“Hi, I’m Ava,” Ava said, offering a handshake. Zeda and Carrie took it.

“I’m Zeda.”

“Carrie.”

Ava smiled at Zeda, her bright blue eyes sparkling beneath a bob of perfectly styled black hair. “You’re the new mage. Adrian’s personal student, the girl everyone’s talking about.”

“Yeah, obviously,” Zeda replied with a casual shrug.

“You’re more beautiful in person. I like your hair,” Ava complimented.

“Thanks, but your beauty dwarfs mine,” Zeda replied, ...