They stopped when they were nearly off the trail, Sonya's panting gasps breaking into a cackling laughter that she usually used to get rid of her nerves.She took a second to shake the jitters of her hands, eyes blazing with pride that she was digging around Ronan's gaze to find. "Holy crap, that was terrifying!" Her voice lowered to a whisper as she looked over Ronan's shoulder, presumably for a pack of spell-wielding classmates. "You think Veronica would be proud?"Ronan gave the trail behind them his own hesitant glance, killing the joy peppering her face when he still didn't smile back. Veronica wasn't impressed by anything. Let alone that. "Sonya... you can't use spells on other students."She straightened, nose scrunched and lips twisted as she eyed Ronan like a new person entirely. "What's he gonna do? Run to Samanthra and tell her he got his butt wiped by two Novan loving murderers?" She sighed as Ronan paid the trail and Stella another glance. "Come on, there's nothing wrong

Today was the day. Carcinos was high, a mirage dancing on shingles outside Ronan's window to let him know that soon he'd be a mini toaster oven walking to the arena in his black combat suit. Just making it to the game would be a personal feat at this point, he hadn't even come close to living up to Sonya's pep talk. Most of his team probably still thought he'd cheated to make it in, and the fact that he'd played once or twice, and scored maybe five shots in total was selling the theory. "Ready?" Truvius said, hand on the door with a bundle of silver ribbons and fabric over his shoulder. He'd petitioned Puff to be the silver house mascot, and the sheer amount of dragon hair he'd signed up for by volunteering to keep the Puff from jumping into the game had put him into a perpetual state of runny noses and sneezes. "As I'll ever be." Ronan sighed, They cracked the door, pushing back a small cluster of limp feathers that had been resting at its foot. Truvius groaned at the dead bird,

Winning felt better than it should have. Getting Buckethead out for the rest of the game had tipped the scales in their favour to score a win, and Ronan finally felt like he'd earned the right to walk back to Cobalt with his team. Chatter of the game surrounded him, his friends mingling with his team, and Veronica seemingly stuck listening to a one-sided conversation with Sonya. Aivrey pulled up beside Jalev, elbowing his arm with a smirk. "That poor guy won't be able to take a penalty shot without fainting." "Can't score a goal two feet in front of you, but if there's a nose you're cracking it!" Jalev boomed, rubbing the good side of Ronan's head as he tugged him in close. "Bet that clanger didn't help, that guy almost took Unicorn Boy's head off with that paddle-blade!" Ronan had to force the laugh on that one. The dulled throb in his left temple let him know that Buckethead definitely got a good crack at his skull regardless. What he'd thought to be a splash of water on his fac

Ronan wanted to mind his own business as he walked.They had passed the washrooms a long time ago, but a little over six skips in front of him was Buckethead, meandering his way through the halls, and seeming to be headed exactly where Ronan was. His pace was slower than melting ice, but Ronan knew better than to try a pass in the tight corridor. He would have to wait for one of the thoroughfares coming up.He decided to fill the silence in the meantime, Stella his only choice for a conversation as she hovered to his pace. "What's his deal?""Unclear." Her voice dipped to a strange whisper. "But perhaps Cursimian will have something to say."Ronan gave her a weird look. Stella hadn't really joked with him before, or learned to lower her voice to an undetectable whisper.What had changed?Ronan diverted his train of thought when he noticed his number one concern had stopped at the end of the hall, welcoming his approach with a hostile smirk. Ronan didn't take the bait, stopping himself

Veronica grinned as the treat seized his attention, but he wasn't staring at the chocolates with the excitement she was expecting. The face he had on was closer to when she'd tried to make her mother cookies for breakfast. Nonetheless, he cautiously grabbed onto the branch, swinging down and dangling off it with wide eyes.She giggled as he hung off the branch like a bedsheet. "Just let go, it's not far."Veronica frowned at his lack of motivation, shoving the candies in her pocket and grabbing the boy's legs to yank him off the branch. Through a cascade of thick leaves and fluttering scales of bark, the boy managed to stick his landing with a squat."See? That wasn't so bad!" She cheered, pulling him to his feet and slapping a few candies in his palm. He stared at the odd form of payment, squinting at the painted parchment, as if it hid a flicker of danger in its sugary form."It's a chocolate." She grabbed one and twisted the paper free, throwing the chocolate in her mouth. "It's yu