Senior classes were scheduled a bit differently. We had self-study time first thing in the morning, then our morning classes, split between practical magic and classroom electives, which ran through to the end of junior lunch period. After that, we had our senior lunch period, followed by classes in math and economics, business and management, politics, and other such necessary bits of education for children who would be inheriting merchant houses, titles, or positions of importance across the kingdom.Having a later lunch period meant Felton and I could eat with Felris for the first time since end of first year. This was her sixth and final year, and while things had calmed down for her after Gustar graduated, she hadn’t ever fully recovered her social standing, instead focusing quite seriously on her studies, with a focus on combat magic.Sharing lunch meant she finally had people to sit with, though, and she eagerly joined us, sitting next to me instead of her brother like she had when we were kids.We were still kids, in my detached opinion as an old man inside, though living through my early teenage years often made that hard to remember. Felris was sixteen now, still ahead of me in height—damn her and Felton both, for that—and had long since passed any awkwardness of youth. She smiled brilliantly at me as she sat, and I felt my cheeks flush against my will. Stupid teenage hormones.Felton glanced dryly between me and his sister, who was sitting a little too close to me for either or our comforts. He rolled his eyes and cleared his throat. “Oh look, I think I see a friend,” he said in a monotone voice. “I’m going to go and eat with them. See you later.”“Wait, no, don’t—” I started to say, but he was already carrying his food to another table. Damnit, Felton.I shifted slightly away from Felris, but she shifted over with me, leaning more against my side. Despite her (...)