Sera felt the cold air strike her face; although it was far colder than she had anticipated, being outside brought some relief. Fortunately, she had followed Molly's advise and wrapped herself in the unusual, fluffy-looking coat. Though she cannot identify the content, it helped her not freeze. The tranquility, on the other hand, was only fleeting for a few seconds before her senses were bombarded with sights, sounds, and scents that were completely foreign to her. And there were so many people! It was as if this place was in the business of breeding. Everyone appeared to be bustling around, paying her no mind, so she didn't feel threatened—just like a fish out of water.Sera also made the error of looking directly at one man via a glass panel. When he grinned at her, she snarled in return and then looked away. Molly paused at a green railing surrounding a set of stairs. When Sera looked over the edge, she saw that the stairs descended into the earth. Her mind raced. This is it, she thought. Molly is taking me to the dungeon where I'll be imprisoned. She took a step back and narrowed her gaze at Molly, her expression indicating that she would not be taken in by any schemes."What?" Molly said, sounding annoyed.Sera shook her head and looked quickly about. A sign above her caught her attention: Franklin Ave. Station. Many people were willingly heading into this dungeon. Maybe it's not a trap?"Did you forget something?" Molly asked.Sera shook her head again."Then let's go, slowpoke," Molly said, her hand on the railing, clearly expecting Sera to follow her.Sera winced and remained frozen in place. Maybe the others were simply fools."You expect me to go down there?" Sera asked hesitantly.Molly scoffed and began her descent, saying over her shoulder, "Geez, Sera, I know you hate the subway, but we don't have time for drama."Sera took one more look behind her before reluctantly following Molly down the stairs. Underground was even busier than the highways they had just left. A crowd surrounded Sera, some pressing against her back and others cutting between her and Molly. Panicking, Sera squeezed her way past them, hoping not to lose sight of her guide."Hey!" a woman exclaimed as Sera pushed past her. "Rude much?"Sera ignored the insult and continued on. If this was the norm in this new society, she'd rather stay in that room every day and eat an egg and bacon sandwich—even if it meant dealing with foolish, odd men like Roman.When Sera caught up with Molly, she noticed her guide hesitate short at a metal barrier that obstructed the route. It has gleaming cylindrical arms protruding from a waist-high enclosure. Molly held something in her hand and swiped it through a metal slot before pulling the arm away. Sera attempted to copy her, but when she pushed the mechanism, it would not move."This won't move for me!" Sera made a call to Molly. She repeated Molly's hand movement and tapped the same location, but nothing occurred."Move!" Sera yelled at the device.A voice sounded from behind her. "C'mon, woman! "Just go through."Sera turned and scowled at the woman. I don't have my magic, she realized. Perhaps Molly possessed magic and utilized it on this device."Molly!" Sera exclaimed, and Molly turned to face her. "I need your magic.""Did you forget your metro card?" Molly inquired, tilting her head.Sera struggled for words. "I, uh . . . I believe I did.""Did you check your pocket?"Sera reached into one of the coat pockets and feel something thin and rigid. Pulling it out, she discovered it was a yellow rectangle with a black stripe on one side. She slowly passed it through the slot, like she had seen Molly do. A slight clicking sound followed, and she pushed the mechanism, which turned. A sensation of success rushed over her as she stepped through to join Molly, but Molly appeared uninterested, turning her back to continue advancing.More individuals invaded Sera's zone, and it took some effort not to hurl them all to the ground. A rumbling sound drew her attention, becoming louder by the second, until a gigantic snake-like creature swept by. Sera nearly yelled, "Look out!" but no one around her appeared concerned. Instead, they worked together to advocate for it. Were they hypnotized by it?As the beast came to a halt, Sera took long, deep breaths to calm herself. She examined it more attentively and discovered that it was a collection of separate carriages joined together. She believed it would take us someplace. The whole thing was interesting, and she wanted to ask Molly how it moved without being pulled by animals. Is there any kind of magic in this world?An opening emerged in the carriage in front of them, and several of the passengers departed. Sera was virtually swept along with the crowd into the carriage, and she was relieved that Molly was as well. Everyone around her was either seated or standing. Those who stood grasped onto different bars and handles. Her pulse raced as she knew why.A loud bell shocked Sera, so she grabbed the nearest bar. Then a voice rang out from somewhere she couldn't see. "Stand clear of the closing doors, please." She strengthened her grasp as the carriage began to move. Molly locked eyes with Sera across from her, making her feel almost as vulnerable as when Jonathan put a knife to her chest."Why do you look like you're going to have a panic attack?" Molly asked."I'm not feeling well," Sera responded, stating the first truth that came to mind."Well, you inhaled that breakfast sandwich . . .""I will be fine," Sera said, managing a grin she hoped was believable.Sera decided to make the most of their time in this carriage as they'd be there for a while. Whatever she could learn from Molly would be beneficial to her survival, especially since Molly appeared to know this "Sera" person well. Perhaps understanding more about Sera will help her understand why she had become who she is. Perhaps that will help her make her way back to her home land.Sera reflected on everything she had learned so far and questioned, "Why did you think that man, Roman, would be right for someone like me?" The genuine Sera's attraction in such a weak and inferior guy perplexed her. There were few who could equal her power and wit.Molly returned her gaze with a questioning expression. "Really? You're the one who asked me to set you up. I told you I felt you'd be a bad fit, honestly.""Then why did you make such a colossal mistake?" Sera inquired, her tone harsh.Molly's mouth sprang open. "Are you really kidding me? You insisted that you were prepared to move on.""I see. But... move on from what?"Why are you playing games and pretending you have no idea what I'm talking about? So you freaked out, Andi. Don't be embarrassed," Molly said with a shrug. "It just means you weren't ready.""Ready?""To move on!" You know, from that silly infatuation on the guy at the bookshop. Boy, you're totally off your game. So, you still like that man, right?Seraphina was unsure how to answer. Did the real Sera have any frivolous affections for someone who enjoyed books? Another chime signaled that the doors would open again, saving her from replying. Molly loosened her grip on the bar and began to slide forward. Sera, on the other hand, clutched tighter, unwilling to be jostled again."This is our stop! "Come on!" Molly called, shaking her head. "It's like your first day of kindergarten or something."Sera reluctantly followed Molly out of the train and onto the platform. There were signs everywhere, but the one right in front of her stated Wall Street. She sighed with relief as they emerged from underground. They arrived at their destination after only a few more minutes of strolling.Sera looked up at a lovely brick edifice with steps going to the door. The Brooks Academy was written in letters above the door.Seraphina's thoughts quickly returned to her time at the magical academy in the Concord Alliance Kingdoms. She had spent years at the top school of magic in the Oasis of Yùlán, but solely to develop her own power. It had been promoted as the ideal place to refine her skills, but those morons had continually tried to limit her progress, suffocating her growth whenever she exceeded their expectations. Without her mentor, Lukas, the whole experience would have been a waste of her time and skill.As she ascended the steps with Molly, she reflected about whether this new school would be beneficial. On her voyage to this planet, she had seen plenty of evidence of magic, and she wondered if here was where people learnt how to use it. However, it perplexed her that Sera and Molly—if the latter was anything like the former—were members of such a group. She had imagined that weak women led frivolous lives. Unless... Sera was secretly strong?Molly led her through the door into the Academy's entryway, where a woman at a desk waved as they passed. They walked down a corridor lined with doors, which Seraphina briefly considered might be cells before realizing they were likely classrooms. If Molly and Sera were teachers, did that mean they possessed magical skill? Molly stopped at a door and glanced back at her."Um... what are you doing?" Molly asked."What are you doing?" Seraphina shot back.Molly gestured to a nearby door. "I'm going into my room. I suggest you do the same before all hell breaks loose."Seraphina's heart accelerated as she examined the door beside her, which had the colorful words Ms. Sera. She paused before returning to Molly. "Yes, of course. I suppose I'll go in, then?"Molly's face wrinkled up. "Yeah, I'll see you later," she responded before heading inside her room.Left alone, Seraphina realized she had no option but to enter the chamber. Whatever lied beyond that door was undoubtedly expected of her—of Sera. She took a deep breath, opened the door, and walked inside.A cacophony of high-pitched voices struck her. Small bodies turned to her in unison, their faces lit up."Ms. Sera!!" they cried.Seraphina froze. Before she could respond, the small monsters swooped on her, pawing at her with sticky hands. They smiled up at her, some with sticky stuff trickling from their chins."No! "Stop!" she demanded, but the kids disregarded her. They crowded Seraphina's legs, with one tiny girl in a flowery outfit putting her arms around her thigh. "I love you, Ms. Andi," the youngster announced.Seraphina's patience dwindled. She had made a point of avoiding small children in her own world. They were both useless and unpleasant. Dammit, she thought, darting a frantic look back at the door. Should she retreat? No, there were no answers back there."Sit. Down!" she yelled, her voice like the power she used to command armies. The youngsters froze, their big eyes fixed on her. They backed away slowly and took their seats on a bright rug with precisely spaced patches, their actions precise, like soldiers forming a line.Finally, a sense of order. Seraphina took a step more inside the classroom, her gaze drawn to the bright, absurd decorations. The youngsters sat cross-legged, hands folded in their laps, gazes fixated on her. The hush lasted long enough for some to squirm. Soft chuckles echoed around the gathering, and she realized she couldn't leave them that way long.The principal chuckled. "Goodness, Ms. Sera, surely you remember that today is your turn for a classroom visit as part of your performance review."Seraphina twisted her lips into a sneer. "Who are you to review my performance?" she screamed, her eyes hardening.Sanchez chuckled again, waving aside the challenge. "I see I've interrupted you in the middle of one of your stories. "How wonderful." She strolled to the back of the room and sat down with her clipboard. "I'll just listen in.""Storytime!" exclaimed a youngster, eliciting a chorus of shouts.Seraphina's displeasure increased. She lifted her hand, palm out. "Quiet!" she demanded. The youngsters remained silent, their huge eyes fixated on her. However, quiet alone would not suffice. Sanchez evidently expected her to amuse these tiny creatures with a story.She reluctantly brought a wooden chair closer and perched on the edge. "This tale begins with a handsome warrior—if you like that do-gooder type—tasked with conquering a powerful and beautiful dark Mage." Some of the children gasped, their focus sharpened. Others fiddled with their garments or looked blankly.Some of the children gasped, their focus sharpened. Others fiddled with their garments or looked blankly."The warrior, Jonathan, was weak and stupid," she added, eliciting further gasps and an apparent glare from Sanchez. Seraphina disregarded it. "The dark Mage, on the other hand, has unparalleled might and intelligence. She desired to govern the Kingdoms since no one else was more qualified. When they met, the Mage's powers overpowered him. She surrounded him, disarmed him, and with a single rush of power, he vanished." She spread her fingers for dramatic effect.The children's gasps became louder. One of the girls raised her hand, and Andromeda pointed to her. "What is it, child?""Why didn't the hero win?" the girl inquired."The hero did win," Andromeda said. "The dark mage—""No!" a youngster said, getting to his knees. "She was the bad guy!""Yeah!" several other youngsters said.Seraphina tightened her hands. If she had her magic, the boy would already be a toad. "She wasn't. "She was the hero," she said, growling."Ms. Sera!" Sanchez interrupted, standing abruptly. "I think we need to talk."