Chapter 818: I Can Help
Chapter 818: I Can Help
By the time Liam returned to his dormitory building, that irritation had settled firmly beneath his skin.The walk back had not helped. The cold outside had been sharp, mean-spirited, and persistent, the kind that slipped into every space between coat, collar, and skin as if personally invested in making him hate the season more. He had kept fire-aligned Myst moving inwardly to preserve warmth, but the effort only made the weather feel more insulting. A person should not have to use magic simply to cross academy grounds without being harassed by air.
He climbed the stairs to his floor without speaking to anyone, ignored the few students in the lounge who glanced his way, and reached his room with the same flat expression he wore when the world had tested his patience one too many times in a day.
He unlocked the door and stepped inside.
Mabel was seated in one of the chairs near the desk, which was unusual enough to make Liam pause. She had not taken her more recent favorite place atop the wardrobe, though the wardrobe still looked as though it belonged to her now by right of repeated occupation. Instead, she sat comfortably with one leg crossed over the other, a book open in one hand.
Nyxie lay curled on her lap in her small dragon form, apparently napping with all the confidence of a creature who believed she had conquered both shadow and royalty. Her wings were folded loosely along her sides, her tail curled around Mabel’s wrist, and her head rested against the fabric of Mabel’s uniform. Every so often, a faint little rumble came from her throat, less a growl than a sleepy purr.
Mabel did not look up from her book when Liam entered.
"Good evening," she said calmly.
Liam closed the door behind him and stood there for a moment, his gaze moving from Mabel to Nyxie and back again. "Were you not supposed to be handling a mission from Her Majesty?"
"I am," Mabel said, turning a page.
Liam stared at her.
Mabel’s eyes moved along the page before she added, "Or rather, I was. The mission was redirected to another agent."
"Why?"
"Probably because I handled one two days ago," Mabel said. "And probably mainly because my main duty here is protecting you."
Liam watched her for another second, then gave a faint hum. He did not look surprised, only mildly thoughtful, as if filing the answer away among several other things he had no immediate need to address.