Novilo and Conintor walked down the streets of Synara toward Novilo's house, looking at the crowds of people as they passed by.
"I didn't know you lived in town." Conintor said in interest. He was a little happy that Novilo lived so nearby. It would mean they could see each other outside of lessons as well.
"Well, it's a cheap place to live. My parents kicked me out when I was younger, so I live on my own." Novilo sighed sadly.
Conintor looked at him in surprise. "They kicked you out? Why?"
Novilo looked at him and rolled his eyes. "Why do you think?"
Conintor stared ahead, feeling a bit sorry for Novilo. It was one thing to lose your parents like he and Arya had. It was another thing entirely to know they're still alive, but they don't want to be near you anymore.
"I'm sorry." He said softly, not really knowing what else to say.
Novilo looked over at him and smiled softly. "You're a good guy, Con. It's okay- I'd rather not be near them either if they're going to think that way about me."
Conintor sighed as he looked at Novilo's unhappy expression. "Well, you have me now. So who cares about them." He said gruffly.
Novilo looked up at him and smiled happily, grabbing his arm and hugging it. "You're so cute. Thanks."
Conintor smiled happily, a slight blush coloring his cheeks. "No problem, Novi."
They stopped in front of a small cabin on the outskirts of town, Novilo looking uneasy as he saw the window was broken and the door jarred open.
"Stay here- I'll go look." Conintor said, putting a hand on Novilo's shoulder comfortingly before raising a hand, a stone floating from the dirt road and forming into a long sharp blade. Conintor grabbed the stone blade out of the air and walked into the cabin, looking around cautiously. Everything was upturned or torn. The chair in the corner was broken, a small perch on the table for the hummingbirds thrown against the wall and shattered to pieces. The bed was turned over so that the mattress lay against the wall, feathers littering the floor from a torn pillow.
Conintor looked at the scene with horror, turning around and stopping cold when he saw, written in large red paint on the wall 'FAG'.
His blood burned with anger, having a feeling he knew exactly who had done this. Those two magi had obviously gotten in trouble from Thane, and now they were taking it out on Novilo personally.
"Oh Gods." Novilo squeaked with horror from the doorway, looking around with wide eyes. The hummingbirds flew from his shoulders and landed on either side of the broken perch, looking at it sadly.
"Now what will I do? They know where I live." Novilo said, his eyes burning with tears. "They'll never leave me alone." His voice wavered with emotion and he leaned against the wall behind him, his torn purple robe getting smeared with the red paint.
Conintor walked over to him and wrapped his arms around him for comfort, his green eyes burning with anger at whoever had done this to Novilo. He would find them, and they would pay.
"I can't stay here anymore, Conintor. What will I do? They'll find me and beat me again. I'm so sick of this." Novilo sobbed against Conintor's green robes, holding grips of the cloth as he cried.
"You can come live with me for a while. They won't know you're there." Conintor said softly, trying to calm Novilo down. Seeing him upset like this tore his heart apart- Novilo was normally so happy and confident.
"But… then if they see me there, you'll get hurt too. And your sister- I can't do that to you." Novilo looked up at him with teary eyes.
"Like hell they'll hurt me." Conintor growled. "I'm an earth magi, specializing in offensive battle magic. They can try to hurt me, but I think they'd be surprised at how much of a fight I can give."
Novilo chuckled against Conintor's tunic. "Pretty confident in yourself, aren't you?"
Conintor smiled softly and tightened his arms in a squeeze around Novilo before moving away slightly. He handed Novilo the stone blade in his hand, setting the cold weapon carefully into his palm.
"Wherever there's earth and stone, there's a weapon. Whenever I'm standing on solid ground, I can fight. Don't worry about me, I can hold my own. I'm more worried about you right now."
Novilo nodded, looking down at the stone blade in his hand. "It's kind of funny how different our magic is, isn't it?" he said softly, his voice raspy from crying.
Conintor smiled and nodded, holding a hand over the stone. Novilo watched with wide eyes as it melded into a small bird, still made of the same stone. Novilo looked at the bird, turning it in front of him in wonder.
"That's amazing… can you do that with any stone?"
"And metal." Conintor nodded.
Novilo smiled and held the bird gently. "Alright. If you don't think you or Arya will get hurt, I'll stay with you until I can find a new place."
"Good. Pack what things you need and we'll head home." Conintor said, watching as Novilo silently got together what few things of his that weren't broken. He hoisted them over his shoulder in a purple blanket tied in a knot at the top.
"Ready." He said softly, looking back at his small cabin sadly.
"Come on, Novi. Let's go home." Conintor said, putting a hand on Novilo's shoulder and guided him gently out of the cabin.
Conintor opened the door to his cabin, letting Novilo walk in first before closing the door behind them gently. Novilo looked around uneasily, not really knowing what to make of this situation.
"Don't worry so much. Arya will like you. You're welcome here." Conintor set his things down on the table by the door, taking Novilo's things and setting them down in the plush green chair. He guided Novilo into the kitchen, whose eyes widened at the smell coming from the room.
"Hey Arya- I have a question real quick." Conintor walked into the kitchen, Novilo coming in behind him.
"What's- Oh! Who's this?" Arya turned from the stove, setting her spoon down in the pot of soup, wiping her hands on the apron tied around her waist.
"I'm Novilo." He said, shaking her hand politely. "I met Conintor the other day."
"Ooooh. YOU'RE the guy Con met." Arya smiled wryly, glancing to Conintor knowingly.
Conintor blushed and cleared his throat uneasily. "Is it okay if he stays with us for a while? He's having some… issues."
Arya looked to Novilo in concern. "You okay?"
Novilo nodded, knowing that if he talked he would probably start crying again. Instead he just stayed silent.
"Sure, I don't see why not. I'm glad I made a bit more soup than usual, we can all sit down and have a nice dinner together. Oh- are you two… you know…" Arya smiled mischievously.
Novilo looked up to Conintor's embarrassed blush. "Yeah."
Arya squealed happily, clapping her hands together. "I'm so happy for you Con! Novilo, you can stay here as long as you'd like. You're more than welcome here as long as you don't mind a bit o f a mess." She looked around the room with a sigh. Things were starting to get dusty again- but she had so much to do.
"I can help with that if you'd like. It's the least I can do." Novilo shrugged.
Arya beamed a happy smile and nodded. "That'd be wonderful! Maybe I can even read a book or something…" She said thoughtfully, imagining all the things she could do if she had spare time.
"Well then it's decided- Novilo can stay here until… whenever he wants to leave." Conintor smiled softly.
Novilo turned and hugged Conintor tightly, biting his lip to keep from crying again. "Thanks again, Con-Bon."
Conintor smiled warmly down at him and patted his back comfortingly.
Arya squealed again at the scene, giggling excitedly. "Con-Bon, huh? That's adorable!"
Conintor looked over at his sister and rolled his eyes with a sigh. Things were finally starting to turn out better...