4
To my surprise, when we entered the illustrious Academy building we found the entrance hall full of people. And I do mean full. They weren’t students either, or they didn’t look like it. Most were at least my age or older, and only about half were human. The rest were fae of various tribes and cultures, including a couple of spriggans, a troll, and a willowy silver-haired man who would’ve looked right at home in the kingdoms of the Yllanfalen. I’d expect to see such a rabble pouring through the doors of the Emporium, but what were they doing here at the Academy?
A petite woman with a blonde ponytail and a thousand-watt smile spotted us as we came in, and leapt to clear room for Val’s chair. ‘Are you here for the tour?’ she asked us.
‘N—’ began Val.
‘Yes,’ I said firmly. ‘We’d love to
