My lessons went on much the same every day. I would get up before sunrise, usually with Puko's assistance. Then I would go to Gilly's cabin and we would do some morning chores such as feeding the animals or working the garden. With that out of the way, I would drink the mixture I had made on my first day, and we would eat breakfast before I sat down to copy another recipe. After that I would try to brew it. Some days I would master two or three recipes. Some days it was none.
I sat at the table in Mila's cabin well after sunset. Puko slept in my lap while I tried to neatly add to the notes in my book by candlelight. I yawned as I finished a line, and put my charcoal stick down.
The weather in the valley was getting warmer during the days now. The month was passing and I was loosing time. Time to master the art of brewing magic. Time to spend with Mila before I had to continue on. Time to find out how to fix the barriers, or even why they were failing in the first place.
I groaned and laid my head down on the table.
"Wren," Schula whispered from the bed. "Get some sleep. You're going to make a mistake in the book and get upset."
I closed the book gently. I traced a finger along the delicate copper vines that climbed up the front cover with a sigh. I looked down at where Nassir was trying to sleep in front of the fireplace and back up at Schula. She stretched and sat up, pointing to the door. I nodded.
I set Puko down gently at the foot of the bed where he usually slept and followed Schula outside.
I followed her up the slope and to a spring that flowed out of one of the caves nearby. It pooled into a pond before spilling into the valley below.
"If we're going to stay up talking, I'm taking a bath." Schula yawned and pulled off her boots.
"In the middle of the night?" I asked.
"Well you're not here to warm the water in the middle of the day," she teased.
I laughed and started removing my own boots while Schula tossed her tunic aside and climbed in the water.
"It's cold," she complained. "Warm it up please!"
"I'm coming, hold on." I smiled as I slipped in with her, bringing out enough fire to heat the pool. I took off everything but my pendant. That, I never removed. Schula sighed and laid her head back.
"I don't know why you're even complaining about the cold," I said. "You're made of ice magic."
"It doesn't mean I like cold baths," Schula answered. "I don't have to be harmed by the cold to enjoy a hot bath, Wren. I kept you cool in the desert, you keep me warm in the bath!"
I splashed a few drops her way and she giggled.
"I like seeing you smile," Schula said softly. "You've been very hard on yourself since we left the Wyldes."
"I suppose so. I just... I feel like I need to make it right."
"Not on your own you don't," she scolded.
I chose to ignore that and look up at the night sky instead .
"Do you miss it?" I asked. "The Wyldes."
Schula hummed and tilted her head.
"Hmm. I miss the feeling in the air. The... it's like..." She scrunched her nose in thought. "The Wyldes is like living in a bubble of magic that you belong to. It feels right, but you don't even notice it until you leave it."
"We'll get back there," I said. "We'll figure out how to fix the barriers, and then we'll..."
"Kill DuVarick?" Schula finished.

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Half Magic | Book 2
FantasyBook 2 of the Wylde Series Thank you @AWFrasier for the amazing cover! Wren has come out of the Wyldes with more questions than answers as to who she is. After escaping DuVarick's clutches, Wren puts as much distance as she can between her and the W...