s in my first week at

soul-for-a-cinnamon-roll" good. Either there's a secret pastry mage in the ki

ever this school is actually about, and I

sive mystery to some people who probably

passed the dueling courtyard on my way to an accidentally cho

over-accessorized. She had the kind of smile that said, "I know who

," I said, "but it sounds lik

t belong here. That uniform doesn't ma

ain. I'd heard the term a few times already, always whispered or wrapped in reverence. Somet

We were just char

which went about as well as using glitter for camouflage. My uniform didn't quite fit, I didn't have a family cres

ting a pencil with their fingers, an

o stare, but

voice behind me. "Yo

lready in on some joke. "Name's Kerrin," he said. "I'm in my third year, and you honestly

away? The confusion or

e way you're holding that syl

e to switch topics, but before I could ask him what "Applied Vein The

nd runes tattooed down both arms. She also looked l

he foundational mechanics of the Vein, its flow, fractures, and the way it responds

I really shouldn't be here, and still I sat w

epped onto the central platform, a marble disc etched

he profes

ller," he s

urse it w

dded.

himmered, as silver threads danced up his arms, spiraling into an orb above h

on," the professor noted. "Controlled a

was a magic recital for royalty. I sat back

omeone cal

n Al

fused and taken aback, since I didn't volun

nkindly, and I held onto the hope that

to step onto the platform, and for a

e groun

s, and the runes on the floor flared a hot, blinding whit

en I p

ashing once more before cutti

ly wished to disappear, but couldn't, as I

r said, squinting. "Uncontr

she just short-circ

errin gave me a look that said "d

to my seat, ears bu

't understand and watched as people who knew what they were d

ptied, and the sun was dragging shadows

re. Past the east wing, where ivy choked the windows, past

mean to find

arring

ke a lightning storm trapped underground. Students stood across from each other, fists clenche

ant no supervision, so that allowed stu

of silver fire, and the girl across from him bared her teeth and shifte

at. She wasn't a full wolf,

lf-s

ry no one else touched. Old myths, dangerous bl

trolled. Until one of them, Cassia

lled. "You here to take notes or

ter e

either, but if I wanted to thr

but it shut him up lon

ing to be, based on the even rise and fall of her breath. And I turned the invitation l

and my fingers trembled as I opened it.

e same

cademy. A place for those of rare

believe there was more to

gnized me, and if I wasn't c