Markus was largely unknown to and ignorant of these others. He did in fact go to their school, but had only recently enrolled, having previously attended a pricey private school. He didn't know their names, and was only vaguely sure that they attended the same school. Of course, probably they did, if they lived around here. None of them went to his old school, he knew that for sure.

And then there was hood girl. He was just as confused as the rest of them, and probably just as anxious. Whoever she was, all he could gather was that she was already involved in whatever the rest of them were falling into. They were fools, she said, for wanting to be Magic Knights. But was that what any of them even wanted? He knew he didn't. 

"Fools?" Markus spoke up finally, "Why? Is it dangerous? Is the magic rat duping us?"