Glass Magic

Chapter 27

        My brows pulled together lightly as I learned just why I felt how I did with and without the dragon. I had placed a piece of my soul in it. When we're around each other its whole again, while being away from the other meant the opposite.

       I also learned that puppets didn't have any soul, fragments or otherwise, but a core that sent orders through magic pathways; they use their own magic to translate what I want meaning my magic has nothing to do with giving orders.

        It also means that verbal orders mean little, I could say one thing and order another or how I didn't have to attempt to make them specific. They do, however, gain their knowledge through me. If I know something, they know it, if I don't, they don't. Meaning that my combat knowledge and experience is all they have.

        "Lilith! Put the book down or drop and give me fifty!"

       "Yes professor," I called absentmindedly dropping to do said push ups. With the book just under my head, I continued to read while I exerted my more recent upper body strength. Tossing my weight fully onto one arm to flip the page a few times, not bothering to stop. As I finished, my arms straining while the sweat I had already been collecting grew I looked up to find her staring at me in disbelief. Or... There was an or... Oh my...

        "You- you just..." waver her arms at me while I realized it wasn't supposed to be an optional thing and more of do what you're told. But I didn't. I had to go and question her authority. "Laps! Now!" She roared pointing to the end of the field, which was actually the spearmanship area but not the point. 

      I really need to figure out a way to read while moving. Until then I was going to have to die with no real purpose. "How ma-"

     "Until I tell you to stop!" She roared making me wince but nod, skipping into a jog, "SPRINTING!" Boy... I am doing a lot of regrettable things, aren't I? Picking up speed while I dropped my book on my bag the moment I passed it I accepted death for what it was. Unruly and utterly painful.

       By half the first lap my lungs were ready to collapse and my legs weren't far behind, I could jog around the school once. Sprinting such a distance was worse than blazen. Even worse, the moment I rounded the corner, slowing as I expected that to be the end, she pointed past the field, demanding another. I'm going to have to pick up jogging if I want to survive her wrath the next time.

       I shouldn't be planning a next time. I should be avoiding her rage. She was the one I spared with and I doubt she'd mind being a little more serious. It is my education after all. Gasping for breath I paused leaning back, my hands finding my hips as I grumbled about my idiocy. My chest heaving and lungs burning, my throat clenching and legs straining. Regret burning bright.

       "Wow, she's got you on laps... How cruel," My gaze snapped to the darkly clothed man, my hands finding my knees while sweat poured off my body. Great. Just what I need. "Rogues have shit stamina too..." He whistled while I glanced up at him not wanting to deal with him as I was suffering enough.

     "It... It's my own... Fault..." I wheezed wiping my melting forehead, my hands lacing behind my head leaving me to really wish I had some water on me and not pouring out of me.

     "I'm... Not going to ask, she'll put me through the same torture if she caught wind that I so much as thought to agree with you on that, but, I do have a question for you," He smiled sweetly, the hair on the back of my neck standing on end while I forced my fatigue back, going on alert. "Those... Glass demons of your's-"

       "Puppets," I corrected not wanting a misunderstanding of that caliber to arise.

       "... Puppets of your's, do you mind if I borrowed one? I thought they were rather fascinating, well, the moment I wasn't on the receiving end that is, and I'd like to play with one again," his smile didn't falter at being interrupted, a thought crossing my mind. They know everything you do on top of gathering information they themselves collect in combat.

       "... Just one?" I asked looking him over while I wiped my chin, my breathing still heavy but not enough to impede on my talking.

        "If you'd please,"