Chapter Twenty. London

At a drab Finsbury Park venue, Walden drinks and "talks shop" as colleagues seek reassurance about Old Faithful, Nikki, Mathias, and the school’s safety. Recognizing she’s been too inward-facing, Walden repeatedly explains risks and plans, tailoring details by audience to restore confidence.

With Ezekiel and then Mark, Walden frames Chetwood’s purpose: protecting vulnerable teenage magicians from demons, not replicating elitist dynasties. Mark teases and flirts, proposing an afterparty. Walden, dreading a lonely return to campus, agrees to go along.

In Leicester Square, amid younger teachers debating venues, Walden and Mark trade Oxbridge backgrounds and jokes. She declines cocktails to remain with the group, mindful of leadership dynamics, and observes the comic difficulty of teachers cooperating outside work.

At a crowded pub, Walden mingles with departments, eventually landing among NQTs who question her tattoos. She demonstrates the Phoenix, which visibly moves; internally she senses its presence. Walden downplays concerns, calling it her doctorate’s work, while Mark bluntly identifies it as a reified demon, forcing her to smooth over the alarm.

Suddenly, Laura Kenning arrives in full Marshal uniform, acknowledged warmly by colleagues. Walden, dressed for a night out with the Phoenix on display, feels exposed and awkward as Mark cracks a crude compliment about Laura. Walden snaps in her teacher voice, and Laura notices the exchange, leaving tension and attraction unresolved.