Several bars of nonstop talking later, Thirtyx had a pretty good picture of the glimmering streets, odd creatures, and rigid lifestyle of Iwabo Pfah. Even if he believed everything they’d told him, he wasn't sure his brain could hold any more information about the place. As Benn and Rhea bickered about the precise flavor of one of the Pfah delicacies they'd eaten, Thirtyx closed his eyes and leaned his head against the wall, lulled by his friends' discourse. Normal. Perhaps the topics they were discussing were absurd, but just chatting like this felt exceedingly normal.

"What, did our description of Pfah cuisine bore you?" Rhea demanded. 

Thirtyx opened a single catlike eye before shaking his head. "Just enjoying this is all."

"You enjoy me fighting with Rhea?" Benn chuckled. "Your break must have been miserable."

In the hallway, the magically amplified voice of Professor Bavarren echoed toward them. "Curfew time. Curfew time. I know everyone's excited, but back to your own rooms."

The voice paused directly outside, and a pair of knuckles rapped on the door. "You too, Miss Grimmary. I know you're in there."

Rhea rolled her eyes, but she stood from where she currently lay on the floor, legs propped up on Benn's trunk. "Yeah yeah. I guess we have class in the morning. But honestly, I'm looking forward to the school schedule. It's way less punishing than Grimm's."

Thirtyx made to argue that he was not looking forward to it, but he wasn’t able to get out the words. Even homework and exams were better than being completely alone for weeks on end.

"Goodnight, Rhea," he said instead. "Enjoy your lumpy school mattress after the luxury of your palace finery."

"Joke's on you,” she smarmed. “I'm exhausted enough to sleep like the dead no matter what mattress I'm on."

Rhea turned toward the door, but she stopped mid-step and frowned at her hands. As golden sparks flickered in her eyes, she drew a tall, golden oval in the air. Despite the instinctual sense of unease the foreign magic drove down his spine, Thirtyx watched Rhea’s work with rapt attention.

She stepped into her sigil and vanished in a flurry of sparks.

"Show off," Benn grumbled, flopping against his pillow, but Thirtyx was still staring at the spot Rhea had vacated. When he finally pulled his eyes away, he noticed Benn giving him a haunted yet encouraging smile. "You'll get used to it—I promise. I struggled with it too, in the beginning, but then I started to see all the possibilities. Like easier teleportation, for one. Most people don’t master Lam teleportation until their 30s."

Thirtyx rose and rummaged through his dresser for pajamas. "I don't think I'm going to believe today was real when I wake up tomorrow."

"Of course it was real. I wasn’t here, but I am now. And you'll know that 15-bars-long conversation was real because I didn't get the chance to unpack."

"Use your shiny new magic, since you can apparently do everything now," Thirtyx quipped. 

A weary grin appeared on Benn's face, highlighted by golden sparks around his eyes. "Nearly everything."

He traced a series of arcs and lines across his chest. Thirtyx feigned disinterest as he changed, but it was a losing battle. Nevertheless, he looked away for the briefest moment, and when he looked back, Benn was in his pajamas.

"No way," Thirtyx said. "That cannot be possible. You changed your clothes with magic?"

"Mmmhmm," Benn said, but a small flare of energy betrayed his dishonesty. Thirtyx raised an eyebrow.

"Okay, fine, it's a glamour," Benn sighed. "But it’s a really comfortable one, so I’m sleeping in it. I don’t have the energy to move."

Thirtyx shook his head with a chuckle before climbing into bed. He was almost disappointed that Benn used normal, purple Lamiakk magic to turn off the light.