Chapter 156
Bigger Than Your Face
LEXI
What do you get the Academy that has everything? It’s like trying to buy a gift for someone who literally owns the concept of stuff A plant? It already
controls the temperature, lighting, and probably the exact humidity that would keep the plant alive forever. A gift basket? It can summon food out of
nowhere, Flowers? It grows them. Furniture? It IS the furniture. Ugh. This is impossible. It was announced at dinner last week, very casually, like it wasn’t
completely bizarre, that tomorrow the Academy is celebrating its… birthday? Anniversary? Existence day? Principal Istvan hadn’t seemed entirely sure what
to call it. Or how old the Academy actually is. She’d just waved a hand and said something along the lines of, ‘It’s always been marked on this day, so we’ll
go with that.’ Which raised even more questions. Like… marked where? In what? By who? Naturally, I tried asking the Academy directly Big mistake. It
didn’t answer. Not even a vague answer. Not even a polite non-answer. It just… didn’t cooperate. If anything, it felt like it was being annoyingly smug about
- Like I could practically feel it going, ‘Oh, you want to know my age? How adorable. Absolutely not. Or worse. ‘How dare you ask a sentient building such
a personal question.’ Rude. So now Blake and I are in the library, surrounded by towering shelves of books, while he systematically searches through
anything that might even hint at the Academy’s origins. Which, to be fair, is kind of impressive. He’s got stacks of books piled around him, open to different
sections, flipping between them with a level of focus that is honestly a little intimidating. His golden eyes flick between pages, scanning quickly, dismissing
most of it as irrelevant. I, on the other hand, am lying half sideways against him, watching him work and trying not to get distracted by the fact that he
looks way too good doing something as simple as reading.
“Give it up, Blake,” I say eventually, poking lightly at one of the books he’s just discarded.
“If the Academy doesn’t want us to know, we won’t be able to find the answer. It can just… remove the books. Or change them. Or hide the information.
Or… honestly, I don’t even know the full extent of what it can do, but I’m pretty sure we’re not winning this one.” I conclude: Blake doesn’t even look up at
first.
“It usually gives us what we want. Or at least makes it available. I am convinced it can’t simply erase something like this completely.” he replies, turning a
page. I hum thoughtfully.
“Or, it can, and it’s just choosing not to help us because it thinks this is funny.” I counter. Blake pauses at that, then slowly looks up at me.
“You think the building is mocking us?” He asks.
“I think the building is capable of mocking us. “And I think it might be enjoying watching you dig through twenty books for no reason.” I correct. There’s a
beat of silence. Blake’s eyes narrow slightly.
“I don’t like that theory.” He decides.
“Yeah, well, I do. Mostly because it means we can stop doing this.” I say cheerfully. He huffs quietly but doesn’t argue further, which I take as a win. I push myself up a little, brushing some hair back over my shoulder as I glance around the library. It’s quiet today, sunlight filtering in through the tall windows, dust motes drifting lazily in the air. It feels calm. Comfortable. And then it hits me again.
“Oh! Instead of spendung the whole day trying to investigate something we don’t actually NEED to know, I have something more important for us to figure out. A more urgent mystery.” I say suddenly. Blake stills instantly. Not subtly, either. Fully freezes, like I’ve just announced something important. He shifts, closing the book in his hand and moving closer, one arm sliding easily around my shoulders, pulling me back against him. I barely even notice anymore how
naturally he does that.
“We do? What mystery might that be?” He asks, voice low, curious. I grin.
“A very important one. A much more urgent one than how old the Academy is.” I say seriously. His attention sharpens immediately
“Explain” He demands. I turn slightly so I can look up at him properly.
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Chapter 156 Bonus Chapter 8- Do Not Act Shocked When He Gives You A Diamond Bigger Than Your Fa..
“We need to get the Academy a birthday present.” 1 announce. There’s a pause. A very long pause. Blake just… stares at me.
“A present,” he repeats slowly.
“Yes.” I answer.
“For the building.” He asks.
“Yes,” I say again, like this is completely normal. He studies my face carefully, like he’s trying to work out if I’m joking. I’m not.
“It provides everything,” he points out.
“I know.” I reply.
“It does not require material possessions.” He continues.
“I know that too! That’s the problem!” I laugh, nudging him lightly. He leans back slightly, considering this.
“So what exactly do you propose we give it?” He asks. I hesitate. Because, yeah. That’s the issue.
“I… don’t know yet,” I admit.
“But we have to give it SOMETHING. It does so much for everyone. It takes care of us, it keeps us safe, and we just… don’t do anything back?” I ask. Blake
tilts his head slightly, watching me.
“You have thanked it,” he points out.
“Yeah, but that’s not the same,” I argue.
“That’s just… basic manners. This is different. This is like… a proper thank you. A gift gift.” I insist. He goes quiet again, thinking. I can practically see the
gears turning in his head.
“Then we will give it something it wants,” he says finally. I sit up a little straighter, determination settling in.
“Okay. New plan. We’re not finding out its age. We’re figuring out how to impress a building.” I announce. Blake’s arm tightens slightly around me, and I can
feel the amusement rolling off him now.
“That should be interesting.” I murmurs.
“Oh, it’s going to be a disaster,” I say brightly. Then I smile.
“But like… a fun disaster.” I add.
Blake and I spend hours in the library trying to come up with something. Actual hours. We fill pages, argue over ideas, discard them, circle back, overthink it, and somehow end up exactly where we started, completely stuck. Every suggestion either feels pointless or gets immediately shut down because the Academy can already do it better. Dinner doesn’t help. If anything, it makes it worse, because now I’m watching everyone casually chatting and eating while I’m mentally yelling what do you get a magical omnipresent building for its birthday?! Blake doesn’t look much better. He’s quieter than usual, still thinking, still trying to solve it like it’s a problem with a logical answer. Which, to be fair, is very him. We leave dinner with absolutely nothing to show for our efforts. Now we’re back in his room. And instead of solving the mystery, we are… playing with his kitten. Which, honestly, is probably the most productive thing we’ve done all day. Blake says the kitten is for me. He was very firm about that. Very insistent. Apparently, it’s mine. Except, it CLEARLY likes hum better. Traitor. It’s currently batting at a pencil Blake dropped, pouncing on it, missing, then dramatically attacking it like it’s some kind of mortal
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Chapter 156 Bonus Chapter 8- Do Not Act Shocked When He Gives You A Diamond Bigger Than Your Fa
enemy. Every now and then it glances up at Blake, like it’s checking for approval, before continuing its tiny, chaotic rampage. The kitten is called Citrine,
because of course Blake named it after a gemstone. Apparently the colour matches it’s fur. It eventually abandons the pencil and clambers into his lap.
curling up immediately like it belongs there. Which, apparently, it does now. Mentally, I’ve been calling him Cirti. It’s a cute nickname, right? I grin and
reach over to scratch under Citri’s chin. It purrs instantly, leaning into my hand, so at least I haven’t been completely ignored. We should probaboly get
Cirti some toys, so it doesn’t ruin all of Blake’s pencils and- It hits me. I sit up so fast I nearly knock into Blake.
“I KNOW!” I announce, pointing dramatically at absolutely nothing.
“I thought of something the Academy can’t make for itself!” I tell him. Blake straightens immediately, attention snapping to me.
“Yeah?” he prompts.
“Artwork,” I say, already getting more excited as I talk.
“All artwork is unique, right? It’s not just about the materials, it’s about the person who made it. The idea, the meaning behind it. The Academy can make
things, but it can’t replicate something like that. Not exactly.” I reason. Blake considers this. He doesn’t agree straight away, which means he’s actually
thinking about it properly.
“So,” I go on, leaning forward,
“we make it something. Or, well, YOU make it something. Because you’re actually good at drawing.” I correct. He huffs quietly.
“I am not-” He starts.
You are. I’ve seen your sketches. Don’t even try that.” I interrupt immediately. He looks away slightly, which is basically confirmation that I’m right.
“What would I draw?” he asks after a moment.
“Good question.” I answer. And then… We spiral again. But this time, it’s a better spiral. Because now we actually have something to work with. It still takes
a while. A long while. Blake is picky. About everything. Every detail. Every line. Every idea I throw out, he refines or rejects or reshapes into something
better. I end up giving vague, half-formed suggestions while he somehow turns them into something that actually makes sense. At one point, he almost
gives up. At which point I pester him relentlessly for a solid twenty minutes straight until he agrees to keep going. I may or may not have promised to ‘make
it worth his while.’ Eventually, hours later, it’s done. I lean back, staring at it, a huge grin spreading across my face.
“It’s perfect,” I declare, completely satisfied.
“And just in time. It’s midnight.” I point out. Blake doesn’t say anything at first. He just watches me, like he’s more interested in my reaction than the
drawing itself. I look back at it again. It’s… incredible. A coat of arms, kind of, but magical. Alive, almost. A phoenix bursting up from an open book, wings
spread wide, fire curling around it. It reminds me of the one in the courtyard fountain, but this one feels… ours. Around it are smaller details, herbs, potion
bottles, runes, different magical elements representing all the classes. It’s a little cheesy. Okay, maybe very cheesy. But I love it.
“Well?” I say, glancing around the room.
“What do you think?” I ask. There’s a pause. A long one. Then, the lights brighten and Blake’s drawer slides open. We both turn to look at it. Blake moves first, stepping over and peering inside. His expression shifts instantly, surprise, then delight. He reaches in and pulls something out. Something big.
Something very shiny. I blink.
“Is that a diamond?” I ask. Blake nods, already clutching it like it might vanish if he lets go.
“It’s huge,” I breathe.
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Chapter 156 Bonus Chapter 8- Do Not Act Shocked When He Gives You A Diamond Bigger Than Your Fa..
“It’s beautiful,” he corrects, absolutely mesmerised. I laugh softly, shaking my head.
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“Well… I think that means the Academy liked its gift.” I tell him. Blake barely reacts, still fully focused on the diamond.
“Maybe put the drawing in the drawer? Actually give it to it.” I suggest. That gets his attention. Blake nods and carefully places the drawing inside, though I
can tell part of his mind is still entirely occupied by the giant gemstone now in his possession. I watch him for a moment, smiling. It’s kind of adorable, how
much he appreciates things like this. The way his eyes light up, the way he holds it so carefully. Eventually, we settle down for the night. Blake pulls me in
close without even thinking about it, one arm wrapped securely around me as I curl against his chest. Citri climbs up between us, kneading for a moment
before settling into the warmest spot it can find, right against Blake. Honestly though? I can’t blame it. He is ridiculously warm. And as I drift off, pressed
between a dragon and a tiny traitor kitten, I can’t help but think. That might have been the weirdest birthday present I’ve ever given. But also probably the
best one.
In the morning, everything starts out… normal. Or at least, it seems normal. Blake and I get up, Citri immediately demanding attention (from Blake,
obviously), and we go through the usual routine. Breakfast, walking through the halls, the low hum of students talking, the general chaos of people trying to
get to class on time. It’s only a few minutes in that I realise Blake has stopped walking. Like. completely stopped. Mid-step. I turn back to him, confused.
“What-” I start. Then I follow his gaze. And freeze. Oh. The drawing. It’s… everywhere. Not just like… one or two places. Not subtle. Not tucked away
somewhere as a quiet little thank you. No. It’s EVERYWHERE. Above the main doors, huge, detailed, impossible to miss, the phoenix bursting from the book,
flames curling outwards like it’s alive. Every external entrance has it, perfectly replicated, etched or embedded or… somehow part of the structure now. I
spin slowly, taking it all in. The smaller symbols we added? The herbs, the potions, the little magical elements? They’re marking each classroom. Potions has
its symbol above the door. Spellcasting. Runes. Every subject now has a matching icon, all drawn in Blake’s style, clean and precise and very recognisable. I
grab my schedule out of instinct. There it is. Top corner. A neat, scaled-down version of the same design. I flip it over. It’s on the back too. I look up.
Students are noticing. Whispering. Pointing. Some of them look impressed. Some of them look confused. One girl is literally taking photos of it. I slowly turn back to Blake. He looks… stunned. Like genuinely stunned. Which is rare. His expression is caught somewhere between deeply flattered and mildly
horrified, like he’s just realised he accidentally redesigned the entire Academy and doesn’t know whether to be proud or concerned.
“I did not intend for it to…” He trails off.
“Brand the entire building?” I offer. He gives me a look. I grin and glance around again, still a little in awe. The Academy didn’t just accept the gift. It kept it. It made it part of itself. And somehow… that feels bigger than anything else it could have done. I step forward, lightly tapping the wall beside one of the smaller symbols.
“Happy birthday, Academy,” I say, smiling.
Comments
Sherry Fulayter
That was too cute and sweet…
A hours ago
8 Comments >
65
2
