Sasha and Layla walked into the bustling cafeteria, their arms interlocked and heads bent towards each other in hushed giggles. The sound of clanging trays and shuffling feet surrounded them, and the smell of assorted foods made Layla’s stomach grumble.

“So, are we eating here or did you pack your own food again?” Layla asked, her eyes scanning the rows of cafeteria tables.

Sasha shook her head. “Nah, I brought my own. You know I can’t risk eating this stuff,” she said with a grimace.

Layla chuckled. “Yeah, I know, I don’t blame you.”

As they made their way to an empty table, Layla couldn’t help but admire Sasha’s pretty yellow dress. The sunflower pattern made her skin look even brighter and more radiant than usual.

Layla, on the other hand, wore her usual black-on-black ensemble. Her fresh pair of Michael Jordan sneakers, the retro 11’s in a sleek black and red colorway, added a pop of color to her outfit.

As they settled into their seats, the girls couldn’t help but notice the wild magic happening all around them. Utensils floated in mid-air, and students laughed as they showed off their latest magical skills.

As they continued talking, Layla’s excitement grew as she recalled the sparring match with Dylan. “Oh my gosh, it was insane! I used this technique where I telekinetically lifted him up and threw him across the room. He didn’t even see it coming!” Layla exclaimed, her hands gesturing wildly as she spoke.

Sasha laughed, “I wish I could have seen that! Did he try to use his pyrotechnic power on you?”

Layla shook her head, “No, he was too busy trying to keep up with my telekinesis. It was like he couldn’t even touch me. I was on fire!”

Sasha smiled, happy to see her best friend so pumped up about her victory. “You’re amazing, Layla. You could probably take down anyone in the Academy.”

Layla blushed, “Thanks, Sash. I don’t know about that, but it sure felt good to beat Dylan.”

Just then, they saw Cassie looking around for a place to sit. Sasha waved her over, “Cassie hesitated for a moment before making her way over to the table where Layla and Sasha were already sitting. As she approached, they both smiled and waved her over.

Cassie smiled gratefully and made her way over to their table. “Looks like it’s going to be an interesting lunch period,” Layla remarked, smirking as she watched a boy turn his water bottle into a live fish.

Sasha rolled her eyes. “Always is,” she muttered, opening her lunchbox to reveal a delicious-looking sandwich.

“Hey, Cassie!” Sasha exclaimed as she pulled out a chair for her. “Come join us.”

Cassie smiled back, feeling a bit nervous as she sat down. This was the first time she was meeting Layla and Sasha, and she wasn’t quite sure what to expect.

“Hi, I’m Cassandra Maira Ana Carman Sofia Garcia-Roble,” she said, introducing herself. “But everyone just calls me Cassie.”

“Layla Smith,” Layla said, offering her hand to Cassie. “Nice to meet you.”

“And I’m Sasha Patel,” Sasha added with a smile. “So, Cassie, what’s your power?”

“I’m a fifth generation healer,” Cassie replied boasting with pride, feeling a bit more at ease now that they were talking about magic.

“That’s really cool,” Layla said, looking impressed. “I’m a telekinetic.” With a small flick of her wrist, Layla’s hand lifted off the table and the bottle of hot sauce from the condiment rack floated towards her. The other students around them turned their heads, watching in curiosity as the bottle hovered in the air. Without breaking her concentration, Layla twisted the cap off with a quick turn of her wrist and poured a small amount of hot sauce onto her plate. She replaced the cap and lowered the bottle back onto the rack.

Sasha grinned at her friend’s display of power, nodding in approval. “Shower off,” she said.

“And I’m a reality wrap,” Sasha said. Sasha grinned mischievously as she focused on her reality wrap power, a skill that allowed her to bend and alter reality in small ways, Sasha focused closed her eyes, two small tuxedo cats appeared out of thin air, jumping onto Cassie’s lap and another on Layla’s. The cats purred contentedly as the girls cooed over them, petting their soft fur.

“Aw, it’s so cute!” Cassie said, reaching down to pet the cat. But as her hand made contact with the cat’s fur, her fingers went right through it. The cat flickered for a moment before disappearing entirely.

“What the heck?” Cassie exclaimed, looking at Sasha in confusion. “It was a hologram?”

Sasha’s smile faltered a bit, and she shrugged sheepishly. “Sorry, I’m still working on my precision with my power. I guess I made it too solid in my head, but not in reality.”

Cassie sighed disappointedly, but Layla chuckled at the failed attempt. “Don’t worry, Sasha. You’ll get it eventually. At least it was a cute cat for a little while.” The girls laugh in unison.

Layla turned to Cassie with a curious expression on her face. “So, how do you like it here in the mortal realm?” she asked.

Cassie smiled and took a sip of her drink before answering. “It’s definitely different from the magical realm,” she said. “The biggest difference for me is the absence of magic in everyday life. In the magical realm, magic is a part of everything we do, from cooking meals to transportation. Here, everything is done by hand or machine, without the help of magic.”

Layla nodded, taking in Cassie’s words. “That must be a big adjustment,” she said. “Do you miss using magic in your everyday life?” Cassie’s eyes grew distant as she thought about Layla’s question. “Honestly, it’s been a huge adjustment,” she said with a sigh. “I never realized just how much I relied on magic in my everyday life until I got here. It’s like second nature to me, you know? And now, I have to rely on my mortal abilities to get by.”

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She took a sip of her water, then continued. “But it’s not just me. My younger siblings are having an even harder time adjusting. They’ve grown up in the magical realm their whole lives, so coming here and being cut off from their magic is a huge shock to their systems. I guess I never really realized just how entitled we were as magical beings.”

Layla listened intently, nodding in understanding. “I can imagine,” she said sympathetically. “But it must also be kind of liberating, in a way. To be able to rely solely on your own abilities and not have to rely on magic for everything.”

Cassie shrugged. “I guess,” she said, still sounding a bit uncertain. “But sometimes, I just really miss the convenience of magic. Like, being able to just teleport wherever you need to go, or conjure up food out of thin air. It’s definitely taken some getting used to, that’s for sure.” Cassie looked down at her tray of food with a grimace. A sad-looking sandwich, wilted lettuce, and soggy fries stared back at her. She sighed, thinking back to the delicious meals she could conjure up with just a flick of her wand back in the magical realm. The food in the mortal realm just wasn’t the same. It was bland, unappetizing, and lacking any magical touch. Cassie took a small bite of her sandwich and winced at the taste, wishing she could use her magic to make it more palatable.

Cassie’s curiosity got the best of her and she turned to Sasha. “How come you get to bring your own food?” she asked.

Sasha shrugged. “I have an allergy to pixie dust,” she explained. “Hmm” Sasha nodded in agreement. “Yes, that’s true. But unfortunately, my body can’t handle it. Even a small amount could make me very sick,” she explained.

Layla chimed in, “That’s rough. I can’t imagine having to deal with that.”

Cassie nodded, still deep in thought. “I just find it strange,” she said slowly. Sasha looked at her quizzically. “What do you mean?” Cassie took a breath. “I’ve never heard of a good witch with a pixie dust allergy before.”

Sasha looked a little uncomfortable. “Well, it’s not like I chose to have this allergy,” she said defensively.

Cassie quickly backtracked. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. It’s just that it’s not a common allergy among witches and wizards.”

Cassie’s eyebrows furrowed in thought. She had never heard of people with allergies to certain ingredients before, maybe it was a mortal realm thing. She couldn’t help but wonder if it was a trait of dark magic.

“I’ve never heard of a good witch with a pixie dust allergy,” Cassie said, voicing her thoughts out loud. “It just seems strange to me.”

Sasha nodded sympathetically. “I know, it’s definitely a hassle. But I’d rather be safe than sorry,” she said, taking a bite of her sandwich. Cassie couldn’t help but notice how much better Sasha’s food looked compared to the cafeteria food.

Cassie hesitated, Cassie knew that a pixie allergy was often associated with dark magic. But not wanting to reveal too much about her suspicions. “It’s just something I’ve heard before,” Cassie said with a sigh. “But don’t worry, I’m sure it’s nothing.”

The laughter of other students filled the air, mingling with the sounds of leaves rustling in the gentle breeze.

Suddenly, an unexpected buzzing sound broke the peaceful atmosphere. Layla’s face flushed red as she hastily silenced her cell phone, which had been hidden away in her bag.

Sasha raised an eyebrow, shooting a stern look at Layla. She didn’t say anything out loud but communicated her concern to Layla through telepathy. Sasha raised an eyebrow and shot a telepathic message to Layla. “You know you’re not supposed to have that here, right? It could cause problems with the magic.”

Layla rolled her eyes, her thoughts reaching back to Sasha. “Relax, it’s just a phone. Nothing bad is going to happen.” Sasha scrunched up her face in the appointment. “ it’s an old, archaic rule. Cell phones are now.” Layla dismissively.

Cassie, who had been watching the exchange between her friends, furrowed her brow. “What’s going on?” she asked, feeling left out of the silent conversation.

Layla and Sasha exchanged a glance before Layla answered. “It’s nothing, Cassie. Just a little disagreement between me and Sasha. Let’s eat before the food gets cold!”

Trying to shrug off her concerns, Cassie nodded, but she couldn’t help feeling uneasy as they continued their lunch, the forgotten cell phone still hidden in Layla’s bag.

Just then, a fireball came hurtling through the air, barely missing Cassie’s head and striking the wall behind her. The force of the impact set a nearby poster board ablaze.

Students screamed and scattered as Professor Orville, the professor of magical creatures, was a towering figure with broad shoulders and a thick, bushy beard. His eyebrows were unruly, and his nails overgrown. He strode into the cafeteria with a commanding presence, his eyes scanning the room until they fell on Dylan, who was about to flee the scene.

“Dylan!” he bellowed, pointing his wand at a student who was cowering in the corner. “What have I told you about practicing magic outside of designated areas?” “Stop right there, Dylan!” Professor Orville’s voice thundered across the room. “You will face the consequences of your actions.”

Dylan hesitated, unsure of what to do, but before he could make a move, Professor Orville raised his wand and shouted, “Freeze!” A powerful force emanated from his wand, and Dylan felt his skeletal muscles partially contracted, his muscles unable to relax, so the joints became fixed in place, a living rigor mortis.

“Now, young man,” Professor Orville said, his voice dripping with authority. “You will come with me, and we will have a little chat about your behavior.” As out of the levitated Dylan out of the cafeteria, the other students watched in awe. No one had ever seen Professor Orville use his powers so forcefully before, but they knew that he was a professor who meant business.

Dylan moved frantically trying to free himself, but Professor Orville wasn’t having it “I didn’t do that”. Dylan said. For terracing He marched Dylan out of the cafeteria, still shouting about the dangers of irresponsible magic use.

Cassie’s eyes widened in shock as Layla and Sasha's seemed unfazed. She couldn’t believe that something like that could happen at Arcanum Academy.

“That’s insane,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “That would never happen at Coven Crest.”

Layla and Sasha exchanged a confused look. “What do you mean?” Layla asked.

“At my old school, things were very…regulated,” Cassie explained. “We had strict rules about using our powers, and the consequences for breaking them were severe. I never saw anyone get in trouble like that.”

Sasha raised an eyebrow. “Sounds kind of intense,” she said.

Cassie nodded, looking genuinely scared. “It was,” she said. “But it’s better than getting hit by a fireball. This place is so fast and loose with magic.”

Layla reached over and gave Cassie’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t worry,” she said. “You’ll get used to it. Dylan’s a dick,” Sasha gave Layla a look. “What am I missing here?” Cassie asked.

Sasha said “it’s not his fault. Hes misunderstood, Dylan’s had a tough life,” Sasha said, her eyes growing distant. “His mother died in a fire when he was young, and there were rumors that he caused it with his powers. I think he’s always carried that guilt with him, you know?”

Cassie nodded, her expression sympathetic.

Layla rolled her eyes. “That doesn’t excuse his behavior,” she said. “He’s always been a hot head, and he can be really reckless with his powers.”

“But he’s also incredibly talented,” Sasha continued. " it’s a really powerful ability, but it can also be dangerous. That’s why his powers were bound for so long.” said Layla “I know, but he’s also really gifted,” Sasha countered. “He has pyrokinesis, who great at enchantments, come on that's unheard for an element-junkie, You have to admit that.”

“I see,” Cassie said, her eyes widening in understanding.

“But despite everything, Dylan’s really charming,” Sasha went on. Cassie nodded, clearly impressed. “He sounds like a really interesting guy,” she said.

“He is,” Sasha agreed, her eyes sparkling. “But don’t you remember how much fun we had together in nursery school?” Sasha said

Suddenly, Layla chuckled and said, “Do you remember when Dylan almost set your hair on fire?”

Sasha’s eyes widened in surprise. “Oh my god, I’d forgotten about that!” she said, laughing.

Layla grinned. “Yeah, we were only four years old, but Dylan was already a troublemaker,” she said. “He was teasing you with his powers, and he almost went too far.”

“I remember being so scared,” Sasha said, shaking her head. “I thought my hair was actually on fire for a second.”

“But then he apologized and made you a flower out of fire,” Layla said. “And you forgave him right away.”

Sasha smiled at the memory. “Yeah, I always had a soft spot for Dylan,” she said. “Even when he was being a little brat.”

Layla snorted. “I’ll admit that he is great at wielding spells, but that’s about it,” she said. “I don’t trust him.”

Sasha sighed. “I just think you should give him a chance,” she said. “He’s not all bad. He’s actually really sweet once you get to know him.”

Layla shook her head. “I don’t want to get to know him,” she said. “He’s caused too much trouble in the past.”

“That was a long time ago,” Layla said. “And things have changed since then.”

“I know,” Sasha said. “But I still think Dylan deserves a chance. He’s had a tough life, and he’s trying to make things right.” Layla rolled her eyes.

“Layla, I don’t think you give Dylan enough credit,” Sasha said. “He’s had a really tough life. His mother died in a fire, and he’s always carried that guilt with him.”

Layla sighed. “Fine,” she said. “I’ll try to be more open-minded about him. “What’s your next class?” Defense of the Dark Arts ““mine too, I’ll show the way!” said Layla. “By Sasha!”