Walking through the bridge on the way back to the dormitory, my friends still had a look of disbelief in their eyes.

"So, Rollie, what was all that about? Are you like really good at Dragonstryke or something?" Daphne asked.

"I played it a decent amount back in Amerzia." I shrugged.

"Wow. I mean, you did well in the flight path exercise, but everyone is still amazed by the trophy steal earlier."

"Yeah, I was even watching, and it blew my mind!" Bran said. "And what was up with your dragon bike? It looked, unlike anything I've seen."

"Oh, it's just a Blackbird brand dragon bike. Apparently, they're only made in the Amerzian Islands."

"It was so beautiful, and you flew so fast when you went to take the trophy. Where was that during the race?" Bran said.

"Go easy on him," Edna said.

"I guess I just had some nerves at the beginning."

"Part of me thinks that maybe the way you stole the trophy was just a fluke, but then another part of me realizes you had some wicked mastery over your dragon bike. That sort of thing just doesn't happen on accident," Daphne said.

"I guess we'll have to play some more, and we will see if it's a fluke or not," I said.

"Rollie, you might become our team's main Thief," Daphne said.

"Whatever position they hand me, I'm up for the challenge. The Magpies never quit."

"The Magpies... That's right, your last name is Magpie, right?" Bran asked.

"Yes."

"Is there any relation to Logan Magpie?" Bran's eyes lit up.

"Yes, that's my grandfather."

"He played on the Wixton Raiders! He was on that championship team! Wow, your grandfather played for the Wixton Raiders. That's so amazing. Oh my gosh, you must be one of the best players of your age. Edna! Can you believe this?" Edna and Bran got wrapped up in their own conversation.

"Well, you certainly seemed pretty great out there," Daphne told me. "If you don't mind me asking, how come you didn't want to talk about it earlier?"

I made sure Bran and Edna were still occupied in their conversation, and then I whispered to Daphne, "Can I show you why? With your little memory device thing?"

"Oh, uh, it's a little tricky to use, so it might take a moment for you to figure it out."

"Okay, I'd be willing to give it my best shot. I think it's better to show you rather than tell you." Thinking back on the memories, my lips quivered.

Daphne stared for a moment and frowned as she noticed my teary eyes. "Let's go to a place on campus where we can have some privacy." She tapped Edna on the shoulder. "Hey, Rollie and I are going to be late for dinner. Don't feel like you need to wait up for us."

"Oh, okay. We'll see you at the dining hall then!"

Daphne and I returned to the Fyron dormitory, and I waited in the lobby as she ran to her bed. She quickly grabbed the memo-ring and led me through Loxton until we were back in the academic hall, where no one was around. Just an empty hallway of slate stone floors, walls, and signs for classrooms.

We approached a heavy black iron door with engravings of ingredients and different beakers containing liquids. Daphne pulled out a key and inserted it into the center of the door, and then a golden cube pushed out of the right side where she held her hand, and had her arcane magic flow into it.

The door creaked open, echoing down the hallway. I scanned our surroundings, thinking someone must have heard us. It felt like we were criminals. Daphne turned around and noticed my eyes bulging.

"Hey, don't worry about it. Just so you know, we are allowed to be in here. I have a key to get into this room."

"But how?"

"The perks of being The President of the Elixir Club!" Daphne's lips curved up ear to ear, making my heart flutter.

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"Right, yes, of course. Sorry, I thought we were breaking into the room." I chuckled and rubbed the back of my neck.

We entered, and inside were tables stretching down a line and then another row of tables, but each had its own device or contraption that I didn't fully recognize. Windows hung high on the wall, and they were narrow, letting in a stream of light that felt more gray than usual. It seemed like an old classroom that wasn't used anymore.

"This is where the elixir club holds its meetings experiments and gets to practice. We hold bi-weekly meetings but haven't got it started back up yet, but since I was president last year, I get to keep the key." Daphne dangled the key in front of me and smiled.

"How perfect."

"Well, enough of all that. Let me show you how to use the memo-ring. You place it over your forehead, and then you sort of meditate. You think of all the memories that you want to show me, and you think about them so clearly that you almost fall into a trance. Then, once you reach the last memory you want me to see, you pull it off and hand it back to me and I put it over my eyes. Does that make sense?"

"Uh, yeah, it does. Is it okay if I cry? Will it damage anything?"

Daphne frowned. "It shouldn't damage anything, but are you sure you want to try? I don't want to upset you. Maybe this was a bad idea."

"No, not at all. I would love to show you. It's just a difficult time in my life."

Aunt Josephine's words echoed in my head, "That was the old Rollie. That's not you anymore."

Putting on the memo-ring, I took a few deep breaths and began imagining everything that happened. It was the final match of the season, but even before that I was jumped by all of Houston's cronies in the woods, and no one was around to protect me. Then, we went through the memory of Houston and I battling in the air, Houston and I chasing after each other and then flying into the stands, harming ourselves. I thought back to the visit with Principal Pine in the medical room and then having to meet with him again only to tell me that I would not be allowed back on campus the following year. I lifted the visor off my head and had tears streaming down my cheeks.

"Oh my gosh, are you sure you want to show me?"

I nodded.

Daphne put the memo-ring over her head and gave me one last look before entirely concealing her eyes.

After it was all done, Daphne silently cried as she removed the headband. She shook her head. "Rollie, I'm so sorry all that happened to you. I completely understand why you didn't want to talk about it, and I'm sorry if it felt like I pressured you."

"It's okay. I really wanted to show you. It would be too much to show the others, you know? But you can tell them on your own time when I'm not around if you want."

Daphne nodded. "I'll make sure they don't bring it up to you. But, Rollie, just so you know, I don't think you should ever blame yourself for anything that happened. None of that is your fault."

"Some of it is, but I went through therapy, and now I feel like I've changed a lot as a person. And that's what matters most."

"I'm really proud of you. You seem like you've changed a lot since then."

I paused. I felt like if I kept looking into her eyes, I would start crying more. My eyes drifted to the thin line of windows, where all I could see were slivers of leaves and branches. "I feel like I made many mistakes back then, and now I'm just starting to learn from them."

"It's part of growing up, isn't it? Nothing to be too sad about. I understand, though, that it's easier said than done."

I smiled at her.

"I think you might feel better if you have some food; what do you think?"

"That sounds great to me."

Walking back to the Dining Hall, Daphne and I were silent the entire time. As we got closer, we could hear the hum of chatter on the other side of the wall. Daphne pulled me aside. "Hey, I just wanted to let you know you can talk to me about whatever you want, whenever you want. Right?"

"Of course." I nodded and gave a slight smile. "And the same goes for you. I showed you a lot today."

"I know." Her lips curved up. "I'll tell you more about me soon. It's just been a long day. Let's eat dinner, yeah?" Daphne turned around and strolled ahead. I opened the door, and I followed right behind.

Daphne and I went to the dining hall. Everyone turned their heads around like we were kids coming in late to class, but they were quick to return to their meals. A swarm of bright orange cloaks surrounded me like an army of bees.

"Rollie!"

"Congrats!"

"You were sensational!"

"Can I get your autograph?"

They all crowded me as I tried to sit next to Bran and Edna, who were both beaming.

"Aw'right, aw'right! Let the Amerzian bloke have some dinner!" Clark hushed the pack of younger students and waved them off.

All the other mages at the tables glared in my direction. The bright-eyed and bushy-tailed Fyrons shuffled back to their seats as Clark scowled at them like a strict professor.

"Thanks, man." I put my hand on his shoulder, about to sit down, but he stopped me.

"I didn't tell you this earlier, but I got to say, you were amazing with that trophy steal today. I'm not kidding when I say this, but I have never seen anything like it. Was that on purpose, or was it just a happy accident?"

"You're the second person who thought that. Honestly, I was just playing with the flow and rhythm of the game. I didn't even think about it. It was just a natural flow of what I had to do to get the trophy, so I guess it was done on purpose."

Clark grinned and chuckled. "Wow. This is too exciting. If that steal was for real, we might be a force to be reckoned with. I'm not kidding when I say this, we sucked last year. Really sucked." Clark patted my arm. "Looking forward to practicing with you, mate." He sauntered back to his seat with people who were 1 year older than us.

"I feel like we're gonna kick some serious ass this year in Dragonstryke," Bran said as he charged up to me.

"Language, Mr. Lyptus," the Fyron knight said as he shuffled by our table.

"Edna will be a rider, no doubt, Rollie will be out there thief'n, and then Daphne will be pullin' out all the stops! It's gonna be amazing to watch." Bran had an innocent, child-like excitement in his smile.

"We'll see. Our first match is in a few weeks against the Glaciens, who were the second-best last year." Daphne poked at her plate of faux meatloaf and potatoes, then dropped her silverware, clanging on the plate. "Gosh, I really hope we can take down that smug Layla Moors."

I exchanged glances with Bran and Edna as Daphne refused to look up from her plate.