She pulled him out of the park, towards the inner street in front of his dormitory, and then finally let go of his hand.

- Much better - she said taking a deep breath. - How about we walk a bit?

- S-sure - Trevor, still confused, squeezed out.

He wasn't sure how to react since he already labeled the girl, and now not only did she jump to his defense, but also clearly was interested in him. Fortunately for him, she was leading their encounter, and he could just follow and observe, to decide if he really wanted to keep on going with whatever was happening.

They started slowly walking on the sidewalk towards the school building. The few first steps were taken without any additional words. Trevor was unsure how to react, and Lena seemed to be enjoying a moment of silence.

- So, Mister West... Tell me about yourself - she started eventually.

- What do you want to know?

She shrugged her shoulders.

- You are from the fourth. Not many from the fourth make it to this academy. It might be only in the third, but it's still the best one here. You made it even to the school scholarship program. That probably wasn't easy, considering the fact, which I already mentioned, of you being from the fourth. Do you even have magic there? - she spoke with her eyes focused on what was ahead of them, not looking at the boy at all.

- We do, but just a little. Most people can't even manifest their powers.

- But you can, can't you? - she peeked at him briefly.

- Yes.

- You must have been popular then.

- No. I wasn't - he replied, making the girl look at him again. - I didn't have any magic until very recently, but I started gaining power quickly, which caught the attention of the principal of my previous school, and he contacted Professor Winchester.

- So that's how it was, huh? That's interesting - she said, as she didn't move her eyes off him, observing him carefully.

- Why?

- Well. First of all, I thought those with no magic end up in the fifth, and you didn't. Then there is also the fact of you picking a teacher's eye.

Trevor shrugged his shoulders. He found the conversation about his past a bit uncomfortable.

- How about you? You seem famous. Like royalty or something.

She snorted.

- You really are clueless Mister West, aren't you? Have you never heard about the Karcrow family?

- I heard it before, I just... I'm just not sure what it is - he said and could feel his face starting to burn.

- We are one of the twelve great families that rule this city. And I'm Lena Karcrow, the youngest daughter of Lucius Karcrow himself - she said with all the required pompousness.

Both her voice and her posture changed like she was performing in a theater. Her back got straightened, her head raised, and the voice was gushing with all the honor and glory.

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Trevor though didn't really seem to react.

- Why are you here then? Shouldn't you be in the first district?

She rolled her eyes and glanced at him briefly as her face for a short moment got twisted by anger.

- My father hates me - she explained. - That's all. I was supposed to go to the second as a punishment, but then...

She giggled.

- I really pissed him off, and here I am. But rest assured, not for long. Just a single year, since it's a disgrace to the family to have one of us get their education in this place.

- You seem... You seem like you don't like your father - he pointed out.

- No shit. I seem? Just seem? I hate that bastard! - she almost screamed.

- But why? If he is the head of a great family, that is ruling the city, isn't he also supposed to be somebody incredible?

She stepped in front of him blocking his path, with a single eyebrow risen. Then she gently touched his cheek, which took Trevor completely by surprise.

- You poor boy, brainwashed by the propaganda - she said with such a gentle voice, that he didn't expect from her. - My father is a dick.

After the last words, she lightly patted him on the face.

- Well... I don't know him. We don't know much of what happens in the first - Trevor admitted. - I'm not really a current affairs type of a guy but don't think that anybody in the fourth knows more than just some basics and rumors.

- Maybe that's better for you. The first is a shitshow. They all seem so nice and happy all the time, but they wouldn't mind ripping each other's throats open. Trust me.

- Can you tell me more about the families? You said there were twelve of them.

She sighed.

- I can't blame you for your curiosity since you know nothing... You have obviously the Karcrow family, with my father, Lucius Karcrow at the very top. Then there is a Drago family, led by Alexander Drago. Lupus family, with Arsenio Lupus at the top. Valentio family led by Isabela Valentio. Traskus family with their head, Rita Traskus. The head of the Pyro family is Eusebio Pyro. For the Breeze family, it's Lavender Breeze. For the Duante family, it's Dominic Duante...

- I heard of them! - Trevor interrupted her. - It was something about 'Crash', you know, the game.

She rolled her eyes.

- No shit you've connected Duantes with 'Crash'. They have the best players in the whole city. The sons of Mister Dominic have been dominating this sport for a while. Well... Maybe that's why it reached you in the fourth.

- Yes - Trevor confirmed.

- Anyway... Where was I? Ah yes, Duante... Then you have Lorraine Deepwater, head of the Deepwater family. Axel Werner, the head of the Werner family. Isabela Lumen, the head of the Lumen family. Lastly the Vocos, with the Greg Voco at the top. The order is, of course, random.

- They have to be amazing if they are at the very top of their families. They are ruling the city after all. Despite your opinion about your father... - he added.

She snorted.

- Some of them are amazing... All of them, if you consider their power. They are like gods. Maybe I'm from the family, but I'm a black sheep, and a weakling compared to even my brothers or sisters. And my father? Ha! He is in a completely different dimension. Like a god... Just as I am like a goddess to you - she said and grabbed Trevor by his throat.

There was a surprising, inhuman, strength in her slim fingers. She looked like she had no muscles, and yet her grasp completely blocked his windpipe. Suddenly she retracted her hand and lightly punched him in the shoulder.

- Relax. I'm just fucking with you - she said and resumed walking as if nothing happened.

The boy gasped for the first breath of air and then started coughing terribly. It took him a moment, to stop. She, on the other hand, braided her fingers on her back, just above the hips, and nonchalantly took a few steps further, almost dancing.

- What the fuck? - he said with a hoarse voice. - Are you crazy?

She turned around and sighed.

- My whole family is a bit crazy, yes... I'm used to tougher people, so if I hurt you, I'm sorry - she said with a blank expression.

- Don't do that again.

- I won't - she dropped her gaze.

That again took Trevor by surprise.

- Hey - she added shortly. - Do you wanna be friends? You are not like others here. I'm not like them either.

- I'm not sure - he replied, massaging his throat. - I'll think about it.

- Ok - she said and twisted her head a bit to the side while smiling.

Then she turned around and kept walking in the same manner, with her fingers still behind her back, almost skipping.

She didn't seem to wait for him at all, so he looked over his shoulder in the direction where his dormitory was. Then he just turned around, shaking his head, and headed back to his room.