5 + 5 - 1 = 9
"....But, we shall discuss that later. After class." Ms. Sterling says, turning away from you. She clears her throat, regaining the class's attention and summoning up a small smile for long enough to address them. "Who else thinks their enchantment is completed?"
You slink down in your seat as Ms. Sterling goes and assesses her other students, who are having a hard time looking her in the eye. Nadia is giving you a pained smile, a look of sympathy, and you try to take some consolation in that, at least. You spend the rest of the class half-hardheartedly working on your ring, trying to rein in the obviously defective enchantment, but you can't really tell if you're making any progress. You certainly don't want to try it on to find out, anyway.
Soon enough, the end of class rolls around, and Ms. Sterling lets the class go, each keeping their ring as a trinket, with you staying behind, alone with the teacher.
"Now, Mr. Mothwing-- and, please, do come up here." You comply, walking up to stand in front of her desk. She has her hands clasped and, while she certainly isn't smiling, she doesn't appear to be mad. "I understand that what happened there was an... unfortunate accident." She says, speaking in a very measured tone.
"Yes, of course! I-I would never--" Ms Sterling waves you off.
"I believe you, Mr. Mothwing. Don't worry, I don't wish to punish you for that. But!" she says, seeing a mix of relief and confusion cross your face, "I don't intend to sit idly by either. You obviously seem to enjoy enchantment, and I believe the potential to be quite adept at it. But it seems that your magic has a tendency to.... overdo things, wouldn't you say?"
You nod, flushing at all the ways that your magic has "overdone" it, the past couple of days. "Yes, Ms. Sterling, I would definitely say that."
She smiles, drumming her fingers on the top of her desk. "I'm glad you agree! I'd like to tutor you, if you wouldn't mind. To help you learn to keep your magic in check, and past that, perhaps, to help with your enchantment studies. If that sounds agreeable?"
You nod. As unpleasant as it is to wind up in trouble on your first day, this is probably the best outcome; a fairly reasonable woman like Ms. Sterling offering to help you with your particular problems sounds like it could help you loads in the long term! Nonetheless, all the unpleasantness the past couple of days, combined with feeling guilty about showing off Ms. Sterling has left you with an uncomfortable pit in your stomach.
(Gain a FRIEND in the form of Ms. Sterling tutoring you, and a CONSEQUENCE from feeling bad about your talent causing this much trouble already.)
Nonetheless, Ms. Sterling just continues smiling. "Very good," she says. "I'll send a parchment to you later when I've worked out the scheduling on my end. And take this," she says, scribbling something down quickly on a piece of paper and handing it to you, "if your next professor has problems with your tardiness." You thank Ms. Sterling, and quickly leave the room, enchanted ring still burning a hole in your pocket. With a late slip, you have time enough to go to the common room and grab your things before heading to your next class, or you could simply head there straight away, if you're eager for the subject matter.
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