The War Board
The Samon House common room was a sanctuary of woven, quiet starlight on the walls and flickering, locked traveler portals on the ceiling. It was a place for travelers to dream and think about exploring and seeing new things. Although today, it was a bit heavier. Hazel sat with Leo in a small corner at a low ebony-wood table. There were bright stars scattered across it, and Hazel had her new divination anchor—that she made with the Montague Diamond—and Leo had his crystal ball and wand.
Leo had to practice divination every day to appease his parents. He was of the main branch of the Ambrose family, and he had tested high in divination. He long ago accepted that he was a natural. He was such a natural that divination bored him.
He looked up to Hazel and sighed. "I know you need to meet with Evervine and Marcel in the library. You don't have to start helping me with traveler magic yet."
Hazel smiled at him. "I am sorry. I am not moping because of you. I just have a lot on my mind."
"Well, let's start now, and then you can get out of here."
"Calm down, Leo. We are friends now. Waiting for you is no bother."
The young boy stood, determination firmly in his shoulders. "It is when you have a lot you need to get done." He looked up to the flickering portals, chose one that Hazel had told him was safe and easy, moved his wand in a complicated set of motions, and spoke the magic word with authority. "Aperta!"
The portal flickered a bit brighter, and the wards in the room caused the starlight to flash in the walls. The portal did not open, and the sound of a heavy door slamming sounded through the common room. Leo slumped in his seat, not wanting to see the eyes on him in his failure.
Divination was so easy for him, but the magic he truly wanted seemed too far away for him to grasp.
Hazel smiled. "I told you it was a safe, easy portal, Leo. Have you been able to study your traveler books?"
He looked up at her with a frown. "I got through Travel Loops and Drops, and The Traveler's Guide to the Layers and Their Dynamics."
Hazel blinked several times. "Why did you start with those two? You won't even look at them this year. Better yet, why did you already buy them?"
Leo sighed. "Dad refused to buy the traveler books. I had to read what the library had."
Hazel looked at him, stunned for a long moment. Then, she pulled three thick books from her dreamscape library. Leo looked impressed. "Your dream gate is already solidified to the waking world. No wonder Uncle Adam is so crazy about you entering the family. Wait, you didn't use that gate at the divination tournament. Very smart. Don't let them know you can do that yet."
Hazel just nodded. She didn't want to talk about his family right now. She placed the books before him—Traveler Magic for the Novice, Before You Open Your First Portal, and The Traveling Basics: What Every Good Traveler Should Know.
"Read these. You will need them for this year. You can borrow mine until we go to Vertin Alley and get yours. You need a proper traveler robe as well. Divination robes don't hold up in the layers."
"Oh. I am not allowed to use any Aether-shards."
Hazel shrugged as she looked up to the same portal he had just tried to open. "Don't worry, I can afford it. I can actually make robes for you as well if you prefer." She moved her wand in the same intricate motions, but she did it so fast Leo couldn't register it. Then, in a soft, kind tone, almost like she was asking permission, she said the activation word. "Aperta."
The portal sprang open as if it had been waiting to be asked all this time. The portal pool was tranquil and clear, and a small tinkling sounded when the activation was done right. Then, the practice portal shut of its own accord. Students were not allowed to use the portals; they could only practice with them.
Hazel looked at Leo. "Easy portals tend to not like to be commanded. But you also have to develop your traveler sense and understand when to knock politely and when to kick a door in." She shrugged and waited for him to try again.
In the afternoon, she was sitting with Evervine and Marcel, huddled in their favorite library nook around a low silk-wood table, which was covered in scribbled notes and a miniature magical projection of the Tournament bracket.
Hazel stared at the flickering lights of the projection, her mind still reeling from her meeting with Headmistress Pilar.
"She was adamant," Hazel whispered, her fingers tracing the edge of her star juice glass. "Pilar told me it was too dangerous. She's got the senior professors searching for the Doll and any breaches. She is not thinking about the fact that it is probably tracking me. How can I stay out of it if it shows up in my room?" She took a sip of the white, glowing drink and almost slammed her glass down.
Evervine leaned forward, her red Sof House battle robes flowing with her every move. "Pilar is right to be worried, but she's being shortsighted. If the Doll is on its way, it'll use the chaos of the Tournament as cover. Look at this guest list, Hazel. We aren't just hosting a few students; we're hosting the elite of the Tan Dimension."
Marcel tapped a glowing icon on the projection, expanding the list of the Six Rival Schools. "We need to know who the real predators are. If we're going to win a slot in the Dimensional Tournament next year, we have to place top two in at least three categories."
All three friends focused on the illuminated words listing the other schools that would be in the Tan tournament.
First Annual Tan Wizarding Tournament School List:
• Gilded Spire
• Bastion of Iron
• Zenith Institute
• Shadow Academy of the Dark Arts
• Star Academy of Magical Practices
• Fati Sortus
• Aegis Academy
Hazel sighed. "With Star Academy seven schools altogether. How much do we know about them?"
"Not enough, but Star Academy is the best of the best. We can do this." Evervine looked to her. "You are pretty good in all categories. Which are you going to enter?"
Hazel shrugged. "I will do the two traveler and the two divination categories. I will leave the rest to you two."
"Oh, great," Marcel whined. "Can we at least team up for the potions group competition?"
"You don't need my help in potions, Marcel."
Marcel looked at Hazel as if he had been physically hit. "How do you figure that?"
Hazel just rolled her eyes and looked to Evervine. "You will do the transfiguration and battle mage categories?"
Evervine nodded curtly. "That's the plan."
The three friends sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the coming weeks settling over them. Seven schools, six lethal categories between them, and a sentient, cursed item lurking somewhere in the dark.