va Stu

i to King's

en platforms nine and ten, where a dust-coated mirror stood

lem of the Starfall Express. As the clock struck midnig

he ticket t

through a cold,

ed in a

ancient platform bathed in pale light: the Phantom Platform. A crimson steam

my phone to c

then tucked it away and smiled despite myself. The world I was s

night that felt days long. When it slowe

l of Myri

spilling from the train were every bit as strange as the stories promised: girls with fox ears and silver tails, boys whose eyes

in the world of

tudents wearing prefect b

sea-dragon emblem on his chest. His eyes flicked to my name. Then to the notation

er to his companio

me to hear. "Has the Silver Cloud Society ru

ticle Seven of the new-student statutes, any student with a special affinity or questionable backgr

no such statute

charged with raw elemental energy-built to knock down, disor

curiosity. The rumor was already spreading

d no argument. I gave a s

Is there anything I s

The tears, the protests, the panic t

ed, annoyed that his pu

House had been watching with amusement. Now

to read. When his eyes crossed the lamplight, I noticed they weren't quite round. The

races had begun sending

path. "Prepare? No. Go. If you can walk the hun

my suitcase dow

f the Gauntlet, and th

going to try? She

en master a single element.

and stood befor

, the red-haired boy spo

First-

urn

lf curiosity. Then, almost reluctantly, he m

once, as if he had

hot him a dirty loo

a small, str

fight

ng. Then I took a breath, and under everyone's eyes, I s