Page 16 of Legacy Elite

They found nothing. Officially, I'm still just Jessica Miller, second-year student.

And I haven't shifted since April. Not once. Not for lack of trying, and we are absolutely not discussing how much trying, because it turns out you can want something with your entire body and still just stand there in a field being a person.

"They're not all being rude about it," Freya says from my other side.

"Sorry?"

"You've assumed they're being rude."

We pass a knot of third-years by the archway. One of the guys catches my eye and gives me a solemn little nod.

I nod back.

He immediately goes red and turns to his friends.

"See?" Freya says.

"See what?"

"Not rude."

"That was weird."

"Still not rude."

"Huh."

"People are curious. Curious isn't the same as hostile." She adjusts the bag on her shoulder. "You'll want to learn the difference this year."

"That's ominous."

"It's practical."

We're most of the way across the courtyard, aimed for the second-year blocks, when a woman in academy grey comes out of the admin door with a folder and says, "Miss Miller?"

Everybody stops.

"That's never good," Renzo says.

"Your accommodation's been changed. If you'll follow me."

"Changed how?"

She checks the folder like the folder is going to save her. "You've been assigned a suite in the Great House residence. Chancellor Falken approved it in July."

There's a pause of about two seconds.

Then Sophia says, "Excuse me," in a voice that could take paint off a wall.

"It's a security arrangement," the woman says, to me, ignoring her with what I have to admit is real professionalism. "The residence has controlled access, staff at the entrance, and considerably fewer students."

"What about them?"

She glances at the five of them. "Their assignments are unchanged."

"No," I say.

"Miss Miller—"