Everyone left the dorms at the same time to walk to the train station. We all got into carts that felt like a New York City subway train. Not that I had ever been, but I had seen videos. Although Attleton's station had dark wood interiors and cushioned couches along the window, there were brass poles everywhere for people to hang on if they were standing. Only some people could get a seat, and I was one of them that had to stand. I was surprised to see the turnout of all the Fyrons. It seemed like the whole dorm building had emptied out and filled the trains. I stood near the corner, hanging on a ceiling brass pipe beside Farrah while her friends sat elsewhere.

"You can stand with them if you want. I'm okay here," I said.

"I know, but I see them all of the time. We have a lot of classes together too. I don't get to talk to you very often. I wish you had given our table another chance, but I understand. They were pretty rude the last time, but I told them they should be nicer to you."

"Thanks, I appreciate that." I didn't know if I actually did. Would that make things worse or better with them? I wasn't sure.

"So, is that hairstyle common where you're from?" Farrah asked, staring at my mohawk.

"Uh, no, not really. I was the only one in my entire school that had one. But some people at concerts do, especially those that listen to punk music. What's the music like here? Like, do you have punk music or rock music?"

"Oh yeah, we have that. We get radio signals from your world, so we know a lot of your music." Farrah nodded. "Sometimes people go into your world, grab records, and sell them to people."

"You're joking." I stared at her in disbelief.

"Not at all. I noticed you were wearing a Ramones t-shirt the other day. I meant to compliment it. I actually really like them. It's a shame though, we have some pretty good bands from Lementum, but I don't think they sell really in the Nomagi World."

"Really? You'll have to show me some of your favorites." A whole world of new music inspired by my favorites sounded terrific.

"Yeah, and I'm sure there's stuff you enjoy that I've probably never heard of before." Farrah beamed. "You should put a list together of some of your favorite songs, and maybe we could listen to them."

"Yeah, I'd really like that. You should do the same." My face was starting to hurt from smiling so much.

The train kept chugging along until we reached the stadium. It was much louder at the receiving station. I could hear the crowd talking from the outside. Speakers along the cavern walls blared music featuring trumpets that reminded me of old-fashioned horse racing. Maize banners with lightning bolts at the center hung from flagpoles on the side, along with emerald banners with three slashes. The massive cavern entrance was filled with yellow and green flames from torches, but the place was lit with white flames too. Mages left the trains and entered the stadium. The smell of cinnamon-roasted almonds filled the air, and I had flashbacks of going to the carnival. My mouth watered.

"Would you like to get some roasted almonds?" Farrah asked. She must have noticed me staring at the concession stand with a royal green and yellow striped canopy.

"Yeah, I'd love some, but I'm not sure how much they cost."

"They're free, actually!"

I dropped my jaw. "You've got to be kidding. Stadium concessions cost an arm and a leg in my world. You mean to tell me this is free?"

"Come on! Let's go in line," Farrah said as she rushed over to the queue of 10 people waiting in front of us. I stood next to Farrah, and the line went by pretty quick.

But her friends walked by, and one said, "You're really getting roasted almonds? Aren't you tired of them? We want to get a seat."

"Go on without me. I'll meet you there!" Farrah said and waved them on.

I thought it was rude for them not to wait, considering we were up at the counter in no time. I ordered a bag of roasted almonds, and they plopped them down in front of me, and nothing was exchanged from me except, "Thank you!"

The people behind the counter wearing green and yellow striped clothes nodded and smiled. "Enjoy the game!" they yelled. They looked a little too old to be students.

Farrah and I rushed to the stands, and I chowed down the crunchy cinnamon nuts. She surveyed the audience, but it seemed too daunting to try and find her friends. I didn't mind, but she seemed a little bummed. There were pockets of scarlet cloaks scattered through the crowd.

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

"Can you see them?" I asked.

Farrah shook her head. "No, but we can just stand with some other Fyrons. We're a tight-knit group. You can always sit with another Fyron."

Based on my experience, I wasn't so sure about that, but I didn't want to debate. I followed Farrah up the steps in the crowded stadium filled with echoing and reverberating chatter. We sat with a group of Fyrons whom I hadn't met. They smiled and waved at Farrah, so we joined them, but she and I stood together. And I didn't want it any other way.

"Hello, mages of all kinds!" a voice hollered through the speakers high on the stone poles around the stands. "Welcome to the legendary matchup between the Winderons and the Voltruns in a historic battle of Dragonstryke. Although it's early in the season, these two teams have been playing some of the best Dragonstryke matches we've seen. The number two ranked Winderon versus the number three ranked Voltrun. This is what we love to see! I'm your announcer Mickey Alvarez, and I couldn't be more excited to call today's game!"

"Mickey always says that about every game," Farrah said, laughing as she rolled her eyes.

The entire crowd cheered and clapped, myself included. On the cavernous stage of stalagmites, students flew in circles on their dragon bikes on their respective sides. I spotted Houston on the Voltruns, and I had the urge to boo, but I held back. There was a timer made of vibrant purple wispy smoke above the field, with a score below it.

It read 3-3.

I wondered how it was possible that both teams already had three points each, so I asked Farrah about it. She said it was because each team has three trophies, and they try to steal the other team's trophies to win.

The minutes flew by, and I was amazed watching their flying exercises on the dragon bikes. The players flew in circles and hurled electric and wind bolts at targets in their territories. Once the timer hit zero, a bell dinged through the loudspeakers, and all players flew to a spot and floated in place.

"Are we ready to begin the game, Dragonstryke director Hamlin Morris?"

A man riding a silver dragon bike gave a thumbs up at the center of the field. He flew away, and another bell chimed.

"And the match has begun!"

My full attention was fixed on the game. My jaw dangled. Both teams flew fast on the dragon bikes, and there were exchanges of electric bolts and wind bolts passing through the air like a game of pong multiplied by a thousand. The Voltruns flew together and struck a few Winderons with their electric bolts, but many of the Winderons dodged their attacks and performed barrel rolls, loops, and spins, none of which the Voltruns could perform except for one player: Houston Smith.

Houston outshined all of the players on the field. I couldn't take my eyes off how he threw his electric bolts right at the Winderons, hitting them more often than anyone else. Houston also invaded the Winderon's end zone. He stole one of the trophies standing atop a pillar, flying it back to his team's territory, dodging all kinds of wind bolts hurled by the defenders.

"And now the score is 4-2! Houston Smith brings the Voltruns to an early lead. But don't count out the Winderons yet. They have certainly performed their aerial dodging with precision."

I had tuned out the play calling from the announcer majority of the time, except for the break in the action after Houston Smith brought the trophy back to his team. There was a short 2-minute break, and then the game started back up again.

"Enjoying it so far, Rollie?" Farrah asked me.

"I can see why all students watch games even if their team isn't playing. This sport is amazing!" I almost forgot that Farrah stood next to me for the game. I was so engrossed.

"I had a feeling you'd enjoy it!" Farrah touched my shoulder and gave it a quick shake.

The rest of the match went by too fast. I didn't want it to end, but Houston Smith led the charge and stole the other two trophies, but the Winderons stole one back. A valiant effort. The Voltruns won with a score of 6-0. The best score a team could get.

The crowd cheered and roared at the end of the match. The Voltruns in the audience jumped up and down, whistling, hollering, and singing. I loved the excitement. Even the other spectators who weren't Voltruns or Winderons clapped and applauded.

"So, what did you think?" Farrah asked me.

"I want to play so bad. I know that for sure. I will do whatever it takes to get on the field," I said.

Farrah beamed at me, and everyone started exiting the stadium, and we followed along. Walking to the trains, we had lost Farrah's friends, which I didn't mind, and she didn't seem to be too bothered by it either. We got a seat in the corner of the crowded space.

"I'm so glad to hear that you liked Dragonstryke. Very few people dislike the sport, and I feel it's harder for them to fit in," Farrah said.

"Yeah, it was amazing. I can't stop thinking about it. I'm going to do everything in my power to play," I said.

I could tell a light bulb turned on in Farrah's head. "I'll ask some of the guys on the Fyron team if you can get on the practice squad so you can get a chance, but you have to try out. Definitely talk to your mentor about it. It's Patrick, right? You may have noticed, but he played in today's game. He's pretty good on the dragon bike. One of the better flyers, for sure. You have a perfect mentor for learning the dragon bike."

"Yeah, I hope so. I'm supposed to meet up with him tomorrow for the first time to go over how my week went, I guess."

"What do you mean 'I guess?' You should be excited! My mentor last year was lovely. It was great meeting her and getting to know her. It's a neat program, too, because it's almost like you get an older sibling. I mean, I already have an older sibling, but he can be pretty distant at times. But with this program, you get to know someone cool, and they can be a good resource for information about careers and the real world."

I faked a smile. "Yeah, I hope it's like that."

"Do you have any siblings from your home world?"

"I don't, actually. I always wished I did, but with how my parents are, it's probably best they didn't have more kids. I have a theory that I was born on..." I winced. "Never mind. I've also always wanted a pet, Like a dog, cat, or even a guinea pig. But my parents didn't think I'd be responsible enough."

"I'm sorry to hear that." Farrah's lips sank.

"Don't worry about it. As soon as I'm old enough and have the money, I'm getting a dog." I smiled. I felt terrible for bringing up my parents, but my brain kept going. It could've been worse. The rest of our conversations on our trek back to the dorm were easygoing and pleasant.