Chapter 60: Finding Support

"Hello," I said to the group of dark mages. "I'm Zoey." God, could I said anything more lame?

Reed gave me an encouraging nod.

I squared my shoulders and lifted my chin. "My name is Zoey Dane Hoffmeister. My mother was Alice Hoffmeister."

The students behind me murmured and whispered, but I kept my gaze on the dark mages before me. Some of these sorcerers had been practicing ley lines and evil powers for years. Others might have been swayed in earlier since I came here. I couldn't condemn all of them. I had to give them a chance to turn around for good like I was trying to do.

"I was raised by her sister, Agnes. She taught me not to use my power for selfish gain, but to do what I could to learn how to use the good side of magic. Control it." Not entirely true, my aunt was fearful of my powers and didn't want me to use it. But she had sent me to this school, so that counted in my book.