Aleksander, Wednesday, Enid, Xavier, and Rowan slipped back into the Harvest Festival's warm string lights and buzzing crowds.
Principal Larissa Weems spotted Wednesday immediately, her expression tightening with clear displeasure at the earlier disappearance, though a flicker of relief softened it when she saw her return unharmed.
Weems pulled Wednesday aside for a sharp interrogation under the Ferris wheel's glow. "Where exactly were you?"
Wednesday offered only evasive shrugs and roundabout answers: "Taking a walk. Needed air from the festival chaos."
Aleksander stood apart, gaze distant, mind going through Marilyn Thornhill's layered plans.
Wednesday rejoined the group moments later. Enid leaned in eagerly, practically bouncing on her toes. "Okay, spill—what did Principal Weems say to you?"
Wednesday delivered her response in that signature deadpan monotone, face impassive. "She has a very paranoid personality. She seems convinced I'll cause some catastrophic trouble for the school at any moment."
Aleksander rolled his eyes with a faint smirk. "Well, you were kicked out of more than four schools before this one. And don't forget releasing a school of piranhas into the swimming pool, which caused the resident bully to lose his genitalia in the most satisfying way possible."
Enid burst out laughing, covering her mouth but nodding vigorously. "I mean, with a record like that, Principal Weems isn't exactly wrong to be on high alert."
Wednesday shot them both a withering side-eye, her posture stiffening just a fraction in affronted silence.
Soon they returned back to the academy, as the group walked back toward the Ophelia Hall dorms under the crisp night sky, Enid's curiosity bubbled over again. She nudged Aleksander's arm playfully. "Okay, but seriously—yesterday at the festival, I saw you pulling off some seriously skilled magic. And Wednesday mentioned you can read minds and pick up on emotions like it's nothing."
She leaned in closer, eyes sparkling with genuine intrigue, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "So, I'm dying to know—what are you, really? I mean, even Wednesday doesn't have a clue, and that's saying something."
Wednesday glanced over, her usual stoic mask cracking with a rare glint of curiosity in her dark eyes.
Aleksander paused, then gave a small nod. "Alright, I'll show you both when we get to your dorm."
With a subtle shimmer of air, he turned invisible right there on the path. Wednesday and Enid exchanged a quick, surprised look—Wednesday's eyebrow arching skeptically—before they bolted toward their room in Ophelia Hall, Enid stifling excited giggles.
They burst inside, slamming the door shut. Aleksander reappeared in the center of the room, solid and calm.
Enid clapped her hands together, barely containing herself. "Come on, show us already—quick, before someone walks in!"
Aleksander exhaled steadily, rolling his shoulders back in a fluid, deliberate motion. As his massive wings erupted with a resonant snap—raven-black feathers edged in jagged bone ridges—they spanned the room, so large their tips dragged across the floor with a soft rustle. Curved horns simultaneously emerged from his forehead, sharp and shadowed.
Wednesday froze mid-step, her analytical gaze tracing every feather and ridge with intense focus.
Enid's jaw dropped, cheeks flushing deep pink as she stared wide-eyed. "Oh my God... he actually looks like a fallen angel."
Wednesday's eyes gleamed with rare intensity, leaning in to whisper flatly, "More like the Devil with those horns."
Aleksander rolled his shoulders forward again. The massive raven-black wings folded with a resonant rustle, feathers retracting seamlessly into his back. Obsidian horns faded smooth into his forehead."As for what I am," he said evenly, " I have no idea. I am first of my kind here. But I do get a rare stack of abilities, though."
Wednesday's eyes narrowed, her voice cutting flat and probing. "Define 'rare stack.' Telepathy. Empathy. Telekinesis. Invisibility. Shapeshifting wings. What else?"
Enid bounced on her toes, grin splitting wide, hands clasped. "Yeah! Flight? Laser eyes? Oh my God, can you do that thing where you summon storms? Show us more—pretty please?"
Aleksander smirked, dark eyes glinting. "No, no laser eyes. As for the rest... you'll have to find out yourself."
Enid pouted, crossing her arms with a dramatic huff. "Rude! Tease."
Wednesday's lips twitched into a predatory half-smile, eyes locking on like a challenge accepted.
As Aleksander decided to switch subjects, he pulled out his phone and showed them an image of Sofia Rivera—sharp-eyed tanned skin women with braided her, lab coat slung over one shoulder, standing against a California Bureauof Investigation building. "Our new teammate had arrived in Vermont, she is Forensic specialist."
Enid studied the photo closely, eyes widening. "She looks hot."
Wednesday frowned, murmuring under her breath, "Sofia Rivera."
Enid glanced at Aleksander, tilting her head. "Isn't Forensic expert, the one who examines a dead body and finds the cause of death?"
Aleksander nodded, but Enid frowned deeper, gesturing toward Wednesday. "I mean Wednesday being a psychic, does the team need a Forensic expert?"
Aleksander sighed, leaning back. "Psychics cannot always get visions, I mean it's like radios—visions can be static-filled, cutting in and out. Sometimes the signal's clear, a full broadcast of death flashes or clues. Other times, it's garbled interference—faint whispers, half-formed images that fade before you tune in. Wednesday can't force the frequency; it hits when it hits, or it doesn't at all. Forensics gives us hard evidence when the psychic static goes silent."
Enid's eyes lit up with understanding, her frown melting into a nod. "Ohhh, like bad reception? That actually makes sense—Sofia's the backup antenna!"
Wednesday crossed her arms, her expression unchanging but gaze thoughtful, accepting the analogy without protest.
Aleksander pocketed his phone, a faint smile breaking through. "Exactly. Team's stronger with all signals covered."