I reach my hand toward the window, tracing the winding lines of the Hannunvaakuna even as it fades. What good are a few protection charms against someone who could get past the most elite battle mages? My mind instantly conjures up images of shattered sigils and unknown shadows reaching from the darkness.

I pull my headphones on and queue up the Knock-Knock Jokes, hoping angry guitars will drive the nightmares away.

6

The next morning, I chug back a cup of milky coffee but skip the porridge. Catching Cludd before class is more important than breakfast. Forget the interview with Morgan, I’ve got a proper story now, one that’ll put Sini in some serious shade.

Battle Mage Thwarted by Chaos Mage!

Attack of the Chaos Mage!

Why do all my titles sound so cheesy? I need something clever and attention grabbing, something worthy of the front page.

There’s a flicker of green between the trees, and I skid across the path trying to hit the brakes. I scan the gaunt birches. Did I imagine it?

Then I hear it.

It starts out like the wind rattling the skeletal limbs of the trees before morphing into something more guttural, like the croak of a crow. Only, I don’t think either the wind or my crows could be saying my name.

A prank. It’s got to be. I squint into the woodland, peering through the morning gloom, hoping to catch sight of some asswipe who thinks they’re hilarious for scaring me. Musti, Kamu, and Rekku perch above me, still and silent. Their heads are all cocked in the same direction.

“Nyt on vähä jännäpännä,” I whisper out loud, hoping the sound of my voice will chase away the heebie-jeebie weirdness I’m feeling. My words are shaky and brittle and do nothing to make me feel less creeped out.

And there it is again: another wisp of green. I whip my head around, following the darting glow toward the lake. The murky water mirrors the steel gray of the October morning, and above it, a green light flits back and forth as if beckoning me closer.

Okay, this is beyond strange, but I can’t help myself; I have to know what it is. Is someone messing with a laser, teasing me like a cat? It seems a little elaborate to be a prank, especially for this early in the morning.

The entire lake has taken on an eerie glow as if blanketed in a spreading, neon mist. Blinking my eyes does nothing to clear away the acid-green mirage. If anything, it burns brighter now, the mist flickering like ribbons or tendrils of flame.

Taika!

Definitely my name. A layer of frost grips my insides in a frigid fist. The voice is louder this time and so very not a figment of my imagination. I want to scream, but I’m barely breathing.