It's a few days into my new life when I start to get the hang of where everything is. Grian's been escorting me around, since we share most of our lessons. Building class has quickly become my favourite, and magic-is-bad my worst, followed very closely by Redstone, which just happens to be my first lesson today.

Great. 

Grian's there when I leave our shared bedroom. The smell of cooking eggs greets me, and he looks over from where he's frying some in a pink, lace edged apron that suits him better than it should. 

'You want some?' He offers. 'I decided against letting you make your own breakfast, considering... toaster.' 

'Ooh! Yes, thanks!' I take a seat at the wood table in the centre of the room, refusing to acknowledge his accurate reasoning. 'Something to enjoy before redstone class...'

'I haven't done the homework of designing a 2 by 2 piston door... I got Mumbo to try and help me, but I still didn't understand...' Grian places two plates of the fried eggs on the table, and I dig in immediately.  'So... first few days. How was it?'

'Interesting. Enjoyed the lesson on texturing builds yesterday. Found the Hermit newspaper whatever. Was given one for free, since I'm new here. Plus a cake. From that Cub guy.' 

'Ohhh... yeah, don't eat that. Three full days off vomiting for me. He does this to every new person. Teachers still think it's just some first day nerves.' 

'Well, I found it delicious.' I reply. 

'You- what?! Scar... why would you do that?'

'It was cake! No one would ruin cake!' 

'Cub would definitely ruin cake.' Grian argues back, half-laughing. 'Oh my goodness, you're going to regret that later...' 

'What's your favourite class?' I decide to change the subject. 

'Building. Though I'm rubbish at making the backs of my builds.'

'When do lessons start?' 

'Uhh... half an hour. You should get dressed and grab your stuff. It's a stupidly long journey over.' 

'Let me finish my food first! Jeez Louise!' I scold. 'They're good eggs! I don't want to waste them.' 

'Alright! I wasn't say to go immediately.' With a roll of his eyes, Grian replies, continuing eating his own food.

So we do, and finish. I disappear to get dressed, searching through my shulker of clothes for something to wear. As I look, my hand connects with something hard at the base of it. A familiar rush of energy fills me, but I draw away quickly, choosing instead of wear my clothes from the last couple days. They don't smell that much. A few minutes later I'm changed, leaving the room to see another dorm-mate in his familiar white sweater and black jeans. 

'Uhh... B! Big Bdubs!' I try to get his attention, while also forgetting his name. He still looks over.

'It's Bdubs. BigB's the other one.' I make a mental note to remember his name, and that he's not a morning person.

'Oh- well your names are quite similar.' I try to excuse myself. 'Sorry. Bdubs. I'm bad at names.' 

'I can tell...'

'Scar? You ready to go?' Grian saves me by asking. 

'Yeah.' I hurry off, barely remembering to add a 'bye Bdubs!' as I do.

'What excuse should I come up with? For my homework' My roommate asks. I shrug back, 

'Uhh... my cat ate it.'

'What? Jellie?' 

'Yeah. Jellie ate it.' 

'I don't think Ilmango will believe me.' Grian looks over at me as we head off down the stairs. Another shrug.

'Jellie would eat it. I could've got her to eat it... wait, do you want me to find Jellie so we can feed her your homework?' 

'No! Alright! I believe you.' Laughs back Grian. We reach the bottom of the stairs, and continue our journey on. 

Inside the redstone building, which I'd already forgotten was the redstone building, Grian finds the classroom easily. We're late, due to how intentionally slow we walked. So it's full when we enter, and the teacher, who's apparently called Ilmango, sighs. 

'Late again, Grian. And...'

'Scar.' I finish for him. 'I'm new.'

'Yes. Sit down. Scar, you're next to Cub at the back.' 

I walk past the three rows of people I do and don't recognise, finding a place on the desk next to Cub. He smiles at me. I smile back, placing my textbook and workbook on it. With a glance at his notes, I realise the his previous pages are full of notes. Relief fills me at the idea that he might be able to help me. 

'So.' My attention shifts back to Ilmango. 'Piston doors. Last week we focused on two by two and three by three piston doors and I hope all of you have completed your homework. Now, can anyone remember the problem of building 3 by 3 piston doors, and how to solve it.' 

A guy with what looks like a goat mask covering his face raises his hand immediately, joined by the splendidly moustached guy next to Grian and a couple of others. I frown, leaning over to Cub to ask.

'We're allowed to wear masks?' 

'Uhh... yeah. Dream protested last year and it was allowed.' Comes the whisper back. As i nod back, I realise I missed goat-guy's answer, and only catch the teacher's response.

'Correct, Doc. Now, today we're looking at 4 by 4 piston doors. These are a lot more complicated, since there's more area you need to open up. Can anyone think of how we solve this issue?'

As the apparently less confused students raise their hands to answer, I catch a glance at Grian. He's making paper aeroplanes, and throws one a couple rows forwards. It lands on the back of the currently answering student, who I think was called Tango. It's an effort not to start laughing as he looks around, picking up the aeroplane as he promptly finishes his explanation before reading a message that's apparently written on it. A couple of minutes later, it's thrown back. 

'I'd like all of you to now copy down this simple method for how to sort out this issue, as Tango just told us. Ilmango changes the slide on the PowerPoint to a full list of instructions. Grian isn't writing it down, so I don't either, doodling designs for a build I want to do soon as most of the class begins writing. 

When I next look up, Ilmango and half the class are staring at me. I blink, before realising he must've asked a question. 

'What?' I reply. 

'I asked if you knew how the repeaters are used to make the door work properly.' 

'Magic.' I confidently answer, before my brain can comprehend what I've just said. Cub snorts with laughter next to me. Ilmango isn't as convinced. 

'And can you also tell me how doodling is going to help you find out about piston doors?'

 I look down at my art for a moment. My blood freezes as I realise what I've drawn. The sketch of the recognisable mask smiles back. I cover it with my hand. Had someone seen? Had Cub seen? Was I going to get found out already?!' I glance at Cub. He's looking at me, but it doesn't seem like he knows. 

My horror somehow doubles as Ilmango starts towards me and there's nothing I can do as he snatches my book up. My own hand grabs it back before he can see it.

'Excuse me?' 

'Give it back.' I plead, half out of my seat. 

'What?'

'I said give it back! It's mine!' There's nothing I can do except keep talking. 'It's my book! It's not my fault your lesson is too boring!'

He doesn't relent, tugging it away with annoyance. The book slips through my hands. My composure disappears. 

'GIVE IT BACK!' 

Blue crystal shoots from the table as I slam my hands on it. Ilmango drops my book, stepping away. My eyes widen in panic as I look around. Cub's on his feet. Grian's on his feet. 

I run. 

Welcome to Ember writes a redstone class when they don't know anything about redstone!