On a 10+, you complete your review and return to Ms. Sterling

⚄⚃ + 1 = 10.

When you have to GET OUT OF DETENTION, on a 10+, you serve your time. If you had a CONSEQUENCE, remove it.

Sandevin is nothing if not thorough as a tutor of Warding, from basic circles to four-watchtower circles to more complex and involved wardings. It's a little awkward at first. You're embarrassed and hesitant. He's cool and distant. But as you practice raising wards and unwinding them, over and over, and nothing else for a week, with the Tutor enforcing your resting and rising, you get into a rhythm. The strands of magic become more familiar to you, and the wards come easier each day. You almost don't need the Tutor's charm after nearly a full day of exercises.

Nadia helps keep you from falling hopelessly behind in your reading. You catch a few glances from her that still feel like "What were you THINKING, Eric?" but she's patient and diligent. You have hope that your first term will not be a total disaster.

"It helps me learn it to explain it to you," she tells you. "Don't think this is all out of the goodness of my heart."

"A likely story," you say, summoning up some good humor.

She laughs at your jibe, then looks serious again. "All right, now, History of Magic," she says. She waves her hand and the book opens at the satin-ribbon place marker.

At the end of two more days, Sandevin brings you to Miss Hemstitch, and the Tutor judges your remedial progress successful.

"Very well, Mr. Mothwing-Marshall," she says. "I release you to the care of your helper in mastering your Wild Magic. Do not break Ms. Sterling."

"No, Miss Hemstitch," you say. You swallow to calm yourself, but suddenly you're off balance. The world swirls about you in a dizzy way. The floor meets your feet with a bump, and you stumble forward into the arms of Aurelia Sterling, who catches you both before you tumble over.

"Gracious, Eric," she says. "Miss Hemstitch was in a hurry to get rid of you. Are you alright?"

"Yes, Ms. Sterling," you say.

She doesn't make a move to break your embrace, so you don't try to struggle back. Your faces are close together, and her eyes are such a beautiful blue, and she's so warm.

"Are you alright too?" you ask. "I didn't see you after Dorothy took you away."

She opens her arms and steps back slightly, steadying you with a hand on your shoulder. She's wearing a shimmering blue robe that accents her eyes.

"Just bruises," she says. "And a talking-to from the Headmistress."

Pernilla Porcinilla. Headmistress of the Boarbristle Academy of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Also Housemistress of House Draconis. Vain and self-important, people whisper. Makes too much of her food magic. But too wrapped up in her own doings to trouble most of the instructors at Boarbristle.

You give Aurelia Sterling a worried frown. "Did she threaten you?"

She shakes her head. "No. I had to promise some help to Master Elbegast on some of his projects. But I would have anyway. Not a lot the Headmistress can do to me that hasn't been done already." She bends forward and whispers. "And I'm hardly her most troublesome case."

Your eyes widen. "Who?"

Aurelia shakes her head, her blonde tresses tossing. She puts a finger to her lips. "That would be telling," she says.

You blink, wondering who she might mean.

"Now let's talk about our course of practice for you and your Wild Magic," Ms. Sterling says.

Remove your CONSEQUENCE.

DEAL WITH YOUR HANGER-ON (Appease):
Roll +AMBITION(-2) (-1 Ambition, -1 HANGER-ON) to APPEASE Ms. Sterling:

⚅⚃ - 2 = 8.

On a 7-9, she's a distraction. Take a -1 on your next Move.

You nod along attentively. She speaks quickly and earnestly, holding your hand in hers and giving your hand a squeeze now and again. Your willy twitches and fills, from her closeness and her focus on you and her warm hand squeezing yours.

By the time she's talked herself out, you're unsteady on your feet. Today was another warding practice day and you're tired.

You wonder if you'll get to follow up in your interest in magical creatures. At least with Ms. Sterling, you'll probably be working on Enchanted Objects.

You have Ambition -1, Bravery 0, Cunning +2, Diligence +2.

You have 6 XP and can apply ADVANCEMENT once you have a chance.

You are in PATERNITY, with Boarbristle's Enchantments professor Aurelia Sterling carrying your seed.

Aurelia Sterling is also your FRIEND and assigned tutor in mastering your Wild Talent. Since your Wild Talent (Strip Magic) is already a Character Move, like a spell, you don't need to spend Advancement to bring it (mostly) under control.

You have a FAVOR from Miss Wormwood the Nurse.

Choose your next Move:

1. Have Ms. Sterling assign you a GOAL to practice your Wild Talent. She's eager to start the next day. Treat this as a GOAL vs. CUNNING (-2, with another -1 for distraction) and immediately roll to try to ACHIEVE YOUR GOAL, roll +CUNNING(-1) (+2 CUNNING, -2 Moderate Goal, -1 distraction). On a success, gain 1 XP and apply ADVANCEMENT to reflect something about your mastery of Wild Magic.

2. Play it risky (or romantic?). ENCOUNTER Ms. Sterling and ask to HAVE SEX. Roll +DILIGENCE(+2)(+2 Diligence, +2 FRIEND, -1 HANGER-ON, -1 Forward) and see if your desire is mutual, and if she indulges the temptation.

3. Jump forward in the story. Leave aside the -1 Forward. Relate the birth of the child you're having with Ms. Sterling. The baby is now a HANGER-ON whom you'll be partly responsible for caring for. In this case your roll may relate to making excuses for your time caring for the child, or getting someone else to help, or arguing with Aurelia or Housemistress Beeblossom. Roll DEAL WITH YOUR HANGER-ON (Appease or Put Off) for your first time caring for the child, keeping the -1 Forward, to roll +AMBITION(-3) (-1 Ambition, -1 HANGER-ON, -1 Forward for distraction from Ms. Sterling). Then apply ADVANCEMENT and open up a new storyline, perhaps relating to your Wild Magic or to your interest in Magical Creatures. Are Nadia and Sandevin still part of your circle? What does the Tutor think of you? Has Housemistress Beeblossom taken any notice of you?