George stumbled back as he bumped into something — or someone — right outside the grand entrance of the magical bank. He blinked, still dazed from the dizzying rollercoaster vault ride, and found himself face-to-face with a boy about his age sprawled on the cobblestone path, rubbing his elbow with a theatrical wince.
"Do you actually bump into people your same age everywhere?" the boy said, squinting up at George like he'd just caught him in a prank.
George hesitated, then let out a small laugh. "No," he said, offering a hand. "This is the first time."
The boy took his hand with dramatic flair and pulled himself up, brushing off his slightly oversized brown robe. His hair was a wild, curly mess like it had never seen a comb, and his eyes sparkled with mischief.
"I'm Max," he said, puffing his chest like he was introducing a famous wizard.
"George," George replied.
Max grinned. "Well, George, I need to buy a flying board. Want to come along?"
George smiled. "I was just thinking the same thing."
Max pointed a finger like he'd just solved a riddle. "Looks like we have the same brain!"
Together, the two boys strolled into a shop with the words "Blazewind Boards & Wand Works" etched into a weathered wooden sign hanging from above. As soon as they stepped in, the scent of polished oak and hot metal filled their noses. On the left were rows of floating boards—sleek, glowing with faint runes—while the right wall was lined with shelves of wands arranged in spirals and boxes.
George wandered over toward the boards while Max, being Max, picked up a wand with dramatic flair and pointed it at the ceiling. "Expell—"
"Put that down before you turn someone into a squirrel," barked a grumpy-looking shopkeeper who appeared from behind the counter. His beard was striped white and gray, and a single monocle floated magically in front of one eye.
"What's the price on the boards?" George asked politely.
The man raised a suspicious eyebrow. "You two… you Lumos or Lineus?"
"Lumos," George said, a little unsure. Max nodded too.
The shopkeeper snorted. "Then why're you lookin' at wands? You can't even control 'em. Lumos don't use wands, only hands. Just grab your boards and get out."
Max rolled his eyes. "Well, thank you for that warm welcome, your beardliness."
George bit back a laugh as they picked two boards from the floating display—one a silver-blue with wind-shaped carvings, the other jet black with red flames etched down the sides. As they turned to leave, they heard a soft voice from behind them.
"You must use those carefully," came the voice of a girl, hidden behind a stack of boxes.
Max jumped. "Who are you, the Board Police?"
The girl stepped forward with quiet confidence. Her straight black hair was tied in a neat braid, and her eyes were sharp and observant. She looked calm, yet somehow carried a quiet strength.
"I'm Anna," she said, looking between them. "Also a first-year."
Before either boy could respond, Max had already jumped onto his board. "Watch and learn, George!"
He hovered off the ground, but within seconds veered sideways, crashed into a towering pile of brand-new boards, and vanished in a puff of glittery dust and cardboard.
George laughed so hard he almost lost his grip, then climbed onto his own board—only to crash right next to Max into the same pile. The boards groaned under the weight as dust filled the air like a magician's failed trick.
Now all three were laughing—George, Max, and even Anna, though she covered her mouth with her sleeve trying to hide it.
After brushing themselves off and escaping the wrath of the grumbling shopkeeper, the trio made their way toward the next store, one filled with floating books and quills that flew on their own.
Inside, the shelves rearranged themselves with a hum. Each book floated slightly off the shelf, and labels shifted magically to reveal the next customer's name.
As soon as George stepped in, a glowing book floated toward him. Then two more drifted over to Max and Anna.
Max opened one and frowned. "Ugh. 'History of Shadow Wars?' Sounds like a nap in paper form."
Anna raised an eyebrow. "You're going to need that nap if you want to survive Professor Kalinor's class."
George chuckled. "How do you know all this?"
Anna shrugged. "I read ahead. I also watched some of the older students at the academy. I'm half-blood—Lumos and Lineus."
Max's jaw dropped. "Wait… so you can use both hand and wand magic?"
She nodded. "Sort of. I'm still learning to control both. It's not easy."
George's eyes widened. "That's… kind of amazing."
Max grinned. "So you're like a magical sandwich. Got both layers."
Anna gave a small smile. "I suppose that's one way to put it."
With bags filled with books and their flying boards slung on their backs, the three of them made their way to the station platform carved into the side of a cliff that overlooked a glowing valley. The sun was setting, casting golden light across the enchanted city of Oresa.
They stood in silence for a moment, taking in the scene.
A whistle blew—long and low.
But… there was no train.
"Where is it?" George asked, scanning the tracks.
Max was fidgeting, eyes darting around. "That was definitely a whistle, right? Or am I already hallucinating magical sounds?"
Anna squinted, then gasped.
Max turned around and pointed to the sky. "Look. THERE!"
George followed his gaze—and his mouth dropped open.
Above the clouds, riding golden windrails that shimmered in the light, was a flying train—its long serpentine body glowing faintly blue, the front shaped like the head of a silver dragon. Steam curled from its nostrils as it dove lower, wings of magic stretching wide like sails.
It wasn't just a train—it was a creature of magic, alive and moving with power and grace.
As it began to descend, flapping its metallic wings to slow itself, George felt his heart leap.
"I guess," Max said with a grin, "this is how school transportation works when you're a wizard.