Daniel and Callie

"That's Jessica Warton, right?" Daniel eyes the person I was next to. "Can't reach out for another noble before hitting the crown prince first."

"You could've ignored me. That was fine." I watch as Jessica proves things. "Yeah. And that's Ryan Telligence."

"Ryan... I don't think he's ever left his room before."

I shrug. Ryan doesn't look to be a homebody, but all words suggest he isn't big into social circles.

Daniel chuckles. "How about I bring you three around a bit? Show you the halls. I think I can find Callie." He rubs his chin a moment. "Yeah. She'll be in the library about eleven. Likes to rest in the books when it's too high sun, but lunch isn't ready."

"Is it close to eleven?" I didn't think so.

"No. But there are places I want to show you before then." Daniel walks me back to my group. "Ryan, Jessica."

I watch as they stop practicing. Jessica doesn't seem bothered by it. Ryan looks worn out some although he would've kept going. "This is Daniel Swifting."

"So we don't have to find anyone, they'll find us." Jessica puts her sword away and collects her things. She takes a big gulp of water before adding, "Where's Callie? I can't wait to ask her everything."

"I'm shocked you didn't enter at the same time." Daniel motions us forward. "It was bad enough in the test against Callie. I'm not sure if they'd even see me there if you were also included."

Jessica grins. "Thanks."

"As I was telling Just Thomas,-" The group laughs over the name. It'll be a thing. To say I'm gonna hide your information as a joke. "Callie will be at the library at eleven. I'm going to give you the tips to get through things here faster or slower. There are requriements for graduation."

"I know them." Jessica states confident.

"I know you do. Do the others?"

I shrug. I know enough that I should be fine pulling off four months if I wanted to. "We're almost expected to join the Telligence farms for October harvest."

"Gotcha. Then they'll make sure you're good." Daniel glances to Ryan. "Want me to join you? I never minded your villa."

"I know you never minded it. I still didn't think you were there for me." Ryan scoffs. So the two have a past. "You were lying so you'd have a reason to gawk over my sister."

"She'd never agree to me visiting, though." Daniel leans closer to me. "Offer a book, and Ryan will agree to 'see you'. Although he always just stayed in his rooms while I wandered the castle."

"You..." Ryan throws his hands up. "Whatever."

"Were you there to check out his sister?" Jessica asks.

"I go enjoy staring at picture perfect images." Daniel says with a smirk. I roll my eyes glad I don't have a sister now. "But, no. I was told by my father to find friends my own age. Ryan didn't like being befriended in person."

"You're just bad at befriending others." Ryan must have a bigger reason then. Something happened.

"Let me guide you through everything here. And maybe Ryan will realize I was not just gawking at his sister." Daniel glances to Jessica. It does seem like he's drawn to her. The travel is nice. We learn where different classes are going to be. Today they are on break. Generally every day there will be a teacher present. The only times they get breaks are the three days around the new entrance tests. Many of us took the break you gave us. We weren't here yesterday." He thinks it over. "I actually took a trip home."

"Isn't it a week travel to reach there?"

"Teleport stone through the castle. Knights have access. How else did the king always get where he needed to be when he needed to be?" Daniel shrugs. "It's not one way either. The stone is either brought with us or marked to time recall. They did warn me the exact time the stone would warp me back. They have had a few in concerning situations when they reappeared." Daniel shakes his head.

I've used the stones before. I've also been teleported without it. Top mages can teleport. Including the king. "His Majesty doesn't need the teleport stones. He may even be the one giving you the spell and mana for it if no other mages are capable."

"Wait... What?" Daniel stops to face me. He grabs up my arms. "He can teleport?"

"Royal magic is very high. We're expected to pull off the impossible at times."

"I thought those were fairy tales." Daniel releases me and dusts off my arm. "Sorry."

"No. Not fairy tales. Part of the blessings are meant to protect us from dying under the strain of the excess within our magic."

"That's..." Ryan hisses. "I'm less jealous of your magic now." I fake laugh at him.

"My cursed magic is actually meant to be blessing given at birth so I'll be a stronger king in the future. To the magic, I'm still marked a child. I came here..." I shake it off. "My mage trainer, Odin, has the ability to remove all the curses on me. I've asked before, but he refused." Ingrid managed the spell... we think. "Knighthood was going to get me out of the castle's safety net. I need to get away so I can..."

"Become that stronger king." Daniel nods. "I know the feeling. But I'm second son like Ryan is. Nothing I could do to beat my older brother. He has me by several years." He pauses with a sigh. "Did you hear the word, Telligence?"

"What word?"

"My brother, your sister." Daniel rubs his face and offers a depressing laugh. "They'll be the future for the Swiftings."

"My sister wasn't agreeing to marriage for any reason. Not until she's confident with her magic." Ryan thinks it over. "I hope she didn't change her mind."

"She's a high enough mage to earn that right, but I don't think she'll refuse." Daniel shrugs. "Not my problem."

Ryan grunts. He probably is also required to say 'not his problem'. There's nothing either could do. We'll only gain the knowledge if it processes through court. It leaves us focusing on what the halls have to offer.

"And this is the library." Daniel motions to the place. "Callie may already be here."

"Not for you to bother." The voice must be Callie Hellsgate. Jessica is quick to chatter with her. They're clearly friends. Both of their families were knight heavy. These are future generals by the looks of things. I'll be lucky if that ends up being the case.