Page 10

Chapter Ten

“ T hat’s the last box,” Aurielle said, stacking a wooden crate full of seasonal fruits and vegetables onto a flatbed trailer. The boxes were headed for the local food bank, a tradition of the autumn equinox celebrations at Evergreen Academy.

My friends and I high-fived with some nearby botanists who had been part of our packaging and loading group, then Yasmin and I returned to our room to change and get ready for the evening’s festivities.

“One of the best perks of living here so far is having access to your closet twenty-four seven.” I said, flicking through Yasmin’s dresses.

Yasmin grabbed a deep-crimson, thigh-length summer dress with a modest slit and held it out to me. “Wear this one.”

“You’re always so much better at dressing me than I am. I wish I could keep you as my personal stylist forever.”

“Maybe my calling is in fashion. I could debut a dress made of ferns at Paris Fashion Week.” The ferns in the room shimmied at her words.

After applying botanically enhanced makeup on our faces and dotting our ears and fingers with Yasmin’s endless supply of jewelry, we met Coral and Aurielle outside our room and made our way down the staircase to the central vein.

I tried not to be disappointed every time I scanned the vicinity and didn’t spot the deep-chestnut hair and assured posture that was Callan. Where was he?

I had considered reaching out via leaf communication—or sending a text when off campus—but I didn’t want him to feel like I was bombarding him. I rolled my shoulders back, trying to ground myself in the present. If Callan wasn’t here, surely he was busy doing something important.

When we arrived at the field by the pond, I took a moment to take in the scene. The place was decorated like other harvest festivals I’d been to, with leaves and pumpkins and all things orange, yellow, and rich red like the color of my dress.

But I had never been to a harvest festival where magical botanists were actively growing food in front of my eyes then rapidly preparing finger foods for us to eat, fresh off the vine. And the pumpkins ranged from the size of my thumb to ones that could have been turned into Cinderella’s carriage.

“The harvesters have been working hard,” Coral said, snagging an appetizer plate of vegetables and hummus from braided-leaf trays that were being floated throughout the field by the tree affinity students.

Wind chimes began to sound a melodic note, and we turned our attention to Professor East. “Hello, everyone. To announce today’s signature activity, I am joined by a member of the Board of Regents, Kale Brightmoor.”

There was soft clapping as a man slightly younger than Professor East joined him.

“Thank you all for the warm welcome. As a harvester affinity, it gives me great pleasure to be here today at one of the most bountiful times of year. In the past, we have hosted a combined activity at this time. Today, though, we would like each affinity group to have their own activity. These have been designed by your associated representatives on the Board of Regents.”

“What the spores?” Coral murmured from my left.

“Please gather with your lead affinity groups, and follow the instructions of your designated instructor. Harvesters, I look forward to joining you all.”

There were a series of murmurs as the crowd began to divide into affinity groups.

“Does this mean there aren’t going to be any pumpkin rides?” someone asked as they walked by us, sounding entirely dejected.

“Since you have all the affinities as leads, where do you go?” Yasmin asked, turning to me.

“I think I’ll just join you all for the fern activity,” I said.

Before I could take one step, a voice came from behind us. “Which one of you is Briar Whelan?”