36 Curse Academy 2.

By EddaDr36

In the second book of this thrilling series, we once again delve into the magical world of Dei Riata, a rebellious student at the Magic Academy, and Lord Principal Tierre, her enigmatic and powerful mentor. As their complicated relationship continues to evolve, they find themselves embroiled in a dangerous investigation that threatens to upset the delicate balance between the different races that inhabit their world.

A mysterious artifact has been discovered, one that possesses incredible power and the potential to upset the fragile peace that has been maintained for centuries. As Dei and Tierre work to uncover the artifact's secrets, they must navigate treacherous alliances and unexpected obstacles, all while trying to understand their own feelings for each other.

Meanwhile, Daya, the sharp-witted detective who runs her own agency, is pulled into a new case that quickly spirals out of control. What starts as a simple investigation quickly becomes a race against time to uncover a dangerous conspiracy that threatens the very foundations of their society. With Daya's quick thinking and resourcefulness, and the help of her friends Dei and Tierre, they must work together to stop the conspiracy before it's too late.

As the plot thickens and tensions rise, readers will find themselves swept up in a whirlwind of adventure, magic, and danger. The world-building is rich and complex, with multiple races and cultures living alongside humans, each with their own unique customs and beliefs. The writing is witty and engaging, with plenty of humor to balance out the more intense moments.

Overall, this second installment in the series is a gripping read that will leave readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. With unexpected twists and turns, memorable characters, and a thrilling plot, it's a book that fans of fantasy, magic, and adventure won't want to miss

A mysterious artifact has been discovered, one that possesses incredible power and the potential to upset the fragile peace that has been maintained for centuries. As Dei and Tierre work to uncover the artifact's secrets, they must navigate treacherous alliances and unexpected obstacles, all while trying to understand their own feelings for each other.

Meanwhile, Daya, the sharp-witted detective who runs her own agency, is pulled into a new case that quickly spirals out of control. What starts as a simple investigation quickly becomes a race against time to uncover a dangerous conspiracy that threatens the very foundations of their society. With Daya's quick thinking and resourcefulness, and the help of her friends Dei and Tierre, they must work together to stop the conspiracy before it's too late.

As the plot thickens and tensions rise, readers will find themselves swept up in a whirlwind of adventure, magic, and danger. The world-building is rich and complex, with multiple races and cultures living alongside humans, each with their own unique customs and beliefs. The writing is witty and engaging, with plenty of humor to balance out the more intense moments.

Overall, this second installment in the series is a gripping read that will leave readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. With unexpected twists and turns, memorable characters, and a thrilling plot, it's a book that fans of fantasy, magic, and adventure won't want to miss.

• Language: English
• Publisher: EddaDr36
• Release date: Feb 28, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215197240

Book preview

DON'T GET INVOLVED IN DUBIOUS INVESTIGATIONS

- Adept Riatae! - The slightly vibrating voice of the head of our school makes you shudder deep inside, and you have to listen to his every word. - You promised me! You swore! You guaranteed it!

The Master of Dark Magic, Lord Rhian Thier, fixed his gaze on me with eyes as black as the Dark Arts itself. I swallowed nervously, but decided to stand my ground:

- I apologize, Lord Headmaster, but it does not seem possible to me.

- So that's it, then, is it? - The black, slightly twinkling eyes narrowed.

- Yes," I agreed repentantly.

The Master clutched his long strong fingers together, pressed his delicate lips together. No, they didn't look tender, more like hard and... strong, too, but practice proved that very gentle touches with those very lips were possible. Add to this a slender muscular body, animal grace, tarry hair, and sizzling black eyes, and it becomes clear why Lord Rian Trier was not only the entire female half of our Academy Curse, but also hundreds of ladies from aristocratic families. And even the crown princess herself, the only daughter of our esteemed Dark Emperor.

- And what are your reasons for refusing, Adept Riatha? - Barely restraining his anger, asked the man who rightfully bore the title of First Sword of the Empire and his sword capable of a single blow to cut a tree.

Silence.

- Why are you silent? - The Master inquired, demanding. - Have you nothing to say to me?

Nervously swallowed, honestly replied:

- No ...

I am ashamed, frankly ashamed, but I could not do otherwise.

And then he couldn't take it anymore:

- Daya, you swore we were going to meet my family for the holidays.

- I did, but the problem was, I agreed with my family, but not with my mother.

- But you agreed! - The Lord Headmaster, deceived in his hopes, roared.

- That was before you told me Lady Thiers had returned from her journey. And I... don't want to meet your mother!

His strong arms were folded defiantly across his heavily muscled chest, his black eyes narrowed, his lips pressed together. And all of this had the sole purpose of intimidating the small and already frightened me.

- Well," Master Thier stood up. - We will discuss the matter over dinner.

That is, the answer no we do not accept! I now pointedly crossed my arms over my chest and put my leg over my head and glared at Rian. Alas, instead of agreeing to my decision, I was sneakily threatened:

- I'll kiss you.

I jumped up from my seat and blurted out:

- "You know, Lord Director...

- First warning," he said melancholically.

I turned around in silence and left the office of the head of the Academy of Curses. I had an idea to try again with the curse, but given the consequences of the first time...

* * *

As I walked out into the Lord Headmaster's office, I saw Lady Mithas's sad look on her face.

- Again? - The secretary asked reproachfully. - Reate, you started well in school, but these disciplinary infractions ... I mean, expelled, Daya! He won't look at your excellent grades and expel you!

Expulsion... I don't think so. But getting angry and going as far as kissing might, but let's hope for the best. And I waddled sadly away, exactly until the moment when over the academy sounded:

- Evening formation!

I immediately broke into a fast run, soon joining the stream of adepts like me, rushing to the formation. And in a few minutes I ran out onto the women's side of the training field, taking my place in the formation. Lady Veris nodded slightly when she saw me, and her yellow eyes lit up with curiosity-for surely Dara had already reported everything, because she was the only one who knew of my relationship with the lord-director.

- March on! - the curator commanded, and the traditional evening race began.

And as soon as I ran the third lap, breaking into the leaders, as I caught up with Yanka:

- You... hoo, note... hoo... run slower... - and I had to adjust to her stride.

Timianna handed me the note, but I did not have time to read it.

- Up against the wall! - commanded Captain Veris.

Our least favorite exercise - ten adepts lined up against the wall, who withstood twenty targeted throws of magic balls from the curator, and in fact - the hysterizer! If you dodged - well done, if not - you are included in the next ten, which are built for the execution. And dexterity through such exercises develops very quickly.

After hiding the note, Yana and I got into the first ten, safely dodged and soon continued to run in a circle, running past the male half of the academy - push-ups adepts and teachers. Our norm was ten push-ups, theirs fifty.

When the run was over, we were let go, and we went to our rooms. Yanka followed me, impatiently waiting to read. To her, Yurao only wrote love letters, but they were not as fascinating as the notes meant for me.

- Well! - demanded Timianna, as we entered my sitting-room.

- Let me at least take off my boots," I replied in the process of taking them off. - And what did he write you?

- That he loves me! Well, Daya, hurry up!

Unbuttoning my uniform, I made my way to the sofa, sat down with my legs tucked under me, and began to read aloud:

Dear partner... I write 'dear' only so you remember it and don't get cheap again! What do you mean, seven gold pieces for finding out about Mrs. Pren's lover? I wouldn't even leave the house for seven gold pieces! If I catch you, I'll take care of your financial education. Now, business. We've got two big jobs. I need you on both for a preliminary decision, then we'll entrust the second to the girls. Try to make it to the office this weekend. Dark for you.

- Anyway, the case with the lover, I closed," I grumbled unhappily, looking at the mocking Yanka.

- How, by the way?

- In a few minutes," I said. - I went to see Master Groves, and found out who buys Lloyd's wine every weekend. And this is the favorite wine of Mrs. Pren, the wife of the meat merchant. So when I took the order, I already knew that the execution would be light, and I saw no point in taking a lot. And Yurao, he...

- He has a good pricing policy! - Janka instantly stood up for her beloved.

Both Yanka and Riaya were blindly convinced of one thing:

- Yurao is always right! There's no choice. And if Yurao is wrong, it's just that I misunderstood him.

- Okay, I'm done with my homework," I announced as I got up and stretched.

- I'll run over to Dena's later," and Timianna rushed off.

And I, after a quick shower, sat down for my Death Curses assignment, waiting with anticipation for when...

The flames of hell erupted, and almost immediately strong and so gentle hands rested on my shoulders, my lips barely touched the curls of hair on my neck, and only then did the Lord Headmaster inquire:

- "Have you done a lot of homework?

- Aye," I touched his palm. - A report on forensics, seven exercises on Death Curses, twelve problems on murder weapons.

- Did you get a lot of assignments?

- Yeah," I touched his palm. - I've got a forensics report, seven exercises on Death Curses, twelve problems on murder weapons.

- Is that when you use a wound to determine what kind of weapon it was inflicted with? - the Lord Warden clarified.

- Mm-hmm," I looked longingly at the workbook.

- May I help you? - The Master suggested.

- Check," I suggested. - I'll do it myself, and then you check if it's right.

- Okay, - a caressing touch of my lips to my cheek. - I'll grab the paperwork with the reports and come back.

He came back quickly - I had barely begun my first task, sat down, as always, opposite me, and began to look through the reports and files on the academy. And I set myself a condition: I would do the exercise and could look at it for a few seconds - it stimulated me. The Lord Principal probably also conditioned himself something similar, because he only glanced at me when he put aside another document, but when our eyes met...

- You're smiling," Rian said with the same happy smile.

- So are you," I couldn't help noticing.

- Do your homework, you could have said, Drop everything and come to me.

With a heavy sigh, I went back to my assignment, feeling the Lord Headmaster's gaze on me... Lately it felt like I was always smiling, and getting happier and happier. But an hour or so later, without a smile, I was looking at the penultimate of the weapons tasks with irritation. On the table in front of me lay a severed ghostly hand, with ghostly blood dripping from it. It wasn't the limb that bothered me, there had been various parts of bodies in a ghostly state before it, but there I could tell weapons in a heartbeat, but here...

- I don't understand, I mumbled, staring at the crooked incision. - I don't understand, I muttered, staring at the curved incision.

Rian gave me a slightly mocking look, and then said:

- Well, why not? There's some grime under the nails, and some splinters, so I'd guess it's a..." He paused for a moment, letting me guess.

- A lumberjack," he said, and it struck me. - But what would be the point of someone sawing off his arm?

- That's another question; you should be interested in the precise weapon used to inflict the wound.

I thought for a moment, looked again at the textbook, flooding my desk with ghostly blood, and confessed:

- I can't do that, I immediately start thinking about who it was, what kind of life he had, what the causes of death were. I need the big picture.

- It's a wonderful character trait for an investigator- Rian paused and added slyly, -especially for a private one.

Trying to ignore the hint of some forbidden activities, I returned to my homework. But the next task already stumped me. The body of a Drow with a huge wound in its chest was not only not particularly pleasant to see, but the wound was also incomprehensible, with white chipped bones. I got up, peered over the top, and still didn't understand. I turned the ghostly body over, barely able to contain my disgust when the ghostly something of disgusting bloody appearance poured down on the table... I began to vomit immediately, and I touched him for nothing - there was no damage on his back, which means that the weapon is obviously short, if it did not pass through. I pulled the body back to its original position, saw what had fallen out of it... It got really bad.

- Yeah," Rian said. - You're not very good with the Senior Investigator.

I didn't say anything to that, I just felt sick. And the problem was that until you write the solution in the notebook, the visual aid would not disappear from the table, and I already had an urge to scribble any gibberish, just not to see it all.

- Daya," the Lord Headmaster called.

- I'll do it! - I answered somewhat sharply. - I'll be an investigator, and I'll have to deal with more than that, so I have to decide for myself... It's disgusting...

She went back, took out a textbook from under the visual aid, began to leaf through it. And then Rian said:

- I doubt there's anything like that in the textbook, Daya. A sorg wound, a weapon of the ruling family of the most closed Western Drow Realm in the Underworld. You do not study such things, and the assignment is probably designed solely to test your cleverness. Write the unknown weapon.

Back at her desk, she wrote it that way. The ghostly corpse disappeared instantly, and I was at once relieved, but my questions remained:

- Why did Okeno give an impossible assignment?

- And why did Okeno give an impossible assignment?

- An investigator must be able to admit both his mistakes and the fact that he is not omniscient," Lord Thier replied without taking his eyes off his own work.

- Hmm," I started drumming my fingers on the table. - How do you know about the weapon?

There was a puzzled smile and silence in reply.

- It's not fair! - I took offense.

- Do your homework, said Rian nonchalantly, and added, We have an important conversation ahead of us, so hurry up.

Closing the notebook, I gave it to the principal, watched his rapid flipping through the pages, and was pleased to hear the verdict:

- Not a single mistake, good girl.

I may be clever, but when the notebook was returned to me, the Master's smile was beyond mystery, and that was all I could think about now.

- Rian, ah.

- The Death Curses are hungry for your attention," they reminded me slyly, and once again they devoted all their attention to reports.

I completed the assignments quickly - first of all, Master Tesme is an excellent teacher, and secondly, I had free lunch time to study the paragraphs, so now I was engaged exclusively in the practical part. And when I put the notebook aside, I got an attentive look, and I had to explain:

- In fact, I had already found the solution at lunchtime, and now I just wrote it down.

- Mm, another fantastic smile. - And I thought you were so eager to start a conversation.

- I have a whole report ahead of me," I said, planning to write it for a long time. Until dinner, and during the meal Master Thier does not start unpleasant conversations, adhering to the immutable rule - to talk only about good things at the table.

And I plunged into the maze of graphology... for two hours.

- Question," I pulled myself away from the task and began to knead my tired fingers. - What difference does it make which phase of the moon a werewolf was writing in, if he was still in human form at the time?

- It makes a big difference," Rian said as he paused to look at the message. - For instance, you can tell if a werewolf was lying in a message if the letters are straight and unclipped, and the endings are legible, and it's practically a full moon, then the werewolf is lying and took the trouble to write the lie itself. But if the letters are slanted to the left and the endings are blurred, one can immediately understand that the letter was written in impatience and contains truthful information.

And after this detailed reply the master returned to reading. What truly amazed me about the Lord Headmaster was that he knew the answers to absolutely everything! Unbelievable! And no matter what I asked...

- What is my favorite color? - I suddenly wondered.

- You haven't decided yet," Lord Thierry said without raising his head.

And how does he know? I wonder!

- And where are we and Yurao opening an office?

- Thirteen Dead Troll Street," said the Lord Warder, nonchalantly, with information he was not supposed to know, still concentrating solely on the message.

Well, if we try another question, will he also answer without hesitation?

- What are you going to tell me? - I asked him cautiously.

- My mom's coming tomorrow, Rian said. He froze, and then looked at me reproachfully, and said, Are we learning interrogation techniques?

I was in a state of extreme shock at that moment. The pen fell out, the report was forgotten, my heart was beating a frantic rhythm, and my soul began to panic.

- Dae-eea! - Lord Thier got up, walked around the table, squatted down in front of me, picked up the quill from the floor, and, returning it to the table, gently took my trembling hands.

It's all right for him to say, 'What's wrong,' but I... I...

- She won't like me," I whispered in a husky voice. - She... she is a cousin of the Dark Emperor, and I... my father is a hunter, my mother a peasant's daughter... and I have no decent background, no money, no magic, not one bit of it! And I...

Rian smiled, brought my hands to his lips, kissed each one gently, and, looking into my eyes, said quietly:

- "You have you, Daya, and titles and magic and all the rest don't matter.

Alas, personally, I was sure his mother didn't think so. Not at all... After all, the Emperor's cousin is not just an aristocrat, but the very top of high society.

- Rian," I sighed heavily, trying to appeal to his mind. - Let's put the whole wedding and relatives thing aside, please.

He stood up, gently stroked my cheek, and silently went back to his letters and reports. Noticing my unkind look, he explained:

- I am angry. Now I will count to two thousand, calm down, and we will return to the conversation.

He's angry, and I can be left out of the equation. All right, let's ask him straight out:

- Rian, why did your mother interrupt her diplomatic mission to the northern kingdoms?

The Master's palms, lying on top of the table and therefore within my line of sight, clenched, but Thier replied calmly:

- She got that opportunity.

- Really? - Well, an opportunity has presented itself! - So you're trying to hint to me that Lady Thier knows nothing of your intention to marry and is merely going to visit her only son?

A heavy sigh from the clearly on edge Lord Headmaster, and already a murderous calm:

- She was the first person I shared the happy news of your consent with.

- Yeah, I jumped up from my seat. - You mean your mother found an opportunity" to interrupt the most important diplomatic negotiations of the empire when she heard the news?

A tired look - and suddenly completely calmed the master with a heavy sigh inquired:

- Sweetheart, just answer, could you remain indifferent to the news that your child has made the most important decision in his life? - I didn't say anything. Rian added, "I proposed for the first and last time. It's important to me. For my mother, of course, too. I don't see anything wrong with her wanting to meet my sweetheart, do you?

And that's why it sounds good and right when he says it, but my stomach is twisted with fear and my hands are shaking?! Confused sank into a chair, I began to look for a reasonable excuse to refuse to meet and ... did not find. Finally turned to questions:

- Just now, before evening formation, you said we were going to your family for the holidays, and now you said Lady Thiers was arriving tomorrow... am I making sense?

Rian silently pulled out one of the letters he'd been looking at while I was doing my homework, and held it out to me. In sharp, jagged handwriting, slanted to the left, it read, "Arriving tomorrow. Even if we weren't taught graphology, even if I hadn't just written a report on this very handwriting, it was clear that the woman had a harsh, implacable, vain character, and she was writing this message in a state of extreme rage. The horrible image of my mother-in-law instantly took on fangs, claws the size of a throwing knife, and - yes! - a bloodthirsty look! And I had just started living, by the way.

And the solution came out of nowhere.

- Lord Headmaster," the Adept of the Academy of Curses spoke with a faint but forceful voice. - I... break our engagement and take back all my yeses.

They gave me a wickedly wary look, and "happy:

- Too late.

And that's when I jumped up and snapped and screamed:

- What do you mean late? We hadn't gotten my parents' blessing, we hadn't advertised the engagement, and anyway... I had consented in a state of affect! And... I have every right to take my word back!

In an instant the files, scrolls, contracts, and letters were on the floor, swept away in one fell swoop, Lord Thierry rising quickly, pressing his hands to the table and leaning forward, wheezing:

- Yes, you have every right to take your word back! One little but, Daya, who's going to let you?!

And where is my touching, polite, restrained and so understanding Rian?! Where is Lord Thier, the member of the Immortal Order, First Sword of the Empire, and Master of two of the Empire's strongest schools, the University of the Dark Arts and the School of the Art of Death? And I was frightened, justified fear, by the way, but I don't seem to have learned how to tremble silently anymore. And so in a frightened whisper I asked:

- "No one will allow that, will they?

He lowered his head with a long groan, his black hair sliding down his shoulders, covering his face... And a muffled answer came:

- I won't let you, Daya. I... a pause, then a barely audible: I... and the ancient magic of elves and kin...

I decided to sit up. I missed, collapsed on the floor, and almost immediately, terrified to the Abyss, tried to get up. It didn't work. In the end, I was gently lifted up and gently set back down. They moved the sheets of paper with the report, put a pen in my right hand, and went back to the letters and reports, which were collected and placed on the table. And all this in silence.

I, too, returned to the report, carefully crumpled up the conclusion, fitting it into three lines instead of the proper page, and, having put the number and signature, stapled the sheets.

And after that:

- "About you, Lord Director, I'm clear - you'll kill me before you know it, but what about the ancient elven magic?

The folder was closed, thrown onto the table with a nervous movement, the Master's arms folded across his chest again, and he began to threaten me:

- All right, my love, he said the word love through his teeth. - We'll do things differently-let's start by making our engagement public. I think an announcement over the Academy's intercom will suffice, but I can also notify all of Ardham if you wish.

Blackmail had never been part of our relationship before. It gets worse from here:

- I see no point at all in hiding our feelings, which are absolutely nothing objectionable, from the public. But that's what you wanted, and I got your wish. And only I know what it costs me to hold back when your teachers raise their voices at you, the adepts get bullied on the treadmill, and Veris gets angry. Yes, I understand it's a normal learning process, but I'd feel a lot better if the professors at the Curse Academy were aware that they weren't just teaching an adept, but my fiancée!

- I don't need any favors! - I couldn't take it anymore. - I'm perfectly content with the process, and I don't want any idle chatter going on behind my back!

- And I understand you and accepted your decision! - Master Thier also raised his voice. - But I do not see the point of refusing my mother to meet my chosen, just because my fiancee ... coward!

That's it, he was wrong.

- I," she jumped up from her chair, which fell down with a clatter. - Not a coward! Я...

- You are! - A sly smile slid across his well-defined lips.

I'm out of words, the Master isn't:

- Daya, your interactions with my mother will be limited to a single meal. After that, you'll see her at our wedding, our children's birthday parties, and that's it. I don't plan to live in the castle. In fact, my mother is not there very often due to her service to the Emperor. I see absolutely no reason to panic, my dear.

Maybe I'm really worried about