Wind was blowing through their hair as Ryker drove through the streets of Revera City. A small city, shaped like a U with the ocean in the middle. They were on the right prong of the U, the school was on the left. They had 15 minutes left before they would be late for class and they still needed to pick up Anna.
"She's going to be mad isn't she," Brock commented from the passenger seat.
Ryker took a sharp left, his fingers tightening on the steering wheel, "Just a bit."
The car stopped before a small convenience store, The Emerald Sprout, Anna was already waiting outside, her hands on her hips, her green braids swinging slightly in the sea breeze.
Her face was a thundercloud. She opened the backdoor and plopped down with a huff, throwing her bag beside her.
The boys were quiet. They both knew better than to speak when Anna was this annoyed. Especially when lateness was the cause.
Finally, Anna broke it.
"Drive," she commanded.
As Ryker merged back onto the main road, Anna sighed.
"You know we can afford to be late just this once," Brock said, turning in his seat to face her.
She fixed him with a look, her blue eyes piercing.
"Time is money, Brock. You wouldn't understand."
The words were sharp, but the underlying tremor in her voice wasn't lost on Ryker.
"Let's change the subject," Ryker suggested, accelerating slightly, "Did you get accepted to that university Anna?" he asked, genuinely curious.
He wasn't just changing the subject; he cared deeply about her future. They'd all dreamed of getting out of Revera City after graduation.
Scratching her cheek, "Yeah... I did."
Brock gave Ryker a look, one that clearly conveyed their mutual understanding. The silence that followed was thicker than before.
"You know Anna," Brock started, "There's no shame in asking for help. We are here for you."
She was already shaking her golem friend off, "I don't want charity. I've been saving up money for a while. It's fine."
Ryker's jaw tightened. He knew her pride was as strong as the ancient oaks she could communicate with.
A new notification pinged on the car's display. It was from the school's system, an all-student announcement.
"Dungeon tour applications for this weekend are now open."
Anna's posture stiffened at the announcement.
Her reaction was caught in the rear view mirror.
"Do we really not want to do that? It's our last year," Brock said, "It's just an unranked dungeon."
"No," both Ryker and Anna said at the same time.
Smirking as if he expected it, Brock leaned back into his seat.
"Are you two finally hooking up in secret?" Brock teased, wiggling his eyebrows.
"Brock," Anna said, a tired sigh escaped her. Ryker focused on the road but felt a warmth spread through him.
Before any more banter could erupt, the high school came into view, a modern, sprawling structure of glass and steel overlooking the sea. The school parking lot was mostly empty, and they could already hear the distant sound of the final bell. Ryker expertly steered the Mercedes into a compact spot near the entrance.
Anna jumped out before the car was fully in park.
"We have 5 minutes," she reminded them, her back turned as she hoisted her bag over her shoulder.
"I'll see you in class," She speed-walked towards the school without a backwards glance.
Taking out their bags, the boys walked together at a more leisurely pace.
"What are we gonna do about her?" Ryker asked, kicking at a loose pebble. It skittered across the asphalt and hit a tire with a soft clink.
"She won't accept help," Brock said, shrugging, "You know her."
"We can't just do nothing, man," he stopped walking and faced Brock.
The golem sighed and ran a hand through his short grey hair, a habit of his when he was thinking.
"Bribing is out," Ryker continued, "She's too smart for that."
A clap echoed beside him as Brock slammed his stone hand into his other. Ryker jumped back from the sudden noise.
"Child support! Her dad still has to pay, right?"
He made a good point but Ryker knew it was a sensitive topic.
"We track him down, force him to pay with our money!" the golem continued, his eyes gleaming with the prospect of an adventure.
Ryker shook his head.
"Her dad's in the east."
An awkward silence stretched between them. The unspoken truth hung in the air, that is a Westerner had little to no power in the East.
"Shit," was all Brock could manage to say.
They started walking again, the main doors of the school were only a few feet away.
A cat cut them off, its fur was grey and black striped, its tail lashing behind it. Stopping in front of the entrace, it winked at Brock before scurrying inside.
"No way," Ryker's mouth was agape.
Brock was practically vibrating, he was so happy.
"See! I told you she was into me," he whispered, his cheeks flushed.
Before Ryker could answer, Brock was already chasing after the cat, yelling, "Wait for me!"
His bestfriend vanished into to the school, powerless against his horniness.
"Cat girls are his weakness eh?" someone whispered behind him.
Turning around, he saw a woman with brown hair, tied into a neat bun, and brown eyes.
Her perfume reached his nose next. Jasmine with something else. Something metal.
"Professor Larmen," he said, "I wasn't expecting to see you here."
Dressed in a tight pencil skirt, and a white blouse, the professor smiled.
"I'm in charge of the dungeon tour. I thought you of all people would be interested, Mr. Larduca," the professor replied.
He scratched the back of his neck, "I am interested but you know..."
"Even students without magic can go. It's perfectly safe."
The professor reached into her bag and pulled out a brochure and pen.
Accepting the brochure, a bitterness built up inside him. Ryker looked at it for a minute. His mother and sister didn't use their magic at home as to not remind him of the cruelty.
"My mother and sister would get angry," he said.
She chuckled and moved a stray hair out of her face, "You're not a little boy anymore, Ryker. You are free to make your own choices."
"Maybe when I have a job," he chuckled and put the brochure in his bag, "Thank you."
With a few seconds to spare, he was at the door of his classroom. He took a deep breath and entered.