Chapter Eight:

It was by some miracle that he did eventually find the dining hall.

He had expected to see many more students hanging around the campus, but they seemed all more studious than he expected. Everyone seemed to be indoors somewhere probably studying.

The dining hall was massive to say the least. It looked like it had a standard cafeteria system- for a magical school. You’d grab an order card from the stack on the table to check out whatever you wanted from the menu on the card. And the kitchens would know from their own order cards which table ordered what and bring it out for you.

There were rows and rows of tables, and all were massive and made of a softly glowing wood. There were cushioned chairs instead of benches though. There were still a few students hanging about here some of them studying and having a snack or drink. And it looked like they did still serve outside of dining hours after all. There was a person at the front of the cafeteria ordering from the chef directly. Perhaps they only used order cards during mealtimes.

No matter, he made the walk all the way to the front of the hall. Man, all this walking was killing him. At this rate he could get away with having hot chocolate every day and not get fat.

“Well look that.” He said to himself.

Who else would be surrounded by books alone in a corner with a scowl that scared off any would be approachers?

“Hi, Gwen.” He greeted, sitting down at her table and pushing aside a mountain of books so they could see each other.

“Still here?” She asked, and surprisingly she put her notes down.

“Oh, yeah. Especially since I’m not allowed to leave. Kind of banned from home now.” He said dryly. “But I am hungry, you know all I ate yesterday was half a bag of doritos?”

“Have a full one next time.”

You know… When she spoke without the usual hostility she might pass for dryly funny.

“I might.” He replied, the corner of his lips curling humourously. “I’m still hungry.”

“Potato chips are not food.” She said. “It’s empty calories and cholesterol.”

“It’s actually corn, so it’s healthy isn’t it.” He teased, slumping back in his chair.

“Those chips are not corn, it’s maize.” She said, matter-of -factly.

“Gwen.” He said, with a slowly spreading grin. “What’s maize?”

“Maize is maize. It’s a plant.”

“Yeah,” he said, grinning so widely it angered her scowl back to life. “Of course, you know maize is corn though, right?”

“Don’t be stupid.”

“Oh my god, Gwen.” he laughed. “Listen, maize is corn, did you not know that?”

“I-” she only reddened and jammed for a second before the rounds started firing again. “Not all of us were shlepping around in the human world in farm school. Some of us were actually in combat, not Checkers.”

“Combat?”

“Yes. I’m taking some of the military courses.”

“You wanna be in the military?” he said, coyly with his chin resting on his hand.

“Of course, don’t you?”

Jess shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“How can you not now?”

“That’s a long way from now. You cant just decide something like that.”

“No one said you had to stick with what you decide, but you have to have some kind of plan.”

“What if it’s the wrong plan?”

“You rather do the wrong thing, that might lead you to what you want, and who knows what you can gain. But doing nothing and having no plan- especially at Boxtens-”

Jess sighed. “Dunno. I thought of being a healer?”

“That’s not the most glamourous job. I would have thought you’d also want to join the military.”

“There’s a lot of other jobs.” Jess said.

“No one said otherwise. Everything has a place and purpose, but we’re Goldwyns.”

Jess shrugged.

“Family pride too boring for you.” She drawled. “Just have to be angsty dontcha.”

“That!” He exclaimed. “Why is it everyone assumes I’m some kind of emo?”

“You wore all black yesterday and you have some masked cultist on your shirt today.” Gwen pointed out without a seconds hesitation.

“They told me fourth years wear all black! Jeez.”

“Jeez” she repeated. Sending her eyes skyward.

“What?” he asked.

“Nothing.” She said, haughtily amused. “You talk so oddly. You spent far too much time in the human world.”

“I don’t talk any differently than you.”

“All right, New York. Jeez, no need to get all wiggity whack on me, yo.”

Pfft.

“Why are you laughing?” she snapped. “I was making fun of you.”

“That was funny though.”

She shook her head at him. “Why a healer?”

“I guess I wanted to help people, not mages exactly. But normal humans, their science hasn’t caught up to magic in a lot of things yet.” He shrugged. “I just saw a lot of people die when they could have lived. You know Chowder's dad died of liver failure."

“I’m sure medicine can cure that.”

“No.” Jess said, massaging his chin. “He wouldn’t stop drinking. If I was around when that happened I could have used magic. Bewitch him to drink water or something. I can’t think of any good reason now.” He said, annoyed at how anxious he was sounding. “Magic could help people a lot.” He shrugged.

“It could.” She agreed. “But we can’t interfere with them- especially with that spell. And the truth is we barely make magic work for ourselves. It would only ruin humans. If we cured diseases and they all lived to a be a hundred. Imagine how fun that would be. People only retiring at 90. Only the rich getting magic treatment. Or you bewitching Chowder’s dad to blow up a plane. The human world isn’t ready for magic.”

“I know, I know… It’s still annoying when we're not allowed to do anything to help.”

“Well…” she said, stirring her coffee. “I pushed my neighbour out of the way of a car once.”

“That’s kind of cool, Gwen.” he said, impressed.

“It’s what anyone would have done. It wasn’t special. Besides, I panicked and pushed too hard. She broke her leg.”

“Well, yeah. She didn’t break her life though.” Jess pointed out.

She stared at him quizzically. “I’m just going to assume that everyone thing you say is slang so you don’t sound stupid.” She said, with part of her scowl returning.

He avoided scowl contacted by checking one of her books.

‘Foundations of enchanting- Fourth level’

“You’re taking charms? Isn’t that difficult.”

“And requires focus to study, Jess.” She said pointedly, but he chose to ignore it because he liked the company.

Charms and enchanting was a difficult magical school. It was applying magic to items. Very difficult and complex to do. It was why most people had to buy a magic broom instead of just zapping one into sweeping. Actually... Wasn’t he taking charms as well? He’d taken it last year since he was technically in his third year. He had enjoyed learning the spell he’d used to cheat in school and thought that all charms were like that.

They were not.

There was tons of theory and even the practical stuff was very finnicky to work with.

“When’s the exam for this?” He asked gingerly. “Looks like you have a lot to do.”

“This afternoon at 3.” She said, with her nose so far into her book it was leaving little smudges of oil on the paper.

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“Gwen.”

“What.”

“I think I’m supposed to write this exam.”

“Of course, you are, you’d be enrolled in Boxtens for whatever you were enrolled in at home.” She answered patiently.

“I didn’t know it was today! How are you missing that!”

She put her pen down.

“Did the headmistress tell you that you were writing exams?” Gwen asked, surprisingly calm.

“Yes, but she didn’t say I had one today. She just said 'check your grimoire.'”

“Did you?”

“I kinda fell asleep.”

Gwen shook her head and went back to her book.

“Shouldn’t someone have told me?” He laughed in disbelief.

“I didn’t know you were enrolled in charms.” She pointed out.

“Yeah… To be fair.” he continued. “The headmistress probably meant to tell me but yesterday was kind of… busy I guess. And she did warn me that I’d have to write exams.”

“Then why are you still complaining? Go and start studying.”

He shrugged. “It’s kind of late for that now. I don’t have any books or anything now. Don’t even have a wand-”

“How… Do you not have a wand?” She asked, so slowly the barely acidic tone was still seeping into his ears even after she stopped speaking.

“I never needed one. I was busy.” He laughed. “Things get away from you sometimes, you know?”

“But basic spells! You need a wand for charms!”

“Some. Most.” He drawled. “And do you know how hard it is to use a wand in a human school?” he moaned. “You can barely get away with non-verbal spells.”

“At least this afternoon is just theory.” She said.

“Yeah!”

“You can register for new modules next semester. If you do feel like it… And Baxtons offers more than a regular curriculum.”

“Thank you.” He said, feeling for once like they were cousins. He’d always liked Gwen, it finally seemed like she was mellowing a bit. He was surprised at how mature she was, he’d expected her to be completely battered after yesterday, but she was right back to it the very next morning. But he did notice her eyes were slightly puffy, and all at once he remembered he had to throw Miss Maizley out a window.

“What dorm are you in?” Gwen asked suddenly.

“Cancer-”

Her eyes widened in surprise but the rest of her face went slack.

“But you’re a Goldwyn.” She said, disbelief and confusion taking over her usual snappiness.

“You should be in the Aries dorm. We’ve always been in the Aries dorm!”

“I didn’t choose my dorm, Gwenneth.” He said jokingly. She and her mum both hated when you shortened their names or got it wrong. Even nicknames were a no-no. “They just dumped me there because I showed up late. But, damn, the Aries dorm. That's impressive. Those guys always win the dorm games don’t they.”

“I haven’t yet.” Gwen said. “I only just got in this year.”

He stared in surprise. “It took you three years to get in?”

She nodded. “They only keep the best in that dorm. The top five in each grade and in the fourth years, three of them include Maizley and her less than competent friends. But we're not that far apart it's always close at the top, there was a single percent separating me from 5th and 6th.”

Not anymore, thanks to Maizley, Jess thought.

“But, yes.” She continued. “You need to get into a better dorm, they won’t take you seriously in the future if they think you’re some slacker.”

“Yeah…” That actually was hard to argue with. At some point he’d need to study further or work.

“Dorm games, huh.” Jess said. As distant as he was from the wizarding wall recently he still recalled what a big deal the dorm games was. Boxtens wasn’t just a school, it was kind of an incubator for people who’d go on to be successful. And the dorm games were a showcase for most of them. There were lots of old family pride ad honestly even if you didn't have that being in a Boxtens dorm was prestige on its own. Families, politicians, military- everyone watched the dorm games. They even broadcasted it on radio and tv (wizard tv of course. Humans were not ready for the magical hunger games just yet). Some of the current military and government leaders in Keralia had all been dorm game winners. They only had the contest every three years so you had at least two shots at it in Boxtens.

The dorm games were this year of course, starting in the next semester and honestly he was thankful for it. With such a major event going on there’d be lots of disruption to class and study and hopefully he could sleep in some days and slip through the cracks.

“You’re not too interested in the games are you?” Gwen asked.

“Actually, I’m looking forward to it.” He grinned gleefully.

“Hmph, so you’re actually rethinking the military then.” She said smugly. “Noble as everything you said was about helping people.” She continued, closing her book. “If mages don’t defeat demons first there won’t be anyone left to save. That’s our reality, Jess.”

“Fair enough.”

Gwen suddenly glared at him. What? Even when he agreed it was a problem? Was he being too nonchalant? He stared back jokingly at her, but she didn’t seem amused because she was looking-

Right behind him.

“Good morning, Gwen.” Maizley said.

Maizley.

“Morning, Maizley.” Gwen said, not bothering to look up from her books.

“Jess! Good to see you again! Still too cool for uniform I see.” Maizley said.

My God she was impressive it was like nothing had happened- Had nothing happened? Had Maizley not been called in yet to the headmistress? Had she been punished or let off the hook?

“Way too much black for me.” He replied, lazily.

“I told you look good in black though.”

Gwen made noise of disgust at that. And Jess chuckled immediately. But he didn’t blame Gwen for being annoyed, Maizley had such a good natured and friendly way of talking to you that it you almost forgot what she was.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt your studying.” Maizley apologised.

Just the actual exams then.

“I actually just came to get some tea, the rest of us are studying in the dorm if you’d like to join.” Maizley continued.

“I don’t study with them.” Gwen replied, impressively cold but without any sign of anger or lashing out.

“Hey, is everything okay?” Maizley said, sitting down- she smelt far too strongly of vanilla. Perfume makers were the worst, somehow they always wanted you to smell like a dessert or a flower or like a carpet in a brothel. Vanilla was nice though it suited her- “You missed the last exam.” Maizley said, in a concerned voice.

“I didn’t miss the exam, Maizley.” Was all Gwen responded with, never once looking up from her book.

Maizley nodded and rose up sheepishly.

“I’ll see you guys later then. Bye, Gwen.”

“Bye.”

Maizley shrugged, and looked at Jess for support. Jess in his bewilderment shrugged back.

“Bye, Jess.” She said, looking hurt and left.

So, she definitely hadn’t even been reprimanded. Had the headmistress even escalated anything? Maizley actually came here-

Had Maizley actually been the one to make Gwen miss her exam? Jess suddenly wondered. What if she really had just been looking for Gwen- no. This campus was massive and she just happened to look in the headmistress’s office where Gwen was? Maybe it was coincidence? Honestly, it could stand to reason that Maizley was just a normal, decent classmate.

He turned to Gwen.

“Give me a minute.”

He didn’t have to walk far to catch up to Maizley, she had only just left the dining hall with a floating tray filled with tea and biscuits and sandwiches.

She still hadn’t seen him yet.

“Maizley.” He called, jogging up behind her.

“Jess.” She smiled. “Are-”

“No, I’m not.” He snapped. “Did you change Gwen’s timetable?”

Her usually friendly demeanor changed to one of shock.

“Jess…”

“Yeah?”

“I did not change her timetable. I came looking for her.”

“And you found her. Really easily.”

Maziley sighed and flicked her hair out of her eyes. “Believe me, Jess. Gwen had it coming.”

He was wrong. He would need a staff after all. And all the lightning he could conjure.

“Inside the hall just now, that was the best conversation I’ve had with Gwen.” Maizley said.

“Gweneviere.”

“Of course.” Maizley nodded. “Gweneviere. I shouldn’t be using nicknames because we’re not friends.”

Just then his stomach decided to let out a rumble that shook the tea in the teapot. “I didn’t eat,” he snapped, not wanting the serious mood to shift. “And you made it very clear you’re not a friend.”

Maizley sighed again. She was more exasperated than angry and Jess was actually starting to get annoyed.

“You were homeschooled right?” she asked.

“Yeah, and it was just as toxic there, don’t try and make think I’m the naïve one.”

“This is Boxtens.” Maizley said, in a voice so serious it caught Jess off guard. “Your class rank is everything here. If you’re the best at Boxtens, you are the best.”

“Are you really the best if you have to sabotage people to drop their scores.” Jess said innocently.

“No.” she said, unwavered. “I won't lie to you because you’ll see it for yourself, the students here do care about the class rank and they compete. Sometimes it gets too competitive. Over ambitious, ruthless, young… It happens. But one thing matters more than class rank and that’s the dorm. Dorms are families, Jess. And this year we have the dorm games. And Gweneviere does not play in a team. She’s arrogant and short, she doesn’t follow orders or know her place. Even to our seniors, she doesn’t care. And this semester she took the place of someone who actually wants to be part of the dorm.”

“Gwen does want to be part of the dorm.”

“She does, but for herself. And we all do, I’m not going to lie and say we don’t. But we know where the line between individual and dorm is. No one trusts her or wants her there, Jess. Honestly, making her grades slip would be a lot less humiliating than expelling her from the dorm.”

Jess nodded. “You people are so quick to find what’s wrong with her? Have you even considered that problem might just be your entire dorm?”

“Are you even seriously trying to defend her? You’re actually laughing.”

“I- listen. Maizley… Gwen can be difficult.”

“Boxtens is difficult, the dorm games are difficult, exams are difficult, we don’t need Gwen making it more difficult. And mind you, we did speak to her. I spoke to her. She’s the fifth best student- even if she replaced a friend she earned her way here. Of course we’d want her. And we told her that, and wouldn’t you know it... She said exactly what you said. That we were the problem. That we should leave her alone, because she wanted to be in the Aries dorm, not a wanton sorority and get dragged down with us.”

“Okay, I believe you.” Jess nodded.

“What’s wrong with you? Are you defending her or not?”

“Oh, no. I am. That just sounds a lot like her. But you know what. I’ve known her my entire life and I would never do what you did. I'm guessing it's not the first time you guys have done this.”

“They’ve done worse. Boxtens only takes the best, Jess. You have to be the best to survive it.”

“So your dorm is just screwed up, you’ve made it sound like it’s Gwen that’s the odd one.”

“It was never personal; we just can’t let one person ruin the standing of the dorm.” Maizley said, shaking her head. “Honestly, you should have seen us training for the games. She wouldn’t even have been a starter but when she was put in on trial the entire team was a mess. Then she refused to be benched, she demanded to be a starter. She made it personal”

“So you’re kicking her out then?”

“We can’t do that.” Maizley said. “Only the headmistress can.”

“Or Gwen can. If she chooses to leave because she can’t take it anymore or her grades slip. Which you’ve really helped with.” Jess said, but then he stopped. “I’ll tell you what, Maizley. Gwen really wants to be part of the Aries dorm, but thanks to you she’s not in the top 5 anymore after her class rank dropped so she’ll be out of the dorm next semester won’t she? So… We’ll take her.”

“Your dorm?” Maizley asked.

“The cancer dorm.” Jess replied.

And Maizley burst out laughing. “I don’t hate Gweneviere; I wouldn’t want her in the Cancer dorm. She could make it in any other top dorm.”

“No, she’ll come.” Jess insisted. “And she’ll lead our dorm in the dorm games.”

“Honestly, Jess, if you thought we were bad, I don’t dare dream about what the ingrates in the cancer dorm would do to her.”

“Believe me, they’ll listen, and we’ll win the dorm games too.”

“With the cancer dorm.” Maizley said, with a grin matching his. Anyone walking passed would have thought they were having the funniest conversation. But the air was so tense, the tea tray was actually quaking from the magic they were releasing under the stress.

“With the cancer dorm.” He replied. “And that should plummet Aries dorm right down shouldn’t it?”

“It would plummet every dorm.”

“Then we’ll bet on it.” Jess said. “When we win, you’ll let Maizley back into the dorm, her marks shouldn’t be a problem, she would be back soon anyway. But this time I don’t want anyone to touch her. There won’t be another dorm game for three years so you shouldn’t have to worry about teamwork, right?”

Maizley shook her head. “There’s a reason we don’t want her. You can’t just demand things and expect an entire dorm to follow it.”

“I’m betting, not demanding.”

“You have nothing that the Aries dorm wants.” Maizley said, shaking her head with a disbelieving smile.

“Pride.” Jess said. “The Aries dorm and all the schools top five students losing won’t look good, will it? You know, this isn’t a bet. It’s a warning, Maizley. Your families, the army, the school... They’ll all be watching you look like morons losing to us. And I’m going to enjoy it. I’ll enjoy all of you squirming like pricks. But if there’s no Aries dorm for Gwen to go to, what’s the point you know? So, when the time comes that you can’t beat us in the games. Say the word and the cancer dorm will lose. I’ll make sure we drop away, and Aries will win the games unchallenged as usual. And that’s when Gwen gets to go back and stay there till she graduates. Now... Good luck, Maizley.”