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"People co a haughty eyebrow as if daring Shelton to challenge his logic

"But you reuard, however, was ive a da us for reentry, the man turned to the next in line, his wand ready to violate their every secret

Shelton gru his job," I said, though uard I just wanted Shelton to shut up before he got us into trouble

"Look at theit over everyone like he runs the place" Shelton pshawed "Give someone a little bit of power, and they abuse the hell out of it"

I glanced back as a ht red bowler perched atop his bald head bypassed the line of people and sauntered up to the gatekeeper He said a word or two, and the gatekeeper et aith anything"

Shelton had apparently seen it, too "It’s all about politics" He took out his arcphone, flicked the screen and looked at it for a moment "Sweet"

"What is it?" I asked

"I got some buddies up at the Science Acadeot us access to an eht"

"There’s our silver lining," I said, trying not to think about Elyssa I noticed most of the people who’d come back were headed down the yellow brick road to Queens Gate proper for lodging

We turned toward the rocket ship, boarding it with a group of frustrated adults dragging along tired kids who looked about ele kids were here, but re kids as young as ten

Even though the rocket was the size of a subway train car, people occupiedthe curved hull of the transport, with room to stand in the center Shelton and I took spots near the od-awful red bowler stepped inside aeye contact withon the bench opposite us in the front I found it hard to stop staring at the audy, red polyester suit and his shiny, white shoes A red polka-dotted shirt with a lacy collar attempted to murder my eyes froainst hu hter, not even trying to conceal the object of our mutual derision "Man, that can’t be for real" He touched his chin in thought for a h I do remember one of my teachers at the university who loved to wear robes with fake fur on the for taste"

Turning my eyes away froain why there’s a science acade?"

He chuckled "You know movies with mad scientists?"

"Like Frankenstein?" I asked

"Yeah, kinda like that" Helights as it greeted everyone and announced departure in a robotic monotone "Just look around,skateboards Science Academy is every nerd’s wet dream"

I couldn’t deny that "I take it the Arcanes and techies don’t get along?"

Shelton gave me an are you serious? look "In case you failed to notice, they’re purists at the university Hell, they only just allowed arcphones, and that’s because soto write letters instead of being able to text or call their kids"

I had difficulty getting it all straight in ic?"

Shelton took off his hat and brushed it against his side "The School of Magical and Scientific Synergy is the part of Science Acade the two, but most of the other departments deal in pure science"

I felt et why the university and acade sweet"

He chuckled "One word: elitism Arcphones allow those with less inherent arcane talent to co field with powerful naturals The naturals don’t like that That’s one reason the Arcane Tourney is liical foci, like staffs and wands without built-in generators"

Froo, it"Are the techies as stuck up as the Arcanes?"

He waggled a hand in a so-so fashion "The Grand Experimental Expo is sort of like the Arcane Tourney, except it’s about inventing the craziest stuff possible"