A stack of papers slammed down on top of the surface that Dyani was working on. In particular, she was writing notes alongside reading material. Startling, Dyani cursed as a long line of ink splattered across her notes. Eye narrowed and she scowled at the Goddess in front of her.

  "I've finished."

  Dyani gave her a stare, one that was clear that she had no idea of what the Goddess spoke of.

  "I believe a few times before this you were working on testing, were you not?"

  She cringed, that had been an awful few nights of stress. Picking up the top sheet, there was that very first test she took. There were red markings covering the entire piece and even the ones she could see in the rest of the stack.

  "You did decent for the first time through but you have many gaps. We'll need to fix that. Fast."

  Dyani dropped the paper and stood up, "When do we start?"

  "Now."

  The day passed with cramming intense magical theory ranging from the physics of magic to the completely unknown. Things that Dalition would not even begin to cover were the first things that the Goddess went over. This was exactly the level that she was used to. It was more complex, but after so many years of being in higher education, the stuff they taught at the school was so easy that it was hard. It didn't make sense but it was something that she found was annoying at best.

  When the night fell, Dyani stretched her cramped body. Sitting that long was not the best and definitely did not make her feel any better about her studies. The Goddess stood up and motioned for the woman to join her.

  "I've been thinking."

  "Oh?" The Goddess looked over in curiosity as they walked to the small study. "What is going through your mind?"

  Dyani hummed in thought in an attempt to word it correctly, "I know that we don't know how long I will be here. We'll be working in closer quarters together, assuming that you will be teaching me during the entire visit."

  "That is correct."

  "Then it is going to get odd calling you Goddess of Magic or just Goddess. I never thought to ask, but do you have another name that I can call you? I feel like your Goddess title is going to be tedious. Plus it straight up just sounds weird, like looking at the same word for so long that it looks wrong yet you know it's spelled right. Like that."

  The Goddess threw back her head and began to laugh in earnest. It had not been something she expected to be asked. Of all the questions that Dyani could have asked, knowing her name was the one that the woman went for.

  "My name is Aerase, but you may call me Aera for ease."

  Dyani tried her best to not butcher the name when she repeated it, but the Goddess cringed.

  "Sound it out slowly. Eye like the thing you look through. Rah as in the Egyptian Sun God, and then it comes all together with Say. As if you were to say something. Aerase."

  Dyani brightened and said it correct that time before getting a sly smile.

  "If you say I can call your Aera. What about Iris?"

  "No. Absolutely not. Aera or Aerase."

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  Dyani pouted and crossed her arms, trying not to bump into things as they walked past them. The door to the study creaked open with a flick of the fingers and they were met with comfort. The library was lovely but it lacked certain amenities that made it easier on a person's back. Dyani sighed in relief as she sunk down into a leather chair. Aerase took a moment to get the drinks set out for the two of them, with some small finger foods. Dyani gratefully took a small plate of them. The room was soothing and much better to relax in after a long day of studying.

  Aerase spoke after a stretch of silence, “I think we need to discuss your studies more in-depth and come up with a plan on your learning curve.”

  “I think that would be the best. Even despite what you taught me today, I still am feeling a disconnect of some of the material. It’s like there is something that just is not clicking in my head on how it works.”

  The Goddess set down her tea cup and hummed in thought while looking over the woman in front of her. It was a critical gaze, as if she were trying to figure out just what was causing the misunderstanding.

  “Do you think going over traditions and things that parents teach their children from birth would aid you? I am unsure if there is a way that I can help you make the connection other than to start you from the beginning."

  Dyani hummed and thought it over for a moment. Aera had a point. Learning from the point of view of what a child who grew up in that world to when they reached schooling age would connect things for her. Although, she wondered just how the Goddess would be able to pull that off.

  "You leave that to me. I will find a way for you to experience those times. Just give me a few days. Now, for the rest of your education. I think that I will need to pull some favors and get you Masters that would be sufficient to teach you in the areas that would benefit you in the long run."

  She tried her best to stay awake but her eyes felt like lead. They were fluttering shut while the Goddess was looking at a few things and talking to her. Dyani had questions but there was just too much exhaustion coursing through her and her body was too relaxed. The last thing that she remembered was the soft whisper of words before a blanket was draped over her.

  Dyani...

  There was a soft voice that was familiar, its deeper rumble giving her nothing but comfort. Everything was dark, but there was a wash of magic that rushed through it. Dyani gasped. Britt. She knew this magic and that voice.

  Dyani, I hope you can hear me...

  "Britt? Britt, can you hear me?" Dyani tried to scream but the darkness ate the sound. Her magic swelled up as she screamed.

  Dyani startled awake with a gasp, sweating dripping down her brow and the back of her neck. There was a whisper of the magic floating in the air and Dyani felt her heart clench. Britt was close. She knew it. There was a light knock on her door before it opened.

  "Dyani? Are you well?"

  Aerase stepped in, clothed in a silk nightgown and robe. Her feet were bare and Dyani winced at the low clink of the manacles. The Goddess sat down on the side of the bed and her brow wrinkled as the foreign magic dissipated.

  "What happened?"

  "Britt. I could hear him." Dyani watched as Aera's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

  "Fascinating," she hummed. "I didn't think that the two of you would have developed a bond that deep that quickly. I stand corrected."

  Dyani squinted at her, "What do you mean?"

  "Those who bond can develop levels of connection with each other. For example, a fully bonded couple or even a group of people bonded together, can have slight telepathic skills. In your case, his magic is reaching out to you through your comatose state. When When you are sleeping here, you are connecting back with your body. If just slightly. In doing so, you're picking up his side of the bond."

  "Huh," Dyani blinked. "That's new. The world of magic just amazes me."

  Aerase threw her head back and let out a deep belly laugh, "Oh darling, you haven't scratched the surface of what magic can do. Now, since you are awake, I have been thinking."

  The Goddess stood up, "I think that it would be a good idea for you to experience the world of magic through a child's eyes, particularly one that grew up within our world. I'll have you do this while you sleep so that it will not take up our time and you still will be able to rest properly."

  Dyani sat on that for awhile, the woman leaving the room and giving her time to ponder it. When she reappeared some time later, it was with a warm drink. Dyani sipped on the hot cider and relaxed, not realizing that the dream had wound her up in the first place.

  "Enjoy your drink and get some sleep. I have a few people that I wish for you to meet."

  Dyani looked at her in surprise, "People to meet?"

  The slow smile was one that should have concerned her, and it did on some level, but it also gave Dyani a little thrill. What was it exactly that the Goddess was introducing her to? If that was the reaction, then she was ready to learn. The lights were lowered with a flick of the wrist and Dyani set the empty cup to the side. At least she was relaxed enough to fall back into a deep sleep.