On our way back to the Fyron common room, Daphne walked ahead, chatting with Edna about Dragonstryke's strategies while I was next to Bran.

"Can you tell me anything about Layla Moors?" I said.

"Like, why does Daphne hate her so much?" Bran guessed.

"Yeah."

"Well, she's the top student for the Glaciens at Loxton. Number 1 is Layla Moors, 2-Magdalene from the Venomauses, but Daphne was number 3 last year after being number 2 from the first through third year. Then, actually, at number 4 is Leon, I believe. But Layla's family has a running rivalry with Daphne's, so that certainly doesn't help."

"What's with the family rivalry?"

Bran slowed his pace to further us from Daphne and Edna. "So Layla's family owns the board gaming company brand Moorbrall. That probably explains why she's so dang smart. Her family is filled with geniuses who design some complex but really fun games. And then there's Daphne's family and her parents own Practical Potions. Not sure if it's sold outside Englaria, but they make basic elixirs for mages that don't want to spend time making potions themselves."

"Whoa, how come this is my first time hearing this?"

"Believe me, Edna and I didn't know about Daphne's family's background until our second year. She doesn't like to talk about it." Bran held his finger up to his mouth. "So mum's the word."

"Of course."

In the Fyron common room, everyone sat around studying or playing games at the tables and on the floor. Up in the third year's boy's dormitory, I sat at a desk in our room and wrote a letter to my grandpa. I asked him for any and all information about his acquaintance Zane Thumblebatch, along with notifying him that I had made it on the Dragonstryke team.

A few hours passed by, and everyone tucked themselves in bed, myself included, even though I wasn't even tired. I tossed and turned, trying to think about what the Dragonstryke season would be like, but they kept being interrupted by thoughts of Farrah. The memory of her breaking up with me and dating someone else shortly after repeated like a broken record.

I need some air.

Checking the clock in the room, I saw it was already 12:30 AM. I'd been lying down much longer than I thought. All the boys around me were sleeping like rocks.

I slipped out of bed and threw on my denim jacket. I was going out for a walk, and I figured I wouldn't be as noticeable if I had the denim jacket on. I tiptoed out of the dormitory and left the common room, navigating the flagstone corridors that were becoming familiar to me.

Ducking out through the door that led to the zoology classroom, there was a decent amount of field space.

I inhaled the night air, feeling its coolness. Even though it was still summer, it had that fall vibe. I walked around the field's edge, stretching out a bit.

Being at this new school was something else. This fresh start was right on time. And having some buddies here, with this awesome building around? Not bad at all.

I looked up at the massive building, thinking about the next few years here.

"Rollliieeeeee…"

A whisper echoed in my mind, and my head uncontrollably turned to the woods.

"Rollliiieeeeeeee…"

I took a few hypnotic steps towards the forest. Trying to scream or make some sort of sound to get me to snap out of the—

"Rollie?" a familiar voice whispered from my periphery.

The possession lifted, like a criminal fleeing the scene of a crime. My eyes widened as I turned toward the voice that saved me. I couldn't see much except the amber glow of a tiny circle. Somebody was approaching.

Burning tobacco smoke drifted in my direction.

"Rollie? What are you doing out here?"

"Leon?" I guessed, judging by the voice. "Are you smoking?"

The red circle glowed brighter for a second. Leon charged a wind bolt, and I braced myself for an attack, but he used it to destroy the cigarette. "I don't think I need to remind you to forget what you've seen?"

"Your secret is safe with me," I said. "Just a little surprised."

Leon shrugged. "Gotta be on good behavior this year, but I need some vice to get me by that won't kick me out if I'm caught."

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"I get it." I chuckled.

"What are you doing out here?"

"Couldn't sleep. Wanted to walk around, used to do it all the time at Attleton."

"Why were you marching towards the forest?"

"Uh, I dunno, really. I thought I heard my name."

"I didn't hear anything, but even if you did hear your name, you should stay away. Coming from a former 'troublemaker' myself, I wouldn't even go in there." Leon pointed at the forest.

"Thanks." I looked down at the grass. "Well, I think I'll go back inside then."

"I was on my way in, too." Leon turned around and paced ahead.

I jogged up to him. "Leon, I gotta ask you something."

"Lower your voice." He didn't slow down.

"Why do you hang out with Sable and Johnny? You seem way cooler than them."

"Ha. You don't know me very well then. Look, you're new here, but I wasn't always this-" He clenched his jaw. "-Restrained. Regardless, I rather enjoy their company. They make me laugh, even if I can't join their hijinks like I used to."

"They're pretty rude, though."

Leon halted and elbowed my arm. "Watch it. Don't think I won't tell them your remarks if you keep yapping."

"Calling them 'rude' for making fun of me on the train is a little generous."

"It's all in good fun." Leon devilishly grinned.

"Is that right? Well, you better rein them in around the other Fyrons," I said.

"Or else what? Are you threatening to blackmail me?" Leon cocked an eyebrow.

"Blackmail you? No, but I won't hold back on them."

Leon's lips curved upward. "Rollie, I like you a lot more than those other ember mages. You might actually react if Sable or Johnny mess with you."

"Ember mages?"

"Yeah, ember mages, because your kind are too weak and timid to be deemed Fyrons."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Notice how I'm not reacting to your insult, but a year ago, I would have taken a swing at you. Take that how you will."

"You wouldn't dare." Leon grinned.

"It would be a perfect time. You couldn't say anything after I socked you." I shrugged.

"Blech." Leon rolled his eyes. "I'm finding your machismo rather annoying now."

Even though he was irritating me, my therapist echoed in my head. You're a different person now.

"Forget I said anything. And sorry, don't take anything I said the wrong way. I'm not trying to make waves as the new guy around."

Leon paused. "You're alright, Rollie." He picked his pace up back towards the campus. "Let's go to this entrance. I've been doing this for two years now."

We walked into a different entry than the one I had exited from earlier. Leon propped the door for me first, and I stepped inside. As soon as I did, a small flagstone room to my right was aglow from a lantern with a long-haired, dopey-eyed guy sitting at a desk.

"Whoa." He lazily spun to face me. "Uh, you really can't be, uh, going out this late at night."

"Oh. Sorry, I'm just coming back from being outside." I glanced back at Leon, who was stifling laughter.

"You were already outside? Oh, man." He rubbed his forehead. "Look, uh, kid, uh, you really can't be going out late, and I'll let you off with a… wow, look at all those patches!" he whispered, gaping at the jacket. "I had a coat just like that back in the '80s! You have some great taste!"

"Thanks, sounds like you have some great taste, too," I said.

His face broadened with a smile. "Gosh. It's been forever since I've listened to any of those groups. Reminds me of better days." He gazed up at the ceiling with eyes full of nostalgic memories. "Sorry, where are my manners? The name's Mr. Lancaster; a pleasure to meet you." Mr. Lancaster waved to me into his little office and gave me a handshake. "I'm the caretaker on campus."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Rollie."

"Ah, that's right, the Amerzian. It's good to see you appreciate English music so much. You'll fit right in… at least with the older folks like me." He snickered.

Leon followed in behind me, arching his brow.

"Leon, you were outside too? Bollocks! How many more of you are out there?" Mr. Lancaster stood up from his stool.

"Just Rollie and I."

Mr. Lancaster sighed. "Leon, I thought you were gonna keep your night walks a secret? This isn't good!"

"Rollie was out on his own. I just so happened to bump into him. Us Winderons and Fyrons don't really intermingle."

"You have a point." Mr. Lancaster stared back at me. "Now, I shouldn't do this, I know, but I let Leon walk out at night. We have a little agreement, but I can't keep doing this for a bunch of other kids." He frowned. "But I suppose one more wouldn't be so bad. Just keep it between yourselves! Don't tell anyone I'm letting you do this."

"I rarely even go out anyways, so it wouldn't be a problem," I whispered.

"Well, you can if you really, really want, but just be careful. Although with a music taste like yours, I can tell you're a good chap." He smiled. "Come by anytime during the day, and we'll talk about those bands a little more. For now, though, you two should head off to bed. I'm serious."

"Thanks, goodnight, Mr. Lancaster," Leon and I said.

"Goodnight, boys. If more kids start popping up out there late at night, I'll have to enforce disciplinary measures." He pointed at us as we walked down the corridor.

I'm not sure if it was the rigor of study at Loxton, but I seemed to lag behind all the other students in marks and ability. I was one of the last three people in potions to finish whipping up an easy elixir that Daphne's parents regularly produced (a simple cure for boils).

All of my classes carried that trend, with one exception.

The only class in which I was one of the top students was in zoology. But that mostly came from Professor Matlock bringing different critters into class, and nearly every single one he brought out that was alive always interacted with me. Letting me pet it or the small animal would lick my hand. Every single live animal that we studied was always drawn to me and no other student. Professor Matlock always stared in amazement.

Then, during Dragonstryke practice, we ran drills and exercises very similar to the ones I became accustomed to at Attleton. It was an easy transition for me, and Coach Cambridge had me running plays where I had to steal a trophy guarded by Daphne. Daphne was our Guardian last year, and she was nominated once again after she beat out all the other players who were interested in the position. She had great aim; each time I tried to go in for a trophy steal, I was almost always hit, and there were two times during the dozens of plays I did where she struck me with a firebolt.

It was strange though, whenever I was in the middle of running a play to swoop in and steal a trophy, I noticed a lot of my teammates stopped what they were doing and watched how it would unravel. Every time I stole the trophy, which was often, they would clap and cheer, something I never experienced back at Attleton. But between each practice run, the assistant coaches spoke to Daphne and me about areas where we could improve. But most of the time, the assistant coach had nothing to say, and neither did Coach Cambridge, except for, "Keep it up, Rollie. I'm impressed. Really impressed."