"'S there an entrance exam or somethin'?"

"Not exactly. R.IT. will sponsor you through schooling for certain skills that they need. Moth is learning to build portals at the University, and then he'll build them for R.I.T....But yes, I think there's an exam at the end."

The conversation, which now turned to how difficult the branch of magic regarding portal-building was, faded into the background somewhat as Teige gazed mutely at the page of notes. The actual content was lost on him, but his eyes were drawn to a neatly-inscribed diagram of three circles, incised so that the illusion of a triangle appeared between them. Next to it, in squat all-caps handwriting, was a brief note:

EX: BRAIN SEES A [triangle] HERE
THERE IS NO [triangle] BUT BRAIN
IMPOSES BORDERS OF IT
ANYWAY AS 'REAL'

Teige dragged his eyes away.

"Huh," he said, and lifted the bowl of hot broth to his muzzle. As he took a long sip, everything seemed to settle into place, as though he'd solidified somewhat. He said to no one in particular, "This broth is really good."

"Goodness!" Vlad said. His face was obscured by the blank white du Cuppra mask, but the tilt of his head and the hands on his hips said plenty. "Rough night, eh boys?"

Teige and Hawk stared back at him, nonplussed, sagging against each other. They were back outside among the dry leaves and night air; behind Vlad, Luu and Dina were conversing it voices too low to hear, though Dina was gesticulating quite a bit.