Saraphina had finished putting on the new uniform. She smiled brightly as she looked down at the loose pants and comfortable shoes. “This uniform is so much nicer! She didn't even alter it at all! That means this time I won't stand out!” Saraphina stared at herself in a thin mirror pressed against the side of one of the inner walls of the train.lose pants and comfortable shoes. “This uniform is so much nicer! She didn't even alter it at all! That means this time I won't stand out!” Saraphina stared at herself in a thin mirror pressed against the side of one of the inner walls of the train.on the loose pants and comfortable shoes. 

The door opened and Saraphina turned with a bright smile eyes closed.

“What the hell is with all this yelling?”

An unfamiliar voice caused Saraphina to open her eyes, her smile fading into a cautious frown with a cold sweat tipping down her neck.

“Oh, sorry I can't seem to remember your name, you are in Rosewood Academy right?” The male figure came towards her causing Saraphina to take a step back bumping into the mirror behind her.

Saraphina looked up at the blond haired male, he had dark brown eyes, very thin though and stood with an extremely broad poster.

Without realizing it Saraphina's hand went up, moving the wig hairs that tickled her forehead and lightly poked against her eyes. The hair; unfamiliar with the flow of real hair, fell right back in place.

“If I speak now... well he be able to tell? Maybe I should...” Saraphina's eyes moved widely as she searched for an escape.

Saraphina covered her mouth and tried to clear her throat. “I didn't think I would run into anyone from the academy here.”

“Ahh is that so, I swear I can't place your name, what classes are you in?”

The male walked closer and Saraphina only then noticed the huge height difference between them. “Well, I um... To be honest, I'm new, I will be starting this semester.”

“Starting after the year has begun? Isn't that-”

“To be fair, it's still close to the beginning of the year... I-I think.”

Everything became silent, Saraphina looked up and the male tilted his head to observe her better. “What a minute. Could you be-”

The door opened with a loud large thrust and Edwain came in already speaking. “Sara-” his eyes meant with the Rosewood Male Academy student and he quickly began to stumble on his words as he became aware of the situation “-iously that line was horrible. You owe me big Sora.” Edwain muttered as he pushed a plate packed to the top with food into Saraphina's hands.

“Here, be grateful brat,” He didn't even look in Saraphina's direction as his eyes met with the other males.

“Brat?” Saraphina muttered under her breath. Her eyes then going to the plate. “W-what is the meaning of this! D-do you seriously think I can eat all this what is wrong with you.” She held onto a plate with different assortments of food piled one over the other, a very unstable mortician that seemed to tremble with every slight movement.

“You said you were hungry, do you want to stay that short forever. You're a Zanderson now right?” It was only then that Edwain turned towards her, and she began to understand the stress he was under, a beam of sweat showing on his face.

“He's a good liar...” Saraphina noted as she walked passed him with a quick nod, her head lowering in respect. “I am sure he has had plenty of practice lying in front of me.” Saraphina took a seat and removed the fork that was placed upright in the mess of good like a flag on the top of some almost never reached structure.

“A Zanderson hu? So this is the kid your deranged uncle brought into the family?” The male wasn't in an academy uniform, just a loose gray shirt and jeans, but he obviously was. He bent down and placed his hand under his chin, her gaze watching Saraphina's every movement. “I don't see what's so great about this kid that your uncle would take an interest. Hey boy-”

“His name is Sora Zanderson,” Edwain caught in. “Sadly he's my cousin, please treat him with respect.”

“Man you are so uptight, guess that is what you would expect from a trained guard dog. So is it true that it was arranged by those Rosewood witches?”

Edwain didn't answer, Saraphina's eyes followed Edwain as he came and sat directly next to her. He plopped down roughly causing the whole sofa to bounce and Saraphina to almost choke on the food she had been in the process of swallowing.

“So anyway Sora, Is your magic heritage from outside of the country?”

“Hu... Oh, I... I actually don't know, I haven't known my parents since I was a baby so it's possible.”

“What kind of abilities do you have then?”

“Well... I'm not very good with anything,” Saraphina sighed as she placed down her fork, still, a large amount of food hanging out her mouth as she spoke. “That's kind of why I am here though right?”

“You seem really relaxed who was raised by regular humans.”

“I've known I was different this whole time, so it wasn't that big of a surprise when I was sent away.”

“Depressing.”

“Anyway, shouldn't you be grieving? You are going to Daric's funeral right Alex?” Edwain muttered.

“Yeah, I should be, but what's the point in that? No one outside of the academy and the head families knows how he really died. I can't do anything to cause suspicion. That's more painful than anything. To have to look at his younger siblings and my uncle and aunt and lie to their faces. I'd rather not go.”

Saraphina folded her hands in her lap as she became very silent, the room became rather cold causing her to shiver slightly. “Did something happen at the academy?” She muttered knowing it wasn't her place.

“Yeah, a lot has actually, but we aren't allowed to discuss it. Things will either be ok or they won't, but you will learn that for yourself. Right Edwain?”

“I think what they are making you do Alex is wrong, I don't know how, but we will find out what really happened. We will find who killed him.”

“Come on now Edwain doesn't try to pretend to be everyone's knight in shining armor. Daric became obsessed with the dark history of head magic users. He found something he shouldn't have and was taken care of. There's no reason for us to get involved now. Anyways my stop is coming up, best of luck at Rosewood Academy, Sora.”

“So you didn't lock the door after I left?”

Saraphina turned to see Edwain's face only inches from her, she could feel his hot breath, but his angry gaze only caused shivers to go down her spine. “Well, I... I didn't actually think anyone would come in here.”

“What would you have done if he would have seen you changing?”

“Hm... I don't know. I guess I would have had to see how good I am at erasing memories huh?”

“Sora I swear...”

“But hey look on the bright side” Saraphina smiled as she stood up. “Looking like this and being your younger adopted cousin, doesn't that mean that I can repay my debt to you? Like this, I can repay you for always being kind to me as a child!”

“You're an idiot.”

Saraphina stood and turned toward Edwain, she bent over, lowered her head until it was right across from his. “But you're happy about it right?”

Edwain looked away and quickly pushed his hand into Saraphina's face, covering her eyes, nose, and mouth and pushing her lightly back. It was only for a second before his large hand covered her view, but she could have sworn she saw him blushing. “Normally people don't get all jumpy about the possibility of being treated like an errand boy.”

“That's odd I figured you say, slave.”

“I don't need someone like you to be a slave to me. I am more than capable of doing things on my own. I am looking forward to watching you suffer without any help on the sidelines though.”

“And you will be ready to throw fuel on the fire when I'm already dancing in flames right?”

“Who knows,” Edwain shrugged as he turned back towards Saraphina with a wide smile.

“Hey Edwain, we finally did it!”

“Did what?”

“We finally ran away from Mary Rosewood!”

Edwain's smile widened slightly as he lifted his book up one more time. “So that's why she is happy, it's the first time she isn't going to be watched 24/7 by that witch. Guess that would make anyone happy.”