However, I didn't understand it. Where did this magic come from? It was as if water and wind were combining, but that wasn't possible. And as far as we Quatura had been taught, there was neither a fifth element nor a Quatura with two gifts. In addition, it was the kind of magic that came from within, the kind that lived inside you, like it was the case with the Fire Quatura. And that scared me. I felt like I was at the mercy of something dangerous, trapped in this unstable body.

My thoughts catapulted me back into the seminar room to my last lesson with Professor Tiberius, and I pressed my lips together to remember the feeling of tension.

I was still irritated, not knowing whether to approach the Councils or the Circle. I would be willing to face the consequences of my thoughtless actions.

But he had threatened me. And I had already underestimated him once. And until I could judge him better, I would – like Amber – let the grass grow over the matter and pretend nothing had happened. But I didn't have much time to find out more about that guy. I needed a plan. And I was still toying with the idea of letting Grace in on it, but I didn't trust myself to do that either, because I had this gut feeling that Grace would act rashly.

In short, I was balancing on a thin tightrope.

“What do you think of the devil?” Larissa held up an outfit consisting of a black leather suit, a red velvet robe and a horned headband. “Or would you prefer Medusa?”

Bayla took a photo with Larissa's camera, which she was supposed to be holding.

“Give me the Medusa costume. I can't find anything useful here.” Grace reached for the golden dress, which I was sure would fit her like a glove.

Bay and I exchanged a quick glance that said something like What have we gotten ourselves into?

Grace had driven us here, and this place was huge. DressinGlamour was actually a popular festive fashion store, but since the owners knew about this big event, they also sold party costumes and must have made a lot of money because the store was full of students.

“You should also look for something nice,” Larissa said with a look that was directed at me and couldn't have been more striking. Luckily, Grace was absorbed in her search for a costume.

Bayla pulled me behind her into another row, further away from the others. She still didn't look very healthy and ever since Larissa had mentioned the pills, a few questions had been buzzing around in my head.

Bayla looked around and finally turned to me. Then she looked at my wrist, just like the professor had done. Luckily, my sleeves were long.

“Why are you so cold, Julie?” she whispered.

My breath hitched.

I didn't feel my own body temperature, but the fact that she did and that it was apparently noticeably cold confirmed that I wasn't making it up about the ice and snow.

“I'm very sensitive to the cold,” I lied, and Bay raised both eyebrows skeptically.

“I'm not stupid, Julie.” She looked around again. “Is this some kind of Quatura thing?”

“I get cold easily...” I assured her again. She looked at me insistently, but left it at that.

Lying was absolutely not my strength, and she seemed to realize that.

“You know you can talk to me,” she said, then looked through the white dresses in the hallway as if they had been an option. “I just sometimes feel like Larissa and I are still a little too…” She hesitated, tugging at the white fabric of a wedding dress. “... unfamiliar for you.”

I had always had difficulties making friends, socializing and opening up. I couldn't even do it properly with Grace. When it came to Bayla and Larissa, they had simply dragged me into their inner circle without asking. And strangely enough, it didn't bother me at all. In fact, it felt like I had a life outside of Moenia, outside of the Circle. I had other thoughts. Even if the two of them brought me to the brink of despair by pulling me out of my safe routine.

“I know I can,” I said to Bayla. “And when I'm quiet, it's not because of you two.”

Bayla smiled and it seemed relieved.

I continued. “You...take pills?”

Fortunately, my voice wasn't so shaky today.

Bayla nodded and moved on to the next row, where there were costumes again.

I followed her.

“And you have seizures?” I asked further.

I didn't want to invade her privacy too much, because yesterday in the diner she had reacted very sensitively to Larissa's comments. And sometimes I didn't know whether my curiosity made others uncomfortable.

“Yes...” Bay said, turning to me slowly.

“Could you describe these seizures to me?” I asked further.

Bayla didn't seem as extroverted as Grace and Larissa, which pushed me out of my comfort zone a little. I needed to talk more, which didn't feel awkward because of Bayla, but because of the fact that I never did.

Bay kept walking, pulling a costume off the rack.

“It's usually my headache that comes first.”

We kept walking, and I started rummaging through the rows too, hoping to find something that wasn't too silly, because my main goal was to meet Erik after all.

My heartbeat immediately quickened.

Just the thought of this meeting was enough to get me all worked up.

“Then my arms...”

“What exactly about them?” I continued.

Bayla was silent for three seconds, then she continued. “My veins are standing out.”

My eyes widened.

When Bayla realized that I had stopped, she turned to me. Her eyes were full of questions, as was my head.

Why had so little made sense in the last few weeks?

“What is it?” she asked nervously, coming closer.

I remembered the last time I had seen this phenomenon. With Emely. With the Senseque.

But that was impossible. Especially in terms of contract.

“Oh, here you two Lost Birds are. I've been looking for you the whole time.” Larissa appeared behind Bay, who was still staring at me. “Just between us, the masks are one corridor over. Come on.” Larissa smiled at me and pulled me along with her. I wasn't used to this much physical contact. “Bay, go and try some costumes on,” she said as we walked.

Then we were already in the next aisle, and I didn't have a chance to ask Bayla any more questions.

“Jesus, your hand is icy,” Larissa laughed, before positioning me right in front of a shelf full of masks.