As they entered November the weather started to get very cold. The mountains became icy grey and going into the lake was considered a death sentence by many of the students. The Sky Chase season had begun and Silver had his first match this Saturday after weeks of training. The match was against Raiju and if they won it would put Shinobi in the second place in the House Championship. Hardly anyone had seen Silver play because Khan had decided that, as their secret weapon, Silver should be kept, well, secret. But the news that he was playing Seeker had leaked out somehow, and Silver didn't know which was worse, people telling him he'd be brilliant or people telling him they'd be running around underneath him, holding a mattress.
It was lucky that Silver now had Coral as friend. He didn't know how he'd get through all this homework without her especially with all the last minute training Khan was putting him through. Coral lent him Sky Chase through the ages which turned out to be an interesting read. He learnt that there were seven hundred ways of committing a Sky Chase foul and that all of them had happened during a World Cup match in 1473; that Seekers were usually the smallest and fastest players and that most serious accidents seemed to happen to them; that although people rarely died playing Sky Chase, referees had been known to vanish and turn up months later in the Shamar Desert. Coral had become a lot more relaxed about breaking rules since being saved by a Kraken, and she was a lot nicer for it. The day before Silver's first Sky Chase match the three of them were out in the freezing courtyard during break, and she had conjured them up a bright blue fire which could be carried around in a jam jar. They were standing with their backs to it, getting warm, when Infinite crossed the yard. Silver noticed at once that Infinite was limping. Silver, Razor and Coral moved closer together to block the fire from view; they were sure it wouldn't be allowed. Unfortunately, something about their guilty faces caught Infinite's eye. He limped over with a bandage over his left leg. He hadn't seen the fire, but he seemed to be looking for a reason to tell them off anyway "What's that you've got there, Hedgehog". Silver showed him the Sky Chase Through the Ages book "Library books are not to be taken outside the school. Five points from Shinobi. Give it to me". Infinite limped away "He made that up" Silver said with Razor adding "I hope that leg's hurting him.
Later that day in the common room Coral was looking through Silver and Razor's charm homework. She would never let them copy "How would you learn?" she would tell them but she did read them through which gave them the right answers anyway. Silver was feeling restless he wanted his book back to take his mind off tomorrow. Why should he be afraid to ask for it back. He told the others he was going to get it, "Better you than me" Razor said. Silver had a plan, it wasn't an unreasonable request so Infinite couldn't say no if it was in front of other teachers. He went to the staff room and knocked but there was no answer. Silver opened the door and was met with a frightening sight. Infinite was sitting in a chair with his bandages off. His leg was bloodied and mangled. Rykor was helping put new bandages on as Infinite complained "Blasted thing! How are you supposed to watch all those tails?". Silver tried to quietly close the door but "Hedgehog!". Infinite's face was twisted with fury as he tried to hide his injured leg. Silver gulped "I just wondered if I could have my book back" "GET OUT!". Silver ran before Infinite could take any points. He reunited with Razor and Coral and told them everything "You know what it means. He was trying to get to the trapdoor on Halloween. That's where he was going when we saw him. I bet he let that Kraken in". Coral's eyes widened "No, he wouldn't. I mean I know he's not very nice but he wouldn't try and steal something Locke was keeping safe" "Coral, you think all teachers are saints. I'm with Silver, I wouldn't put it past Infinite. But what is down there. What's he after?".
The next morning dawned very bright and cold, the Great Hall was full of the delicious smell of fried sausages and the cheerful chatter of everyone looking forward to a good Sky Chase match. Silver felt terrible, he couldn't eat anything "You'll need your strength. Seekers are always the ones who get picked off by the other team" Larry said, "Thanks, Larry". By eleven almost the whole school were in the stands at the pitch ready to watch the game. Coral and Razor joined Larry and Marcos in the top row, they had made a banner out of the sheets Wacky ruined. Meanwhile Silver was in the changing rooms. They all put on their black jumpsuits with green glowing lines on them. Khan cleared his throat for silence "Men" "And woman" said one of the Chasers, Perci, a pink bandicoot. Khan nodded "And woman. This is it" "The big one" Mighty said and then Ray said "The one we've all been waiting for" "We know this speech off by heart". Khan pointed at the two of them "Shut up. This is the best team we've had in years. We're going to win. I know it" he then gave them all a glare as if saying "Or else". They headed out onto the pitch, Silver was hoping his legs weren't going to give way although he did feel a bit braver when he saw the banners from the Shinobi side. They saw Longclaw waiting in the middle of the pitch with her own board to referee the game "Now I want a nice clean game from all of you" she said giving specific attention to the Raiju captain, Konor the Weasel, a very unpleasant looking gentlemen. "Mount your boards, please" Longclaw said and they all did so. She blew her whistle and all the players took off.
A voice came from the commentator box "And they're off. The ball is taken immediately by Perci of the Shinobi. What an excellent Chaser that girl is, and rather attractive, too" "MANIC!" "Sorry, Professor". Manic the Hedgehog was commentating with Echo keeping a watchful eye on him. "And she's really belting along up there, a neat pass to Cocoa Cat, a good find of Monkey Khan's, last year only a reserve. Back to Perci and- no, Raiju have taken the ball, Raiju captain Konor gains the Ball and off he goes. Konor flying like an eagle up there, he's going to sc– no, stopped by an excellent move by Shinobi Keeper Khan and Shinobi take the Ball. That's Chaser Lara-Su of Shinobi there, nice dive around Konor, off up the field and, OUCH, that must have hurt, hit in the back of the head by a Thunderball. Ball taken by Raiju. That's Adrian Pucey speeding off towards the goalposts, but he's blocked by a second Thunderball sent his way by Mighty the Armadillo. Nice play by the Shinobi Beater, anyway, and Perci back in possession of the Ball, a clear field ahead and off she goes, she's really flying, dodges a speeding Thunderball. The goalposts are ahead, come on, now, Perci! Keeper Bletchley dives… Misses, SHINOBI SCORES!". Shinobi cheers filled the stadium while boos and moans came from the Raiju side. "Budge up. Make some room" Big suddenly appeared in the stands with Coral and Razor "What'd I miss. Any sign of the Ga yet?" "No, Silver's not had much to do yet". Silver was above the others, Khan told him to keep his distance until he saw the Ga, he didn't want him attacked too early. One of the Thunderballs did come after him but he easily avoided it until Ray flew towards him and hit it towards Konor. Before Silver could say thank you he saw a flash of red light coming from behind one of the Raiju Beaters. The Raiju Seeker spotted it as well and they both zoomed towards it. All the Chasers stopped what they were doing and watched.
Silver was just ahead in the lead and held out his hands to grab the Ga when suddenly Konor blocked him. Silver veered of course, he fell over and grabbed onto his board for dear life "FOUL!" multiple people yelled from the Shinobi seats. Longclaw spoke angrily to Konor and gave Shinobi a penalty shot. In the confusion Silver lost track of the Ga. Marcos was yelling "Send him off, Ref. Red card" "This isn't football, Marcos. You don't send people off in Sky Chase" Razor said. Big was furious "They ought to change the rules. Could of knocked Silver off". Manic was finding it difficult not to take sides "So, after that obvious and disgusting bit of cheating-" "Manic!" growled Professor Echo, "I mean, after that open and revolting foul-" "Manic, I'm warning you" "All right, all right. Konor nearly kills the Shinobi Seeker, which could happen to anyone, I'm sure, so a penalty to Shinobi, taken by Cocoa, who puts it away, no trouble, and we continue play, Shinobi still in possession". Silver was in the middle of avoiding another Thunderball when his board suddenly lurched to the side. He almost lost his balance but then it did it again. Silver fell over and lied on top of the board trying to hold on. He kept trying to make the board descend but it was completely out of his control. The Chasers were in the middle of a back and forth that nobody had noticed Silver yet. His board kept jerking violently and slowly started to go higher. Big was one of the first to notice as he took out a pair of binoculars "Dunno what Silver thinks he's doing. If I didn' know better, I'd say he'd lost control of his board... but he can't have...".
More and more people started to notice Silver and there was a gasp when the board rolled over and Silver fell off only managing to hold on with one of his hands "Did something happen when Konor hit him?" Larry asked. Big's voice trembled "Can't have. No kid could do that". At these words Coral took out her binoculars and looked into the crowd "I knew it. It's Infinite, look!". Razor took the binoculars and saw Infinite, his eyes fixed on Silver while muttering something non-stop "He's jinxing the board. What do we do?" "Leave it to me". She left and Razor watched Silver again along with the rest of the terrified crowd. Mighty and Ray both tried to fly up to Silver to get him on one of their boards but every time they got close Silver's board just moved away from them, he couldn't hold on for much longer. When they realised they couldn't reach him, Mighty and Ray instead circled underneath him hoping to catch him "Come on, Coral!". Coral made it to underneath the seats in the stand Infinite was in. She sneaked up to under his seat and took out her flute. She played as quietly as possible and the seat suddenly caught fire. Infinite was so busy with his spell that it took a few seconds to realise, he panicked and jumped off his seat knocking multiple other teachers over as well. It had worked, Silver's board turned back into the proper positions allowing him to climb back on "You can look now, Ant" Razor said as Antione had buried his face in his cape. Silver dived downwards, people didn't know what he was doing. He suddenly clapped his hands over his mouth like he was about to be sick. He landed on the ground on all fours. He gagged and the Ga fell out of his mouth into his hands, there was so much cheering but he could hear Manic's announcement "Shinobi wins! 170 to 60!". The other Shinobi players all raised Silver on their shoulders.
After celebrating on the pitch the trio were now drinking tea in Big's house. Razor was telling him what they saw Infinite doing but he didn't believe it "Rubbish. Why would he want to do a thing like that?". Silver looked at the others before answering "I found out something. He tried to get past that Blood Beast at Halloween. It bit him. We think he was trying to steal whatever it's guarding". Big dropped his teapot "How'd you know about Fluffy?" "Fluffy?" "Yeah, he's mine. Bought him off a chappie I met in the pub las' year. I lent him to Locke to guard the…" he stopped himself. Silver stared eagerly "Yes?" "I should not have said that. Don't ask me anymore. It's top secret, that is" "But Infinite's trying to steal it". Big shook his head "Rubbish. Infinite's a Soleanna teacher, he'd do nothin' of the sort". Coral's opinions on Infinite seemed to change because she retorted with "So why did he just try and kill Silver? I know a jinx when I see one, Big, I've read all about them! You've got to keep eye contact, and Infinite wasn't blinking at all, I saw him!". Big couldn't think of an argument but "Look, I'm tellin' yeh, yer wrong. I don't know why Silver's board acted like that, but Infinite wouldn' try an' kill a student! Now, listen to me, all three of yeh. Yer meddlin' in things that don' concern yeh. It's dangerous. You forget Fluffy, an' you forget what it's guardin', that's between Professor Locke an' Mammoth Mogul". His eyes widened the moment he said it "I shouldn't have said that".