A Rational Magic || ONC2022

Thirty-Four || The Ferrin Family

Mum and Dad turn up at almost six in the morning, which is surprising for two reasons. One, Heasebury is almost a four hour drive from Terrenfell. Two... they said they'd be here at twelve.

"How come you're here so early?" Sara asks as Aunt Jessica busies herself with the toaster.

"Guess which school decided to completely change their uniform, PE kit and the rules for school bags and pencil cases?"

"You have to be kidding," Lani groaned. "And we're back in tomorrow, right?"

Yes. Yes, our parents did decide to cut it this close.

"We might send you in on Thursday, really," Mum said. "I think you're gonna need a day to sort yourselves out."

I keep quiet as Lani argues with them both, thinking. The witch from the Verrior Wastes hasn't shown up in my nightmares as much as I expected, but her words...

"I suppose I should have expected you to be a strange case — it's what your parents would have wanted for you."

"Have you ever seen a photo album from when you and Lani were babies? No? If you get out of here, you might as well. You'll need a couple more halves to save Azaevelum."

Today's going to be a very busy one, I can already tell.

"So we're going to the uniform shop as soon as we get home?"

"Give it till twelve, at least."

"I hope you sorted the bags yourselves?" I asked.

"We did, don't worry. Nice necklace, by the way."

I'd almost forgotten, but when I'd woken up it had been to a slightly terrifying sight.

A third necklace — very similar to ours, but more ambery than anything else — lying on top of my clothes.

I don't know how it got there, but honestly I suspect Mercury's great-aunt (and wasn't that a surprise?).

It was in my pocket now, actually, and I had been wondering when I'd get a chance to tell Lani about it... though I wasn't so sure all of a sudden.

Something was off about Mum and Dad, I decided.

"Yeah, thanks..."

~|•

Mum was right — leaving our trip to the uniform shop until after lunch was a much better idea.

Lani decided within about five seconds that she preferred the new PE kit, and I nodded along with her. My mind stayed elsewhere, though.

I felt like I was floating through the whole process of trying on the uniform, only really able to give vague opinions of it all.

Maybe it was exhaustion.

But I didn't think so.

We weren't the only ones in the shop, incredibly enough. A stressed-looking woman had brought four kids with her, all of whom bought different ties. One of which was a Year Eight tie.

And that caught Lani's attention first.

"Look," she whispered. "Seems like we've got a new kid this year."

"Do you think you can say you know everyone in the year?"

"Nope!" she laughed. "But they don't seem anywhere near as annoyed about the uniform change as Mum."

She had a point.

The children didn't even look much like siblings. Which obviously didn't mean anything... but we'd learned not to be too careful months ago.