Song: "He's Really Gone/Mysterious Stranger" from The Dragon Prince Season 2 OST

On the first day of school, you lifted your veil and kissed both of my cheeks. Do you remember, Mother? People stared at you, but you didn't care. You were too proud of your daughter. I long for such confidence and the ability to be happy and liberal without feeling the gazes of others. For someone as brash as I am, I am unsure why I feel so small.

❂❂❂

After the evening with Norwyn, Light Spinner walked back to her own house and set her bags down on the porch. As she stripped her face of its veil and walked toward her bedroom, her breath caught, and she detoured to her office. 

She walked into the small room that had a little waterfall, a desk, and a moondust mill. After opening the secret drawer in the table, she pulled out a tiny red shard and sat on the floor, her eyes fixed on the warm glow it emitted in her hands.

Her prowess had captured the interest of Princess Estila, daughter of King Sketála of Tropicilas. As she pulled out the letter from the Scorpion heir and reread it for the thousandth time, a smile came to her face. After so many years, Light Spinner had at last deceived the world into believing she was naturally brilliant and talented at magic.

To the soon-to-be Emeth: (Felicidades!)

I am sending you a secret message because my court has refused to let me publicly state my possible solutions for my baby, Scorpia. She cannot connect to our runestone. It is a great secret and a shame on our family, as all the other royalty in Etheria who have runestones face no trouble connecting their children. If it is not automatic when they are born, it is very easy. But not for my Scorpia—she is nearing a year old and has shown no signs of being able to connect. I have heard that you are the most genius of the higher-studies sorcerers, so I'm begging you to help me. I have sent a sample of the Black Garnet for you to study. There will be a reward if you do.

Sincerely,

Princess Estila of Tropicilas

Light Spinner had reread the letter until the ink bled from the parchment. How lucky she was that an opportunity like this had fallen into her hands. If she could study the properties of the runestone and discover how to connect the princess to it, what other possibilities might a spell for forged runestone connection yield?

Images danced in her mind of the First-Ones archeologists digging up another runestone; a lost one that hadn't belonged to any kingdom, that Mystacor could claim. What if her own people could wield the power of princesses, able to help others in a way that had been impossible for the common magic-user for a thousand years?

So much power hummed in that tiny gem that it made her back tingle. But in the past month since she'd received the letter, she had failed to create an effective spell or even comprehend how someone born without power could obtain such abilities. There was still one piece missing. Something that, as of yet, Scorpia lacked.

But Light Spinner had never been one to give up once she had a goal in mind.

✧✧✧

Micah returned to the dorm after the rest of his classes, flopped on his bunk, and sighed. The first week of school had been rough—though in a different way than he'd been expecting. I understand all the things we're learning. Too much of it. Maybe I can't raise my hand or turn in homework on time, but what do you expect from someone who hasn't done any school?

Ver walked over next to him. "You okay, Micah?"

Micah's gaze passed to hers. "I'm just...upset."

"Why?" she asked, sitting on his bed beside him. "Is school not going well?"

"I want to go to Light Spinner's class," Micah said. "I'm moving ahead too fast in Ahelia's."

Asteria stifled a laugh as she walked over to join them. "Tell me you're kidding."

"Asteria," Ver warned.

"Look, this is serious!" Micah burst out. "I want to do something in class. I didn't leave my family for nine months just to be taught stuff I already know."

"Light Spinner won't take you," Asteria said, combing her dark hair. "She only takes -"

"The best of the best. I know. And I talked to her today - I know she doesn't like me."

"She's just strict, is all," Ver said softly. "She's a little...rough around the edges, but she can be really cute sometimes."

"Ver, shut up," Asteria said. "He's not getting into Light Spinner's class, and we all know it." She turned to Micah. "In a couple years you'll start learning magic. For now, just focus and do all your classwork in Ahelia's class. It's not that hard."

He groaned. "A couple years? How can I do the classwork if it's not interesting?"

"That's the question every school student asks," Asteria said, climbing her bunk and laying down. "Except Delvalians - we're kind of bred this way."

Ver frowned and sat next to him, whispering in his ear. "She's not being very nice."

Micah passed a rueful smile in her direction. Maybe Asteria was a lost cause, but not Veritas. "How did you get into Light Spinner's class?"

Ver shifted. "She saw that I was talented. We kind of work together because I freeze up during tests, but Light Spinner's super good at helping you get good at magic."

He nodded. So maybe she can help me get better at classroom things. "And why's Asteria so sure she won't teach me?"

Veritas got out her journal and started drawing pictures as she replied. "Light Spinner's from a city of nerds in the middle of Bright Moon - Bel Delvala. She's kinda...obsessed with learning."

Micah's cheeks grew red. "That must be why she wasn't happy with me today."

"Yeah," Ver said. "She's just really determined. And stubborn - super stubborn. But once you get to know her, she's not so bad."

Micah laid back on his bed, putting his hands on his face. So, obsessed with schooling. Strict, but cute. Wants to help people. What am I going to do? He couldn't pretend to be something he wasn't, and he also couldn't just accept his place right now. But how was he going to impress the Emeth enough for her to want to train him?

✧✧✧

During class the next day, Ahelia chirped in her annoyingly eccentric way about various elements of magic. Micah lifted his hands, the mandala he'd seen yesterday coming to mind. It must have been a light illusion spell, since iridescent images could be seen after Light Spinner had corrected the students.

Maybe something hard. Like Master Norwyn. Micah closed his eyes, drew the mandala, and imagined the old satyr from their few interactions. He only opened his eyes when the gasps of the other students echoed around him.

He gazed at a crude model of Master Norwyn. Even Emeth Ahelia looked stunned. "Micah, how did you do that?"

"I remembered the spell and did it," he said, immediately pleased. They recognized it. I'm getting taken seriously.

Ahelia stepped forward. "You do know that it can take students years to form their first light illusion, dear?"

Micah hadn't known that, but nodded slowly anyway. "Am I...in trouble?"

"No, silly," Ahelia said, taking his hands in hers. The pink gem encrusted in her forehead winked at him. "We're going to show Lady Light Spinner!"

He grinned. "Wait, what?" But Ahelia cast a transportation spell around their feet, and they were whisked off to a different place, blue sparks of magic around the woman's face.

"Now, the way to draw a convincing light illusion is—" Light Spinner's attention snapped to them, and she growled a sigh. "Ahelia, why have you interrupted my class with this unkempt child?"

Micah smoothed his scruffy hair, and Ahelia grinned. "To transfer him to your class, of course!"

Light Spinner nearly dropped her folders in shock. "You're getting transferred?" she exclaimed. "You?"

Ahelia nodded. "Micah, show her what you did!"

Micah couldn't look straight at those piercing green eyes, so he closed his, drawing the light illusion. When he opened them, a blue ram hewn of constellations stood nearby.

Light Spinner's eyes widened, and she viced a hand around Micah's wrist. Her fingers were almost unbearably hot, and he flinched. "Who helped you?" she said sternly. "Magic for students is prohibited unless accompanied by a mentor."

"Wait, that's a thing?" Micah laughed, eyes flashing to Emeth Ahelia.

Light Spinner narrowed her eyes, leaning in, and Micah caught the scent of fresh roses on her pink top. Does she just...roll in flowers? The image forced him to bite down a chuckle, and she shook his wrist. "Did you, or did you not, get outside teaching?"

"No!" he fired back, and she released him. "I just did it, okay? I don't know how."

"He is extremely powerful," Ahelia said. "He would be a good addition to your class."

"Yes," Light Spinner muttered, refusing eye contact. "He would."

Micah grinned at his new teacher. She'll like me soon. Eventually. I hope. "So, should I go get my things?"

"I suppose."

"Yes!" He shook her hand to feel that strange hotness again, and her eyes widened at the touch. "You won't regret this—I promise!"

❂❂❂

Did you know...

● I had an early reader comment confused about whether this is a student x teacher book since Light Spinner's hands are described as "hot", and I can say that is not the case, nor do I endorse Light Spinner and Micah romantically (especially when he's a child). Her hands are literally just warm, like heating pads.

● The Black Garnet subplot is a late addition; fans of the series will know why I included it. (I don't want to say why here because of spoilers.)

Tell me what you think...

● Is power always a bad thing? Why or why not?