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entire room was filled with the aroma of fresh mint tea. Steam
escaped through the spout of the teapot and trailed off as it rose through the
air. “I find it better to discuss bitter topics over drinks,” Dimwater said.
She snapped her fingers and two tea cups appeared; one on each saucer plate.
The teapot gently floated toward Erik and poured tea into his cup. The bottle
of green liquid floated over to Dimwater, popped its own cork, and filled
Dimwater’s cup.
    “What is that?”
Erik asked. He was feeling more comfortable now after being offered refreshment
in place of infinite demerits or immediate expulsion.
    “It’s absinthe,”
Dimwater replied. “It is a bit too strong for you, but I find it helps to clear
my mind.” She took a slow sip and set the cup back on the saucer.
    Erik tested his
tea. It was almost too hot, but that was how he liked it. Hot enough to sting
the lips and be felt on the way down his throat. “It’s very good, thank you.”
Erik looked up and saw that Dimwater was still staring at him. Her face was as
stone and despite her beautiful features, looked scary. Her finger lightly
traced the rim of her cup as she stared. It was then that Erik remembered why
he was here. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have entered your study without your
permission.”
    “Your apology is
accepted,” Dimwater replied. “However, we should discuss the matter of your
punishment.”
    Erik set his tea
down and prepared for the worst.
    “I deal with
intruders quite differently than other teachers here at Kuldiga Academy.”
    “Other students
have done this before?” Erik asked incredulously.
    “Of course,”
Dimwater chuckled. A smile broke her stone-faced expression. “There are many
rumors about me, young Erik. The rumors, combined with my powers and position
here at Kuldiga Academy make for an irresistible temptation for all kinds of
intruders, it seems. That is why I am so careful about guarding my study.”
    “But why guard
it if you can make everything disappear?” Erik asked.
    Dimwater laughed
out loud for several moments. When she calmed down a bit she wiped a tear from
her left eye. “This room isn’t my study,” she said.
    “But what about the desk and the books?” Erik countered.
“And why would Janik tell me to come here if it wasn’t your study?”
    Dimwater smiled
and took another drink before she answered. “So, Janik gave you the key did
he?” she asked.
    Erik fidgeted in
his chair nervously. He tried to think of a story to save his friend, but
nothing came to his mind. “I made him do it,” was all he could think to say.
    “My dear boy,”
Dimwater chuckled. “Janik couldn’t be forced to do anything by a mere
apprentice, not even Lepkin’s chosen protégé.”
    “He’s crippled,
ma’am, that gives me the advantage,” Erik replied smugly.
    “His hand and
leg may be twisted, but even if you had Lepkin’s flaming sword, you could not
come close to defeating Janik. Perhaps you saw the painting of him in the
hall?”
    Erik nodded
sullenly.
    “Don’t worry; I
will not involve Janik in your punishment.”
    “Thank you,
ma’am,” Erik replied.
    “Now, so that
you understand what I meant about this room not being my study,” Dimwater
began. She finished her drink and then tossed the cup into the air, where it
vanished. “This room is a decoy. My real study is in the top of the tower.”
    “But there
aren’t any stairs. How do you get there?”
    “Your ignorance
of magic amuses me,” Dimwater replied. “Let me warn you that the other
guardians of my study make those you encountered look like church mice by
comparison.”
    “Why didn’t
Janik warn me about the ghost and the wolf?” Erik asked. The question was
rhetorical, but Dimwater answered all the same.
    “The guardians
are meant to keep intruders out. Janik is not an intruder, as it is his job to
clean Kuldiga Academy.”
    “But he’s never
seen your real study, I’ll bet,” Erik replied.
    Dimwater