Raveena stepped into the faculty office, and she didn't dawdle by the entrance.
Her walk made a straight line across the carpeted floor, past rows of desks, bulletin boards filled with notices, and a snoozing tabby-folk professor in a too-small chair.
There, in the far corner, as always, sat Professor Vask.
The eagle-folk professor looked up the moment Raveena approached—alert, but a little… sleepy.
Raveena dropped into the chair across from her with a small sigh. "You don't have any classes to teach today?"
Professor Vask let out a slow yawn and rubbed the side of her nose. "It's no problem. I'm not the only Arcane Tech teacher around here, you know."
"Could've fooled me," Raveena muttered, resting her elbow against the desk. "So, what did you call me in for?"
Professor Vask tapped the end of her pen lightly against a roll of schematics before setting it aside. "Before that," she said, fixing Raveena with one of her sharp gazes, "how's your budget doing?"
"My what now?"
"Your budget. The money your mother sent. And the little extra I slipped in."
Raveena scoffed, leaning back in her chair. "Why does it matter to you how I spend my money?"
Professor Vask raised a brow. "Because Aldra entrusted you to me. I'm not just here to critique your wiring."
Raveena let out a slow sigh, rubbing her forehead. "It's fine, all right? I'm not overspending. I've still got enough to probably live through February. Because duh… it's my February allowance."
"February? I was under the impression you took my advice and invested in good materials. So imagine my delight when I saw your project submission last night, made of scraps. And one of those so-called 'panels' was a flattened sardine tin."
Raveena folded her arms. "I stand by my words. I won't use the money unless I have to."
Professor Vask narrowed her eyes and stared, as if silently counting to ten.
"…Fine," she said at last. "Stubborn creature."
"Please, just tell me why I'm here."
Professor Vask clicked her tongue once, then reached into a folder tucked beneath her blueprint pile. "Do you know about the Concorde Summit?"
Raveena paused.
"Concorde Summit...? That was the thing Aya mentioned last time, wasn't it? Some kind of big event, something about working with chefs from Rosequartz Town…"
After a moment, she gave a slow nod. "Yeah. A friend of mine told me about it. Some major event, right?"
Professor Vask tilted her head in slight surprise. "Huh. I wasn't expecting that. But yes. It's a multi-institutional summit. Basically, a big gathering for educators, researchers, and business sector bigwigs. They meet up, talk through initiatives, and outline collaborative plans for this year's academic and industrial development across the Wonderforest."
Raveena raised a brow. "Okay... So what does that have to do with me?"
Professor Vask grabbed a pen off her desk and pointed it at Raveena. "You, my young engineering apprentice, will accompany me tomorrow as my—"
"No."
"I didn't even say what for yet."
"You want me to play assistant, right? Carry your diagrams, nod at your meetings, be your glorified toolbox."
"...Yes."
"Then no. Absolutely not," Raveena said, already leaning back in her chair. "Why would you even ask me to play that part when you're already burying me with projects?"
Professor Vask scoffed. "You're being dramatic. I only gave a few."
"Five. You gave us five for this half of January."
"You already finished three," Professor Vask retorted immediately. "That's a great pace."
"It's sabotage," Raveena fired back. "You say you don't like giving extensions, but now you're making sure I'll miss at least a full day, maybe two, of working time. What is this? A secret plot to break my streak?"
"That is not the case."
"Okay, so what? Do you just hate me that much, you cruel… hag?"
"Uh-uh," Professor Vask snapped, wagging the pen. "Watch the mouth. Show some respect for your elders. Especially ones who are, might I remind you, your aunt."
Raveena groaned. "Please don't say that like it means something. It's unsettling."
"It does mean something; mind you, I'm young and healthy!"
"You're forty-three."
Professor Vask pointed the pen again. "Still in my prime."
Raveena sighed. "Okay. Fine. Let's say I say yes and play along as your assistant. What then? And what's in it for me?"
Professor Vask shrugged, nonchalant. "Simple. Like I said earlier, you carry my things, nod politely at the right times, and make my life easier. Believe it or not, I'm one of the speakers at the summit. That's why I'm heading there."
"Uh-huh."
"And if you're a good little apprentice and things go smoothly… I'll waive your remaining projects."
Raveena squinted. "No, that won't do."
Professor Vask raised a brow. "Why? That's a solid offer—"
"Nope. If you want me to run around carrying your diagrams and nodding at suits in suits, then you waive the projects for the entire class. That way no one can say it's favoritism. And no, you're not allowed to let everyone figure out that we're related. Keep that part to yourself."
Professor Vask clicked her tongue, her mouth twitching in visible annoyance. "Stars above… This brat really knows how to pull teeth and twist arms," she muttered. "Fine. Deal. Zenny-snatching little gremlin…"
Raveena smiled smugly. "See? That wasn't so bad, and you're not as scary when you grumble like a bricklayer."
Professor Vask grunted, half-muttering, "S'cause I am one. Born from bricks and caffeine."
"That explains the shoulders."
"No more of your attitude," she snapped, jabbing her broken pen stub at Raveena like it still had power. "No wonder you're single."
"No wonder you're single," Raveena shot back.
"Divorced," Professor Vask corrected sharply.
"Single again, though."
Snap!
The pen that the professor was holding finally cracked in half.
"See me after Tuesday classes," Professor Vask growled, tossing the pieces into a bin with far too much force. "We've got somewhere to be today before the trip tomorrow."
Raveena raised an eyebrow. "And what exactly are we doing?"
Professor Vask leaned back in her chair. "We're going shopping."
"But I'm broke."
"Tch, don't worry about it, brat," Professor Vask shot her a look. "It's on me."
"…Oh, okay then," Raveena nodded before she stood up and stretched, rolling her shoulders.
"And don't be late," Professor Vask reminded.
"Won't be," Raveena answered before she turned and left the faculty office, the door clicking gently shut behind her.
Once she was out in the hallway, she let out a long sigh, dragging a hand through her hair before scratching her ears a bit. "Shopping, huh…"
She slipped a hand into her pocket and pulled out the small stack of copper zennies Rory had given her.
"Right," she muttered, eyeing them as she began to walk. "Still gotta get that fox her snacks."
"Today's gonna be such a pain."