Even though I sat in Principal Pine's comfortable guest chair, I was shaking with rage.

"Yes, Rollie, I'm afraid there's not only my Mage Force Officer friend, but another student also witnessed it as he walked by," Principal Pine said. He slowly paced from one end of his giant window to the other.

I wanted to prove my innocence by telling him I was in my room sleeping last night and that I had spent time in the study room. But they probably did it when I was sleeping in my room, and no one could confirm I didn't do anything. I felt helpless, there wasn't an ounce of hope.

"Sir, I'll admit that I was involved in the last incident, but I can assure you I wasn't involved in this one."

"Rollie, I'm not sure what to think. I want to believe you, I really do, but I don't know that I can. I'm sorry. There's evidence proving you did it, but at the same time, I can't imagine why you'd have any motive to do it again. And it feels like a threat to the campus. The December Surprise..."

"So am I in trouble again or what? I wish I could do more than just say 'I swear' to you, but I seriously didn't do it. I'll even try and find out who did it If it helps prove my innocence. I just don't want to be in more hot water here. I learned my lesson. Honest!"

"Rollie, I think it might be best if perhaps instead of assigning a punishment towards you, we will pull you from the Dragonstryke team pending the investigation."

"But that's not fair. We have a big game this month against the Voltruns!"

"It's okay, Rollie, it's not like it's a rivalry game."

"To me, it is, yeah. Every game is just as important as the other. Can I at least practice?"

"Pending this investigation, it's best to step away from the game momentarily. You offered to help with potentially finding the culprit. I see that being beneficial for proving your innocence."

I wanted to throw my hands up and storm off, but I didn't have much of a choice. "I don't think it's necessarily fair, but yeah, I'm willing to try anything. I just want to have a normal time at school here. I'm not trying to cause all of this drama. I swear to you. I learned my lesson, and I gave you my promise I would never do it again. Being on the Dragonstryke team means a lot to me too."

Principal Pine continued to walk back and forth, stroking his beard. "I know, Rollie, I know. But you must take a break from Dragonstryke. Let's see what happens in a week, and then we will reassess."

I sighed. I wanted to keep arguing because I didn't think it was reasonable at all, but it probably was best to keep my mouth shut. "I understand, sir."

"Based on the circumstances, you should be suspended and separated from the rest of campus, but I'm not willing to do that just yet. Believe it or not, I am giving you a break here."

"Yeah, whatever. I guess I'll try and figure out who was involved because I'm telling you, I'm willing to shout it from the rooftops. It wasn't me. I'll admit to anyone and everyone I did it the last time, but this time?" I shook my head. "I learned my lesson."

"Rollie, I want you to go to practice today and let Coach Florence know that you will be sitting out for at least a week. I have a letter here for you to deliver to her."

"All right, anything else you need me to do? Any advice on how to catch these kids who vandalized the rec hall? I never tried doing something like that before."

"I wish I had some advice to give you, but to be honest, I don't. Just look for anything out of the ordinary and follow it as far as it takes you."

I wanted to roll my eyes but I refrained. What a joke. "Okay. I'll try and remember that. What exactly did your Officer friend see last night?"

"He said he saw a Fyron with a mohawk and a Winderon spraying the message with a gust of wind."

Okay, yup, I'm definitely being framed.

I narrowed my eyes. "Okay. Good to know. For the record, I haven't spoken to Boris since he left campus. I have no idea where he is or what he's up to these days."

"I know. That's part of the reason why it's so confusing. Do you know if Boris had any other friends who were Fyrons?"

"No. Boris only hung out with Chris and me. He may have had other friends within the Winderons or other mages, but if he did, he never talked about them."

"Well, we might have something there if you don't have any other ideas. You may go to class now. Remember to give this letter to Coach Florence when you go to practice today."

Principal Pine handed me an envelope, and I left his office and went to the rest of my classes for the day. Everything was going fine until I went to History. As usual, I was bored out of my mind and couldn't keep my eyes open. My head kept bobbing up and down, teetering on the edge of falling asleep.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

"Rollie!" Professor Hawthorne barked.

I sat up straight and opened my eyes as wide as they could. "Yes, sir?"

Everyone in the class turned back to gawk at me.

"Have you been paying attention at all to today's lecture?" Professor Hawthorne asked.

"I've been paying attention."

"I haven't seen you take any notes. I find that rather peculiar."

"I don't need to. I have it all up here." I tapped my pencil on top of my head. The class chuckled, and I smirked.

"Ah yes, the renowned brainiac, Rollie Magpie. The same one who's barely passing this class. Would you mind explaining the significance of the Rudgerstone Treaty and why the gargoyles were upset by that?"

“Heh. You know as well as I do. It screwed them over."

The class cracked up, and I felt like I had succeeded in at least entertaining my peers.

Professor Hawthorne knitted his brow and exhaled. "I do not find these shenanigans amusing. It's blatantly obvious you're not paying attention, and you now owe me detention after school."

"Oh come on, you at least have to give me a warning to straighten up before you start giving away-"

"Make that two detentions, Mr. Magpie."

What was I thinking? I was already in hot water with Principal Pine and the graffiti on campus. I didn't need to deal with this too. I regretted my entire approach to the conversation, but part of me felt irked, and I had to keep going.

"Now I'm at two? Let's make it three.” I stretched my arms out wide. “I'm on a roll."

The whole class kept laughing.

"Mr. Magpie! You will see me immediately after dismissal! And if the whole class would prefer not to receive an extra assignment this evening, then I suggest all of you refrain from any childish laughter for the rest of the hour!"

The whole class fell silent.

"Now, let us continue. I don't like to be disrupted during lectures."

I muttered, "I didn't interrupt anything. I was just sleeping. You're the one who made a whole show of it."

Fortunately, no one heard me, but everyone left at the end of class. Houston lingered behind and smirked at me as he walked out.

That made my blood boil, but I took a deep breath and went to Professor Hawthorne's desk.

He glared at me but wore a sadistic grin. ”After dinner this evening, you will report to my classroom immediately and serve detention here."

"But I have to go to Dragonstryke pr––“

"You will miss Dragonstryke practice and come here immediately after dinner."

"Okay, but you didn't let me finish. I have to drop off a letter to Coach Florence from Principal Pine. I'll serve your stupid detention, but I must drop off this letter. If you have an issue with it, you should literally ask Principal Pine if you don't believe me."

"I don't appreciate your decorum. Do you think I could trust someone who talked to me like that? So yes, I think I shall speak with Principal Pine and confirm that you indeed have a letter to deliver to the head coach."

I rolled my eyes. "Is there anything else you need? I promise I'll serve the detention. I'm not even going to practice today. I just need to drop off this dumb letter to the head coach."

"How about this? As long as you meet me here by 7:30 p.m. to serve your detention, that's all that matters. I'll be lenient with you for this one instance. If you arrive any later than 7:30, there will be more detentions. I can promise you that, as well as a notification to Principal Pine. So don't be late, and don't take advantage of my generosity."

"Sure thing. I really appreciate it," I said, but I didn't mean a word of it. I stormed out of the room and went to my next class.

When I had dinner with Farrah and her friends, I scarfed down my meal and was about to take my food tray up to the counter.

"Rollie," Farah stopped me. "Where are you going?"

"Uh, I have to go to practice early today," I said. I felt terrible, I wasn't being totally honest with Farrah, but I didn't know what else to say. I didn't want her to panic or find out what I had done earlier in the semester.

“Why?" she asked.

"Principal Pine gave me something to give the head coach. That's why I had to talk to him earlier."

"Ah, that makes sense. I wanted to ask you what that was all about. Is everything all right, though? You seem melancholy and quiet."

I forced a smile. "Yeah, but I'm always a little quiet at dinner. That way, you can talk with your friends and catch up with them."

"Perhaps we can hang out later in the upstairs lounge back at the dorm?"

"Uh, maybe. I have other things to do when I get back from practice."

Farrah frowned, and it killed me to see. "Oh, okay then. I'll see you when I see you, I guess."

"See you later." I stood up, took my tray away, and then went to the little train depot and got on just as many other players also got on.

When I made it to the practice field, I immediately went to Coach Florence. There was a thin blanket of snow across the land.

"Hey Rollie, what's going on?"

"I have this letter to give you. It's from Principal Pine."

"Do you know what this is about? Why did he have you send it to me?"

"Well, I think it's because he needs my help with something, believe it or not, and I'm assisting him with a project."

"Why would he want your help on a project?" Coach Florence raised an eyebrow.

"It's a bit of a secret, which is why I'm also letting you know that... Uh... I won't be able to practice for a little bit. And the letter, I think, is pardoning my absence from the team."

"Oh, I see. So you got in trouble?"

"No, like I said, we're working on a project, and I think that letter will explain it. Although I can't say for sure, but he told me to deliver it to you personally."

Coach Florence scanned all of the players who were on their dragon bikes and the others standing around. The whole team was practically there. "Excuse me just for one moment, Rollie. Has anyone seen Richmond? You know, our captain? He wasn't around for the coaches and captains meeting."

Everyone on the field had a blank expression on their face or shrugged.

"Seriously? No one has any clue where Richmond is? Has anyone seen him today?"

"I had a class with him earlier, but that was earlier in the day. So he should be on campus somewhere," a kid said from the crowd.

"I'm sorry, Rollie, where were we?"

"Just the letter that Principal Pine gave me."

"Oh, that's right. Here, let me open it." Coach Florence opened the envelope and scanned the words from top to bottom. "Huh, I guess you are working on a project with Principal Pine. Well, off you go then."

"Right, see you later, Rollie, good luck with everything."

I sighed. Not wanting to leave the field, I didn't have another choice. I went back to the train, though, and took a ride back to the station.