Mistaken Consequences

Chapter 15: Thirty-four weeks

Vera sat in her high back leather chair in the Chancellor's office, eyes closed as she tried to remember the feel of this office. It would be her last time sitting here. She'd already cleared out all her personal affects, so the room was bare but it didn't lessen the feeling.

This seat was power. Maybe not the same as the Order, but just as exhilarating in its own way. This was power over Belgrave, over the students and staff and parents who had no clue about magic but listened to her all the same. It was more, in a way, because she'd been so young when she took up the office, was still so young in their minds, and she'd had to win them over without showing off her extensive power and magical knowledge. She'd been given the position, but they'd had no reason to trust her judgement. They'd learned.

With the spring semester over and the first of the summer terms already beginning, her duties had been spread between the Vice Chancellor and the heads of the various departments until her official replacement was selected. Given the normally high turnover rate of Temple Magi, most of whom only used the position as a stepping stone on their path to something higher, the Order run campuses were all trained to run like a well-oiled machine in the absence of their Chancellors, so Vera wasn't concerned about the school as a whole, though she would miss it.

The staff in the administration building had hosted a small party for her earlier in the week. Unlike those in the Order, her regular staff seemed to have been preparing for the eventuality of her leaving them and there had been no tears or dramatics, though she still got the impression that their fond farewells had been genuine. She would miss them as well. She'd never been particularly social outside of work, but she knew their faces and their voices, she knew their troubles and their stories. She would miss them far more than they would miss her.

The building was empty for the weekend, other than the distance hum of the janitorial staff, so Vera was already smiling when she heard the soft clip of dress shoes in the tile hallway. She waved open the door without waiting for a knock, revealing an elderly man in an expensive grey suit, a beautifully carved walking cane held in one hand.

Philip Price had to be in his late seventies by now. Even as a freshman, he'd given off the impression of a kindly grandfather, though Vera had seen his harder side come out on more than a few occasions. It was why she'd asked him to come. If anyone could ease the fears of her more emotional disciples while also keeping everyone in line, it was Philip, and while he wouldn't be a permanent replacement, he should be able to help ease the transition.

Philip smiled at her. "Vera, it's good to see you again. Now, come on. Up, up. Let's see this belly."

Vera's eyes widened, her cheeks reddening. "Magus!" she protested, slipping back into the original, familiar title.

He chuckled, already coming around the side of her desk, his hand outstretched. "Come now, why do you think I accepted the request? I've been enjoying my retirement these last years but learning that my prized pupil is finally going to be a mother again? That I needed to be here for."

Vera accepted his hand and, with some assistance, stood. "Thank you, Philip," she said softly.

"As beautiful as ever," he said. His eyes sparkled as he took in her rounded belly. "Motherhood suits you."

"You always tried to tell me that."

"And I was right, wasn't I?"

Philip had been the only person to know her history and he'd known before they'd ever met. He had never looked down on her for getting pregnant so young or pitied her for her loss. He had pushed her, the way he pushed all of his students, and she had pushed herself all the more in return.