Streaming into the Common Center, Kira, Abby, and their roommates, spotted a circle of sofas and chairs with a dozen or so students on them. Marcus was there, so they knew this must be the right group.

  “Ah, welcome ladies!” Marcus stood up as he saw them, “Find a seat anywhere, there’s plenty of space. We’ve got some snacks and drinks on the table if you’d like— did you know the food is free here? It’s also fantastic!”

  They all plopped down together. Kira and Abby were squished, sandwiched between the Trinity’s on one side and Resetta’s muscular form on the other. The other students were already talking amongst each other in their own little cliques they had built over the short period of time. It helped having a roommate, or roommates in her case, you were almost destined to become friends at that point.

  Kira was happy she had already found a group of her own to become friends with, and hopefully it would expand over time as well.

  They waited for a couple more minutes past one, allowing a few later students to stream in. Kira counted 20 other first years here.

  Not wanting to delay any longer, Marcus stood up. “Hello everyone!” He shouted, getting their attention and seizing their conversations. “I think it’s time for the meet and greet to begin!”

  “Let’s have everyone introduce themselves, maybe tell us your favourite hobby, or show us your innate magic if you’ve awakened yours already. Really just talk about something besides your name. Sounds good?”

  Everyone nodded.

  “I can start first as I’m already standing.” Marcus bowed, “I’m Marcus, from the Lock Household. My birthday hasn’t come around, so I haven’t touched any magic just yet, as magical as I may seem.”

  A few polite chuckles followed.

  “But I do have a deep passion for the noble art of wand making. If you have any question regarding wands, I’d be happy to tell you, and if I don’t know the answer, I’d be even more willing to find it for you. I’m sure you’d all love it if I kept talking more about myself, but I’ll let someone else go next.”

  They went in a circle introducing themselves, and from the direction they were going, Kira was going to be one of the later people to go. She tried to memorize everyone’s names as they went, reciting them in her head so it would stick.

  “I’m Alexander Juniper Gryphon, heir of the Gryphon household.” A tall boy with some scruff already growing on his chin announced. Kira found him immediately good looking with his straight and confident posture, a chiseled face, and an air of maturity around him most 12-13 years didn’t have. That’s probably what happens when you grow up in a normal noble household. She wondered if she would’ve turned out like him if she was in a different noble family.

  All eyes were locked onto him. He was a noble— well she was as well, but he felt more like a real noble.

  “As I was born on the calendar’s start, I’ve had ample opportunity to awaken my innate magic.” Alexander stuck a hand out, and they all watched with curiosity at what it could be. No one else had shown their innate magic yet, he was the first to do so.

  Fog began to lightly pour out of his hand, falling onto the floor and piling up onto itself while forming a shape. Kira was watching to see what the shape might be, and only realized what it looked like a second before the fog snapped away and a knight stood in its place. Its helmet had no head inside and instead fog was in its place, while the rest of its body was encased in silver armour. It also held a sword and shield in either hand.

  Kira almost giggled when she first saw it, but held herself back. That would be rude to laugh at another’s innate magic. It wasn’t her fault that a tiny knight only as tall as her knee was just a little funny.

  “My innate magic has been categorized as a ‘living magic’ spell.” Alexander went on, “My instructor has been training him alongside me for the last few months, he’s fairly skilled by now.”

  The knight bowed and did some example swings, demonstrating his skills with the blade.

  “But I can’t keep him out for very long, it costs me too much mana.” Alexander shared, “Which brings me to another important part of myself. I am a child of Rose.”

  “Oh.” “Wow.” A chorus of whispered gasps of admiration played out in the Common Center.

  A child of Rose was like a child of Thorn. They had their own magical marking, though it wasn’t a thorny ring around the neck like Kira had, instead it was a red and black rose on their backs. Their magic was changed as well, but not in the same way. A child of Thorn had much more mana than normal, but had a harder time controlling it, whereas a child of Rose had very little mana, but their control over it was spectacular.

  Alexander sat down to let the next person go, but a majority of eyes still glanced back at him every so often. Eventually it got around to the Trinity’s turn, who introduced themselves together. Like Alexander, the Trinity’s really drew in everyone’s attention more than the others. Their natural charm was captivating, and the effect was tripled because there were three of them.

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  The only one who’s attention wasn’t focused on the Trinity’s was Kira. Her turn was next, and she thought she would have no problem getting up and talking, but just because she thought that didn’t mean it was true. Her stomach was doing flips and turns, and her heart was loudly thumping as she nervously waited for her turn to come up. Abby seemed to have sensed Kira’s emotions plaguing her and grabbed her hand.

  ‘You got this!’ Abby mouthed to her best friend.

  “And that’s us!” The Trinity’s finished and sat down, looking at Kira now that it was her turn.

  Okay here we go. Kira popped out of her seat and looked around at the 20 other students around. Her hands subconsciously started rubbing together in a awkward fidget.

  “Um, hello everyone. I’m Kira…” she paused, “Kira Funkell Thorn.”

  Only Abby and the Trinity’s weren’t surprised by her name drop. She even saw Resetta, who she hadn’t told yet, raise her eyebrows uncommonly high and focus on her entirely.

  “A Thorn?” “The rumours were true then?” “I don’t believe it.” The room broke into muted conversations, which was building in volume as Kira stood there.

  “Okayokay everyone, let’s not talk while our classmate is introducing herself!” Marcus had gotten up and shouted at everyone. They all quieted down. “Sorry about that Kira, please finish whenever you're ready.” Marcus smiled and sat back down.

  Kira thanked Marcus in her head, took a deep breath, and kept going. “I only started learning magic recently and I haven’t awakened my innate magic just yet… I'm also a child of Thorn, which is an odd coincidence.”

  Her classmates started whispers again, but after Marcus loudly cleared his throat, they stopped.

  “Because of that, I got to go get my familiar early to help control my mana. If you wanna say hi to Caspian, here he is.” A short streak of mana zoomed out of her chest and manifested her furry familiar, Caspian.

  The capybara waved at everyone, eliciting heart melting reactions from most of the girls. Their focus had transferred from Kira’s unique situation to the adorable creature in front of them. Her plan had worked; distract others with Caspian’s cuteness.

  “I like eating tasty food, cooking, and learning about magic.” Kira started speaking quickly to get everything she wanted to say out as fast as she could. “I also like baths, board games, and playing sports. Thank you!”

  Kira almost threw herself back onto the couch. Thankfully her introduction was out of the way, but she wouldn’t know how people will start treating her until later, when they're outside this type of group setting.

  Caspian tottered over to her and jumped onto her lap to lay down. He closed his eyes and almost instantly fell asleep. The calming purr of her familiar slowed her thumping heartbeat back down to normal.

  Kira flinched, surprised at how fast Abby shot out of her seat. “I’m Abby Frost Brinton, aspiring adventurer, lover of all things cute, and Kira’s best friend!”

  “Watch this!” Abby jumped and didn’t come down. She stayed floating in the air, her hair whipping around her. “Going up and down is easy, but sideways is where things get hard. If you ever need someone to get something high up, you can just come to me for help!”

  Abby gently floated back down, and with a final smile, sat back down beside Kira. Her bright and energetic display seemed to bring people back out of their heads, switching their thoughts from the new Thorn girl and her cute familiar, towards her.

  After Abby, there were only a few more people left. Resetta was quick, she only said her name and her hobby; sword fighting. The last few people went and then it came back upon Marcus, finishing the loop.

  “Okay, that’s everyone.” Marcus announced. “Since we’re all done with introductions, feel free to eat some of the snacks here, talk to some new faces, or if you wanna go, don’t be afraid to leave.”

  About a third of the first years left, while the rest stayed and started to crowd around the wide center table where all the food was. Kira stuck to Abby’s side, wanting to be close to those she was comfortable with. The Trinity’s had dispersed and went around to everyone they could, trying to make the most friends.

  Kira thought maybe more people would approach Abby seeing as she was probably the most easy-going student here, but then Kira realized it might be because she was hanging around her that others weren’t so eager to approach them.

  “Miss Thorn, may I have a word?” A voice said from behind, startling her. She whipped around and had to look up at Alexander standing there.

  “Er, sure— but please call me Kira, I’m not used to the whole Thorn thingy yet.” Her face was heating up as she spoke. She didn’t know how to speak all proper like Alexander, words just spewed out of her mouth like a child.

  “Kira then.” Alexander smiled. His blonde hair sparkled as sunlight cast through a large window on the wall beamed onto it. “It’s a pleasure to meet the new heir of house Thorn.” He reached out for what Kira thought was a handshake, but she was mistaken. He gently turned her wrist and leaned down to kiss the back of her hand.

  ‘Ah’ her brain went blank, and her cheeks went red.

  “Don’t forget about me!” Abby jumped in with a wave.

  “I could never forget you, Miss Brinton.” Alexander once again leaned down and kissed Abby’s hand. “Your energy is simply radiant, like the feeling of sunlight in the middle of winter.”

  “Really?.” Abby smiled, “Well thank you. You also have this cool energy to you, like a lion— or like a Gryphon!”

  “I appreciate the compliment.” Alexander chuckled, “I would love to get to know both of you over the school years, if you two are interested.”

  “That sounds fun! Count me in!” Abby cheered.

  “Here, my dorm room number.” Alexander handed a thick paper card to both of them. With this they would be able to send letters to him through their dorm mother if they wanted to meet up somewhere outside of classes.

  “Ouh nice! I’m room six, Kira’s room two!” Abby told him, “We don’t have a card so you're just going to have to remember.”

  “Remember I shall.” Alexander smiled. “I must depart now, I have much to do to prepare for the school year before it starts officially.”

  “Okay, see ya later!” Abby waved him goodbye. Once he was out of sight, she turned to Kira. “What happened, you stopped talking?”

  “He… he kissed me.” Kira said.

  “He kissed your hand— and he kissed my hand as well. I always wonder how you can work at your place when you get so weird in front of new people.”

  “Work is different.” Kira didn’t know how to explain it, but when she was working, she could greet and chat with new people easily. “And.., he’s kind of intimidating, plus you two were chatting away so I didn’t want to interrupt.”

  “Okay okay, it’s just funny seeing you out of your element.” Abby teased her.

  The two of them, Abby taking charge, went around and talked to the others they hadn't met before today. It was a good hour or two before they headed back, their roommates in tow. It started a little shaky for Kira, but the more people she got around to, the better she felt. Her worries about her lineage were dashed away, most people didn’t seem to care too much that she was a Thorn, though they did feel a little overly respectful, but that’s probably what most wizards are like when talking to nobles. They had even made plans with some other girls to go hangout in their free time.

  Things were seemingly off to a swell start.