Rin and Eddie were drenched in sweat. They heaved it step by step up the winding staircase, each pull echoing like thunder in the quiet dorm tower.

  “Wh-what did you… pack in this thing!?” Eddie groaned, face red, legs wobbling like they might snap in half.

  “I-I don’t know!!!” Rin yelped, nearly slipping as the bag lurched forward and dragged her down two steps.

  “What!?” Eddie’s voice cracked in disbelief. “You don’t even know!?” He clenched his teeth and took another step.

  Every three or four steps, they collapsed against the railing, panting like they’d just climbed a mountain. Then they’d try again, dragging, bumping, scraping the bag up as though it had tripled in size with every floor.

  Finally—finally—they stumbled onto the eleventh floor of the South House dorms. Eddie collapsed face-first in the foyer, arms splayed out like a chalk outline. Rin hunched over, clutching her knees, gasping like a fish out of water.

  “Ho-how do you not know what’s in it?” Eddie wheezed, glaring at the bag.

  “Uncle Remmy packed it… he even… enchanted it, I think?” Rin said between breaths, pointing weakly at the innocent-looking straps.

  Eddie cracked one eye open. “Uncle? I thought you said you didn’t have a family.”

  “Huh? No, I don’t! That’s just what he wanted me to call him.”

  Eddie’s other eye opened. Some guy asked her to call him “uncle”? Yeah, that’s not concerning at all. I better stay close, just in case.

  With a heroic groan, Eddie sprang back to his feet, brushing dust off his sweater like he hadn’t just almost died. “Well, anyway! We made it to your floor! What’s your room number?”

  Rin nodded weakly, then smiled through her exhaustion. “I think… I was assigned to room 115?”

  Eddie froze, then smirked. “Oh! Room 115. The dead-last room at the end of the hall. Perfect. Just perfect.” He threw his arms up with mock enthusiasm. “Yippie! What are we waiting for—oxygen? Let’s get you to your room!”

  Rin giggled at his tone, which only made Eddie facepalm so hard it echoed down the corridor.

  But eventually, they made it to her room—the highest and furthest girls’ dorm in the South House. The air was still and dusty, every mote drifting like it had been waiting years for someone to stir the space alive. Two beds stood in opposite corners, their frames plain, their blankets thin, as though they had never been used.

  Against the wall, a spiral staircase twisted upward, its iron railing crooked with age, leading to a narrow sub-floor loft that looked ready to collapse under the weight of a single child. The landing itself resembled a tiny turret chamber, crowned with a wide window that opened to the world beyond. From here, Rin could see the courtyard sprawling below, the edges of the dark forest, and—rising tallest of all—the central Academy building, its spires cutting into the sky.

  The high ceiling gave the room an illusion of grandeur, stretching the space taller than it was wide, and from its center hung a single lantern that swayed faintly, its glow soft but lonely. Other than a single nightstand by the left bed and a walk-in closet carved into the right wall, the room was barren, echoing with the kind of silence that felt older than either of them.

  “Well… glad this isn’t my room!”

  “Aw, it isn’t so bad! Look how pretty it is! Though… I don’t know what I’ll do with the second bed…” Rin tilted her head as she studied it.

  “That’s… that’s for your roommate, Rin,” Eddie said flatly.

  “Roommate?”

  “Yeah? Like, whoever’s going to share this room with you?”

  “It won’t be you?”

  “N-No!!!” Eddie sputtered, flustered before breaking into laughter.

  “Some girl!”

  “Ohh!” Rin said, eyes widening as she realized she’d have a mysterious partner to share her space with.

  “Come on! Let’s help you unpack! I want to see what on earth that uncle guy stuffed in here to make it THAT heavy,” Eddie said as he eagerly unzipped the massive bag.

  Rin joined him at his side, standing over as he rifled inside.

  “Wh-What?!” Eddie exclaimed. He shoved his arm in up to the shoulder, but the bag was empty. Completely swollen and heavy, yet empty.

  He didn’t hesitate—he crawled in. Rin blinked, confused, leaning closer until Eddie’s head popped back out of the opening, making her jump.

  “Th-there’s nothing in here! How could that be? I swear we just lugged this thing up here like we slayed a Grimtar!”

  “I-I don’t know!” Rin squeaked, yanking him out by his arm.

  The moment he was free, the bag gave a violent lurch. A bolt of energy cracked past Rin’s ear, scattering her hair. She shrieked and ducked as Eddie grabbed her and pulled her to the floor.

  Then it began.

  The bag erupted like a cannon. A polished oak dressing cabinet shot out, crashing neatly onto the wall as if the room had been waiting for it. Its drawers snapped open one by one—underwear, summer shirts, winter shirts, bottoms of every season—each folded, color-coded, and shimmering with Rue’s delicate touch.

  Next came a medium-sized box, cardboard yet glimmering as if brushed with luxury. It landed softly, undid its own tape, and blossomed open to reveal extravagant chocolates wrapped in foil and tins of spiced nuts—some sweet and salty, others sharp with spice or tartness. A loaf of freshly baked bread emerged too, still steaming as though it had just left the oven. Rin immediately recognized the wrapping: the same bakery from the streets of Paris, the one with the living bread-dog prancing in its window. Nestled at the bottom lay a thick cookbook. A tag dangled from the cover in Benneth’s sharp script: “To Rin.”

  Then, a small fridge shot out, landing neatly beside Rin’s dressing cabinet. It slid itself into place, plugged into the wall, and hummed to life. The door swung open, showing it stuffed to the brim with juices, sparkling drinks, and piles of fruits and vegetables before closing with a gentle hiss.

  Then came a stray board and a set of raw hinges. They flung themselves over Rin’s bed, fastening together in midair until they folded into a study table that could be drawn forward for her to use while sitting in bed.

  Lastly, a cluster of smaller boxes tumbled free, each one matching the rich wooden look of the earlier chest. They opened midair, sorting their contents like a troupe of enchanted servants. School supplies—pens, pencils, notebooks—slid neatly into a storage container that set itself atop the dresser. Her wand, still resting in its case, took its place beside them. Toiletries followed, stacking themselves in a neat row: an electric toothbrush, toothpaste, and an array of organic soaps, body wash, shampoo, and conditioner, all settling gently above the dresser as though the space had been waiting for them.

  Rin’s mouth fell open. She clutched Eddie’s sleeve like she might float away.

  “Th-this… this is all for me…?”

  Eddie stood slack-shouldered, jaw dangling as he whispered, dead serious:

  “…Can I have your uncle?”

  #

  The next morning, Rin woke in her thin bed, the sky still dim. The sun wasn’t even halfway above the horizon, but her excitement wouldn’t let her sleep any longer. She glanced at the other bed—it was still untouched, exactly as it had been the night before.

  She hopped up, snatched her toothbrush, and padded down the hall to the floor’s bathroom. It was already lively: some girls were dressed and laughing in little groups, while others were half-asleep, still working themselves awake. Rin found her assigned shower stall—Slot 167. She didn’t need it yet, but she tucked the number into memory.

  After brushing her teeth, she darted back to her room. She picked out clothes from the dresser that had spilled out of her enchanted bag the night before. Another gift had appeared in the night too: a mirror, a hairbrush, and a coat rack, all now settled neatly into the room. She gave her reflection one last check before grabbing her wand box and pencil case—just like Eddie had told her to.

  Then she was off again, running down flight after flight until she reached the central gathering hall of the South House. There was Eddie, waiting with a box under his arm. Rin practically skipped to his side.

  “Eddie!” she called, her voice bubbling with glee.

  He smiled back. “Ready for the first class?”

  “Yeah! Wand Works and Mechanics, right?”

  Eddie gave a sharp nod. “Yup. I want to get started as soon as possible. I want to use magic right now!”

  “But… I thought you already—” Rin started, but Eddie’s hand was suddenly over her mouth.

  “No, no. You must be mistaken. I have no idea what you’re on about.” His chuckle was sheepish, but his eyes shot her a quick warning glare. “I just want to use magic asap, that’s all.”

  Rin remembered her promise, her heart lurching. She nodded quickly, then whispered, “Sorry.”

  Eddie let out a long sigh, then turned toward the doors. “Come on. Let’s go.”

  Before long they were following House Master Vanessa, whose slow, elegant stride made the “walk to class” feel more like a parade through the Academy’s grand corridors. Eddie and Rin trailed behind, a half-step out of sync with the rest of the group.

  Eddie dragged his feet on purpose, hands stuffed into his pockets, trying to carve space between himself and the others. Rin, meanwhile, hovered a little too close to his shoulder—like a small bird unsure if it should perch or not.

  “You don’t have to… you know… follow me everywhere,” Eddie muttered without looking at her.

  “Oh! Sorry!” Rin gasped, backing up two steps. Then she panicked, darted forward again, and nearly tripped on his heel. “Wait—no—I didn’t mean to—”

  Eddie groaned. “You know, Rin? You’re nice and all, but you should try to do things yourself too, alright? You’re like a lost puppy right now.”

  “I am not!” Rin whispered back, puffing her cheeks. “I’m… just walking!”

  “Uh-huh. Behind me. Breathing on my neck.”

  Rin instantly covered her mouth with both hands and tried to breathe through her nose instead. The noise was even worse. Eddie pinched the bridge of his nose.

  “Why me,” he muttered.

  “Because…” Rin thought for a second, eyes darting around. “You’re nice?”

  That made Eddie snort. “Yeah. Ask around. That’s what people say about me. Eddie the Nice.”

  His sarcasm flew right over her head. Rin leaned forward and whispered to the boy in front of them, “Is Eddie really called ‘The Nice’?”

  The boy barked a laugh through his nose, then turned back to his friends without a word.

  From up ahead, House Master Vanessa—figurehead of the South House—let her clear voice echo through the horde of children, rattling off the rules for their first class. But Rin and Eddie heard none of it. They were already marked as different: two strays lingering at the back of the line, clinging to each other against the tide.

  “Alright, children! You have your schedules. Find your classrooms and remember—your demerits affect more than just your Houses. So stay on your best behavior and don’t earn any! They affect me as well.” Vanessa’s voice cut stern and sharp as she squinted at the line of kids. With a flick of her hand, the march dissolved; the students were free to scatter toward their first classes.

  “What room are you in, Rin?” Eddie asked, glancing at the slip of paper in his hand.

  Rin unfolded her own. Wand Works and Mechanics. Room 107.

  “Oh! Would you look at that? We’ve got this one together too. Actually… wait a sec—” He plucked her schedule right out of her hands, holding it closer. “Huh. Looks like we’ve got almost everything together. Except for… Cosmicology and Magical Biology.”

  “Oh…” Rin’s voice dipped, a flicker of worry crossing her face. Would this constant coincidence just annoy him?

  But Eddie only sighed and handed the paper back.

  “Oh well. Let’s go.”

  Rin nodded and eagerly followed Eddie into a towering three-story building. The hallways were alive with noise, kids their age spilling through the corridors with their freshly packaged wands in hand. None had been used yet—except Eddie’s.

  “So… is everyone from the feast going to be here?” Rin asked, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes darting as if she didn’t want to see the answer.

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  “Pretty much. Yeah. Why? What’s wrong?”

  “N-Nothing…” She quickened her steps, inching closer to Eddie’s side.

  Then it came—a laugh. Loud, confident, unmistakable. Her heart sank and leapt all at once.

  “Ah, Room 107,” Eddie said, looking up at the massive door ahead. “Here we are, Rin.”

  But Rin wasn’t at his side. When he turned, she was gone.

  She was already drifting, drawn toward the sound. Like a moth chasing flame. Like a starving girl chasing the smell of bread. Her fingers twisted together—a nervous tic born that night in the desert—as she slipped past clusters of students.

  And then she saw him.

  “D-Drenco…” The name slipped from her lips.

  He heard her. Even through the chatter and laughter, he turned. His friends glanced between them, startled, but Drenco’s eyes—soft, impossibly soft—landed on hers. The same eyes she had trusted. The same eyes that had once promised safety.

  Her lips trembled into a fragile smile as she lifted her hand, reaching for him.

  “…Rin?” he said. Softly. Almost tender.

  Her heart leapt. This was it. He still cared—

  “Wh-What the heck! What do you think you’re doing! Get your disgusting grubs away from me!”

  His voice cracked like a whip, and his expression twisted, voided of warmth. The softness vanished, replaced by fury and disgust.

  Rin froze, her hand still hanging in the air like it didn’t know what to do anymore. The hope inside her cracked, leaving only the echo of his anger to fill the space where her trust had been.

  “I-I—”

  “Enough!” Drenco cut her off, his voice booming. “Can’t you see your very existence taints me!? Disgusting. Vile. Creature!”

  Rin flinched, stumbling a step back. A crowd had gathered now, circling them. Dozens of eyes bored into her. Her cheeks burned hot, glowing red with shame.

  “You think I wouldn’t find out?” Drenco’s words lashed like a whip. “That you could hide your sins, keep them buried, and no one would ever judge you for it?”

  “Dr-Drenco?” Rin’s voice cracked. “Wh-what are you talking about?”

  “I. SAID. ENOUGH!” Each word fell like a hammer, his heavy steps echoing through the hall until he loomed just a pace away. He jabbed a finger into her chest—sharp, merciless—every thrust an accusation meant to pierce her soul.

  “…Yeah. That’s it. That look in your eyes.” His voice dropped low, poisonous. “The same stupid look you had the first day I saw you. Mistakes are made to be learned from.” His lips curled, eyes widening with pure hatred. “And I’ll never make the mistake of letting you near me again.”

  Rin shrank back, her tears spilling over, the weight of his rejection crashing down harder than the stares of every child watching.

  Whispers rippled through the crowd like ripples across still water.

  “Is that the girl without a last name?”

  “No family? How’d she even get in here?”

  “Has this school fallen so low—just letting anyone through the gates?”

  “What was the point of even getting the recommendations or the exams if they let someone like her in!”

  The muttering pressed against Rin’s ears until it no longer sounded like whispers at all. It grew louder—shouts now. Then cruel laughter. Then fists.

  She clutched her head in both hands, nails biting her scalp, trembling so hard her knees nearly buckled.

  “St-stop it…” Her voice cracked into the floor.

  “That’s right,” Drenco’s voice cut like a knife through the noise only she could hear. “You filthy, no-name loser. You don’t belong in our world. You don’t belong in any world.”

  The words rang louder than any spell. Louder than the hall itself.

  “Stop it!” she screamed, tears stinging her eyes.

  But Drenco only smirked, turned his back, and walked away—leaving Rin stranded in her own storm.

  It was over now.

  Drenco knew.

  Everyone knew.

  The whole school knew.

  Worse of all, she had failed—failed Benneth, failed Vix. The secret was out, and the weight of its repercussions pressed down on her like a storm she couldn’t see coming. She wanted to run. Hide. Vanish. Back to her desert. Back to the place she should’ve cooked alive.

  That would’ve mattered less.

  That would’ve been more for her.

  Her peace.

  Untouched.

  No push to act on.

  Safety in the dark.

  But then—

  “Belong in this, you orange-haired freak!” a voice shouted behind her ear.

  Rin whipped her head around, a few tears flicking from her tear streaked cheeks.

  Eddie had stepped past her. He stood planted in front of her, arms stretched wide.

  “It’s you!” Drenco snarled, his eye twitching.

  “Yeah, it’s me!” Eddie snapped back. “Now get lost before I have to humiliate you again!”

  “You never humiliated me! Only yourself! Band of losers, the both of you!” Drenco spat before turning sharply. His cronies cracked their knuckles, then trailed after him.

  The bell rang.

  “Come on, Rin. It’s time for class.” Eddie’s voice had softened. He reached out casually and took her hand.

  Rin sniffled and let him drag her along, her steps uneven but steady enough to follow.

  #

  Inside the classroom, Rin quietly sat next to Eddie at the far back. To her right, the desk was empty. No one sat beside her. It seemed any chance of being a “normal girl,” like Benneth wanted for her, had already slipped away. Even the desk to Eddie’s left was empty—no one wanted to sit near them.

  She let out a shuddering sigh. Her heart felt physically strained from the morning’s ordeal. Tears still welled up no matter how often she wiped her cheeks.

  Finally, the professor entered.

  “Good morning, class! I am Instructor Signum. I know, I know, you are all so excited to vield your vands, ja? But first—you must pass today’s exam to even proceed to your next class. Do not vorry! None of you vill fail. All vill pass. No one has ever failed mein class."

  Rin sniffled and tilted her head.

  There was an exam? On the first day? In the first class? Already?

  “Now zen, let us begin. All of you—ahh, vait, mein mistake. It seems I am excited too. Ja?" He gave a sniff, then flicked his wrist. A clipboard appeared and hovered midair. He turned back toward the glowing screen on his podium, muttering to himself as he adjusted his glasses.

  “He has a funny accent, doesn’t he, Rin?” Eddie whispered, leaning close.

  “I-I don’t know…”

  “It’s German! Like me!”

  “You don’t sound like that?”

  “No!” Eddie laughed. “I’m part German—same country as him!”

  “Oh… I thought there was only… Paris. And New York…”

  Eddie blinked. “We need to have a serious talk after school.”

  Rin nodded quickly.

  Then the roll call began. Rin tuned it out for the most part, her thoughts drifting back to the ballroom, to Drenco’s words, to the whispers that still clung to her.

  “Edward Trofen?”

  “Here!” Eddie shot his hand up sharply.

  “Furgus Tekkex?”

  “Here!” another boy responded.

  “Samuel Saunders… Litiva Sonias… Chi—ahh, never mind! She has sent ze notice. Absent today."

  The instructor crossed out a name. “…Okay, let us see here… is it—ahh, ‘Rin’, ja?”

  “H-here,” Rin said, her hand shaking as she raised it.

  The instructor blinked. Squinted down at his clipboard, then back up at her.

  “Sehr gut. All of you are in attendance. Zat is ! Now, let us begin ze class!”

  Rin exhaled slowly. If every teacher reacted like this—confused but casual—she’d be lucky. But deep down, she knew better.

  “Now, take your vand parcels and place zem to ze left of you, on ze table. Leave space for ze lid! You vill place ze lids on ze left of your boxes. I do not care vich hand is dominant, nein! Both vill do!” Signum snapped, already answering the questions forming on a few students’ faces.

  Hands lowered quickly as the children scrambled to obey. Rin simply mirrored Eddie’s movements, careful not to fall behind.

  “Good. Now, open your lids und place zem neatly to ze left of ze vand parcels." Signum continued.

  The students followed his orders to a tee—except Rin. She hesitated, blinking as she slowly removed her lid. Memories of the wand shop and her chaotic selection process came flooding back. When she finally set her lid aside, her eyes flicked to Eddie’s box. The wand inside wasn’t the one he had used atop the stairs to save her. This one was darker, thicker, and altogether different.

  “Now, lift your vands—use vichever hand is dominant—und place zem to ze far right of your tables.”

  The entire room moved in unison. A small forest of wands rested neatly on the polished wood.

  “Allow me to explain zis part,” Signum said, his tone softening just enough to hold the children’s attention. “Vands are more zan mere tools of magic. Zey are not gears to spells, as many suggest. Rather, zey are bridges—bridges zat connect your mana pools to your vill. Simply put, ven you hold a vand, your vill becomes reality.”

  The class leaned forward, their curiosity pulling them deeper into his words. For many of them, it was the first true glimpse into the philosophy of magic.

  “Grip your vands. Squeeze zem. But never, never twirl zem!” Signum barked, his sharp eyes cutting across the room. “Never disrespect vhat aids you in life. You vould never bite ze hand zat feeds you, ja? Ze same is true here.”

  The children raised their wands, each pair of hands careful—though not out of reverence. It was fear. Fear of ticking off the professor who prowled before them like a hawk ready to strike.

  “Gut. Now, pay close attention. Ze link between your mana pools und your vands vas forged during ze selection process. But before you can learn spells—before you so much as vhisper a curse, a hex, a jinx, or craft your first domain—you must prove vone thing.”

  He raised his wand and leveled it toward his own lid.

  “You must emit your vill into ze vorld around you. Your vand is ze bridge. Vithout it, you are nothing more zan thought. Vith it—your thought becomes reality. Do not think. Do not fall into ze mistake of relying only on your mind. Feel. Use your heart in tandem vith it. Direct your vill into your vand.”

  His voice thundered against the high ceilings.

  “Now—lift ze lids before you. Point your vands at zem. Feel. Lift ze lids vith your emittance, und cover your boxes once more.”

  Everyone got to work. The professor gave them time, pacing the aisles with his sharp eyes as lids trembled and shifted in fits of effort.

  Rin peeked at Eddie. With a casual flick, his lid floated up and slid back over his box with steady precision. It looked almost natural—like his wand wasn’t channeling magic at all, but his own hands were doing the lifting.

  “H-How did you just do that…?” Rin whispered, her voice small. Her tears had dried, but her cheeks still burned, hot from memory.

  Eddie shrugged, not looking at her. “It’s like he said. I just… picture it. Like invisible hands coming out of the wand and moving the lid. That’s all.”

  Invisible hands. Simple enough.

  Rin swallowed and raised her wand toward the lid on her desk. She closed her eyes, tried to imagine hands forming, reaching—

  But all she saw was Drenco’s face. His sneer. The way his finger jabbed her chest. The whispers. The laughter that hadn’t been real but felt real enough to bruise her ribs.

  Her wand twitched in her grip. Nothing happened.

  She tried again. Harder this time. But her heart thumped too loudly, her thoughts too loud, drowning out any chance of “feeling.” She couldn’t find her will. She couldn’t even find herself.

  The lid on her desk didn’t so much as shiver.

  Her eyebrows furrowed in frustration. Could it be true? That she didn’t belong in this world?

  She tried again, gripping her wand until her knuckles turned white, a high-pitched groan slipping from her throat.

  Still nothing.

  “Miss Rin? Let us see you perform ze act. It should not be too difficult."

  Rin’s head snapped up. The professor was standing right beside her desk, his gaze flickering between her face and the untouched lid. His patience had narrowed into expectation.

  “Y-Yes, sir…” she stammered.

  “Rin… relax, okay? You’ve got this…” Eddie whispered, flashing her a double thumbs-up.

  She sniffled, nodded, and forced her focus back to the lid. She raised her wand and closed her eyes. Vix’s words echoed in her mind, from that day in Duval’s shop: Imagine your mana pool. Reach out. Let the wand see it—all of it. All of you.

  Her face softened. She could see it: the lone tree in a midnight forest, her breath misting in the cold. Its branches moved, bending into hands that reached for her.

  But then—Drenco’s face intruded. Soft at first. Then shattering like glass, replaced by his voice: You filthy no-name loser.

  Her chest tightened. Something inside her snapped.

  A violent surge of aura erupted outward in a blinding 360. The shockwave knocked several children flat, sent boxes clattering across the floor, and forced even Instructor Signum to stagger back, robes whipping around him in the blast.

  Then, as quickly as it had begun, the storm was gone. The room was silent but for the scraping of chairs and the sound of confused, frightened whispers.

  Signum adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat. “…Perhaps… not qvite so much force, Miss Rin. Let us try again—mit a touch more restraint, ja?” He tugged at his robe, regaining composure. “Ahem! Please continue, all of you. Zat includes you, Rin. Close your lid und vait quietly for ze others to finish.”

  Rin blinked, her hands trembling. The professor moved on without another word.

  Eddie scooted his desk closer, leaning in. His voice was hushed, sharp with disbelief.

  “Rin! What in the world was that?”

  “I-I don’t know!” Rin stammered.

  “What kind of core is even in your wand? It looks like elder wood… but with force like that, you’d need something crazy. Like—dragon scale, or phoenix string!” Eddie said, squinting at it.

  “I don’t even know what any of that is!” Rin shot back, frustration slipping through.

  “Can I see your wand?”

  She hesitated, then passed it over.

  Eddie turned it in his hands, eyes narrowing. “Huh? It’s completely rejecting me—and I’m not even doing anything!” He quickly shoved it back at her. The second Rin touched it, the strange resistance vanished. It felt… normal. Like it always had.

  “What’s wrong, Rin? Just close the lid. That’s all.”

  “I… I don’t know if I can…” Her shoulders shook. Tears fell, splattering against the desk.

  “Rin, come on! If this is about Drenco, just forget him! He’s always been an insufferable jerk. You get used to it—you learn to ignore it.”

  “It’s not that easy! Not for me…”

  Eddie sighed, dropping his elbows onto the desk. “Hey… I don’t know your deal. Where your family is. Why you’re even here. But if you let one guy walk all over you, you’ll never get anything in life. Not food, not a bed, not friends—nothing.”

  Rin sniffled and glanced at him. “…Not a bed… or friends?”

  “Nope. Anyone you care about. You’d just lose them all.”

  Her eyes sank to the floor, her voice trembling. “…W-What if… the people you care about are the ones that hurt you?”

  “Then you hurt them back!” Eddie declared, puffing up with confidence. “And if they leave? Then… then you don’t gotta care about them anymore!”

  Rin blinked, surprised by his certainty. Her lips trembled.

  “O-Okay…” she whispered. She turned back to the lid, raising her wand. This time, she didn’t close her eyes. Her hand was steady. Drenco’s voice still echoed in her head, but it didn’t control her. She called the shots.

  The lid shuddered, then lifted. It wobbled in the air, but held. Slowly, carefully, she lowered it onto the box.

  It clicked into place. The task was complete.

  “Ahhh, Miss Rin! You did it! Congratulations! Und you did not threaten to blow up ze class zis time. Wunderbar!”

  “Rin! You did it!” Eddie said, barely able to contain his excitement.

  “I… I did it…”

  “Yeah! I just said that!”

  “I did! I really did do it! Eddie! Look! It’s like you said—I did it!” Rin jumped up from her desk and hugged him so tight he couldn’t breathe.

  “Oh! Okay. Yup. We’re hugging now! This is a hugging moment!” Eddie wheezed, squeezing her back while laughing. When she let go, he bent over catching his breath.

  “Now… just do us both a favor,” he said, “focus on yourself, alright? And then just… I don’t know. Something.”

  Rin nodded eagerly, grinning from ear to ear.

  “Right!”

  “Ahhh! It looks like everyone vas able to successfully close zeir parcels! Excellent! Wunderbar! Now—take your seats for ze final lesson before dismissal!”

  The students sat quickly, buzzing with excitement.

  “It seems zat all of you haf passed your first exam."

  That was the first exam? Rin thought.

  “Vat you haf all learned today is only ze beginning of your magical journey. Zis technique is called emissive magic—ze simplest, most basic form of spellverk. From here, you may dream of jinxes, curses, hexes, und vat-have-you… but emissive magic is your foundation. Take your boxes vith you ven you leave! Dismissed!”

  Rin and Eddie shot up from their seats, both wearing huge smiles as they hurried out.

  “Eddie… that was my first time trying magic. And I did it!”

  “Yeah! And you’ll be able to do the rest too—so long as you don’t let that pig-faced freak dictate your life. You’ll do anything.”

  “Do you… really think so?”

  “I know so! And it looks like our next class is gonna be fun, too.”

  “What’s next?”

  “Magical Elements. Since we’re Impites, though, we have to go through affinity sorting first.”

  “More… sorting?” Rin groaned, already tired of the idea.

  “Yeah. It tells us which elements we’re naturally strongest at—and what kind of magic we’ll be best with.”

  “I hope it’s not scary like it was picking out my wand.”

  “Scary? Wand picking? How?! That’s, like, the best part! Even when you go buy another one later, it never gets old!”

  “Is that why you have—” Rin glanced around to make sure no one was listening before leaning in and whispering, “…two wands?”

  “Shh! No! Forget about the second one!”

  “Oh… okay…” Rin backed off, though her curiosity gnawed at her.

  “…Why do you have the other one, anyway?”

  “Shh, Rin!” Eddie hissed, freezing mid-step. Once he was sure the coast was clear, he whispered back, “I just keep it for safety. I learned some basics on my own. Jerks like Drenco or the Gilfoys? They always go around looking for trouble. They don’t care if you can fight back or not. Actually, they prefer when you can’t.”

  “Oh… that sounds terrible.”

  “Trust me, it is. Anyway, what about your wand? You don’t know anything about it?”

  “Well, I think… Mister Duval said it was made from a corrupted core or something? He actually gave me lots of wands before this one, but they all… were scared of me? I think?”

  Eddie blinked. Hard.

  “You… that wand’s from Duval? Like the Duval Wandsmith—Stones and All?”

  “Is it even that special? His wands attacked me…”

  “Only if they sharply reject you… or—in rare cases—sharply fear you.”

  Rin nodded, pretending she understood. She figured maybe it’d make sense when she was older.

  They walked in silence for a few beats, heading to their next class, before Eddie suddenly stopped dead in his tracks.

  “Wait. Did you say your wand is made out of a freaking Corrupted Core?!”

  Rin laughed nervously, shrinking back under his stare.