It hurt me physically to hand over the pouch of pathetic pebbles masquerading as Runestones to the smug fool at the reception desk. I completely understood his reason for sniggering as he inspected them, but it stung my pride to think anyone would believe this was my work. It took every ounce of my self-control not to slap them from his hands and try to stomp them into oblivion.

I’m so much better than this!

I begged the stars that anyone who witnessed me here would forget my existence, rather than recall me being associated with those tragic mistakes. My reputation was one of the few things I had control over in my life, and I had been carefully nurturing it for so long that I couldn’t bear to see it blemished.

“Guildmistress Ada will be pleased to hear you surrendered these… Runestones so promptly.”

He didn’t even try to conceal the mocking sneer that spread across his features, blue eyes shining with superiority, and I didn’t blame him. Those things were grotesque. Obviously crafted without any care for accuracy or magical efficiency, it offended me on a deep level to present them to any living being. They should never have left the dank hovel that birthed them.

I suppressed a shudder as I recalled that den of delinquency I had stayed in until dawn.

You’re truly an idiot, Si. What sane person follows a random stranger into their creepy secret lair and stays the night?

I chided myself, for the hundredth time, over how idiotic and reckless I had been. He could have been a criminal! Scrap that...he was definitely a criminal! Once I had finally caught up on sleep, I expected to be even more appalled by my level of desperation and lack of self-preservation.

“They’re all there.” I huffed at the blonde Apprentice who was diligently recording each Rune name on a piece of parchment. He made a show of wiping his fingers on a laced handkerchief after handling each stone.

I get it, you ass.

I clenched my fists and channelled my energy into ignoring him and enduring the shame. It would be worth the humiliation to keep my real stones, but I was still disgusted by the fact I was willingly associating myself with such shoddy pieces of –

Just breathe, Si. Let it go.

I would just have to prove to everyone that I was worth something in a different way. A way they wouldn’t be able to ignore. If I had to stoop to co-operating with dubious students and lowlifes to do it, then I would just have to deal with that. Once I had a name for myself, none of this would matter. My family could pretend I never existed, my sister could take my place, and I could be free to live and love however I wanted.

Still, I needed to stay in the Guild to achieve those dreams. Repentant student was the best part to play right now.

“What will happen to them?” I asked nervously, suddenly concerned that the more people who saw the fakes, the greater the chance I would be caught. Surely someone would realise that I would never produce such substandard Runestones, second-year or not. I was top of my Runecasting classes, and already known for my Rune drawing precision amongst my envious peers.

The Apprentice swept his oil-slicked hair back from his forehead as he attempted, poorly, to hide a smirk beneath a mask of sympathy.

“I deeply apologise for what you’ll have to witness here, but I have my orders.” His melodrama wasn’t selling the lie at all. I wondered why he was even bothering. “Such a tragedy though, as you’ve obviously put a lot of time and effort into trying your best with these stones.”

Get on with it you condescending turnip.

He replaced the quill in its stand as he finished cataloguing, then pulled out a dark box that fit neatly in his hands. I held back a murmur of appreciation as I inspected the box and realised it was made completely out of obsidian. The rare black glass did not come cheap, and I winced at the greasy fingerprints he left on its surface. Then my heart skipped a beat as I recognised the Rune patterns carved into the top and I bit my lip to keep from grinning with joy.

An uncomfortable amount of attention was being paid to my face, but the Apprentice seemed to interpret my changing expression as distress. He reached out and spread his hand over mine, squeezing gently and lingering too long. I clamped down on my facial reaction as my skin crawled.

“Don’t worry about these scary looking Runes girl,” I cast my eyes down as I withdrew my hand from his, sweeping clenched fists behind my back and surreptitiously wiping the place he had touched. “They won’t hurt you while I’m here to keep you safe.”

I supposed this was where I was meant to swoon and thank him for being a man. Didn’t I endure this mentality enough at home? Perhaps he and my father were part of some male power association where they all sat around at the heads of their own tables and congratulated each other on having penises.

I swallowed my rage and focused on avoiding more trouble than I was already in. Head butting an Apprentice was definitely on the list of things you shouldn’t do when trying to lay low.

“Do you mind if I sit over there?” I mumbled as I nodded toward the chairs lining the wall. Being the shy maiden was probably the easiest way to get away from him without noticeable repulsion.

“If it will make you feel safer, then of course.” His face showed concern but his eyes twinkled suspiciously.

As soon as I had spun away from him, I stuck my tongue out, screwed up my face and silently mimicked his smarmy “If it will make you feel safer” drivel. I admit it made me feel a little better. I made sure to hide my smile before turning around again to sit.

He was busy placing the gems inside the black box, and I felt my excitement rise. I pictured the most beautiful of all the Runes I had recognised on its lid. Destruction. Sorry Featherhead, this is the fate they deserve.

Hurry up and do it already! Send those abominations into the abyss.

I was wringing my hands in anticipation when blondie finished filling the box and closed the lid.

“If it were up to me you could look away for this,” he oozed, “but you need to see what happens when you’re naughty and break the rules.”

I get away with it and you take out the trash for me?

My eyes widened at my own careless thought and I hoped it hadn’t shown on my face.

Down ego…save the smugness for free time.

Once again he misinterpreted my reaction and continued in a solemn voice.

“Miss Sierra Rivergold. For the creation of Rune magic far above your level of expertise, your Runestones are sentenced to destruction.”

Yeesssss.

He puffed out his chest as he rose to his feet, box gripped ominously in front of him.

“No!” I forced the objection out.

“Don’t worry,” he caught my eye and winked. “I’m in complete control.”

First stroking my hand, now this? Did he seriously think I would be impressed by the person who thought he was obliterating months' worth of my work?

Father would love this one.

I worked to unclench my jaw as he smiled at me with pity while sending magic into the Runes. They flared to life and I was still close enough to admire the way they linked together to form the spell. I let the magic calm me as my mind worked to store the pattern for later. Destruction, Containment, Within, Obsidian; the glorious Rune lines that amounted to “destroy the shameful abominations inside me”. If only we could cut the nonsense and just enjoy this wondrous moment together. Though it would take a lot to burn the image of that sleazy wink from my mind.

Just concentrate on the Rune work Si. Look, so intricate, so soothing.

The spell design was flawless; the Destruction Rune perfectly limited by the linked passive Runes around it. I was extremely curious to know who had carved it, and wondered if it would be strange of me to ask. After only a moment, the Runes began to fade as blondie removed his hand from the lid, an almost inaudible hum I had failed to notice faded from the room.

“It’s done. Come here please.”

Must I?

Focusing on how good it would feel to see the ruin of those stones, I trudged over and tried to determine if it was worth squeezing out a tear or two. I decided it was better not to overplay it, though I did gasp and cover my mouth when he showed me the fine dust the gems had been crushed into. So beautiful.

He poured the contents into an envelope and sealed it with wax, eyes glancing up at me constantly to witness my “pain”.

“You understand that if you try this again, the consequences will be worse?”

That humbled me a little. There was still the possibility that my real stones would be found and crushed. If that happened, I was probably also being kicked out and losing my one true chance at freedom.

“I understand.”

“Good. Now put your seal here and you may go.”

I tugged my ID tag out from under my uniform and pressed my finger to the Bloodstone embedded in the silver, sending a trickle of magic into it. Instantly it began to glow a deep crimson, signifying the connection it had with my blood. Satisfied the ID was truly mine, he nodded his approval for me to push it into the blob of wax he had dripped onto the parchment. I waited a moment for him to release the page so I could lift it to my tag, but he was quite deliberately holding it down on the table as the wax rapidly cooled.

This guy...

I bent over and shoved my tag into the wax, leaving behind the indent of my name and rank.

“If you ever want to hold a real man’s stones,” he whispered against my ear, as he stood and fiddled with his belt, “I have a fine set you can try out.”

That’s it. I have to hit him.

As adrenaline surged to my slapping hand, my eye caught the glimmer at his belt and I realised just in time he was exposing a collection of Runestones, not fleshstones. The violence still beckoned, but then I noticed several designs I had never seen before and my hand halted while I tried to memorise the lines.

So, of course, it was right as I was leaning forwards, eyes glued intently to his bejewelled crotch, that Guildmistress Ada burst through the door behind me. I spun abruptly at the noise, heat flaring up my cheeks, fuelled even further as I noticed Rin on her heels carrying a stack of documents. A lifetime of etiquette classes tried to rescue me and I dropped into a panic induced curtsey.

She took in the scene at once and turned her attention to the Apprentice, while Rin stared at me, mouth hanging open. Already full of emotion, the sight of his traitorous face made it easy for me to swing from embarrassment to hostility. I glared daggers at him and he conveniently found another direction to be looking in - basically any part of the room that didn’t involve me or my raging aura.

“Well?” Her voice jolted me from my death stare, but she was speaking to the Apprentice, his blonde hair bouncing as he nodded.

“It’s been done Guildmistress.”

“Most excellent!” she piped. “I trust you have learnt your lesson Miss Rivergold?”

“Yes, Guildmistress.” Thank goodness she never had the chance to inspect those gems. “It won’t happen again.”

I flicked my gaze to Rin, who was resolutely avoiding my eyes. Look at me you coward. You’re the reason I’m here!

“Wonderful. I received correspondence today that should be the final part of this unpleasant business.”

She offered me an envelope with my name on it and my mouth went dry. There was no mistaking my father’s brisk handwriting.

“Y-you told my parents?” My stomach began to churn. This time when I looked up, Rin didn’t turn away. The expression on his face twitched between sorrowful regret and stubborn justification. One made me want to cry in his arms, the other made me want to break them. I blinked back a tear and blocked him out, I couldn’t kick him right under the nose of the Guildmistress.

“I most certainly had to advise them of your behaviour.” She strode towards her office door before turning back to shoo me away. “Off you go now dear. You should see what they have to say to you.”

Her door closed.

“I’m here to assist anytime you need, Miss Rivergold.” Blondie stroked his belt. I spun around and headed for the door without replying, though the temptation of those unknown Runes was strong.

I crossed paths with Rin as I walked out.

“Sierra -”

“Don’t.” I wasn’t ready for the conversation about how hurt I was by his betrayal. The worst part was knowing that he would still think he’d done the right thing. Jerk.

My feet carried me away down the stairs, and my mind locked onto the envelope from my father as I cracked the wax and dragged out the letter. I only needed to read one line before crumpling the parchment in my fist. My family were already on their way.