I now had an idea of what to get him for Midwinter.

It wasn't my ideal Saturday to spend it searching through hundred of books, but I have to say I enjoyed it. It was entertaining watching Luca get so excited about interesting books he'd find. He had his hair clipped back from his face (I did some mandatory teasing about him owning girl hair clips), and was sifting through piles of books, showing my interesting things he'd found.

"How do you afford so many books?" I asked upon learning that he often bought a book a week. "And where in heck do you keep them?"

"I've got an allowance that appears in my room once a month, and it's more than enough to buy a book a week," he said, not looking up from the stack he was looking through. "And I've got a pocket dimension storage for them. Never lose them, never have to worry about leaving them behind if I have to leave. It's handy."

What the heck! Pocket dimensions are incredibly high level magic. Mine was created by Barin, and I'd never be capable of creating my own, at this rate. It required an incredibly deep understanding of dimensional theory, and could go very wrong if not done correctly.

"Wait, how in heck did you get permission for that?" My eyes widened. "You did get permission, didn't you?"

He looked up at this and snorted. "Of course I did, I'm a rule breaker, not a law breaker. Rules are made to be broken, law's made to uphold general order. I may have lied a bit when I did this, but I told the headmaster I was doing it either way, so he might as well give me permission."

I shook my head. "You are way too familiar with the headmaster."

"It works in my favor more often than not." He shrugged, turning back to the books. "Oh look! This is a first edition copy of Magics of Early Post Dimensiva. I've only been able to find second editions, I'm definitely getting this one. But…there's also this one." He held up a worn book that had Theory of Dimensional Travel. "It was published before transfer technology was created. It's been referenced in a few other books of mine. Which do you think I should get?"

"Why not get both?" I asked.

"I'd break my one a week rule," he replied. "I don't want to do that."

"Then get the older one, you said it was hard to find."

He nodded, taking it into consideration. "True. Okay, PD Magic it is." He put the other book back in the stack and headed to the front to pay. I made sure he was gone, then beckoned the helper over.

"Put this on hold for me, will you? I'll be back tomorrow to purchase it," I whispered. Well, gift found.

Luca's POV

Marelda came up just as I finished my purchase.

"What took you so long?" I asked, accepting the bag from the clerk.

She held up a book. "My sister loves faery tales, the original, gritty ones. Figured she'd like this, and since Midwinter is Monday. I was having trouble finding something for her. I was going to mail them tonight through the magic transports, since I'm staying at the academy during break."

I froze. Midwinter. I'd totally forgot. People get their friends presents for Midwinter. Crap. I should probably have gotten Marelda one. This is a problem. A big problem.

What would she even want? She doesn't seem like the jewelry type, unless it perhaps was a disguised weapon. She didn't have an interest in books past her classwork. Why is she so hard to shop for?

I wonder if I could slyly ask her what she wanted. "Ah, Midwinter. That."

Authoress: How eloquent, Luca, honestly.

Shut up.

Authoress: Don't be like Elias, now!

Then don't make fun of me.

Authoress: Someone's suddenly grumpy, aren't you? If you don't know what to get her, ask for help.

Wow. That's actually a good idea. But who would I ask?

Authoress: Searching for a gift for an unusual female? Ask other unusual females. Authoress out!

"Luca?"

I looked up. In Selene's words, I totally spaced. "Yes?"

She held up her bag slightly. "You ready to go?"

"Oh, yeah. Where next? You choose."

I burst into the school's little dance studio. It was originally a classroom, but it got remodeled into a dance room a few years back. I found the two people I was looking for.

"I need to cash in a favor can you help me?" I blurted it without a pause.

Helice—who was mid-stretch—looked over at me, brows furrowed. Dessa, who was sitting in a corner playing with some sort of potted plant, jumped at the sudden opening of the door.

"What the crap!" Dessa threw a small fistful of dirt in my direction, but it fell a few feet short seeing as she was across the room. "Knock!"

"Sorry," I replied sheepishly. "I'll do that next time, if need be."

Helice tapped loudly on the floor, and Dessa sighed. "I'll clean it up."

"Allow me." I pulled my wand out and waved it, and the dirt collected itself into a compact little ball and floated over to the blind girl, landing next to her pot.

Helice tapped the floor. "She wants to say she's impressed with the wordless magic," Dessa relayed. "So, what is it you need?"

"Will you please stop laughing. This is serious." I sighed rubbing my eyes. It was Sunday morning, about nine-thirty. I'd met Dessa and Helice at the edges of the gates.

"I still can't believe you forgot people exchange gifts on Midwinter!" Dessa snickered. "And here you are, begging for help finding one last minute."

Helice was smiling slightly, her expression conveying amusement at my predicament.

"Well, it's not like I've ever done this sort of thing before. It's a new experience, so spell me if I'm a little unprepared." I started walking forward as the teacher who was manning the gate waved us through. Security was incredibly lax during the holidays. Then again, only about twenty percent of the students stayed over the winter break.

Helice tapped Dessa's arm. "I was thinking the same thing. You've never exchanged Midwinter gifts? No friends, family? Nothing?"

I shook my head. "No family I've ever known, and not many friends. Never had the need. And I wouldn't even need your guy's help if Marelda weren't incredibly difficult to shop for."

Speaking of my buddy, I was to meet her this evening. Apparently there was a little Midwinter's eve party some of the students were having. It was a sort of game night Maeghan was making Marelda attend, and she invited (read: ordered) me to come.

Helice looked at me with wide, sad eyes. It made me uncomfortable. She tapped Dessa and the blind girl nodded. "I agree."

"With…what?" I inquired, feeling quite suspicious.

"Nothing you need concern yourself with," she replied, pushing her shoulder-length white-blonde hair behind her shoulder. "Screw this, Helice, can you be a dear and braid this back real quick? I'm most certainly getting it cut next week, when we get home."

The three of us paused for a minute as the dancer wove the other girl's hair into a simple braid, trying it off with a ribbon she'd pulled from seemingly nowhere.

I wonder if I should get these two small presents, for helping me out today. I thought it through, and I definitely have enough on me to do so, as long as they aren't extravagant. I think I will, and it's easy to come up with some for them. Something pretty, like a new neck or hair ribbon for Helice, and some odd seeds for Dessa.

But what to get Marelda? The girl just had to be so darn tough. Well, this is why I asked these two for help.

"So, as you two know," I began as we started walking again. "I have absolutely no idea what to get Marelda. Weapons, the most obvious choice, are out, because I highly doubt I can find anything in town she doesn't already have a least one, if not two of. Then, she's not much of one for trinkets or anything else she'd deem 'useless'."

"Hmm. So she likes practical, eh?" Dessa mused. "Perhaps something that instead of being for offense, something that's for defence. A protective charm. You're pretty smart, so you could even place the spells down yourself, and just find a normal necklace or something and enchante it with protective spells. She's a warrior-in-training, right? My uncle is a warrior mage, and he says that he's seen lots of green warriors saved because a loved one gave them an charmed amulet."

I nodded my head. That was actually a pretty good idea. And perhaps doing the spellwork myself would make it more personal, and therefore make up for my lack of planning. "That's a pretty good idea. I think it might just work."

Helice waved a hand to get my attention. Once she had it, she pointed at me, and then tugged her choker-style ribbon.

"Make it a choker?" I asked. She nodded.

"Loose hanging necklaces can get in the way, or get caught on things, unless they're tucked under something. Besides, most warriors would want to chance something like that. Easy to grab and yank, effectively hurting their throats. A choker, which is flat against skin, would help. And the chain or ribbon can be small, just this big." Dessa held up her hand, putting two fingers about the width of her pinky apart. "Subtle, simple, practical."

"Perfect," I said, already thinking of what I could do. General protection spells, of course, which were easy enough. Maybe I could add something that would help slow bleeding from open wounds, or something that would help fend off exhaustion? I could easily ask Nurse Asta about those. Yes, this would work quite nicely. "You two are good at this, thanks."

Dessa waved a hand dismissively. "Not a problem. You're a pretty decent dude, so we dont' mind helping you out. I mean, you got creepsie-Magsie put on probation. I've got to have a least a little respect for the guy who did that. Besides, you panicking because you forgot about a present is entertaining."

I rolled my eyes, knowing she couldn't see. Helice did, however, and bit her lip to stave off a smile.

Who would've thunk it, me hanging out with a blind girl and a mute girl I'd only officially met last week because I needed shopping help. Of all the things.