Cascade looked at me her eyes wide.

"Where did you hear that name"?

"He's in Ms. Lyn's class, remember, of course she said something".

"So you do know her"? I asked, almost afraid of her answer.

"Yeah, she was my best friend. We were supposed to meet in the library". She turned to Myscheif.  "You're sure we can trust him"?

"Yeah, he's alright you can tell him".

I shivered, there was definitely something weird going on in this school.

Cascade turned to look at me again. "What I am about to say can not leave this group, understood"?

I nodded, surprised by this side of her.

"Good". She took a deep breath, her deep blue orbs looking into what felt like my very soul.

"It all started around the beginning of the school year. Everything seemed so normal, then Bramble disappeared. We found nothing no clues anywhere. We looked everywhere for him even the forest, b-but it was just so foggy we could barely see anything".

As Cascade continued her shoulders started shaking. "Then a few weeks later Maple vanished. The same circumstances, everything, there one day gone the next".

I reached out a hand placing it gently on her shoulder and looking deep into her eyes . She met my gaze almost on the brink of tears.

"You don't have to talk about this, it's okay I get the picture".

"No, it's fine, I'm fine. After Maple vanished a lot of people got scared, more than half the students left going back to their homes".

"Why didn't you"? I interjected.

She looked away from me, "it's complicated, but we all have our reasons for staying.

Anyway, after that, a few months went by without any more disappearances and things started to feel relatively normal again". She looked me in the eye. "Then you got here and Acorn disappeared. The only difference is I know why she was taken".

I looked at Cascade, her eyes shone fierce with determination. If looks could kill the whole cafeteria would have been dead.

"Her and I, we were looking into these disappearances. She was close, I know she was, that was why we were meeting in the library, but then she didn't show, and I had no idea what happened. Then this morning I found out she was missing". She trailed off going almost limp.

"Maybe if I had gone to look for her Acorn would be sitting here. I-i just thought that someone saw her sneak out. I'm so stupid! What kind of idiot just leaves their friend when something like this is happening"!

"Cascade"! I stopped her. "You're a good friend, I may not know you that well yet but I can tell you really care about your friends. This isn't your fault. Trust me I know a thing or two about blaming yourself. We will find Acorn. If there's some kind of clue she found then I'm sure we can find it too".

She looked away from me again.

"I can't ask you to do that it's dangerous, besides like you said you barely know me, Myscheif and I would be better off looking into this ourselves, without putting anyone else in danger".

With that Cascade stood, and a moment later the bell rang calling us back to class.

"She's right you know". Myscheif said placing his hand on my shoulder. "You didn't even know any of the people who are missing".

"Why should that matter, I'm here aren't I? Why shouldn't I do my best to help"?

Myscheif smiled lopsidedly at me. "You're a good person Ember, Cascade just doesn't want to see anyone else get hurt. You should get back to class now. If you want we can talk a bit more later as long as you're not too tired from your first day".

"Thanks, see ya later". I waved a hand walking back down the hall in approximately the right direction, next up I had a class on magical creatures with someone called Profesor Thistle.

My mind wandered as I walked, wondering far away deep into the unknown clouds. There were so many questions I still had, many that I had a feeling would be left unanswered.

I thought about the bus driver who seemed to have been possessed by some spirit wanting free. Was it really just a coincidence that that happened just before Acorn went missing, and just when I arrived?

I was pulled out of my thoughts when I finally found the classroom. It was number 634. I poked my head in. There were even fewer students here.

I guess Cascade was right a lot of students had gone home. Every story I had ever heard about Woodbrook Academy was of a school bustling with life, but that was far from its current state.

All over the walls hung posters of magical creatures, dragons anywhere from Jade's size or a bit smaller all the way up to full-sized adults close to ten feet tall.

In one corner I even saw an image of a Kelpie, the rare but dangerous water horse that lurked in rivers lakes and even shallower parts of the ocean.

I found a seat under a particularly fierce-looking golden dragon, smoke billowing from its nostrils.

The Professor walked in a moment later. He was tall not as tall as Myscheif, but maybe a few inches taller than myself.

He faced the class glowering at us, his crimson brown eyes harshly examining the room.

" I hear we have a new student just joining us, raise your hand so we got on with class, please".

His voice was gruff, and he sounded almost bored.

Slowly I raised my hand.

"And your name is?"

"Ember Sir."

"Good, now that that is over with let's begin, shall we? You can call me Professor Thistle by the way young man, got it."

I nodded.

"Good."

The professor may have come off as rough around the edges but as the lesson went on his true colors shone through. He spoke with a passion the likes of which I had never experienced from a teacher.

I was mesmerized, as he began talking over Unicorns and their importance in history.

I left the classroom, not only with a heap ton of homework but also a feeling of true respect for Professor Thistle.

The rest of the day flew by, class after class, teacher after teacher.

I didn't share any classes with Cascade or Myscheif. There was so much I wanted to ask them. But then again it would probably be better to actually pay attention in class.

I really did want to do well here. I wanted to make my parents proud to call me their son, and I really wanted to get this cursed power of mine back under my control.

Later I found myself wandering the halls once again heading back in the direction of the cafeteria. My stomach growled at just the thought.

I rounded a corner and finally, I saw the doors, waiting on the other side hopefully the answers I was seeking.

I pushed open the door stepping into the much brighter room. It smelled of food, and good food at that.

I followed the scent over to the far wall, it was set up in a kind of serve it yourself kind of way, almost like a buffet.

The meat of the day seemed to be ham, I scooped out a few slices making sure to grab extra for Jade. Then I checked the vegetable choices, deciding on some roasted broccoli that smelled almost as good as my father's.

With that, I looked around the room searching for Myscheif and Cascade. Eventually, I spotted Cascade's shoulder-length creamy locks.

I headed over to the table plopping into one of the seats.

"Hi," I said casually.

Cascade looked up from her plate of food. Myscheif's not here if you're looking for him."

"Okay? Why should that matter, I see you as my friend just as much as Myscheif."

"Why, it's not like we've even really talked other than at lunch."

We're talking now..."

She let out a small laugh. You've got me there, so what are you doing over here?"

I rubbed my hand through my hair. "While the thing is I know literally almost no one in this school, and I really just wanted to sit by a familiar face. Please don't make me leave?"

She smiled, "fine, when you put it like that I suppose you can stay."

I smiled in thanks and started eating

We just sat there almost completely silent. I didn't know what to say. What do you say to someone who's best friend just went missing?

I never saw Myscheif the whole time I sat in the cafeteria, and eventually stood and said goodbye heading back up to room 113.

Immediately as I entered the room Jade came running over, sniffing my hand and trying to nuzzle the ham out of my hand. I opened my palm letting her take the slices into her hungry maw.

She licked her lips looking up at me, her big green eyes filled with curiosity.

"Did you miss me?" I asked to no response but a low grumble.

I laughed, it felt good to laugh.

I opened my bag grabbing the not so small pile of homework, slipped my shoes off and sat criss-cross on the bed.

I looked over everything. I would admit I had always been a bit of a nerd, and I was truly excited to learn about all of these fascinating subjects.

Outside the sun was slowly slipping lower and lower into the sky, without a thought I waved my hand vaguely at a candle on the bedside table. Immediately a fire jumped to the wick with a whoosh.

I jumped realizing what I had done, frantically I looked around for something other than the candle on fire. I saw nothing, it was odd. True I hadn't used much magic since arriving at Woodbrook Academy, but what magic I had used had gone perfectly, the complete opposite of when I was at home.

I turned my attention back towards my work, most of which I had to turn in tomorrow.

I yawned as I signed my name onto the last page of my homework. It was getting late and still no Myscheif. I had several questions I wanted to ask him but I also believed in getting at least eight hours of sleep and I had to be up at seven.

Sighing I waved my hand letting the candle flicker and snuff itself out. Jade curled herself around my head snoring as ever. A cool autumn breeze blew through the open window. It was comforting somehow, I had always loved fall and now that I was a teenager something about the smell of fall felt soothing. It was simply something I couldn't explain.

I let my head drift down to the pillow, calming my mind and letting the cold feeling of sleep finally overcome my tired body.

A/n

Well, at least it didn't take a month.

Anyway, I feel like a lot of questions got answered in this chapter, but also that some new ones popped up. What do you guys think, I love hearing your thoughts.

Can you tell I've really been working on punctuation?

And as always if you enjoyed it I would really appreciate a vote or comment, they help to get stories noticed so I'd really appreciate it.

Have a good day/night, and a happy holidays regardless of what you celebrate, not sure if I will post a new chapter before 2020 life gets hectic around this time of year since I have a big family. Bye, and thanks for reading!