The train hissed to a stop as it pulled into Scarletwood Academy Station. Steam drifted across the platform while students and families hurried to unload trunks, cages, and bags. Luna Grimm stepped off the train with Holly Magnus and Misty Frost close behind. All around them, students struggled under the weight of their belongings.
Holly adjusted her glasses and smiled.
"Wow. I'm so glad we don't have to lug everything to the school ourselves."
"Yup," Luna agreed. "This is the only way to travel."
"You said it," Misty said. "So what's the feedback for that spell?" Luna glanced down at the silver coin she carried.
"We have to be careful not to bend or break it. Otherwise we'll have a repeat of what happened on the train."
The three girls exchanged nervous looks before heading toward the academy grounds.
The academy dormitories were even larger up close than they had appeared from the train.
Rows of enchanted doors lined the hallways.
Luna stopped in front of one marked with her name. "This is my room."
She reached for the handle and looked annoyed. "What the? Why won't the door open?" Holly blinked. "You're supposed to use your pass code. It was on your acceptance letter."
"My what?" said an annoyed Luna.
"You draw the unique symbol from your acceptance letter on the door," Holly explained. "Then it opens for you."
Luna stared at the handle. "What's wrong with using keys?"
"Apparently," Misty said, "it prevents seniors from pulling pranks on freshmen."
Luna groaned. "My letter is in my pocket...inside my suitcase. If I open it now, all my stuff will end up scattered everywhere."
Holly thought for a moment. "Why not ask the Headmaster? I'm sure they have a copy of your records."
She glanced toward the hallway.
"We still need to find our rooms, and the spell is almost out of time. We'll meet up with you later."
"Yeah," Luna said. "Okay."
The Headmaster's office was larger than Luna expected.
Bookshelves stretched from floor to ceiling.
Magical artifacts filled display cases.
Luna knocked softly before pushing the door open.
"Hello?"
An elderly woman looked up from behind a massive desk.
"Yes, my child? What can I do for you?"
"Sorry to bother you. My name is Luna Grimm, and I was wondering if I could get a copy of my door code. I seem to have misplaced my acceptance letter."
The Headmaster smiled.
"Ah, Ms. Grimm. So nice to finally meet you."
Luna froze.
The Headmaster knew who she was?
"Come in. Have a seat."
Luna cautiously sat down.
"It's not often I get a visitor with your reputation," the Headmaster continued.
Luna wasn't sure if that was a compliment or not.
"I don't have that information on me, but the front office should."
The Headmaster struck a match and held it to the carved jack-o'-lantern sitting on her desk.
Its eyes suddenly glowed orange.
A cheerful voice emerged from inside.
"Front desk. How can I help you?"
"Oh, hello Angela," the Headmaster said. "Could I get the room code for Ms. Luna Grimm?"
"One moment please."
There was a pause.
"I'm pulling up her file now. It looks like her room code is a crescent moon."
"Thank you."
"My pleasure."
The pumpkin's eyes dimmed.
Luna stared.
The Headmaster smiled knowingly.
"Scarletwood has many conveniences."
Luna laughed nervously.
"Apparently."
"Now then," the Headmaster asked, "is there anything else I can help you with?"
"Actually…"
Later that morning, Holly and Misty entered their first classroom.
Students filled nearly every seat.
A bell rang somewhere in the distance.
A stern professor stood at the front of the room.
"Hello, class. My name is Professor Blackwood, and I will be teaching Basic Spellcasting. Today we will—"
A knock interrupted him.
The classroom door opened.
The Headmaster stepped inside.
Luna followed behind her.
"Sorry to interrupt," the Headmaster said. "You have a last-minute addition."
Professor Blackwood raised an eyebrow.
"This is Luna Grimm."
Murmurs instantly spread through the room.
Professor Blackwood looked surprised.
"So this is the famous Luna Grimm?"
Luna wished people would stop calling her famous.
"I thought you were supposed to be in Black Cat."
"There was a mix-up in the front office," the Headmaster explained. "I took it upon myself to fix it."
She turned toward Luna.
"Please have a seat."
"Yes, ma'am."
Luna quickly slid into an empty seat beside Holly and Misty.
The Headmaster smiled.
"Well then. I'll see everyone tonight at the assembly."
"You will indeed," Professor Blackwood replied.
The Headmaster departed.
Blackwood turned back toward the class.
"Now then. When casting spells, one must use a wand."
He held up a polished wand.
"Why is that?"
Luna slowly raised her hand.
The professor sighed.
"Yes, Luna?"
"What if you can cast spells without a wand?"
The room went silent.
Professor Blackwood blinked.
"That's absurd."
"It is?"
"Everyone requires a wand. Only a handful of legendary mages ever learned to cast without one, and that took decades of practice."
"Oh."
Luna scratched her cheek.
"Because I can cast spells without a wand."
The classroom erupted with laughter.
Professor Blackwood folded his arms.
"Oh really?"
"Yes."
"Then perhaps you'd care to demonstrate."
Luna snapped her fingers.
A tiny flame appeared above her fingertip.
The laughter died instantly.
Professor Blackwood stared.
Several students nearly fell out of their chairs.
"How are you doing that?"
Luna tilted her head.
"I couldn't afford a wand, so I learned this way."
She paused.
"Is that unusual?"
By lunchtime, Luna had become the most talked-about student in the academy.
The three girls sat together in the cafeteria.
Misty leaned forward across the table.
"How are you able to cast without a wand?"
"I have to know."
She narrowed her eyes.
"Are you secretly from a royal family or something?"
Luna looked around carefully.
Once she was sure nobody was listening, she rolled up her sleeve.
Wrapped around her wrist was a simple bracelet.
A pearl hung from it.
"I accidentally burned my wand," Luna admitted.
"What?"
"I kept the ashes."
She pointed at the pearl.
"I put them inside this."
Both girls stared.
"I couldn't get into this school unless I had something unique to offer. If anyone finds out the truth, they might kick me out."
She lowered her voice.
"Please don't tell anyone."
Holly immediately nodded.
"We promise."
Then she looked at Misty.
"Right?"
Misty sighed.
"Fine."
Then she grinned.
"On one condition."
Luna immediately became nervous.
Not long afterward, the trio found themselves back in the Headmaster's office.
"Come in," the Headmaster called.
The girls entered.
"Hello again," Luna said awkwardly. "Sorry to bother you."
The Headmaster chuckled.
"You're becoming a regular visitor."
"We were wondering if you knew somebody who could perform a magic transfer spell."
The Headmaster nearly dropped her teacup.
"A magic transfer spell?"
Her eyes moved toward Misty.
"That is a very serious procedure."
She folded her hands.
"What exactly would a group of freshmen want with such a spell?"
Luna pointed toward Misty.
"Well... I promised I would switch magic affiliations with her."
The Headmaster looked toward Misty.
"Ah. Ms. Frost."
Misty straightened.
"I was told you chose Scarletwood over Frost City Academy."
"I did."
"And why is that?"
Misty crossed her arms.
"I can't use elemental magic like the rest of my family."
The room grew quiet.
"So I figured maybe I could switch with someone who can."
She pointed directly at Luna.
"And she agreed."
The Headmaster turned to Luna.
"And you're willing to do this?"
"Sure."
Luna shrugged.
"Hex magic seems useful."
The Headmaster stared.
"Do you even know your elemental affinity?"
"No, ma'am."
"That can be remedied."
She motioned toward a chair.
"Sit down."
Luna obeyed.
The Headmaster placed a glowing crystal against Luna's hand.
The crystal flashed bright gold.
Then blue.
Then violet.
Finally, a brilliant bolt of white-blue lightning crackled through its center.
The Headmaster smiled.
"Well now."
"What?"
"You are a Lightning Pagan."
Luna blinked.
"A what?"
"A lightning elemental."
The Headmaster looked impressed.
"That is quite rare."
She leaned forward.
"Were either of your parents lightning users?"
"Maybe."
Luna looked down.
"I don't remember them."
The room became silent.
"I think they died when I was really little."
Holly's eyes widened.
"I had no idea."
"It's okay."
Luna smiled softly.
"It's hard to miss people you never really knew."
She looked out the office window.
"The village raised me."
A warm smile crossed her face.
"I promised myself I'd learn magic and make enough money to help everyone back home someday."
The Headmaster's expression softened.
"That's a wonderful goal, Ms. Grimm."
"I'm sure they're all cheering for you."
"That's nice and everything," Misty interrupted, "but can we switch magic affiliations already?"
"Misty!" Holly snapped.
"What?"
"You can't seriously expect Luna to give up the only connection she has to her parents!"
Misty shrugged.
"Yeah."
Holly stared.
"And?"
Luna sighed.
"I'll still do it."
Both girls turned toward her.
"I don't care what kind of magic I use."
She smiled.
"Besides, the Grimm family specializes in Hex magic."
The Headmaster raised an eyebrow.
"You know about that?"
"Only a little."
Luna scratched her head.
"If I could find the Grimm family grimoire, I could probably learn from it."
The Headmaster smiled.
"You mean the one in the Black Cat Library?"
Luna sat upright.
"The what?"
"All registered family grimoires are stored there."
"Every family spellbook?"
"Every single one."
Luna's eyes sparkled.
"What if someone who isn't part of the family wants to read one?"
"They can't."
The Headmaster chuckled.
"The books are enchanted. Only members of the bloodline can see the text."
"That's incredible."
Luna leaned forward.
"Can I see it?"
The Headmaster laughed.
"The library is restricted to Black Cat students."
Luna grinned.
"Last time I checked, I was Black Cat level."
The Headmaster opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
"Fair point."
She quickly scribbled a note.
"Just this once."
Luna accepted the note like it was treasure.
"Thank you so much, ma'am."
The Headmaster smiled.
Something told her Luna Grimm was going to make Scarletwood Academy far more interesting than it had been in years.