Meow meow.

I woke up in my grandpa's guest bedroom. But it didn't feel like a guest room no longer; it felt like my own room. My record collection was there, along with all of my clothes, and my books.

Meow, meow.

My grandpa's cat, Hubert, nudged his body against my arm, our morning ritual together. I pet him for a few minutes while I continue to lay and relax in bed.

"Rollie!" my grandpa called from downstairs.

"On my way, Grandpa!" I was just in boxers and a Misfits t-shirt. I raced down the steps, and there was my grandpa and bald-headed Principal Pine. I could feel the blood rushing to my face. "Oh! Principal Pine! Sorry, I had no idea you were here. I, uh..." I laughed nervously. "Let me put on some clothes first." I ran to my room to throw on some pants and a sweatshirt. Jogging into the living room, I heard Principal Pine and my grandpa talking in the dining room. When I entered, Principal Pine chuckled to himself.

"Sorry about the surprise visit. I thought I told you I was coming over today," Principal Pine said.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. I was just thinking it would be later in the morning," I said. "Still getting used to the time zone here."

Principal Pine laughed. "You've had a week already to adjust. And it's not all that different from Attleton."

I shrugged. "What can I say? I guess I like to sleep in."

"Please, take a seat and join us at the table, Rollie," my grandpa said as his lips curled up.

"So I see that everyone is all smiles this morning. I assume you have good news?" I asked.

"Please join us at the table. Your grandpa has fixed us a nice breakfast.” Principal Pine waved me forward.

My grandpa had made miniature omelets, toast with marmalade, and some baked beans. I filled up my plate and started chowing down my meal.

"So yes, I do have good news for you, Rollie. You indeed passed all of your exams for the first semester. Congratulations, the beginning of your first year is a success."

"I don't know if I'd go that far, but thanks. I'm glad I was able to keep up with my academics."

"And your skills as well. I think with some more education and practice, you will have a bright future as a mage, no doubt. You could go down any path you want and be successful."

"Thanks," I said. Although I felt a lot of credit belonged to Farrah. If it wasn't for her coming to my grandpa's house for one weekend to help me study, I don't think I would have passed my exam. My grandpa was helpful, too, when she wasn't around. "Do you know my grades? You know, how well I did on the exams?"

Principal Pine took a deep breath but smiled. "You didn't get the highest marks, but middle of the pack for everything else. And you just barely passed the history class with Professor Hawthorne."

It stung to hear that, but I was still happy to have passed my classes. And it was a great joy knowing I wouldn't have Professor Hawthorne again. "Well, hey, I'm just excited to be able to advance to the next semester without any issues. Academically speaking. Is there any update on, well, the investigation?"

"It's currently stagnant at the moment."

"Stagnant. What do you mean by that?"

"As in, we don't have enough evidence to guide disciplinary actions one way or another."

"Even with Professor Hawthorne swearing that he saw me do it?” I clarified.

"Yes, even though Professor Hawthorne swears that he saw you do it, and he firmly believes that Patrick and Richmond stopped you, that's not enough. Because then there's Professor Shia who firmly believes that you could not have conjured up a stream of flames that big or powerful."

"Which is true! I'm young, weak, and stupid sometimes."

"Don't put yourself down like that, Rollie," my grandpa said.

"I agree with your grandfather. And I also agree with Professor Shia, you don't possess the ability to shoot out a stream of fire like that. Richmond, on the other hand, does. But then that leads us to look into Boris since that's who Patrick and Richmond both claim that they saw with you."

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"Which is a lie. I have no idea what Boris is up to. He didn't say another word to me after the whole graffiti incident and him getting expelled or-"

"Let me finish, Rollie.” Principal Pine tucked his head down slightly. “We looked into Boris because we had to make it a thorough investigation. We did not find any evidence that he was involved with this at all. In fact, he had an alibi, and that checked out. There is no way that Boris was involved."

"Ha! That's awesome. Gosh, those guys are such idiots. So it's clear that Patrick and Richmond are at fault for this, right?"

Principal Pine exhaled. "I feel uncomfortable about placing the blame on two young students, especially right before they graduate. Not to mention I have to take into account Professor Hawthorne's assertion that those two are innocent. But we also have to consider the optics of the situation. A horrible event like this happens on campus, and people want to see the case closed immediately. They want to know who is responsible."

"But the answer for who's responsible is right there out in the open.” I gestured wildly. “It's Patrick and Richmond!"

"While yes, I agree with you, Rollie, that's what my gut is telling me, but again, I cannot dismiss Professor Hawthorne. The investigation is still ongoing unless we find further evidence that they're responsible."

"So does that mean then that I'm still suspended?"

"Well, that's the other topic. I have nothing but good news to deliver. Rollie, you may come back to campus, but I must warn you, it might be difficult. Patrick and Richmond have already spread the rumor that you were the guilty one, and that's why you've been absent from school."

"How come you guys let them get away with that?" I clenched my fist under the table.

"Believe me, it was handled as quickly as we could. After the events happened, Patrick and Richmond immediately started spreading the lie. But we held a meeting on campus that any rumors spread about it would result in immediate suspension. We took the no-tolerance route with the situation."

I sighed. "Still, that really sucks."

"Rollie, while that's not the most offensive word, maybe don't say it around Principal Pine,” my grandpa reminded me.

"That's quite all right, Logan. I've heard much worse. Don't worry about it."

"Sorry. Anyways, just to check, I can come back to campus, right?"

“Of course."

"That's perf. And I can come back when everyone else returns, right?"

"Yes, that's correct."

"Awesome. Is there anything else we have to discuss?"

"No. Only when you get back to campus, if anyone places any blame or gives you any trouble regarding the incident with the Unity Statue, let me or Head Counselor Jonathan know immediately. And just so you're aware, Jonathan will come here to pick you up on Sunday evening at the end of the break. Do you have any questions for me before I head out?"

I thought about it for a moment. "No, thank you so much for coming by and delivering all of the good news. I'm excited to return to campus. Y’know, I was heartbroken about everything that happened."

"I know, you're a good kid, Rollie. I'm looking forward to your return as well. You are fun to watch on the Dragonstryke field. Very impressive for a beginner."

"That makes me so happy to hear," My grandpa said. "You can expect him to get even better. We’ve practiced some Dragonstryke techniques out in my field. And I don't mean to give him a big head when I say this, but I've been impressed with his abilities so far."

"As we all are. Take care, gentlemen, and have a wonderful Winterium. I will see you all soon."

"Happiest Winterium to you, sir," I said.

Principal Pine left, and then it was just my grandfather and me, And together we sat in the living room. He made me a cup of tea, but I didn't quite like it. It was just hot water with hardly any flavor. I couldn't believe this was a popular thing in Englara.

"How exciting, Rollie, everything seemed to have worked out okay."

"Yeah, I guess so."

"What do you mean you guess so?" My grandpa seemed saddened.

"No, you're a right grandpa. Everything worked out all right. I just can't believe it, that's all," I said.

Even though I didn't say anything to my grandpa, I was nervous about returning to school. I was already an outcast, and I was afraid it would get worse now that many students probably thought I destroyed the Unity Statue.

Just get through this semester; I'm probably okay once Richmond and Patrick are gone. People won't even remember the rumors they started. And then I can get back to practicing on the Dragonstryke team.

"I don't know much about your birth world, Rollie, but I know that Christmas is a holiday celebrated in your culture. Is that what you usually do?" my grandpa asked.

"Yeah, usually my parents get me a gift. Like that record player upstairs, they bought me that one year."

"Sounds a lot like what the mages do for Winterium. We all get someone a gift and spend time with our families. But here I am alone by myself." My grandpa shrugged and laughed.

"Where is Grandma?"

He paused and sighed. ”She moved away to another island in Lementum. We got divorced, unfortunately. I wasn't the best husband, as I'm sure your mother may have told you."

"She just said that you were gone a lot."

"I was. Life as a professional Dragonstryke player takes much of your time away, but I loved it too much, and I wanted to be one of the greats."

"And were you one of the greats?"

My grandpa snickered to himself. "Yes and no. I guess. I don't know. It depends on who you ask. I belonged on a championship team full of very talented players. I was our best bench player, I suppose. If I played for another team, I would probably be one of the starters." My grandpa smiled, gazing up above me, falling into a daydream.

"Wow, that's awesome. What was it like being on a championship team?"

“Well, I had won the school championship when I went to school at Loxton, and that was my first true taste of glory in the sport, and that was just incredible. I'll never forget that feeling. I felt like a king on campus. And then, of course, with professional Dragonstryke, everyone around the world watches, and you feel like one of the world's most important people if you win it all. You’re the center of the universe. It's a joyous feeling that only lasts a few months, but my gosh, it's the greatest sensation. Seeing my grandson have the same amount of success would be even better.”