It was only in those few days after exams and before they left Tisdale that Jacob realized how much time the tournament and trying to catch Ishaan had occupied. He felt like he hadn't done anything around the campus in months; those early days of going to the theatre and just generally screwing around had been swallowed. There was so much to do and so little time.

He spent every possible moment with the rest of the gang. The campus fell into a seemingly endless period of celebration that the term was over. Big gatherings, intimate gatherings. Hanging out with people he wouldn't see for almost a year. Everybody talked about what they were going back to and what senior year at their regular schools was going to be like.

There was one more big push to find the fabled 'control room' but it came up fruitless. Stephen was grilled again, but he stuck to his admissions of ignorance.

Jacob wondered what had happened to Ishaan, but nothing revealed itself. He assumed the boy was being held somewhere on campus.

Marks came back.

The only way you failed your first term at Tisdale as if you failed three classes or more. Generally speaking, not many people failed. Like five every year. Jacob was never really sure if that was a deliberate decision from the faculty, or if it was because the students at Tisdale were, on average, just a higher caliber than at his high school.

Grace finished the lowest of the five of them, which wasn't surprising, and honestly, wasn't even that bad considering the rest of them were all pretty good students. Blake finished with a 74 average, scoring highly in Intro and Magical Basics, but getting dinged on Decomp and Consumption. The sad part was, he would have done better if he hadn't been rattled by the incident with Ishaan.

Archie, despite his lack of attendance and interest, finished with an average in the mid-eighties, his lowest mark being Intro. Camilla had a 97 average, which was bumped to a 98 after she went and argued with Prof Muesli over the 90 he'd given her on the final exam. She grumbled about not getting a 100 overall, but Jacob didn't really feel sympathetic.

Jacob finished with a flat 80. A little disappointing if it were high school, but he was actually pretty pleased with it. Consumption Basics was his highest mark at an 88. Decomp, unfortunately, was an anchor at 70, which meant he'd barely passed the practical exam. Fucking Decomp. His overall Semester One Score was 79.9. Camilla's was a disheartening 99, but Archie's was 82. The class average was a surprisingly low 68.8.

Before he could process any of it, Jacob found himself standing outside his dorm room, backpack slung over his shoulder, holding his suitcase by the extended handle.

"You ready?" Jacob asked Blake.

Blake emerged from the room with both his bags over his shoulders. "Yeah, let's go."

Jacob took one last look at their dorm room, just room 222 now, then closed the door, leaving the key in the keyhole.

They made their way down to that empty field behind the Vanderbilt Building where Jacob had first entered Tisdale. Archie was already there in his three piece suit, two expensive leather duffel bags on the grass beside him. Camilla and Grace were taking longer to get packed up, of course.

Students scattered the grass, some standing and chatting, others lying down on the grass next to their bags.

"Well, lads, this is it," Archie said, sighing.

"Can hardly believe it," Blake said.

"It has been quite the great term," Archie nodded. "I am glad I had the opportunity to get to know the both of you. Jacob, no hard feelings about the match."

"Same," Jacob said.

"No chance either of you would like to join me in Mallorca until school starts?" Archie cleared his throat.

Jacob and Blake shared a look.

"I'm a little homesick, tbh," Blake said.

"I should really get back to Van," Jacob said.

Archie waved a hand dismissively. "Bah! I figured as much. It is the eleventh hour for such an ask. No harm done. Figured I would ask on the off chance either of you wanted to expand your horizons. But!" He raised his finger. "You are my friends now, and thus I have taken it upon myself to advance your worldly education. Start it, rather. You cannot remain rubes for the rest of your lives. You will come travelling with me at some point."

"Sounds good to me," Blake said.

"Same," Jacob said.

A distant alarm bell rang out from the centre of campus. The trio turned towards it.

"What now? Another vampire?" Jacob grunted.

"The time dilation is ending," Archie said. "Let's watch."

A sound like a tsunami of wind chimes echoed across campus. Something glimmered in the distance.

Then a wall of sparkling stars washed over the Vanderbilt, eclipsing the clocktower. The sound grew until Jacob couldn't hear his heartbeat. The wave approached them and Jacob tensed. It washed over them, blocking out the world with a million tiny stars. Jacob's skin tingled.

And then it was past, rippling out to the edge of the campus. It shattered against the outer dome, stars spraying out into the air.

Jacob didn't feel any different, but the moment the wave had dissipated, people started appearing at the outer wall of the campus, where he himself had first appeared when entering four months ago. First one, then a handful, then a dozen. Most looked older than forty.

Jacob frowned. What? Who were these people?

"Your family coming to get you, Blake?" Archie asked.

"My older sister is," Blake said. "You?"

Something flashed through Archie's eyes. "No. Chauffeur is meeting me at the Shell House entrance to take me to Midway Airport."

"Ah."

Parents. That's who they were. Parents and family members.

Cries of joy filled the air, along with waved arms and big smiles. Parents embraced students. Some embraced back, others were too cool to show any emotion, suffering limply through hugs and kisses. Dozens of people appeared, sometimes whole families with small children who began running around, feeling the outer wall of the campus.

It was hard to watch. Jacob turned away to face the Vanderbilt Building.

Thankfully, Camilla and Grace were coming across the grass towards them. They each had two suitcases and a backpack full of stuff. They dropped everything as they joined Jacob.

"Ugh," Grace groaned. "Remind me never to pack this much stuff ever."

"Like you could get away with anything less," Blake scoffed.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

They traded the farewell remarks with the girls, Archie inviting both of them to Mallorca but getting turned down in kind.

Parents and families still trickled out of the dome.

A slender, vaguely familiar woman a little taller than Jacob walked over to them. She wore a sleeveless pink blouse and tight jeans that hugged long, long legs. Her wavy blonde hair was held back in a ponytail from her pretty, angular face. Her big blue eyes sparkled with mirth.

"Well, well," she said, approaching the group. "Looks like you actually managed to find people who would put up with you."

Blake whirled. His face lit up for the first time since he'd been taken by Ishaan. Jacob realized just how down and out his roommate had been since the incident.

"Rebecca!" Blake hugged her tightly.

She laughed and patted him on the back. "Good to see you too."

Blake stepped back. "This is my roommate, Jacob."

"Nice to meet you," Jacob nodded.

Blake gestured to Camilla and Grace. "This is Camilla and Grace." He turned to Archie. "And this is-"

"Archibald Vanderbilt," Archie bowed slightly. Then he reached out and took Rebecca's hand and raised it to his lips.

Rebecca's eyebrows hit her hairline.

"McGinnis never told me his sister was a supermodel," Archie said, lowering her hand.

Rebecca grinned.

"Okay, Archie, that's enough!" Blake took a step forward.

Rebecca put a halting hand on Blake's arm. "Relax, I don't need my baby brother to defend me."

Blake flustered.

"Baby brother?" Archie asked. "Surely you cannot be older than nineteen?"

Rebecca laughed heartily. "Surely you can't be older than twelve if you think that's going to work."

Archie put a hand to his chest. "Ouch. But, my dear, in all seriousness, Blake has deprived me of learning about you. I'd love to get to know you. I'm going to-"

"Try again when you're eighteen," Rebecca folded her arms.

Archie ceded, throwing his hands up in the air.

"Archie, I swear to God, if we weren't leaving..." Blake hissed, fists clenched.

"Relax," Rebecca rolled her eyes. "Well, it was nice to meet you all. C'mon, Blake, let's go. It's a long drive back to Boston."

"Bye guys," Blake said.

"Take care," Jacob said. "Take it easy."

His family knew, right? They'd look after him, wouldn't they?

"Will do," Blake smiled at Grace, then turned and followed his sister back towards the portal.

He turned and waved at them, then disappeared.

Just like that, he was gone. Jacob wouldn't see him until June next year. Jesus.

As he mulled over Blake's departure and tried not to feel too down, a man casually broke away from the crowd and sauntered nonchalantly towards them.

He wore baggy black basketball shorts and a hoodie with Alan Parsons Project and an Egyptian eye on it. The hood was pulled up and he wore big aviator sunglasses despite the fact that it was cloudy out. Clearly he was trying to conceal his identity. What was really weird also, was that he was wearing flip flops.

Jacob noticed him come closer and frowned. The man crept up behind Camilla, then threw his arms around her and hugged her tightly. He planted a kiss on her forehead.

Ah.

Camilla struggled. "Ugh, no! Get off! Not here!"

She wriggled free then turned and faced her father, hands on hips. "Hello, father."

Antonio D'Angelo stretched his arms out for another hug. "I've missed you so much. I'm so glad you're safe."

"Ugh, don't be so sappy!" Camilla hissed.

"Can I get a hug?"

"A normal one."

They hugged again.

Jacob's stomach had clenched, as it seemed wont to do in Antonio's presence. He shifted nervously on his feet. Archie and Grace didn't seem as perturbed, though.

Camilla stepped out of the hug.

"Archibald, Grace, a pleasure as always," Antonio D'Angelo said. He nodded to Jacob. "Mr Caibo, good to see you again."

Jacob became aware that people around them were staring at Camilla and her father, some whispering, others taking tentative steps closer.

"It seems I am not a master of disguise," Antonio said. He turned to Camilla. "Are you okay to go, or do you want to stay a little longer?"

"I'm ready to go," Camilla said, picking up her bags.

"Let me take that one," Antonio grabbed her biggest suitcase in one hand. He looked intently at Jacob. "Mr Caibo, I hope you didn't forget that 'thing' in December."

Oh shit. The court date.

"No?" Jacob chuckled nervously.

"I'll be in touch, don't worry," Antonio smiled. "Camilla?"

Camilla went over and stood next to him. He put his spare arm on her shoulder.

"Bye!" Camilla said, waving even though they were like five feet away.

"Bye!" Grace, Archie, and Jacob returned.

"I'll see you at school," Camilla said, looking at Jacob.

"Cya."

"Would you three like to see a magic trick?" Antonio asked.

"Uh, sure?" Jacob said. He looked at Archie and Grace, but they looked equally as confused as him.

"Abracadabra," Antonio D'Angelo said.

Him and Camilla vanished, bags and all. There one moment, gone the next.

"What the fuck?" Jacob cringed back. There had been magic but he hadn't been aware enough to tell what it was.

Archie reached out and waved his hand through the space where the father-daughter duo had just been. Nothing but air.

"Always been a bit of an odd one, hasn't he, Grace?" Archie muttered.

"Always," Grace shook her head. "Explains a lot about our little Milla."

"What was he talking about, Jacob?" Archie asked.

"What?"

"The 'thing' in December."

"Oh," Jacob grimaced. But, you know what? Why not tell them? It was kind of bad he hadn't told them yet. He cleared his throat. "I have a court date with the World Council."

Archie choked. Grace's eyes went so wide Jacob thought they were going to pop from her head.

"What the-" Archie coughed. "What the hell for?"

Jacob took a deep breath, getting ready to tell them the whole thing.

"Is this because of that thing with the rogue mage?" Grace asked.

It was Jacob's turn to be surprised. "You know?"

"Camilla told me, remember?"

"Oh."

Archie looked between them. "Enlighten me, please."

Jacob did.

Archie's expression went from surprised, to curious, to thoughtful. Part way through, Xavier Hudson came by and said goodbye to Jacob, which was nice of him. He disappeared into the portal with a man that looked like his father.

Jacob finished the story.

Silence.

"Well..." Archie said. "Quite frankly, I don't know what to say."

"That's a first," Grace rolled her eyes.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Archie asked.

Jacob shrugged. "I don't know. Wasn't really thinking about it. It's whatever."

"No, Jacob, it's not," Archie said, eyeing him. Jacob couldn't read the look on his face.

Silence.

After a while Archie shook his head and grunted. "Well, you're an interesting fellow, Mr Caibo. Good luck in December. You'll probably see my father there. He's not on the Council, but he's always hanging about, the parasite." He checked his watch. "Grace, you still want that ride to Midway?"

"Yes!"

Archie turned to Jacob and stuck out his hand.

Jacob clasped it firmly.

"Your handshake's gotten much better," Archie said.

Jacob rolled his eyes.

"Farewell."

"Cya."

Archie picked up his bags and glanced at Grace.

"Bye, Jacob. Cya next year," Grace smiled.

They turned and left. Jacob watched them disappear into the portal.

It was over. It was actually over. They'd all left, each departure ripping a piece out of him and taking it where he couldn't get it. He'd wanted to hug each and every one of the gang as they left but hadn't been able to bring himself to. Christ, was he tearing up? Farewells were only sad in movies, right?

Oh, how the term had gone by in the blink of an eye. There was so much more he should have done. He should have savoured every moment; he'd never be a freshman here again.

How in the hell was he going to survive ten months in Vancouver, living at home?

Camilla will be there.

That was true. He hoped she'd actually talk to him, otherwise he'd probably lose it. Christ, senior year. Then he'd be done high-school and off into the world. Either to college or back here to Tisdale.

A few families collected their students, the small groups laughing and hugging, and made for the exit. He could go here for ten years, and his parents would never come pick him up. It would always be like this. Always leaving alone, always standing by the wall, always lying about where he'd been and what he'd been doing when he inevitably did return home.

There were only a dozen other students left. All of them presumably waiting for the same shuttle to O'Hare. Eleven of them he knew of, but not on a first name basis.

The other was Tanaka.

The transfer student stood near the portal, reading a book.

Jacob went over. "Yo."

Tanaka looked up at him and grinned. "Yo."

"You going back to Japan?" Jacob asked.

"Yeah."

"Will you be back next year?"

"Yeah, unless the Japan Council changes its mind. Which it won't. Stubborn bastards."

Jacob chuckled.

Tanaka grunted. "So... You got that date with the World Council coming up?"

"Yeah. December."

"Good luck. It's not fun, trust me."

"Didn't think it would be."

"Don't get locked up, cuz then I'll have to come break you out," Tanaka grinned.

Jacob laughed.

A comfortable silence.

"Thanks," Jacob said.

"For what?"

"For helping me with the Necromancy in the morgue that first night."

"Kinda led to a shit show, though."

Jacob shrugged. "We made it out in one piece."

Tanaka nodded.

"Long flight back to Japan?"

"Yeah, like 13 hours straight."

"Brutal. You on the shuttle?"

"What? Nah, one of the Council representatives is driving me."

"Ah damn. Well, you take care over there, alright?"

"Will do."

They talked about Ishaan and divination for a bit, but then Tanaka's driver came and he left. They said farewell, and then Jacob really was alone.

Thankfully, it wasn't too long before the shuttle was called. He took one last look at the now empty campus. The Vanderbilt Building's clocktower was silhouetted against the evening sky, its windows dark.

If Jacob had known he'd never take another class at Tisdale; never goof off with the gang in the town on a random Friday evening again; never sit in the town theatre and heckle goofy fantasy flicks again he'd have lingered longer, imprinted the image of the silhouetted clocktower in his mind, let the memories flow while they were fresh. But he didn't.

He turned away and stepped through the portal.