After a flash of blinding light, the three of them were back home. This time, Mary's father wasn't panting heavily as he had been when they first entered the Reverse Side; he stood tall and straight, his posture remarkably different from his usual self. Her mother, too, seemed changed—her skin looked far more vibrant and healthy than it had that morning.
Mary blinked, clutching her personal wand with joy as she hurried toward her room. She was already planning to show it off to Tirian the next day, but before she could get far, her father's voice rang out, stopping her in her tracks. His face bore an uncharacteristic gravity.
"Mary, you must not speak of the mysteries of magic to any ordinary person. I will explain the reasons to you tonight, but for now, you must trust my words."
Mary's face fell, but she nodded obediently, suppressing her excitement as she retreated to her room.
Outside, her father let out a heavy sigh, staring down at his own palm. "Dear, I don't know if this is a blessing or a curse, but we need to set up a safeguard for her." His voice was low and raspy. He couldn't quite explain it, but a sudden, urgent sense of necessity had taken root in his heart, and he couldn't fathom its source.
His wife embraced him, offering a brief moment of comfort before the two of them began organizing their daughter's new belongings.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye. Mary's time with her parents had come to an end; she was now headed toward a new environment, new friends, and challenges far beyond her imagination.
The train station in the Reverse Side was a massive hub, a marvel of convenience for mages embarking on long journeys. Today, it was exceptionally crowded. Families hurried past one another, each offering their own brand of parting advice—some stern, some humorous, others gently comforting a frightened child.
Near the train bound for the Veldawine Academy of Magic, Mary's family stood together, talking and laughing.
"Mary, remember everything I told you: eat well, don't stay up late, don't pick fights with others, take care of yourself, and make good friends." Her father droned on and on, to the point where Mary began to look for a way to dodge his lecture. Her mother simply watched them with a smile; she had things to say too, but since her husband had covered every possible topic, she remained silent.
As the train doors opened for the future seeds of the magical world, Mary stepped onto the threshold. She turned back one last time, shouting over the surrounding din. "Dad! Mom! Please say goodbye to Tirian for me!" Her parents nodded and waved, and Mary stepped into the carriage with peace of mind.
After checking her ticket, she began searching for a seat. She eventually found a large compartment with facing benches, designed to hold several passengers. This wasn't her first time on a train, but without her parents by her side, a wave of loneliness began to creep in.
As Mary stood there lost in thought, someone gave her a gentle nudge from behind. Startled, she spun around.
The person behind her was a girl with long hair that curled slightly at the ends and eyes as blue as sapphires glittering in the dark. She carried an aura that suggested she wouldn't hesitate to kick everyone else out of her way. She was beautiful but cold, surrounded by a strange, chilly atmosphere.
The girl looked down at Mary, who was a full head shorter than her, and spoke in a flat, emotionless tone. "My apologies. You seemed dazed, so I impulsively gave you a nudge."
Mary waved her hands frantically. "Oh, it wasn't your fault! I was just a bit scared and ended up blocking your way. I should be the one apologizing."
Mary quickly took a seat, and the girl followed her into the compartment, sitting directly across from her. She rested her chin on her hand, staring out the window at the bustling crowd. Mary followed her gaze, watching the scenery begin to recede as the busy platform turned into a blur.
Suddenly, the curtain pulled back and a boy with fiery red hair stepped in. His fierce eyes and aggressive demeanor made Mary shrink back in fear. His eyes were the same shade of red as his hair, and his white academy cloak and shirt appeared slightly disheveled.
The Veldawine uniform consisted of a white shirt paired with a brilliant white cloak embroidered with the school's emblem and the student's name. On the sleeve was a single red border—the mark of a first-year student. As the years progressed, more borders would be added, much like the cloaks of the Council.
He looked at the two benches, each occupied by a young lady, and scratched his messy hair. "Well now, could you two squeeze onto one side so I can have the other bench?"
The black-haired girl shot him a look and turned away without a word. Mary, however, stood up, intending to move over to the other girl's side.
But before she could move, the boy suddenly spoke up. "Huh? Is that a Flower Crest?"
He had caught a glimpse of the faint mark on the back of Mary's hand. Suddenly energized, he lunged forward and grabbed her hand to inspect it. His behavior was so boorish that both girls stared at him in disbelief. Mary didn't say anything or pull away—not because she wanted to show off, but because his grip was so strong she couldn't break free. The black-haired girl's eyes twitched with rising anger.
"Hey! Would you cut it out? Who taught you such rude behavior?"
He acted as if he hadn't heard her, focusing intensely on the Flower Crest and muttering nonsense to himself. "Hmm... let's see... I wonder if she's good in a fight... I know I've seen this in a book somewhere..."
Being ignored only fueled the girl's rage. She stood up abruptly, snatched Mary's hand out of his grasp, and shielded the younger girl behind her. "Hey! You rude brat! Stop it right now!"
The boy looked at her, his face twisting in annoyance. "Listen here, Ink-head, does what I do concern you? Am I eating your house's food? Why are you sticking your nose in?"
The girl grew even more furious, but she forced herself to calm down. She sat back down on the soft bench with Mary, deciding to ignore such a crude person. Mary, meanwhile, was completely bewildered, looking like a frightened kitten amidst the tension.
Seeing that the fun was over, the boy sat down across from them, leaning back against the seat. He looked at Mary. "Hey, Tiny Miss, what's your name?"
The black-haired girl's eyes twitched again. She ignored him, but the rude nicknames he gave people were truly insulting, making her feel indignant on behalf of the little girl beside her. Mary, however, didn't seem to mind the rudeness. She gave him an innocent smile.
"My name is Mary, Mary Dwayne. It's very nice to meet you."
Despite his rough exterior, the boy wasn't entirely beyond help; he still possessed a shred of basic etiquette. "Nice to meet you, Mary. I'm Homus, Homus Archibal."
After introducing himself to Mary, Homus glanced at the other girl. "Your turn to introduce yourself, Ink-head."
A vein throbbed on the girl's forehead. She was nearly at her breaking point, her voice low as she hissed through gritted teeth. "Why... should I introduce myself to you?"
"Good grief, I can't believe it. A lady like you lacks the basic manners to respond to a simple introduction. Such an impolite Ink-head. We've all finished, and yet you—"
"Shut up!"
Before Homus could drone on, the girl's face turned scarlet with rage. Her hand, which had seemingly grabbed her wand in an instant, pointed it directly at his face. "If you say one more word, I will freeze that foul mouth of yours shut."
Sensing things were getting out of hand, Mary tried to intervene. "You two, please stop—"
Before she could finish, the black-haired girl used her free hand to cover Mary's mouth, silencing her. Her eyes remained locked on Homus, who was casually staring at the wand tip with a mocking smirk that made her blood boil.
She took a deep breath, lowered her wand, and tucked it back into her sleeve. She sat back, removing her hand from Mary's mouth, and spoke in a flat, cold tone. "My name is Catherine, Catherine Spencer."
"Oh, so you really are a High-born. I've heard a few things about that family," Homus said nonchalantly.
Catherine gritted her teeth in silence, but in her mind, she was already formulating a thousand ways to make his life a living hell once they reached the academy.