“Are you sure that’s everything he told you?” Riley asked Bruno.

  “Yes, for the millionth time,” Bruno growled, his annoyance echoing through his posture as he ate. Riley, Bruno, and Elliot were seated at one of the rectangular wooden tables of the dining hall, eating breakfast together before class. They only took up about half of the table, the other chairs remaining empty. Clusters of students were forming into groups of friends, but the trio had yet to attract any more members to their own group. Over the past week they had spent much of their time together, both in and out of classes. And ever since Bruno’s conversation with Cappy, Riley had been pestering him to tell her every possible detail that he could.

  “Maybe we should let the whole prank thing go for the moment,” Elliot suggested, looking back and forth between Riley and Bruno. Riley sighed and poked at the food on her plate with her fork. She knew she was pushing this too far, but she just couldn’t let it go.

  The problem was that Bruno’s conversation with Cappy had hardly explained anything. Cappy had asked most of the questions, wanting to get Bruno’s feedback. Sure, it was interesting to learn that Cappy was supposed to be a third year student, and that his punishment for the prank was to be sent back to first year courses. And yes, he had told Bruno that he wasn’t working alone, but that he had purposefully taken all the blame. But Bruno had failed to get the information that Riley wanted the most: how had Cappy, or his companions, done it?

  “You know, Riles,” Elliot said, “Why don’t you just ask?”

  “I have been asking,” she replied, gesturing with frustration at Bruno, “It’s him that won’t answer.”

  “No, I mean ask Cappy,” Elliot said. “It sounds like he was pretty open in his conversation with Bruno. Stands to reason, he might just tell you.”

  “Oh,” Riley said, feeling warmth creeping up to her face. “I, um, I don’t think I can do that.”

  “Why not?” Elliot said, confused. A sound came out of Bruno that sounded half bark half laugh.

  “I know why,” Bruno said merrily, shoving another forkful of food in his mouth. Riley shot daggers at him with her eyes, daring him to say more. Unfortunately for her, this was Bruno, and after a bit of chewing, Bruno did dare. “She’s too embarrassed to talk to him because she called him pretty.”

  “You said it first!” Riley shot back. Moments ago she had wished Bruno would say more, and now she wished more than anything that he would shut up. He was right, of course. She was still embarrassed that she had called Cappy pretty. And now that she knew that he was actually supposed to be a third year student, the thought of talking to him seemed even more intimidating.

  “What?” Elliot asked, sounding a bit odd. “You think he’s… pretty?”

  “This is so besides the point,” Riley protested. “That’s not the reason. And maybe I can ask him. Maybe I just haven’t figured out how.”

  “Then prove it,” Bruno challenged, calling her bluff. “He’s right over there.”

  Riley looked to where Bruno was pointing, a few tables down from them. Cappy, along with a couple guys Riley didn’t recognize, was balancing pieces of toast on top of the head of a student that had fallen asleep at the table. They were taking turns adding piece by piece, shushing each other as they tried not to giggle too loudly.

  Riley turned back to Bruno, crossing her arms. “I would ask him,” she said, “But he’s obviously busy at the moment.”

  “Or,” Bruno countered, “You’re just a coward.”

  “Oh for Cael’s sake,” Elliot said, shoving back from the table. “I’ll go ask him.”

  Riley and Bruno watched as Elliot approached Cappy, tapping him on the shoulder. Cappy turned, gleefully putting a finger to his mouth to indicate quiet, and offered Elliot a piece of toast to join in the game. Elliot smiled and shook his head, beckoning Cappy away from his fun so that they could talk in hushed tones. Elliot returned to sit grumpily next to Riley a minute later.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “So?” Riley prompted. By Elliot’s expression, it was unlikely that he had gotten much, but Riley was curious all the same.

  “He said he doesn’t tell his secrets to snitches,” Elliot said, frowning. Bruno snorted as if he had expected this, starting in on his third plate of food.

  “Oh,” Riley said, trying to think of something comforting. “I don’t think you look like a snitch.”

  “It’s fine, Riles,” Elliot said, “It doesn’t matter what idiots like him think. In other news, are you guys excited to start our elective classes today?”

  Bruno grunted through a mouthful of food, nodding. Riley nodded as well, saying, “I’m really excited, actually. I can’t wait until we get our reading assignments so that Herbert and I can really dig into it. What are you taking for an elective, by the way? I don’t think you mentioned.”

  “I signed up for Familiar Bonding too,” Elliot said, to Riley’s surprise.

  “But I thought you wanted to become a diplomat,” Riley responded, confused. “Are you going to be a diplomat warlock or something?”

  “Oh, no,” Elliot said. “I just want to get to know more about different people, you know. The bond between familiars and their partners is one of the most important aspects of witches’ and warlocks’ lives. The highest realms of politics are filled with magically powerful people and I think it’s important that I understand more about where they’re coming from if I’m going to be dealing with them regularly.”

  “Plus, Riles will be there,” Bruno added, a knowing smile on his lips as he looked directly at Elliot. Elliot gave an odd little chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck.

  “Yeah,” Elliot said, “Riles, you’ll be there too. An added bonus.”

  There was a chime that sounded through the dining hall, indicating that classes would begin soon. Students started shuffling their belongings and dropping off their dishes at the cleaning station. At Cappy’s table, the sleeping student stirred, tipping the pile of toast off his head onto the floor in confusion as Cappy and his friends cheered. Bruno shoved a whole egg in his mouth as he collected both his plates and those of Riley and Elliot, giving them a nod before standing and carrying the stack of dishware to the cleaning station.

  “Thank you!” Riley called after him, picking up her bag and turning to Elliot. “Shall we?”

  The two of them joined to crowd of students exiting the dining hall into the courtyard and made their way across to the Mother Tree. Riley had only been inside the Mother Tree once before, during her trip to the Nurse’s office. The trunk was huge, housing the nurse’s office, all the classrooms for the magic courses, as well as a few professor’s offices. It was a very practical arrangement, as the Mother Tree had a strong connection to the magic of the forest, amplifying the magic of everything and everyone near it. When Riley drew near it, she felt as if her thoughts grew sharper, more clear. It felt as if her connection with Herbert was more tangible, as if it became a string that tied them together as opposed to a fog. She could tell that Herbert could feel it too, his energy becoming calmer and less distracted.

  Elliot led the way to the second floor, to a classroom that was filling up quickly as other students shuffled in. Riley was disappointed to see that Alora was there with her snake, Seri, surveying the room from her shoulders. Elliot must have spotted her too, choosing a couple seats for them on the opposite side of the room, next to a small, slender boy with bright orange hair.

  “I’m Elliot,” Elliot said, reaching his hand out to the boy.

  “Kio,” the boy said, shaking Elliot’s hand with a nervous smile. Kio looked young to be at a school like Ms Purple’s. Most parents didn’t let their children attend adventuring schools until they were nearing adulthood, and Kio looked to be 15 at most. Riley introduced herself as well, giving Kio a bright smile that she hoped would put him at ease.

  Elliot and Riley settled in, Elliot pulling out a leather bound notebook and a pencil. Riley pulled out some paper of her own, just some random sheets she’d been able to scrounge up, tied together with an old cloth ribbon. Taking notes wasn’t exactly a forte of hers, she was better at learning by doing, but Elliot was the best student she knew and he was always taking notes. Stood to reason that if she wanted to be a good student, she should do the same.

  The chattering students grew quiet as Headmaster Karasu entered the room, his crow on his shoulder. He and his familiar didn’t say anything as he walked to the desk at the front of the room, the only sound the thunk of his cane on the floor. He was cloaked the same way he was at orientation, his face completely obscured by shadowy black fabric. It was unsettling to not be able to see his face, so Riley focused on the bird instead.

  The crow casually stepped off of Headmaster Karasu’s shoulder onto a perch that was set next to the Professor’s desk. He waited until the Headmaster was comfortably seated before opening his beak.

  “Welcome,” the crow said, “To what might possibly be the most important class of your life.”