Yvaine pulled on her spare uniform. The other one was ruined after the shift in the cafeteria. The fabric still felt stiff against her skin. She stood in front of the mirror.
Silver hair. Sharp cheekbones. Her eyes… cold. The same kind of cold she had seen in Lucien's eyes. She leaned closer. Was she really looking like them now?
Gods. She would never get used to this face.
Behind her Zully's voice came fast. "We're going to be late for magic class. They're teaching elemental magic today. I do not want to miss it."
Yvaine turned from the mirror. "What's with you and this obsession with elemental magic?"
Zully looked offended. "Excuse you? Elemental magic is one of the most powerful forms of witchcraft. Mastering it makes you powerful too. You're not a witch. You will not understand."
Yvaine frowned. "The only thing I can't understand is why I also have to take magic class as a werewolf."
"It's just basics," Zully said, already stuffing books into her bag. "For you wolves, seers, vampyres… and compulsory for witches and faes. It's just to learn a little bit of spells. You don't know when you might need it."
"Yeah, whatever," Yvaine muttered.
Zully gasped.
Yvaine blinked. "What now?"
Zully's eyes were wide. She pointed at Yvaine's chest. "Y-your badge. It's appearing."
Yvaine looked down. The badge on her uniform had always been black and empty. Now a silvery and gold design was forming over it, the metal lines curling into a shape she didn't recognize.
"Wow," Yvaine said quietly. "It finally came." She ran her finger over it. "But I don't get it. Silver represents the Silverwolves, right? Why do I have gold streaks?"
Zully tilted her head. "It's rare, but I think the school's system recognizes you as a hybrid."
Hybrid? The word stuck like a stone. She wasn't a hybrid. She was only a Silverwolf. She only had silver hair. That was all.
"But I'm just a Silverwolf," she said, a little too fast.
"I'm sure there's some sort of explanation," Zully said. She swung her bag over her shoulder. "Come on, we do not want to be late. I do not want the mute spell on me today."
Yvaine laughed at that, but her stomach still felt tight.
They stepped out of the room. The corridor smelled like polish and old stone. Other students were walking to class, but their eyes kept sliding toward Yvaine. Heads tilted. Whispers moved behind her back.
Yvaine leaned toward Zully. "Why are they staring like that?"
Zully put an arm around Yvaine's shoulder and grinned. "Because you shifted. And your wolf isn't anything they've ever seen. Get used to it, girl. You're absolutely about to get cool."
Cool. She wasn't interested in being cool. She kept her eyes on the floor as they walked.
The hallway opened wider near the stairs. Students moved aside without thinking, giving them a clear path. Yvaine could hear small bits of talk. "That's her…" "Did you see the shift…" "Silver and gold…"
Zully's arm squeezed her shoulder a little tighter. "Keep your chin up. Don't give them anything."
"I didn't even do anything," Yvaine muttered.
"You shifted," Zully said. "That's more than enough."
Yvaine's fingers brushed the badge again. The gold streaks felt raised. Warm. She wanted to tear it off and throw it somewhere, but at the same time she felt a strange pull to it.
"You're quiet," Zully said.
"Nothing," Yvaine said.
Zully's eyebrows lifted. "That's not nothing. You're thinking too much. You always do."
"I'm not a hybrid," Yvaine said under her breath.
Zully looked at her but didn't say anything back.
They reached the door to the magic class. Students were already seated, waiting.
Zully gave her a quick look. "Ready?"
Yvaine swallowed. "Not really."
"Too bad," Zully said. She pushed the door open.
Zully said, "Let's go sit over there." She pointed at two empty seats close to the window.
They went and sat.
Yvaine felt a hand tap her shoulder. She turned. It was Caelan.
"Hey, pup," Caelan said.
"Caelan. I wasn't expecting to see you here."
Damn it, Yvaine thought. Of course he'd be here. He's a student here.
Zully said, "Hi, Caelan."
"Zully. Love your hair this morning," Caelan said.
Zully smiled. "Why, thank you."
Caelan looked at Yvaine. "How are you feeling?"
"I feel strangely different. I don't know if I love the feeling," Yvaine said.
Caelan chuckled. "You'll get used to it."
Yvaine gave a small smile. "Thanks." She turned around and saw Valtira and Priya glaring at her. She looked away quickly.
Then the teacher appeared right in front of them.
"Greetings, class. My name is Lady Maria Montez. I'll be your elemental magic tutor."
The door opened. Elyan, Veylor and Ed came in panting.
Lady Maria said, "And why are you three late?"
Veylor said, "We're sorry. Someone pulled a loop spell prank on our block of the dorm. We just got out."
Lady Maria eyed them. "Go find a seat."
The three of them scurried to find empty seats. Elyan waved at Yvaine and Zully.
Lady Maria began the class. "Today the element you'll be working on is water. I'll be teaching how to separate light from water."
She snapped her fingers. A large glass bowl of water appeared on the table.
She said, "Long ago our ancestors used this magic to navigate the dark. They drew light from streams, rivers and even rain to guide their way across unknown lands. It was simple and powerful. It saved lives during storms and wars. It taught our people to see light hidden in everything."
She looked at the class. "I'll give a demonstration. It works when you channel your energy. Yes, everyone has a light in them. We'll use that to conjure light from water. When reciting the spell, focus your mind."
She raised her hands over the bowl.
She recited, "Lightem sūpra aqua, lumen tollere ex unda, shine now, rise clear."
The water bubbled. A thin line of water floated in the air. The line divided and light was extracted, shooting up to the ceiling like a water firework.
The class clapped. It was a beautiful sight.
She said, "Now, which one of you would like to try?"
Hands went up. Lady Maria scanned the crowd.
"You… come to the front please."
"M-me?" Yvaine asked.
"Yes you. Or do you have a twin?" Lady Maria said.
Yvaine swallowed and went to the front. She didn't want to embarrass herself like last time and pass out from a spell.
She got to the front.
"Carry on," Lady Maria said.
Yvaine took a breath and started the spell… but nothing happened.
Valtira said, "Even as a Silverwolf, you still don't know how to do anything."
The class laughed.
Oh that bitch, Yvaine thought.
"Silence," Lady Maria said. Everyone stopped laughing. She turned to Yvaine. "My dear, you have lots of energy. I can feel it. Close your eyes. Tap into it."
Yvaine closed her eyes, breathed in and recited the spell. She felt a surge of energy from her body. She continued the spell.
The class gasped.
She opened her eyes. The entire water in the bowl was now floating, a big water bubble.
"Good," Lady Maria said. "Now focus. Separate the light."
Yvaine began to separate the light. But instead of going up, the light filled water bubble floated toward Valtira.
Valtira chuckled nervously. "Uh… what are you doing? You can cut it out now."
But Yvaine didn't know how to stop it.
"Yvaine! Cut it out. You'll shock me!" Valtira yelled.
"I don't know how to!" Yvaine said.
Lady Maria snapped her fingers and the water disappeared.
"You need to learn control. Please take your seat," she said.
Yvaine walked to her seat. Eyes followed her.
Zully whispered, "That was awesome. I wish you'd let it fall on that stupid Valtira."
Then Principal Myrrin's voice came over the public address system.
"Yvaine Theolux, report to my office now."
___
Yvaine takes a deep breath before knocking on the door.
What could the principal want this time?
"Come in."
She opened the door and stepped in, shutting it behind her.
Yvaine turned and she couldn't believe her eyes.
"Mum?"