Future Stars of Strixhaven

The self-study day is a calm one for Dorm 7-2A. Daiki is on afternoon shift at the Firejolt Café, and the others have been invited to gather there as well to wait for reporter Mina. When they arrive, Mina is not there yet. Once the group sits down, Ruben brings up the oily black substance he found earlier and mentions that Kroak had trouble identifying it last night. He suggests asking someone from the Witherbloom faculty. Kroak agrees it might help, but voices concern about not knowing who to trust if there really is a conspiracy involving dangerous creatures on campus. Ruben counters that Witherbloom has people with good intentions too, and Kroak concedes that if Ruben knows someone specific, it’s worth pursuing.

Kroak wonders if Daiki might know a regular with expertise in substances. “Have you ever seen Professor Veralda Lang here, Daiki?” asks Ruben when Daiki takes their orders for a hot drink. Daiki explains that he knows of her as a teacher for Magical Physiologies, a course they’ll take soon, but he hasn’t met her yet and has never seen her at the café. “Teachers come by sometimes, but they’re not regulars. Most prefer the tavern!”

The group pivots back to the substance. Lana suggests asking Pell, who might know more about materials. Ruben admits, with frustration, that he hasn’t prepared himself enough for identifying magical substances. Daiki examines it, noting, “It is black with an oily substance.” It smells slightly sweet, he frowns and muses about sweet, oily black things. Kroak suggests, “Licorice.” Daiki considers licking it, but Kroak immediately takes the cloth back and decides to perform a ritual identification instead. Kroak places the cloth in the center and pulls out a knife. They begin carving runes directly into the tabletop in a circle around the substance, concentrating intensely as ten minutes pass. Lana protests, alarmed, pointing out that the table doesn’t belong to Kroak and that this is school property. Kroak waves off the concern, pointing to existing carvings and insisting it will “buff right out,” 

At that point, Daiki excuses himself to start his shift, promising to distract Ellina if needed and suggesting that, if Mina arrives, they can move to one of the curtained private rooms he knows well from working there. He asks what everyone would like to drink.

Lana politely orders tea and asks if they have Russian Earl Grey. Kroak also orders tea. Ruben requests a raw coffee with pecan nut milk and cocoa on top. Daiki looks doubtful about the milk but agrees to try. He heads off to prepare the drinks.

The café settles into its usual atmosphere: students studying, quiet conversations, curtained rooms offering privacy, a lounge area with a fireplace and sofas, and the steady rhythm of coffee and tea being served by an older, efficient barista behind the counter. Lana looks around, imagining how a future B-Orchestra concert might fit into the space, considering the layout, raised areas, and acoustics. She concludes it’s workable, if not perfect.

After some waiting, Daiki returns, setting down tea, Russian Earl Grey, and Ruben’s coffee. He sprinkles cocoa on top after briefly forgetting it, smiling apologetically. He recommends the apple pie, then asks eagerly whether they’ve discovered anything yet.

Kroak realizes mid-ritual that it isn’t going to work. They grimace as the ritual fizzles weakly and then fails entirely. Nothing glows. Nothing happens. Daiki stares and asks what went wrong. Kroak admits they don’t know why it isn’t working, insisting it worked before. When Daiki asks if they said the magic word, Kroak answers seriously, “Yeah. Lotion.” 

The group debates what’s missing. Ruben suggests that identification magic often requires something of value and wonders if the cheap café table might be part of the problem. Kroak realizes that the component that’s missing is a pearl. They suddenly ask Lana if she has a pearl, commenting that she looks rich. Lana gently but firmly reminds them that she’s on scholarship, can’t even afford her books, and is “a woman of the church.” Kroak turns to Ruben next, complimenting his shiny, well-groomed feathers and asking if he has a pearl. Ruben admits he does not. Kroak sighs and says they’ll find one eventually.

They shift focus to Mina’s impending arrival. Ruben wonders if they might have time to ask a higher-year student for help identifying the substance, but no one knows exactly when Mina will show up. Kroak suggests they simply wait.

While waiting, Lana turns to Ruben and cautiously asks about his tense behaviour around Seraphine, noting that he acts differently than she’s come to expect. Ruben reacts defensively, claiming he doesn’t know what behaviour she’s talking about and insisting he’s never seen Seraphine before. He snaps that it’s racist to assume all Owlin know each other. Lana apologizes, explaining she was only curious. Despite the awkwardness, she accepts his answer.

At the same time, Daiki notices someone approaching with purpose. He recognizes her immediately and calls out, “Mina over here!”

Mina strides over quickly, excitement evident in her movements. Daiki greets her, gestures to the group, and excuses himself to finish an order. Mina smiles and introduces herself as a reporter from the Strixhaven Star newspaper, explaining she’s been told they’re willing to be interviewed.

Ruben introduces himself enthusiastically and immediately asks if she knows the Identify spell to help figure out what the black substance is in return for the interview. Mina blinks, confused, and admits she doesn’t, though she knows someone who does. Kroak introduces themselves next, proudly stating they run “Potions and Prophecies,” which Mina recognizes, noting she’s heard of it. Ruben introduces Lana, somewhat clumsily, prompting Lana to politely but firmly introduce herself properly.

Mina sits down at the table, pulling out a notepad and a collection of colorful pencils and markers, already filling pages with notes. She looks up at them and asks, “So, how did this incident begin from your perspective? Who discovered the mimic first?”

Lana meets her gaze and answers without hesitation, “Me.”

Lana launches straight into it. She says she knows exactly when it started to feel wrong: they were watching the play, everything seemed normal, and then she saw a real attack. Real blood. Without thinking, she jumped onto the stage, vaulting over several rows of chairs, stepping onto her own chair and then leaping to the podium. She tried to force the mimic to let go of the student—Vi, she believes—healing them again and again because she cannot let go and the mimic will not either. Eventually Kroak comes onto the stage to help, and Ruben runs to get a teacher. Lana admits she didn’t see what magic Ruben cast; she was too focused on keeping Vi alive.

Ruben corrects one detail immediately, emphasizing that it is not “just some teacher. It was a Silverquill professor, Miss Mavinda Sharpbeak.” Lana clarifies that the professor arrived only after the fact. When asked when she realized something is truly wrong, Lana bristles and repeats herself: there is a mimic, it attacks, and she sees real blood.

Kroak explains their own realization: at first, they think it is part of the play. Lana being on stage looks like she belongs there, another performer. Then Lana told them outright that it was a real attack. Kroak looked closer and saw blood, bone visible in an arm—“very interesting actually”—and that is when they intervened. They helped Vi using potions, including some from Daiki, and together they got Vi through the ordeal. In the end, Kroak destroyed the mimic. It did not so much explode as disintegrate into many pieces.

The fact that so many students still believe it is part of the play surprises everyone. Kroak admits they deliberately have told people it was a performance, partly to protect the LARP group from dishonor. The attack was convincing enough that many accept the explanation, even with blood involved. Lana agrees it is insane.

Ruben reflects that it was difficult to spot at first. Lana and Daiki joining in from the crowd made it feel staged, like a very good performance. But when the healing magic couldn’t keep up with the damage the mimic caused, that is when he realized it was real.

Responsibility, in Lana’s eyes, lies with the school. She blames the rules, the prop checks, what is allowed into Strixhaven. “If it is a box it should be checked,” she insists.

Daiki interjects mid-thought, apologizing for being busy at work but urging Ruben to mention what he found. Ruben points at the black cloth pinned to the table, marked with runes. He explains that after leaving the scene, he returned to investigate and found a black, oily substance splattered on a bookshelf. He believes it is a clue—perhaps to where the mimic comes from—and that it needs to be identified.

The cloth is examined closely, lifted with a pen. It appears to be some sort of balm, something fairly common, possibly Eldritch Balm—though it looks different than usual according to Mina. Kroak admits they have not had potions class yet. The explanation that follows is vague: the balm is used to make things sturdier, but details and ingredients are unclear. Kroak presses for more information, asking if anyone else might know more, and who teaches the class. Miss Veralda is named as the professor they will meet soon. Ruben mentions they have not yet been to Witherbloom, but they plan to ask her next week. The conversation shifts to how a monster could enter campus at all. It is supposed to be difficult. There are rumors, legends, but little concrete information. That is why firsthand witnesses matter. Ruben lowers his voice and asks about another rumor—the Bullywug. There is a story from last year, but the response clarifies that Bullywugs – like other species – can attend classes; the rumor involves a student who vanishes from all records. No name, no age, no species. Nothing.

Lana decides she will check the library for rules and regulations about cargo and prop inspections. She suggests interviewing the LARP club, especially Vi. Kroak asks about another girl on stage—the leader, Rosie, whom Lana confirms.

Attention turns briefly to the article being written about them. It is meant to be a story about heroic new students. Lana insists it must be objective. Ruben agrees, suggesting the focus should be on the students rather than on a monster attack. Absolute objectivity, however, is dismissed as impossible.

Daiki interrupts to offer refills. Orders are placed: a Firejolt latte, tea refills, more drinks. The Firejolt latte is explained as the café’s signature—burning the mouth, briefly granting fire resistance, expensive but memorable. 

The Firejolt latte arrives flaming, the fire licking the air above the liquid, filling the space with sweet, smoky aromas. Kroak immediately tries to analyze the drink, attempting to identify its ingredients. The heat overwhelms them. It burns, but not painfully; instead it floods their body with warmth, radiating outward like a living furnace. For a brief time, they feel resistant to fire, then it fades.

Kroak is pleasantly surprised. They had expected hype, not quality. They mutter guesses: “That’s definitely cinnamon… maybe pepper?”, but the heat is too intense to isolate anything. They give the barista an awkward thumbs-up. The barista laughs, sharing with Daiki how much she loves first reactions.

Plans resume. They will speak to Professor Veralda soon. The strange cloth and the Eldritch Balm still need answers. A magazine article is coming out tomorrow, and Ruben asks for two copies—one for himself, one for his parents.

With drinks finished and paid, the group finally heads out, leaving the café behind—questions unanswered, but plans firmly in motion.

---

Kroak heads back towards their room with the intention of studying there, hoping that someone might come by to purchase a potion so they can recover some money. They are down two potions over the last two days—one from the recent attack, another from an expensive drink—and the loss weighs on them.

Eventually, the dorm fills again. Edrin and Nymri sit on the couch, deep in discussion about illusion magic and the first lesson. Seraphine sits quietly in the middle of the room, composed and still. Pell studies at the table as he always does. 

Lana considers her plans. She wants to study, but she also wants to practice, so she heads to the practice hall to see if anyone from the orchestra is there. Inside, she finds people practicing, including one very loud theremin-man in the corner. The rest of the musicians seem far ahead of her in skill and speed, and the resonance of the hall makes it unsuitable for what she wants to do. Distracted and irritated, she decides it is better to return to the dorm, practice and study in her room instead. There will be music—just not here.

Later, when everyone is loosely gathered and studying, Kroak brings up tomorrow, their day off. Today is a study day; tomorrow is their single day of freedom. They explain that they visited Lorehold yesterday and found it fascinating, but there is an ingredient they want to acquire. They were warned not to go alone, so they ask if the others would come with them to explore and help retrieve it.

Lana asks what kind of potion Kroak is trying to make. Kroak explains it is meant to help with studying and exams—something to help people think better. Lana is skeptical, asking if it is some kind of performance-enhancing substance that might not be legal. Kroak insists they have seen nothing in the rules against it and argues that most people probably use something similar.

Ruben voices concern. If it is not safe for one person, why would it be safe for a group to go to scout in Lorehold? Kroak counters with “safety in numbers,” but Ruben jokes darkly that he does not want to be sacrificed. Still, he admits he might enjoy strolling around Lorehold, though he does not want to push too far beyond his boundaries. He also remembers he plans to attend a dragon chess gathering tomorrow morning, so his day is already partially spoken for.

Kroak asks Lana directly if she wants to join. Lana agrees that walking around campus could be beneficial, but she is hesitant about using a potion to heighten her learning. She is, however, interested in seeing other parts of campus. Kroak promises they would be back in time for everything, and Lana considers bringing her longsword or javelin along, just in case, to have something other than magic for defense. Kroak approves and asks the other dormmates if they want to come as well.

Nymri immediately declines, uninterested. Edrin hesitates, recalling ominous warnings from the opening speech. Kroak jokes grimly about students dying eventually anyway, perhaps less so if they find the right potion. Seraphine flatly refuses. She calls the idea highly irregular, insisting they only go to other campuses when instructed, especially since those campuses are meant for second-year students. She has no intention of going anywhere without an instructor’s guidance. Kroak jokingly asks what if they instructed her themselves. The response is scathing; Kroak is hardly instructor material, and the bar at Strixhaven should be higher. Ruben lifts his head and sides with Seraphine, saying that if she says no, that should be respected. He adds, more gently, that he would rather Kroak not die anytime soon, because the dorm is cozy and he prefers them alive. 

The idea of a dungeon-crawling club comes up as a possibly safer alternative. The dangers of monsters and magical physiology are mentioned, along with classes covering those subjects. Kroak grows frustrated; they are being told to evaluate risks without being given real details. All they truly know is that they were warned not to go alone. Edrin suggests Kroak speak to Grayson, a student in a different dorm who leads the future entrepreneurs of Strixhaven. Kroak decides this might be useful, both for safety information and for business. Lana opts to stay behind and practice her violin while Kroak goes to talk to him and promises to fill her in later.

---

When Daiki finishes his café shift and returns to the dorm later, the familiar smell of obscenely sweet treats fills the room again. Daiki decides he will work the next morning so he can keep his afternoon free.

As night approaches, Kroak heads out alone to dorm number one to meet Grayson. Dorm number one is nothing like their own. It is luxurious, new, and perfectly maintained, close to the Biblioplex and the heart of campus. Inside, red carpets and polished surfaces gleam. Individual rooms bear nameplates instead of numbers, each larger and more refined than the shared dorm Kroak knows. Kroak reads each name carefully until they find room fifteen: Grayson.

They knock. A well-dressed woman answers, asking politely if Kroak has an appointment. Kroak introduces themselves and asks for Grayson. She hesitates, noting the late hour, but agrees to check. After a pause and muffled voices beyond the door, she returns and offers a drink. Firejolt lattes are unavailable, but tea is brought instead.

Kroak steps inside and openly stares at the opulence: the magical fireplace without smoke, the immaculate furniture, the sense of constant renewal. A low voice calls from near the hearth, inviting them over. Grayson introduces himself as Grayson Wildemere. Kroak introduces themselves in turn, mentioning Potions and Prophecies and hinting at entrepreneurial ambitions.

Grayson admits he has not heard of the venture and immediately asks about revenue targets and balance sheets. Kroak deflects with humor, pointing out how intimate the questions are for a first meeting. The conversation shifts between business, ambition, and pointed commentary about wealth and comfort. Kroak bluntly remarks that the room feels soulless and lonely. Grayson assures them he is very comfortable.

Eventually, Kroak explains the real reason for their visit: Lorehold. They want to gather ingredients themselves because buying them is too expensive for a startup. Grayson finds this fascinating and admits he has written about accidents in dangerous places for the Strixhaven Star. He asks what motivates someone to take such risks. Kroak presses for specifics—what dangers exist, what monsters, how many people are needed. Grayson finally provides clarity: later-year students might manage, but first-years would not. The golems alone would make short work of them.

The discussion turns back to business. Grayson explains the entrepreneurs’ group: balance sheets, venture capital, investments across planes, and a dedicated room funded by his family’s donation. Kroak asks how to join. The answer is simple: entrepreneurial spirit and relentless study. Meetings happen every evening in the newly built Wildemere building.

Kroak thanks him for the tea and says they will consider stopping by.

---

The next morning, Ruben heads out with Daiki, strolling across campus on the way toward the Firejolt Café. As they walk, Ruben wonders aloud whether there are any games or training sessions at the stadium today. The stadium is active in its usual way—practice is always going on—but there is no major game. It is still early in the season, and nothing big has been announced yet.

Ruben continues his walk across campus, not entirely sure why no one else enjoys a morning stroll, but at least plans to pass by the stadium. He considers checking out one of the campus transports Kroak once mentioned, just to see how the process works without actually riding one. As he wanders, he notices flyers posted around campus advertising a performance. Lana has mentioned it before, but this time Ruben actually reads the name: The Arcanium Ensemble is performing at the Firejolt Café next week, on the 30th.

Elsewhere, Lana does not join the walk. She spends the morning practicing violin in her room, determined to keep up her daily routine. She waits, half-listening for Kroak to knock, occasionally glancing toward the dorm door but mostly keeping to herself. Around nine in the morning, Kroak finally knocks.

“Hello. Good morning,” Lana says. “How was the talk with the Grayson person yesterday?”

“Good morning,” Kroak replies. They explain that the conversation raised concerns about what lies below, mentioning that Grayson suggested bringing second- or third-year students along. Going alone as first-years would not be a good idea.

“So it’s really dangerous then,” Lana says.

“Well, danger is relative,” Kroak answers, “but right now it’s relatively dangerous to us.”

Lana hesitates. They do not know anyone older or stronger yet, and she worries about trust, survival, and whether they might be walking into something they cannot handle. Kroak agrees that the excursion needs more planning and stronger allies. For now, they decide to postpone it. Kroak mentions plans to gather potion ingredients in less dangerous areas instead and invites Lana to come along if she wants.

They talk through alternatives, settling on Witherbloom as the best nearby place to gather ingredients for healing potions. Kroak explains they are out of healing potions after the fight with the mimic and prefer to always carry at least one. Lana immediately agrees to come along. She grabs her longsword, a javelin, and straps on her armor, muttering that it does not have to mean anything—just being prepared.

“Better safe than dead,” Kroak says.

Kroak lifts their dress slightly, revealing a chainmail shirt underneath. Lana laughs softly, impressed, and together they head out. Before leaving, Lana grabs a bagel left over from Daiki’s baking the day before, planning to eat it on the road.

Back on campus, Ruben continues alone – Daiki needs to go to work. Enjoying the quiet freedom, he takes to the air, flying above campus and taking in the view. From above, the campus unfolds in full—floating stones, satellite campuses, shuttle transports crisscrossing the air, Prismari students practicing, music drifting from open spaces, people studying, playing games, running between buildings. The campus feels alive and overwhelming in the best possible way. By late morning, Ruben lands near the board game hall on the northern side of the Biblioplex, having picked up something savory for a late breakfast.

Inside the hall, dragon chess boards fill the room. Dozens of students sit in near silence, focused and intent, broken only by the occasional quiet exclamation at a clever move or an obvious blunder. Ruben feels immediately at home. Rampart is there, deeply focused, moving pieces with his trunk.

Ruben waits nearby, watching, but Rampart’s booming voice cuts through the silence. “My boy! Come here, come join us!” He gestures enthusiastically, clearly unconcerned with disturbing anyone.

Ruben walks over, a little awkward but smiling. Rampart greets him warmly, pleased that he found the club and made time to come. They talk about classes, magic, and strategy, and Ruben admits he is especially looking forward to dragon chess.

Rampart introduces him to Tilana, a first-year student seated across from him. She turns, offers a quiet greeting, and invites Ruben to play once she finishes her current game. Ruben asks if he can watch, and she agrees. She uses mage hand magic to move her pieces with deliberate care, while others around the room move pieces by hand or with their own magic.

Ruben watches closely. Rampart clearly has the upper hand, capitalizing on small mistakes with frightening precision. When the game ends, Rampart eagerly invites Ruben to play. Ruben pulls out his own dragon chess set—a Sword Coast–themed board decorated with famous cities and rulers. Rampart admires it, asking if Ruben enjoys history. Ruben explains his interest and mentions an internship in the Black Helm Tower library back home.

Rampart beams and enthusiastically invites Ruben to join the Dragon’s Guard Historical Society, praising history as the greatest test and joy of the mind. They discuss meeting times in the evening, reading deep into the night, and sharing knowledge. Ruben accepts the invitation gladly, even offering to share insights from Daggerford and the Delimbiyr region.

Finally, Ruben and Tilana begin their match. They play quietly, thoughtfully, exchanging moves while Rampart watches with open delight, occasionally resting his trunk on Ruben’s shoulder in encouragement. The afternoon passes in focused play, strategy discussions, and calm companionship.

Later that day, Lana and Kroak return from Witherbloom. Their trip is uneventful but productive, filled with exploration and ingredient gathering. By evening, everyone returns to the dorms. Ruben bursts in animated and enthusiastic chatter, eagerly explaining strategies and games, far more lively than usual. However, Daiki is still absent, and the night grows late.

---

Lana suggests checking the Firejolt Café. Maybe Daiki is caught up in a shift, maybe he works overtime. Ruben shrugs that Daiki could be anywhere—“it is Daiki, he could be everywhere, right?” Lana says she can try. 

They head to Daiki’s room and peer into his little lair. His hoard is there, just as expected—small, but carefully gathered. Daiki talks about it often, how he’s trying to grow it. There’s more than one might expect: gold pieces, some silver, and a single platinum piece sitting proudly on top. It isn’t a towering mound, more like a scattered collection of shiny things—coins mixed with bits of glittering rubbish, piled together the way someone gathers treasures without ever fully organizing them. Lana notices the pile, smiles, then turns around and closes the door. “Well, he’s not here. Maybe we should check out the Firejolt Café. I can go check it out. I’m fine either way—alone or not.”

Ruben hesitates, then admits curiosity. “Well, it doesn’t sound too inviting if you phrase it like that, but I want to know where Daiki is, so I’ll join you.” Kroak agrees to come along too.

At the café, the familiar bartender, Ellina, is behind the bar. Lana approaches and asks where Daiki might be, since he’s clearly not there.The barrista explains that Daiki had a shift that morning and left around midday. Lana notes that he isn’t back at the dorm yet, and it’s almost evening. She asks if he mentioned where he was going.

Ellina shakes her head. “Maybe you should ask his dormmates.” When Kroak and Lana point out that they are his dormmates, Ellina only shrugs. “Daiki does a lot of things. He could be anywhere. Everything will probably be fine,” she says. “He can take care of himself.”

“I told you so,” Ruben says gently to Lana. “I think he’ll be fine.”

They return to the dorm late—nearly midnight. As they enter and prepare to sleep, they notice something unexpected: neatly wrapped presents placed on their beds.

“Oh,” Lana says softly.

Ruben looks his present over, checking for a card or note, but there doesn’t seem to be one. Kroak suggests they open the gifts in the hallway, just in case. “We should probably take these outside before opening them. You never know—confetti.”

They regroup in the hallway, each holding a parcel, exchanging glances and small, wary smiles.

Lana opens hers first. Inside is a small cylindrical case. When she removes the cap, she finds a piece of sheet music rolled inside. It’s a short tune—something simple. It isn’t the strange song he once played before, but when Lana reads the notes, it sounds like a small lullaby. Childish, gentle.

Lana recognizes the style and smiles. “Should I get my violin and play it?”

Ruben waits until nothing explodes, then unwraps his own gift. Inside is another case, similar in shape, but the scroll within tells a story—descriptions of illusion magic, the kind used by fairies. Fascinated, Ruben settles onto the sofa later with a drink and begins reading.

Kroak opens their square box and finds carefully packed ingredients: common Feywild mushrooms, familiar and useful. They recognize them immediately. “That’s really sweet,” they say.

Ruben looks around the dorm. “This is really kind. But did he just drop these off? Is he asleep? Where is he now?”

Lana lifts the sheet music again. “I feel like I need to play this.” She grabs her violin while Ruben goes to check Daiki’s room. Ruben knocks. There’s no response. He opens the door slowly. Daiki is there after all, asleep in bed.

In the hallway, Lana begins to play. The tune is short and soft, a lullaby played as quietly as she can—but violins carry, even when gentle. The sound slips through the walls.

Nymri emerges, clearly woken, looking tired and confused. Lana immediately apologizes. She explains that the music was a gift from a friend and that she felt compelled to play it. “I’m an artist,” she says. “Sometimes I need to play. I’ll stop.”

From Lana’s room, another voice murmurs warmly – Edrin, “Well, I thought it was beautiful.”

Lana lowers the violin, relieved but embarrassed. The dorm quiets again.

Ruben settles back into the common room, reading from Magical Physiologies by the light of the ever-burning magical flames. Kroak heads to bed, exhausted. Lana does the same soon after.

---

In the morning, Kroak is already awake, tending to their brews and potatoes, preparing potions and checking that everything fermented properly overnight. Ruben eventually wakes and greets them.

They talk—about sleep, about dreams, and finally about the potatoes Kroak gives as gifts. Ruben admits that where he comes from, calling someone a potatohead can be an insult. Kroak listens, thoughtful, then shrugs. It’s impossible to control how everyone perceives kindness. Potatoes are good. They share what they have.

“Maybe they’ll personalize them someday. Maybe not.”

Ruben laughs. Kroak offers another potato. Ruben declines, still smiling.