Kalli and I stared at each other for a few moments before I asked her a question.

What are you doing here?

She looked wounded, but she answered. I told you I was going to come find you after dinner, didn’t I?

I sighed and looked at the remnants of my dinner strewn across the room. I briefly wondered if any of it was salvageable. I needed a spell that would clean food dropped on the floor. I made a mental note to find out if such a spell existed.

Deciding to do what I knew, I picked up the only mostly intact sushi roll I could find and pulled up the system menu.

Item:

Soiled Spicy Tuna Roll

Components

Rice, Ahi Tuna, Seaweed, Chili Sauce, Mayonnaise, Sesame Oil, Dirt

Item Rank:

F

Item Level:

1

Item Owner:

Murphy

I cleaned it up using the editor.

Item:

Spicy Tuna Roll (Edited)

Components

Rice, Ahi Tuna, Seaweed, Chili Sauce, Mayonnaise, Sesame Oil

Item Rank:

B

Item Level:

1

Item Owner:

Murphy

Without a second glance, I stuffed it into my mouth. I was surprised to discover that it was just as tasty as I had expected it to be before it got tossed into a magical blender. Kalliphae gaped at me.

I shrugged.

Sorry. I was so hungry.

She placed her hands on her hips. You should have come to dinner then.

I knew she was right.The problem was admitting to her that I was nervous meeting so many new people at once.I took a deep breath and changed the subject.

What do you want to do tonight?

Kalli started to clean up the mess I had made. Were you done with your practicing?

I can be. Did you want to do something?

She shrugged while she gathered all of the soiled food into one place on the floor. I don’t mind helping you if you want to practice something.

I was suddenly feeling very self-conscious about showing off. Byakko, on the other hand, was feeding off of the awkward situation. The tattoo on my forehead flashed for a moment before the tiger cub appeared at my feet and bounded over to Kalli, who had just sat down to watch me practice.

Deciding to do something different, I felt for my mana. I was surprised to discover that it no longer consisted of wind. When I had stopped focusing on it, my natural mana took over once again. I wasn’t sure if I could even call it any single element.

That was fine though because I was done practicing with wind for the moment.I conjured memories of Kalli’s warm burning mana and attempted to duplicate that within myself.Soon enough, I had a raging inferno for a mana core, and flames coursed through my channels.

Taking a few steps closer to Kalliphae, I let the magic course out onto my hands and whispered her favorite spell.

“Pvruzth”

Byakko leapt out of the way as the flame blossomed out of my hands and onto Kalli. She yelped as I attempted to duplicate her trick of having the flames cleanse her of the dried sweat that was matting her hair.

The sensation was very intense. I could feel the individual strands of her hair as my flames separated the grime from Kalli before consuming it. I allowed my fire to wash down her body as she had done with mine. I could feel the fine fibers of her phoenix dress when the flame passed harmlessly through it. Then I could feel…wait…something was wrong. I was feeling for more than Kalli had told me I was going to feel.

I was just getting ready to withdraw my flames when the girl executed a well-placed kick to my groin followed by her own version of her favorite spell.

“Pvruzth”

The only difference was that her spell wasn’t meant to clean. It was a fully defensive flame that served the purpose of surrounding her in a glowing red cocoon and expelling me, sending me flying through the room.

I groaned from the floor. The room spun above me. Kalli was on top of me in an instant. Melvin! Are you okay? I’m so sorry. I overreacted.

Byakko chuffed from behind the girl, “Kalliphae 1 point, Melvin 0.”

I was still reeling from the impact of her kick and too distracted by pain to come up with coherent thoughts. Judging from the grimace on her face, I had a feeling she felt it as well.

Kalliphae decided to lecture me instead of talking about what just happened. You need to remove the heat from your flame before you do that. Even though it can’t hurt me it was still very hot.

I idly wondered if that was what offended her. Deciding to let it go since she wasn’t saying anything else, I asked a question.

How do I take the heat out of the flame?

The pyromancer helped me sit up and placed her palm on my chest. You can’t take the heat out of the flame. Fire is heat. You can contain it though and not let it out. Try to watch and feel what I do.

“Pvruzth”

A flame burst from her hands and formed a bubble between us. I could feel it resting against my skin like a water balloon. It wasn’t cool to the touch, but it wasn’t hot either. All of the heat was contained within the bubble.

Kalli moved her hand around and the flames moved across my body. I could feel her concentration as she focused on keeping the fire in check as it washed over me like a razor blade.

She smiled and reassured me. Sometimes, I am so comfortable with this spell that I don’t even think about what I’m doing.

Do you mean the part where you can feel every part of me that the fire touches?

Kalli’s face reddened so much that it began to match her fiery red hair. Yes. I did forget about that part. You were the first person I’ve ever used it on besides myself.

More than once.

She paused at my unsubtle reminder and groaned. Fine. It was more than once.

In the end, Kalliphae allowed me to practice with her.

Sometime later, we emerged from the make-out room. I was smiling happily to myself while Kalli rolled her eyes. You don’t have to look so pleased with yourself.

But I got the hang of the spell. You even said I did a good job.

Kalli’s patience with me had been wearing thin during the training. I could feel it. I only told you that because you wanted to keep trying until you got it right.

The two of us walked in silence for a few minutes before my stomach growled loudly. Kalliphae raised an eyebrow. Are you still hungry? I thought you ate with Wendy.

The way she said Wendy’s name made me cringe.

I only started to eat. She wanted to see my spell and I only had a chance to take a few bites.

She turned to look at me. That’s why I said you should have joined us for dinner. I mean really, it’s not like it’s going to kill you to meet some of the other students. But, I guess it can’t be helped. Come on.

Where are you taking me?

Kalliphae had dragged me through The Academy to an elevator that led to the upper floors of the Los Angeles Times. Even though it was starting to get late, I could still smell the heavenly food that I had recently experienced through Kalli.

She offered me a warm smile and informed me, You’re really going to like this.

The buffet was different from anything I had ever seen before. Rather than a normal buffet, where poorly made food was left under a heat lamp until it was all dried out, each station was manned by staff in a white chef’s coat and hat.

Every station represented a different nationality. Kalli pointed at dish after dish that she had enjoyed and wanted me to try. I had five plates heaped with food before I noticed that Kalli didn’t have any for herself.

Aren’t you going to eat?

She shook her head. No, I ate earlier. You were watching, right?

I tried to push the vision of another boy offering her dessert out of my head. Kalli noticed my frustration and pushed my shoulder gently, reminding me. I am here with you now, aren’t I?

Smiling at the girl, I tried a mouthful of roast beef. It was delicious. Remembering the dessert, I turned to the pyromancer.

How was that dessert you had earlier?

Kalli frowned. I don’t know. I didn’t try any yet. I was waiting to try it with you.

I hopped quickly to my feet and grabbed Kalli’s hand, walking over to the dessert bar where I addressed the chef, “Two please.”