Dorin closed his eyes as the lilac smoke engulfed him. He could feel the spell working around him while Sebastian held his arm firmly.

‘A translocation spell...’ he thought to himself, ‘for short distance travel.’

When the smoke dissipated, he found himself standing in front of a small white tent. Several other tents stood on both sides of it, all of which had a table in front and one or two people sitting inside. The People inside this particular tent were both staring at Sebastian and Dorin. The girl behind the table was holding a bunch of papers, while inside, a guy knelt in front of a large box.

“Sebastian!” said the girl at the front desk. “You know very well that you’re not supposed to use spells indiscriminately on campus!”

[Is registration still open?] wrote Sebastian, ignoring the girl’s warning.

“Weren’t you here earlier?” said the guy inside the tent. He straightened up and dusted his pants. “Besides, all the slots are full.”

“Full?” Dorin asked. The two of them looked at the strange boy beside Sebastian. “But I’ve gone all this way...!”

[Isn’t there any other slots available?]

“Sorry, like we said, we’re all full.” said the girl.

“But it’s just 1 more slot...” Dorin begged.

“You see, we give out photography kits to all registrants, so we can’t accept more than what we have on hand,” the girl told him. “I’m afraid we can’t include you unless one of the other registrants back out.”

[Then let him take my slot] wrote Sebastian.

“Are you sure?” the guy asked. “Haven’t you been waiting for this all school year?”

“Really, Sebastian? You’re giving up your spot for me?” asked Dorin.

[Yes. I will try something else.] was the other’s written reply.

“You don’t know how much this means to me! You truly are a nice person!” Dorin said unabashed. “From this day forth, I shall think of you as my brother!” He then took hold of Sebastian’s shoulders and kissed both his cheeks.

Sebastian stood there, his face devoid of emotion as Dorin smiled at him. The 2 people from the photography club looked surprised.

“I thank you too!” said Dorin, reaching out to them, the girl flinched as he took her hand and pumped it enthusiastically. “I am called Dorin Silvius.”

“Oh, for a minute there I thought you were gonna...” mumbled the girl, turning red. “I am Anastasia, Technology department year 4, and that one over there is Josiah, Science department year 7.” Dorin reached out for Josiah’s hand as well but the other stepped back.

“Sorry, but I’m not good with physical contact,” said he. “Here’s the registration form.” He handed Dorin two sheets of paper and a pen. “For the fee, just give it to Sebastian, since he has already paid for his slot.”

“Oh, how much do I have to pay?” asked Dorin.

[Two Hundred alma.] wrote Sebastian before the others could speak.

“Got it!” Dorin took his pouch from his new satchel and counted 200 alma bills as the three stared at the thick wad of money. “Here, you go!” he said cheerfully.

[Thank you. Now, let’s go back and have a bite to eat] wrote Sebastian. [Your treat] he added shortly.

“Of course!” said the other, “It’s the least I can do!”

The two went on their way, Dorin chattering happily. Anastasia and Josiah watched as they turned a bend and disappeared from their sight.

“Isn’t the registration fee only 50 Almas?” asked Anastasia.

“I feel sorry for that new kid, already...” said Josiah.

“You mean, you can talk to Mar using this... cellphone?” asked Dorin as he inspected the small device in his hands. “I have read about telephones in my mother’s book before, but I have never actually seen one. Don’t they need to be connected to lines?” he asked

[Cell phones use radio waves transmitted through antennas, no need for cable lines.]

“Oh... I’d like to read about that sometime...”

[You can study at the tech dept] wrote Sebastian.

“Study?”

[They have full 1 yr course for cp tech w/ additional 2 yrs for telecom & satellite tech. Very in demand & high pay job <3] heart included.

“This is delicious!” Dorin was no longer listening. He took another bite off the hamburger they bought and exclaimed, “What did you say this was called again?”

[Hamburger. Where did you say you were from again?]

“By the way, how can you call Mar if you can’t talk?” Dorin asked, ignoring Sebastian’s question.

[Through text or email] Sebastian made a sequence of swipes and taps. Later, the phone rang. He pressed a button and passed it to Dorin.

“I’m on my way there.” It was Margarette.

“Hello? Hello Margarette! Do you hear me?” Dorin shouted at the phone. People in the burger joint looked at him, some of them snickering.

“You’re too loud!” Mar shouted back. “I got your message, I’ll be there in a minute.” There was a click, then a beeping sound. Dorin gave the phone back to Sebastian who just sat there looking at him, but something tells him the other guy was snickering at him.

His shoulders seem to be shaking.

Mar arrived later and gave Dorin a key and several sheets of paper.

“That’s the key to your university vault. The papers, you need to fill up and hand over to the registrar as soon as you can. They open at 8 am tomorrow. It was a good thing my aunt was in the registrar’s office and agreed to let me take the form back with me.”

“Thank you for all your assistance Miss Margarette!” Dorin took her arm and proceeded to pump it up and down. He then took a quill pen out and started filling up the form. It was made from an actual feather.

“By the way, I was told that you haven’t sent your University application yet, do you have it with you now?” Mar asked, watching Dorin’s neat cursive penmanship.

“Oh, I’m not applying for university, I’m just here for the photography class!”

“Huh?”

“There’s a ‘3 days, 2 nights Photography Camp’, right?” he recalled from memory, as he gulped his last piece of burger, “I saw this pamphlet from one of my mother’s books and decided to check it out,” he went on. “I’ve never seen a camera before! Imagine, a magical contraption capable of capturing moments with just a flash of light!”

Mar gaped at him, dumbstruck.

[In a way, he got the logic right.] Sebastian wrote.

“Wait a minute... you came all the way from Monarch Forest... just to learn how to use a camera?!”

“Well, yes...” Dorin looked at his fries thoughtfully, “Actually, I asked my mother to buy me one with an instructional book included, but she flatly refused to do so, saying ‘it’s just a useless hobby for slackers who have too much time in their hands’.” Here, he waves his hand in the air and talked in a sharp, haughty voice. “So, I decided to come out here on my own.”

“In other words, you ran away from home?” Mar asked, her jaw left hanging.

[Obviously.]

“Yup!” Dorin answered with a nod

“And your mother is that overprotective person who gave you all those charms and wards to keep you safe?!”

“Yup!” Another nod. “These... fries are so tasty!” Sebastian pushed his fries in his direction. “I can have these?” asked Dorin with a beam. “Why thank you!” He gulped the rest of his fries and proceeded to eat the other bag.

“But... you need the signature of a parent or guardian to take classes here... especially for minors 15 years and below!”

“Oh, that’s okay, I always sign my mother’s documents when she’s not around, I even brought her ring!” Saying this, Dorin pulls out a signet ring from some inner pocket and showed it to his 2 companions. “Although I’ve only ever seen her use it once...”

Mar and Sebastian stared at the ring.

It was a gold signet ring with a single rose surrounded by a crown of 12 thorns. Mar suddenly stood up, her face pale. With a trembling hand, she pointed at the ring, stammering.

“T-the... The seal of Briar Rose...” she whispered. Beside her, Sebastian remained motionless.

“What did I tell you about showing people your stuff?” said a small voice behind them. The three were taken aback as a small hand snatched the ring from Dorin’s hand, while another pulled on his left ear.

“Ow-ow-ow...”

Dorin turned around. Standing behind him was Agate, an angry frown on her youthful face.

“A-Agate! What’s the matter...” he asked her.

“THIS is the matter!” she hissed, raising her clasped fist with the ring inside.

She looked around the store. Almost all of the customers were watching them now, wondering what the commotion was about.

“Take your stuff.” She ordered them. She then took out her wand, mumbled a spell, and whisked the whole group out of the store.

The four of them materialized inside a spacey room with a canopy bed on a corner and a study table by the only window. The walls were covered with shelves overflowing with books and models of human anatomical parts.

“Books!” gasped Dorin as he approached the nearest shelf.

“Dorin! Come here.” Agate called, her eyes a dark shade of red. “And you!” she pointed at Sebastian, “Don’t you dare place an anchor point inside my room!”

The latter, who had his right hand inside his coat pocket, slowly pulled it out and looked innocently around the room instead.

“Professor Althea!” Mar called to Agate, “do you know this kid?”

“Agate? Are you really a professor here?” Dorin asked, a book already in his hands.

[Can I borrow a book too?] wrote Sebastian.

“SILENCE” Agate commanded, the word reverberating in the room. The children found themselves unable to speak.

[I promise to return them soon!] wrote Sebastian.

Agate walked to Sebastian, grabbed the slate, and threw it on her table.

“Now. I want all of you to listen. Answer only when asked.”

Agate took out the signet ring and held it at the palm of her hand. “First, Dorin. Does your mother know that you are here?”

“No.”

“Where is she now?”

“She left yesterday on another spell request.”

“I knew you couldn’t have come here if she knew about this...” she mumbled. “Is there any way for you to contact her?”

“Yes. But I left it back home!” Dorin replied with a stubborn look on his face.

“Drat. Do you know where she went?”

“No, she never tells me where she goes.”

“Hmph. Typical Hermione...” Agate mumbled some more.

“You know my mother?” Dorin asked, but Agate just stared at him with angry dark eyes.

“I am the one asking questions.” She faced Mar and Sebastian next. “Margarette Gunnar. Sebastian Revius. What are you two doing with my nephew?”