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(Chapter Ten — The First semester)
Three hours later…
Late morning came with the soft kind of blue that makes stone look gentle. East House breathed like a big, sleepy animal. John woke up fast. He always did. Fizz woke slowly, as if he had to gather his glow from different shelves.
They ate in the first-year hall: bread, porridge, two eggs that tasted like the kitchen had decided to be kind today. Fizz tried to organize the jam jars by color, then gave up and organized them by which one he liked best.
"Today," Fizz said, chewing, "we do classes. We do glory. We also do snacks. The order might change."
John took his slate schedule from his inside pocket and ran a finger down the lines.
Basic Magic Theory — third bell, Hall of Chalk (all first-years)
Basic Combat Technique — fourth bell, South Yard ring
Mana Control — fifth bell, East Practice Rooms
Three blocks. Three bells. Three chances to collect knowledge rather than lose them.
