In An Azure Mood

"You see? It’s all logic!" Clovis praises herself, her attention solely on the magic and not my clammy face. "Any Questions? Do you want to try it?"

"No, it’s very interesting, thank you but I’m not feeling up for it." I try to say my reply with as much haste as I can muster. 

Clovis stands up, dusting the chalk from her hands as the light on the slate fades. "No problem, one last demonstration for today, it's just a quick one. And I made sure to save the best till last!"

She holds up her left hand, turning it over to examine her fingernails, which are short and unadorned. A mischievous grin plays on her lips. 

She clears her throat, and for a moment, her posture changes. She becomes less like a teacher. She makes a small, elegant gesture with her right hand, a simple flick of the wrist.

"My touch is a priceless jewel. Beauty, flawless, at my fingertips. Adorn them in the evening star's blue.”

It’s just like when she healed my ankle but slower, I can actually understand what she is saying. And as she speaks the final word, a flash of dazzling blue light, no bigger than a firefly, dances over her fingertips. 

When it vanishes, it looks like her nails have transformed into brilliant sapphires.

Even through the fog of my nausea, I can’t believe what I am seeing.

"Wow." I manage to say, even though my voice is feeling a little hoarse. "How? How did that spell do that? They look like they’re made of gems!"

Clovis looks down at her nails, turning her hand back and forth. "Incantation magic is very good at changing existing things, though not always permanently. All magic comes at a cost but the cost of incantations is especially high. Incantations feed on your emotions, if you are not careful you can drive yourself mad.” Her expression is serious as she lifts her gaze from her nails.

“Well beauty always comes at a great cost too!” I try to ease the tension with a half hearted laugh whilst I gesture to her nails.

Clovis joins me in an equally tepid laugh “Thank you for the compliment, I appreciate it." 

For the first time, a flicker of genuine, personal warmth seems to strike down her academic zeal. "Is that deep purple your natural color? The red tips blend really well with it."

The compliment is so unexpected it catches me completely off guard. My nausea drowns for a second as a pleasant flutter graces my chest.

"Y-yes it is actually and thank you, I did it myself." I manage to mutter a simple reply. 

The room feels too hot and the air too thick. I know if I stay here any longer, I’m going to be sick right on her floor.

I press a hand to my stomach and slowly, unsteadily, push myself to my feet.

"Clovis, I… I’m not feeling very well." I say, the admission tasting like defeat. "I think I need to go home and lie down."

A look of immediate and profound guilt traverses her face. "Oh. Oh, of course. I’m so sorry, Shikara." she says, rushing to my side as I sway slightly. "I got carried away. That was far too much for a first lesson. I completely overwhelmed you, didn’t I?"

Her concern is so genuine it makes me feel even worse for cutting our lesson short.

"No, it’s fine." I reassure her, forcing a weak smile. "Honestly, it’s not you. I loved it. I loved your passion! Really. I just… I think my body just needs to catch up with everything else."

She still looks unconvinced, her brow contorts with worry, but she nods. "Okay. Go. Go and rest. We can try again in a couple days, when you’re hopefully feeling better. We’ll go much slower, I promise."

I bow my head to her slightly before turning and making my way to the door.

The cool evening air that greets me outside is a momentary relief, but the walk back to Orville’s house feels like the longest journey of my life. 

Every footstep seems to jostle the sickness inside me, a terrible incongruity between my eager mind and my protesting body.