Late into September, with autumn under way, Emery and her fellow first years found themselves back in the library once again. The study table on the first floor, furthest from the door, became a regular spot for Emery, Thomas, Ed, and even a few others rotating in and out based on their schedules. At present, Sonia was busy talking Raven into letting her ears taste her newest musical interest.
"Soni," Raven said, clearly tired. "For like, the sixth time, I can't understand Korean."
"You don't have to understand it!" Sonia assured her. "Isn't the beat and rhythm enough to just get your heart pumping?"
"I thought you didn't like mundane music?" Raven crossed her arms as she leaned back in her chair.
"That was before Emery showed me Korean pop." Sonia said with a smile as she let her headphones slap against her ears.
"This is your fault, Lamb Chop." Raven told Emery as she playfully shook her head.
Emery shrugged, "She asked for recommendations."
"Hey, Thomas." Ed interrupted. "Do you think Vale would recommend me for the Knights academy?"
"Number one: you've barely spoken to him." Thomas continued. "Number two: maybe think about finishing at least five years of school first?"
"Fair enough, but Vale used to be a Knight Commander. That's got to have a ton of pull." Checking the time on the far wall, Ed's eyes widened as he rapidly collected his things off the table. "The school Harnette team is about to open up the practice fields!"
"Ed, it's not for another twenty minutes." Emery said as her classmate hurried along.
"I'm gonna go on ahead!" Ed mentioned as he barreled past some vacant chairs.
Thomas shook his head as he closed the book he was reading. "Come on. You know how Ed gets."
"Good point." Emery nodded. "Besides, he still has to explain how Harnette even works. I'll meet you by the door." Emery said as she passed along her borrowed texts. "You two want to tag along?" She said to Raven and Sonia.
"Nah, I gotta stop slacking and catch up on some astronomy work for Mr. Perez." Sonia said as she shouldered her backpack. "See you at the dorms."
"Raven? How about you?" Emery offered.
Still leaning in her chair, Raven raised an eyebrow and replied, "I didn't figure you for a sports girl."
"My brother June is the sports nut." Emery pointed out as she readied herself to leave. "I'm just curious."
"Harnette is like your friend's idea of knights; overrated." Raven informed her as she followed her to the library entrance.
Emery led her friend out into the hallway and kept her back to the wall as numerous students passed back and forth. "I get the feeling you don't like Ed." Emery commented.
"I don't have beef with Ed." Raven admitted before adding. "Just his thoughts on stuff."
"Isn't that the same thing?" Emery reasoned.
"Not necessarily...” Raven sighed. "Look Emery, I know Ed's not a bad guy. But when a knight shows up, l only see bruises on the wrong people."
Emery winced, "That sucks."
"It's nothing new, just not comforting.” Raven admitted. “Tell you what; I'll come watch and reserve judgement on the big hero."
The rest of the trip towards the north side of the school was spent chatting about random bits of this and that of the school's goings-on. The northern courtyard and stone path up toward the Harnette pitch was busier than usual as students scrambled back and forth. Many were simply soaking in the warm days before the chill settled in. Others were practicing a variety of magic in the spacious fields outside the school. The closer they came to the back field, the more magic they noticed that involved the same type of ball students were using.
"Emery!" Ed's voice hollered from atop the nearby bleachers as he gestured to the empty seats he saved.
In short order, the three students climbed the smooth surface of the stands to meet him. Keeping one eye on the field, Emery managed to catch glimpses of practice matches in motion.
"Alright," Emery started to say as she took her seat next to Ed. "You've been hyping this. What is Harnette?"
"Thomas," Ed called out. "A history lesson first, maybe?"
Thomas rolled his eyes as he felt the stares of his classmates stick to him. "Harnette was created by William Harnette during the French revolutionary period. Harnette and their associates being lower class, had no means of seizing magical power that would safeguard their positions in a shifting French society."
"Are we at the sport part yet?" Ed hurried.
"I'm getting there." Thomas told him. "So, Harnette innovated how we use familiars alongside the elements. By channeling your primary element through your familiar, mages can battle in the physical world without harm to themselves. Harnette challenged hundreds of upper class mages to duels with his familiar and created a league of challengers who could constantly restructure who held the most status through non-violent means.”
"Hence why the sport got so popular around the world." Ed concluded. "But let's get to the real meat of it!"
"No respect for history." Thomas said as he shook his head.
“Let’s just get to the basics!” Ed said excitedly. “Thomas, up for a demonstration?”
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