A crisp morning wind rustled the rows of novices and seniors alike, as they gathered before the shimmering purple portal.
It stood in an open field fenced off by the Mage Guild—an otherwise unremarkable stretch of grass now alive with murmurs of excitement and trepidation. The sky hung over them in a pale wash of grey, promising rain.
Richard stood amidst his classmates near the rear, leaning casually against a wooden supply crate. Next to him, Oren looked a tad nervous, fiddling with the sleeves of his robe, while Trevor pretended to stifle a yawn. Nadia, her blonde hair caught in a loose plait, hovered close to Richard, occasionally casting glances at the seniors beyond.
A few metres away, the Draco Malfoy of the senior class—real name Adrian Greyford, but no one bothered calling him that after the incident—held court.
