DINNER

Dark Sorcery Class passed by in a flash. Surprisingly, I managed to keep up with the others. Though I can't help but feel uncomfortable with the way Professor Vizor teaches us. He practically let the Bloodhounds corner us!

"What's the use of teaching you how to use Dark Sorcery when the scenario's not realistic?"

He reasoned up and dismissed us with the Bloodhounds' final howl. Nat, Beau and I ran out the door and tried catching our breaths. The others looked like they just came back from hell. I can't blame them, though.. Dark Sorcery Class is hell!

Natalina grunted. "What was the headmaster thinking?! Putting us up in a surprise class that talks about scary things! Is he planning to turn this school into a horror house?!" I shrugged. We started walking to the Great Hall where the smell of freshly baked Blueberry pies wafted under our noses. Finally!

Beau shook his head and sighed. "I can't help but wonder about the same thing.. Is he trying to turn us evil?"

My eyes widened at what he said. Evil? Grandpa Liondalle, that jolly old fellow, turning us evil? I frowned at what Beau hypothesized and decided to shut my mouth on the matter. I can't be too sure about things. I don't even know half of what the MidWorld has in store for me!

We sat down at our table. Sasha smiled at me from across the table. The other Nickerfoxes students barged through the doors and slumped down on their seats. My eyes scanned the room and I guess the other two houses aren't coping up well with the change of schedule either. I saw Alie and Hue Parker from afar, arguing about something. Lincoln sat down after patroling the halls. When he looked at me, I can't help but feel a little giddy. He smiled charmingly and gave me a curt nod.

I fought the urge to blush at his antics. Seriously, Aza? You're crushing on your House Prefect?!

"Good evening, kids!"

A loud voice made us turn our heads towards the admins' table. Whispers began when Headmaster Liondalle smiled as if nothing unusual happened. The old man cleared his throat and spoke,

"I know you must all be hungry now because of that altered time schedule of your classes. But rest assure, Mr. Erland, you'll have a bite of that apple cake." His eyes flashed warningly at the Chisslewings table where that Erland guy attempted to snatch some food. The headmaster continued,

"I assume you all know by now.. Another class popped up at the bottom of your schedule, am I correct? So from this day forward, you will be attending Dark Sorcery Class every day and every week of this school year. Me and my teachers decided that it is best to rise awareness of such kind of magic. Have fun! You may now eat." He finished and sat down besides Aunt Ruella who gave me a kind smile.

Most of Liondalle's students started devouring chunks of foods all at the same time while some stayed silent and by the looks of it, they're contemplating on the matter. I furrowed my eyebrows. What's the big deal, anyway?

I started eating my Blueberry pie when Matt started boasting at our table.

"I never knew Dark Sorcery can be that easy! The headmaster should've popped that into our schedules a long time ago." Matt grinned playfully though his eyes scanned each face listening to him.

Nat rolled her eyes.

Beau shook his head in disbelief, murmuring, "bastard."

"Matt, you were so cool earlier! Tell me, how did you managed to escape those Bloodhounds again??" Finny Morgan, a half-blood in our batch, asked excitedly. He's quite tall, but he still has a childish demenour.

Matt sipped on his wine and proudly said, "That? Oh, that was easy! Those dogs are as harmless as flies to me, Fin. I just used my wand, yelled the incantation loud and clear and that scared them off. Psh.. Stupid hounds."

I glared at him. How can he be so foolish?! Those Bloodhounds nearly killed several Nickerfoxes earlier! And now he's freaking bragging on and on about how great he is and how he managed to survive without even breaking a sweat?! You can always count on Mattheus Clintwood to be such an attention seeker.

Lincoln flashed him a look. It's amazing how he can keep his cool even with Matt being to noisy besides him.

"You're talking as if Dark Sorcery's an easy getaway, Matt. That's not heatlhy for a student as yourself." Lincoln stated.

Matt clashed his gaze with him. "Really now? If Dark Sorcery isn't an easy getaway, what is, Lincoln? Tell me, because I can't understand how lowly half-bloods like you think."

Lincoln paused and forced a smile, "Are you seriously involving my heritage, Clintwood?"

Matt smirked evilly, "Oh, am I? I don't know what to blame, your blood or your mouth?"

I saw Lincoln's jaw clenched. There was a tension between the two males. Dammit, Matt! I stood up, catching their attention.

"I think I'm late for my tutor lessons. My mentor might be waiting up on me now." I announced and walked out of the Great Hall with quizzical looks following me. Well, I sure hope Matt got the message.

Moments later, someone emerged from the double doors. He glowered at me as we started walking down a hall towards the training rooms.

"What was that about, Sterlings? You really want to piss me of, don't you?"

I grunted under my breath and glared back at him.

"You were brewing a fight with a prefect!"

He cocked me an eyebrow. "And that bothers you?"

"I-It doesn't!"

"Doesn't look like that."

I sighed. He walked closer to me and dangerously said,

"I'm assuming this will be the last time you meddle with the things I do, Sterlings. At this rate, you wouldn't last a month in school without getting yourself beheaded."

Matt's voice was cold. No emotion can be seen under those handsome dark eyes. Soon enough, he left me feeling numb and pathetic.

***