We came up to a building, kids walking in while chatting. Guess this is where the thing is happening. As we walked in, I saw the hall full of 14 to 16 year-olds, maybe a handful a year older, even though there were a few minutes left. Zira was about to point out a couple free seats too near the front for me when he was interrupted.

“Zira!” We both turned to our right, seeing a girl with bright orange hair waving at us, her hair telling me she was an ameliora – a mage who can basically put together or fix things – that specialised in manifestation. At least she was probably training towards that.

Magic can sometimes cause physical changes, although most people just use magic to set it back to normal again. Occasionally there are cases where the change happens too early for permanent change like Lexicon. There are also freaks that just like looking different. With this chick, I bet on the last one.

Back to the girl, she came over, smiling at Zira. It was as if the bitch didn’t even acknowledge me. “Hey, Para,” Zira replied, his cheeks tinging pink. I almost scoffed as I looked between the two of them, shaking my head. He liked her and didn’t even know it.

I had seen it before with him, he liked some girl from the graveyard but only seemed to be able to tell when he was drunk. It was his crazy personality at play. The fucking idiot just doesn’t bother to realise, he may be a million time cleverer than me but he was an idiot.

Although, she seemed to like him too. No offence to the Para chick but this wasn’t going to go how she wanted. Especially if she told Zira how she feels. Then he’d work out how he feels and that whole other mess.

Not wanting to third wheel, I hit his back, grabbing his attention. “I’m going to go sit at the back and read. Have fun with the girl.” Zira looked like he was about to argue but I turned away and left first.

I took a seat in the back row a couple seats over from some guy who was sleeping, someone wasn’t a morning person. Taking my bag off and putting it down in front of me, I took the manga out and got comfortable before opening it. I planned to just read through but I didn’t get passed the first panel before I was distracted.

Someone had actually sat down next to me. I looked to see who had the guts, seeing the preach girl, Farida Janse. She noticed me looking and waved me off. “I wouldn’t but I need to avoid people and people are avoiding you.” I glanced around, fucking hell, they were. Oh well, better for me.

Shrugging, I turned my attention back to the book. Unfortunately I only got a couple pages in before the girl spoke again. “Can you even read that?” This is getting no where, for fuck’s sake. I shut the book.

“Not with you talking to me, princess.” I got an eyeroll for my remark.

“Whatever, but seriously, that’s in Japanese.”

For a genius, she wasn’t very well informed, of course it fucking was. Why is she asking, she can see that with her eyes, right?

“It is a form of Japanese media so I’d fucking hope so. And yes, I am not completely useless, it’s just my knowledge is as useful as the magic I can do.”

“So you can do magic?” I snorted at how I put it. Guess it sounds a little misleading that way. “Overstatement, I can barely levitate without giving it my all. But I can do shitty things like this.” I decided to give ger an example.

I pointed to the guy sleeping by us, he attention going to him. Closing my eyes, I move my index finger to right the word ‘idiot’ in my mind on his forehead whilst concentrating. “Woah!” I opened my eyes and saw her staring at the word that had been written on the guy. “You’re right, it’s useless, but also pretty funny.

“Maybe you aren’t too bad.” Wow, a compliment from the same girl who rightfully trashed me a week ago. Besides, I’m not bad if you were on my side, but the second you aren’t, you and the whole building are as good as dead. “But that doesn’t mean you should be in my class, I still think you’ll cause more issues than the prophecy itself. That said, you’re not bad yourself, if a little rude. Or a lot.” Ha, the chick doesn’t hold back. She isn’t too back herself.

Suddenly, everyone stood up, including the girl next to me and the guy who had been sleep with no idea that he had ‘idiot’ written on his face. Farida looked down at me, sending me an obvious look. Was this how these things started? It’s a bit late, isn’t it? I shook my head, leaning back and opening my book, finally getting to read.

It was a couple chapters later I stopped on my own, it would be better for everyone. I don’t know how but I knew things were about to get intense but I knew it and like fuck I was going to be interrupted then. It’s safer for me to wait until class starts.

Closing the book I put it away and before looking up to see Lex standing on stage with a red face, the Enoxion co-leader talking as stoically as ever. Doesn’t he have a personality? “What’d he do?” I asked the girl next to me.

“Got in an argument with Councillor Rhynes in front of everyone.” Seriously, how did those idiots get so high up on the food chain? Although, I guess that’s why one does field work and the other works at a school. Forget about the drama between our genius mages, those two would be enough entertainment.

An old man walked from the side of the stage to the middle as Xerxes nodded and walked off with Lex. The second the geezer opened his mouth I felt like my mind was going numb. I don’t know what he was talking about but shit was it boring. It was literally impossible to listen to his voice. By the time I realised people were moving and it was over I was half asleep.

A yawn escaped me as I slapped my cheeks lightly to wake me up. “Weren’t you only listening for 3 minutes?” Farida asked.

“It was 3 minutes too long as well as the last ever 3 minutes I’ll listen too. Fuck, I’m never doing that again!” The girl just shook her head at me, rolling her eyes and leaving herself.

Even though I’ve already eaten, maybe some caffeine might do me good. I’m not meant to have regular sugar though so maybe a black coffee… nah, I’d rather risk blowing.

I stood up and stretched my back, waiting until the rush was gone before picking up my bag, slinging it onto my right shoulder before heading out of the building. Zira popped up next to me on his own. “I feel like I just made an idiot of myself and I don’t even know how.” I rolled my eyes, he’s such a retard. I’ll leave him wondering longer.

“Who was the chick?”

“Just a girl from my old class, we used to work together quite a bit in magic lab before summer. Nothing big.” He dismissed the whole topic too easily, he must have started noticing. Although, knowing him I wouldn’t bet on it?

“Anyway, how far did you get?” It took me a few seconds to realise he meant the manga volume. I sighed, pushing my hands into my pockets. “I got 4 chapters waiting and I just know shit is going down. Thing’s aren’t going to end well. Especially when you consider this as one of the last ones for this major arc.”

“You reading during class then,” Zira said, knowing it was true.

I shrugged, there wasn’t anything better to do. No way am I going to be able to keep up with the geniuses. I did say I would put a little effort at the beginning like every year but I don’t feel like it today, maybe tomorrow… or never. Besides, I’s just dying to find out what’s going to happen.

Zira walked into what I guess was the cafeteria, us joining the back of the line. That reminded me, I get free food here, perks of being related to Lexicon. I dug out my student ID and held it in my hand, Zira noticing. “I thought you would have already ate.”

“The principal’s voice knocked all the energy out of me in the 3 minutes I did listen at the end. I’m literally half asleep. I need some caffeine.” Thinking about it, I added, “Or better, a beer.” Zira sent me a weird look. I guess it’s the whole ‘who wants beer this early’ thing. The answer was me, alcohol inhibited my powers a little, it made it easier to control, that and being high. Since it was medical it meant I was allowed to drink and smoke though so it’s not all bad.

But I really am dead tired right now. Just thinking about it made me feel like I was slipping. Or maybe I did slip a little, maybe a lot judging by the sudden screams. Behind the counter there was a massive towering flame. Ah shit! I rubbed my eyes, exhausted. “For once I’m all up for you skipping morning announcements.” I’m sure everyone else was as well.

We moved to the front of the line and I picked up an energy drink that I was essentially banned from, it would be easier if they let me drink at school but apparently that was a big no. I guess it would expose our perfect prince, aka Zira. I flashed my ID before waiting for Zira to pick up his tray of a fry-up breakfast.

Forget mages, damn rich people. I mean my family’s well off but we don’t didn’t live lavishly like Zira or the other prodigies, they were all rich kids.

“Want to eat in the classroom?” Zira asked, looking around. I looked too, seeing he was probably tired of all the creeps staring at us. I was getting tired of it too, staring was rude.

“Thought you’d never fucking ask.”