Chapter 153: The Elemental Theory

Cressida's pov

The classroom was warm and the candles were bright and the air was thick with the smell of old parchment and ancient magic.

I had never been in this room before and the walls were covered in symbols and the floor was covered in runes and the ceiling was covered in constellations. The desks were arranged in a semicircle and the windows were tall and the view was vast and the world outside was white and cold.

I sat in the front row with my notebook open and my pen ready and my heart pounding. The frost was still there and the cold was still there and the fear was still there. But the curiosity was there too. The curiosity of what this class would bring and the curiosity of who would be in it and the curiosity of what I would learn.

The door opened and Professor Verena walked in.

She was tall and slender and her hair was silver and her eyes were bright and her presence was commanding. She wore robes of deep blue and her hands were adorned with rings and her voice was steady.

"Welcome," she said. "Welcome to Elemental Theory."

The class murmured and the energy shifted and the curiosity grew.

"Elemental Theory is the study of the elements and their connection to magic. Fire. Water. Earth. Air. And the fifth element. Spirit."

She walked to the center of the room and her robes brushed the floor and her eyes scanned the class.

"Today, we will be exploring the element of water. Its properties. Its power. Its connection to the cold."

I sat up straighter and my heart was pounding and my hands were shaking.

"The element of water is often misunderstood," she continued. "It is seen as soft and gentle. But water is also powerful. It can carve mountains. It can freeze solid. It can destroy and create in equal measure."

She looked at me and her eyes were sharp and her voice was steady.

"Cressida Ashcroft. Would you care to share your thoughts on the element of water?"

I stood and my hands were shaking and my voice was steady.

"Water is adaptable," I said. "It can be anything. It can be a gentle stream or a raging river. It can be a soothing rain or a devastating flood. It can be liquid or solid or gas. It is always changing and always the same."

She smiled and her eyes were bright and her voice was warm.

"Very good. You have a natural understanding of the element."

I sat down and my heart was pounding and my hands were shaking.

The class continued and the time passed and the knowledge grew.

Professor Verena spoke of the connection between water and cold and the way that cold could be used to control and protect. She spoke of the frost that forms on windows and the ice that covers lakes and the snow that blankets the world. She spoke of the power that lies within the cold and the danger that comes with it.

"Cold can be a shield," she said. "It can protect you from harm. It can freeze your enemies in their tracks. It can create barriers that cannot be broken."

She paused and her eyes scanned the class.

"But cold can also be a weapon. It can destroy. It can kill. It can consume everything in its path."

I looked at my hands and the frost was there and the cold was there and the fear was there.

"Cressida," she said. "Would you like to demonstrate?"

I stood and my hands were shaking and my voice was steady.

"I would like to try."

I raised my hands and the frost rose and the cold deepened and the air grew thin. The symbols on the walls flared and the runes on the floor glowed and the candles flickered. The frost spread across the room and the windows frosted and the temperature dropped.

The class gasped and the professor smiled and her voice was steady.

"Excellent. You have a natural gift."

I lowered my hands and the frost receded and the cold eased and the temperature rose.

"Thank you," I said.

"You are welcome."

The class ended and the students filed out and the room was quiet.

I gathered my things and my hands were shaking and my heart was pounding. The frost was still there and the cold was still there and the fear was still there. But the pride was there too. The pride of doing something well and the pride of being seen and the pride of being myself.

The door opened and Lucian walked in.

His face was tired and his eyes were dark and his hands were shaking. He crossed the room and stood beside me and his presence was steady and his voice was low.

"Cressida."

"Lucian."

"I saw your demonstration."

"You saw my demonstration."

"It was impressive."

"It was something."

"Same thing."

He almost smiled and the expression was tired but real.

"Thank you," I said.

"For what?"

"For watching. For being here. For not running away."

He reached for my hand and his fingers were warm and his grip was firm.

"I will never run away."

We walked through the corridors and the torches flickered and the tapestries moved and the wolves stepped aside.

The whispers started immediately.

"Did you see her? In Elemental Theory?"

"I saw her. She was amazing."

"She froze the entire room."

"I heard she is the Alpha's mate."

"I heard she is a witch."

"I heard she is dangerous."

I kept walking and my head was high and my shoulders were straight.

Lucian walked beside me and his hand was in mine and his presence was steady.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"I am okay."

"You do not look okay."

"I will be okay."

We rounded the corner and the whispers faded and the world was quiet.

The night came and the fire crackled and the candles flickered and the room was warm.

I sat on the bed and Ember curled in my lap and her purr was soft and steady. Lucian sat beside me and his hand was in mine and his fingers were warm.

"Thank you," I said.

"For what?"

"For today. For the class. For being there."

He squeezed my hand and his voice was steady.

"I will always be there."

I leaned my head on his shoulder and his arm came around me and the world was quiet.

The frost was still there and the cold was still there and the fear was still there.

But the warmth was there too.

The warmth that was stronger than the frost and the cold and the fear.