Jack folded his hands, leaving a heavy snort. For a long time, he didn't dare to blink. Ermand would swear on his favourite chocolate pie that this was the major characteristic Jack showed when he was exceptionally angry.

After the fight between the brothers and their father's arbitration, neither Mr. Chisel, nor Jason spoke to Jack or with each other. The men stubbornly went about their day without a single word toward one another. Mrs. Chisel fussed about it the whole time during supper.

"Helmuth! You're his father! How can you act so childish? Why don't you talk to him?" She frowned at her husband.

Mr. Chisel wasn't ready to give up a war. The angry Chisel boys were stewing in their own pride while secretly launching evil glares at each other. Ermand and Mrs. Chisel were disappointed about this for a couple of days until Mr. Geoffrey Coop arrived.

He discussed certain important things with Mr. Chisel that neither his wife nor his children were privy to. Ermand was curious about his arrival since he believed he would get to know the reason behind his strange dreams he had been dying to know. Mrs. Chisel reached her wits' end, overwhelmed and furious with all the things that had been happening in the Chisels' eyrie.

It was Ermand's first day at Agledon that day, and Jack was giving Ermand the best of his tips on how to pass the practical tests with little effort in Agledon, which Mrs. Chisel forbade him to tell.

"But why can't I?" He whined, chuckling at the same time.

"Because he should realize the worth of hard work and find out the solutions by himself and learn from them, rather than cheating. Also, Mr. Coop will visit us today."

"He is?" Jack groaned.

"Shut up, Jack. I don't want any funny business here while he visits."

Jack nodded his head like a monkey, sticking his tongue out of his mouth. The argument wouldn't last long, as long as Mr. Chisel is available at home.

Jason has locked himself in his room for the past four days, only coming out either to have food or for other particular necessities. His parents believed he was preparing for his coming year. Though he was talented at casting spells without creating trouble like Jack, and a good boy about which Mr. & Mrs. Chisel could puff up their lungs and be proud of. But Jack sensed something fishy in his brother's behaviour and discussed the matter with Ermand, who suggested that Jack either might be right about Jason's strange behaviour or might have misconceptions.

Mrs. Chisel came with a satchel held in her hand. It looked brand new, with a mark of "C" on it, a symbol of their clan, Chisel.

"So, Ermie dear, did you choose this satchel?" She inquired in her ever-loving, cheerful tone. Ermand nodded, a reassuring smile on his face.

The doorbell rang, and Mrs. Chisel hurried to open the door, handing Ermand his satchel. It seems she was certain of who it must be at the other end of the door.

"Oh, Mr. Coop!" She beamed joyously.

"Morning Anna... Ah!" Mr. Coop greeted, waving a hand at Mrs. Chisel with his right foot accidentally slamming against a rusty old hatstand near the door.

"Oops, careful Mr. Coop. I wonder who kept it here."

He was a tall man, who wore a long jacket with pins that twisted in the shape of wild creatures, resting above his bright, orange shirt. He had a matching orange hat, which partly revealed his greying black hair. His gleeful black eyes stared at Ermand. He edged near to him while passing an old and rubbish looking suitcase to Mrs. Chisel, who gladly received it.

"Sorry for that, Mr. Coop. I will move this straight away," Mrs. Chisel said, moving the hatstand.

The man walked toward Ermand, smiling. His facial features betrayed him, looking like a clown. While Ermand stared at him like an innocent child.

"You've grown! Didn't ya, lil' Ermando!" He laughed at his own remark and smacked Ermand's shoulder. "I shoulda known, it's been fifteen years since I saw ya."

Ermand observed the man. His demeanor and mannerisms were foreign to him, yet the man talked to him as if they had met before. But Ermand couldn't recall who he was. He hasn't ever heard of a man with the surname, Coop. As far as he knew, no clan existed with the name Coop.

The mixture of curiosity and hesitation on his face befuddled the man.

"Don't tell me ya dunno me, Ermando. I am Geoffrey Coop. Your--"

"Mr. Coop, won't you sit?" Mrs. Chisel intervened with a smile, gesturing her hand to the compact living room.

Mr. Coop nodded like a little child. Mrs. Chisel moved to the living room and the tall man followed suit. As he was walking into the living room, a few glistening and wriggling, purple tentacles creeped out from the inside of his hat along with the company of some moths, which made the boys involuntarily pull their heads backward.

Jack jumped from his chair and trotted in Ermand's direction.

"Do you know him?" He whispered, keeping a vigilant eye over the living room. Ermand shrugged and glanced at the living room where Mr. Coop and Mrs. Chisel were talking. He noticed that Mr. Coop had a touch of humour with everything he spoke.

Jack opened his mouth to shoot another question at Ermand, but something interrupted him when the front door flew open, causing the boys to jump backward, aghast.

"It's only me, boys!" Mr. Chisel said, removing his brown worn-out jacket.

Ermand noted the pep in his tone, an improvement from the last time he'd seen him.

"Mr. Coop is here..." Jack rolled his eyes with a usual snort.

"He came? That's fantastic! I should see --"

"Helmuth!" Mr. Coop emerged from the living room, extending his hands in accordance to hug Helmuth.

"Geoff!"

Both of them hugged each other tightly and slapped each other's arms-a sign of long-term friendship. After sharing a few commentaries, they disappeared into the living room.

"Great! It's because of that crazy man, they have nicknamed our father as Hysterical Helmuth," Jack's eyes widened in slight disgust. He folded his hands and continued. "Boy! It's been going around the college for a while now. How embarrassed do you think we are, Jason and I! Not too far away for you to experience," Jack warned him, shaking his head.

"What is so crazy about him?"

Jack's eyes bulged out. He tapped on Ermand's forehead.

"Hello, pinhead! Haven't you heard about the crazy man who eats wax with strawberry tart? With tons of salt and cream pie?"

Ermand frowned at him, glancing at the wall opposite to him. For a split second, he wondered if it was Jack who had gone hysterical.

"How about the man who strolls along the fences of the terror striking and mysterious Tenebre forest as if he was walking through the city? I wouldn't say it's bravery, only an insane person would want to go there."

The realization had soon come to Ermand when Jack told him about the Tenebre forest. He knew that lunatic, or so, as everybody calls him.

"Is it him?" Ermand gasped.

"No, it's a para-individual of him from planet Hoxa, or maybe a ghost from his late grandfather's grave, or-"

"Cut it out, Jack. I didn't know before, but now I get it. No wonder he said I must have known him," he chortled.

"Who couldn't, he's more famous than any comedian in the whole of Tawarn!"

Both burst into laughter, clapping their hands over their mouths so their parents and Mr. Crazy Coop wouldn't hear, especially Mrs. Chisel. Or else, she would annihilate them with the fist of fury after Mr. Coop left.

"Ah, Helmuth, I remember those old days... How memorable, how memorable," Geoffrey sighed, strolling from the kitchen with Mr. Chisel. It seemed to both Ermand and Jack that they must talk about their weird, old past.

"At least say goodbye to Mr. Coop, both of you. He's departing," Mrs. Chisel whispered to the boys. She stole a glance at the men exchanging their final pleasantries.

"Goodbye, Mr. Coop. Hope to see you soon!" both of them sang in league.

Mr. Coop's thin, pale lips widened into a grin as he glanced at the boys. His eyes sank between his black, furry eyebrows and raised pink cheekbones.

"Haha! See ya soon, kiddos!"

Mr. Coop stepped out of the house quietly. Mr. and Mrs. Chisel waved at him.

"Now, be getting ready, Ermand," Mr. Chisel reminded him as his eyes found the tiny black clock that was hung on the wall. It was eight past ten.

As Mrs. Chisel heard her husband, she turned to them, frowning.

"I should have known it. Jack, get yourself ready. Ermie, you too."

She hurried into the kitchen, and Jack climbed up the wooden stairs. Ermand stood there, he couldn't believe that the reality of him going to Agledon finally dawned upon him.

"I think you should get yourself ready, Ermand," Mr. Chisel from the kitchen, noticed him staring at the floor.

Ermand cut his gaze from the floor, nodded at him, and immediately climbed up the stairs. He was blocked by Jason on his way up. He was all set in his ironed, college uniform. He even carried a satchel stuffed with heavy books.

Why would anyone carry so many books? The classes had just begun, Ermand thought.

"Feeling excited, are we?" Jason quipped, scanning Ermand top to bottom.

"Anyone would be..."

He smirked and climbed down past Ermand, leaving Ermand staring after him.

Why do I feel like I got more than what I deserve?

"I don't want this. I'll eat at the college cafeteria. Bye!"

Downstairs, the kitchen walls echoed Jason's shrieky voice that could shatter all the glass in the kitchen. Ermand sighed and walked toward his room. He grabbed a notebook covered by a thick lavender-coloured paper and a tiny bottle of black ink along with a wooden pen. Just in case.

"Psst!"

Ermand turned toward the doorway to see Jack sneaking into his room.

"What is it, Jack?"

He brought his finger to his lips.

"Have you got your things ready?" he whispered.

"Yes."

"Let me tell you this. Your first class will be with Derek Chestnut, not today, probably tomorrow or the day after under the condition that you're sorted into D1. He's the teacher for clan studies and Ultimate levels. You will not have the Ultimate levels in your first, second or third year. He'll be there for you as a clan studies teacher. Make sure you don't attract his attention."

Ermand's eyes widened. "Attention?"

"Just do as I told you," he hissed. Ermand responded to him with a partial nod.

"Okay and don't tell mum and dad that I told you this. And as for Jason, I know you wouldn't. Bye, and all the best. I'll be waiting for you downstairs. Okay?"

Ermand nodded. Don't attract his attention? He pondered.

He tried to ignore Jack's remark and took his necessary things for the first day. He ran downstairs with the satchel in his hands noticing Mrs. Chisel waiting for her sons.

"Are you boys ready?" she asked, smiling at her youngest son.

Ermand was unsure, but he tried not to hesitate.

"Yes."

"There will be a lot of things to set up for today. Helmuth, is everything sufficient? The money?" Mrs. Chisel turned and glanced at her husband.

"It is, Annie."

Guilt washed over Ermand. The Chisels had showered him throughout his life with all the blessings they could provide him. He felt as if he never deserved any of it. He knew they brought him up as their own son with love and care and the degree of it was unfathomable. He felt his lips trembling a bit.

Jack was looking forward to more tricks this year. Meanwhile, his little brother was feeling jumpy.

"The bus will arrive at the nearby stop at around - Oh my goodness! We nearly have a minute to reach there!" Mr. Chisel said, his voice becoming antsy as his eyes bulged out at his old bronze wristwatch.

It was a big pastel-grey, double-decker bus, which had the symbol of Agledon University inscribed as AMUS in silver with a green vine that has golden leaves twisting around the words as if protecting them. The bus did not have any wheels and the whole vehicle was soaring in the air, defying the laws of gravity.

As if a new dawn of zest had awoken him, Jack raised the band of the satchel on his shoulder and stepped into the bus. Ermand followed suit, unaware of the wonders that awaited him beyond the bus ride.

After crossing Seventh Street and Apple Avenue, the double-decker bus finally halted at the college ground after crossing past its huge and heavy platinum gates. Ermand stuck his head out of the window. He had only seen pictures of the university in the newspapers, news and shows. The pictures to turn a reality right in front of his eyes were still in his dreams, he had never seen it coming. His eyes scanned around as he was hit with a sudden jolt of happiness that brought up a grin on his face.

"Whoa!" Ermand gasped as his eyes wandered the colossal structure. He wasted no time and stepped out of the bus to gape at the pristine, white building.

Before he could even completely comprehend the atmosphere of the place, something brushed hard against his back, making him leap forward.

"Sorry, I didn't--"

"No, it's okay. It's me who should apologize, I shouldn't stand in the way," Ermand gave him a nervous smile.

"Nice hair! You dye it?" The boy smiled as it affixed his gaze on Ermand's hair.

"No..." Ermand replied, brushing his hair with his fingers.

The boy was as tall as Ermand and looked like the Princes he saw in paintings. There was a look of prestige and glamour in every bit of his features. From his glimmering sapphire eyes that shone as bright as his sunflower-blond hair to his well-fitting clothes. He brushed his palms over a speck of dust on his white spotless shirt before turning back at Ermand again.

"It's my favourite, I don't want to dirty it before I even get inside the building," he smiled. Ermand nodded, watching him brush the same side again.

"Whoa-your eyes... have they always been gold like that?" he gasped, studying Ermand's eyes with awe. Ermand nodded nervously, his cheeks turned a light shade of crimson. He wasn't used to compliments and believed he deserved nothing of it.

"Yes, they are," he chuckled. "I always thought I looked like a ghoul with my eyes and hair," he said, attempting to look normal.

"I like it. The combination is perfect," he added. "I'm a Chestnut, Timothy Chestnut. And you?"

The boy extended a hand, which Ermand hesitated to take. Ermand pursed his lips while staring at the boy's hand. Timothy sensed Ermand's hesitation and figured the golden-eyed boy didn't belong with the high clan.

"I... belong to the Chisels."

"So? I don't mind whether you belong to the low or high clan as long as you look the part," He winked again.

Look the part? Ermand laughed to himself.

"I'm Ermand."

Ermand finally took Timothy's hand, but Timothy seemed to be unconvinced.

"Ermand?" he asked.

"Yes... uh?"

"It is a very peculiar name. Haven't heard of one before."

If the boy were to be Jack, he would've said 'Well now you heard it', but he doubted if he should ever tell that. So he responded with a smile.

"Found yourself a friend so fast? You're one step greater than me, Ermand!" Jack patted Ermand's back as he stepped out of the bus. His friends followed him.

"He's the Ermand you always talk about?" One boy asked him.

"He doesn't look like you or Jason," another boy commented. He wasn't as tall as Jack.

Ermand's heart raced at the remark.

"Because he's special," Jack said, beaming at Ermand. "He ain't like me or Jason, he is an exceptional guy..."

"By the way, this is Fernando," Jack introduced the boy who spoke first. "This guy over here, he's Collon, the tiny guy I told you about and that's--"

"Hey, what do you mean by that?" Collon intercepted, scowling at Jack.

"Well, it's never too late to realize the truth, Collon," Jack laughed, resting one of his arms on Collon.

"Hey, have you heard that Hyacinth lost this year's Spell casters Association Election?" Fernando spoke, the tendency to spill out the news was brimming in him.

"Who won?" Collon asked, scratching his head.

As they started blabbering, they left Ermand alone in an awkward silence with the Chestnut boy.

However, he breathed a sigh of relief when they moved away from him, busy with the fascinating news they had bought from their trusted sources.

Jack had always understood Ermand's feelings. He was that brother who made fun of Ermand like any brother would, but wouldn't tolerate anyone else to do the same. Ermand thought, for the millionth time, that he was unbelievably blessed to have a brother like him.

"You're the last child?" Timothy asked, burying his hands in his pockets.

"Yes."

"That must be cool. Having a lot of siblings is actually an incredible experience," he sighed.

"Why, you don't...?"

"No. I'm an only child. My parents prefer not to have over one. They kind of ignore me after the summer holidays and send me to my grandmother's home at the borders every year in the name of some stupid work they have. So I'm really lonely, no siblings. Since I was a kid, I frequently visited my grand mom. Frankly, I'm more attached to her than to my very own mother. Do your parents treat you the same way?"

"No," Ermand faked a chuckle. Maybe a little too much, he thought, fumbling with the ends of his shirt.

"I envy you. But they aren't as atrocious as the other members of the high clan," he shook his head.

"Just that... they don't have time for me..." Timothy mumbled to himself. It seemed as if undesired memories were sweeping past his mind.

"Where do you live here?" Ermand changed the subject. It was for the first time he ever learned to strike up a conversation.

"New Tawarn."

"New Tawarn? That's a suitable distance from here," Ermand shrugged.

"It is, but I don't think it would surprise you if you think of the students, coming from different parts of Iyerth. I'm closer. You're native to Tawarn?"

Ermand nodded. He was always proud to be called a Tawarnian which left him remembering Jack mocking him about always getting a little too patriotic than their president.

"Proud Tawarnian," he replied, pure prestige etched as a smile on his face.

I can't believe this is real...

It was the first time he realized his tiny world had slowly changed.