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“So what is the point of Fields Forward? Why all the secrecy? Instead of ‘hey, I invented this new technology that no one will ever see,’ just say it’s magic.”

Shannon chuckles. “I was getting to that,” she says, taking another sip of tea. “You grew up in a world without magic. How do you think people would react, knowing it was real?”

“I don’t think it would be so bad, knowing about magic. People would be excited, eager to learn.”

“Perhaps,” Shannon says. “But is that worth the destruction, the conflict that would follow? Think about it. My family has been guarding this secret for over a hundred years, with good reason.”

I think about how magic can spark joy, the benefits it could have to health care and accessibility.

And then I think about the Lightning Bolt I cast, and what kind of power that would be in the hands of someone who might want to do harm.

“Did you have… world wars there?” I ask.

Shannon nods. “Absolutely devastating,” she says. “Imagine magic being wielded as a weapon. The atomic bomb your world created, but a thousand times over.”

My stomach feels as heavy as a stone.

“There was a time when mages had to conduct their business in secret, for fear of being used against their will. Having two distinct worlds was an opportunity for safety , and for the first time—the possibility of peace was real.” Shannon takes another delicate sip of her own tea, and gestures at the cookies again.

I thought I wasn’t hungry after that huge lunch, but my stomach betrays me, growling insistently for a snack. I take a careful bite; the cookie is crunchy and warm, sweet butter and sage in a perfect compact little bite.

“You asked me why my factories are here. Based on your essay, you’re somewhat of an expert on me and my company”—I blush at the statement—“so what do you think?” Shannon raises both her eyebrows at me.

“Fields Forward was started about ten years ago, and you’re internationally recognized… and your employees are from both your world and mine?”

Shannon smiles.

“So it’s a test run, of sorts. Getting some people used to the idea of magic, establishing yourself as a credible presence.”

“That’s right. I knew secrecy wasn’t going to be a long-term solution. As much as the Order can predict portals, these rising mana surges create disruptions. Pockets that go unmonitored, where people—and other dangerous things—can slip through without notice.”

“Like me. And the dragon.”

Shannon nods again. “Now, most of these occurrences in the past were rare enough that we could resolve it directly—we actually have a precedent with Loch Ness—but this week’s dragon seemed to go underground rather quickly.” She sighs. “No matter, we’ll find it soon.

“With each new Ritual, the stabilization effect on the mana surges seems to diminish, and the surges themselves are getting worse. Now imagine portals opening everywhere, and suddenly magic is exposed all at once. What do you think will happen?”

“Widespread chaos,” I say. “But that’s already happening. Conspiracy theories are running amok on the internet and it’s everywhere right now. Your Order couldn’t contain the dragon, and there’s pixies in parking lots, wyverns everywhere—that’s too many people out there for you to memory wipe!”

“This week has been quite intense,” Shannon says, demurring.

“But we’re doing our best to contain the damage, and after the Ritual stabilizes everything again, I can see these events being clearly explained by your—our—scientists.

” She regards me over her teacup. “But do you understand? We need more years of stability and the right approach, and the right person, to diplomatically make sure the transition is peaceful.”

“Like a First Contact.” I nod. “You’re a well-respected CEO and a technological prodigy, so if you presented it as a new type of technology—”

Shannon grins. “You’re brilliant, you know? Your application barely captures how sharp your mind actually is.”

My cheeks warm, and I feel hot all over, proud and basking in the compliment.

“Thanks,” I mumble, staring at Shannon in a new light.

Even though she didn’t invent any specific energy-efficient technology, she is actually doing really innovative things—with magic, but still doing them.

And no carbon emissions is still no carbon emissions.

“I’m glad we had this chance to talk,” Shannon says. She smiles at me. “Now, I can’t actually say this officially, but… you should expect a letter awarding you the scholarship soon, and I expect to see much more of you this summer as you develop your research project.”

I should be elated, but I feel numb after learning the consequences of an actual magical reveal and what the Order is doing to prevent it right now. I take a sip of my tea, expecting to find it cold, but it’s the perfect temperature.

Magic. It’s a powerful tool. Introduced the right way, it could be an asset to help people, create accessibility. The Order, however shady they might be, are doing the right thing by guarding the portals to protect both worlds.

But there’s something that doesn’t quite make sense. The earthquakes and surges all seem to appear around the same time as a portal, like either during or right after.

“So this Ritual,” I start. “It’s meant to stop the mana surges? And these earthquakes that happen whenever a new portal opens?”

Shannon nods. “It stabilizes the connection between our worlds.”

Kat’s mom figured out something about the Ritual, and how it wasn’t working. Maybe it hasn’t been working this whole time. “So the Ritual is supposed to stop it all—the portals, the surges. But maybe the reason the portals keep opening is because the Ritual hasn’t been…”

Shannon stares at me, her eyes widening.

I realize too late that I was thinking out loud.

This is definitely one of those times my ADHD is working against me.

I just blurted out my observations to someone who is the Order, whose family founded it, who has everything to gain from the portals remaining open.

A steady supply of money and supplies and employees, and money being made smuggling artifacts from one world to another.

And isn’t the whole point of smuggling that the items have to be rare ?

The Order would have everything to gain from making sure the Ritual wasn’t completed properly. Maybe that’s why they keep having to repeat it all the time.

A chill runs down my spine. The Order must have something to do with Kat’s mom and how she died.

Shannon’s watched my face journey and her eyes flash with understanding. “You know, I remember why I don’t recruit from the scholarship finalists—you kids are too smart for your own good,” Shannon says with a disappointed flick of her fingers.

She pulls a sleek black case that looks like a tablet out of her blazer, except once she starts swiping symbols I realize it’s a runebook. She’s prepping some sort of complex spell.

I have to do something. But what? I shift, and my messenger bag clunks against me. I reach inside, trying to feel for anything useful—I haven’t cleaned out my bag since—

My fingers brush against the waxy surface of a candle, and I remember. The travel spell. Everything’s here, the map, the diagram, a bottle of salt water, bowls for everything.

I won’t be able to set everything up without Shannon knowing, but if I can cast a successful Shield spell with only my intention and no spell diagram or anything, I know I can do this. I have to get out of here and warn Kat.

I have to.

Shannon stands up, reaching for me as if going for a hug.

She twitches her fingers, drawing runes, looking me in the eyes as her hands pause by the sides of my head.

Warmth emanates from her palms, and I can’t move.

“This won’t hurt, and soon you’ll be back on the bus with the other finalists, with only a memory of a wonderful day here,” she says.

“But while I’m here, I’m going to go back and see what else you’ve seen.

I get the feeling if you know so much about the Ritual it wasn’t just a one-time visit… ”

I can feel her presence in my mind, and everything about it feels sharp and uncomfortable, and my whole body cringes as the touch of her magic shifts through my memories.

I’m trapped in her aura of magic, but I realize while my head is frozen, I can move everything else. My heart pounds as I shift in my bag and open the Ziploc of soil and uncap the bottle of salt water. I’ve got the map and diagram in my bag and hope it’s enough.

Shannon doesn’t notice, fully concentrating on my memories, her body holding still as she keeps her position with her hands close to my temples.

She’s going back through today and flitting back through the week.

Shannon frowns as she watches me cast the Shield spell at the nail salon parking lot, and keeps going back, the memories rewinding at the forefront of my mind.

I need to get out of here. I need to go somewhere safe. Please let this work.

I flick the lighter and a flame dances atop the stub. “ Candle flame burning bright, draw ”—I absolutely do not remember the rhyme, but I’ve got the intention and I aced the poetry unit in English, so—“ magic and safety with your light! ”

Shannon’s eyes flick toward the accoutrements on her desk, but she’s paused on the last memory I had of Kat—our kiss by the jacaranda trees.

Her eyes widen, and she gasps. “Wait—”

I’m in the middle of the spell and I can feel power swirling around me, and I’m not going to stop. “ Salty oceans, winds of change, earth that’s soft and pure, take me to my destination, swift and sure! ”

The room blurs and spins around me, but this time I’m prepared for the sensation, and I firm my stance.

I look up to see Erica on her bed, surrounded by books. Her eyes flash in alarm as she takes in my sudden appearance.

I exhale, breathing hard. I’m back at Erica’s bedroom where we first set up this spell.

I did it. I got out of there.

“Wow, did you just use that transport spell to get here?” Erica asks. “I bet that totally beat traffic getting back from your field trip. What time is your portal again?”

“6:15.” My heart is still pounding. “I just won my scholarship,” I say.

“Okay, why do you look so angry about it…”

I take a deep breath. “Because it’s for an evil magical corporation, and I have to warn Kat.”