Back in the Academy, Antony jumped up from the brick wall under the tall tree the moment he saw the girl walk back inside the school compound. He held her shoulders, looking her over. "Why didn't you tell me you were going? I couldn't ping you either!"
Ocean flinched in guilt. Of course he couldn't, she hadn't added him as a friend, despite being in the same school council. "I was in Kirkhamen, maybe there was a barrier or something."
"And is everyone safe? Did anything happen to you?"
Ocean closed her eyes and nodded before stepping out of his grasp. "I'm fine," she snapped and went back inside. Antony huffed and followed her in. "The headmaster had to log out for a few days."
Ocean halted and looked back at him. "What happened to him?"
Antony shrugged, "Some family problems… something about his dad wanting to go to California or something." Ocean thought about that… "California? Where the fires are going on right now? Why is his family going there?"
