The Grand Courtyard buzzed with nervous excitement.
Students from every year gathered beneath the towering marble arch where an enchanted board shimmered with glowing silver letters.
Professor Ashcroft stood beside it with his usual amused expression, arms folded across his chest.
“I do enjoy this part.”
Lucas frowned.
“I don’t.”
“That’s because you already assume you’ll dislike the results.”
“I usually do.”
Ashcroft smiled wider.
“Exactly.”
The courtyard erupted into whispers.
Every student’s eyes remained fixed on the glowing pairing board.
Evelyn Carter
Kael Draven
Nyx Corvin
For several long seconds…
No one spoke.
Then the whispers began.
“Two mentors?”
“Has that ever happened before?”
“I’ve never seen the board assign more than one.”
“Who gets paired with Kael and
