Page 40 of Witchful Thinking

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THE DAY OF ALARICK'Sscheduled return, Diana deliberately arrived at breakfast early, hoping to avoid an awkward public reunion.She was halfway through her meal when Headmistress Raven appeared beside her table, Edgar perched on her shoulder with his usual inscrutable stare.

"Nurse Maelstrom," Raven said without preamble."I require your assistance with a matter in the archives this morning."

Diana nearly choked on her tea."The archives?Surely Madam Astrablaze—"

"Is currently occupied with other matters," Raven finished."The issue involves potential magical contamination affecting some of our older healing texts.Your expertise is needed."

It was a transparent pretext, but refusing a direct request from the Headmistress wasn't an option.

"Of course," Diana said, resigned to the inevitable."When would you like me to examine these texts?"

"Immediately," Raven replied, already turning toward the door."Mr.Blackthorn is already there waiting."

Mr.Blackthorn.So formal, as if Alarick were just another colleague, not someone who had shared her bed, her magic, her heart.

Diana followed Raven through the castle corridors, her anxiety mounting with each step.She had imagined their eventual reunion countless times, but now that the moment was imminent, all her careful preparation evaporated.

The Forbidden Archives occupied the oldest part of Grimm Mawr, its entrance guarded by intimidating gargoyles.Inside, towering shelves held some of the most dangerous magical knowledge in existence.

Raven led her to a secluded alcove deep within the archives.And there, examining an ancient ward configuration with intense concentration, was Alarick.

Diana's breath caught.He looked both familiar and different—the same broad shoulders and strong hands that she remembered so vividly, but a new seriousness in his expression.His sleeves were rolled up as always, revealing forearms that she had once traced with reverent fingers.

He looked up, his expression shifting through several emotions before settling into careful professionalism.

"Headmistress.Diana."His voice was steady, betraying nothing."Thank you for coming."

"I'll leave you to your examination," Raven said, with a pointed look between them that made her matchmaking intentions painfully obvious."Edgar and I have other matters to attend to."

After she departed, an awkward silence descended, both of them clearly uncertain how to navigate this reunion.

"You look well," Alarick said finally.

"As do you," she replied, defaulting to professional courtesy."I understand the treatments at St.Candlebrook's were successful."

He nodded, a shadow crossing his expression."Partially.My magic is stable now, though some of the changes are permanent.I've had to adapt my warding approach."

"I've experienced something similar," Diana admitted."My healing magic works differently now.Not necessarily worse, just different."

Another silence fell, heavy with unasked questions.Diana focused on the ancient texts, desperate for some professional task to ground her.

"You said there was potential contamination?"

"Yes."Alarick seemed equally relieved to focus on work."These texts contain some of the oldest healing magic records.When Adelweiss's energy siphoning was disrupted, it affected them too."

He gestured to a page where magical diagrams shifted subtly."The illustrations are destabilizing, which might compromise both the knowledge they contain and the archive's defensive systems."

Diana examined the text, her diagnostic magic revealing complex patterns of deterioration."You're right.The magical matrix is unwinding.I've seen similar degradation in very old healing artifacts."

"Can it be stabilized?"

"Yes, but it will require specialized restoration magic."Diana traced the pattern carefully."The difficulty is maintaining the original magical signature while reinforcing the deteriorating elements."

"Like my ward work on the infirmary renovation," Alarick observed."Integrating new protective elements without disrupting the existing magical framework."

"Exactly."Their eyes met briefly in shared professional understanding before both looked away, the parallel to their personal situation too pointed to ignore.

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