Chapter 6 Flat broke

  The sun had just begun to set as Wendel settled into his usual corner of the library, a fortress of tomes and scattered notes surrounding him.

  He flipped through Introduction to Martial Arts, the diagrams stiff and lifeless compared to the blur of real combat.

  “This is hopeless,” he muttered, pressing his thumb against the page.

  Cecilia glanced up from where she lounged with a book of her own, one leg crossed neatly over the other. “You sound frustrated.”

  “Because I am.” He jabbed at the picture of a fighter mid-punch.

  “This says, ‘guard up, pivot, snap the hips.’ It looks easy enough written down, but these are techniques people spend years mastering.

  I can’t just hand Rhys a diagram and expect him to suddenly fight like a seasoned martial artist.”

  “You taught me barrier techniques”, Cecilia reminded gently.

  “That’s different,” Wendel said quickly. “That was mental. I could explain it, break it down, guide you step by step because I understood the concepts. But this?” He slapped the book closed. “These are physical movements. Muscle memory. Reflexes. I can’t explain my way out of this. I’m out of my wheelhouse completely.”

  For a moment, only the faint crackle of a nearby lantern filled the silence. Then Cecilia’s voice brushed against his thoughts, calm but edged with hesitation.

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  “I do not know the solution either. But… I believe you will find one. You always do.”

  Wendel leaned back in his chair, staring up at the beams overhead. “I want Rhys to have the best chance possible. With you, I had instinct and your psychic ability to lean on. With Gretchen, I had Jorgen’s guidance to help me. But Rhys…” His voice tightened. “I’m flying blind here.”

  Cecilia set her book down, folding her hands in her lap. “You are forgetting one thing. Rhys is a natural-born fighter. His instincts are sharper than either of ours. Perhaps just the basics will be enough for him to grasp—enough for him to build on. He will grow from there.”

  Her gaze was steady, though there was still a flicker of uncertainty in her voice. “Your role is to guide, to create the chances for him to practice and learn. That is enough for now.”

  Wendel exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “I hope so. Because right now it feels like I’m asking him to fight barehanded while I fumble through a manual written for amateurs.”

  “Then we stumble” Cecilia replied softly, “and we rise again.”

  He let out a deep sigh despite himself, though the unease still sat heavy in his chest.

  A quiet cough interrupted his thoughts. Wendel looked up to see two fellow students lingering hesitantly nearby.

  “Hey, Wendel, right? We heard you’re pretty good with potions and botany?” one of them asked nervously. “Would you maybe… tutor us after class?”

  Wendel smiled, setting the book aside. At least this, he could do. “Yeah, sure. I’ve been thinking about tutoring.”

  “What’s your rate?”

  “How about a hundred dollars a session…per person.”

  The other student’s eyes brightened. “That’s reasonable.”

  “I’m here every day after classes. When would you like to meet?”

  The students exchanged glances. “Tomorrow at four works for us.”

  “Perfect. See you tomorrow,” Wendel said.

  From across the room, Professor Yarrow’s sharp eyes caught the exchange. She raised a subtle eyebrow but said nothing, her faint smile almost approving as she turned back to her work.

  “Well, that solves our small money issue” Cecilia remarked dryly.

  “If by ‘small issue’ you mean complete lack of funds,” Wendel muttered, “then yes. One problem solved.”