Welcome Back to Magic (A Sanders School of Magic Sequel)

Impromptu family reunion

Two weeks. Two weeks and he still has nothing on anything! Not Virgil, not the weird magic absences, not his chemistry essay, nothing! He's been spending every waking moment in the library, his comfort zone, doing a mixture of research and avoiding his roommate. For whatever reason, Janus seems both cold and apathetic and way too interested in what Logan's doing. He's been seriously considering asking Remus to switch roommates. He's heard a lot of Remus's, and while the roommate sounds annoying, it's a bearable kind. Not to Remus, but hey, how bad could it be?

Shutting what might be the fortieth book he's searched through this hour, Logan sighs. He looks down at the cover. Plagues of Old: The Wielder's Magical Undoing Curse. He's only 50% sure it's non-fiction. The entire library has been like this. He can't tell if the books he's reading are actual history books of the apparently very-well kept secret of energy manipulators, or just some random fiction novel a manipulator wrote and then published to only his school's library.

And while yes, the sections are labelled, he once found a copy of The Hunger Games in the historical non-fiction section, so he doesn't really trust whoever is sorting the books. Now that he thinks about it, he's pretty sure he saw Remus doing that for a detention once. That would also explain the random Captain Underpants pages he keeps finding in all of the copies of The Odyssey. And the random corner of grammatically incorrect messages. Now those are infuriating.

As he's walking back to his dorm, ready to just fall into a coma, he passes a bathroom. There's soft crying coming from inside. Usually, Logan would just ignore it. And he would if he didn't recognize that cry. It's Patton. 

He approaches the bathroom, peering around the wall.

"No seriously, I can't. Ro, I can't do it. I don't feel it anymore, like there's a void inside me now." He looks over to see Patton, his face tearstained. Roman holds his hands, giving him small reassurances. Logan decides to approach them. If he can figure out the situation, it might give him a clue as to where Virgil went. And the weird magic disappearances around school. That too.

"Patton, are you alright? What can't you feel?" Logan asks, stepping out and beside the two. Roman gives him a dirty look while Patton just wipes his face and smiles. He goes to say something but Roman stops him.

"Dude, what the hell? Go away." 

"I just want to know-" Logan starts to say. He can tell Roman's mad now, but if he can explain then it should be fine. But Roman always gets unreasonable when upset. Honestly, it's quite annoying.

But Roman does something slightly unexpected. He curls his fists and lets out a deep sigh. "Personal space. And announce yourself before butting into a conversation. So go away."

Logan glances over at Patton, who doesn't look him in the eye. He simply wipes away his tears.

"I- I'm sorry. But... are you okay, Patton?" Logan asks, nodding at Roman.

Patton sniffles but doesn't say.

"It's just stress. Something back home," Roman says. Patton gives him a strange look but doesn't correct him. Logan's face softens.

"Alright. I hope it gets resolved." He turns away and leaves, feeling nothing but confused and a little concerned from that interaction.

So he's back to going to his dorm. He looks around the hallway he's in, which is surprisingly empty. So he pulls out his book and leans back on a wall. Or he tries to. He actually falls right through it, which to put it mildly, scared the shit out of him.

He looks around, grumbling to himself. He must be in another one of Club Zero's hideouts. As he adjusts his glasses, he notices the room is quite small. There's a lamp giving off a warm yellow light right next to a chair, desk, and stacks of books.

"Ahem."

Logan spins around, feeling his heart jump. After today, he may just have a heart attack. "Hel-" 

"Hello. I see you've found my hideout. So who are you?" The person asks. A boy. Blonde. After a few seconds Logan realizes he's the annoying roommate Remus has, who is also the one who follows him to class. Personally, Logan didn't take him for the secret reading hideout.

"I'm Logan. I stumbled here on accident. Now, who are you?" After the several weeks of hearing about him, Logan doesn't actually know his name. Remus only refers to him as 'annoying roommate' as well as some rather unsavory terms.

"Oh tell me you're not Logan Fotos!" The boy grins, totally ignoring Logan's question.

"...I'm not." 

"Wait, did you not take your father's last name?" He looks confused.

"No... why does it matter?" Logan raises an eyebrow. Maybe Remus is right about this kid.

"Oh it doesn't! Not at all!" The boy assures him. "It's just that your dad comes from a very long line of skilled wielders. I mean, so do you and I. Jean Fotos, son of Claudia Fotos, sister to your father!"

"That is a very long way to say you're my cousin." Logan slow-blinks.

Jean laughs. "Yeah, I suppose. But it's that formal flair, y'know?"

Logan smiles. That is the one thing that himself and Roman have somewhat in common.

"But how do you know?" He asks.

"Psh. Look at us. Apart from our hair and height we could literally be brothers. And I know I've got a cousin named Logan, and that he's a year older, and that we don't talk to him because we don't talk to his dad. Big fight about his wife since she's kinda an ass and Mom never liked her. She said she's a- oh I probably shouldn't say. Anyway! Kinda sorry about that."

"I was just wondering if you had pictures... but I'm absolutely asking Grandpa about the family drama now!" Logan laughs. This moment of just complete oversharing convinces him of their relation. And the fact that Jean pulls up a picture of his mom and Logan's dad when they were kids on his phone moments later.

"So what's your side of the family like?" Logan asks excitedly. Apart from his grandpa, he's never met another manipulator in his family. And to think his own cousin goes to his school!

"Uh- well, it's nothing that exciting. You've got me, Mom, and then my dad. You said you already met Grandpa, but there's also Grandma. She's a tough old lady. The kind that will chase you down to make you have another cookie. Don't tell her I said this, but I'm totally convinced she was in a biker gang. She denies it, but still." 

Jean tells him all sorts of anecdotes and in turn, Logan tells him all about his father, and what his life has been like. 

"No way! They grounded you for that? Dude, I'm totally bringing you over to my place for the holidays. Our side of the family is so much more chill."

"You think my parents would let that happen? They need- where is that card? Ah here- a chill pill." 

Jean laughs. "Nice note cards. I've got a whole notebook of the weird slang terms my friends use!"

The two chat for what might have been hours, until the lamp suddenly burns out.

"Aw crud. Welp, I keep the spare light bulbs in my dorm, so I should probably get going. See you later?" Jean asks.

Logan nods. "For sure. But um- where is the exit. I literally cannot see in here."

He reaches around in the dark and feels his cousin grab his hand.

"Here. This has been my hideout for years, so I can pretty much navigate it blind." He says, shoving Logan out the exit.

The two part ways, Jean back to the dorms and Logan to the cafeteria. It's around dinner time now, so Logan abandons his original plan of going back to his dorm. That kind of got interrupted with the unexpected family reunion. Not that it was an unpleasant surprise. For the first time in a while, he smiles to himself, feeling happy without the exhausting nonsense of the friend group. 

Ooo two chapters this month!! I've finally got my motivation back and some VERY big plans for this fic. Now all I need is a healthy sleep schedule, and I'll be set! So if you peeps start to notice things or have any theories, tell me! I love reading all of your comments :D. Have an amazing day/night you magnificent peeps!