even worse, I was his boss.
***
So, I’m Zulina Chimer, Dean of the Faculty of zoo-botany at the Azuin University of Magic. I’m twenty-eight, and a lot of people think I got this job at what they say was because of my great tits and cornflower-blue eyes. For some reason, everyone prefers to forget my almost decade-long contribution to the greenhouse cultivation of agmarats and «dragonbone». The fact that teleportation no longer turns the traveler inside out, and therefore has become very common, in fact, opening the borders, is also my merit. What would they do if the agmarats continued to be found only in the farthest thickets, eh? I deserve this place, period.
But what I didn’t deserve was frustrated nerves because of some guy, even if he was so amazing.
I turned the page of the log, made a few notes, compared the entries with the data entered into the system. The graph on the screen floating in the air above the table rose gently upwards. Not too intense, but at least no slumps. This means that our chances for the requested increase in the funding of the faculty have strengthened.
I needed at least a fifteen percent increase in the budget to launch the botanical garden project. The one that the university had now did not stand up to criticism: for example, it was more of a park for walking than a field for science. If we had annexed and cultivated the whole of Meadow, built greenhouses, put the existing collections in order, we could have competed with the Bergar Royal Garden in seven or ten years. I visited that reserve last year… No, "visited " – is too inaccurate a word… I admired, envied terribly, thought of chaining myself in a grove of Murney oaks in the center of the park…
We needed that money.
And some of them, by the way, I intended to earn by inviting Erchin Mavinus to join us. His arrival was supposed to attract new students to our faculty, as well as external listeners. For a fee, of course. And attendance is advertising, popularity. Rector Tahoni adored fame. Sometimes he went too far with this business, but when I look at his management as a whole, the university has gained a lot, and the town has also come to life.
In general, fame is a useful thing, and Erchin uses it to the fullest. As a result, not a day goes by that I don’t see him or hear about him.
So, what do you tell a girl with a vibrant libido to do in such a situation, who hasn’t had even the worst relationship for almost a year?!
Adiree suggests that we go to the Dark World, pick up an incubus. Young and inexperienced, so that you can get rid of him without any problems. Or she laughs and says that I can’t waste time on trifles and approach Saul himself, because he has had his eye on me for a long time. Really? Only the sex demon was that I miss, hah! And about Saul… he and I are friends, if we look for a definition of this, and nothing more. He’s an interesting man, in his own way. It’s only Sunny who flinches at the mention of him, as if the guy is the quintessence of evil. Well, not an angel, but not that scary. But in bed… No, no, no. I’m not suicidal.
However, the one I dream of is no safer.
Erchin is a monster tamer. Everyone knows him as such person. But for some reason, it seems to me, the main monster is hiding inside him. So why don’t I mind feeling his claws on my neck?
Maybe Adiree isn’t so wrong. We should get out as girls, have a party. There seems to be no shortage of men in the world.
There was a loud knock on the door, and it swung open before I could say a word.
«How’s my beloved dean?»
Well, of course, who else could break in so unceremoniously.
«Hello, Professor Mavinus,» I muttered, trying to sound a little friendly. «Both I and the faculty are fine, thank you for your interest.»
He grinned and, without waiting for an invitation, sat down in the chair across from me, unbuttoning his dark blue striped jacket and stretching out his long legs.
«There’s a conversation, I don’t know if I’ve interfered…»
I sighed: when Erchin looked at me like that – when he looked at me at all – I was ready to find time, no matter what nonsense he came with.
«Go ahead.»
«I have some idea for the project of a botanical garden. As I understand it, this is your brainchild?»
I nodded, but didn’t comment.
«Very well,» he moved closer, resting his elbows on the table separating us, as if to make the conversation more intimate, «I think there is something that needs to be reconsidered in it…»
I didn’t have time to hear what exactly he wanted to fix in my precious project, and I didn’t have time to be outraged by his impudence.
The half-closed door swung open again, hitting the wall, letting in a disheveled, panting Sunny.
Already huge, her eyes were almost popping out of their sockets, her cheeks were burning. To be honest, I’ve never seen her so thrilled. Bewilderment and horror were evident on her pretty face.
«The Emerald Azuin has been stolen!» My friend exclaimed, rushing towards me. «He’s free, Zulina!»
Chapter 2
«Holy God! Sunny!» I jumped up to meet her and hit my hip as I rounded the table, but I barely noticed the pain. «Calm down! You’re going to get sick now,» I wrapped my arms around her, forcing her to stop and catch her breath. «Here, sit down.»
We walked over to a couch against the wall of the office, squeezed between huge cabinets, and plopped down on it.
A moment later, a glass of water appeared in front of my eyes, held out by a man’s hand.
Erchin. For a moment, I completely forgot about him. But he was still there, and he was so calm.
Taking the glass, I pushed away my friend, who had already come to her senses a little.
«Here, dear, have a drink, you’ll feel better.»
Sunny drained the glass in two large gulps, not caring how she looked in front of us. Setting it aside, she exhaled, straightened, folded her hands in her lap in her usual manner, and looked at me.
«I’m sorry, Zu! I must have scared you. Maybe I was too worried, but you know… Azuin… I can’t believe it!»
I narrowed my eyes. No, she had no doubt about what she was saying.
«Are you sure, Sunny?»
«Do you think anyone would dare to make a joke like that?!»
«No, I don’t. I have no idea. Probably not. But how do you know?»
«Roginis and Tahoni are there… I mean, in his office, at the Vice-Rector’s. Tahoni is shocked: I’ve never seen him so shocked. And John just tears his hair out and screams all over the west wing. A crowd had already gathered there. Soon the wave will come here too, it’s just that I was the first to run to you… as soon as I heard it.»
«I mean… Did someone remove the protection installed by Roginis? The Stamp of Rennes?» I shook my head in disbelief. «It’s crazy! I didn’t think it was even possible. To open it, and even to extinguish the recoil… It has to be someone very skilled.»
«Level five or even level four, not lower,» Sunny nodded in agreement.
«So, someone with that kind of power infiltrated the university and the Guards were silent? But how?»
She gave