A dragon shifter novel Chapter 16

Thornhill Academy

I Like My Arm Attached to My Body.

My thoughts twist into knots the closer we get. How does this even work? I’ve never set foot in a bank before, let alone a place like

this. Is it really as simple as pricking your finger? Will it tell me who my parents are? Give me a lead? Or am I setting myself up for

another disappointment? Inside, the place is massive. White marble floors gleam underfoot, polished so bright I can see my own

reflection in them. High ceilings arch overhead, painted with golden constellations that shimmer faintly as though the stars

themselves are alive. Massive windows stretch from floor to ceiling, spilling sunlight across the cavernous hall. On the right side, a

long row of booths hums quietly with magic. Lines of people wait patiently, each shuffling forward one step at a time, while the booths themselves flicker with faint blue light. Not a single teller or employee is anywhere in sight, Just the booths, waiting. It feels

more like a temple than a bank.

Tessa leads the way into the nearest line, bouncing on her toes as she whispers, “Okay, so here’s how it works. You step up to the booth, prick your finger, and it scans your blood. That’ll tell you if there’s anything in your family name you can access, properties,

assets, money, whatever. If you’ve got funds, you can withdraw them here or get a card for town use.”

*Sounds easy enough,” I mutter, though my stomach isn’t convinced. Tessa’s grin is bright. “It is! Mine told me about my family’s little rabbit burrow back home. Nothing fancy, but at least it confirmed I existed in the system.” I stare down the line at the glowing booths, my chest tight. “Can it tell me who my parents are?” Tessa’s smile falters, her eyes softening as she shakes her head. “No. It doesn’t work like that. It’ll just tell you what your bloodline has. Not… who they are.” A hollow ache thuds low in my chest. Figures.

2 The one thing I want most isn’t something the Council’s shiny little machines can give me.

The line moves fast, and before I know it, Tessa is tugging me into one of the glowing booths. It’s tight inside, barely big enough for two people, but she doesn’t seem to notice; her hair brushes my shoulder as she leans close to point at the small circular slot in the wall. “Hand,” she whispers, like it’s some sacred ritual. “Palm up. Slide it in there.” My pulse thuds in my ears as I slip my hand into the opening. The metal is cool against my skin. A faint sting pricks my finger, then the booth hums with power. The screen in front of us flickers, shimmering with lines of unreadable symbols before finally settling into words. I blink. Tessa gasps.

Assets Detected: Significant Monetary Holdings Available

Access Level; Approved

a

4

Balance Equivalent: $50,000,000

My jaw goes slack. “Holy fucking shit,” Tessa breathes, clutching my arm so hard I almost yelp. Her wide eyes dart from the screen to me and back again. “What the fuck?” I manage, my voice barely more than a rasp. We both stand frozen, staring at the impossible number glowing in front of us. Fifty. Million. Dollars. The sheer size of it makes my brain zone out. Who the hell are my parents? What kind of people leave behind that kind of fortune? And why the fuck was I left to rot in the scrub lands like I was worth nothing at all? I lean closer, whispering like the booth might rat us out. “What do we do?” Tessa’s shock melts into a grin so wide it nearly splits her face. She grabs my shoulders, shaking me once in pure excitement. “We get a card,” she says, eyes sparkling, “and we get you a bloody bathroom!” Despite myself, a laugh sputters out of me, shaky and incredulous. Maybe, for once, fate isn’t

screwing me over.

I tap the card option. The booth hums, and before I can pull my hand away, something sharp stabs into my wrist. I hiss through my teeth, jerking, but the metal cuff holds my arm in place until the sting fades. “What the hell…” Tessa leans in, unfazed. “Oh, right. I forgot to mention. The card’s put into your wrist. Safer that way. Can’t exactly have someone stealing fifty million out of your

19:37 Mon, Jul 6 TMD

I Like My Arm Attached to My Body.

pocket, can we?” Fifty million. The number still makes my head spin. Tessa’s grin softens a little, her voice dropping as she adds, “Maybe… we shouldn’t tell anyone about this.” I let out a breath I didn’t realise I was holding, pressing my other hand against the faint warmth in my wrist where the card now pulses under my skin. “Yeah. I don’t think it’s a good idea to go around telling people my arm now holds fifty million. I kind of want to keep the arm and the money.” Tessa giggles, clasping her hands. “Aw, our first secret!” I snort, shaking my head, but I can’t fight the small smile tugging at my lips.

We step out of the booth together, blinking into the sunlight spilling through the massive windows. Outside, the street bustles with students, shifters, and magicals weaving between storefronts. The air smells of bread and spice now, the murmur of voices blending with the chime of shop bells. I look at Tessa. She looks at me. Then, unexpectedly, I laugh. A sharp, breathless sound that surprise even me. “What a day,” I mutter, still grinning. Then I tilt my head at her. “So… how much can that van of yours hold?” Tessa’s eyes

sparkle. “A lot.”

We head straight for The Hopping Hare. The shop is pure chaos in the best way. Shelves groan with bottles that fizz and smoke. Racks of enchanted quills scribble on their own parchment. Bundles of herbs hang from the rafters. Glittering stones hum with faint magical resonance. We fill baskets with everything on Hill’s list and more. Vials. Cauldrons. Self–heating stirring rods. Protective gloves charmed against acid burns. Then the extras. A quill that translates messy handwriting into neat script. A satchel that remains the same weight no matter how much you stuff into it. A tiny jar of powder that banishes stains with a flick. An enchanted mirror that whispers affirmations if you look like hell. Every time I catch Tessa’s gaze lingering longingly on something—a stack of soft fur blankets, a charm bracelet with shifting gemstones–I add it to the pile without a word. Because I’ve never had a friend before, and I’m starting to like the idea of having one.

Comments

R Visitor

so glad she’s Harry Potter rich

7 days ago