The Warlock

5: Tutoring

"Well, lovely meeting you here."

Asteria lifted her head to see the tall figure of Basil standing next to her table.

"It's almost a month into the school year and this is the first time I've seen you in the library," said Asteria.

"Correction, it's been only two weeks and four days, not almost a month."

The girl rolled her eyes. She would see Basil at least once a day since he was in her Alchemy class along with Freya. He would throw comments at her that just pissed her off so much, and they would exchange a few remarks between each other. Freya claimed that it was because he had a crush on her, baiting Faye as well into pestering Asteria about it too. The blonde on the other hand said that he was like that, annoying. He was doing the same thing right now in the library.

"What do you want?"

"You see, Alchemy is not my strongest suit and with the upcoming test I was hoping you could help me with it."

"And why should I do that?" Asteria really didn't have time for him.

"A little birdie told me that you like the hazelnut latte from the Cafe. So if you help me with Alchemy I will buy you the latte for a week." Basil extended his hand for a shake. "Do we have a deal?"

"I didn't know you and Harlan are friends."

"I never said his name, but in fact we are. So do we have a deal?"

Asteria took his hand and shook it. After all the best way to learn something was to teach it to others. Alchemy was easy as well, so she wouldn't have much trouble with it. And it all came with a payment of coffee, what else was better?

"Okay, so can you tell me all the symbols we need to know?" Basil asked as he took a seat in front of her.

Asteria all but slammed her head on the table. Maybe it wasn't going to be that easy.

"It's all in the textbook!"

The girl got up and took Basil's textbook, searching for the page with the symbols. When she found it, she slammed it in front of him, and reclaimed her seat.

"Don't bother me until you're completely sure you have learned them."

With that the two students immersed themselves in their studies with the occasional comments from Basil's side, but Asteria ignored him. Instead she was trying to focus on the homework Pythia had given her. For the past week the Headmistress was making Asteria practice with the crystal ball. She had said that the clearer the images were the clearer her fortune telling was. However, now they were stepping on different methods of divination, and Pythia made her research them and tell her which ones the girl was interested in. So far the topic of tarot cards was one she wanted to divulge in and astrology was next. Asteria took out a notebook and began drawing the different tarot cards. They were just so pretty.

"Damn, you can draw really well!"

Asteria shut the notebook. Her eyes went wide.

"It's personal, Basil."

"Were those tarot cards? You're a sorceress! Can you read my fortune?"

Basil kept pressing the girl with questions. She could hear her heartbeat in her ears. Pythia had told her to keep quiet about her skills, and here she was with a loudmouth, who all but can scream to the world that she is a seer. Asteria declined any of his questions, saying that she was really bad at reading. Finally her saving grace came in the sight of her brother entering the library. She shouted his name, earning herself a scolding by the librarians.