Kindred Spirits

The Comet Warlock was a mighty sorcerer with the power to summon comets and black holes. His calm, cool, and collected persona never wavered, and he always seemed to be thinking two steps ahead of everyone. With a cheery disposition for his juniors, it was no wonder why Klug adored Lemres.

He was his idol as many Primp Magic School students knew well. He reveled in the idea of becoming just like him, twisting the cosmos with a clap of his hands. Even though Lemres claimed he was still a student, Klug saw him shine under the starlight, a generous master of universe who took him under his wing.

Well, their lessons only happened if Feli wasn't around screaming and flailing her dowsing rods, causing Klug to take off shrieking.

Klug sighed and drummed his fingers on his desk. Feli had been a pain lately. She tried monopolizing Lemres all for herself because she insisted that fate dictated that he was the one for her. Despite Lemres saying he only wanted to remain friends, she interfered with the private lessons he offered Klug, claiming that he was getting in the way of their destiny. Try as he may to be bold, her ferocious, cynical ways overwhelmed the haughty boy almost every time if Lemres didn't calm her down.

What right does she have to get meddle with our training? Just because they go to the same school, and she truly believes that fate will set them straight, doesn't mean that she can act so vicious! He was even teaching me about summoning astral weapons! Astral! He could have taught me how to summon the Cosmos Rapier today if she didn't storm in like a hurricane!

His thoughts boiled and stewed as his face grew hotter. He couldn't believe that Feli had so rudely, and almost cruelly, lashed out during such a crucial lesson. Klug knew she was out to get him, personally fixating on him whenever he even said Lemres' name in a casual conversation, but he had no means of permanently stopping her intrusions.

He saw blood red as Ms. Accord continued her lesson. She prattled on about the best way to brew potions, but that wasn't enough for him. He needed real magical training, not listening to his teacher ramble on about the best way to liquify organic materials.

Why can't the clock tick any faster? If I get out as soon as the lesson is over, then I should be able to catch up with Lemres. Is he still visiting? I think he's teaching Sig's class next door.

He strained his ears, but he couldn't hear the neighboring class. The birds chirping and the bustling breeze provided the only other sounds aside from Accord's lecture. As Raffina answered a question, he sighed and continued scribbling down notes.

"...and I'll end class early for today," Accord said, setting down her chalk.

Stupid Feli dashing in and bothering us and-wait, what?

Flipping his head up, Klug couldn't believe the words that slipped out of her mouth. Accord never ended class early unless it was to assign them a special task. He checked the clock, realizing they still had an hour before school was finished for the day.

Fate seemed to smile on him. He had another chance to see Lemres, and he swiftly leaped out of his chair. Gathering his belongings, he stuffed them into his bookbag as Amitie cheered, spinning in her seat to face Lidelle. He smirked, knowing she was probably going to goof off while he sought out Lemres, the notion of continuing their lesson without Feli around making his smile press into his cheeks.

"Klug, before you leave-"

Oh, no.

"-I'd like to talk to you for a few minutes in private." Accord smiled and gestured at the seat across from her desk.

Ignoring Raffina's smug, pointed look, he tersely nodded. He knew he wasn't paying attention, and she probably wanted to nag him for it. He supposed she had a point, but he was in no mood to be lectured for any behavioral concerns when he finally had free time to learn from Lemres.

As the other students left gossiping and giggling, he said, "I am unequivocally apologetic for not paying attention, Ms. Accord."

"Oh, no, no, it's not that at all." She waved her head, Popoi resting comfortably in her arms. "I was going to ask if you wanted a special lesson today."

"With you?" His cheeks darkened as she chuckled. "A-ah, yes, well, of course it would be with you, but I was hoping to continue my morning lesson with Lemres."

Accord nodded, Popoi's tail swishing like a pendulum. "Oh, I know all about that. Feli was quite loud in the courtyard, so I caught up to her before she could leave and scolded her. Not too harshly, of course, but a little Puyo battle in respect taught her a lesson."

His smile quickly turned into a smirk. Imagining her face twisting into one of regret and sorrow soothed his irritation.

"But Lemres had to go back to his school to teach another group of his peers." She chuckled as his mouth flew open, and she stroked Popoi's head. "Since I know your training means so much to you, I'd like to make up for your lost time and help. You were learning about summoning astral weapons, correct?"

"Oh, yes!" He clenched his fists. "Lemres was teaching me about the...about...the…"

He trailed off as Accord snapped her fingers. Stars burst around her wrist and traveled up her palm before forming into a poignant, luminescent blade with palpable energy emanating off it. The air crackled around them, heat surging at Klug as Accord flipped the blade over, offering him the metallic hilt.

He swallowed, realizing he had been holding his breath. Choking out to know if it was real, he gasped as she nodded and set the sword into his shaking hand. Klug yiped, the weight almost making him collapse into her desk, but he felt the spirit in his tome press against his chest, forcing him to stay upright.

"The Cosmos Rapier is wonderful, isn't it? It can cut through stars and summon them. Think of it as something like Mr. Wegey's sword," she said, and for a split second, Klug thought she had opened her eyes. "Now, shall we continue with our lesson outside?"

"O-oh, yes! Thank you, ma'am!" He shot to his feet, his tome clutched in his free hand. Tightening his grip around the hilt, he beamed down at her, his expression as bright as the sun and then took off.

Chuckling, Accord stood up and pushed in her chair. She fixed her round glasses, a pair similar to the kind Klug wore. She stepped into the hallway, hearing his distant cackling as he continued bolting.

"You're pretty pawsitive today. You'd normally scold him like you did to Feli," Popoi said, rocking from left to right in her arms.

"Well, when it comes to my students, I just want what's best for them," she replied, making her way down the hall.

Popoi flicked his head up to her, sneering, "He's a lot like mew when mew were young. So dedicated and studious."

"I believe we are alike in many ways." She sighed, glancing at her sweet, mischievous cat. "Right down to our demons, too, hm?"

Chuckling, Popoi smirked and leaned against her shoulder. As Accord found Klug eagerly waiting for her in the courtyard under the sunny sky, he flashed a fanged grin at the spirit leering out from Klug's tome.