It takes a few minutes of scrounging through each bedroom’s wardrobes to determine whose uniforms are whose. We provided our measurements as part of our applications, and each holds various sets for different weather. Since we don’t know what the placement exams will entail, we all opt for the flexibility of pants, the only option being boring gray trousers.
For my top, I choose a white, long-sleeved blouse to help against the cold, while Alexis goes with the sleeveless version, surprisingly. The collar buttons to the top of my neck as the rules of modesty decree, while a plum bodice with vertical gray stripes down its right side goes over it. I grab my charcoal-colored wool coat before rushing from the room.
By the time we all gather, our wall clock shows we’re minutes from the eighth bell ringing—the second of the afternoon. Twelve bells apiece for both day and night, and this one signals the start of our placement exams. We race down the stairs, where some lingering third-years point us in the proper direction, following a stream of other stragglers rushing along a stone path that cuts through the endless expanse of dirt toward the Great Hall. It takes up the entire northern wing of the Academy’s main building, and a boisterous crowd, larger than I’ve ever seen, gathers outside its entrance. While I’ve attended the occasional formal event with my parents, the people at those are typically more spread out, their voices light and constrained.
Thankfully, we’re still at its edges when an older gentleman with trim dark hair and a full beard, both flecked with white, marches up the steps in front of the Hall’s large exterior doors. The roar of the crowd dissipates as he surveys us.
“Welcome, first-years, to The Arandur Academy of Incantation.” His bright voice carries clearly through the air. “I am Headmaster Gleese. I’m sure you’re impatient to begin, so allow me to introduce the High Marshal of the Order of Incanters—Lord Hiram Detura.”
I shrink down as my father steps up to a roar of applause. Once it settles, he speaks, his voice a low rumble.
“Thank you, Headmaster. Today begins your three-year journey into a life of honor, dedicating yourself to the continued defense of our proud nation. So long as you work hard, there will be a place for you in our nation’s forces upon graduation, keeping eternal vigilance against fae incursions.”
I avoid his gaze, barely listening to phrases I’ve heard countless times before. Honor. Duty. Fortitude. My fellow first-years cling to his every word—they all chose to join this army of elite, magical fighters, after all—and his speech ends with an eruption of applause. His eyes briefly meet mine before he moves away and Headmaster Gleese takes over.
“During your time here, you will attend most of your classes with peers of similar ability so we can best support the development of your skills. While we’ll examine everyone individually, we’ll summon you in smaller groups, in order of your family name. Upon completing your examination, you’ll be sorted into classes according to your innate ability. May Fortune favor each of you.”
He gives a curt nod that’s met with some half-hearted claps while most of the students chatter amongst themselves. He descends the steps as a wiry woman with curly hair—so pale, it’s almost white—hurries to take his place.
“I’m Professor Mallory,” she shouts, making me flinch. “If your family name begins with ‘A,’ please come to the front. We’ll begin momentarily.”
I clutch my fidgeting fingers in front of me as murmuring voices begin coiling around us. Alexis bounces on her toes and looks between me and Sophie. “I’m ‘B,’ for Bunt. How about you?”
“‘D.’” I glimpse Father beyond the crowd, avoiding eager handshakes from overly bold students as he makes his way to where Mom waits at the carriage. In mere minutes, they’ll be gone.
“I’m ‘L,’” Sophie says. “Guess I’ll be waiting a while.”
Alexis stretches her arms above her head. “So, how should we pass the time?”
I snap my attention back to my roommates, my mind racing to conjure up some suggestions.
“We could practice,” Sophie offers.
Alexis drops her arms. “There’s nothing to practice. Unless you’re admitting you’ve incanted before, too?” She raises her brow at Sophie, whose ears turn red.
“I… may have.” Sophie glances away at the confession.
My stomach dips on Alexis’s behalf: that’s not good for her hopes of getting a window.She won’t blame me, will she?
Is making friends always this complicated?
Alexis narrows her gaze. “Nothing like being tricked into a bet under false pretenses,” she mutters.
Sophie’s face slowly puckers, lips pressed tight. “It’s honestly more surprising you haven’t,” she snaps, and my eyes widen at her bite. “You must not care very much.”
“I care plenty, I just don’t see a reason to break the law so I can have a slight edge for a month until everyone catches up.”
Sophie says nothing. Alexis scoffs, then takes my arm, storming away. I almost trip glancing back, catching Sophie’s face pressing into a frown before she marches off. I force what I hope is a sympathetic smile, not wanting her to think I’m taking sides, even though I’m inclined to support Alexis. Sophie clearly agreed only because she realized the odds were in her favor.
“Why don’t we see if there’s anyone here worthy of our attention?” Alexis says, her gaze drifting to a nearby fellow—lanky, with clean-cut blond hair—like a cat evaluating prey.
My eyes follow the cut of his waistcoat before returning to his face, only to meet his, staring back. He shoots over a confident smile, and I turn away, swallowing down the flutter in my heart. It’d be a lie to say that wasn’t one of my few hopes for coming here: to experience for myself what I’ve desperately tried to capture in my sketches of couples in love. But it’s foolish to get my hopes up.
Before I think up a response, Professor Mallory calls for everyone’s attention, her voice ringing with the first list of names. After a group of six makes its way inside, I spend the next twenty minutes trying to keep my breathing calm as the cacophony of conversations and laughter assaults my senses. Amid the barrage, I do my best to entertain Alexis with my opinions on the various men that catch her eye. Her tastes cover a wide range, from softer, studious types who light a spark within me, to more broody ones who deliver a shiver straight to my core. Eventually, her name is called, and I turn my focus inward, wandering near the edge crowd. It’s too loud, too confining within, but I don’t want to draw attention by singling myself out.
Back to being alone.
I kick at the dirt as I meander, scuffing my pristine leather boots, and consider what I told my mom:I’ll make friends.Despite my social inexperience, Alexis seems to like me, so perhaps I’m off to a good start? But I worry that the tension brewing between her and Sophie will end poorly, and can’t help feeling it’s my fault for not recognizing Sophie’s intentions earlier. I’ve never had friends to fight with before—how can I possibly be the peacemaker?
