After Cutting Ties, I Became the Royal Academy’s Only Dark

I walked calmly out of the storage room and into the living room.

My mother, Vivian Morwen, held a copy of the Daily Herald while an official from the Bureau of Magic read the Intermediate Mage Examination results aloud.

My father, Roland Morwen, and my brother, Marcus Morwen, stood nearby, waiting nervously.

Mom heard my footsteps and looked up at me.

"I haven't heard your score yet. I doubt you did well."

Just then, the official reached Liana's name. "Liana Morwen. Result: pass."

Marcus punched the air. Dad immediately opened bottles of honey ale for everyone, celebrating as if Liana had won a major award.

Mom hugged Liana. After a while, she finally turned to me with the same gentle smile as always.

"It's perfectly fine if you didn't do well. Even if you end up as a junior clerk pushing papers at the Bureau of Magic, we'll still love you."

Then she folded the paper before the official could read any more results.

Everyone crowded around Liana and opened the Royal Academy of Light brochure, planning out her future.

Not one of them asked about my score.

I might as well not have been there.

I pressed my lips together. The examination slip hidden in my sleeve crumpled between my fingers.

The words on it were clear: Result: Rank S.

"All right!" Dad clapped his hands, cutting off the discussion. "To celebrate Liana passing her exam, I'm taking both my girls into town today. Pick any gifts you like!"

My heart lifted.

Maybe they weren't so heartless after all.

I hurried back to my room and changed into a decent robe. I even used a cleaning spell to get rid of the dust.

I looked at myself in the mirror and took a deep breath.

If my family really couldn't afford tuition for both of us, I could apply for a student loan through the academy. I was sure I'd qualify.

They were my family. Liana was my sister.

But when I opened the door, the lively living room was empty.

Outside, the carriage pulled by skeletal horses was already rising into the air. Their laughter drifted down from inside.

It hit me like a blast of icy wind.

I took out my speaking mirror and called Mom, my face blank. Her reflection slowly appeared in the glass.

"Ella? What is it?"

I bit my lower lip. "You... went out?"

Mom blinked, then smiled gently. "Silly me. I forgot to tell you the carriage only seats four."

My heart sank.

Dad, Mom, Marcus, and Liana.

Four seats. Four people.

There was no seat for me.

Liana leaned out beside my mother. "Mom, I want to choose a new wand at Thornwood's!"

"Of course. We'll buy you the best there is, a unicorn-hair core with a cherrywood shaft!"

Mom pinched Liana's cheek fondly, then quickly turned back to me.

"I have to go. It's windy up here, and we need to get to the wand shop."

The call ended, and the mirror went dark.