What do you see, Killian? Nothing. Her mind is clouded with a blue light. Something is pushing me back. I hear these words as I slowly regain my consciousness, trying to open my eyes and focus on my surroundings. My eyes meet a familiar face hovering above mine. I could barely register who it was when I get flashbacks of what happened in front of the Professor's office. My breaths get heavier, I sit up, supporting myself with my hands on the couch. In shock I look around, trying to find out where I was. Then I feel someone's hands on my shoulders, slightly shaking me. And his words trying to calm me down. That wasn't helping. I was panicking, kicking my legs around and trying to get out. Eventually, I fell from the couch. When I wanted to stand up, I couldn't so I stayed kneeling down. Then the big hands travel from my shoulders to my face, cupping both of my cheeks into them. "Calm down, Kaitlin. You are safe now." I hear these words and see Professor Hale's face but strangely I didn't see his mouth move. Am I going crazy? I hear him laugh. "No, you are not. Now calm down, the Principal wants to talk to you." I could hear him clearly but his lips didn't move apart. They only curved slightly to the top and formed a warm smile on his face. Still in shock and confused about what happened right now, I watch the Professor stand up, offering me his hand. I take it and he helps me get up. He was still holding my arm firmly, mostly because my knees were weak and my legs still shaking that I almost fell again after I got up. Professor Hale walked close to me and repositioned his hand on my upper arm. This time his grip was weaker, softer, as he stood close to my body and supported me to remain standing. I glanced behind his shoulder to see Principal Idarin who was already in the Professor's office, sitting behind his desk. He cleared his throat and signaled me with his right hand to sit down. I look at Hale and he only nods. That reassured me a little bit, but I knew that I was going to get expelled. The strange thing about it was that I was a little bit sad. Even though I wanted to leave the school seconds ago, now when I will get expelled, I want to stay. I didn't want it to end and me being a failure. I seated myself on one of the couches and waited until they tell me to pack my stuff. Professor Hale went to stand behind the couch. He put his hand on the back of the couch, right next to my left shoulder. I could feel his fingers brushing against my body when he tried to be subtle and calm me down, or at least let me know that he is right there if I needed someone. The Principal was still sitting in the chair quietly, not saying a word. Was he that angry at me? Then I hear people murmur and exclaim in awe. I look to my right and see others, presumably teachers going to the office. That was when I noticed why they were so surprised. Big boulders everywhere, holes in the wall which allowed you to see from the office to the corridor. I turn back to look at the Principal. He welcomes the teachers and then looks at me. His stare was warm as usual and I didn't sense any anger in his eyes. I could tell that he is still waiting for me to calm down and get ready to hear for what they gathered here to discuss. I took a deep breath and then exhaled, which was a sign for the principal to start the conversation.

Principal Idarin: I called you here as you can see for the situation that happened here.

Male teacher: It is unusual to see the whole council this soon at the beginning of the year.

Principal Idarin: Sadly, that is the truth.

Female teacher: What is the situation that needs our immediate attention?

Principal Idarin: Two female students fought in the corridor.

Male teacher: Using their powers for fighting outside the approved zones. That calls for expulsion.

Only two of the three people, who were members of a school council apparently, talked to the principal at first. One of them, an elder woman who seemed around the same age as Principal Idarin, was dressed in long dark brown dress. Plain and decorated only with a golden broach under her neck. Her hair were playing in a different shades of grey and were tied in a casual bun. No braids or anything, just a little twist to maked her long hair look smaller and to be tucked away from just hanging around. She was wearing a round black glasses which made her look even more like a nice grandma that I always imagined having, even though there is still something from that calmness that is making me respect her, to not have the same feeling as I have from Principal Idarin. There was a wisdom, seeping from her aura, but it was still pleasant to look at her. On the other hand, the other teacher that spoke gave me chills. He was young, not like Professor Hale young, but still younger than the rest of the council members present here. His hair were light blond and short, brushed to one side and complimenting the light blue shirt with white pants that he was wearing. His expression was stern and didn't change at all even after he heard that I fought with another student, despite his voice sounding a bit angry. He looked powerful and I knew very well to be careful of what I say to him or how I behave. I leaned a bit more into the couch and I wished I could just get swallowed by it and disappear. Professor Hale still had his hand and I pressed against it, a bit too hard. But he didn't mind or move it at all. It reassured me a little bit and I tuned in to listen to the conversation.

Female teacher: I take it that this is one of the students mentioned. Where is the other one?

Principal Idarin: The fight is an important issue but we need to discuss something else here.

Female teacher: I see she is from Aveus. It isn't unusual for kids to fight between themselves. I presume the other student was a demigod.

Male teacher: We should do something about that.

Principal Idarin: Yes, Minertha. And I agree with you, Coldos.

Professor Coldos: After these years you put into your studies, girl, you will get exposed for a fight?!

Professor Hale: Kaitlin is a 1st year student.

The teachers from the council start to speak between themselves. I only sit there, looking down at my feet and getting ready to be expelled. I don't know why they need to discuss it that long if it is obvious. I read through the rule book we received during Introduction class one night when I was bored. And mostly because Skylar was fawning over some dude and Solya was supporting her boyfriend delusions, which made me throw up almost so I needed a distraction. At first, I was trying to find something that would tell me how to leave the school or write a resignation letter, anything. I stumbled upon the rules which would take off our strike points, earning us an expulsion from the academy. The heaviest punishment from all of them, basically a No.1 way to get yourself kicked immediately is fighting with other students. The rules allow you to present your powers withing the school grounds, but perhibit usage with evil intentions or against other students. The only time you can use your powers on others is within selected zone during something called "Trials". Anyone who breaks this rule will aquire seven strikes which is the amount of mishaps we can do each year. I didn't want to fight that girl. My powers acted on their own only based on my thought to defend myself and now I have to leave this place because of that. Well, the only good thing I that gives me a little bit of satisfaction at least, is that means she will get expelled too. Even though one of the council members seemed to look proud that there is some powerful demigod student.

Professor Coldos: First-year and this is the outcome. It must have been the demigod student then.

Professor Minertha: Are you looking down on us magicians too? That is not a great role model for students.

Professor Coldos: I-...

Principal Idarin: There, there. Silence, please. As I said, this issue is not about the fight itself. Professor Hale, please explain.

Professor Hale: Like it was mentioned, Kaitlin is only a 1st year student. Soon after her admission she developed her telekinetic powers and thus was sorted into Ossilor house.

Professor Coldos: Telekinesis huh. And this damage. As I said, it was mostly the demigod student.

Professor Hale was getting impatient with the council members who seemed to be looking down on me so he asked Professor Coldos to retrospect what happened here. I didn't understand what that was supposed to mean. How could he tell us what happened when he wasn't even there. Then I hear my conversation with the demigod student. I look up to see what was going on and the whole situation played in front of us like a hologram. Like it was a movie playing in the air. Despite the genre of the movie, it was beautiful. The light in the room was dancing and turning into images of what happened. Unvoluntarily I reached out and wanted to touch those rays but I quickly pulled my arm back to my side. Everyone was watching it until the moment I destroyed the rocks and the room returned back to normal.

Professor Minertha: Interesting. Electricity too.

Professor Coldos: Tsk.

Principal Idarin: As you all saw, this is the issue we have to discuss here. Even though already sorted, young magician Kaitlin here showed another power. The blue electricity destroying the rocks puts her into Ossilor house again, but with a different manifestation.

Another teacher: Must have been a spell. She could have learned it from books. If she managed to get sorted in her first year, she could probably be able to do that.

Principal Idarin: Good point, Irasil. That's why, Minertha, could you please.

Professor Minertha stands up from the opposite couch on which the whole council was seated, adjusts her skirt on the dress and walks up to the hole in the wall which revealed a part of the corridor. She closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, and then opens her eyes again, but they glow with purple smoke swirls. She reaches into space with her arms. It looked like she wanted to catch something but then she stopped. Her eyes turned to her normal human green ones. The remaining council member, a slightly older male, dressed casually in a dark blue suit, his light brown hair turning into curls that shines with golden sparks from time to time, reminded me a little bit of my Spanish teacher from my high school. He fiinally spoke and joined the conversation even though it was not much.

Professor Irasil: Well?

Professor Minertha: I don't sense any spell leftover energy. She didn't use a spell. It was a Manifestation.

After Professor Minertha said that, the whole council started to talk and murmur between themselves. The discussion went on for another hour. It was against school rules to fight outside appointed areas or classes, so the punishment for that was expulsion. But since I apparently developed another power, making that two Manifestations, I am some sort of science bunny for them. At the end of the discussion, they let me go with four strikes, keeping me here so that they could study this abnormality. Two powers my ass. I can't control even the first one so why would I need this new one. Except for that punishment they didn't say much else to me and just let me go. Principal Idarin stayed with Professor Hale while the council left his office with me. We walked a certain path together but then we all separated and scattered throughough the academy. I returned to my room. The only thing I wanted right now is to go to sleep. But that wasn't so easy when the whole school heard what happened. I could feel the weird looks from the students on me again. Same as that day after the cafeteria incident. I didn't want to deal with that now so I sped up and basically almost sprinted through the whole building until I arrived to the dormitory. If everyone has already heard it, that must mean the girls heard it too. Talk about efficiency or information flow around here.

When I got to our dorm, all the girls were sitting in the common room. I never really had an opportunity to explore it that much and even though Young picked me after one of my classes to show me around, he only told me a brief layout of the place and that I can basically do whatever I want in the common room. Whatever but within reason. It was usually occupied and I didn't want to sit here alone with all the people just glaring at me. The room was relatively spacious. Bigger than any of our classrooms. It was painted in a dark green color that almost seemed black until the sun rays shined on it and you could see the emerald glow. The dark walls were connected with a wooden floor which had many different couches or armchairs placed on top of it, each sitting on an old carpet. The couches were made from black and brown leather, and were scarced randomly around the room. Next to some of them were tables with antique lamps that we could use for late night reading for which you didn't have to really go far, like the library, because the walls were mostly covered by bookshelves and filled fully. Not textbooks or ones for studying, but fiction, romance or whichever genre you wanted to read. I browsed them briefly when Young was showing me around and I laughed when I saw copies of Harry Potter or Twilight. But there were so many other copies of stories I never even heard of. The shelves concealed all the sides of the room fully, even the second floor of the common room was full of them, even though not as much and those green walls were peeping out at some places. Especially at the ceiling arches who started with lines of dark yellow and continued into the middle of the ceiling from which a huge crystal chandeliers with real candles were hanging down above the seating area. The second floor was holding on pillars covered in the same shade of green as the walls, decorated with bronze floral ornaments. The girls were sitting in the middle of the common room with worried expressions, waiting for me. The already got rid of their cloaks and were dressed in comfortable clothes. As soon as I entered, some of the students who were using the common room saw me and left. The sound of them shifting from the couches and walking went suddenly silent. I started making my way towards the girls when they all bolted up and ran to hug me, asking me if I am okay. I smiled at them, not wanting to worry them. I was going to talk to them in our dorm room but since the other students were so „nice" and vacated the common room for us, besides a few souls still wandering around the second floor or sitting in distant corners, I decided to stay here for a little bit and explain what happened. We calmed down a little bit and then returned to the circle of couches girls were using. Girls returned to their seating places and I made my way to the empty spot on the couch. When I walked to it, I noticed a glimpses of red shining threads in the air, but I decided to ignore it and talked to the girls.

Lucy: That is not fair. Leaving us because that "demidog" picked up a fight. I hate them.

Kisha: Yes. We will stand up for you so that you won't get expelled. It wasn't your fault. She even attacked a 1st year. You didn't have much power to fight her off.

Me: I actually did. Somehow I managed an Electricity manifestation. Also, I didn't get expelled. Only four strikes.

Chanti: I agree. It wasn't fair-... wait what?

They all looked at me confused. Then they started looking at each other and finally turned their faces back to me. Their bodies relaxed into more comfortable positions. Skylar and Solya who were sitting on my sides started hitting slightly on my back and my arms. The others then launched themselves from the other couches and jumped on me, hugging me so tight I had to gasp for air. They congratulated me for defeating a demigod, or well at least winning the fight. The rest of the night we stayed up talking about what happened. All the exhaustion was lifted up from me when I started talking with the girls. If I got nothing else good from this school, at least I met my amazing roommates. We were sitting in the common room for hours after I returned. All of the students went back to their rooms and the light slowly shifted from natural sunlight to the room being illuminated by the ancient old lamps which turned on by itself but only on the tables around our couch circle. I lost a track of time while talking to the girls, well, mostly Solya, Skylar and Kisha chatting about something while the others pinched into the conversation from time to time. I took of my cloak and placed it next to me. I got rid of my shoes so that I could lift my legs and tug them next to my body while I leaned into the couch. I nodded and laughed with the girls until we were interrupted by the chime of a soft bell. It came from this bronze jumbo sized clock on the back wall. My gaze fell upon it and I saw that it was already midnight. Crimen suggested we go back to our room and get some sleep since it's this late already and we all agreed.

We left the common room and hustled to our dorm room. I was dragging my feet and the cloak with my bag in my hand because a sudden exhaustion fell on me. The girls wished us a goodnight and separated from the group to go to their room. I followed Skylar and Solya to our room and then closed the door behind us. The two of them quickly hopped on their beds, still continuing the conversation while I dropped on my with a groan. I was going to just sleep like that with all of my stuff laying around my bed but the girls walked up to my bed, grabbed my limbs and tried to get me up so that I clean myself and change my clothes. I growled in a protest but then Skylar threatened to splash me with cold water if I didn't change into pyjamas and cleaned the crusty make up as Solya called it. And she was right, my foundation has already became patchy and smushed throughout the day, the fight totally didn't help it either. I gave in to their pouting and threats, and went to get ready for bed. After I was done, I left the bathroom and then went to change clothes. The girls were sitting on one bed, talking to each other and laughing, but I couldn't hear anything. Not that I didn't understand but nothing. The whole room was silent. I looked at them when Solya noticed me and waved at me, which made Skylar turn since she was sitting with her back towards me. Then suddenly I could see a red shining threads weave in the air and open up a hole. Then I could finally hear the girl's voices. I was surprised and interested in what just happened so I casually strolled towards my bed and sit on it while I asked them what those threads were. Solya explained it's a modified shielding spell combined with some sort of communication one. I heard about both of them. We practised the shield spell lately in our classes but they showed us at the start of the Casting class an easy beginner spell for communication. It was a rudimentary spell which allowed us to change the flow of communication through the space. We learned how to write a message on a piece of paper and then send it with a spell to a recepient. They said that there are higher levels to this spell but I didn't know how much different it could get. And apparently this was one of Solya's spells. Not learned in classes, but her's. She combined the shield with the higher level of communication and created a new spell, which allowed her to make a shield for words. If she needed to speak freely without anyone listening or she used it when I was still sleeping and didn't want to wake me up. I guess those threads I have seen in the common room must have been Solya creating the shield around us and maintaining it the whole time. I was so happy that they tried to protect me, I gave them both a soft smile and then thanked her. Solya said it was a no big deal and laughed it off. I was tired and wanted to go to bed so Solya offered to make the shield again while they talked with Skylar and let me sleep. At least until they decided to go to bed too. I crashed as soon as I covered myself with the blanket and fell asleep immediately. Suddenly it was morning and we had classes again. I woke up to the muffled sound of my alarm coming from my phone. I crawled on my bed to the side and with my dry half closed eyes I tried to find my phone that I left in my backpack to turn that noise off. I managed to stop the yapping of my phone alarm and then went back to sleep. I didn't want to go and attended classes since I knew that once again in my life, I will be the clown of the school. I knew it since the students were giving me weird looks yesterday already even the fight happened not that long before they heard about it. And I will be the black sheep of my class once again. But the girls persuaded me to go and finish the first-term beginner classes. I dressed up in a lazy outfit created from a checkered black and red shirt tugged inside my black skiny jeans. I didn't have time to wash my hair in a few days so I just put them in a ponytail and did a quick make up to not look like a zombie and went like they said. Walking through the school everyone stared at me. Everyone knew. And those who didn't, learned on the spot when they asked others what was going on. It felt like I was the main protagonist and this was my scene where I was the main attraction in the circus. Oh how I wished I had the light bending powers right now, to make myself invisible and quickly pass through my classes.

I attended classes normally every day. I thought it would quiet down after few days, like any other new toy that was the main course of the week at my old high school, but apparently, if something happens at the magical school, it is big. Not like a human school. Students here are very competitive and having great powers means a lot in the magical community. It gives you even more power, theoretically speaking. It shows the others that you are valuable asset or a person to keep as a friend rather than an enemy. And it opens up possibilities of higher positions in the companies created by magicians. So they envied my freaky uncontrollable powers and they wanted it. Or they wanted to get a duel with me and prove that they are better, which I learned after a few of the older students casually asked me in the middle of my walk to my next class. They didn't care that I barely knew anything about magic or spells and that I was loss for words to tell them as a reply. Luckily Kisha saw me and then interrupted the little group that started to form in the hallway and she whispered to me that I can reject the invitation for the duel, which I did.

The tests were closing in and everyone had to study. I mostly went to the library in my free time, reading through books, because no one wanted to help me. Every classmate from my year was suddenly scared of me or they at least didn't want to be associated with me. Even though some of them tried to ask for the duel, especially these three kids in my class. They were so full of themselves and tried to prove that they are better or stronger than me anyway since they came from prominent magical families and studied magic like it was their everyday food. Each time I sat down in the library, the students around me stood up and left. Well, if I didn't get expelled, I will definitely fail my classes and flunk out of the school. But my roommates saw me struggle and they offered to help me as much as they can between their studies. They recommended books to look at and also gave me their old notes so that I could copy them. Lucy also taught me a memory enhancement spell. It gave me an upper hand in my studies since it allows you to retain memories for a certain period of time or recall past apparently. I didn't want to use it at first and cheat on my tests, but Lucy said that the classrooms are spell protected and check anyway for certain cheating spells, or spell that could be considered cheating so I wouldn't be able to use it anyway. But it gave me time to retain the different incantations of spells to practise them, or keep the information I read in the library and when I had to return the book or leave the library, I could just go back to my room and write down the notes. Most of my tests were knowledge ones which were easier when I had my copied notes. I didn't have to perform any spells or my powers. It was like any other test in school, except we were studying the history of a magical world.

For some reason many people would like to see me fail and leave this school, which I overheard some of my classmates say when I was eating my lunch in the caffeteria. I never sat down to eat here again after that incident. I only bought my lunch or dinner and left when the whispers were unbearable. I would rather let them talk about me behind my back when I am not there. I didn't need to know what they were thinking about me, I didn't want to hear it. I don't know why. I haven't done anything for them to hate me this much. And if they are jealous of my powers, I would gladly swap with them anytime. They would probably have a better understanding and control over it anyway. I knew that Aveus is one of the best magical academies in the world. Even Kisha and Lucy moved here to attend the school instead of the academies in their countries. It must be some huge prestiege to graduate from here but to get competitive up to this level was utterly ridiculous. There was a weird fight for power that I didn't understand. I wasn't going to stuck my nose into something and probe around it like a nosy neighbor lady. I let it be, avoided people as much as I could and minded my own business, studying for the tests.

Their wish of me flunking didn't come true and I passed all of my classes. It wasn't the best score but I didn't care. After we finished all of our tests and passed History with Introduction, they gave us a week off and we were allowed to leave the school if we wanted to. I was planning on staying in my dorm room and just slack off the whole time, but the girls wanted me to go with them to see "the human world". I didn't understand why there were so happy about that. It was a normal world like any other, nothing special about it. It was even less interesting now since I discovered magic. But then they explained to me that most of their time, they have been in magical circles since they have been raised in magical families. Something mundane like going for coffee with friends, just chatting and doing nothing wasn't familiar to them. They usually attented events in the magical community, studied family spells and practiced magic since they were kids. Even though they attended schools with also non-magical people, those schools were still governed by the magicians and they had to attend some "extracurricular" classes where they were getting ready for their powers. I read about the magical biology in one of the books I borrowed when I finished studying for my tests and needed to kill some time. I didn't fully understand it but after girls talked about their lives, it became a little bit more clear. The powers and their manifestation is optional, it could always change for unknown reasons they assigned to gene mutations or whatever, but the family power usually follows a line. Meaning, that likely if there is a one Manifestation in the family, the children will aquire that power too. If there is a mixture of Manifestations with the parents, the kid will inherit one of them. I didn't know my parents at all but my powers must come from them. And the girls were interested in it too after I asked them about the gene heritage. .

Solya: Kaitlin, so you were raised by humans, right?

Chanti: Didn't your parents come from a magical family. Or they didn't develop powers?

Crimen: She must have been adopted. Don't you remember when we were taught that magical genes are passed on no matter what. Magicians have continual bloodlines.

Kisha: Hey!

Me: It's okay, Kisha. No, she is right, I don't know my real parents.

Lucy: That explains why you didn't know about your powers. What happened to them?

Me: I don't know. Apparently, I was found as a little girl in some alley during winter. They haven't found anybody near me. No deaths were reported nor were missing children that would look like me. They even guessed my age, so I don't really know who I am or how old I am.

Skylar: That is sad. But you've never wondered about them? Now that you have found out about magic, your parents definitely must be magicians. You can look for them.

Kisha: And we will help you. If you want.

Me: Thanks, girls. I haven't really thought about it. It doesn't really matter to me.

Solya: It is your choice. But they must be somewhere out there. And they must be really powerful.

Me: What do you mean?

Solya: Since you have developed powers this soon. Also, have a second Manifestation. It happens rarely. I don't know the numbers but it's not that common to have a gene mutation with a different Manifestation than your parents or have both of parental powers. That must be something they passed onto you. So I guess they are pretty damn powerful and amazing magicians.

Chanti: You think both of them are?

Solya: This much power, must be.

Me: Wait, is it not normal for both parents to be magicians?

Kisha: Not really. Most of the Magicians prefer to have magical spouses since it's easier to navigate their lives or to be open about it. Mundane people usually don't respond well when getting exposed to real magic. And you usually meet someone to date in the community anyway. That's why most students here are what some of them like to call each other „pureblooded". They are called Magicians. In general, they don't have any other name. They didn't want to be slapped with a nickname that would make them something „less". On the other hand, half-bloods are called Medeis. But it's not that common to have many of them here. Even demigods aren't called like that. The official name for god half-bloods is Demiers. But with gods it is a bit weird and complicated. They don't have something as purebloods between them. For some reason, after fully connecting to their god powers, they still decide have human partners and then raise the children alone. They made this distinction a few decades ago and it created a hidden hierarchy between the students. But that's not important. What Solya meant is that she thinks you are technically a pureblood, meaning both of your parents must be Magicians. Pretty strong ones.

Me: You really think so? It never occurred to me. But aren't we all called magicians? The magicians and Magicians, it is...so confusing.

Skylar: Don't worry, you will learn about it in a class.

I decided to live this moment to the fullest, with the new friends I have made. At least until I figure out if I should stay at the Aveus or not. Besides memorizing books or incantions I was completely useless in using my powers so all that studying is being waste on me. I was going to leave but with my powers turning into something this powerful, bigger than it was before, scared me a little bit, and before I grasp a control over it, I will keep looking for a way here. For now.

Looking at girls getting ready, packing their stuff, and being happy from things that seemed pretty normal to me, I have finally realized that I might have found a place to belong. The girls were hauled their suitcases across the floor from one room to the living room and then tossing clothes through the door. After a crazy amount of jeans, blouses and dresses flew to end up laying on the furniture and ground, the girls grouped up together to pack it all into their gigantic plastic suitcases. I was leaning against the door frame and mocked the girls if they were trying to elope or something with the amount of clothes they were packing for just a few days. They didn't say that much besides Skylar giving me a scowl and telling me that all of this was necessary. I held up my hands in defense in case she decides to launch herself at me and tickle me to death like she likes to do sometimes, and then chuckled when she stuck out her tongue at me and made a weird grimace. After half of their clothes were packed while the other half was still resting on the ground, they scavanged through the mess they made and tried to find a good attire for going out. The way they dress for classes I would say that mission is going to be impossible since nothing can't top those outfits. Somehow they managed to agree on a few outfits they picked and asked me if I think they look okay for the human world. Then they scattered through the whole dorm room and went to do their make up or hair. Esentially, I gave up to their whining, decided to join them as some sort of a guide in the „normal" world and starting packing few things too. I picked a few ordinary clothes that I bought throughout those years I started earning some money and neatly placed them folded on my bed. It was because I realized I don't posses any suitcase or a travel bag big enough to pack my stuff for a week. I was standing with my arms crossed in front of my chest and stared at the pile of clothes, thinking what I am going to do. Luckily, Lucy peeked into the room and wanted to check on my packing progress and saw me just standing there. After she asked what was I doing, I explained my situation to which she only nodded and then proceeded to yell across the whole dorm room at Crimen and bring a bag from their room. In a few minutes, Crimen joined Lucy who was standing in the door waiting for her and then took the bag she brought. It was a small duffel bag, but it was enough for me and my clothes. Lucy used it to move here and she said that she has no need for it anymore and that I can keep it. I thanked her and then quickly started to pack my stuff since the girls were finishing up in the living room and I didn't want them to wait for me.

Solya's father rented a place for us to stay in the town so we decided to spend the whole week in the city. Kisha went to ask for something called a permission slip for each of us and then distributed it to the whole group. It was a little yellowish envelope which contained a guide back to the school. We were meant to guard it close and open it only when we wished to get back. Even though it was really nothing big, I really enjoyed the thought of hanging out. I didn't have any friends before except Reilly. And now I have a whole bunch of them. I've never had a chance to do this with friends. It was a first long trip I would do in my life besides crashing at Reilly's place sometimes. I was looking forward to it but I was also a bit hesitant since I didn't know what people usually do during those sleepovers.

We dropped our stuff at the apartment, didn't even bother to check it out or choose rooms and the girls were already dragging me out to the town for shopping. As we were walking through the department store, I hear someone yell my name. It was weird because I quickly scanned our group and all of the girls were here so there was no reason for them to be yelling my name. Looking around, trying to locate whoever it is, I finally see Reilly in the distance. She runs to us and hugs me as soon as she catches up with us. I've never known I missed her this much. Even though we were basically at the same school, I haven't been able to see her that much lately. I had a ban on interacting with a demigod students after my fight the other day and even when I tried to explain that I knew Reilly for years and would never fight with her, they insisted and told me there will be no exceptions. We were still holding each other in an embrace until Chanti clears her throat which made me snap into reality.For a while, I forgot that my roommates were there with us. It has always been only me and Reilly.

Me: Oh, right. I am sorry girls. You haven't really met. This is my best friend I told you about, Reilly. Reilly, these are my Ossilor dorm roommates. Lucy. Solya, Chanti, my roommates. And this is Skylar, Kisha, and Crimen. They have the same Manifestation as me.

Reilly: Nice to meet you. Wait, what's a manifestation?

Me: Ah yeah. I forgot you are not a magician.

I explain to Reilly a few basic things I knew and learned at school. Reilly gave a proud smug and said that I look so natural talking about it, like I knew it from the beginning. At first, the girls weren't so talkative with Reilly. We sat down in a fast food corner and decided to take a break from all that crazy shopping. It was mostly who had to carry the conversation and ask Reilly about the time we couldn't meet with each other. The hatred between magicians and demigods was big. Even if they had nothing against each other, simply they weren't the best of friends when they met. When Reilly went to buy food, again, I persuaded them to give Reilly a chance and for her to stay with us this week. Eventually, they tried to do their best to open up to her and they became friends easily. Skylar and Solya pulled the whole conversation after Reilly came back. They launched their imaginary talons at her and probed her good. Asked her about her life, how we met, if there are any guys in her life and any of that girl friend talk stuff.

Chanti: So you don't mind Kaitlin being a magician?

Reilly: Not really. I knew she is from a magical world but I didn't really know what she was. I only found out after she came to the academy and she was on Aveus side.

She answered while munching on another burger she ordered for lunch. Girls realized that Reilly really didn't care about the differences, she wanted to remain friends despite me being a magician and the whole vacation went smoothly. We did some more shopping because the girls evaluated my closet situation as a disaster and that I was in an urgent need of rework. They were taking of clothes from racks like they were free and pushed me inside the changing room to try them on. I said that I don't have that much money and I was saving up but as a way to thank for me being their „guide" and that they will buy them for me. The insisted on buying it too. But everything the picked wasn't my style and I didn't want to buy clothes that would just end up at the bottom of my closet. The girls groaned but took it as a challenge to fight me the right style. We found a compromise on some of the clothes, some of them the girls managed to sneak in and buy them. I scolded them afterwards but they pretended that they didn't do it and that it was magic. We also browsed and bought some new cosmetics since I was in a need of a new foundation. And eyeliner, mascara, lipgloss... basically everything was running out. Outside all of that shopping spree, we enjoyed the town, went to the movies, ate at different places and at the last day I took the girls to my old job place. Unfortunately, the time flew fast, our trip ended quickly and we had to go back. We arrived late at night and everyone was too tired to unpack and get ready for school again. But wait. We ended two classes. What are we going to do anyway? The last class remaining is Casting I. And as soon as I thought this, a paper appeared and slowly swayed in the air from left to right until it landed on my desk. I am never really getting used to that. I sighed and groaned, then waddled from my bed to the desk to check what it says. I turn the card around and it's my timetable. I was the same as my previous one except for History and Introduction started to fade away, other classes shifted and new ones appeared. Something called Scriptology, Zoology, and Botany. I got the last two, they seemed pretty easy. Probably something like biology but what's a Scriptology? At that moment, Skylar walks behind me and mumbles something with a toothbrush in her mouth. I slightly turn around to ask her about that class. She took out her toothbrush and mumbled something again, but it was really hard to understand with all that toothpaste foam in her mouth. Solya saw us so she stood up from her bed and walked behind me. She peeked from behind my shoulder on what I was holding and then took the timetable from my hands. She studied it and then hands it back to me, wondering what it's about. Skylar murmurs something and we both look at her. She growls annoyed and she simply points at Scriptology written on the card. Solya nods with a little ooh noise and starts laughing. Skylar left to the bathroom to clean up and Solya began explaining in general what Scriptology is about and what should I expect during the class. It sounded pretty easy too, so I pin the card to the corkboard I hanged on the wall after I asked the girls told me how to request for a furniture and I received it pretty soon after. When Skylar stopped occupying the bathroom, I went to clean myself after her and quickly left so that Solya can do her whole precise skin care routine, and I go hug my bed.

Waking up wasn't easy after that week off but I somehow managed to walk down to the first floor and take all of my classes. Botany was pretty chill. They mostly explained what the class is going to be about. Same as Zoology. Like I thought. Basically biology but of magical species. Now the last class for today was Scriptology. I didn't know where to go so I looked around and see if I could ask anyone. I saw three of my classmates talking in the hallway, so I walked to them. I wanted to ask if they knew where we should go, but as soon as they saw me approaching them, they lowered their heads and left. I shrug it off and then search again. I saw a bunch of 1st years going somewhere so this time I decided to only follow them. And it was a good decision. They knew where the classroom is, so following them led me right to it. I enter the classroom with them and immediately sit down at the back desks. The classroom was smaller than the others, more cozier with a big fire place in the middle warming it up and it was filled with books. So many of books that it almost looked like a library rather than a classroom. It was a round space and it looked more like an office for scholars that they have turned into a place for studying just by addying single reddish brown desks with chairs for the students to sit down and listen during the lesson. There were also two old black boards standing on each side of the professor's desk. One had some weird hieroglyphs or pictures and arrows written on it in a circle while the other one has been washed recently since you could still see the smudges. Everyone else who was in the room either talked or looked at me and judged me with their eyes. I overheard a few of them saying stuff about me and then others joined them. They dragged chairs to sit in one group, some of them sat on the desks and they whispered things while they mantained their gaze on me. When the bell rang, they stood up, cleaned the chairs, went to their places and sat down. I was looking down at the pages of my notebook and not paying them any attention. The teacher must have came soon after because the chatter subdued and everyone became quiet suddenly. I drew doodles into my notebook so I didn't see who it was. Then the teacher greeted us and her voice sounded familiar. I look up and see that teacher is from the school council, Professor Minertha. My eyes were glued to her. She looked around the class and talked about the subject and then her eyes met mine. Her expression remained the same. She wasn't angry or annoyed with me. Instead, she continued to explain about the class.

Professor Minertha: For those who don't know me. My name is Professor Minertha. I am a magician and your teacher for this class. Many of you may be wondering what is hidden under the name Scriptology. Anyone knows? Well, let me ask you this then. When you go through your studies at this academy, your powers, energy, and spell will level up. Many different spells come from different cultures. Can somebody tell me what that means for those spells?

No one answered so I decided to try it and raised my hand to answer the Professor's question. She let me speak and I totally guessed the answer based on what the girls told me. She is from the council and they decided that I should stay at this school so I need to show them that I want to be here. That I belong here. Even if I doubt it sometimes. I was still decing about it, but the power growth is scaring me so I would rather be on their good side and let them control, block, move, transfer it or whatever to help me.

Me: That different spells can be written and said in different languages.

Professor Minertha: That is correct. Very good. And not only different languages. But we also have alphabets, ciphers, ancient texts. All of this you will learn here. Now. For the first lesson, you have a free choice to pick one of the books in the library. The librarian will help you to pick language books suitable for this class. Take them, bring them with you to your next class. Those who can translate or decipher a small part from the book will earn points for this class. Now, today, you may leave early.

Everyone stood up and packed their stuff. I did the same and as I was leaving, I thought the Professor will stop and talk to me, maybe more about the fight. But she didn't. I turned around to watch her, but she sat at her desk and was writing something down. That was okay with me. I knew I was being watched, but I wouldn't even know what to say if they ask me about my powers so if they are not going to talk to me, I was only glad. I leave the classroom then and go to the library to search for a book as my Scriptology homework. Everyone had help from the librarians or older students. I was just walking and browsing different books. At least until somebody asked if I need any help. I turn around to see a lady dressed in a grey suit. She had blonde curly hair pinned to a bun, few of her curls falling out on the sides of her face and her silver butterfly glasses. It was one of the librarians. I told her about our assignment and she chuckled. Then she left. I stare at her, not moving at all. She realized I am not following her so she spinned her thin torso around and waved at me, wanting me to go with her. I snap back, shake my head and follow her. She led me into a book section where some of my classmates already were. They were picking out their books, discussing which language should they choose. As they saw me, they stopped talking. They only gulped or cleared their throats and continued to browse through the books again. They were still watching from the corner of the eye and I was aware of their attention on me. I walk through the narrow section, trying not to get too close to them and read all titles of the books there. Nothing seemed interesting though. Most of those languages were those known to normal people too. The books mostly differ in their content. There were books like Brazilian Ledish cipher, Nurdish alphabet. This cipher and that cipher. Different languages and ciphers. My fingers trailed the bindings of books until I walked to the end of the section. My back was turned to the classmates. They checked what I was doing, then quickly took some books adn left the section with a whiper about something. I gave them one look and then returned to browsing the section. It was full of old eerie-looking books. Most of them had weird names. I read them all but then I hear some students near my section whisper something behind me. I turn around to see what it was about, but as soon as I did, they packed their belongings and left the table or those who were standing near the shelves of the section quickly ran away. I shrugged and turn back to pick a book. As I read all of the nonsense titles, one book peaked my interest. I take it out and look at the cover.

Ulferonn?

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A/N - content notes

• Kaitlin's new class schedule:

• School council - members of the faculty on both sides representing the school, each side has it's own council. The members in this chapter are from Aveus council:

Principal Idarin, Professor Minertha and Professor Irasil as Magicians; Professor Coldos as a demigod.