Chapter 9 0 5 vouchers Watching Eudora summon flames with a flick of her wand was enough to shake Lorrayne's die - hard belief that everything had a logical explanation . She stared at the wand , her brain doing cartwheels . Is it some trick with the wand ? ' she wondered . ' Maybe it's rigged with some kind of flammable stuff ? ' But she kept those thoughts to herself - she wasn't about to ask . The other students were buzzing , practically bouncing off the walls after seeing real magic . They waved their sticks around like they were one spell away from being wizards . Eudora stepped back , letting them have at it . Lorrayne clutched her wand , took a deep breath , and psyched herself up . Thirty seconds later , she whispered the incantation again . Whoosh ! A spark flickered to life , a tiny flame dancing at the tip of her wand like a wobbly red flower . Jealous stares shot her way , and even Eudora gave her a look . " Nice job , Lorrayne , " she said with a nod . " You're picking this up fast . Keep it up , and you might just be Archmage material ." " An Archmage ? " The class erupted in excited whispers , their eyes glued to Lorrayne like she'd just won the lottery . Most Magic Apprentices never got past Junior Mage - Mid - tier Mage was a pipe dream , and Archmage ? That was next - level stuff . They figured that if they got in good with Lorrayne now , they could have an Archmage buddy down the line . Lorrayne noticed the shift in their stares and got why . She'd read The Ballad of Aldrich . Archmages were a big deal - wined and dined by kings , above the law , no taxes , no jail time , even if they did something crazy like off someone . Lowborn Archmages could even score noble titles . All they had to do was follow the Magic Covenant , rules set by the legendary Holy Archmage , Aldrich , who'd kicked the Magibeasts out of Westvale and built the human kingdoms from scratch . Half the royals around claimed they were his kin . If Lorrayne could become an Archmage , faking her highborn status would be small potatoes . An Archmage was way above any highborns . If the original Lorrayne hadn't been found out so soon - if she'd had time to show her talent and climb to Archmage - her life would've been totally different . She wouldn't have died . A batter pang twisted in her chest, leftover feelings from the body she now called home . ' No going back now ! She sighed , mumbled the incantation a few more times , then tucked her wand away . Professor Eudora had warned them not to overdo it - too much magic could leave a newbie wiped out or with a killer headache . bring the first to nail the spell , Lorrayne got to ditch class early . As she grabbed her stuff , a nasty glare sliced through the room . Veyna , staring her down , fare twisted with envy and frustration Lorayte played it cool , ignored her , and slipped out . De rest of the class was getting antsy , some kids nearly in tears as they struggled to feel any magical spark . " Cult , guys Eudora called out . Not everyone's cut out for fire magic . You'll figure it out . Class'll wrap up soo 10 P Chapter 9 ***** B 5 vouchers Lorrayne made a beeline for the library , her go - to spot lately . She was there every afternoon , and the old librarian at the desk was starting to know her by name . " Back again , Lorrayne ? " he asked with a grin . " Yup , but not borrowing today , " she said . " Just chilling with some books ." She grabbed a stack of magic - related books , itching to dig deeper into this world's secrets . The reading nook by the window was her favorite - perfect for flipping through pages while sneaking glances at the lawn and cedar trees outside . By three , the sun slanted in , warming the desk like a cozy blanket . Then her stomach growled , loud enough to break her focus . She was starving . But the thought of the cafeteria's gross , gloppy soup or half - raw , bloody meat killed her appetite a bit . ' Bread's the move , she decided . ' Cheap and keeps you going . She checked her coin pouch - two sad little silver coins . One silver got one a hundred coppers . A crusty breadstick ran three coppers , a soft roll five . She could make it last , but living on bread forever wasn't gonna cut it . She'd have to swing by the cafeteria sometimes , maybe splurge on a highborn - style steak - forty coppers for one plate . Plus , her clothes were filthy and needed washing , hot water had to be hauled to her room , and Equestrian Arts class was coming up . She'd need a horse . " This life's rough , she thought . If Barton didn't show up soon , her whole act was gonna fall apart . Lost in her head , she headed toward the school gates . Crossing the academy plaza , a crow swooped down out of nowhere , dropping a shiny gemstone right into her arms . " Whoa , you good ? " A cute , chestnut - haired guy jogged over , looking guilty . " Didn't hurt you , did it ? " " This your crow ? " Lorrayne asked , holding out the flapping bird . " Better keep it on a leash . " " Yeah , my bad ," he said , taking the crow . " It's my familiar - nuts for shiny stuff . Keeps snatching gems off my belt and bolting when I catch it . " No harm done , " Lorrayne said with a shrug . " Just keep a closer eye on it ." " I feel awful , miss . How about you take the gem as a sorry ? " He plucked the stone from the crow's beak and held it out . Lorrayne grinned , waving it off . " Nah , I'm good . Didn't even leave a scratch . " " C'mon , take it , " he pushed . " I'll feel like a total jerk if you don't ." " Seriously , it's cool , she said , stepping back . " Your crow's kinda adorable . Let it keep the shiny . " " But- " Tell you what , " she said , her eyes sparkling as she glanced at the crow . " I take the gem , then give it right back to your buddy . Deal? " The guy paused , then flashed a warm smile . Alright , kind lady , I'm Kael Rosetti , senior apprentice in Department of Spellbinding and Sumasoning . Can I get your name " Sensor , huh ? Nice . I'm Lorrayne , just a Novice Magic Apprentice ," she said , giving a quick curtsy . " Gotta bounce , but maybe we'll chat " Sounds good , " Karl said , stepping aside Larayne shot hin a quick , sorry smile and hustled off , her stomach rumbling like crazy . All she could think about was grabbing a cheap 218 P Chapter 9 Behind her , Kael's warm grin vanished , his eyes turning colder than a winter night . " Useless bird , " he muttered , squeezing the crow tight . " Can't even get a stupid gem delivered ." What a waste of a morning spent poisoning that stone , ' he thought . The crow squawked , flapping like mad . 5 vouchers . Kael watched it struggle for a few seconds before loosening his grip . " Go find Chad , " he said , voice like ice . " Tell him she's headed off- campus . Tell him to take her out . " The crow let out a panicked caw and shot off like it was running for its life . 33 Title: ReelTalk EP 40 - Contract Lovers & Heartbreak CrushReel's ongoing romance series, Miss You After Goodbye, continues to captivate on the latest ReelTalk episode. Haley Lohrli dives into her daring new character, while Ben and Josh share insights into their own memorable roles, promising a blend of laughter and heartwarming moments. Exploring themes of love, loss, and unexpected connections, this episode delves deep into the intricate relationships that drive the narrative forward. As the stars reveal their on-screen chemistry and off-screen camaraderie, viewers are in for a treat with each unfolding scene. What sets this episode apart is its ability to balance humor with poignant storytelling, offering a refreshing take on modern romance dynamics. Dive into the world of Contract Lovers & Heartbreak, available to read at CrushReel for a journey that promises both entertainment and emotional resonance.