Maven City was the biggest city near Mythos Academy, which resided on its own private island just offshore. The bustling metropolis served as the primary hub for academy students seeking entertainment, supplies, or simply a break from the rarefied academic environment. Its economy had evolved to cater almost exclusively to students and their families, with businesses ranging from upscale boutiques to themed restaurants designed to extract maximum money from young students with generous allowances.
I'd visited Maven with Rachel once before, last year when she'd helped me select a suit to match her gown for the Freshman Ball. That shopping trip had been purposeful, efficient—Rachel guiding me through the maze of formal wear with the decisive authority of someone accustomed to social events. Today's excursion promised to be different—a true date rather than a practical errand.
