Hey guys, my mom has taken a turn for the worst and im in the ICU with her.

  The next chapter is a banger ill try to finish it up this week. Thanks for all your support, it really means a lot to me right now

  Here's a teaser

  Chapter 29: Archives and Angels

  Akilliz woke to gray morning light and the lingering metallic taste in his mouth.

  He'd dreamed of the circle again. Or maybe he hadn't dreamed at all. Maybe he'd been standing over it, drawing, perfecting. The not-knowing was worse than the nightmares.

  He checked under his bed, even though he'd scrubbed the stone the night before. The lines were still visible. Faint, but there. The symbols etched as though carved by a master hand.

  Maybe he should ask Sylvara about it. But what would she say? What questions would that raise?

  No time for that now.

  Akilliz dressed slowly, pulling on his robes and gloves. His left arm was cold and heavy as always. The gray skin had cemented itself up to his shoulder. Soon he wouldn't be able to hide it with long sleeves—if it spread any higher, anyway.

  A week until the Festival.

  He grabbed his bag and headed for an early breakfast.

  The dining hall was half-empty at this early hour. Most students were still sleeping. Akilliz scanned the tables and found Kael sitting alone near the window, picking at a plate of fruit.

  Lirien's usual seat beside him was empty.

  Akilliz approached slowly. Kael looked up, and his expression went cold.

  "Can I sit?"

  "Free kingdom." Kael didn't look at him.

  Akilliz sat anyway. Set his bag down. Tried to figure out what to say but let the awkward silence consume them.

  "She didn't come to breakfast," Kael said quietly. "She's been crying. All night, from what I heard."

  Something should've twisted in Akilliz's chest at that. Guilt. Shame. Horror at what he'd done.

  "I was…crashing," Akilliz said. "From a speed potion. That's why I was... like that. Yesterday."

  Kael's head snapped up. "You were taking acceleration potions? Merlin's beard, Akilliz. Those aren't meant for—" He stopped. Lowered his voice as a passing student glanced their way. "Those things have demon essence in them. They're dangerous."

  "I made it myself. Didn't require any demon essence."

  Kael stared at him. "You can't make an acceleration potion without demon essence. It's the primary catalyst. Without it, you'd just have bitter herb water."

  Akilliz's mind raced back. The recipe he'd copied from Sylvara's office. His hurried handwriting in candlelight. The word he couldn't quite read.

  Lemon essence, he'd thought.

  But what if it should have been demon essence?

  The vial of dark liquid in Sylvara's workshop. The one that looked like blood.

  He'd used lemon essence. He was sure of it. Three drops of lemon essence. But the potion had worked anyway. The high, the crash, the effects—all real.

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  His mother's gift. It had to be. The blessing that let her transmute ingredients, create variations that shouldn't work. The lemon essence must have become what the potion needed because his gift had made it so.

  "How much does a potion need?" His voice came out strange and distant.

  "Three drops. Maybe four for a strong dose. Why?"

  Three drops. He'd used exactly three.

  "Akilliz?" Kael leaned forward. "Are you alright? You look—"

  "I'm fine." The lie came easily now. "I just... I made it without demon essence. Must've gotten the transcription wrong."

  "Where does demon essence even come from?" Akilliz asked, trying to sound casual.

  "Demons. Zolam has a source. He gives some to Sylvara in exchange for the potions. I've seen them exchange. She gives him five potions at a time which should last weeks. But he goes through them faster than he should." Kael frowned. "And she keeps asking him for more essence. Reckon she's trying to get ahead of his demands."

  "How much more?"

  "Last request I saw was for three bottles. One bottle would make dozens of potions." Kael shrugged. "Probably just stocking up."

  Akilliz's stomach turned. He forced himself to keep his expression neutral. "That's strange."

  "Yeah." Kael studied him. "Look, I don't know what's going on with you. But those potions are dangerous. Especially for mortals. They're addictive. They'll mess you up."

  "I know. I won't take them again."

  Another lie. He could already feel the temptation. The crash had been miserable, but the high, the clarity, the energy, the ability to function without the numbness dragging him down...if he could just perfect it…

  "Good." Kael pushed his plate away. "Now. Why are you here? Because if you want me to tell you where Lirien is so you can make things worse—"

  "I need your help."

  Kael's eyebrows rose. "With what?"

  Akilliz glanced around. The nearest students were three tables away, out of earshot. He leaned in anyway. "I'm getting the key from Sylvara this morning. For the archives."

  "Right. You mentioned that before."

  “I need to get my mother's journal. The one we found pages from, and i also need the dragons breath book."

  Kael went very still. "And you the sachel to smuggle it all out."

  "Yes. Thalindra asked me to bring her the key. To study it." Akilliz paused. "It's forged, Kael. Sylvara's key. It's a forgery."

  Kael's face went pale. "Oh gods. And you told the High Judiciar?"

  "I had to. She already suspected something."

  "Akilliz, if Sylvara finds out you reported her—"

  "I know. That's why she can't. But when I leave the archives, I'll be searched. They'll only let me take the Dragon's Breath book. I need to hide my mother's journal."

  "Right," Kael said. "Like we talked about before."

  "Exactly. Today's Rest Day. He'll be sleeping."

  "You want to steal from a sleeping archmage."

  "It was your idea! We just borrow it, we'll return it."

  "Akilliz, do you remember what happened the last time Zolam sneezed? During the Mistwood attack? He turned three dark elves to stone. They're probably still statues somewhere in the forest. If we wake him—"

  "We won't wake him. That's why I need your help. You're the only one who can help me get it."

  Kael stared at him for a long moment. "And if I say no? After how you've been lately?"

  "Then I'm caught with a stolen book and expelled. Maybe arrested."

  "Good. Maybe that'd keep you from making worse decisions, or breaking any more hearts around here."

  The words hit like a slap. But Akilliz couldn't feel the sting. Just observed it, distant and cold.

  "Please," Akilliz said quietly. "I know I don't deserve your help. I know I hurt Lirien. I know I'm asking too much. But I need this."

  Kael's jaw worked. Finally, he sighed. "Break her heart again, and I'll make it my life's purpose to get you back. You understand?"

  "I understand."

  "Do you know what she's risking?" Kael's voice was low, intense. "She wants to go on a date with you. In public. Do you even know what that really means for her?"

  Akilliz shook his head.

  "It means everything. She'll be shunned by her friends. Her family will be ashamed. Every elf in this city will know she chose a mortal. A human. And they'll judge her for it." Kael leaned closer. "She's pretty, Akilliz. She's smart. She's kind. Elf men would kill for a chance with her. And she hasn't given any of them even a passing smile since you two started talking. They all know. And when she goes on that date with you, they'll ALL know she chose you over them."

  The words should've made him feel honored. Humbled. Grateful beyond measure.

  He felt nothing.

  But he knew the right response. Knew what a person who still had feelings would say.

  "I'll try to be worth it," he said.

  Kael searched his face. Whatever he saw there made him frown. "You don't sound like yourself."

  "I'm tired. The potion crash—"

  "Right." Kael didn't sound convinced. "Fine. I'll help. But we'll need Lirien."

  "Why?"

  "Because Zolam's tower is in the alchemical wing. Multiple floors. Objects everywhere. If something goes wrong, we need her healing skills. And..." He hesitated. "And she needs to know we're doing this. She deserves to decide if she's in or out."

  "She won't want to help me."

  "Probably not. But I'll talk to her." Kael stood, grabbing his plate. "Meet us outside the alchemical tower. After second bell. I'll get Sylvara's lesson schedule—she should be teaching then, won't be around to see us."

  "Alright."

  "And Akilliz?"

  "Yeah?"

  "You better apologize to her. Actually apologize. Not whatever half-hearted thing you're planning."

  Akilliz nodded.

  Kael walked away, leaving him alone at the table.

  He should've felt anxious. Worried about the heist. Worried about Lirien hating him. Worried about Sylvara discovering the betrayal.

  He felt nothing.

  Just the cold weight of his left arm and the knowledge that he was walking a knife's edge between too many secrets.