Teon wrung her hands together and tried not to think about the fact she was almost certainly getting a migraine. She was alive and far better off than she should have been. The mender had healed much of the inflammation and damage to her hand. She had several rehabilitation tasks that she needed to do but she had escaped the incident with only a rash and some light burns.

Teon felt as if the physical repercussions of her stupidity were the last of her issues, not that she’d told the physician that. She sat in a slow, mundane agony while the adults were in the next room discussing the consequences of her stupid, stupid actions.

The idea of the expulsion loomed over Teon and the migraine continued to quietly grow. Since she’d come around again, she’d been replaying what had happened in her mind. She should have threaded the mana or tried to expedite the filling process, but not both of them at the same time.

Obviously, there was a reason why there was so much safety added into the process of filling runes. The process was there to distill mana from energy and that had risk associated with it. She’d somehow forgotten exactly why mages chose to create bijous instead of messing with the raw mana inside the runes. At least if a bijou went off, it was only a small explosion.

She returned to twiddling her thumbs on the bench next to Ellen and tried to think about something other than the fact that she had been sitting outside Principal Kidron’s office for an hour and the end of the day was fast approaching on her.

The curious stares of those passing by hadn’t helped. The stories of her mishap had run rife through the school during lunch no doubt. The entire lunch period, many of the students had hovered in the hallways to get a look at her and Ellen while they sat patiently.

While they waited outside the principal’s office, Ellen had given her a run down of what had happened.  She’d told her how Teon had set fire to Msr. Asher’s desk and that smoke had filled the room in seconds.

Msr. Asher had ordered everyone out of the class and hopped the tables to pick Teon up. Then, they’d fled to the front gate of the school and Msr. Asher and the other teacher had rushed back in to activate the emergency bijous. Only the blackboard and the desk had caught fire apparently and no one was hurt. Except Teon, of course.

Teon knew the rest. She’d woken up outside the gates and she remembered the mender seeing to her and then taking her to where she sat, waiting while Msr. Asher, Mdm Kidron, and Viera talked.

The conversation had been Msr. Asher and Mdm. Kidron at first but Viera had arrived half an hour afterwards and only offered the two of them a single word as she passed, ‘Girls.’

Teon rubbed her arm and ignored the slight remnants of the rash that she’d given herself. She’d gotten off practically scot-free considering how bad a misfiring rune could be.

Yet another mess that Teon had caused that needed to be cleaned up for her. She could hear her sister Yas’ voice echoing in her head. After less than two months, her time in the south hadn’t detracted from her sister’s theory that Teon was the family screw up.

When Teon was young, Yas would tell her that Teon would have to work really hard if she wanted to stay in the Family.

Then, she had screwed up and most of the Family had disowned her. Teon’s mouth went dry at the thought. This was her strike three for her mother, Teon could feel it.

The pressure began to mount on Teon again and focussed on her breathing. Yas was a tough older sister but, now Teon was older, she could understand why needed to be so tough. The House Bludbord was not forgiving for nobles who stepped out of line and her family was one of the most prestigious Second Families in the House. No one had time for failures in the House and her Family didn’t raise losers.

Teon held back a wave of tears that began to well up in her eyes. The hollow pain in her chest returned like a gentle aching fog and she forced it back down. She wouldn’t cry in front of Ellen. She would not, That was her firm line in the sand.

“No tears. Not here, T.” Ellen warned her quietly, “Remember, we have done nothing wrong.”

Teon let out a sniffle as she rubbed her nose and blinked away the last vestiges of tears, “Ellen…”

“No. Nothing. I am telling you what happened. The rune was not bound correctly, runes are like that. Something went wrong and the rune exploded. You threw it away to save both of us. That is all we say. Got it?”

“What am I going to do?” Teon croaked back to her.

“You are going to deny everything. You don’t know what happened, you don’t know what went wrong, and,” Ellen gave her a crazed look and grabbed her by the shoulder, “you can’t cry. You have to be outraged like I am. Msr. Asher wasn’t careful and he made a mistake that nearly got us killed.”

Teon sniffed loudly and grabbed her handkerchief from her shirt pocket. She dabbed her nose and felt herself calm back down, “Ok.”

“Good.” Ellen let go of Teon’s shoulder and sunk back into her chair. She crossed her arms and closed her eyes as if she was having a mid-afternoon snooze in the sun. She looked completely unphased, untouchable in her sunny disposition. She was only a year and a half older than Teon but Teon felt the gap all of the time.

Ellen was a born leader, she was composed, charismatic, and meticulous. She’d been raised to be as such. Her mother was a Family Head for one of the other Second Families of House Thenfeld and she commanded significant influence in Kudraul. She could still remember the face her mother had made when Teon had told her that she had made friends with Ellen many years ago. They weren’t the First Family of Thenfeld but they weren’t so far away.

Having Ellen next to her filled Teon with guilt but also relief. If someone was going to get Teon out of this mess, it was going to be Ellen.

“Hey, El?” Teon cleared her throat but still hated how meek she sounded.

Ellen opened one of her eyes and gave her a warm smile.

“Thanks for saving me.”

“Anytime, Tinky.” Ellen offered her hand to hold and Teon grabbed it and squeezed.

Behind them, Teon could make out only a little of the muffled conversation from the office. She knew Msr. Asher’s voice and Viera’s voice. The other voice had to be Mdm. Kidron and all three of them sounded displeased.

The fact that Viera was in there could only be bad news. Viera was good friends with Teon’s parents and she had known Teon’s step-father, Daved, since the two of them were children. He had told Teon that he had worked incredibly hard to get her this opportunity and that Viera would expect her to be working day and night to distinguish herself from the others.

Her mother had added that Viera hated illicit substances and those who used them. Teon could still remember how she sneered as she told Teon stories of Viera confronting nobles who indulged in smoking salts in court, publicly shaming them in front of the Queen.

“Oh, Teon.” Ellen rebuffed her and pulled her hand back.

“Sorry, I didn't realise I was squeezing.” Teon unclenched and reclenched her right hand and then placed it in her lap to join her left hand.

“I’ll never get used to that strength.” Ellen joked lightheartedly.

“Me neither.” Teon let out a small laugh. She tried to give Ellen a smile but felt it turn into an awkward grimace and she looked down at her hands instead.

“In front to justice!” Msr. Asher shouting made it through the wall. She had no idea what it might mean but she knew that he sounded very cross.

She needed other things to think about. A thought that had long plagued her popped into her mind and, if things went poorly, it might be the last time for a long time that she could pick Ellen’s brain about the curiosity.

“Why do you think Wosche decided to leave the Academy to join us?”

“What?” Ellen shifted slightly in her seat to face her.

“Well, he didn’t get expelled. He chose to join us down here. Why do you think he didn’t finish his education at the Academy instead? I would’ve.”

Ellen shifted to sit upright in her chair again, “I don’t know. But he doesn’t think like you or me.”

“Mmm.” Teon could understand that idea. Wosche was friendly and pleasant but he was an oddball a lot of the time, albeit a very gifted oddball.

“I know he hated the Academy and that he was bored most of this year. And he doesn’t need to graduate from the Academy since he already finished his education at Ilreana University.” Ellen added casually.

“He has been to Ilreana University?” The idea of it hit Teon like a brick.

Ellen let out a lilting laugh, “He doesn’t tell anyone but yeah, he has already lived a hell of a life. He is nearly twenty one. The fact his parents got him back into the Academy is beyond me. But it’s true, he completed Engineering three years early and won a bunch of fencing championships in tournaments all around the humanlands.”

“So what was he doing in the Academy then?” The idea of finishing Ilreana University and then returning to Weidenland to study at the Academy was mind boggling to Teon.

“His parents moved here and there was nothing keeping him there, he said. And he got here, and well. I don’t know.” Ellen shrugged, “He made his choice. And then chose to come down here. What I do know is that he is happier than any of us so I suggest you don’t spend too long worrying on his behalf.”

“He’s loony.”

“A bit probably. I think he likes the idea of travelling more. He has always had itchy feet and being an adventurer is very on brand for his madness. I bet he has some grandiose vision of him defeating a dragon. But as silly as he can be, he’s got great instinct about good opportunities. Like Viera’s plans.”

Viera’s plans. Her parents had faith that Viera was some mastermind who had the power to propel Teon up into notoriety through her idea of contracts and studying at the Institute. But when Teon asked them for the specifics, she’d get told to just do what Viera says.

“Just don’t throw in the towel until we know what is happening in there, ok.” Ellen quietly asked her and Teon nodded in return.

“Girls.” Viera poked her head out from the door to their side. Both Teon and Ellen jumped out of their chairs.

“Come on inside.” Viera didn’t wait for their response and ducked back inside the room.

Ellen got up first and Teon followed her quickly. Mdm. Kudrin’s receptionist sat at his desk and glared at them when they entered. Viera held the door to Mdm. Kudrin’s office open for them with Msr. Asher standing ominously inside.

Ellen entered briskly and stood next to Viera. Teon skirted inside and found a place on the other side of Ellen and looked down at her feet. Her heart thumped in her ears and her mouth was completely dry.

“Girls, we have discussed the distressing event that occurred today. Use of Creation magic and runes needs to be treated with utmost respect and careful attention to ensure that accidents do not occur.” Mdm Kudrin stated firmly and paused to ensure they were listening, “Msr. Asher has run me through the safety procedures that you use in class and I urge you to ensure you take them incredibly seriously because accidents with runes can have truly disastrous consequences. Do you understand?”

Both of them nodded vigorously.

“Verbally. Will you ensure you follow exactly what Msr. Asher says to the best of your ability in his class?” Viera prompted them.

“Yes, Mdm. Courfelt.” Ellen answered first.

“Absolutely. Yes.” Teon followed up shortly after.

“Good. Now, I believe an apology is also due to Msr. Asher for the language that was used in the class.” Mdm. Kudrin noted sternly.

Ellen cleared her throat and took a second, “Yes, Mdm. Courfelt. I apologise for swearing, Msr. Asher. It won’t happen again.”

The room went silent. Msr. Asher looked furious but said nothing.

“Teon?” Viera turned to her and asked her expectantly.

“Did I swear?” Teon asked, shocked.

"You have got to be kidding me,” Msr. Asher muttered angrily from the other side of the room.

Teon quickly interjected before anyone else, “I am incredibly sorry that I swore in class, Msr. Asher. I don’t mean any disrespect, I am still out of sorts. Please accept my apology and I promise I will not.” She stopped herself and restarted, “I will be very diligent and respectful in your class from now on, Msr. Asher, I promise.And I’m sorry.”

“Thank you, girls.” Msr. Asher responded with a scowl.

“Yes, good. I believe we can put this matter behind us now and endeavour to not let it happen again. Viera, thank you for joining us, unexpectedly as it may have been, and girls, please ensure you do exactly as Msr. Asher instructs in class from this moment onwards.” Mdm. Kudrin explained to both of them but looked directly at Teon as she spoke, “And see to it that the next reason you are in my office it is under better circumstances.”

Teon nodded at her while she talked and said nothing.

“Ok, now that we have resolved that nasty little accident. I would like to take Ellen and Teon out of school early today. I do not think it would benefit them to join their last class for only half an hour, is that acceptable to you, Penni?” Viera asked Mdm. Kudrin, pointedly ignoring everyone else in the room.

“That will be fine, just please ensure you sign them out as you leave. Msr. Asher, stay with me for a minute. Good bye, girls.” Mdm. Kudrin went to her seat and smiled at them pleasantly as she sat down.

Teon looked up at Viera and Viera looked at the door, waiting for Teon to move out first. Teon bowed to Mdm. Kudrin and then Msr. Asher and then left quickly. She had never bowed in school before but she had no idea what was required at that point.

They left the receptionist’s office in silence and moved into the hallway without another word. Teon looked to the other two but they both remained quiet. She wanted to desperately break the silence but both Viera and Ellen had made a pointed effort not to look at her.

Once they made it out into the courtyard, Viera sighed, “Right. First. Teon, no double loading limestone runes -”

“Sorry, I just -” Teon began but Viera put up her hand.

“Ah. No, I talk and you listen right now.” Viera waited until Teon stopped and looked at her directly, “You can’t put two types of mana into a rune. The reason we don’t is because of exactly what happened today. You should know this but I will give you the benefit of the doubt because you have a lot going on. Second.”

Viera waited again but Teon’s mind was buzzing with Viera’s theory. It wasn’t that Teon had improperly packed the mana, she’d taken in wind mana and intertwined it in her flame mana. No wonder it had popped when she compressed the two of them together in the rune.

Teon paled at the thought. She was lucky the rune didn’t explode from the first time the two energies touched. She looked up at Viera and started at the disapproval on her face, “Sorry, listening.”

“Second, no more discussing the rats in Suttrail. I don’t know if it is you two or the others but when you engage in contracts, you cannot go around school talking about them. Am I clear?” Viera watched them seriously as she continued walking out of the school.

“Yes.” Teon responded at the same time as Ellen. Gods Damned Wosche.

“Good. Now, I still haven’t had lunch and that feels like an affront considering how hard I’ve been working. I don’t want you to think of this as some kind of reward for your behaviour in class today but would you like to join me?” Viera said with a sly smile.

“Absolutely, we would, madame.” Ellen leapt in happily and then looked across at Teon for confirmation.

“Yes, please.” Teon responded meekly and let the other two take the lead while she tried to will away the throbbing pain in her head.