“At least it’s only the necessities,” Nick said, stretching his back with a yawn as he approached the other two boys. Glanced behind them as he spotted Laura heading their way, thought about mentioning it to Jorn, but decided against it.
	He glanced to a window as the gentle rumble of thunder whispered through the room, and Jorn had his exchange with Laura.
	“C’mon, halfling.” Nick patted Jorn on the back as he headed toward the doors where the rest of the student body, including Kia and her friends, were dragging themselves to. “We should get going. We all probably smell like a herd of rhinos who just tramped through a patch of dragon dung.”

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	Thayva scraped off a piece of, well, she did not really know what, from the gold-colored cuff around her wrist, when she heard Ferdinand say her name.
	“Hmm?” She turned toward him, a weary look on her face. “Yes. Yes, of course. What can I do for you?”