His gaze fixed on the slender wood rod, his thick brows lifting towards his hairline as Maynard told him inside it was a phoenix feather. They were a powerful core, rare to chose a wizard.  He didn't know about blackthorn, though it sounded dark and prickly, so suited the boy before him rather well. "Mmm," he hummed in admiration and wondered how it felt like, for someone who hadn't known what magic was, to discover it was real.<br/><br/>He smiled a brilliant smile as he was asked about his wand, and went to his trunk to get it. Maynard could see his trunk was neatly packed, books on one side and clothes to the other, the inner side of the lid covered with photographs that<em>moved</em>. Several were of his mother, though all of them were turned away or pulled their hat brims low to hide her face. Others were of quiddich matches, players zipping through the air.<br/><br/>Kai found the Ollivander box and brought it to Maynard, opening it reverently. It was a hansom wand, he'd been told, pale with the softest pink hue, long and "reasonably supple" whatever that had meant. He lifted it out, the warm rush of power through his arm making his smile turn to a grin. "Dragon, and beech," he said, pride thick in his soft voice. His mother had been so proud, and Ollivander had been impressed. It was a powerful union, and he'd been told, if he worked hard and practice, he'd make quite the name for himself. His mother had rolled her eyes behind the wandmaker's back but hadn't told him why.<br/><br/>At that moment, there was a piercing whistle - they were about to leave the station. Kai looked out of the window to the platform, but didn't expect to see his mother. She was long gone, he knew. "Heard about Houses?" he asked, turning away from the window. The conductor was walking down the length of the train, slamming the doors shut. Kai was getting more nervous by the second, but tried to ignore the sensation.