The afternoon free period found Thirtyx and the twins at their usual table in the library trying to keep Rhea from pulling her hair out.

In a flash of purple smoke, a slip of paper appeared before her, and she snatched it up hungrily. Her eyes barely grazed the text before she wadded it into a ball and threw it at the floor. "Armatrus is out. Apparently his parents have hired a very expensive tutor to prepare him for the business Comp, and he's not allowed to do any clubs this term." She hadn't even finished speaking before she procured another piece of paper and began writing again. "Maybe I'll try a 10th year instead of a senior."

Thirtyx was only half-listening as he pored over the very intimidating stack of syllabi he’d collected that morning. "What clubs are you still trying to get coverage for?"

"Draconic Honor Society or Service Club. Benn, are you sure you can't run the table for DHS?" She glanced up briefly and batted her eyelashes at her brother. "I'll do the first runic theory assignment for you."

Benn rolled his eyes. "Firstly, how would it look if the world's youngest almost-eighth-tier in Sigraexil wasn't there to recruit for our Sigraexil practice? And second, I happen to like runic theory." He turned his paper to face Rhea. "I'm already half done—see?"

"How can you do homework at a time like this?" Rhea whined. Thirtyx watched her scribble with a pang of conflict. He'd been an active part of Service Club as long as Rhea had—long enough to be elected treasurer in spite of his general Verith-ness. He could easily man the table, but he tended to avoid recruitment events. Interest was generally stronger when prospective members didn't know he was in the club.

Rhea inverted her pen and traced a sigil on the page so quickly her eyes barely flickered. The paper vanished in another puff of purple smoke.

Unable to devise a better way to help, Thirtyx scanned the crowded library for other people to ask. His eyes fell on Seerla talking animatedly with a clique of Dragonfolk. "Hey, what about Seerla for Service Club? I know she only joined last term, but she's got a great customer service personality."

"It does make more sense to have you at the DHS table, Rhea," Benn mused. "You've been the highest-scoring sorceress in our year since they started ranking us. You have to convince the youths that they can have your success and mastery of magic if they apply themselves."

"But they can't have my success and mastery of magic," Rhea grumbled. "I'm the future ruler of Lamiakk."

Thirtyx shot a sidelong glance at Benn. "Know any spells to douse that ego of hers?"

Benn's response was a smirk and a brush of his nose. I might know a Pfah spell to do the trick.

Rhea raised an eyebrow. Ha ha. Very funny. Let me know if the Pfah come up with a decent cloning spell so I can be at both tables—

A flash of purple smoke heralded the return of her recently-sent note to the table. Her eyes had barely grazed the paper before she crumpled this one like the last. Her eyes flickered with purple sparks, and the paper smoldered in her hand.

"No fire spells in the library!" Professor Exelta appeared by their table like she'd been summoned by the smoking parchment. "You know better, Miss Grimmary. Honestly, what kind of example are you setting for the younger students?"

Rhea tucked a tendril of hair behind her ear and fixed Professor Exelta with the most apologetic look her monarch-in-training charm could provide. "You're right, Professor. I'm sorry. I let my emotions get the better of me. It won't happen again."

Many years ago, Thirtyx would have watched with incredulity as Professor Exelta sized Rhea up before giving her a curt nod and heading on her way, but now, he was pretty sure Rhea could get away with murder and Benn with grand larceny. If Thirtyx ever brought fire to the library, they'd likely use it to barbecue him.

Benn nodded at the ashen bits of paper. "How many more backup plans do you have?"

"We may have to go with Seerla." Rhea folded her arms across the table and flopped her head onto them with a dramatic flair. "It's not that I don't trust her, but she knows she doesn't have the background to do it full justice, and that's going to make her feel awkward, and she's going to say no."