Work Text:
Shadow Work
"Elias. Elias! Elias, it's time to wake up! We're going to be late for the College!"
"Hmmm...five more minutes, Chise."
"NOW, ELIAS."
It was Tuesday morning, and Chise and Elias arrived at the College fifteen minutes before classes were to start. With rushed goodbyes, Chise and her Church Grim hurried up the stairs to her astronomy class, while Elias magicked himself into his female human form and opened the door to his Magecraft class.
"Good Morning, Students." Elias said quietly to the twelve students already seated, pens and notebooks out.
"Good Morning, Professor Ainsworth." The students said in unison.
-I miss Chise already- Elias thought to himself as he sighed. He only had two classes to teach today-this class and the last class of the day, so that left him with hours of time to kill. He decided that after this class was over, he would follow Chise in her shadow.
After the morning's Mage craft class, Elias graded papers until Chise's astronomy class was done, and she would be attending her next class on the first floor, next door to Elias' classroom. He stood in the doorframe while classes let out, and students quickly filled the hallway to capacity.
"Hi Chise! Hi Ruth!" Beatrice greeted Chise and Ruth, who were walking towards her and the Thorn Mage's doorway.
"What did you guys think of today's astronomy class?" She asked the Mageling.
"It's all very confusing for me, honestly. All the zodiac signs and sun and moon positions are a lot to take in." Chise confessed.
"You should ask my roommate Sofia Healy for help. She is an astronomy master! She's always first in class." Beatrice offered.
-Now it's time- Elias dissolved into shadow, and joined himself to Chise's small shadow, squeezing himself into her small frame of darkness as she and her familiar walked to their next class, stones and crystals 101.
Elias stayed floor-bound as Chise and Ruth found their seats up the stairs, at the highest table in the back of the room. It was harder for her to see the board, but her being up and away from the other students made them focus on the class, instead of staring at her and her black dog. Ruth went under the desk, curled his tail around himself, and promptly fell asleep.
-Pulse rate: Sixty-Three beats per minute.-
-Body temperature: Thirty-six point five degrees.-
-Blood pressure: One hundred and twenty-two over eighty.-
-Glucose level: estimated one hundred and eleven. She didn't have enough breakfast, and now she's hungry. I will have to speak to Silver about that.-
Elias could sense all these things going on in Chise's body, as well as hear her organs functioning as they should. Her light breakfast of buttered toast and tea had already left her stomach, and her belly grumbled in protest, wanting nourishment.
-Estrogen levels slightly elevated, meaning she is roughly three days before her menstrual cycle.- He inhaled deeply; he could smell her normal scent of honeysuckle and salt water and the soil from their garden. It was his favorite scent on earth.
The professor for this class was Ramona Wiggins, a mousy short woman with frizzy light brown hair and a boring fashion pallet. She was droning on and on about her favorite crystals and what they meant to her, while the students in the classroom tried their best to stay awake for the one and a half hour class.
When the class finally ended (much to everyone's relief) it was finally time for lunch. Ruth changed to his human form, and walked in front of his master toward the cafeteria, to scope out what they are serving for lunch today. Ruth took a tray and handed it to Chise, then grabbed a tray for himself.
"Fish and Chips today Chise!" Ruth said happily as he helped himself to two portions of battered fish and fries, a piece of lasagna, a bowl of salad, and a bottle of lemonade.
Chise took a plate of fish, and a small salad, with a bottle of water.
-She needs to eat more. This lunch is not enough. It's surprising, since she eats so well at home. I wonder why she eats so little here at the college...-
Elias followed his wife's shadow and her familiar out into the courtyard, where tables and chairs were set up for students can eat and drink outdoors before the weather turned cold and rainy. The sun was behind her, so her shadow stretched and gave Elias more room to grow his form.
Chise's main group of classmates had already picked their lunches and sat at two of the larger tables, saving two chairs for Ruth and herself facing away from the sun. Chise sat down and placed her tray in front of her, bowed her head quickly, saying Itadakimasu before she started to eat. There were three chairs in front of her still unoccupied, while Beatrice, Jasmine, April, May, Sophia, and Lucy sat around the Mage and her familiar.
"How about that crystals class, huh? It took all of me just to stay awake!" May Atwood said explosively, as she yawned yet again.
"I know! I wish we didn't have a boring and selfish professor, too. I don't care how much you personally love rose quartz! So annoying!" Lucy said with a scowl.
The ladies of the table made small talk, waiting for the rest of their friends to arrive. Ten minutes later Lian, Isaac and Zoey arrived at the table, trays loaded with food, and the hungry teenagers sat down and began to eat. Isaac was watching Ruth, looking at his now empty plates, bowl, and bottle on his tray.
"Where does it go?" Isaac asked abruptly.
"I beg your pardon?" Ruth asked.
"The food you just ate. You always eat big meals here with your Master, but you are Fae, right? Do you even need to eat? Where does the food go? Does Chise feel stuffed after you eat so much every day?" Isaac asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. Ruth blinked slowly in confusion.
"Isaac! What rude questions! As if it were any of your damn business why he eats!" Lucy said in disgust.
"No it's alright. I've just never been asked before, and it surprised me. I eat because I'm hungry. As for where it goes, it turns into magic for me, since It's a form of energy for me." Ruth answered.
"How about you, Chise? Do you feel full after he eats? If he's hungry, are you hungry?"
Chise's face reddened. She hated getting asked personal questions about herself or her personal life, which Ruth was a part of.
Elias took in the scene, seeing the world upwards from the shadows as if through the darkest lenses. He could see his wife blushing, and Isaac and Lian leaning forward, eager to hear the mage's reply.
-Pulse rate: Seventy-four beats per minute.-
-Temperature: Thirty six point nine degrees.-
-Blood pressure: one hundred twenty-nine over eighty.-
-Her hormonal levels are elevated, and she is releasing pheromones in her panic.
I do NOT like this boy.-
Chise cleared her throat, and finally spoke.
"No, I don't feel full after he eats. We both share feelings and thoughts, but not hunger. Ruth is constantly at work at home, so he needs to eat more to sustain himself. I don't need to eat as much as he does." She answered the boys quietly.
"How about Professor Ainsworth? Does he eat? How much does he eat?" Isaac asked Chise, who was getting uncomfortable.
"Well, he is bloody massive, so I would only assume he eats alot, more than Ruth I would imagine." Lian added.
"Um...well-" Chise started to say, while she looked to Ruth for help explaining.
"Yes, Elias eats, just like everyone else." Ruth said firmly, ending the conversation. Chise and Ruth exchanged glances, and Chise ate the rest of her lunch in silence.
"So, what class do we have next again?" Zoey asked, smoothly changing the subject.
"Potions. The class I struggle with the most." Lian said in frustration.
"I'm sure Chise could help you Lian, since she makes so many potions at home." Beatrice volunteered, to Chise's dismay.
-Her pulse is racing now, and her core temperature is rising as well. I thought it was only small children that ask so many questions, but I have misunderstood.-
Elias caught the strong scent of testosterone coming from Lian now, and was surpised to hear his pulse also racing.
-What could this mean? Why is he acting like this? Chise has said nothing to cause him to act this way. She hasn't really said anything at all, and these two boys are acting like predators, and I don't like it.-
"Class starts in ten minutes. We better get going." Zoey said as he got up from his chair. Most of his classmates followed suit, except Lian, Isaac, Chise, and Ruth. Chise always waited until all her friends were in front of her, so she wouldn't get stared at as she and her familiar walked the halls.
Isaac reluctantly stood up, and patted Lian's shoulder. "Good Luck, Bruv." He said simply and joined his classmates entering the building again.
Chise and Ruth were still seated, and watched as Lian broke out into a sweat.
"Is something wrong, Lian? You don't look like you're feeling well? Do you need to visit the nurse? I can walk with you down there if you need me to." Chise offered.
-There she is being selfless again, caring for others more then herself. This boy doesn't deserve her kindness. He smells of rust and sweat and hormones. Disgusting.-
"No, it's quite alright, Chise. This is nothing more than a touch of nervousness. It will be over soon." Lian explained, while Chise looked at him questionably.
Lian closed his eyes and sighed heavily. He opened his eyes, and looked at Chise.
"I was going to ask you if you could be my tutor for the potions, but my feelings for you keep getting in the way."
"Lian, what do you mean?"
"Chise, nothing would make me happier then going on a date with you. Do you have any plans this Friday night? I thought maybe we could get some dinner and go watch a movie?" He said in a rush, words tumbling over each other in his haste to get what he wanted to say for so long out, finally.
Chise's eyes widened in surprise. She nervously looked at Ruth, who was blushing as much as she was. They seemed to confer with themselves in silence for a few moments, while Lian watched.
"Um...yeah. I'm sorry, but that wouldn't be a good idea, I'm afraid. Chise already belongs to someone else. She is not available for dates with others or anything else. Her magecraft studies take up whatever time she doesn't spend here at the College." Ruth said, letting down Lian as gently as he could. Chise held on to Ruth's arm, squeezing it in gratitude.
Lian's face fell in disappointment. "I understand. The bounds between Mage and Familiar can not be broken. I should have known this was the case."
"WHAT? Oh god no. Yes, we are bound, but someone else has my heart. I'm sorry Lian." Chise said, as gently as she could.
"Wait-it's not Ruth? Who are you dating then? Is it another student here at the College? It's not Alice, is it? I know you two are very close."
"Ah...um...no, it's not Alice. It's someone else, but I'd rather not say or talk about it right now." Chise said quietly, while her nerves got the best of her, and she started to feel weak.
"Right. Well, I guess I better get going, the worst class of the day is starting now." Lian said abruptly, as he got up quickly and strode towards the building, wounded by the rejection Chise gave him.
Chise stared at her shadow.
"All right, Elias. You can come out now."
Elias assumed his form after he left her shadow.
"How did you know I was here, Chise? How long have you've known?" Elias asked his student in surprise.
"You forget I know you better than you know yourself. You forget my dragon curse allows me to find your scent and your presence whenever you're around me." Chise explained.
"I should have realised that. Do these children always ask so many questions? I would've thought their curiosity would wane as they got older."
"Yes, Elias. I get asked many questions, all day, every day. You have to remember that we are the only mages my classmates have met, and they want to know more about us."
"Does it bother you, Chise? To always have at least one of them following you, watcing your every move? I don't like it."
"I've been followed my whole life, Elias. I honestly wouldn't know what life is like without a human or fae watching me." Chise said sadly. "And now I can add you to the list, Elias. You do realise it's a breach of trust following someone around, and eavesdropping into their conversations, don't you?"
Elias looked down at her, his silence his answer.
"Let this be your lesson of human things for today, Elias-following people in their shadows and listening to private conversations is rude and intrusive. Have you learned something new today, Teacher of Magecraft?"
"Yes I have, my Teacher of Human Things." Elias said as he leaned down to nuzzle Chise's head.
"Good. Now, don't you have another class to teach? I'm late for my potions class. I'll see you tonight. And stay out of my shadow, Elias!"