Irial walked down the corridor, wanting to head back to his common room. It was rather crowded in the other places of the school, and he wanted solitude. He didn't find much of that here.

He turned a corner and stopped in his tracks. There was a girl, talking to another boy. Irial's throat was dry as he gazed at the girl. Taking a step forward, his eyes narrowed.

"Caitlin?" he whispered, unsure if what he was seeing was real, or an illusion.