BY THE MARTYR'S DAY, all the first year students at the academy had been separated into mandatory classes suitable for their respective Arcs, and also left to choose one or two they fancied in other areas. Three days had gone since Rafel had first stumbled upon the Children of the Crow, at their loft in the shadows. He'd been holding his reply for as long as he could stretch it. Apparently, since then, he had learned it was Percival who had sneaked the mystery map into his blazer pocket.
The secret elite group, and its totally character-unique members still shocked him whenever he thought of it.
Today was the last day of the school week, and posters of weekend parties and club meetings were already stapled on plumy fir trees around the campus blocks. Flyers, with trendy fuchsia highlights tumbled with rhododendron leaves down the sidewalks and across asphalt tarmac.