“I’ll let Maeve take the lead. She knows a lot of useless information about the castle.”
Maeve frowned. Lavinia grinned and gestured ahead. She ignored her comment and told the new Volaticus students all about the castle’s history, the Magicals that one inhabited this realm, and even stopped to talk to some of her favorite paintings and tapestries.
Most of their faces were wonderstruck. She reminded herself that most of them didn’t grow up with Magic like this. Simple Magic maybe. But not like Vaukore. Not like Sinclair Estates.
“Hello, Maeve.”
A short blonde girl stepped towards her and extended her hand. Maeve shook it.
“You got in,” said Maeve.
“Just as you said I would.”
The girl smiled.
“Good,” said Maeve. “And congrats on Volaticus.”
“The King’s Court.”
Maeve nodded. Vaukore was built upon a dynasty from a thousand years ago. Traditions were hard to break.
“In Primary School, you spoke so assuredly that you would be in Serpentine.”
Her words slammed into Maeve. She hadn’t meant them as an insult, but they hurt all the same.
“I was.”
The girl’s smiled faltered slightly. “I’m sorry-”
Maeve held up her hand and recited the speech she had perfected about not caring that she was the first Sinclair since Merlin that was not to be placed in Serpentine Court. That she looked better in blue than emerald anyway. That she hadn’t cried at all when she was deprived of her place in Serpentine.
And that most certainly she was not terrified of losing her father’s affection over it.
Maeve’s schedule was as planned: jam packed with every class possible. First thing in the morning was Alchemy with Professor Hummingdor. Which was perfect, seeing as Maeve wanted to ask him about extra lessons as soon as possible.
She made her way down from her dorm room into a gorgeously ornate part of the castle filled with books, white marble statues, and sapphire blue velvet furniture with gold trim. Maeve’s own chambers at Sinclair Estates had been modeled after it. The lavish rugs and velvet embroidered material suited her style.
The Court of Volaticus resided here in the East Wing, and it was Maeve’s favorite part of Vaukore Castle.
And it was the closest to the Library.
“Good summer, Maeve?” Lavinia Roberts asked.
Lavinia was one of two Head students, known for their vigor and sense of responsibility. The Head Boy and Girl held the highest rank of students at Vaukore, and were handpicked by the Headmasters in their final and fourth year at Vaukore. Lavinia was also captain of the Vaukore chess club and magical fencing club, and considered herself personally responsible for Volaticus having won the past two fencing tournaments at school.
“Fine. And yourself?”
“Spent most of it at a fencing camp in Ireland. Gonna be a good year,” said Lavinia intensely, as her fist met her palm. “Right. Babies, listen up!”
Lavinia explained to the first years that as students in Volaticus she better not hear about any of them sticking a toe out of line. Maeve smiled as she warned them that Maeve, being a Volaticus Paragon herself, thoroughly enjoyed writing detentions for misconduct and wouldn’t hesitate to write any one of them a weeks worth.
That was true.
Lavinia quickly explained that the entrance to the Volaticus Dorms was enchanted to ensure their studies were being properly absorbed. The correct answer to an equation, riddle, or question was required to gain entry, and the castle was always kind enough to provide helpful hints to expand the mind. A bit of light reading was required if one didn’t know the answer.
Maeve laughed softly at their expressions of dread and made her way down from the East Wing and into the main castle. She preferred Volatics’ means of entry more so than that of the other dorms. The Draconem students had to fence with an armored knight’s statue and win just to pass through. And the Serpentine students were constantly changing their means of entry for one another, keeping each one of its members on their toes with having to find clever ways to access their dorm. The castle was kind to them as well. New passages appeared for the truly cunning Serpentine students all the time.
Professor Hummingdoor was as bright and bubbly as ever, and excited to see all his favorites bouncing on his toes from one to the next. Maeve rolled her eyes as he shook Mal’s hand for well over a minute. Maeve was included in the “The Humm Birds” as they called Hummingdoor’s favorite’s, but everyone knew the Potions and Alchemy Professor fancied Mal the most.
