Disclaimer: I do not own Hiro Mashima's Fairy Tail, any work professionally associated with it, nor any pop culture or classical references. All original plots and characters are mine.
In a land far, far away lies the kingdom of Fiore, a small, peaceful nation of 17 million, and a place filled with Magic found in every home, bought and sold in every marketplace. For most, Magic is merely a tool, a mundane part of everyday life. For some, however, Magic is an art, and they've devoted their lives to its practice. These are the wizards. Banded together into magical guilds, they ply their skills in search of fame and fortune. Many such guilds dot the landscape of Fiore. But there is a certain guild in a certain town that soars high above the rest, one from which countless legends have been born. A guild that will no doubt continue to create legends well into the future. Its name...is Fairy Tail.
PREVIOUSLY, on Fairy Adventure, with Luna's nightmare in place, Luna makes her sister promise that everyone will be remained unharmed if they leave Alvarez. But after meeting Crowned First Prince of Alvarez Naseer and learning more about the extent of the manipulation and fearing the worst for Luna's safety, can Nashi keep that promise? Gale made it to the Boundary Forest with a very chilling welcome from the sergeant herself and the Spirit of the Forest, Tāne. But just as he pieces it all together, it's lights out. It's day one for Tesla and Kyler in Alvarez and day two for Gary, but it doesn't change that Gary's more on edge than ever and anything could make him snap. Carlisle's visit with Bleu doesn't go so hot and leaves Carlisle downright depressed and stressed. Thankfully, Aphtan's there to help Carlisle pick up the pieces. These new versions of Nashi, Luke, and Luna take the cake as they not only fool Mary Jane, but they fool Lucy as well. Still, even with all allegedly being well at home, Lucy can't help but worry for her kids—all four of them.
"He has to…because if he doesn't…I don't know how he and Mary Jane will survive…"
Ominous words, Natsu. An Exorcist, huh? I'm beginning to wonder if we've met one already…
Mariem and Salma were sharing another off-topic history lesson about the district and their personal opinions on what each district specialized in, but Luna could not say she was interested. Her mind kept wandering with hopeful thoughts and curious one, and she could not help it. It was just for a second or something, but Gary felt tense when I said Invel's name. I don't really know that much about him except he was around when Zeref was alive. And…
She vividly remembered the trail of soulless bodies and the monster responsible.
Would the castle even have an animavore? But why? And what's so special about the underground that I couldn't even sense Luke? Her eyes flickered over her bickering tutors. Cullen isn't back yet and I can't risk trying to meditate again. But if I can just find out a little more to help Nashi and Luke get out…
Luna cleared her throat. "Excuse me?"
Salma and Mariem turned their rapt attention to her. "Yes, Your Highness?"
"Um…" Luna fiddled with the pen she had been given for her private tutoring alongside some paper. "I was just curious, but my question will sound a little weird…"
"Oh, not at all, Your Highness," Mariem rushed to assure. "We'll happily answer all your questions!"
Luna nodded. "It's just… Well, this castle… I've only really been here or Nashi's room or my room or the dining room, but from that, I can tell from the windows, we aren't on the ground. So this isn't the only floor?"
Salma shook her head. "No, Your Highness, the castle has many rooms for many purposes," she explained. "Once His Royal Chief instructs, you will be permitted a tour of the entire castle and given free rein to visit the rooms when you are not studying."
"I understand." Of course he wouldn't want me just roaming around. But still… "How many floors are below this one?"
Mariem looked for confirmation as she said, "I believe there are four floors beneath this. The first floor is strictly for tourists and houses a lot of artifacts from His Late Majesty's reign. The second floor is dedicated to some of the staff and has offices and such. The third floor is dedicated to guest chambers. And the fourth floor is mainly where people schedule meetings with Her Majesty and houses the Council Room and the War Room."
Luna tucked in all the information. "And there's nothing else below us?" She witnessed both women exchange a look and leaned forward. "There is?"
Salma started, "No—"
"Below the castle, Your Highness," Mariem cut in lowly, "would be the royal catacombs."
"'Catacombs'?" Luna repeated. "What's there?"
Salma hissed at Mariem, "We shouldn't scare Her Highness—"
"She ought to know as part of the royal family," Mariem argued. She turned back to Luna and ignored Salma's huff of disapproval. "Rumor has it the royal catacombs serve as an absolute prison for some of the worst prisoners Alvarez has seen," she filled in Luna. "The catacombs are a complex network and only His Late Majesty could navigate them."
"Supposedly," Salma sniffed in reminder. "We don't know if those rumors are true. It's all maid-talk."
"But it would make sense given the other rumors," Mariem argued.
This peaked Luna's interest. "Others?"
Mariem nodded vigorously while Salma slapped her forehead and muttered something in her mother tongue. "Yes, Your Highness. Some of the servants say when His Royal Chief returned, he visited the catacombs often alone, but none could understand why since he wouldn't be able to navigate it, but he always returned without a problem."
"'Returned'?" Luna's brow furrowed. "He wasn't always here?"
Mariem shook her head. "No, Your Highness, he wasn't. Once His Late Majesty died after the war, His Royal Chief disappeared." She sighed as though heartbroken on Invel's behalf. "Many say he left out of grief. He was closest to His Late Majesty and to have been there when he passed…" She laid a hand on his cheek. "The poor thing. It was most likely too much for him to take."
"Oh… Okay…" Luna thought about this. I guess when the Black War was over, the people in charge had to think of something to tell everyone. But if he just disappeared after the war, what was he doing all this time? "But you said Invel went to the catacombs a lot?"
"Oh, Your Highness, those are just rumors—"
"Yes, he did and has, Your Highness," Mariem butted in over Salma's dismissal. "Most likely, if anyone could navigate through the catacombs, it would be His Royal Chief given how close he was to His Late Majesty. Right, Salma?"
Salma offered Mariem a dry look. "Oh, may I speak—?"
"But it's rumored," Mariem went on as Salma rolled her eyes, "that not just prisoners might live in the catacombs as they fulfill life sentences for treason."
"Oh, here we go," Salma muttered.
Luna held her breath. "What do you mean, Miss Mariem?"
"Old rumors told that there could be servants dedicated to the catacombs and guards to maintain the prisoners down there," Mariem said, "but some say it's possible monsters could live down there." Her eyes gleamed. "Maybe even a Demon."
Luna (wide-eyed and breathless) and Salma (over all of this and flat) echoed, "A 'Demon'?"
Mariem fervently nodded and laughed. "But it's most likely an old maiden's tale told to servants and staffs and little children to remind them of how powerful His Late Majesty was and to prevent them from wandering. Everyone knows Demons don't exist."
"What?"
Salma stepped in and threw a look at Mariem, "Well, Your Highness, of course Demons are rumored, but we tell about them to the children at bedtime as a scary story or two. But Demons could never exist. Any sightings of a Demon disappeared hundreds of years ago and there hasn't been a sign of them since."
Luna hummed in what she thought was consent, but her mind was racing. "But… If there was a Demon or something like that existing…"
"It's just a scary story, Your Highness," Salma soothed as she roughly nudged Mariem's arm. "Right, Mariem? Tell Her Highness that before you scare her."
Mariem must have interpreted Luna's contemplation as fear for she softened and murmured, "Yes, Your Highness, just a silly rumor. Nothing to fear. Even if Demons did exist, His Royal Chief would make sure you and Her Majesty were protected at all costs. We all would. You are our hope for a better future."
It was so hard to ignore the uncomfortable guilt weighing down on her as Luna took in the adoration on her tutors' face. Please don't say that… "R-Right. I guess we are, um…" She took a breath to calm herself down. "Can I ask one last question and then we can go back to your teachings?"
Both tutors curtsied. "Of course, Your Highness."
Luna wanted to ask them to stop doing that—stop treating her like she was above them—but she held her tongue. "Do you guys…? Are there any rumors of an…animavore…in the catacombs? If the catacombs exist?"
"An 'animavore'?" Mariem traded a confused look with Salma. "I've never heard of that before. Could you elaborate for us, Your Highness?"
"Well, uh…" Luna fiddled with her pen. "It's essentially a soul eater. A creature who eats souls."
Salma's eyes rounded. "Goodness! Who on Earth Land taught you about such nonsense, Your Highness? Creatures like that couldn't possibly exist." She gave Mariem an accusing look. "It was you, wasn't it? You've been scaring Her Highness when she is just a girl—!"
"It wasn't me," Mariem defended herself. "I've never even heard of this 'animavore' until Her Highness said it's name—!"
"O-Oh, um, I'm sorry, please don't fight," Luna pleaded. "I'm sorry. I was being stupid." She forced an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry. Ignore the question. Can we go back to lessons now?"
Salma frowned. "Yes, of course, Your Highness, but please know you are safe within the castle walls," she assured. "His Royal Chief would be devastated—the entire Empire would be devastated—if harm befell upon you and everyone in this castle would give their lives to protect you. We assure you no one or creature will ever hurt you. Right, Mariem?"
"Yes, Your Highness, you are completely safe," Mariem smile.
"But what about you?" Luna found herself blurting. "Who will protect you? Who will keep you safe?"
Mariem and Salma exchanged worried looks before Salma gently broached, "Your Majesty, we understand the culture of nobility is new to you, but you needn't worry about our lives. Our purpose is to serve and educate you so you may be a strong, well-read princess for our Empire and bring about a new age of prosperity."
Dead eyes.
Wispy tendrils greedily holding two souls.
A hall littered with bodies.
Luna abruptly got up as the panic got to her and pleaded, "But my life shouldn't matter more than yours! You're people too with families and futures! You should take care of yourself and not me! You shouldn't have to die for me! No one should have to die for anyone!" Tears welled in her eyes as she remembered the dreadful vision that plagued her. "Please save yourselves," she beseeched of them. "I'm not more important than you!"
Slowly, Salma approached Luna with understanding in her eyes. "Your Highness, you're so compassionate that its admirable," she cooed, "but we will happily give our lives for your protection. You and Her Majesty have our love and devotion and loyalty."
Luna's body shook as more tears spilled and she choked, "You aren't listening to me! I just want you safe!" She gripped Salma's arms and begged, "Pl-Please, you can't die for me! You can't—!"
CREEEEEEEEAK…
Luna froze when she sensed him step into the room.
"I sensed you were in distress, Your Highness. Is everything all right?"
"I'm fine," Luna hurried to say and she clung to Salma for safety and begged her with her eyes to please go along with it. "I-I-I'm okay, really, Hemlock."
Salma might have rubbed Luna's back, but she told Hemlock in great worry, "Her Highness is just becoming a little upset. She's very worried about our well-being. She's very compassionate, but I fear she's too compassionate."
Luna closed her eyes and held back nausea when she felt Hemlock sweep closer. "Her Highness is very sensitive," he told the tutors. "Please excuse her. His Royal Chief charged me to attend to her delicate state."
"No!" Luna's eyes sprung open as she tried to keep Salma close. "No, I'm calm! I promise I'm calm!" She looked up at Salma in fear. "Please let me stay! I promise I'll be calmer! I'll be good! I'm really sorry!"
To her horror, Salma gave her a pitying smile and laid a hand on Luna's cheek. "Your Highness," she said delicately, "perhaps it would be best to continue this lesson at another time—"
"Miss Salma, please," Luna sobbed. "Please, I'll be calm! I'm sorry—!" She tensed when she felt Hemlock's hand on her back and nausea threatened to spill over.
"Come, Your Highness," Hemlock purred. "We wouldn't want Her Majesty and His Royal Chief to hear how you worried your tutors. Her Majesty would be beside herself." His hand crept up her back. "And we wouldn't want His Royal Chief to have to calm her down."
There were her options: come quietly and submit or act out and Nashi would suffer with her.
There was no choice.
Luna released Salma and took a step back, head low and eyes to the ground. "I-I-I'll come with you." Voice trembling. "I don't want Nashi to worry."
"Thank you, Your Highness. Please apologize to your tutors."
Mariem waved a hand. "There's no need to apologize," she assured. She gave Luna a tender look. "Please rest easy, Your Highness, and we will continue with lessons when Lord Hemlock finds you well again. Trust in him. He is well-respected here."
"Please get well, Your Highness," Salma added encouragingly.
"Thank you." But the words sounded hollow to Luna. "Please excuse me." But the second she took a step, her knees buckled and her breathing began to labor.
Hemlock caught her with ease and wasted no time scooping her into his arms. "My apologies for this, Your Highness, but you are unfit to walk," he rumbled. "Allow me to carry you back to your room." He coffered Mariem and Salma a bow of his head. "My apologies for interrupting the lesson."
Both women curtsied. "No need for apologies, Lord Hemlock. Please take care of Her Highness."
"I will."
Luna closed her eyes and bit her lip to keep from sobbing when she felt Hemlock's hand drift.
"She's in good hands."
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
You can do anything
Your hands grab even your life
What will you use them for?
You can take my warm hands
If it makes you feel yourself
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
He did not know how he got here.
Smoke, sweat, and sex were heady scents that drowned the entire crowded district and no one seemed to mind the occasional tint of strong liquor that could burn their noses. The scents combined were like a fog that clogged the senses and forced you to wade deeper and deeper as you tried to find a way out, confused about a time when you did not smell those odors. But the lights put you in a haze with dull red and the occasional neon signs that repeated offers in Minstrish, Alkyztik, and another language. The hole-in-the-wall bars were rowdy without it being nighttime. Workers and friends slummed into the district for cheap drinks without fearing for authorities to hammer down on them. A drunken fight had broken out, but rather than the authorities be involved, one of the barkeeps threw the two tussling patrons themselves with little remorse.
Window-shopping was an option if one was looking for a good time that only cost them a handful of dhrans. People dressed in the bare minimum worked their windows or their alleys with a sultry glint in their eyes and money on their minds. Some took the offers. A married man paid his fee before a young man in fishnets and a veil took his hand to go where he desired. Two women were debating a cattish Aberrant in her veil and pierced ears as she beckoned for them.
The clubs were filled mainly with foreigners and the younger crowd in the Empire. Smuggled in drugs passed between lips as drinks sloshed and stuck to the ground. Bathrooms were places to relieve yourself biologically and sexually and people were too far into their drinks or the substances to care who was doing what. The music was trashy to a sober listener, but the drunk, the tripping, and the high enjoyed the EDM with lyrics that made no a lick of sense as long as they got their satisfaction in the end.
He trailed down the restrict, bathed in red light and smoke crowding his nose, but his eyes never strayed as he stumbled. Hood covering his head and part of his face, he tried to hide the growing claws as the ache sharpened in his temple.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Tainted winter.
Blurred vision tried to focus, but it felt more and more difficult with each passing moment. In spurts, the vision cleared to show a sniveling human, defenseless and crucified like a sacrifice and screaming behind their gag. But in the next, the threat of silvery winter tried to overtake the focus.
Frost nestled in his ear. "I will make you what your father could never become." Shivering words that should have disgusted him lulled him instead. "You will know what pure ice is."
The winter in his eyes blurred everything out.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Frost expelled in a pant.
He stumbled and bumped into someone, but he did not care. He faltered and stumbled against a building, but claws had sunken into the mortar and left gashes. Ice crackled and spread like a rash, but he was quick to pull his hand back into his cloak as he tried to fight the sharp ice in his veins. He shook his head, but he could not stop it.
Blood.
Exposed flesh.
Ice.
Winter.
His eyes tore up, but as the crowd blurred by, he saw him standing against the crowd, standing there in his trench coat and glasses like they were back at the bad place, eyes like the tundra, disapproving and cold. His mouth moved.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"You will become the perfect winter."
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
He fled down the next alleyway, but he knew his steps were stumbles and he dragged against the pedestrians and the wall. He could not hear the complaints of the cold from those who passed him by nor could he recognize shards of ice sprouted were he stepped. He kept his clawed hand stained in a shady black within his cloak as ice drooled from his mouth and the pain fought against his temples.
Screams.
Snapped bone.
Wild reds.
Winter.
He staggered against the wall and his eyes darted around in a double blur to find an exit, but they widened when he saw someone standing against the current of the crowd. A little boy—too young to be anywhere near this place—stood in the crowd half-naked with his flesh splotched in shadowy tattoos and ugly wings attached to his back and hair messy, but his silvery eyes were hard to miss. Shackled to the little boy's neck was a collar made of a frigid ice with a chained leash.
Frost puffed in his ear. "Look at her."
His eyes closed as he shivered. "No," he pleaded. "No."
Winter gripped him in punishment.
His eyes were forced open.
The little boy with silver eyes had been joined by a little girl. Wild red possessed her gaze as she stood by the boy, but her wings were the purest of whites in contrast to the little boy's batty black wings. An ice collar choked her neck with no remorse.
"No… No, not her," he begged in a pained slur. "Not her… Please…"
Winter enclosed around him. "You will become the means of an end," came chilling whisper vacant of emotion. "You will learn what it means to be pure ice."
Silvery froze his eyes as his teeth bared with the threat of canines. Black crawled up his neck as an arctic cold swirled around him. Man and Devil breathed at once, "Angel… Not…Angel…" He staggered with his thoughts consolidated.
Angel…good… Get her…away… Not…monster…
Claws had overtaken both his hands as his cloak fluttered and he jostled against the stream of the damned, despicable, and drunk. Silver charged with purpose and winter as ice drizzled down his chin and landed on the ground to make patches of dry ice. He ignored the little curtained huts where willing workers awaited with their translucent veils, alluring eyes, and their bodies promising relief.
Angel… Find…Angel… Light… Pure… Away… Winter… Her…summer…
Snow and frost exhaled as he breathed, "Angel…"
A flirty smirk. "You've been looking for me?"
For a moment, his fumbling trek continued, but she was the first voice he recognized that pierced through the sounds of winter in his ears. His silver gaze sharpened on the one who had called him.
His pupils went to slits.
Blue painted against her skin as it accentuated her chest and acted as a sarong that did little to the imagination. Pink tresses fell down her back and locks had come forth to cup her chest and end in a delicate curl around her nipples that pebbled through the material. Inviting hickory stared back at him, oh so tempting and pure. She sat on her knees, submissive and all alone, but her stare could not leave his. Her translucent blue veil accentuated her eyes as it fell to cover her nose and mouth and chin and it looked like it melted away into nothingness like pure sorcery.
"I've been waiting for you," she told him in that voice, the voice she used to bring him to his knees before her. "You came all this way to find me." Her chin lifted. "Here I am."
Silver watched her like a hawk.
Her hand trailed up her thigh, over the hip, and into the dip in her side, but she watched him in vague amusement and full desire. "I've missed you. It feels like forever since you've touched me." Her tongue darted out to lick her plump lips. "Isn't that what you want? To find me? To touch me?"
He did not move.
Her smirk broadened as her fingers dove to the edge of her sarong and threatened to peel it back by the look in her eye. "You have me," she crooned. "I'm yours." Her thighs parted. "Touch me. Save me from him, Master."
His lips pulled back in a snarl as ice dripped from the sides of his mouth.
His body turned towards her.
Silver eyed between her thighs.
Blood splattered.
Screams of agony.
Dead hickory.
White feathers.
Winter.
Summer.
People might have been walking down and up the strip, but he shouldered past them like a predator locked onto their prey. He did not care if someone found him rude. His nostrils flared and he snorted frost. Claws flexed.
Angel… Protect Angel… Not…Monster…
He stopped before her hut, not daring to cross the threshold. Silver was ensnared on hickory who challenged him with desire. His shoulders shook as he heaved air and black further from his neck to crawl onto his face.
Angel… Angel… Angel…
Whispers.
A cry of ecstasy.
Gurgles.
"Master!"
Hickory laden in adoration.
"You're mine."
Summer.
Memories overlapped as the whispers giggled in the back of his head. Memories of the bad place. Memories of her. Memories of blood and cold nights and hunger. Memories of her laughter and comfort and warmth. Memories of tainted winter. Memories of loving summer.
The whispers chanted and the gurgles wheezed, Light. Good. Possess. Claim.
Her thighs parted, but she covered herself with a hand. It did not matter others could see her. Hickory locked onto silver. "Don't you remember?" she coaxed. "Don't you want to claim me?"
Attentive kisses.
Protection.
Warmth.
Soft flesh.
Intense release.
Winter and summer.
The whispers and gurgles crowded his mind to eradicate the pain of the past and push through those nights full of pleasure. They reminded him in overlapping voices of her.
His voice was lost in them, Protect… Angel… Angel…good…
The voices echoed, Claim her… Take her… the darkness traveled down his chest and crept down his stomach. Possess Light… Cannot get hurt if she is possessed.
Fumbling fingers.
Nerves.
Skin to skin.
Grunt for sob.
Slaps of flesh.
Winter to summer.
As the whispers and gurgles haunted his mind, the lethal silver watched her and the moment she scooted back, parting her legs, his teeth bared as snow exhaled.
Angel… Angel… Get her…away… Protect Angel…
Frost touched his ear. "You will become a means to an end."
A clawed hand touched the outside pillar of the hut as past and present blurred together. He saw her beneath him in his bed with her eyes half-lidded only close when she came undone. The present caught up and he saw her as a temptress, smug and smirking and submissive.
He licked his lips. Claim… Light… Summer… Good…
The whispers and gurgles gleefully chanted, Yes! Take Light! Take her now!
He started forward—
A hand touched his back as a whisper tickled his ear, "She is not your Angel."
Maybe he would have ignored it. Maybe he would have gone in. But he stayed rooted as the words tingled over him like the feeling of water pouring on your back. Silver showed flecks of blue and the pink-haired temptress before him withered into a black-haired one with eyes of darkness and sin and a smug little smirk to her that could never replace that shy smile he loved.
The pain in his head was back.
On unsteady feet, he turned away from the hut and dragged himself down the strip as winter roared in ears. Pedestrians blurred, but he could always find someone there that should not be there. He saw them standing there with their eyes full of fear, their mouths gagged, stripped away from their freedom and offered like sacrificial lambs.
Frost puffed in his ear. "Don't disappoint me."
The pain raged on as more and more people came onto the strip, crucified and about to meet their fate, but he stumbled on by as he hid his darkness within his cloak and fought back against his aching teeth and the pain in his head.
Sunny smile.
Kindness.
A giggle.
Summer.
"Angel," he breathed. "Find…Angel… Get her…away… Not…monster…" He could not stop saying those words as the smell of blood and frozen flesh assaulted him and rather than the techno music and seductive beats, he could hear the roar of the tundra and the echo of her screams.
From the rooftops, a cloaked figure watched him spiral and sink further down into the past, but she did nothing to interfere. She waited until her cloaked companion joined her to say, "It worked."
"Perhaps I made a mistake," the companion thought as they watched him bluster down the strip. "He isn't ready. He's succumbing."
"He wouldn't have accepted anyone else getting her with the stakes in place," the first spoke in soft reminder. "He needs to find her and see him for himself."
"Maybe my mistake was with the girl," the second decided, regretful. "She may send him over the edge. And he's been through so much."
The first companion put her hand on the second companion's shoulder. "And it is why he needs to find her. His connection to her is stronger than his hatred." She patted the companion's shoulder. "But we must go. The Shadower said the trial will begin at sundown."
"Right."
And the two cloaked figures disappeared over the edge of the roof.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Fairy Adventure 073
Sundown
夜が落ちるにつれて、誰もが準備します!夕日は美しいかもしれませんが、日没は時間であることを意味します!
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Ena stretched out on the couch, arms lifted and back curved, when she heard a cracking sound and sighed in relief. Silver was settled in a chair a little bit away from her sitting crisscrossed with his L-Pad in hand. He looked up from his work to catch Ena yawning. "Tired?"
"A little." Ena brushed her lashes as she eyed her sketch before her. "Thankfully, no one really needed me yesterday. We'll catch a little bit of a break and I've got interviews tomorrow for two assistants I want to bring on." She sighed as her fingers trailed her latest sketch. "I must be a horrible boss if I wish I could have had a longer vacation."
Silver cocked his head. "Well, you do work hard all the time," he pointed out. "Wouldn't you want to take a long vacation? Doesn't your family take vacations together?"
Ena snorted. "If we ever have recently, I've never been on them." She leaned her head back and closed her eyes. "Mom would take us when I was little to amusement parks and stuff, but it was pretty much a trip for Aine and Misty. Mom stayed behind with me, but it wasn't really that much fun to me. The Strauss and Dreyar family invited us to spend holidays with them in the past, so there's that, but nothing really with just immediate family."
"Oh." Silver frowned.
Ena shrugged. "But it was what it is." Her chest rose and fell with a breath. "What about you? What does your family do for vacation?"
She's…actually interested in my life? Silver shifted. "O-Oh, um… Well, in the summer, my family meets with the Vastia's in mountains to go to my dad and Uncle Lyon's old master's home. It's out by Ishvan. And then we'll rotate between Arcticados and Anticados in the fall." He smiled at the memory. "It gets really crazy, but it's a lot of fun. Rose is clingy, but it's funny seeing Ultear and Julia go head-to-head and, um…" He scrambled for his Compact. "A-Actually, I have pictures from the last trip we took!" He found his Compact and peered eagerly at Ena. "Did you want to—?"
SIGH…
Silver sweatdropped when he looked at the unconscious Ena. She fell asleep?! He stuffed his Compact away, but he took the time to simply admire Ena. Light had seeped in from her window to caress her face and he could not look away. She looks so soft… He could not help the smile and the pink on his cheeks. She felt soft too… She's so tough, but she looks so delicate when she's like this…
Silver shifted his L-Pad to the little table beside him to get onto his feet. He pulled the blanket off the back of the couch to gently cover her with it and took a step back to admire his handiwork. We've pretty much got everything done for today and a headstart for tomorrow. It'd be a shame to wake her up. And, well…
He gulped and clutched his throat as he remembered the sword in his face yesterday. I don't want her to murder me if I do wake her up…
He went to retrieve his Compact and L-Pad. Well, if she's taking a nap, the least I can do is make her something for when she wakes up, he decided. Determination set within him. All right, I'll do it. It's not like I have to go home and practice isn't for a little while anyway.
He headed into the kitchen and set down his electronics to inspect the kitchen's content. "Let's see," he murmured. "What would she like?" He frowned as he went to the pantry. "Some tea and…maybe a panini since they have a panini press?" He rolled his lips together in thought and went to check the refrigerator to beam. "I thought she had tofu bacon. I could make her an egg, cheese, and tofu bacon panini! She'd like that!"
He got to work pulling out the eggs and cheese and package of tofu bacon and searched for the bread when he noticed his Compact flashed. Frowning, he went to tend to it to see a message from Luna came in.
⌜MESSAGES
Lulu
I'm sorry, but I can't do dinner tonight. Mama's orders⌟
⌜MESSAGES
Lulu
Buuuut it means you and E can have dinner together, right? ;~p⌟
Silver felt his heart rate speed up at the thought. Ena and I getting dinner together? Then, he sighed as he typed back a few emojis to Luna. If Lulu isn't coming, she'll probably come up with an excuse so she isn't stuck with me. Not like she hasn't before. He set down his Compact. It's fine. Maybe one day she'll want to go to dinner with me. But, in the meantime—he went to down on the apron Ena had forced him to wear whenever working in the kitchen and clapped his hands as he looked at his ingredients—time to focus.
In Silver's opinion, cooking was not that difficult. He learned from watching his family and was eager to cook his own meals and experiment. He never understood how some of his friends on the swim team stuck to canned ravioli and maybe the occasional macaroni and cheese when there was so much out there to make. At one point, he darted out to the living room to retrieve his headphones from his bag and decided to turn on some music to keep in time with cooking.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
(Ddu du ddu du)
(Ddu du ddu du)
(Ddu du ddu du)
(Ddu du ddu du)
•
I just wanna be your flower
saeppalgaeyo nan
hyanggiroun hyanggiro
beolttedeuri kkoyeo
hok shideureodo Don't you worry
dashi pijana
pieonaneun nae Color
shiseondeuri moyeo
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Silver nodded along as he worked on the eggs first since tofu bacon took less time. As he cracked the eggs, his thoughts kept drifting back to that old man from New Rosemary.
I still have the sketch that man from yesterday copied for me, Silver realized. I'll have to paint it when I have some free time. Another thought came to him. Heart's Day is only a few weeks away too… Maybe… He shook his head. No, she'd just fine it weird. I don't think I could remember if she even celebrated Heart's Day. I'd have to ask Lulu, but I'm pretty sure she never did. Maybe it wasn't because she was anti-love. Maybe she just doesn't like the holiday.
Silver seasoned the eggs first and sprinkled on cheese before he added a dollop of sour cream. But that old man went to all the trouble to give me all that money for the Rainbow Rose. I should give it to her. I was too much of a coward to do it yesterday.
He cringed as he remembered his awkward escape the second they arrived back in Magnolia and his hurried promise to see her bright and early the next day.
TSSSSSSSSSS….
He went to the frying pan for the tofu bacon and started to warm it up. He was a pretty nice guy, the man who did the sketch. I should ask Lulu if the bracelet she has is from Giltena too. She said she got it from some friend who travels, but she never said where her friend came from. Maybe they're from Giltena too. He looked up at the ceiling. I wonder if Ena would want a bracelet like that? Gale put moonstones on Lulu's bracelet and has a matching sunstone armband, right?
Silver sighed. No. She probably wouldn't like that. Even if she liked jewelry, she wouldn't want to match with me, the awkward, pathetic idiot I am.
The song transitioned to a faster pace as Silver greased the pan with the avocado oil Ena had stressed be used.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Yeah, AFTERGLOW
bugeul ullyeora
Pa rum pum-pum-pum-pum-pum (Oh yeah, oh yeah)
norael bulleora
Tra-na-na-na-na-na-na (Oh yeah, oh yeah)
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Silver bobbed along and mouthed some of lyrics he did know as he laid down strips of tofu bacon and went back to check on the scrambled eggs. But soon mouthing the lyrics turned to humming turned to mumbling along and as he tried to clean the dishes as he went and, lo and behold, as he hand-washed the dishes, he began to dance along to the moves Luna and he had practiced when they watched the music video. He had gotten to the dance break and whirled around—
Mayan blues crashed into dark chocolate.
Silver gasped and ripped off his headphones only to struggle and nearly drop the dish he was drying. Red flooded his cheeks as he was acutely aware of Ena standing at the mouth of the kitchen, arms crossed and an eyebrow raised. "I-I-I, u-um, I-I-I—!" He was at a loss of words as he put the dish on the counter. Oh my god, someone just kill me. Kill me now and then kill my ghost.
"I didn't mean to interrupt you," Ena assured, tone laden in amusement. "I woke up to the smell of food and just wanted to see what was going on."
Silver shakily paused the music on his Compact and rushed over to turn off the stove, all while hoping Ena did not see his burning face. "Y-Y-Yeah! I was, um, just making paninis and was going to make some tea afterwards," he explained. And die. Preferable now. Or rewind time so you didn't see that.
"Do you need any help—?"
"No, no!" Silver held out a hand to stop her, but he refused to look at her. "You can, um, go sit and, uh, I'll bring out everything when it's done, okay?"
Ena pushed off the archway. To get to the dining room, she had to go through the kitchen. She placed a hand on Silver's back (and might have been oblivious to the way he shivered and how his flush deepened) and murmured, "I'll be waiting. Just don't burn the food."
Silver swallowed when her hand slid off him and he waited until she was out of the kitchen for steam to erupt from his ears and he buried his head in his hands. This is karma for all the times I teased Lulu; I just know it. This is karma and karma is a huge jerk. Karma should go die.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
A little while later…
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Silver came out to the dining room sans apron with two plates, two paninis each. He deposited one plate to Ena, blushing all the while. "H-Here you are."
"Thank you," Ena appreciated.
Silver put his plate across from hers. "Let me get the tea." He darted back into the kitchen for only a few minutes to retrieve the tea kettle and the mat for it along with two mugs.
Ena folded her hands to place her chin atop it and watched as Silver poured them both tea. "I never took you for a C-Pop stan," she commented.
"Blame Gary and Lulu," Silver grumbled and tried to ignore his heart going a mile a minute.
Ena arched an eyebrow. "Gary? I didn't know he was one either."
"I'm pretty sure he got into it because Nashi is into it." Silver shuddered as he remembered his older brother eagerly showing Nashi all his merchandise he bought for ICY during her collaboration with them and Nashi trying to look for an exit. "Julia hates it, but Lulu loves it, so she and I like to watch the dance practice videos together."
Ena eyed him up and down. "You are full of surprises." She took the mug Silver nudged towards her with a nod. "And thank you."
"No problem." Silver placed the tea kettle on the mat before he sat down. "You're surprised because I'm a guy and I like C-Pop?" He fiddled with his mug. "Well, go on and make fun of me."
"Why would I do that?"
Silver looked up at Ena and was surprised by her frown. "So you're…not going to make fun of me even though C-Pop is for girls?"
Irritation crossed Ena's face and he braced himself. "C-Pop is not just for girls," she countered. "It's for everyone." She shook her head. "I hate that, honestly. Nothing should be tied to just one gender, but people do it anyways. I catch myself as much as I can. One of my pattern makers is a male college student and he isn't gay. He just loves fashion and finds it art." She took a sip of her tea before licking her lips. "Has anyone made fun of you for liking C-Pop? If they have, just tell me their names and I'll—"
"O-Oh, no, no!" Silver rushed to assure, still bewildered by Ena's defense of him. "No, um, only my family and Lulu know. And, well, now you."
Ena cocked her head. "Not even Jasper?"
Silver grimaced. "I'd rather he not know."
"Fair enough," Ena conceded with a nod. "But just so you know, you're more than welcome to listen to it around me. I'll listen to it with you. I'm a big Young Nation and Hexagon and BluePink fan. And obviously, I love EMPHASIS." She gestured to his Compact. "What were you listening to when I walked in?"
Silver ducked his head. "AFTERGLOW," he confessed.
"Really?" Ena perked. "What song?"
"Um…" Silver toyed with the rim of his mug. "DUN DUN…"
Ena beamed. "That's what one of my favorites from them!" she chirped. "I know they're pretty new in the C-Pop industry, but they started off really strong and…" Her beam lessened when Silver would not look at her. "Are you okay?"
Silver swallowed. "Yeah, ah, I'm fine. This is just…weird, I guess." His eyes met her and then skittered away. "Talking about C-Pop and everything."
"Oh." Ena looked down at her tea. "We don't have to talk about that then if you'd like."
"Okay."
Silence dwelled between them
Inwardly, Silver chastised himself. Idiot. That was your chance for us to talk and you blew it by being an awkward dork. Great going. He sighed as he looked to see Ena withdrawn and focusing on her food. Glumly, he remarked, Serves me right. I shut her down and that ends that. I'm an idiot. Trying to fill the void, he mentioned, "Oh, um, Lulu says she can't make dinner tonight."
"I see." Ena took another bite of her panini.
Silver shifted. Okay. Here it goes. "So, um… Did you maybe want—?"
"I guess I can work on my sketches tonight then," Ena continued thoughtfully. "Might as well."
Silver faltered and looked at his plate. "Right. That's a…good idea…" He picked at his panini. Of course. She'd just want to work. Why did I even try?
"Well, unless…"
Silver perked. "Yes?"
"Even without L, I suppose…we could—?"
"Yes!" Silver coughed into a fist when Ena's eyebrows shot up at his shout. "Um, sorry." He coughed again then gestured to her. "You were saying?"
Ena regarded him warily, but she slowly continued, "As I was saying, we could get dinner together." She frowned. "Oh, but you have swim practice, don't you?"
"We can keep dinner after my swim practice," Silver assured.
But Ena was not convinced. "I know that, but L and I were going to hangout while we waited for your practice to end. Without her, maybe it's better I stay home and work." She sighed (and did not realize Silver was panicking his chance was gone). "Oh well. Another time then—"
"Youshouldcometopracticewithme!"
Ena's brow furrowed over Silver's interruptive shout. "What was that?"
"You should, um…come to practice with me?" When Ena looked disgusted at the thought, Silver hastened to add, "There's an observation deck, so you won't even have to be near the pool and your hair won't get frizzy and you won't get wet or anything. And, um, a lot of friends of my teammates come to the practices, so you wouldn't be alone. You could even sketch while you wait, right? So you won't be bored or anything, I swear!"
Ena still did not look all that thrilled about the suggestion, but she saw those puppy mayan blues and sighed. "Well…" She waved a hand. "I suppose if I could still work…" Silver opened his mouth, but she thrust her knife into his face and he shut up. "But if one drop of water gets on my person, I won't hesitate to turn you into a goldfish."
Silver gulped. "Y-Yes, of course. Not a drop." Maybe I should bring her an umbrella and a towel or put a ward around her. It's not like the deck is by the pool, but sometimes my teammates go up there to hang out with their friends and if they get her wet…
He could imagine living his life as a carnival goldfish while Ena cackled evilly shaking his bag and Luna silently accepting his fate for him with her hands clasped in prayer.
Silver shakily held up a finger. "Um, m-maybe you shouldn't—"
"I suppose we can go somewhere outside Magnolia for dinner then," Ena presumed as she went back to her panini. "Unless your teammates are having some sort of team dinner you want to attend instead."
That took Silver back. "You'd want to go if there was an after-practice dinner?"
"I can't say that would be my…first choice for dinner," Ena confessed with a wince. She picked up her mug. "Preferably, I'd rather spend my dinner with you alone than with your team, but"—she blew on the tea—"I won't keep you from your teammates." She took few healthy sips of her tea and smacked her lips at the taste. "So, what would you…?" She trailed off in bewilderment when she saw Silver clutching his chest. "Are you okay?"
Silver forced himself to squeak, "Y-Yeah! I'm fine!" You're just killing me even more right now and you don't even know.
"I'd rather spend my dinner with you alone…"
"…dinner with you alone…"
"…dinner with you…"
Ena sweatdropped when steam wafted off the top of Silver's head. "Uh…" He's certainly a strange one. She cleared her throat. "Well, whichever you decide is fine with me."
Silver sputtered and tried to keep himself in check. "We can go to dinner. Alone. You know, just the two of us. Together and stuff. In public."
"Yes, dinner is a public affair and I thought I made it clear it would just us…" Ena dismissed his peculiar response. "Well, if that's what you want, so be it."
Yes! Yes, I want that! I've been wanting that so much! Silver however said as calmly as he could, "Yeah, that's fine. My team doesn't do after-practice dinners all the time, anyways. But thanks for offering." He gave a teasing smile. "Even if we both know you wouldn't be caught dead with them."
"That's…not entirely true," Ena haltingly refused. She sniffed when Silver jutted his chin with a look of amusement. "Fine. Your teammates aren't exactly the people I'd socialize with all the time, no, but I met Jasper, so who knows who else I could meet? And Jasper is quite the gentleman."
Ah, Silver thought absently, there's that jealous feeling again.
"Actually." Ena took a bite of her panini. "Coming to your practice is making me think… Do you think any of your male teammates would model for me?"
Silver blanked. "Huh?"
"Now just hear me out," Ena asked of him. "With my summer line, I'm releasing a swimmer wear collection this year now that I better understand the trends. I love dressing up Lulu, and, sure, I have my mannequins, but I would love to have some male models since I can't use Luke or Bleu." Her eyes brightened with ideas. "And seeing your teammates in swimwear would be perfect to gauge good models. What do you think?"
"You'd…want to check out my teammates?" was what Silver got. Against his wishes, he could see his teammates in their swim gear, poised and at-attention, as Ena touched their biceps and their chests and their abs and caressed their cheeks as she crooned how beautiful they were.
Distantly, Silver thought, I think the jealousy is worsening now.
Ena tipped her head. "When you say it like that, no. I just want to inspect their attractiveness," she explained like it was the simplest thing in the world. "It's nothing unethical. I'd need to be able to touch them, though."
Oh… Why do I want to rage right now? Huh… Weird…
"I'd want all sorts of body types for male models because every body type is beautiful," Ena went on, oblivious to Silver's inner turmoil. "I'd probably only need one or two of your teammates as actual models, but I'd like to feel all of them to help with sculpting my male mannequins. Mmm!" Another idea came to her. "Maybe have one of them stop by to model some of the gear and give me their opinion on it on comfortability. What do you think?"
I think you shouldn't go anywhere near my teammates because you're so amazing and they'll see that and start liking you and probably sweep you off your feet and not be awkward like me. Aloud, though, Silver offered a forced smile and said, "I-I-I-I'll have to ask them…"
"Oh, wonderful!" Ena gave him a sunny smile. "Thank you so much, Silver! You're such a good friend!"
"Yeah, sure, what are friends for?" Silver lost his appetite now and no longer felt excited for practice. As he picked at his panini, he checked with her in a mumble, "But… You still want to have dinner with just me, right? No one else?"
Ena cut her panini off for a more manageable bite of it. "Oh, yes, if that's okay. And I'd like to pay." She shot him a playful look. "Because we're being fair and not because of anything else."
Some of Silver's appetite came back and the jealousy that tore up his heart was negated by her smile that pieced it back together again. "Actually, I'd feel more comfortable paying because…"—he tried to find the right words when Ena offered him a challenging look—"I like to pay for my friends?"
"We can fight about it at the restaurant," Ena decided. She inhaled some more of her panini and groaned. "If I had known you were a good cook, I would have forced for you to cook for me a lot sooner. Here I always thought you were just a lovesick idiot."
Silver reddened. "Th-Thanks." Even if it was still a backhanded compliment. He fiddled with his shirt. "Um, I'm happy to cook for you anytime you'd like me to."
Ena snorted. "Be careful with offering me things like that." She sighed dreamily at her panini. "You can cook, you can organize and plan, and you're pretty great about cleaning my work station." She looked at her next bite of panini. "You'd be the perfect househusband." She laughed to herself. "Maybe you should be my househusband instead of an assistant. Apron and everything." She took another bite of her—
BOOM!
Steam fogged up the entire dining room and Ena was left a coughing mess. "Silver!" she choked. "Why did you—?"
"Pl-Please refrain from proposing!" came Silver's stammering wheeze within the steam. "I-I-I should be proposing to you—!"
"I'M NOT GETTING MARRIED!"
If you went to Minstrel, you might remark their farmlands and their cities are some of the most beautiful landscapes you had seen and deserved to be on a postcard. You would look at their grand clock tower and olden castles and the widest and long canal in their capital and Ferris wheel and think that was all you needed to see. But their magical academies were even more substantial to look at.
Alexandria College had its campus divided. The ground campus was filled with brick and Tudor building with their own steeples and towers and stained glasses. Close to a mountain range, it was perfect stomping grounds for certain Magic types. The pathways were filled with students from all over the world. Some students were Spiritless, but they had come to Alexandria College to pursue Enchanting in Magic Engineering while most students were natural Wizards of some sort, be it a Tamer or Magician or Wiccan or otherwise. Sky bridges arched over to connect some buildings together. One of the campus buildings sat upon one of the surrounding lakes with no bridge to access it and students had to summon their own transportation. Some students glided on the water while others manifested boats and one student created their own ice bridge by blowing on the water before them. Harmless magical creatures and normal little critters native to the area passed through the campus, either to gain food from students or because the campus was their home. After all, the campus provided stables and other environments for Tamers and their tamed beasts. Wards had surrounded the entire campus with preventative measures for attacks from any local predators or wayward people.
But when potential students were given a tour, the main feature everyone wanted to see was at the heart of Alexandria College.
A large Teleportation Lacrima pad stood at the center of Alexandria College. Yes, of course, smaller pads existed throughout campus, but this page had the sigil of the college embedded to it and, as students used it, watching them sparkle and shimmer out of existence was a sight to behold.
And where did they go?
To the sky campus.
Alexandria College's sky campus was nothing to dismiss. Build upon floating plots of land like the magical universities commonly did in Caelum, with castles for educational buildings and its main yard having a large Teleportation Lacrima Pad. But a few unfinished bridges-turned-runways spewed out from some of the floating masses to make room for students who preferred to come to the campus through their brooms and magical creatures or even via hot air balloon (though two students had managed to enchant a Lacrima Car with Flight Magic and it always caused a stir when they came onto campus). Grounds for Magicross had their own mass of floating land as well.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
« This is Alexandria College, a predominantly magical university for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematic in Magic as well as the Fine Arts in Magic. Alexandria College is known for its 5% acceptance rate and where many prestigious Magic Bloodlines attend. It is one of the few Magic Academies and University part of the IECPMU or the International Elite Conference for Private Magic Universities. Alexandria College accepts students from as young as twelve and onwards. »
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
DING… DONG… DING… DONG…
The large bells on both campus swung back and forth as they sung.
Peter was in the middle of the crowd of students who exited in the stone corridor. Even though Alexandria College maintained both youth students and students in their master program, weekdays during normal school hours required a school uniform. Peter had to admit he was a little excited at the prospect of wearing "wizard robes", which his roommate would never let him live down, but the uniforms for undergraduate students were similar to any Spiritless uniform of slacks or a skirt (whichever was your preference as long as you wore tights beneath your skirt or long socks), loafers, a button-down, a blazer, and a necktie or ribbon. Apparently, those "wizard robes" were reserved for staff and faculty and master degree pursuits.
Much to Peter's disappointment and Marek's laughter.
Peter readjusted his bag with a sigh. "I'm going to have to pull another all-night for this," he muttered. "We're Alchemists. Why are we studying thermodynamics?"
"Theory of Thaumodynamics," Marek corrected with a snicker. "It's thaumics. Thermo is a different theory class." Marek was a barrel-chested oddball as a light-skinned Melandian-Giltenan. He carried his strong aboriginal traits through his hair which had been settled into a topknot with a heru tuki (a bone comb with a small manaia head) to keep it in. No one could tell he was Giltenan since his accent was heavily sourced from Melandia even if most of his slang came from Minstrel. But somehow everyone could tell he was from Giltena the moment he fired off curses in Gordost.
⌜ALEXANDRIA COLLEGE (STEMM)
Name: Marek Wanoa
Age: 17
Magic: Alchemy
Occupation: Year 3 in Alchemy; Year 2 in Magi-Engineering
Likes: figurine collecting Dislikes: Overpowered protagonists
Special Note: Marek is Peter's roommate and is applying his Alchemy into Magi-Engineering, so he's double-majoring! He comes from a strong Alchemical Giltenan bloodline on his mother's side, the Pushkin Bloodline!⌟
Peter nudged his roommate. "Whatever." He yawned.
"You do realize sleep is good for you, right?" Marek teased. "Unless you and your girlfriend are getting freaky late at night and you're being selfish and not let me listen in."
"Fuck off," Peter mumbled. "I have to keep up with SI sessions and I still have those remedials with Doctor Flammel every other day." He huffed. "I keep telling you he hates me."
Marek snorted. "Flammel just stays mad every day, all day," he pointed out. "Stop taking it to heart when he glares at you. I'm sure he'd glare at the sun for just existing."
Peter breathed a laugh. "Yeah, probably." He looked over at Marek as they cut through a courtyard. "Are you coming to the SI session?"
"Nah, I'm pretty solid in thaumics," Marek told him. "Plus I need to finish up my Arcane Ethics in Engineering position paper then I have practice and D-n-C tonight. Which," he added, "you're always welcome to come to."
Peter snorted. "I'll pass, but thanks. Your campaign party doesn't seem to be a big fan of me."
Marek shook his head. "Eh, don't worry about them. They're good people—"
"Who care about Magic Bloodlines," Peter finished. "Like everyone else here. And which I don't have." Well, I do, but I can't share anything and even if I could, I'm disowned from my blood family.
Marek pursed his lips. "They just haven't properly met you yet." He threw an arm around Peter and shook him good-naturedly. "Come on…! It's D-n-C with actual Magic! The party pretty much has one person from every department around here, so you'll learn a lot while you play and, unlike Spiritless D-n-C, we get to use a World Building Pocket Dimension and an infinity die!"
Peter arched an eyebrow. "Aren't we not supposed to use infinity die?" he questioned. "And aren't pocket dimensions banned from campus outside of storage and backpacks?"
"What they don't know won't kill 'em," Marek said sheepishly while Peter rolled his eyes. "Come on, man, it's great! The plot thickened and we're about to entire a vampire cult and the dimension actually makes vampires!" He considered it for a moment. "Well, we did have to do some programming so they're Nightwalkers and not the Daybornes."
Peter squinted his eyes. "What?"
Marek gave an exasperated sigh. "How have you not been paying attention in your magi-anthropology lecture? Pretty much basic knowledge Vamps are gone, but there were Nightwalkers and Daybornes centuries ago…" He shook his head at Peter's clueless look and clicked his tongue. "You poor, naïve thing."
"Hey!" Peter shoved Marek off him. "Not my fault I was raised as a Spiritless and missed out on a bunch of stuff and my knowledge of Vampires comes from Dawn."A thought struck him. Does Sweets knows all this too? I mean she was raised as a Mage, so probably…
Marek chortled. "Come on, Petey. Look, I'll swing by back to the dorm to change out of my practice stuff and you can come with me for a proper introduction, okay?" He nudged Peter's arm. "Your hot girlfriend would be awfully happy if she finds out you actually get out," he teased in a singsong voice.
"Ask me again when you're back from practice," Peter sighed. The pair stopped at the archway to another corridor. "I'm going to do a quick run to the library before my SI session, so I'll see you later."
Marek nodded. "Sure." He walked backwards as he pointed at his roommate with finger guns. "And you better have all your shit done because you're coming with me to meet everyone!"
"We'll see! Later!" Peter shook his head as he went the opposite way. Few students milled about and he recognized graduate students due to their robes, but he shied away from making any eye contact from everyone. Instead, he kept his eyes to the architecture and the courtyard and had to stop and watch as a Wiccan student used their powers to encourage an apple to blossom from a tree.
It's so surreal being here. Just last semester, I was in a regular classroom on the ground and was not really that concerned about college and we were learning pretty boring stuff. Now I'm here in a Magic School. He laughed to himself as he watched a few students sit on a bench as they played their MagiLites. The books really did get it wrong about Magic Schools. I don't think any student here doesn't have a Compact or something 'Spiritless' or whatever. Marek had a MagiX system when I got here and a Mag-ii. We use PALs and DALs here. The only difference is we have powers.
Peter peeked out the window to watch as a thunderbird graced the sky to go to one of the observatories. As it landed, Magic cloaked it and they transcended back into a student. Sweets was right, though. Not too many Guild Mages come here. Not many Mages in general. But I do seem them from time to time and their program looks a lot easier than the Alchemical program.
"Taking time to cloud watch when you should be studying, Mister Thompson?"
Peter started and looked to see a young man in robes addressing him with a semi-permanent scowl on his face and his ombre long hair rooted dark brunette but turned into frosted blonde as it progressed to the tips. "Um, no, Professor Flammel," Peter replied. "I'm on my way to the library.
Adrian made a noise that sounded not at all positive but not necessarily negative. "I should remind you your stay at this college rides on your grades for this semester. Just because you took the easy way to attend this school doesn't mean your academic probation goes away."
⌜ALEXANDRIA COLLEGE (STEMM)
Name: Adrian Flammel
Age: 35
Magic: Alchemy
Occupation: Professor
Likes: frittatas Dislikes: run-on sentences
Special Note: Adrian Flammel is an esteemed professor at Alexandria College and on the board for the Triple A! Though he might look mean, his lectures and labs are almost always full every semester as students find his classes very insightful and practical and he's actually a fair grader with lenient deadlines! No one understands why he always look so mad though…⌟
"Ah, right." Peter scratched his ear. "I know. Doctor Mothersbaugh and the dean reminded me of that…" And you like to remind me that every time we have lessons…
Adrian made another noise, but he took his eyes off Peter to glance into the courtyard. "Doctor Mothersbaugh tells me you plan to leave campus for a weekend."
"Yeah." Though, it surprised Peter that the professor would even bring it up. "I am from Friday to Sunday for Heart's Day."
Adrian inclined his chin as his eyes swept back to Peter. "And would that be wise considering how far behind you are from the rest of your peers?"
"The SI sessions are helping a lot," Peter put in. "I promised my girlfriend I'd put studying first and that's what I'm doing, but I still want to see her."
"Ah, yes. Mary Jane Dreyar." Adrian shifted his weight. "Her mother and father are quite well-known Mages and her great-grandfather even more so. The Dreyar Bloodline has always been a powerful one. You chose well."
Peter frowned. "I'm not dating her because of her bloodline," he negated. "Not everything is about bloodlines. It should be about personality."
"And you're naïve to think that Magic Society cares about personality over blood," Adrian sniffed. "A word to the wise, Mister Thompson, if you haven't learned it yet. Magical bloodlines and genetics are crucial in Magic Society. It gives an estimate on a future heir's power and helps with political and social alliances." His eyes flashed. "Given your…circumstances, you'd think you'd be more interested in learning your bloodline."
Peter shrugged, adjusting his backpack. "I have too much to study to worry about it." And it's not like finding out about my blood family will get me anywhere anyways.
"Hmm." Adrian searched Peter's face for a moment. "Make sure you spend your time on campus wisely. With your frequent trips to the library, I'd think with you being Spiritless-raised would want to explore the advanced resources we have here. You'd be surprised what the difference is." He left Peter with a flutter of his robes.
Peter sighed and took up his trek to the library before he paused, confused, and glanced over his shoulder as Adrian briskly walked away. How did he know I go to the library a lot? He shook his head and went back to walking. The libraries back home weren't exactly ones I went to, but the libraries here aren't anything like I've seen.
The closet library to him might not have been the biggest campus library, or so had one the mentoring students told Peter, but, in his opinion, the library was a lot bigger than the public libraries in Fiore. Held in a large tower with an observation deck and greenhouse at the top, the library looked like something out of a movie. Large arched doors were the sole entrances and a sigil had been inscribed into it for permanent protection from invaders, but smaller doors within the grandiose ones had been embedded for the students. Where a few students exited, they held the door open for Peter to enter and he still had to look around in awe.
The towered library might not look like it housed a lot of books, but you could not be more wrong with that statement. The walls were aligned with shelves of books and filled up every inch of the tower, but floating books cases held in place, suspended in midair. Glass squares levitated at various levels of the tower to provide study spaces for students of all types. He had to smile a little when he saw a few students who had been born with marine physiology had a study room drowned in water, but they could walk and breathe like anyone else in it.
While a staircase wrapped around the sides of the tower, brooms nor carpets were not permitted within the tower to get to the floating shelves and study squares, so students had to rely on the elevator to get up and down, the single spiral staircase, or, if they had access to flight or levitation or floating spells, they were permitted to use them. For students without, the library provided growing staircases that listened to the desire of whoever stood on their top step.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
« This the S. Dubnotal Library of Sorcery—dubbed "Dubs" by students—named after the legendary mystic himself. Some say his name was pseudonym. »
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Peter first went over to reception where a few students and librarians were dealing with the few students who were trying to reserve textbooks needed for lecture. He waited in line to be helped by an androgynous student with a nose ring and a pierced tongue. Rather than speak, they began to sign and, right before Peter's eyes, letters appeared out of thin air to interpret:
HI. HOW CAN I HELP YOU?
Peter smiled. "I reserved Lost in Time: Creatures of the Dark Ages – Sixth Edition for my anthro class and I just wanted to see if it's in yet." He got out his student ID. "For Peter Shuusei-Thompson?"
The student librarian nodded and took Peter's student ID to scan into their DAL. With a few clicks, they smiled and signed:
IT JUST CAME IN. PLEASE GIVE ME A MOMENT
Peter nodded and looked around as he waited for the student librarian to come back. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but everything is just so different than how my old high school is like.
"With your frequent trips to the library, I'd think you'd being a Spiritless-raised would want to explore the resources we have here."
Peter frowned. I wonder…
When the student librarian came back and was about to sign, Peter offered an apologetic smile and said, "I'm sorry. I have another question if that's okay?" When the student librarian nodded encouragingly, Peter decided to take the leap and ask, "Do you guys have anything in regard to Magic Bloodlines?"
The student librarian frowned in thought. Then, they signed:
THIS LIBRARY DOESN'T HAVE A GENEALOGY SECTION, BUT YOU MIGHT WANT TO TRY THE MAIN LIBRARY ON THE GROUND CAMPUS. THEY MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING.
Peter offered a smile. "Thank you."
The student librarian offered Peter his reserved book with a receipt and his student ID back and signed:
HAVE A NICE DAY
Peter nodded and murmured his farewell before stepping out of line. He left the library, but he held pause when he saw the sign pointing to the teleportation pad to the ground campus. Shaking his head, he headed to his SI session. They aren't my blood family. They disowned my parents and me, so I don't have any ties to them anymore.
His mind flashed to the photo album-turned-journal hidden in his room.
But… The initials V.H… Jean and Alex… Gold eyes narrowed. What exactly did all those recipes in the book mean? And why did my blood family disown Jean in the first place?
"All of Jean and Alex's family had solid alibis for that night. But your mother has her doubts." His father's words came back to him. "She always felt something was wrong. And I have to agree with her. Something else was going on."
Peter looked down at the textbook in thought. Maybe something else did happen with the fire that killed them… He slid his book under the crook of his arm. Well. I guess there's only one way to find out.
Tesla might have done trips with her orchestra for musical tours, but she was a student and therefore had limitations to what she wanted to do. But without those restrictions, she was still nervous to venture out on her own and stuck close to Kyler as they headed into the streets of the Alvarez Empire. Maybe Fiore was a melting pot (mainly an Ishgaran melting pot), but she thought Alvarez was coming in close. The baseline language used seemed to be Minstrish, Alkyztik, and another language, but so many other languages were spoken and broken down into different dialects. She had to admit the dress code was different. It varied between conservative and skimpy, but where in Fiore, people might offer dirty looks, no one cared. It did not really matter. The only looks given were when foreigners came in jeans and loud neon colors.
Kyler had led her down a street with moderate traffic and no lanes for any large transportation. She smiled as she watched a few kids running around with a ball as they played a game of fútbol. "This place is beautiful," she murmured. "I know we're here for other things and I probably shouldn't compliment it, given the situation, but…"
"No, you're right. Alvarez is a beautiful and vast nation," Kyler gave to her. "I can feel the energy of the people all around me. The country doesn't allow its people to suffer. The amount of aid and support systems the people naturally get is substantial. The ones you meet who do struggle have done so on their own volition."
"Huh." Tesla's eyes strayed to a few language school students speaking rapid Sinnish to each other, though she could tell it was from northern Sinnish rather than her mother's western Sinnish. "From what I understood from the brief memories I have from geography, Alvarez has been factoring in smaller sovereigns and nations left and right for a long time, right?"
Kyler nodded. "Yes. Under His Late Majesty's reign, hundreds of nations merged to form Alvarez. And under Ajeel, while fewer number of nations came along, nations did fall into Alvarez. They sectioned the empire into the districts with representatives for each district and prospered since its birth."
"That's pretty amazing," Tesla murmured. "I've never seen peaceful conquering before."
"That's what makes Alvarez such a fascinating place." Kyler stopped them at an intersection as an old motorcycle raced through with a delivery boy riding it. Once the coast was clear, he set them on their path. "I was briefly on Earth Land before I decided to move here. I never met His Late Majesty, but I did my share of traveling. Most history books embellish events to put certain things in a better light, but it is true that while Zeref did unite the guilds into one military force and combined nations, he never did so with force. Each leader who surrendered their nation did so on their own will after sitting down with Zeref."
"Ah." Tesla cocked her head. "Do you think they could've been manipulated with a spell of something?"
Kyler inclined his head. "I don't think that. I don't know enough about His Late Majesty other than knowing he was quite the mental opponent and wordsmith." He shrugged. "But he's gone now."
"And his relatives will take this place." Tesla shook her head. "I can't believe this is happening. And I can't believe you let me come with you." She shot the Enoch a curious look. "Why did you let me come with you? Carlisle was pretty pissed you let me. What's the deal between you two anyways?"
Kyler sighed. "It's a long story."
"We have until sundown," Tesla reminded cheekily. "And you pretty much gave me a crash course in the mystic arts and screwed up my perception of magical reality from all my nerd stuff, so we have plenty of time for you to do more damage."
Kyler gave her an amused smile. "I don't have to try to know you're trying to distract yourself."
"Glad you know my evil plan," Tesla quipped. "If you don't mind, please distract me so I'm not in my thoughts."
Kyler chuckled and he led them over to little oasis. While Alvarez was in the desert, it surprised Tesla that little oases would pop up in neighborhoods with fresh water and foliage. Most of the time, animals drunk from it and children played by it. Some people took buckets of the water for cleaning needs. This oasis had a few horses and camels with their heads bent for a drink and a few tables had been secured by young adults to laugh and drink due to a café near by. Kyler and she settled on a bench near the water and Tesla had to admire how peaceful everything was.
"I can't clarify what's between myself and Carlisle," Kyler started. "It's up to him to give you clarity."
"But you guys weren't exes or anything, right?"
Kyler laughed and shook his head. "No, nothing like that."
Tesla gave a mock sigh of relief. "Well, that's one mystery solved. He was looking at you like an ex of his past." She offered him a pointed look. "He certainly wasn't happy to see you."
"No, he wasn't." Kyler might have looked in front of him, but his stare was a thousand leagues away. "But he wouldn't have let you come if he thought I was a bad person."
Tesla raised an eyebrow and remarked dryly, "Well, that's comforting."
Kyler's lips twitched. "It's true. Carlisle and I may not be close—now or for some time—but he knows I'll protect you as well as my sister-in-wings and her family," he explained. "As I told you before, your presence here is one we could use to our advantage. There is none other with your power, Tesla, on Earth Land."
"Magic Hunters can use Anti-Ether," Tesla reminded. "And Zelda can do what I do."
Kyler countered, "Hunters can use weapons of Anti-Ether. I've never had the pleasure to encounter Zelda, but I'm aware of her reputation as 'The Rogue Hunter'. She has a limited ability where yours is limitless. Like a Mage, you have an Anti-Ether Spirit and can manipulate Anti-Ether at will." He glanced at her with a hint of impression. "Not something you sense every day."
"You're telling me," Tesla muttered. "When I thought of my life being changed, I was more thinking adopting a cat or having a midlife crisis or going vegan. Not my sperm donor being the worst Hunter on the planet and I'm the lucky duck who gets to have all this power and responsibility."
Kyler hummed. "I understand your concerns."
"You do?"
"Yes." Kyler smiled. "It may sound surprising, but I do." He shifted. "The powers I have were not things I considered blessings. In fact, during the lowest points of my life after both my parents passed, I tried many times to get rid of my powers."
That took Tesla back. "What made you stop trying to find a way?"
"It took some time, but I realized my powers weren't the enemy I painted them to be," Kyler told her. "My fears and doubts and anger were the enemy."
Tesla sighed as her eyes went to the water. "Those things never go away."
"They don't," Kyler agreed. "Even now, I struggle with my own doubts. If I'm doing enough with my Blessing and my power. What I could have done. How to protect the ones I love. If I live up to my parents' expectations of me." He tucked hair behind his ear. "I've been angry with myself for not protecting Nashi."
Tesla's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
"Rationally, I understand I can't control her actions," Kyler explained. "She's so young in comparison to me and still so new with her powers. Like you, she has powers none can rival and, like you, her past and her mind are her enemies. Logically, I can't be around her all the time to protect her." A sheepish smile. "But I may have asked a close friend to keep an eye on her in Magnolia."
Tesla snorted. "Spying? Really?"
Kyler fostered a chastised look. "I know. I have great concern for her. She's the only sister I have. Outside my daughter, she shares my direct bloodline. And with forces out there ready to use her for their gain, I wanted to make sure she was watched over." Turquoise saddened. "But perhaps I wasn't watching her enough."
"What is it with people think spying and then more spying is the answer for protection?" Tesla grumbled. "You said it yourself that, logically, you can't be around her all the time to protect her, and I'm sure she wouldn't appreciate you spying on her every move through someone." Sagging her shoulder, she softened her tone. "Maybe my opinion doesn't really count that much considering we've known each other for less than forty-eight hours, but, in my opinion, you did everything you could. Bad things are going to happen. You could have locked her in a tower and bad things will still happen."
"I know," Kyler said. "But lessening the risks towards her is what I want to accomplish."
"And how would you do that without infringing on her freedom?"
Kyler hesitated.
"I'm not trying to be mean," Tesla tried to assure. "I'm just trying to see the logic. Nashi told me about her sister a little bit and how Luna was kept in Magnolia for pretty much her whole life. I didn't get the whole story, but since Gary said she's special, I'll assume that's why she was kept in Magnolia—to prevent things like this from happening." She shook her head. "I'm not a parent or her parent, so I don't have a right to judge. I just don't think taking away someone's freedom should be an option when you're protecting them."
"What would you recommend?"
Tesla let out a loud exhale. "Teaching them how to fight back," she suggested. "I got lucky with my mom. Because I was deemed…troubled…at the group home, people didn't really look at me until my mom came along. It took me some time to open up to her. I know she had questions with all my episodes and everything. But when I came clean to her about what I could remember, she didn't shelter me." She snorted. "Believe it or not, I never really wanted to go outside when I was younger. She was the one to encourage me." Steely grays brightened in affection. "Instead, she signed me up for martial arts, made sure I knew how to protect identity on the LacriNet, and gave me whatever I needed to defend myself and be prepared."
"She sounds like a brilliant mother."
Tesla smiled wide. "She's the best," she boasted. "I don't know where I would be without her." She scoffed. "Probably dead in a psych ward or something."
"Your friends seem like positive influences," Kyler proffered. "Though I'm sorry to have met Carlisle's partner under these circumstances, he does seem caring."
"Yeah. Prince might be reserved, but he's a big softy who lets me crash at his place," Tesla laughed.
Kyler nodded. "Ah. So you are roommates then?"
"No." Tesla shook her head. "I have my own place, but…" She hesitated as her eyes lowered. "My sperm donor is getting out of jail at the end of this week," she confessed, tone hushed. "We might know he's the world's worst Hunter, but the world doesn't. My egg donor made it clear the last time I saw her that they had the money to make facts disappear."
Kyler frowned. "I see." He gave Tesla a concerned once-over. "What will you do when he's released?"
"Hell if I know," Tesla chuckled, brittle. "I've been spiraling left and right." She played with her fingers. "When Zelda started teaching me about my powers, the only thought I had was I could use it to kill him so I've been busting my ass overtime to prepare. He doesn't deserve death for everything he did to me, but if the bastard was dead, my world would look a whole lot less scary, y'know?"
Kyler hummed but not necessarily in agreement or disagreement. "And what do you think now?"
Tesla remembered the coldness in Gary's eyes but behind those blues was torment. "I think…" She gathered her thoughts. "I think…having him dead would still make my world less scary," she slowly put, "but I don't know if I could kill him if that makes sense?" Steely gray hardened. "If he didn't exist anymore, I wouldn't be scared of him popping out of nowhere. It doesn't matter my name is changed. I did something stupid so he probably knows it even though he never saw me. It doesn't matter my name is redacted or anything. I just keep thinking he'll show up and all of this freedom I have was one big, drugged dream. But even if he was dead and I really want to think I wouldn't be scared anymore, I know I could be. He was locked up and I still was terrified."
She expended as much of her anxiety as she could through her exhale. "I don't know. Therapy's helpful with all the fear and talking it out, but I doubt all of its going to go away."
"Even when we kill monsters," Kyler said softly, "the memory of those monsters follow us."
Tesla swallowed as she nodded. "Yeah."
Kyler let her stew in silence for a while before he broached, "Before we left, you asked Carlisle not to tell Jaxton nor Dante your whereabouts."
Tesla did not know what to say. "Yeah."
"I understand not wanting Carlisle's partner Dante to know," Kyler gave, "but I'm to understand Jaxton is your partner."
Tesla winced. "For now." She messed with her braids. "I know we don't know each other and all, but I need an impartial opinion and I'm pretty sure you're as unbiased and removed from this mess as it gets."
Kyler had to agree. "I'm all ears." He added purposefully, "And you should have faith I won't break your trust. Gary is important to my family and myself, but your privacy matters more than a relationship."
"Thank you." Tesla exhaled. "I'm at a crossroads here. My boyfriend turned out to be spying on me since I came to Fiore. He explained it wasn't because whoever he works for thought I'd be evil or anything, but he spied on me to monitor my Anti-Ether essentially and this entire time this really great lactose-free milk I thought he was giving me was actually duped with this 'Cure' or whatever to help me balance out my Anti-Ether and whatever matter I'm normally made up of." She heaved another breath and continued, "Now don't get me wrong. I was pissed he was spying on me all this time because it made it feel like all the time we had together with me opening up seemed pretty damn cheap considering he knows the whole story, but rationally, I get why he did it. Hell, I'd be pretty fucking anxious too if someone with my powers was running around all unhinged and batshit crazy. But it stills upsetting he was spying on me for years and now he's dating me. I'm dating my spy. He's dating his target."
Tesla paused and squinted in thought. "Oh my god, I think this is a Webflix movie."
"Tesla…" Kyler sang.
Tesla cleared her throat. "Sorry." She held out a hand. "On one hand, logically speaking, while I'm pretty sure it's unethical or something for him to date his target or it compromises him, he did it and I love him and I know he loves me, but I'm still uneasy because he can't even tell me who his boss is. And lo and behold, I'm being a petty ass bitch to the point of adopting a cat just to piss him off since he just seems so in control of everything." She held out her other hand. "But on the other hand…" She gave Kyler a wary look. "How blunt am I allowed to be?"
"As blunt as you wished," Kyler desired. He gave her a grin. "I'm not a saint, Tesla."
Tesla arched an eyebrow in challenge. "Well, okay then, here we go," she said flatly. "My boyfriend and I are into BDSM. And don't get me wrong; it's purely consensual and all, but…" She faltered. A vacant look crept in her stare. "With my sperm donor getting out, I keep…remembering things," she whispered. "And my therapist is nice and all and we talk, but I just…" She buried her head in her hands. "It's not that I don't want Jaxton around or anything," she confessed brokenly. "But I just feel so bad I can't…" Watery heat backed her eyes. "I can't have him touch me because I just start thinking…" She shook her head and took a shuddering inhale. "Forget it."
"I don't think I can." Kyler turned to her with no pity, only brotherly concern. For a long stretch, he simply watched her. His eyes drifted away and his lips parted. "My partner… She experienced similar things."
Tesla wiped her cheeks and sniffed as she looked up at Kyler. "She did?"
"Yes." Kyler's body slackened. "I met her by chance, you know. I was fairly young. She was older even if she didn't look it. I was still in a point in my life where I wasn't all there with accepting my gifts." Memories of the past glistened in his eyes. "Our first meeting wasn't ideal. She was doing something I didn't necessarily approve of, but what did the opinion of a random man matter to her? So she kept doing it until I tried to stop her." Faint mirth. "She made sure I was down faster than I could blink. She looked at me with the coldest eyes, but she didn't do anything else. She just left."
Cheeks a little drier, Tesla asked, "When did you guys meet again?"
"Let's just say sometime later," Kyler explained. "I was surer about my powers and started using them to learn and protect. When I met her again, it was by accident. She looked…unwell." Mirth gone, all that was left with grief. "The woman I met with cold eyes was breaking right before me and on the run. I offered to help her, but she had refused until she had no choice. I brought her to a safe place to help her heal and hide."
"That was nice of you," came Tesla's soft praise.
But Kyler dismissed it with a shake of his head. "I wish I could have done more for her." He sighed. "She disappeared from me the next day, but I could stop thinking about her. Over time, I'd run into her time and time again." A soft chuckle. "Oh, was she unhappy about that. I'd tried to stop her, but she never cared for what I had to say. It took some time until, one day, I found her drunk." He shook his head. "The night was a wild one, but I was able to get her a room to sober up."
Turquoise darkened. "That was the first time it happened."
Kyler sat back. "I'd seen a lot, but I'd never thought I'd see her so fearful and frantic. I had to restrain her from hurting herself and I can't forget the way she screamed and cried like she was never allowed to before," he narrated. "She'd wounded me in the process, but it didn't matter. I restrained her until she fell asleep and watched over her until she woke up. She wasn't happy I was still there or about what I'd witnessed. She told me she had to go back and, no matter how much I asked her to stay, she gave me those cold eyes and told me it was either my life or hers if she didn't return."
A burning sensation filled Tesla's chest. "I know the feeling…"
Kyler flashed Tesla a glance of secondhand grief.
Tesla tried not to see it. "What happened then? When did you see her again?"
"It was random," Kyler admitted. "I couldn't get her off my mind as I traveled. I settled myself in a peaceful realm where people didn't mind my origin and, in turn, I could protect them from outside attacks. When I returned home, she was there."
Tesla's eyes rounded. "Seriously?"
"Yes." Kyler bobbed his head. "She was nervous and flighty the entire time and she didn't need to tell me anything for me to know she had escaped under the radar and needed somewhere safe to hide." He shrugged. "I didn't mind. The house I had built had more than enough space for two people. But…" His eyes darkened. "At night, I would have to restrain her from hurting herself when the monsters in her memories came back to haunt her."
Tesla looked at her lap. "I see."
"During the day, she tried hard to fit in. The people there could tell she was…different," Kyler described in vague. "Unfortunately, she had a reputation that followed her around. But she tried her best to be normal and earn their trust. But I could tell whenever someone came behind her or a loud noise happened or if someone was too close, she would start to panic and the monsters in her past came back to haunt her."
"Did she…?" Tesla wet her lips. "Did she ever have an episode in public?"
"Several," Kyler answered. "She never wanted to speak of them and I never wanted to push her, but it took no fool to understand the signs." He folded his hands. "During the years we lived together, she'd reveal little things to me—the sins she committed and the atrocious things done to her. It wasn't easy. One day, she'd make progress and, another day, she'd think she was back there and couldn't see me in front of her. She saw someone else. I learned how to pull her back to the present, but it wasn't easy."
"If it wasn't easy, why did you…?" Tesla struggled with the words.
"Why did I stay?" Kyler finished for her. "She asked me the same. She grew angry I stayed with her out of pity. Her moods would drop and she'd run away from me." Resignation settled on his face and acceptance, but it was obvious he adored his partner. "She and I could talk about it later, but I know whenever she came home days later or in the middle of the night—I knew who she was with and what she was doing."
That burning turned into a flame and Tesla was engrossed in every word. "And you still stayed even after that? Didn't you feel jealous?"
"Not in the conventional sense, no," Kyler told her after a considerable moment. "I know, in her mind, it was what she thought she needed. Whenever she came back, she'd cry and apologize. I wouldn't let her degrade herself with those names she'd try to hurl at herself, but I'd just hold her." He gave Tesla a significant look. "Because I knew it wasn't about me. I knew she felt out of control and nothing she did was against me personally."
DRIP.
Tesla tried to wipe away the tears, but they kept coming.
DROP.
"So what happened next?" Tesla asked in a watery voice. "How is she doing now?"
"Throughout the first relationship she had, we both had to work through it," Kyler told her, "but unlike many, we had the luxury of time. It took a lot of time until she took up my suggestion to see someone."
"A therapist, you mean?" Tesla piped up.
Kyler hummed. "That would be the most appropriate term for him, yes," he decided. "He worked with her for a long time. And, yes, there were times she would take steps back, but she did everything she could to always take a step forwards." He waved his hand. "Then, we weren't together for a time, and now we've found each other. As for how she's doing now, she'll never forget what happened to her. But she forgave herself."
"'Forgave herself'?"
"I've never experienced it, so I don't know if I'm explaining it correctly, but I'll try my best," Kyler started. "How she explained it to me was she felt responsible for how she reacted in every situation back then. She thought she was at fault and she was encouraging it."
"Oh." Tesla nodded as her throat felt like it was closing up. "I get what you mean by forgiving herself now." A self-deprecating smile. "I'm just not there yet. I doubt I will be."
"That's for you to decide," Kyler told her gently.
Tesla looked down at her hands. "Yeah, I guess…"
"About your partner…"
Tesla looked up at Kyler in question.
The Enoch offered nothing more than understanding. "I will never understand what you have gone through nor what my partner went through, but I can feel the emotions you project about the monsters in your memory while I speak. I could feel your emotions towards him strengthen. So, without knowing him, I'll give you this piece of advice and you can ignore it or take it." He leaned in closer. "Your partner recognizes he betrayed your trust. He recognizes you're struggling with deciphering the past from the present. And he recognizes, to make sense of it all, you might do things you'll regret. But despite what you feel are all negative traits about you, your partner sees beyond all of it and looks at you like you're the strongest person in the world. Why? Because you aren't giving up fighting against those monsters."
Tesla snorted. "You don't know that."
"I don't?"
"No, I…" Tesla looked away from him. "I haven't exactly been strong these last few weeks…"
Kyler shook his head. "Your strength lies in your will to live, Tesla Greer. And my partner will tell you the same. She's witnessed it herself from those who choose to die or live a dead life. But you are attempting to live. Your partner sees that as your greatest strength. And so do I."
A dry laugh bubbled out of Tesla as she rubbed her cheeks. "Is this your way of telling me I should talk to him before I do anything stupid or petty like get a cat?"
"I think you know the answer to that," Kyler told her.
Tesla sniffed and nodded. "Yeah, I do." She let out a breath. "That felt good to just talk it out and relate." She shot him a smile. "You're pretty good at enlightening people and calming them down. Anyone ever tell you that?"
"Well…" A conspiratorial gleam entered Kyler's eyes. "My little sister likes to point that out to me from time to time."
The pair shared a laugh before their eyes strayed to the looming castle in the distance. Tesla broke the silence as she murmured, "People are going to get injured for us doing the right thing, aren't they?"
"I'm afraid so," Kyler affirmed. "As I told you, the forces you'll see in there will manipulate you in ways you wouldn't have thought could happen. They'll feed off your fears and might purposefully scream and bleed to force you to back down. I'll do everything I can to shield you from it, but you should know. Although…"—he tossed her a curious look—"I suspect you can shield yourself."
Tesla winced. "So you noticed it, huh?"
"The energy you give off isn't necessarily protective," Kyler noted. "It's not the same as a spell. If I'm being honest, it's very rare I encounter one with your gifts. I could tell you're hiding, but I couldn't tell from what."
Tesla's eyes dropped to the pond. "I promise I'll stop hiding once we're back home." The decision had been cast and she refused to take it back. "Right now, the mission comes first."
Then, it struck her.
"I will still carry out that part of the mission."
Tesla bit her lip as she looked into the pond. She could see her reflection, but she knew someone else could not.
"If you want that time away from me, I'll give it to you."
Once we're home, Tesla swore to herself. I know he has his mission, but… I have mine. Shaking off her doubts, she turned back to Kyler and hated seeing his concern. "Well, our talk was emotionally enlightening and draining and we still have time for sunset. Maybe we should get some food for you and me and Gary and go over our battle strategy or something?" She faltered when Kyler cocked his head. "No? I only have anime and comics to go off of, so I don't really know how this all works…"
Kyler simpered. "It works pretty much the same." He got to his feet and helped her stand as well. "I think getting food is a great idea. And if you have any other questions, feel free to ask them."
"Okay," Tesla chirped, "I will."
They left the oasis and leisurely meandered down another street sans large transportation and full of natives when Tesla stopped dead in the street and grabbed onto Kyler's arm. "Wait. What if you guys have to pee while you're fighting? What do you do? Where do you go?"
Maybe it was from the fear on Tesla's face or the obscurity of her questions, but Kyler threw back his head and laughed.
DING-DONG!
Lance came to the door with a five o'clock shadow on his jaws and tired eyes that landed on his little sister. "Hey, Mary Jane." He opened the door wider for her. "Sorry. You texted me you were coming over and I completely forgot."
"Don't worry about it." Mary Jane came in and made sure to take off her boots first. She beamed when Illumi made the trek from his bed to come greet her. "Hi, Illumi." She took off her jacket and handed it off to her brother who had a hanger for it ready. Stooping down, she stroked Illumi's graying muzzle and felt a thrum of electricity pass between him and her. "You're getting so old now."
"He's a strong one." Lance had put away her jacket and gestured down the hall. "You feeling okay? Mom said you came home and weren't feeling that great and reminded me to keep an eye on you."
Mary Jane huffed. "I'm fine," she insisted. "I was just out of it when I went to visit Luna, but after a quick nap, I feel better. Mom needs to stop worrying."
"Nah. It's what moms do." Lance guided her down the hall and to the kitchen. "Want anything to eat or drink? Aine went grocery shopping yesterday."
Mary Jane decided to sit on the floor of the kitchen and welcomed Illumi who settled next to her and put his head in her lap. "So she did, did she?" she teased. "You know…"
Lance groaned as he got up some juice. "Don't start, Janie, please. Master and Mom are already on us as it is." He went to retrieve glasses. "Aine's still in school. No solid plans until she's officially a nurse."
"I know, I know," Mary Jane said ruefully as she stroked Illumi's fur and the Fulgumiho sighed. "But it's nice when Mom is focused on you and your love life and not on mine."
Lance snorted as he filled the glasses. "Yeah, I'll bet." He glanced at his little sister. "Everything okay with you and Peter?"
"Yeah, everything is fine," Mary Jane told him. "He's coming back for his old high school's Heart's Day dance actually."
Lance raised an eyebrow as he rounded the island to hand Mary Jane her glass. "And are you two coming straight home after the dance?" He chuckled when she flushed pink. "Hey, don't forget I was fifteen teenaged guy too. And I know how they think."
"It's not like that," Mary Jane laughed. She ducked her head under Lance's scrutiny. "Neither one of us is ready for that."
"Things can happen in the heat of the moment," Lance reminded in words of caution. His lips twitched when Mary Jane shot him a half-hearted glare. "Just be careful, okay? Guys think with a different head than girls."
"Whatever." Mary Jane took a few sips of her drink before she asked, "Mom said you've been holed in here for a while. What have you been working on?"
Lance blew out his cheeks. "This and that. Had a lot of research to do," he admitted. He rubbed his jaw. "Right now, Master tasked me with helping overview invitations for the inter-guild training camp."
"Oh?" That intrigued Mary Jane. "Invitations? I thought anyone under the age limit could go?"
"Which is true," Lance assured as he set down his glass to crack his neck. "But the invitations are more for special classes on top of that. Think of it like honors in school. Something similar to that. It's basically where they get to train with S-Class Mages." He ran a hand through his hair. "Ultimately, the Guild Masters for Mount Altana, Lamia Scale, Blue Pegasus, Sabertooth, and our Guild Master make the executive decision on who we invite, but I'm on the panel of S-Class Mages who put together their program for the training camp."
Mary Jane tilted her head and hummed. "So then do you just invite only Fairy Tail Mages?"
Lance shook his head. "No, we're all responsible for giving recommendations for all guilds to sus out any bias. Each of us gets to choose one guild member per guild to bring up. We vote between our picks and send it off to the Masters for approval. I told Master I might not be around in May for the training camp, but she insisted I still help with invite."
"Why won't you be around in May?"
"I might be taking a trip somewhere," Lance answered in vague. "But it's still up in the air until I get some more concrete facts."
Mary Jane nodded, but she carried concern. "I hope you'll tell us when you leave."
"I will, I promise," Lance assured. "Like I said, I still have a lot of research and planning to do." He gestured back to the hallway. "Want to come take a look at the Mages?"
Mary Jane's eyebrows rose into her bangs. "Me?"
"Sure." Lance grinned as he stretched a hand out to her. "It would help to have another opinion about all this anyway."
"Um… Sure."
Mary Jane gently moved Illumi off her and took Lance's hand. He helped to her feet before guiding her down the hall and past the living room. His home office looked pretty organized for someone who resolutely holed himself in there for work, but by the stack of papers and files on his desk, it was evident he was in his own busy season. He let Mary Jane take his office share as he unlocked his DAL and fiddled around with his files until he brought up five thick files, all of them paper-clipped.
"I'm looking at the Mages from Mount Altana," Lance told her, "and I have it narrowed down to five Mages. I've been looking at their battle history and stats and these five showed the most promise and most benefit from S-Class additional training."
Mary Jane nodded as she took in the files, but she noticed something different about two of them. Not only did the one have a noticeably thicker file, but the other had a highlighted star. She set aside three of the files to look at the two. The thicker file carried a profile picture of a quirky light-skinned Andüsian-Stellian with a dimple and his tight eyes were a mixture of ice blue and dark brown while the starred file carried a profile of a beautiful young man with angular eyes, a shy smile, swept hair, and with heavy pink lower lips.
Lance noticed her interest. "Ah. Those two caught my attention the most too."
"Noah Nakamura," Mary Jane named as she addressed the young man. "His Magic is called 'Overwrite'." She looked up at Lance. "Why does that sound familiar?"
"You weren't really into the GMG stuffs or the Maglympics, but Noah is a genius Mage," Lance established. "Illusion Magic is very difficult to make tangible. The bigger the Illusion, the harder it is to maintain. But Noah has the Magic to bend reality."
Mary Jane's eyes widened. "Really?"
Lance nodded. "He came out of nowhere in the GMGs three years ago, though, he's not in full control of Overwrite. Thankfully, he can't alter all of reality. He still has limitations with his Magic and can only do it within a radius of himself. But what he can do is amazing." He sweatdropped. "Though, he has a reputation of letting his emotions manifest a lot of strange things…"
"That's really cool and also dangerous. I see why you're looking at him." Mary Jane took a look at the beautiful young man. "And his name is Cymbal? It says that his Magic Power is called 'Shelter'." Her nose scrunched up. "What does that mean?"
"It sounds odd when I say it, but Cymbal can be very elaborate rooms," Lance explained. He went to his DAL and struck up LacriNet and put in YouView. With a few more searches, he pulled a video. "Here. It's better to show you better than I can tell you. This is a practice match Cymbal was in."
Mary Jane watched the video as the beautiful young man was dressed in his practice gear. His opponent was a large man who was cloaked in shadows that hooded his face almost like a grim reaper. A ring of orange surrounded Cymbal and, before Mary Jane's eyes, Cymbal had transported himself and his opponent in a room with endless staircases that went up, down, left, right, upside down, and some went nowhere while others had infinite steps.
"Oh wow…" Mary Jane breathed. "That's amazing…"
Lance paused the video to lean on his desk. "The rooms he makes are inescapable unless he lets someone out. You know Dazzler, right? Do you remember Mister Lafayette or heard about him?"
"The Magician, yeah." Mary Jane nodded. "Why?"
"Their house was made by someone with Cymbal's powers," Lance informed. "The way he can make these labyrinths of homes appear with just a thought…" He shook his head.
Mary Jane sat back with a faint smile. "I can see why you're torn between who to choose." Her eyes strayed back to Cymbal frozen on the video and her head tipped as a tingle ran through her. But there's just something about Cymbal, though…
"You feel it too?"
Mary Jane peeked up at her brother to see him staring at Cymbal like he was trying to figure the young Wizard out. Mary Jane hummed. "Mmm-hmm." Turning back to the paused video, she added, "I don't know why. Just something about him."
"Yeah, I know." Lance frowned. "I kept looking at his file more than the others. He joined Mount Altana two years ago when their Master recruited him. He's a pacifist and has a soft public image. Not too many battles, but his winning percentage is around eighty-nine to ninety-one percent." He tapped Noah's file. "Noah's winning percentage is around ninety-five. Kid's a wild card, though. He's an ace—I'll give him that—but he needs to learn to keep his emotions in check if he wants to get far with that sort of Magic."
"And not screw up reality," Mary Jane laughed.
Lance laughed with her as he scratched under his jaw. "You're not wrong. I know the Magic Council keeps a close eye on him." He tapped Cymbal's file. "I'm sure someone will cast a vote for Noah, but Cymbal…" He shook his head. "I don't know. I just have a feeling about him."
"You should pick him," Mary Jane urged. "Mom always says go with your gut, right? If you feel like you should pick him, you should." Her eyes dropped back to Cymbal's profile picture on the file. Huh… I don't know why, but… Something about him just gives me this really weird feeling and I'm so close to figuring it out…
Lance and Mary Jane both continued to get lost in the presque vu as they studied the beautiful young man before them.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Fairy Adventure
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
He liked heavy rain.
The clouds quaked, dark gray and lousy, as lightning streaked the sky like a hurried cat. Rain pelted the windows to blind those trying to look out of it. Trees trembled as nature punished them and the grass was drenched beyond belief as dirt loosened and some creatures surfaced from it as the perfect time to catch water and stretch out their bodies. The noise of the storm somehow felt calm to him, but he could not understand.
A wild scream.
He kept watching the window to see a crumpled figure amongst the marshy grass, drowning in a cloak. A lithe figure had rushed out in their own cloak, but the sounds they made could not be heard over the aggressive storm. He watched with little eyes as the lithe figure threw themselves over the larger one.
Lightning streaked the sky.
Before his eyes, blood leaked from underneath the larger figure swamped in their cloak. The ugly rain mixed and diluted the blood and fed it into the grass.
He hated heavy rain.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Carlisle cracked open his eyes and instantly it hurt to do that. He felt secluded in warmth and his eyes closed again at the comfort. Delicate hands drifted through his silvery-gray locks. "Mmmm…" He forced open his eyes and let them flick to the side to see Aphtan above him, eyes trained on a book.
Aphtan's gaze strayed to Carlisle. "Good afternoon, Carlisle-po."
"Tantan…" Carlisle cringed from how hoarse his voice sounded. "What time is it? Are we back at school?"
Aphtan placed a bookmark in his book and shut it. "No, Carlisle-po. We are at Lola's and the time is a little after three-thirty."
"It is?" Carlisle groaned as he rubbed his nose. "Maman is going to get so mad at me for skipping class. Oh gosh, and Coach…"
"No need to worry, Carlisle-po," Aphtan assured. "I contacted your mother and spoke to Coach. Both of them understand and we've been exempted from classes and afternoon practice." He continued to let his fingers feather Carlisle's hair. "You have the option to be exempt tomorrow as well."
Carlisle shook his head. "No. I'll be okay." He forced himself to sit up and took a look around.
Aphtan's room was as organized and pretty as he was, heavily minimalistic but with pops of color around. He had shelves full of books, but surprisingly he had hidden away or perhaps did not have any family pictures around. His Kudyapi was on its custom stand alongside his sheet music. He had been given a nice bay window to spend his time at his leisure there. A table in his room housed an incomplete puzzle that had maybe one hundred pieces out of the thousand left to go.
"I'm sorry you had to miss practice," Carlisle croaked. "I didn't mean to mess everything up."
"You didn't mess anything up, Carlisle-po," Aphtan assured. "How are you feeling?"
Carlisle sniffed and touched his cheek to make sure it was dry. "Better," he claimed. "Just a little stiff and my face could use some lotion."
Aphtan exited his bed and round onto Carlisle's side to extend a gloved hand. "Come, Carlisle-po. Let's get your face clean. Lola has been waiting for you."
"Mm-kay." Carlisle took Aphtan's hand and slid off the bed to be pulled into the connected bathroom. Aphtan sat him on a cushioned stool in front of a vanity mirror where make-up had been organized in type, occasion, and color as expected by Aphtan.
Carlisle held still as Aphtan traded his normal gloves for transparent ones. He easily located soft rag and cleanser and went to wet the rag. He spoke in soft tones, "Is Lucy still mad at me?"
"No, Carlisle-po." Aphtan rung out the rag. "He regrets making you upset, but I didn't let him visit you. I told him you needed some time." He went back over to Carlisle and cupped his chin. "Close your eyes."
Carlisle did so and could feel Aphtan gently dampening his face with the rag. "Was Maman upset?"
"No, Carlisle-po." Aphtan set aside the rag and squirted the cleanser in his palm. "Your mother is worried for you, but she understands you need time. She asked you call her after dinner." He massaged the cleanser over Carlisle's face.
Carlisle sighed. "Okay." He hesitated. "Did Dante call?"
"No, Carlisle-po." Aphtan was getting Carlisle's T-zone. "He didn't."
Carlisle's shoulders sagged. "I didn't think so. He's at work," he glumly reminded himself. "That reminds me. The fans…"
"I reached out to Mercier for you," Aphtan assured. Finished spreading the cleaner, he disposed of his gloves for a new set of transparent gloves and got the rag. He spread the rag in circular motions across Carlisle's skin. "He'll update everything, but your fans understand, Carlisle-po."
Carlisle hummed. "Thanks, Tantan. You're always cleaning up after my messes. You and Lucy."
"They aren't messes, Carlisle-po," Aphtan countered. "You shouldn't worry about unnecessary things when you're stressed." He tilted Carlisle's head slightly to the right. "And we don't mind taking care of you."
"Maybe you don't, but I know Lucy does," Carlisle mumbled.
Aphtan checked his work before he put down the rag and went to get the facial cream. "Lucy doesn't mind, Carlisle-po. I know your cousin loves you. He wouldn't have learned how to figure skate if he didn't."
"I practically forced him out onto the ice," Carlisle pointed out.
Aphtan began to smear on the cream and rub it into Carlisle's flesh. "And he could have easily left, but he stayed," he reminded.
Carlisle huffed, though his lips formed a pout. "Who's side are you on?"
"I'm always on your side, Carlisle-po," Aphtan affirmed, "but I do know Lucy does regret his words and his actions towards you."
"It didn't sound like it," Carlisle muttered.
"Carlisle-po…"
Carlisle sighed through his nose. "I know Lucy loves Maman and I and he cares about us," he relented. "But he just kept yelling…" He refused to let his bottom lip trembled and decided, "I don't care if he's mad at me. I'm mad at him."
"Of course you are, Carlisle-po." Aphtan was finished and quickly disposed his gloves and put on his regular ones. "Finished."
Carlisle opened his eyes to look expectantly at his best friend. "How do I look?" He smiled teasingly. "Beautiful like normal?"
What would have made his fangirls swoon only made Aphtan keep his impassive look as he leaned forward and brushed a stray strand of Carlisle's hair away from his temple. "Beautiful as normal," he agreed. He straightened up and extended his hand. "Do you want to eat now, Carlisle-po, or would you prefer to wait?"
Carlisle's eyes gleamed at the prospect of food. "I mean if dinner's ready and everything, why wait?" He took Aphtan's hand. "Plus how can I resist not seeing Lola?"
"Of course, Carlisle-po. But please remember you still have to make up your assignments from the classes you missed." Aphtan ignored the way Carlisle cringed. "Lucy was kind enough to pick up both of our assignments when he came by in an attempt to see you."
Carlisle huffed as he led Aphtan out of the bedroom and into a burgundy-painted hallway. "First he yells me at me and then he brings me homework? I'm sure he's begging for forgiveness," he grumbled.
"Carlisle-po, if it wasn't Lucy, then I would have gotten our missed assignments."
"Tantan, just let me be upset for a little longer," Carlisle pleaded as they got to the grand staircase. He let go of Aphtan's hand as they matched pace climbing down the steps. "I was thinking… Maybe I can milk Lucy getting my forgiveness with—"
"I already warned Lucy you would only forgive him if he gave you food not approved by our nutritionist."
Carlisle dramatically leaned against Aphtan as he whined, "Tantan…! You can't just—?" But his complaint was lost when he smelled that sharp contrast of chili powder that brought out the tang of garlic and onions. His mouth watered. "Ah, the food smells amazing…!" He abandoned Aphtan to gun it down the rest of the steps ("Carlisle-po, please don't trip.") and swerved down the first-floor hallway to come to a stop when he hit the kitchen. "Mmmm, délicieux!"
A throaty chuckle. "I'm glad you think so, Carlisle."
The kitchen negated everything about Aphtan's room. It gave off a well-used, homey feel with earthy yellows and greens used for the paint. While the house itself might have been filled with modern technology, the kitchen was not. Instead, it stuck to appliances that withstood the testament of time with pots and pans that were passed down generations and even some of the cookware. Flags of Fiore and another country were nailed to the wall alongside pictures of family members who shared Aphtan's complexion and hair, but their faces were highly expressive. A familiar opera was playing from an older CD Lacrima Player.
Carlisle beamed at the voice. "Lola!"
Lola might have been up there in years, but you could never tell with her. Complexion a peachy cinnamon, she bore laugh lines and crow's feet, but no other wrinkles touched her person. Healthy hair that trailed down her back to her waist, she showed a little white on her edges and nothing more. And just like Aphtan, she strayed from the traditional clothes the family members in the pictures wore and opted to stay with Fioren fashion with her billowing pants and a crossover long sleeve branded from a very familiar Fairy Tail member.
Lola beamed back at Carlisle and opened an arm to him as he came to hug her. "My partner in crime! It's been far too long!"
⌜NEW AZALEA CITY
Name: Mahalia Ángel
Age: 68
Occupation: Opera Singer
Likes: riffs Dislikes: songs with fade-outs
Special Note: Mahalia is quite the active grandmother with her book club, opera singing, social groups, and attending every single one of Aphtan and Carlisle's competitions!⌟
"I'm sorry!" Carlisle kissed her cheek. "But I'm here now and…!" He listened to the soprano wail her yearning and lead the strings through her song. He gaped at a mischievous Mahalia. "You would dare listen to Un Del Di, Vedremo without me!" The back of his hand pressed against his forehead as he pretended to faint against her. "You're a cruel woman, Lola! You know Madame Butterfly gets me every time!"
"I made sure to have it playing just for you," Mahalia teased before she stopped cooking to give him a kiss on both cheeks and a hug. "Hello, ápo." She rubbed his back. "How are you doing?"
"Mas maganda ang pakiramdam ko," Carlisle replied.
Mahalia pulled back in both surprise and pride. "Mas mahusay ang iyong perlagog sa tuwing nakikita kita." She offered him a soft hit to the shoulder. "Now if only you'd visit more to use it." She shot her grandson a look when he made his graceful appearance as silent as a cat. "I know my ápo over here is using Minstrish with you," she jested.
"Carlisle-po doesn't know enough Perlagog for me to speak it around him, Lola," Aphtan commented.
Carlisle gaped. "That's not true!" He shot Mahalia a sheepish look. "I know enough to support my Nácarlino fans."
Mahalia laughed as she patted his cheek. "That's enough for now." She turned back to her dish and turned off the gas stove. "Well, dinner is ready. Boys, would you mind setting the table?"
"Anything for you, Lola." Carlisle spun around her and went to the cabinets while Aphtan had for the drawers for silverware. "Ooo, you'll have to recommend me more books! The last book rec you gave me was amazing and I couldn't put it down!"
Mahalia laughed as she brought over the first palayok (clay pot) to the open sunroom dining room that outlooked a nice garden with veranda and a little gazebo over in the corner where the water feature would surround it with koi fish once spring had sprung. "Well, we're reading a historical mystery thriller novel called The Sun Down Hotel. I have an extra copy if you want to take it."
Carlisle came into the sunroom dining room with plates in his hand, glasses on top, and a vigorous nod. "Yes, please! I trust your book club wholeheartedly with any recommendations." He began to set the plates and glasses as Mahalia passed him to get the next palayok.
"It's a shame you can't come to the book club meetings anymore, ápo," Mahalia called as Aphtan entered the sunroom dining room. "Everyone would love to see you again!"
Carlisle would have happily offered to come, but Aphtan said as he put down silverware and cloth napkins, "Lola, Carlisle-po is preparing for the Ishgaran Cup. He'll pay a visit only after he takes gold."
"Yeah, Tantan's right," Carlisle supposed. "Preparing for the cup is a lot, but I promise to visit as long as I place in the top three."
"Gold, Carlisle-po." Aphtan would not budge on that. "You have to place gold. No exceptions."
Carlisle laughed. "Of course I want to get in first place, but there could be an amazing skater who beats me," he reminded. "There are plenty of amazing skaters who are entering the cup from around Ishgar."
"And you'll beat them." Aphtan said this like it was a straight fact, not a laughing matter. "You're better."
Mahalia swept back in with her palayok. "Aphtan, no need to pressure Carlisle," she admonished good-naturedly. "Would you mind bringing out the pitcher?" As she set down the palayok on its bamboo mat, she turned to Carlisle and said, "But he's right. You'll get first place and go to the Worlds."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Lola," Carlisle appreciated. "But you have to promise to not only come see me at Worlds, but we still have to figure out what flowers to bring for Tantan's competition."
Aphtan swept back in with a pitcher of fresh-brewed tea. "I don't need flowers, Carlisle-po. You and Lola are enough."
"Nonsense, ápo," Mahalia refused. "We're bringing flowers." She uncovered the clay pots and set aside the lids. "Oh! The poqui poqui!" She hurried back to the kitchen. "Carlisle, how are your moms and your siblings doing?"
"Fine!" Carlisle blew Aphtan a kiss when he pulled out a chair for him. "Maman has her ballet coming up starting next week and Mom is getting pretty busy with surgeries, per usual." He thanked Aphtan for pouring him tea. "Let's see now… Bobbi's okay." He rolled his eyes. "I'm pretty sure she's driving Maman and Mom crazy with her hairstylist phase. And Christophe is just…"—He made a gesture with his hands as Mahalia came back in—"Christophe. You know he isn't my favorite sibling, or, well, anything."
Aphtan sipped his tea. "I find Christophe an exhaustive annoyance."
"He thinks just because he's in college and in some fraternity and he got an athletic scholarship that he's better than everyone," Carlisle sniffed. "The nerve. How could he actually think being in a fraternity is something to worship him over?" He took a swallow of tea. "Even if his frat brothers are in the eights and nines. Nothing like Dante though."
Mahalia arched an eyebrow as a sly grin came over her. "Oh. Dante is his name then?"
Carlisle flushed and said as diplomatically as he could, "I withhold my right to give tea until I've been fed. Those are my conditions."
Mahalia chortled. "Then let's get you fed so you can tell me all about this 'Dante'." She clicked her tongue when Carlisle grabbed her plate while Aphtan made sure to dish out portions for Mahalia. "Boys, you really don't have to."
"Lola, this is your castle and you are a queen here," Carlisle reminded. "We're nothing more than servants."
"Try beautiful princes." Mahalia took her filled plate with a gleam of gratitude in her eyes and kissed Aphtan's cheek then Carlisle's. "Such gentlemen."
Carlisle winked at her. "You know it!" He pouted when he saw Aphtan had taken his plate to serve him. "Aw, Tantan, I could've done it!" But he broke into a beam. "You're so good to me—!"
"Carlisle-po, you don't have a good eye for portion control."
As Mahalia broke into loud laughter, Carlisle crossed his arms and sulked. "Well, no need to hit where it hurts." He still murmured his appreciation to Aphtan when he have him back his plate.
Mahalia waited until Aphtan helped himself before she glanced at both boys. "Now," she started, "before we eat, I did want to make an announcement." She turned to Aphtan with sadness denting her happiness. "Aphtan, your parents said they…would be staying in Nácarlines with your baby sister instead of coming up to visit like they planned."
Aphtan did not seem bothered while Carlisle looked bothered on Aphtan's behalf. "I assumed they would," Aphtan mentioned. "Every planned visit they make, they cancel. What excuse did they give?"
"They said your sister was still too young to make the trip," Mahalia answered with agitation. "I know she's three, but I would have at least thought your mother would want to visit." She murmured a few choice words about him in Perlagog.
"It's fine, Lola," Aphtan calmed. "I didn't expect anything different. Anything else?"
Mahalia sighed. "No. But please help yourselves."
Mahalia and Aphtan began to tuck in their meal, but Carlisle was slow to do so. "Tantan, you know I'd come with you if you wanted to go to the Nácarlines to see them, right?"
"That's very kind of you, Carlisle-po, but it's not necessary," Aphtan said. "I have no plans to visit them."
Carlisle frowned, but he let it go and took a bite of his food.
Mahalia cleared her throat. "Onto happier topics," she decided. "Who exactly is this 'Dante', ápo?"
Carlisle choked on his mouthful of adobo and would thank Aphtan later for getting up and handing Carlisle his glass of tea to down a few swallows. He shot Mahalia a look. "I should've known you wouldn't let me eat in peace."
"You can eat and talk," Mahalia cheekily brought up. "You never come to visit me, so I'm assuming you're spending all your time with this lover of yours. What happened to Zack?"
"Ancient history." Carlisle rolled his eyes with a shake of his head and a huff. "He broke up with me over text."
Mahalia scowled. "What a coward. A real man would say it to your face."
"Right?" Carlisle gathered a little bit of everything onto his fork for his next mouthful. "I met Dante at this party an acquaintance and I went to post-breakup, but we didn't see each other again until New Year's Eve."
"And in between, Carlisle-po had a few quick dates," Aphtan commented.
Carlisle colored. "Tantan…!"
"You expressed your lover left you frustrated, Carlisle-po," Aphtan remembered. "I hope those girls you went out with weren't outlets for your frustration."
Mahalia cackled while Carlisle looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him. "They weren't!" he cried. "They were harmless dates anyways and nothing happened with them!" He angrily shoved in more food.
"Oh?" Mahalia's eyes gleamed. "And why was that?"
Carlisle swallowed his food and reluctantly muttered, "I couldn't get Dante off my mind." As Aphtan took a poised sip of tea and Mahalia chortled, Carlisle pleaded his case to her, "Lola, if you saw him, you'd be saying the same thing too! He's so freaking hot!"
"He's taller than you, Carlisle-po," Aphtan reminded.
But Carlisle dismissed that with a wave of his hand. "All those inches won't kill me." He and Mahalia shared a sly grin.
"Tell me about this young man," Mahalia commanded between bites of her food. "What's he like? What does he do? Where does he go to school?"
Carlisle narrowed his eyes. "You're not going to report back to my moms, right?" he wanted to know. "Already Maman wants to know about him…"
"I won't tell her anything," Mahalia promised. Then, she added, "But you should hurry and tell your moms so we can gossip."
Carlisle gawked. "Rude!" He looked at Aphtan for support. "Tantan, Lola is trying to talk about me and Dante behind my back with my moms! Do something!"
"What Lola and your moms do is their choice, Carlisle-po."
"Et tu, Tantan?!" Carlisle shook his head. "Fine. I guess if I need to brag about my hot lover to someone, I might as well start with you." He smiled when Mahalia pretended to be all-ears. "He's really reserved and quiet, but the first time we met, I thought he was going to eat me alive. He can be…"—he scrambled for the word—"so intense. And oblivious." A snort. "There's a little mouse at his work that tries to flirt with him."
"And what does Dante do for a living?"
"He's an Enchanter for a garage."
Mahalia's eyebrows went up. "How old is he?"
"Eighteen." Carlisle scooped in another mouthful and nodded when Mahalia looked doubly surprised. "Mmm-hmm. I know, right? I looked it up. I guess Enchanters are supposed to be in their mid and upper twenties, but he's a certified Enchanter."
"Impressive," Mahalia complimented. "I take it he's out of school?"
Carlisle shook his head. "No, he goes to night school for other certifications for Enchanting and for his college degree in engineering." He rolled his eyes. "Christophe could never. He'd probably catch a cold if I suggested to him to focus on his degree and not…whatever he does."
Mahalia raised her glass in agreement. "I think we can all drink to that." Both Carlisle and Aphtan raised their glasses for the three to clink them together before everyone took a sip. "Tell me more about Dante. Are you two officially dating?"
Carlisle winced. "Not exactly," he supposed. "We admitted we like each other, but that's really it."
"Really?" Mahalia sounded unconvinced. "Your moms assumed you were in a relationship with someone considering how rarely you've been home for the past few weeks."
Carlisle blushed. "I've been spending the night at Dante's… He, um…gave me a key to his townhouse a few days ago actually…"
Mahalia opened her mouth, but what she would have said was lost when Aphtan loftily said, "You're moving fast, Carlisle-po."
"I know," Carlisle sighed. "I didn't think it'd be going this fast, but I…" His eyes had a soft sheen to them as he thought of the way Dante comforted him. "I really like him. He's a great person."
"You said that about many of your exes, Carlisle-po," Aphtan liked to remind him. "Some were not even committed to you, but you spent a majority of your free time with them only to end up with a broken heart."
Mahalia shot her grandson a warning look. "Ápo…"
Carlisle frowned at Aphtan's observation, both chastised and self-conscious. "I know I say it a lot, but Dante is different—"
"You said the same words to me about Zack," Aphtan commented. "And before Zack, you said the same thing to me about Simone. And before her, it was Yu-na. And before her, it was Hunter." He lifted a manicured eyebrow. "Need I go on, Carlisle-po?"
Carlisle sat back as though physically hit. "Tantan, I know I've dated a lot of people and been with people and I might've said the same thing, but I can feel it's different with Dante." When Aphtan offered no agreement or approval, Carlisle desperately pointed out, "You met him. Couldn't you tell he was different?"
Aphtan considered the question. "Your lover seems like a reasonable man," he supposed. His eyes held Carlisle's. "But so did Hunter. And he is now your ex."
Carlisle visibly flinched. "Hunter was…a mistake," he murmured. "I didn't know what I was doing or was asking for and you were right about him, Tantan, but Dante—"
"Could be another mistake waiting to happen," Aphtan finished for him as he portioned out his poqui poqui and sinigang. "You like to extend your honeymoon phase, Carlisle-po, but your exes aren't the same. You give them everything and they treat you horribly in return. What makes Dante any different?"
Mahalia snapped, "Aphtan—"
"No, Lola, it's okay." Carlisle offered Aphtan a partially determined and partially pleading look. "I know I made mistakes about who I was with in the past and, I don't know, maybe Dante and I don't make it past three months, but I really like him and he really likes me. Can't you give him a chance?"
"I gave him a chance, Carlisle-po—"
"No, you didn't," Carlisle bit, his tone dropping. "We went to lunch and you were really rude to him when he was being polite. That's not giving him a chance. That's judging him without getting to know him."
"And why would I want to get to know him, Carlisle-po?"
Carlisle was taken aback at the intense look in Aphtan's eyes.
"I've been your friend since I was six," Aphtan remembered, "and I've watched you give people the world and they did nothing but take from you and treat you wrongly, Carlisle-po. Whether you like it or not, I'm not going to approve or like someone who will eventually do the same thing even if you can't see it."
"But you don't—"
"Lola, the adobo is delicious," Aphtan complimented without any inflection in his tone.
Mahala's eyes flickered to Carlisle who looked put-out he had been dismissed, but rather than comment, she told her grandson, "Thank you, Aphtan. Your sinigang and the poqui poqui were great compliments." She hesitated, but she addressed Carlisle gently, "Would you like something a little stronger than tea, ápo?"
"Lola, Carlisle-po shouldn't be drinking so early in the day," Aphtan chided.
Carlisle gave Aphtan a huffy look before turning a sweet smile to Mahalia. "Yes, please, Lola, absolutely," he chirped. "Give me your worst because I'm going to need it."
Mahala got up and muttered, "I think we all are tonight."
Aphtan's eyes flashed over Carlisle. "You shouldn't drink, Carlisle-po," he admonished. "You overdo it when you're emotional."
"I'm not emotional," Carlisle muttered, defiant. "And I'm not going to overdo it. I can handle my liquor."
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
A little while later…
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
A red-faced Carlisle slurred murmured half-Perench and half-Minstrish as he lay across Aphtan's bed, hair tussled and sweatshirt crinkled. Mahalia simply shook her head and murmured to her grandson, "You didn't need to take it that far."
"Yes, I did, Lola," Aphtan disagreed. "Carlisle-po needs to learn." His eyes darkened as he observed Carlisle flop over and start slurring gibberish. "Not every human he encounters is good, Lola. I don't understand how he fails to see that."
"Because he's young," Mahalia supplied, "just like you." She could feel Aphtan's disbelief even if he did not express it. "Both of you have a lot to learn in regard to feelings, ápo."
"I know enough about feelings just fine, Lola," Aphtan declined respectfully.
Mahalia sighed as she rubbed Aphtan's back. "I know it hurts your parents don't want to see you." Timbre soft, soothing. "There aren't any excuses to it."
Aphtan fiddled with the ring on his gloved finger. "Their reasons are valid," he gave. "There's no reason for me to be upset at either of them. Besides, they have Imelda to look after now."
"They aren't replacing you, ápo."
"I never said they were." Aphtan looked down at his gloved hands. "But I would understand if they wanted to."
Mahalia side-hugged her grandson and rubbed his arm. She still had a few inches over him and rested her head against his as they both watched Carlisle try to make sense of his inebriated words. "I understand you're protective of him, but he's his own person," she murmured.
"He's vulnerable and naïve," Aphtan told her. "He gives too much."
"And would you want him to give any less?"
Aphtan studied Carlisle's flushed cheeks and closed eyes and softly replied, "I don't want to change anything about him. He's beautiful inside and out. But I agree with Lucy."
Mahalia scoffed. "Lucy is just as protective of Carlisle as you, ápo." She kissed Aphtan's temple and rubbed his shoulder for good measure. "Give this Dante a chance. You never know. He might be a good one." She left her grandson with those words.
Aphtan sighed as he shut the door to his room and went over to his bed. Carlisle had sprawled out on his stomach with his face squished on the sheets and his face looked like he was overthinking. "Carlisle-po, you can't lay down on your stomach when you're drunk."
"Not drunk," Carlisle muttered in the petulant tone of a child.
Aphtan sighed as he settled on the bed. "Of course you're not, Carlisle-po." He nudged Carlisle and, begrudgingly, Carlisle turned onto his side.
"M'tired…" Carlisle mumbled as his eyes pinched closed. "Nap time…"
"You can't go back to sleep in your hoodie, Carlisle-po," Aphtan told him as he tugged on the material. "You need to change." But when Carlisle did not budge and Aphtan caught his best friend's steady rise and fall of his chest, he sighed. "You're a handful, Carlisle-po."
Carefully, he went to the ends of Carlisle's sweatshirt and started to pull up, but he must have grabbed too much when he saw Carlisle's defined flesh instead of his shirt.
Aphtan paused.
His movements were slow as his hands pulled up both sweatshirt and shirt to reveal a part of Carlisle's defined stomach. Skin smooth and taut and well-toned, it was easy to see why his fans sought him out for his attractiveness.
Aphtan's eyes drifted up to Carlisle's snoozing face and took the dust of light freckles and his silvery gray hair so silky and tempting. He really is beautiful. His eyes dropped back to Carlisle's exposed stomach and, for once, he showed hesitation. But not a moment later, his gloved fingers stretched to touch the exposed flesh—
The corner of his eyes caught a light flashing.
Aphtan retreated from Carlisle to see Carlisle's Compact was flashing its screen and flashlight. A call was coming in. He grabbed the Compact to see it was Dante calling (though he could only tell through the profile picture since the contact spelled PRINCE with a kissy face). He swiped and put the Compact to his ear. "Good day."
A beat. "Aphtan? Where's Carlisle?"
Aphtan glanced over at the dozing Carlisle. "Carlisle-po drank too much and now he's asleep in my bed."
Two beats. "I see." The words sounded tense. "Is there a reason he drank too much? He can handle his drinks pretty well. I've never seen him get seriously drunk."
"I wouldn't expect you to." Aphtan cupped his elbow with a hand. "You aren't one to know Carlisle-po."
An exasperated sigh. "Why is he drunk, Aphtan? Please just answer that."
"Carlisle-po became rather emotional when I spoke about my reservations against you," Aphtan informed. "He drank to cope with my disapproval of you." His chin lifted. "But even my disapproval can't get Carlisle-po to see you will be like all the others. You should feel lucky, Carlisle-po's lover, that Carlisle-po enjoys wearing rose-tinted glasses."
Dante grunted. "Look, I called because my night class got canceled and I wanted to see where he was. I thought he might still be at the ice rink or with you—"
"Now you know."
Five beats. "Why isn't he at the ice rink now, Aphtan?"
"Carlisle-po had a brief and stressful meeting with Lucy after his afternoon practice during school hours," Aphtan told. "Carlisle-po was highly distress. I found him and his mothers and our coach allowed him to be exempt for the rest of the day to recover."
"I understand." Dante's voice had lost some of its bite. "Thanks for taking care of him."
Aphtan's grip on the Compact tightened. "I did it for Carlisle-po. Not for his temporary lover. I will always take care of Carlisle-po."
"Well, if there's one thing we can agree on, it's him then." The bite was back. "I can come get him if you just—"
"That won't be necessary," Aphtan cut in. "Carlisle-po should stay here where he feels safe. If he had wanted you, he would have called you when he was distressed. Though, I suppose he could have called you if he was interested in drugs."
Dante did not hesitate to rumble irately, "That was uncalled for."
"So was allowing Carlisle-po to participate with substances—"
"I didn't realize until it took them and I made sure he was okay until he was off them." The frustration seeping into Dante's tone split between Aphtan and himself. "I shouldn't have let him out of my sight. I'm still angry with myself for not realizing he didn't go to parties like that until afterwards. But I'm not here to hurt Carlisle, Aphtan. I genuinely like him and want to date him. I don't know what he's been through, obviously. But I do know he's capable of choosing for himself who he wants to be with and neither me nor you should take that choice away from him."
"Carlisle-po wants love, but he doesn't realize those he involves himself with don't want the same from him," Aphtan dismissed.
"And how do you know I don't want the same as him?"
"Please spare me." Aphtan shifted his weight. "Many have said the same thing regarding Carlisle-po and none have ever succeeded." His head cocked. "Has Carlisle-po told you about his ex-lover Hunter?"
A long silence. "No."
"You should ask him," Aphtan encouraged in his passive tone. "You remind me of him. That's all I have to say."
A hissed exhale. "Maybe we got off to the wrong start," Dante said gratingly.
"No, I think I understand you perfectly," Aphtan deadpanned, "and I have no reason to assume you will be anything other than a temporary lover. Please don't worry about Carlisle-po. I will take care of him."
"Aphtan—"
"Mmmm… Tantan?"
Aphtan turned to watch Carlisle roll onto his back, his sweatshirt riding up. "Yes, Carlisle-po?"
"Who's on the Com?" Carlisle yawned as he rubbed his eyes. He squinted and blinked then squinted again. "Thought I heard Dante…"
Aphtan opened his mouth when Dante called rather loudly, "Lips? You awake?"
A lazy smile overcame Carlisle. "Mon prince…!" he crooned. He raised his hands and gestured for the Compact. "Donne, donne, donne. Wanna speak to mon prince, Tantan."
Aphtan sighed, but he gave Carlisle his Compact.
Carlisle purred as he stretched himself out, "Bonjour, mon prince. I missed you."
"I'm sure you have," Dante sighed. "How are you feeling, baby?"
"Merveilleux," Carlisle yawned. "N'tired." He curled onto his side and mumbled, "I wanna cuddle with you so good and take a nap."
A faint chuckle. "I'm sure you do. Want me to come get you?"
Carlisle yawned again. "Mmm-hmm, ouais, s'il te plait…" He pulled up his hoodie as his feet kneaded together. "Je veux que tu me baises encore dans le tapis et qu'on puisse se blottir pour toujours…"
"So you speak Perench when you're drunk." A smile could be heard in Dante's tone. "Noted. Where are you, baby? My class got canceled tonight, so I can come to you now and we can go home."
A goofy smile lit Carlisle's face. "'Home'," he echoed and then he further crooned, "Home w'th Dante…"
"Not now, baby," Dante grunted. "Can you drop your location to me?"
"Mmmm…" Carlisle pulled the Compact away to do so, but he pouted when the Compact was taken out his hands and into Aphtan's. "Tantan…!" he whined. "Donne…!"
"Carlisle-po, you're drunk," Aphtan reminded. "Maybe you should stay here until you're sober." He sighed when Carlisle burst into childish tears as he made lame attempts to try and retrieve his Compact, whining in babyish Perench the entire time. Aphtan was the one to text Dante the address before he told him, "I texted you my address. As long as Carlisle-po is sober enough, I'll let him leave."
"And if he's not? He is old enough to make his own choices."
"No one makes the best decisions under the influence as you would know," Aphtan said flatly. "I'll continue to assist in lightening the effects of alcohol on Carlisle-po. I suggest you hurry." He pulled the Compact away to tell a whiny Carlisle, "Your lover is on his way, Carlisle-po."
That broke the water works as Carlisle clapped before gesturing for his Compact. "Donne…!" He blew Aphtan a kiss the moment he got his Compact back and purred to Dante in a slew of Perench and broken Minstrish.
Aphtan left Carlisle to his own devices as he stepped out of his bedroom. He glanced back to see Carlisle curled into a ball, but his body shook with coy laughter as he spoke to an exasperated Dante. With a sigh, he shut the door and looked down at his ring. A finger traced the budded cross welded into the metal. Clenching his fist, he ignored Carlisle's laugh as he walked down the hall.
Nashi was the last to arrive to the dining hall flanked with guards, Blanche, Invel, and, surprisingly, Mozah. She tried to gauge the elder the entire walk to the dining room, but Elder Mozah was quiet with her hands clasped and tucked into her sleeves. I don't know if Mozah or an ally or if I'm just a pawn in this game to her. Without my Magic, I can't sense her intentions. Maybe her wanting me to go to the catacombs is just some sort of ploy. But that's the only way to reach Luke. If might be a trap but Luke is worth it.
She halted when gestured to outside the grandeur doors and waited for her entrance to be announced. At least Naseer is an ally. That will be helpful. It doesn't matter if he doesn't have powers—an ally is an ally and we could use all the help we can get from the inside while Gary and Kyler work from the outside.
The doors opened and Nashi filed in once her front guards parted for her—
She stopped.
Invel paused and his eyes went sharply to Mozah. "Do you have something to tell us, Elder Mozah?" he asked, tone biting.
But Mozah smiled. "I had Prince Naseer brought up for dinner, Your Royal Chief, since we agreed Her Majesty and Her Highness should bond with him before the engagement announcement." She gestured to Nashi. "Please join your fiancé and Her Highness, Your Majesty, for dinner."
Nashi glanced back to see Invel close his eyes as though he were going to lose it, but she did not feel him lash out and took that as her cue to move forward. She did not know what to make of the situation. Naseer and Luna had been seated on either side of her assigned chair at the table that was too long for three people alone. The spread was generous like always and supposedly meat-free and guards and servants lined the dining room to attend to every need to be met. Hemlock stood at his post with Luna seated in a rigid posture, face pale, and hatred stabbed at Nashi towards the advisor. But in such a sick and twisted amusement to it all, she wanted to laugh seeing Naseer strapped to his chair in every sense of the word. His arms were bolted down through metal rings, his chest was tied to the chair, and, most likely in the event he tried to escape, the chair had been spelled to keep to the floor.
Nashi was seated and servants pitched forth to fill their respective plates. But even she had to ask the question… "How is Naseer going to eat if he's tied up?"
"You'll have to feed him," Mozah said simply.
Invel's jaw clenched. "When we agreed to Her Majesty and Naseer bonding, I hadn't envisioned Her Majesty stooping to the role of caregiver and Naseer the role of an infant. It isn't proper."
Mozah laughed and patted Invel's arm (to which Nashi internalized her astonishment Invel did not freeze the elder nor taint herself with his winter). "Many things about this isn't proper, Invel, but I think you'll find the proper way is not the only way."
Invel forcefully sighed. "Of course, Elder Mozah."
"Good." Mozah nudged Invel towards the door. "I believe we should leave Her Majesty and Her Highness to their devices—"
"Absolutely not—"
"Everyone, you have been given your orders," Mozah called over Invel's icy protest. "Please clear the room and await outside. Her Majesty will summon you if and when she feels she needs something."
Nashi watched, wide-eyed, as Mozah all but shoved a furious Invel out of the room and the servants and guards did not hesitate to follow the orders given as they made themselves scarce. Invel tried to snap something, but Mozah turned around to look at Nashi with a twinkle in her eyes. "When we return, I should hope the start of your bonding with Naseer has been fruitful, Your Majesty."
The doors closed.
The three were left alone.
Nashi was flabbergasted. "How…? How did she just do that without being murdered?"
"Invel might be many things, but even he would never touch the elders," Naseer grunted. "He values their place within the Empire."
Nashi did not know what to think of that and turned her attention on Naseer. "How are you here? I thought you were in the catacombs? And you look…"—she eyed him closer—"clean."
"Thank Elder Mozah," Naseer grumbled. "I didn't have the privilege of returning to my lowly prison cell after our rather enlightening meeting. Elder Mozah had told the guards to assist me to one of the guest suites to await dinner and had the servants clean me."
"Is she asking for a death sentence?" Nashi whispered.
"The old bat could croak at any minute," Naseer told her. "She probably just doesn't care anymore."
Then, maybe she's an ally, Nashi considered. It's pretty telling not even Invel would hurt her. He might argue with her, but he doesn't even threaten her or anything. He just now could have frozen her for touching him and ordering everyone around, but he just…let her. She snorted. "So he's a psychopath with a clear conscience with old people. Great." She turned to Luna and heavy concern hit her seeing Luna's stark white expression. "Lu?" she called. "Luna?"
"She refuses to speak."
Nashi looked back at Naseer. "What do you mean?"
Naseer tried to shift, but it was clear he was uncomfortable. "Ever since Her Highness was seated, she has not spoken a word. I assumed she was afraid to say anything while we were surrounded."
Nashi's stare swung back to her little sister. "Luna," she called in the quietest voice she could muster. "Luna, are you okay?" Her hand crept to lay atop Luna's own, but her eyes flew wide when Luna jerked back and looked at Nashi in panic. Fear bubbled to the surface as Nashi urgently whispered, "Luna, what happened?"
Luna had to blink several times until the panic was replaced with something else unknown and she forced a small smile. "Nothing. Sorry. Guess I was just in my head."
Nashi did not believe that for a second. "Luna, don't lie to me," she insisted. "What happened? Did he touch you?" She saw the way Luna's body locked up and the momentary slip from her mask. She knew that look. She had that look before when anyone asked her the same question. "Luna, you promised me—"
"It wasn't that," Luna quickly put to rest as she reached for her glass. "It's nothing, Nashi." But as she raised the glass, her hand shook so violently, the liquid sloshed and the glass dropped. It did not shatter, but it rattled her plate with a loud enough sound to make Luna jump. Before Nashi could comment and try to calm her, Luna found Naseer's gaze and tried to a shaky smile. "I'm sorry I wasn't talkative. I'm Luna. It's nice to meet you."
Naseer swallowed as Nashi withdrew. "Yes, Your Highness. It is nice to meet you as well." He and Nashi exchanged a long look. "I apologize you had to be dragged into the affairs of my country."
"It's not your fault," Luna assuaged. She tried to pick up her cutlery, but when it was clear she could not grab them without shaking, she ended her attempts. "But don't worry. Everything will work out."
Nashi willed for Luna to hear her thoughts. Luna, what happened? Please talk to me. Say something. But when Luna did not, Nashi whispered, "Luna—"
"Nashi, it's fine." Luna would not look at her, but she kept that smile on her, rehearsed and vacant of any happiness. "I'm okay."
"You're shaking," Nashi pointed out in despair. "Lu, if something happened and he touched you—"
"It's fine," Luna told her again, but her smile was losing its shape. "I-It was my fault." Her eyes flew to Nashi. "Are you okay, though?" she urged to know. "Nothing happened right?"
Confusion muddled Nashi's stewing fear. "No, I'm okay. Why?" It clicked and her rage came back full-force. "Did he threaten you with me?"
"No," Luna was quick to deny. "I-It's fine." Her eyes skittered to the door. "Let's talk about something else—"
"Luna, please," Nashi pushed in plea. "You promised you'd tell me if he—"
"Shut up!"
Neither Nashi nor Naseer could react when Luna slapped a hand over her mouth as fear took over her body and her eyes went back to the door in terror. "I…! I…! I'm sorry," she whispered. "I don't… I'm…sorry…" Her eyes rapidly blinked as she heaved. "I'm calm," she recited. "I'm calm. I'm okay." She tried to force a smile, but it would not stay. "I have to stay calm. I have to stay calm."
"Luna…" Nashi yearned to touch it, but she pulled back and had to watch, helpless, as Luna tried to control herself.
Luna's face broke, but after a quick breath, she mustered up a feeble smile even her eyes were dull. "I'm fine. It's okay. You're okay and that's what matters." She tried again with success to grab her cutlery. "I'm sorry. I wasn't acting right. I'm okay. Can we eat now?" She waited for no one as she took forceful bites of her food.
Naseer grimaced. "I suppose that would involve Her Majesty feeding me." He gave the food a distasteful look. "Though they very well could have drugged the food."
"They wouldn't." Nashi began to cut into his food. "Blanche made it clear they needed us sober for this plan to work out well." Gathering food onto the fork she held it up to his lips. "I'm so sorry about this."
Naseer's eyes flickered to Luna and saddened. "I know you never had any part of in this." His eyes went back to hers. "And I know you'll make the right choice for the right person." He moved his head forward to claim the forkful.
Dinner was a morbidly quiet affair. Nashi and Naseer paused from their routine of her getting a bite then him getting a bite, watching Luna like a hawk when her face broken and she looked ready to cry, and sadness filled them both when she swiped away any of her fear and grief for her mask of vacant eyes and trying smile. She offered no words, but Nashi saw the way Luna forced herself to swallow and the signs of sickness.
"Don't force yourself to eat," Nashi advised. "It's okay if you can't eat."
"I'm okay. It's fine," Luna repeated. "I can eat."
Nashi dropped her argument when she saw Luna trembling and went back to alternating between herself and Naseer. What did the sick bastard do to her? She can barely keep herself together. I want to ask her, but I know she'll break if I do that and Hemlock or Invel will come back in. I can't force her to talk. She never forced me to talk. But if something like that happened to her… Her hand clenched her fork. Why can't I protect her? I should be protecting her. She shouldn't have to deal with this just to protect me. It doesn't matter if we leave. She's going to have to deal with the memories of being here.
"Your Majesty."
Self-hating hickory clashed with understanding darkness.
"Do what you have to do," Naseer urged. "There is no other way out."
Nashi swallowed thickly as she fed him. The guilt in her heart could no longer counter the rage and grief. I promised her no one would get hurt, but… I can't let her suffer. I can't. Her eyes closed. Gary, Kyler—please get here soon.
For a while, only the sounds of silverware filled the air. But Naseer and Nashi stopped the moment Luna stiffened and her eyes darted to Nashi then to Naseer and back to her sister. Nashi—
Luna. Nashi could breathe. Oh—
Nashi, can Mister Naseer be trusted?
Nashi blinked, taken aback by the urgency in Luna's thoughts. I don't know about trust, but he's on our side at the very least and isn't with them.
Good enough. Luna's eyes swept to the floor. "You can come out now, Cullen, it's okay."
Nashi's brow furrowed only for complete shock to flatter her and Naseer's face when a man made of shadows swept up from the floor and knelt beside Luna. Neither knew what to say or think, but Luna hugged the living silhouette who hugged her back. "Thank you," she whispered. She pulled back with her eyes shining. "I'm sorry."
Cullen shook his head and did a gesture to himself then to her.
Luna shook her head. "This was my fault," she promised. "Thanks for finding help." She turned to the stunned Naseer and Nashi and introduced, "This is Cullen. He's Luke and Misty's friend. Nashi, he's the one who found Kyler and Gary."
"A-Ah… I, um, see." Nashi blinked and tried to control her astonishment. "Thank you, Cullen," she appreciated with a note of confusion. "It's nice to meet you."
Cullen nodded, but he did not leave Luna's side. Instead, he reached into his stomach and pulled out—
"Did that thing just pull out a folded paper from its stomach?" Naseer asked, still reeling from Cullen's appearance.
Nashi was too perplexed, but it furthered when Cullen gestured for her to take the butterfly origami. She hesitantly did so with a weak smile. "Um, thank you." She looked down at the winged origami. "But what's this for?" She looked back up to see Cullen gesturing, but nothing he did made sense. "I'm sorry?"
"He's saying to open it," Luna interpreted. "I think it's a note."
"All right." Nashi exhaled before she carefully unfolded the butterfly origami from its form. Her eyes gradually widened as she saw letters appear and with the paper fully unraveled, she took in the entirety of the note. "It's a letter. It's…from Kyler." She took a fast glance over the words and felt like she could smile. "He has a plan. It's the plan for us to leave." She looked at the Shadower in pure gratitude. "Thank you so much."
Cullen nodded.
Naseer peered at the note only to frown. "I've never seen calligraphy in a language like that before."
"It's in Minstrish," Nashi told him.
Naseer shook his head. "I've never seen Minstrish written like that."
"What?" Nashi squinted at the note, but she saw the letters and read them perfectly. "No, it's Minstrish." She held the note out to Luna. "You can read that, right?"
Luna took one look at the note and frowned. "Mister Naseer is right. That's not Minstrish."
"What?" Taking a closer look at the note, Nashi found nothing wrong with it. Why can I read it and they can't? If Kyler wrote it…maybe he wrote it in one of those languages he could speak. But how can I read it? Is it because he shared his blood with me? Dismissing that as an unnecessary thought, she folded the note to tuck into her sleeve. "Either way, help is on the way and this note spells the plan for it. Lu, I need you to keep an open link with me so we can make sure we do everything according to the note."
Luna nodded.
Nashi's stare befell Cullen. "You'll be returning at sundown to help them get in," she remembered. "In the meantime, can you stay with Luna?"
Cullen dipped his head.
"Thank you." Nashi turned to Naseer. "And you—"
"I will do whatever it takes to ensure you, Your Highness, and the missing prince make it out of Alvarez," Naseer decided. "But I am not leaving my country."
Nashi lifted her chin as respect kindled for the prince. "Fine. We'd better eat. I don't have any after-dinner meetings." Hickory slanted back to Luna. "I'm going to request both of us have dessert in my room," she planned. "It wouldn't be that far-fetched for me to ask of that and they have no reason to deny me that."
"Okay," Luna agreed. "But what happens at sundown? We'll be in our rooms."
"I'll have to read the note closer when we're not pressed for time," Nashi said, "but we'll put our heads together and figure it all out." She did not hesitate to grab Luna's hand and hold it tight. "We will get out of here," she vowed. "We have friends on the outside who will help us and"—hickory glanced at Naseer—"maybe a friend or two on the inside. But we will get out of here, Lu."
"Her Majesty is right." Naseer addressed Luna in such a temperate tone. "No one will allow you to stay here any longer, Your Highness. That I swear." He looked at Nashi as he said without a trace of reluctance, "I was short-sighted before when we met. I should have known you were telling the truth from the start."
"You couldn't have known," Nashi sighed. "Manipulation here is twenty-twenty."
"Be that as it may," Naseer conceded, "know that I will not let these intruders keep you from your freedom and will help in any way I can." Darkness sought Luna. "No one deserves to suffer this way, especially one so young."
"No." Nashi softened as she took in her little sister who huddled closer to the Shadower in need of silent support and he gave it to her the best he could. "No one does. And I'll do what it takes to make sure no one does."
"Whatever it takes?"
Nashi looked at Luna long and hard before she said, "I made a promise to someone." Determined hickory clashed with darkness. "I keep my promises."
"Very well then. Keep your promise," Naseer murmured. "But a broken promise could mean freedom. A kept promise…"
HIC.
Luna curled into Cullen as silent tears trailed her cheeks and she bit her lip to keep back the sobs. Cullen did not fumble as he rubbed her arm and did whatever he could to make her feel comfortable.
"…could a line crossed from which no one could recover."
It was not like Officer Kimbley did not have his duties, but most of his duties required him to stay by Sergeant Anbessie's side and the others involved him running around the camp before returning to her side. Maybe his job was a double-edged sword. On the one hand, he learned from the sergeant and admired the way she never took an insult or disrespect. On the other hand, when he was running around, he often found the other sentries liked to insult him to his face or behind his back and taunted him to try telling the sergeant.
They knew he would not.
Just like now.
Officer Kimbley was in the mail tent as he leafed through for an important correspondence the sergeant was waiting for when two other officers entered the tent—the two officers from this morning that had been guarding the Boundary Forest tunnel entrance. He shuffled to the side, kept his head low, and murmured his pardon, but it did not matter when the soldiers flanked him and he was always—always—the smallest one.
"What'cha got there, Tweety?" one of the officers mocked as she stole the envelopes from his arms. "Aw, hoping to hear from your old owner to take you back in your cage?"
Kimbley made a weak attempt for his envelopes as he stammered, "Pl-Please give those back. S-Sergeant needs those—"
"You hear that, Dailey?" the female officer called. "Serg needs this."
Dailey tutted. "Look at the good little messenger bird doing his job," he leered. "Here, birdie, have some bird seed for your trouble."
Kimbley winced when he felt bird seed belt his feathered head and tumble down his beak. "I-I don't eat bird seed," he whispered. "Pl-Please leave me alone—"
"I think Polly wants a cracker, McBeth," Dailey told his companion. "Is that right? Polly wants a cracker?"
Kimbley swallowed and shied away when Dailey when he leaned too close and tried to touch his beak. "N-N-No, thank you." He tried to reach for the envelopes again, but McBeth kept them high and out of reach. "C-C-Could I just have my envelopes please?"
"Fly for them," McBeth challenged. "You're a pretty bird. Fly."
Kimbley felt like he was getting smaller. "I c-c-can't fly," he tried to explain. "I'm a human—" He flinched when he felt one of his feathers plucked and blinked away the tears from the pain.
"Humans don't have feathers, birdie," Dailey sneered as he let the plucked feather flutter to the ground. He got the sight of Kimbley's water eyes and mocking cooed, "Aw, is the pet gonna cry now? McBeth, I think he's going to cry."
"He'll probably go cry straight to his owner." McBeth let the envelopes drop to the ground. "Go back to your cage where mutants like you belong, Kimmie."
Kimbley tried not to sniffle, but he could not help it as he crouch down only to yelp when his beak was pulled this way and he was forced to look at McBeth's sneer. "Mutants like you are fucking disgusting," she hissed. "You do realize they only keep you around as our token little mutant, right? No one actually thinks you're going to accomplish anything outside of being a mascot."
Kimbley shook her off as his eyes went to the ground. "I-I know…"
"Good."
Kimbley winced when McBeth ruffled his feathers in quite the literal sense.
"That stuck-up kid might've made you feel special for five seconds, but just remember what you are," Dailey whispered threateningly. "Nothing can change that you're a freak of nature. You can dream about going to your little 'Sanctuary' all you want—you'll always be a mutant." He jerked his chin at McBeth. "Let's go before the little pet starts crying."
Kimbley winced when McBeth plucked another feather on her way out and listened carefully for the tent flaps to start sniffling. Shakily, he got onto the ground and gathered his envelopes. They're right. I'm nothing more than a freak. I got lucky the sergeant wanted me out here.
"You are not a mutant." Rubies stained in sobriety. "You are a human being like the rest of us."
Kimbley gathered his envelopes to his chest and took a deep breath. A surge of confidence hit him and he rushed outside to see McBeth and Dailey walking away when he shouted, "Hey!"
Both officers turned back, disinterested.
"Y-Y-You guys are fucktrucks!" Kimbley's eyes widened in horror and both officers were both disarmed about the statement, but he had little time to catch their next reaction when he scurried away and tried to avoid all eye contact with the other unfriendly officers. I can't believe I just said that! Now things will be even worse. He slowed down when he passed by the boundary Forest tunnel, but much to his disappointment, nothing had changed. I wonder how Mister Redfox is doing. He never came back to camp for lunch.
A bundle of nerves coiled in his stomach. He seemed really powerful and confident. I'm sure he's fine. But he stopped to hazard the guarded entrance another look. When nothing happened, the worry worsened. But what if he isn't?
With that thought, he scurried back to the tent the sergeant and a few other high-ranking officers were in as they discussed possible increased protection from the Boundary Forest. Eyes turned to Kimbley when he arrived and he ducked his head in apology. "I'm sorry for the interruption. Sergeant, I brought the envelopes."
"Not to worry, Kimbley. We were just finished," Sergeant Anbessie assured. With a look, she dismissed the other officials who offered Kimbley sour looks or ignored him (which was his preference). Now alone, Sergeant Anbessie gestured for Kimbley. "Let's take a look."
Kimbley darted over to unfurl all the envelopes onto her desk but not without a glance to the tent flap. "The sun's setting," he commented. "We haven't heard anything from Mister Redfox in a while…"
Anbessie was busy reading one of the letters, but she offhandedly commented, "I'm sure he's fine, Kimbley. He's a tough one. Those others couldn't hold a candle. If anyone can take the job, it's him." Her eyes went up to Kimbley. "Kimbley, you're picking your feathers again."
Kimbley put down his hands. "I'm sorry," he apologized.
Anbessie narrowed her eyes at Kimbley. "And you seem to be missing two feathers…"
Kimbley gulped. "I guess I was just getting really nervous before," he supposed. "I know Mister Redfox is powerful, but too many Wizards got lost in there, Sergeant." He eyed the crystal ball on her desk. "Maybe we could—?"
"Kimbley," Anbessie cut in. "I indulged you before because you looked like you were about to molt due to your worry, but Mister Redfox is a ranked A Mage with an incredible standing in the Magic Community. His Master would not have let him on this job if she felt he was incapable."
Kimbley's eyes fell. "I know…"
Anbessie sighed and leaned forward. "Mister Redfox is still a minor," she admitted. "If he hasn't returned by sundown, we'll call it in the rescue squad to find him."
"We will?"
"Yes. We will." Anbessie shook her head at Kimbley's hopeful tone. "You really are too soft, Kimbley," she murmured. "All the better to get you to the Sanctuary." Amusement glinted in her eyes. "Although, I doubt anyone here could replace you." She sat back in her chair. "I'm sure the Rangers will have a field day and the Anti-Magic unit. They'll probably bring everyone in for questioning with the number of Wizards we've reported missing."
"Something strange is going on in the forest," Kimbley murmured. "Doesn't the buyer know that? Don't higher-ups in the Council know that?"
Anbessie sighed. "I think the higher-ranking officials in the Council are a lot privier to things than we think so," she remarked. "It makes sense why the Faction banded together against them."
Kimbley looked alarmed. "Sergeant?"
"I'm by no means a Faction supporter, Kimbley, calm down," Anbessie assured. "But you have to admit the rumors regarding the secrets of the Magic Council make you wonder… Rumors of secret laboratories… Rumors of a Worldwide Archive… Secret weapons…" She looked down at the next envelope as her eyes darkened. "If the Magic Council did possess all of that, then what separated them from the Faction in the first place?"
To that, Kimbley had no answer.
Magnolia Secondary School or Magnolia High School was one of three high schools within Magnolia, but it was the main school most ninth years to twelfth years attended. That being said, the campus for Magnolia High was larger than most high school campus with a few buildings and even lecture halls, two gyms, and two auditoriums, though one was clearly larger than the other. Even with it being after school hours, many high schoolers stuck around for club activities. The cross-country team and track and field team and their non-competitive club members banded together for winter conditioning to keep themselves in place. The Lacrobotics Club has their tournament in April, so January meant heated debates over blueprint designs. The newspaper club president was shaking her head at an article one of the most daring writers wanted to publish about a local school scandal. A newer teacher had been stuck with detention duty for the day and took their role seriously, much to the disappointment of their wards.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
« This is Magnolia High School, one of the three high schools outside of private Catholic school Saint Kardia's Academy and public school Lake Sciliora South. It is home to the Magnolia fighting fairies in honor of Fairy Tail! »
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
The athletic building had come with two pools, one that swimmers specifically used for both practice and home meets, and the other a bigger pool that, during the day, classes would use and on weekends for swimming lessons, but the divers took over the pool after school hours and the synchronized swimming team. But the pool the swim team used was humid with water sloshed onto the tiled deck, Most of the swimmers were already in their swim gear. Not necessarily did everyone wear their team swimsuits, but it was normal for the female swimmers to wear one-pieces, and the male swimmers varied between jammers, briefs, square leg, and speedos.
The stands had supportive parents who would rather be down to best the coach than in the glass observation deck that hung a little into the pool area above the normal stands as well as a few friends of the swim team and some swim team members who would not be getting in the water just yet. But eyes kept wandering into the observation deck because no one could understand what they saw.
For someone as small and as young as Ena, she somehow managed to steal the entire room, though maybe that was in part that she looked like she stepped out of a magazine with her plaid high-rise midi shirt, her blouse with a loose large bow, sunglasses up on her head, and her playing red trench coat that made her look like Carmen San Diego, but it also could have been in part to the hovering Silver who had made it a nervous point to set down towels he had brought with him to give her a wide-berth from everyone and was rankling his mind for what else he needed to do.
Everyone is around a two feet radius from her, so no one should be able to get water on her, right? I'm not that good with enchantments, but I did my best making a water-resistance ward around her. Silver chewed on the inside of his cheek as his eyes darted around. Maybe I should have made more tea or snacks. What if she gets bored? I know she'd just leave and wouldn't tell me and then we wouldn't be getting dinner tonight—
"Silver?"
He popped out of his thoughts to scramble to Ena's side. "Y-Yes?"
Ena shot him a confused look. "Are you okay? You've been running around the second we got here with your head cut off." She gestured in quiet disdain to the pool area outside the comfort of the observation deck. "I'd think you'd want to change and…swim in that dirty water over there."
"Pool and it's clean," Silver absently amended. "Do you have everything?"
Ena gave him a flat stare as she gestured to her sketchbook, the tea mug, and her bag of pretzels. "No, Silver, I don't have everything after you asked me three times before we left it if I did and then didn't believe me and had to check for yourself."
"What don't you have?" Silver panicked. "Did I forget the tea? Is it too hot? Did I forget to bring all your sketching pencils—?"
"Silver!" Ena sighed when the poor boy looked so frazzled and adopted a softer look. "I'm okay," she assured. "I have everything I need."
Silver let out a relieved exhale. "Oh, good." He put a hand on his chest. "I didn't want you to leave because I forgot something."
"I can leave? That's an option?"
Silver was back to panicking. Crap, why did I say that? "Please don't go!" he blurted. "I-I-I can get you more snacks or—!" He stopped when he witnessed Ena laugh behind a hand.
"I'm teasing, Silver, really." Ena smiled. "I'm sorry. A horribly-timed joke. But really, I'm okay where I am. I should be asking if you're okay. You seem very on edge."
Silver's eye twitched as he mustered up a shaky smile. "Do I?"
"Yes." Ena looked over into the pool area. "If it's because you have to swim in that dirty water, just say the word and I can do something about it. With my Magic, it wouldn't be that hard."
It's not dirty; it has chlorine and my mom comes by once a week to check the water with a spell, but I'm still touched she'd clean the entire pool just for me…but maybe she'd more do it so she didn't feel gross looking at the pool. Silver shook his head. "Um, no, it's not because of the pool," he promised. "Sorry I'm so nervous." He fiddled with his fingers. "I just don't want you to get bored. Practice is for two hours, so…"
"I know. But two hours will fly by once I'm in the zone on my sketches," Ena assured him, "so nothing to worry about. Just pretend I'm not here."
If you asked me that two months ago, maybe I could've, but now I notice everything about you. "Sure," Silver said instead. He jerked a thumb to the glass. "Just wave to me if you need something, okay?"
"That won't be necessary but thank you." Ena looked down at her partially finished design still in the draft phase. "You'd better go get changed and join your teammates."
"Right." Silver turned around and got five steps away before he checked over his shoulder that Ena was still there. Sighing, he left the observation to travel down to the locker rooms. She said she wouldn't leave. She said she'd stay.
The locker rooms were full when he arrived with both his teammates and others. Conversation kept at a low buzz as showers were going off in their own glass pods. The LVs were off, but during meets, those in the locker room had a bird's eye view of what was going on. Since Silver was not a student at Magnolia High, his locker was randomly placed within the swim team. All the lockers had come with their own locks and had private changing rooms, though some liked to hang out on the aisle benches in towels.
Silver found his locker and put in the combination before swimming his bag. He ignored other teammates sweeping in and their laughter. I know she'll be working on her sketches, but…maybe she'll look up. She might actually see me swim. Determination filled him as he found his slides. Okay, then. I'd better give it my all this practice if she might see me. He sat on the bench and shucked off his boots—
"Hey, Bullet!" came lazy drawl. "That redhead with you?"
Silver got off his socks and grunted, "Yeah. Why?"
"Nothing, just…" A low whistle. "She looks cute as Hell."
Silver peeked up to see two on the junior varsity team had come in to stuff their belongings in their lockers, but the one who had spoken to him had a mob of curled hair flattened by his snapback and dirty blue eyes. Something about his tone rubbed Silver the wrong way. "Yeah, she is cute…"
"Is she your girlfriend or something?"
Red razed Silver's cheeks as he unzipped his sweatshirt. "No, she's just a friend," he mumbled albeit reluctantly.
"So she's single then?"
"Yeah." Silver was careful to fold his sweatshirt. "But she's not looking for a relationship and people should respect that."
The junior varsity swimmer snorted. "That's what girls say when they're playing hard-to-get. She did look pretty uptight up there—"
"She's not uptight," Silver cut him off in a snap. He stuffed his stocks in his boots. "And she's not playing hard-to-get or anything like that."
The JV swimmer shook his head as he put away his hat to tear off his sweatshirt in one fluid movement. "She's a ginger, Bullet. You know what they saw about gingers."
"No, I don't," Silver bit as he stood up to put away his boots. He wriggled out his swimwear and his cap from his bag. "And it doesn't matter either."
The JV swimmer smirked as he took off his ponytail band from his wrist to grab his hair and twist it into a low knot. "Aw, Bullet, don't tell me you have feelings for Ginger up there," he teased. He cackled when he caught Silver's flushed neck. "You do, don't you?"
"No," Silver denied. "And even if I did, it wouldn't matter. She doesn't want a relationship and that's okay." He shut his locker and twisted the lock. "If you'd excuse me—"
"I had a redhead for a girlfriend once," the JV swimmer recalled. "She was such a bitch, but she was still really hot. She liked the chase. Your little ginger up there might look frigid, but you can bet underneath, she's probably—"
Gritted teeth. "Don't talk about Ena like that."
The JV swimmer scoffed. "The Hell's your damage, Bullet—?"
Dirty blues clashed with vivid mayan blues.
"She isn't frigid and she has a name," Silver growled. "And you don't deserve to even be thinking about her, asshole." With a huff, Silver stormed away into the changing room to find an empty stall and ignored the rude mutter that followed him. He locked himself in the stall and took a moment to breathe out his anger, but it was becoming increasingly difficult. But an ache hit his temple and his gums and he winced.
What's wrong with me? He tried to shake off the ache. The sooner I get away from those assholes and the sooner I'm in the water, maybe I'll feel better.
It took him only a few minutes to change, lock everything, and bring his towel and water bottle with him to the pool. He managed a few helloes to some of his team mates, but most of them were curious about the reappearance of Ena and he had to blushingly tell them she was here to wait for him so they could go to dinner.
And that resulted in a lot of nudges and kindhearted teases.
"Bullet!"
Silver turned around to see Jasper and he did not know if he was happy or slightly unhappy to see his friend, but he still smiled. "Hey."
"Saw Miss Fernandes up there," Jasper told him, pointing to the deck. "I'm surprised she's here." He had to laugh. "She made it clear she wouldn't be caught dead near a pool."
Something about that grated Silver, so maybe his tone came out a little defensive as he said, "She just doesn't want to get wet."
"That's understandable," Jasper claimed. "I was just surprised." He looked up where Ena sat and it looked like she had gotten up to pace as she was on the Compact. "I wonder if tonight we were supposed to get dinner together. My Compact died, so I don't know if she texted me."
"She's getting dinner with me." Silver blinked when he realized his tone took a harsh turn and cleared his throat, "Lulu, Ena, and I were supposed to get dinner together, but Lulu couldn't go, so Ena came here to wait for me."
Jasper smiled. "That's nice of her." He shook his head at the teammates who could not stop glancing at Ena in her bold choice of attire for swim practice. "She certainly knows how to turn heads. She could stop traffic if she wanted." He looked back at Silver. "Did you guys want some company for dinner? I wasn't—"
"No!" Silver blurted. "U-Um, I mean… No, that's okay," he amended when Jasper gave him a confused look. "Actually, it's a, um…work-related dinner, and since I'm her assistant and everything—"
"No, dude, that's perfect!" Jasper cheered. "I actually had some finished edits I was going to email to her, but if I could show her in person—"
"No, no, that's okay!" Silver hurried to decline. "She and I have to go over a lot for tomorrow, so it has to be just the two of us."
"Oh." Jasper shrugged without a care in the world. "No worries. I get it. I'll stop by tomorrow after my CCP class then."
Silver very much wanted to assure Jasper could just email the pictures, but he had no viable reason, so he reluctantly enthused, "Can't wait…"
"Fullbuster!" came call. "Time to sign!"
"Hey, you think she'd mind if I stopped up there before we got started?" Jasper wondered. "I'm gonna have to tease her about avoiding the pool all this time."
Silver tried to dissuade, "That's oh—!"
"Fullbuster!"
Jasper patted Silver's shoulder as he passed him. "See ya in the water, Bullet!"
"Wait—!"
"Fullbuster!"
Silver's shoulders drooped as he watched helplessly as Jasper left the pool area. Great. There went that plan. He sulkily made his way over to one of the coaches who had out a clipboard and paper with a pen attached. Like it was routine, it started to fill out the form, but he got distracted when he glanced up at Ena to see she had stopped her Compact call and turned. Her face brightened and she welcomed the hug Jasper gave her, giving him air kisses. While she was happy even as she and Jasper pulled away, Silver's stomach dropped.
Maybe I was wrong.
"Here you go, Coach," Silver said after signing his name. He gave one last look and felt his heart break a little when whatever Jasper said had Ena squeal and she launched at him. Jasper laughed and he spun her around.
Maybe she does want a relationship…just never with me.
°•°•°•°
Ena laughed when she was put back on her feet, but she kept her hands on Jasper's arms. "You're the best!" she praised. "I thought you wouldn't have time to give them to me until this weekend?"
"I wanted to surprise you." Jasper snickered. "And it was worth seeing this reaction."
Ena slapped his bicep as she beamed. "If only all of my life's surprises were this positive," she jested. "When can you show them to me?"
"I could come by tomorrow?" Jasper offered. "I'd show you today, but Bullet said you two had some work dinner thing and I don't want to impose—"
Ena's smile fell flat in the puzzlement. "We have a what?" She shook her head as she absently glanced out of the glass wall. "No, it's not a work dinner," she countered. "We're just…" She could not look away from the pool area. Her eyes sharpened as she could focus on one thing.
Silver with his wrists out as someone slapped on sealstone cuffs.
A surge of fury overwhelmed Ena as she faked a smile at Jasper with a pardon only to storm out of the observation take, hand aching for her sword. Magic fizzled around her and glowed in her eyes, but she did not care who saw her or spoke to her. The second she found the doors to the pool area, she ripped them open and thundered, "Get your hands off of my friend!"
Everyone froze.
Silver peeked from behind his coach to see her glaring at him and began to sweat. Uh-oh. Did I forget something? What if I did forget her point-twenty-five pen? I knew I should have checked—
"Let him go!" Ena bellowed as her magical aura danced in her palms. "Or I will make you let him go."
It took Silver two seconds to register that, one, she was glaring at his coach and not him, and two, she was referring to the bracelets being locked onto his wrists. "O-Oh, um." He finished the process himself and made sure the bracelets were secure before giving his rattled coach a nervous smile. "I, um, will handle her. I'm so sorry." He gave a quick bow before he rushed past the other staff and teammates to get to Ena. "Ena, wait—Woah!"
Ena had yanked him out of the pool area and was guiding him away with her jaw locked. "We're leaving," she spat, "and getting those cuffs off you first thing—!"
"Wait, Ena, hold on!" Silver forced her to a stop (though, he had to admit her strength was a lot more than his) and grabbed her shoulders. "Slow down," he soothed. "It's not like that."
"They're using sealstone cuffs on you," Ena hissed and Silver felt the weight of her Magic pressure him. "I will not allow any friends of mine to be cuffed like that. Your Magic is a blessing, not something they should control."
"These aren't cuffs," Silver tried to calm her. "Yeah, they're sealstone, but I promise this isn't because I'm getting arrested or anything like that, okay?"
But Ena looked unconvinced and demanded to know, "Then why was he forcing you to wear them?" She took his wrists in her hands and glared at the bracelets like they offended her. "No one should ever have to wear these. Ever."
"Coach wasn't forcing me to wear them," Silver explained. "It's a long story, but Magnolia doesn't have a swim team for Mages. That's why I joined the high school swim team. It took a lot of convincing on my part to join, but since I'm a Mage, I have to wear inhibitor bracelets so I'm equal to everyone else here. My parents and Master weren't happy, but this was the only way I could swim."
Ena gave him a dubious look. "Really?"
"Yes." Silver nodded. "Every single practice and meet, one of the coaches pulls me aside so I can fill out a consent form to wear the bracelets, so I can swim with the team. It's pretty common for Mages to wear these bracelets when we do Spiritless sports. I mean, sure, Mages have our own sports teams and everything, but this was sort of my best bet to join a local team…" He gently pulled his wrists away only to take her hands in his.
Soft mayan blues clashed with warring dark chocolate.
"This isn't like what happened to you," Silver had to get through to her and did so with the most delicate timbre he could scrounge up. "I promise. They can't make me wear the bracelets. They'll tell you that themselves and my forms say that too." He paused before he tentatively added, "I'm okay. I'm safe."
That answer was what undid Ena's righteous fury and she dispelled the Magic torrenting around them. "And you're sure you want this?"
"Yeah. I want to swim."
Ena sighed and looked disdainfully at the bracelets. "They could have at least picked something with a little more beauty to it," she sniffed. "That morbid gray is offensive and abysmal."
Silver laughed, relieved she was back to herself. "I'll bring that up to them," he jested. Concern filled him when she looked away. "What? What is it?"
Ena sighed. "I didn't mean to interrupt your practice. I was just…" She shook her head. "I never want anyone to feel that helpless."
Silver snorted. "Yeah, I think we all saw that." He looked appropriately rueful at her glower. "This is the only way I can swim. Does it suck to not feel my Magic? Yeah. It's like I'm missing a part of me. But I get to do something I love, so it's not all bad."
"You really want to swim that badly that you'd let them control your Magic?" Ena challenge.
But Silver did not back down. "If you could work in fashion, but you weren't allowed to use your powers, wouldn't you?"
For a moment, Ena hesitated. Then, she grumbled, "Perhaps." She huffed when Silver smiled, smug. "Fine. Whatever. The point is this was your choice to wear them and you can take them off at any time. I might not like it, but…" She sighed. "But if you want to swim that badly, as a friend, I will…try to support your decision."
"Thank you," Silver appreciated. "That means a lot." When Ena made a noise of disbelief, he added, "And if it helps, when Lulu learned about my requirement, she went crazy too."
That intrigued Ena. "What did she do?"
"Stormed in like you did," Silver reminisced, "but she took it further and started shoving past people and put me behind her like she was some mama bear." He laughed at the memory. Luna in all her shortness glaring up at the staff. "It took me a while to drag her away, but she eventually got used to the idea."
Ena snorted. "I might take a while myself." She eyed in curiously. "So without your Magic, how do you do against the Spiritless?"
"I'm not the youngest on the varsity team for nothing," Silver boasted.
"Good." Ena gave him an approving nod. "No assistant and no friend of mine while be slacking off without their powers and let others show them how it's done. We show them how it's done."
Silver beamed. "Yes, ma'am." He nodded back down the hall. "Do you think you'll be okay if we go back?"
"I'll be fine," Ena assured him. "I might not like it, but I promise I won't interrupt your practice." Without preamble, she let him go to begin marching back down the hall with him instantly matching her stride. "But I will not apologize for interrupting it in the first place."
"No, of course not," Silver agreed in amusement. "Wouldn't want the team to think you're sorry for scaring them."
"Why should I be sorry? They should be sorry for upsetting me like that. And you…" Ena snuck him a dark look. "You didn't think to give me a proper warning. This whole situation is your fault in the first place, so I expect you to apologize to your team." Her eyes narrowed when Silver's smile widened. "And stop smiling like that," she snapped.
"Right. Sorry." But he could not get rid of his smile. "I'll apologize to the team."
"See that you do," Ena sniffed. "And make it clear to them if I suspect at any point you are being forced to wear that hideous gray for one practice longer, they will have me to deal with. Gray." She made a noise of contempt. "Ridiculous."
Silver saw the doors to the pool area come close, but he grabbed Ena's wrist to stop her from walking away. "Ena, um…" His eyes glinted when she whirled around, red hair flared, and her eyes were so clear.
"What?" Ena prompted, irate.
Silver dropped her wrist as he put his hands behind his back in an effort to keep himself calm. Rocking on the balls of his feet, he stared at the ground and said, "Um, even though it wasn't necessary or anything… Thanks for worrying about me and everything."
Ena raised an eyebrow. "There's no need to thank me. You're a valuable assistant to me and I'd hate to lose you. And L would have my head if I let you get cuffed."
"Right. Of course."
Ena waited for Silver to continue, but when he kept awkwardly quiet, she announced, "If that's all, I'm returning to my seat." She whirled back around and continued her march.
Silver lifted his head as he watched her walk away. In the end, she still referred to me as her assistant, but… She didn't even hesitate to defend me or deny she was worried about me. She would have even used Magic even though she's worried about public image for her mom and for Mages. Pink dusting his cheeks, he covered his mouth—covered his smile.
"Fullbuster!" One of the staff members poked their head out to summon him. "Come on! Time to get in the water!"
"R-Right!" Silver went over to the door with one last glance at Ena. She really is amazing.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Two hours later…
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
A dry and changed Silver found Ena still at the observation deck as she concentrated on a pattern for a faux fur jacket she was designing, but she must have sensed his approach for she said, "I'm almost done. Give me a few more minutes."
"Sure. I'll just clean everything up." Silver took to picking up all the towels and folding them, but he slowed down to ask her, "So, um… How did you like practice?"
"You splashed in dirty water with other people," Ena summarized in a deadpan as she took up her thinnest pencil and started the design. "What's there to like?"
Silver hummed as he opened his bag and started tucking in the towels. I know she says that, but… Several times, I caught her looking at me. I know she wasn't looking at me about my technique or anything and she was probably worried about the bracelets, but… Just knowing she was looking at me and she was worried about me… It makes my heart go crazy.
"Before I forget, would I still be able to meet your teammates?"
Silver froze and could feel his soul enter a blissfully numb state. And then she says that and shatters my heart all over again. "Um…" He scratched his neck. "About that…"
"Eh, Bullet, you've got yourself a queen in shining armor!" Silver remembered all the ribbing his teammates had given him that had turned him into a steaming red mess.
"Where can I get a girlfriend like her?"
"Bullet, your girlfriend is bad ass!"
"Hold onto that one, Bullet! She nearly made coach shit himself!"
"Hey, can you introduce us to her? She's pretty cute."
"That red hair though… Damn, red-heads are hot!"
Silver shook off the memory and tried to formulate an excuse. "Maybe not tonight. Practice was a little weird, and it's a school night, and I'm sure everyone has homework."
Ena hummed as her eyes trailed over each line and curve she created. "I understand."
Turning away from her, Silver sighed in relief. Thank god she bought it. I don't know if I would've stayed sane watching my teammates drool over her.
"Silver, come here please."
"Oh, um, sure." Silver pulled over a chair to sit at her side. "What do you need?"
Ena shook her head. "Nothing," she sighed. "I'm currently thinking of rebranding. I love having 'The House of E' as my title, but I've been thinking of redesigning the logo." She turned to him and showed him the sketch book. "What do you think about that?"
Silver inspected the symbol Ena had drafted. The H and the E were back-to-back, blended together, but their heights were distinct enough to know where the H ended and the E began. He frowned. "It looks so…" Hesitation made him stop.
"No, please, honest opinions," Ena encouraged.
Silver swallowed. "Well, it just looks clinical to me," he confessed. "I know clothing logos aren't supposed to be busy or anything and they should be recognizable, but your brand is pretty unique. You don't make the same outfit twice. I'm not saying the logo shouldn't be clean-cut or anything, but it just needs to have…something." He scratched his cheek. "Sorry. I'm not very good at this."
"Actually, I think you are." Ena frowned at the logo and decided to erase it. "I need honest opinions. Gigi assured me the current logo was fine, but I disagree. I personally feel it's time for a change. He offered to put me in contact with a designer, but this is my brand, so I feel like it's my responsibility to think of the logo that represents myself, my team, and my brand fairly." She waved a hand in a very careless manner. "I'm sorry to bore you—"
"You could never!" Silver colored. "Well, um, I mean… This is your passion, right? I wouldn't make you stop talking about your passion. I like it when my cr—er, friends talk about the things they love."
"Yes, well, you have to deal with my passion a great portion of your day." Ena closed her sketchbook and murmured gratitude when Silver took it from her to place in her bag. "I could use a little break from it. Call me spoiled, but yesterday was nice to just talk about whatever came to mind."
Silver shyly smiled. "Yeah, I liked it too."
"Great." Ena handed him her pens and pencils. "Then I expect the same at dinner. No talk about work." She arched an eyebrow. "Although, Jasper informed me this dinner was a work dinner? Anything to say about that?"
Silver began to sweat and stammer, "I-I-I can explain—!"
Ena tittered. "Relax, Silver, I'm only teasing," she promised as she got up and did not even question Silver standing with her and getting her trench coat. "Besides, even if he had asked me for dinner tonight, I would have had to decline," she informed as Silver helped her into her coat.
"Yeah? Why's that?"
Ena turned to him as she fluffed out her hair. "I told you I wanted dinner with you and not your team and you accepted that offer. Unless you'd prefer Jasper to join us—"
"No, no!" Silver blurted. "Um, dinner with just us is perfect! I mean fine! It's fine, I mean! It's fine if it's just the…" He wilted underneath Ena's inquisitive stare. "Just us is fine."
Ena scanned him up and down. "You're very strange," she commented. "Did you know that?"
"In a good way or in a bad way?" Silver asked. Please say in a good way.
Ena hummed. "That's left for debate." She checked for her Compact and stooped down for her travel tea mug. "Well, I think that's everything. Are you ready for dinner?" A teasing twinkle entered her eyes. "Just the two of us, as you overstated?"
Silver gulped. Even when she's just joking, she makes my heart go crazy. She bewitched me. She cast a spell on me or something. She probably could do that with her being powerful. This is just a spell and she bewitched me. "Y-Y-Yeah, yeah. Just the two of us."
"Wonderful." Ena took a step, but she stopped and inspected him with suddenly serious eyes. "And you're okay, right? You don't feel weak or unsteady? Any heart racing? Dizziness?"
"Yes," Silver breathed without thinking. "My heart's really racing."
Worry filled Ena. "Really?" Her hand went to his chest and felt for his heartbeat. "Dizziness?"
"Yes," Silver gasped. "Very dizzy." Her spell is working better than I thought.
Ena scowled as she retracted her hand. "I knew those bracelets were a bad idea," she spat. "Where is the staff?" Her hand itched for her sword. "Give me all of their names—!"
"Wait, what?" Silver inwardly cursed. Idiot, now you're ruining everything. "No, no, I'm fine!" he tried to abate her.
Ena glared at him. "But I felt your heartbeat," she argued. "It was going pretty fast."
"Y-Yeah, well…!" I can't tell her she's making my heart race. But what do I say, what do I do? I can't unleash her on the coaches without signing my own resignation from the team. "Uh, well, um, I…" He said the first word he could think of. "Asthma!"
That destabilized Ena's fury enough for bewilderment to set in. "'Asthma'?"
"Yes!" Silver latched onto the idea. "Yes, it's my asthma!" He forced a cough into his fist. "Horrible asthma. I just can't breathe in here. It's, um…very dusty and everything."
"Oh." Ena still did not lose her concern. "Where's your inhaler?"
Silver blanked. "'Inhaler'?"
"Yes. Aine has asthma and she carries an emergency inhaler with her." Ena rounded to get to his bag. "Here. Let me—"
"No, no! It's fine!" Silver cried. "Look, see, I can breathe again!" He exaggerated taking in a deep breath and a loud exhale. "See? Look! All better! Asthma's gone!"
"Gone? But—"
Quickly, Silver guided Ena out of the observation deck. "Anyways, we should hurry. I'm getting really hungry, and we still need to make sure we pick out a place, and we don't have to wait too long." He whipped out his Compact. "Let me check some places."
"But—"
"What about here?" Silver shoved the Compact to Ena. "Why don't you take a look and see what you want?"
Ena huffed. "Well then. I'll look, but we should talk about—"
"If you don't choose a place, we're getting seafood."
Ena shot him an icy look full of revulsion before scrolling through the screen, bristling. "I'd turn you into a goldfish if you ever thought about bringing me to a place with seafood," she grumbled. "The nerve. I can handle a large group dinner, but I will never willingly set foot in a seafood restaurant."
"I'd drag you kicking and screaming then," Silver jested.
"Please. Like you'd touch me and live to tell the tale," Ena scoffed as they exited the athletic building. "If we're headed out of town, I'll need to—"
"No need." Silver gestured to the waiting Lacrima Car at the curb. "I made sure to schedule a Ryde for fifteen minutes after practice ended."
Ena's eyebrows rose as Silver guided her to the Ryde. "Ah, yes, you're planning skills." Her lips tugged upwards. "Finally, a man after my own heart."
Trying to.
Silver opened the door for her and exaggerated a bow. "Your ride, Madame."
Ena snorted. "I went from 'ma'am' to 'madame' in a single night. What next?"
The moment she got him, Silver shut the door and hurried over to his side. He stole back his Compact for him and the driver to double-check they were correct driver and passenger before they started their drive. "I could call you 'Your Majesty'," Silver teased.
"No thanks. I'm not looking to be a queen," Ena muttered, crossing her legs. "But thank you for planning ahead."
"Now that I know how much you like everything organized, I'll be sure to do it a lot more." Silver cringed when he could hear the over-eagerness in his tone and prayed Ena did not catch on.
It seemed that she did not as she looked out the window. "Very well. That'd be appreciated."
Silver quietly sighed. "Sure thing." He began to shift around to get more comfortable and had to turn away when a smile captured his lips. Finally. Dinner. She's getting dinner with me. Me! And she would have rejected Jasper for me. I have so much to tell Lulu later—!
"Silver?"
"Yes?"
"If you ordered this Ryde, then that means you already picked a place for dinner tonight and I didn't need to choose a restaurant, right?"
Silver frowned, confused. "Yeah. I pretty much planned it out while we were on our way to the school. Why?"
"I suspected as so."
Silver shrunk back when he felt Ena's murderous aura seep out and try to choke him. "S-S-Suspected what?"
"You were just trying to distract me," Ena accused. "But I'm not falling for it. Did you think I was stupid?"
Oh, I'm dead. Deader than dead. She knows. She realized. I'm screwed. Lulu, please don't tell anyone at my funeral that I—
"You were having an asthma attack, but you were too embarrassed to tell me."
Silver blanked. "What?"
"So that is why…"—Ena turned to him with a dangerous glint in her eye—"you are going to tell in full detail every medical problem you have so I can discount it whenever you wear those awful bracelets." A knife summoned into her fingers with a flick of her wrist and she was not afraid to tip it under his chin. "And you will not leave a single thing out."
Silver hazarded a desperate look towards the driver's mirror, but the driver only offered him a pitying look of no help. He swallowed and looked down at the knife. Love, he whimpered. Love is torture.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
In the Alvarez Empire…
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Kyler peaked out the curtain to watch the sky. A morbid blue chased away the remnants of orange, but the sun was not down and out yet. He turned away to look at Tesla who sat on the ground in a black ensemble that looked like it belong to covert ops, but she had ducked a good portion of herself beneath her cloak. "Sundown should be coming within the next half-an-hour," he alerted her.
Tesla flung a nervous look to the door. "And Gary—?"
The door opened right on cue as Gary came in and closed the door behind him.
Tesla abruptly stood up. "Hey, are you okay?" She moved towards him. "We were wor…" She trailed off in confusion when Kyler placed a hand on her shoulder to keep her place. "Mister Kyler?"
Kyler leveled a stare at Gary who still did not pull down his hood. "Show me your face."
Gary tensed. "Why?"
"Gary." Kyler's tone dropped to a threat. "Show me your face."
With a huff of frost, Gary pulled up his hand to peel back his hood—
Tesla took an involuntary step back as she took in Gary's face. Black splattered across as though it cut his face, but his eyes… His eyes carried a predatory silver mixed in with his oceanic blues with flicks of icy-blue on top. "Are…? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Gary growled.
"No, you're not," Kyler retorted as he warily moved Tesla behind him. "You both need to calm down now," he commanded. "Nashi is in that castle and she needs you—both of you—to have a level head. Because if you think for one moment I will let you near her the way you are right now, you are making a mistake."
Tesla jumped when a throaty snarl left Gary and icy-blue-silvery was prominent in his glare. "You would be wise to stand down, Enoch," he sneered in a heavier voice. "She is mine. The bad man is mine."
Turquoise glowed with imbued jade flecks. "I will not let your hatred and fears be the reason we fail," Kyler told him, voice strong. "I can sense your distress and I can ease it. Either you let me ease your pain or you calm down. If you reject either option, I will not hesitate to put you unconscious and you can wait here while we rescue her—"
Gary's snarl increased.
Tesla swallowed and stepped back when she heard a frequency and words that were not her own drifted into her head. Tesla, prepare yourself.
Tesla looked around wildly and opened her mouth to scream—
It's Kyler. I am using Telepathy. You are safe.
Just like that, a sense of ease sated the incoming panic and Tesla looked at Kyler's back. Concern for how he was speaking to her in her mind was there, but it was dulled and repressed. She accepted the situation for what it was. What do you need me to do?
You have the power of Anti-Ether. You will need to weaken his Ether.
Tesla's eyes widened again. I can't do that! He'll figure out what I am!
You can. Kyler watched as Gary's shoulders rolled like a leopard ready to pounce. I can ease his distress mentally, but to physically do so would require me to hurt him. You are to take a small amount of his Ether away to settle him physically and I'll put a shock through him so he doesn't recognize it. He turned a little to her. I know you can. You have control over your Anti-Ether. Now it is time to use it.
I…! I…! Tesla swallowed and tried to control her nerves. Okay. Her eyes opened as emotion wiped from her face. Steely grays swirled with power and her legs twisted to brace herself. When?
"I'm not asking you again, Gary," Kyler said. "Stand down. Put yourself in the present for Nashi—for your Angel."
That statement confused Gary for a moment and it looked like, for a moment anyway, the silver in his eyes receded. But within seconds, it came back full-force and he revealed both his hands to show the sharp gloves and black marring his skin. "This is another test." Two voices hissed as one. "No more tests. Save Malã'ika." With a snarl, he lunged—
Kyler's hands waved as turquoise covered his flesh. "Now, Tesla!"
Tesla did not flinch when she rushed past Kyler. Gary was taller than Jaxton, but she knew that when she had sprinted and used her lesser height to her advantage. Gray tangled in white lined her hand as she hit Gary's naked chest. But the second she instinctively sought his Ether, her mouth parted and frost escaped her. The glow in her eyes faded and Kyler was quick to knock Gary onto the bed while Tesla collapsed into a mess on the floor. She coughed as that chilling feeling shoved down her throat thawed out and she crawled onto all fours.
"Did…?" Tesla panted. "Did it work…?" Coughing again, she unsteadily got to her feet and wiped her forehead. She glanced to the bed to see Kyler helping Gary sit up. "Is he okay?"
Kyler sat on the bed with his eyes focused on a pained Gary whose eyes were screwed shut. The black that mauled his skin had abandoned him and with a sweeping look at Gary's hands, they were human hands. His eyes maintained their glow and he waved a hand over Gary's face before allowing the glow to fade. "Gary," he said gently. "How are you feeling?"
It took Gary a few moments to respond. "Broken." His eyes opened—
Agonized cerulean clashed with soft turquoise.
"She'll never love me," Gary whispered. "I'm a monster. He made me into one." His eyes shut as tears leaked out. "I could feel it. It was him." His mouth moved in a soundless motion before he could speak again. "I could feel him freeze my connection to her. I know that winter anywhere. It was him, Kyler, it was him. He knows I'm coming for her. He knows."
Kyler nodded. "He probably does, yes."
Gary buried his head in his hands. "He made me choose," he whimpered, "and when I didn't choose fast enough…" He shook his head. "Her eyes. They turned red. H-H-He made her…" He could not finish.
"He probably knows you're coming," Kyler murmured. "He knows you remember how he felt. He knows all this. But he doesn't know that you never became the monster he tried to make you."
"I am a monster," Gary whispered.
Kyler shook his head. "No, you are not. A monster still under his bidding would have torn into the castle with nothing more than hatred." He lowered his head. "But a man who loves someone would shove aside that hatred in order to protect their loved ones."
"I almost didn't," Gary pointed out, voice breaking.
"But you're here now," Kyler reminded. "That's important. Invel thinks he can still control you. Those bad people still think of you as their experiment. But you aren't. Right now, you are only Gary Fullbuster, my little sister's rescuer and partner."
Gary pulled his hands away to look up at Kyler under a watery gaze. "You'll still let me near her? Even after…"
"Your trauma runs so deep, it's embedded into your DNA. And so does hers. I can't tell you if you'll both heal completely because you won't. Even if you kill your monsters, they memories will never completely fade away. However," Kyler added when Gary's stare fell to his lap, "what I can say is that both of you will inspire the other to learn how to forgive and show kindness to yourself." He pulled away to stand. "We have a castle to get into and family to save." He offered Gary a hand. "And I'll need all the help I can get."
Gary sniffed. "What if…? What if I…can't control it?"
"That's why I'm here. And"—Kyler offered Tesla a warming a knowing look—"that's why she's here."
"Right." Tesla stepped forward with understanding in her steely grays. "Lose control all you want, but you can bet I'll make sure you snap out of it. Nashi would be pretty upset if her boyfriend lost control and not in the fun way."
Gary gave a watery chuckle. "I'm sorry you had to see that, Tesla."
"Do you see me getting upset?" Tesla challenged with a raise of her eyebrow. "Am I freaked out? Mmm, yeah, a wee bit, but I'm not upset that you're not okay. There's no need to apologize whatsoever about this."
Gary dipped his head. "Thank you." He got to his feet with Kyler's help. "Angel would kill me if anything happened to you." He looked between Tesla and Kyler. "Both of you."
"We have each other's backs," Tesla promised.
"We do." Kyler added to Gary, We have both of your backs. He let go of Gary to address both him and Tesla, "The Shadower will be here any second. Prepare your minds. Do what you have to do." He gave Gary a meaningful look. "And think about the future, not of the past."
Gary nodded and went to look out the window to watch blue chase orange out of the sky and down into the horizon. I might get a little lost along the way, Angel, but I promise you… I'm coming. He glanced back at Tesla who had a heart attack when Cullen suddenly appeared and the Shadower took to hiding behind Kyler, fearful of her surprise. And I've brought help this time.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
In the castle…
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Perhaps it was not proper for two royals to be scooped into bed with dessert carts at their beck and call, but Nashi did not care about what was "proper". She and Luna lay in Nashi's too-big-bed together as they shared a bowl (a very fancy, golden bowl) of vegan ice cream in their royal attire and both ignored the frantic lady's maids who had insisted both sisters swap into their night gowns if they wished to lie in bed together. Both sisters took to staring out the window and watching as dusk fought dawn until the bitter end. The stars peeked out but just barely as though they did not want to get involved with a messy war.
Nashi fed Luna another spoonful with her sister tucked into her. Their link was stronger closer together and easier on Luna. We'll get out of here, Nashi soothed her.
I know, Luna thought back. I just don't want anything to happen to anyone here—
That won't happen, Nashi promised sternly and ignored Naseer's haunting words. She stroked Luna's hair. We'll protect each other and everyone here, Lu. Trust me. She felt Luna nod and kissed her sister's forehead. And when you want to talk about today, I'm always ready to listen.
Luna's eyes shut.
Nashi exhaled through her nose. You should take a nap, she urged. I can wake you up when it's time. Right now, you need to conserve all of your strength for tonight.
Luna sniffled. Can you sing the song Mama used to sing to us all the time?
Nashi smiled. You remember that? I forgot—you are the baby in the family. Her smile widened when Luna quietly giggled. You know I'm not a great singer, Lu—
Please, Nashi?
Nashi sighed. I'll try. Cuddle close, she teased. Scooch in. And eyes closed. She looked down to see Luna had done so and her eyes drifted to the disappearing sun as her lips parted and she softly crooned, "Picture yourself in a boat on a river… With tangerine trees and marmalade skies… Somebody calls you, you answer quite slowly… A girl with kaleidoscope eyes…"
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
In Fiore…
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Dante sighed as he danced around the kitchen with the blender on his small island. He had gathered a banana, fresh berries, almond milk, coconut oil and nectar, oats, and cashew butter and had pulled out his protein shake mix. Throwing it all to the blender with a little ice, he had a hand on the lid and flicked on the blender.
REEEEEEEEEEEEEEE…
Dante sighed as he looked out the window to catch the quiet snowfall. Guess we'll wake up with some more snow on the ground. He returned to the blender and stopped it to check the shake was a nice creamy tainted pink. He was about to get a glass when his eyes caught the little light panel he had crafted to alert him if someone was approaching the door. Someone at the back door?
Dante abandoned his work to go to the backdoor and opened it—
MRROW!
Outside the screen door, a fat cat sat patiently with fur as white as snow. Its eyes could not be seen under its heavy squinting, but its tail flicked and it let out another mrrow!
Dante sighed. "You're probably trying to stay out of the cold, huh?" He unlocked the screen door and opened it. "Come on in then. I don't have any food for you."
The fat cat leisurely came inside and made a show of rubbing against Dante's leg, arching its back.
Dante snorted. "Yeah, yeah, I'm sure you're grateful." He locked the screen door and the back door before returning to the kitchen with the cat following him. He told the cat as he brought out a glass, "You'll have to excuse Carlisle upstairs. He's not feeling that great."
The fat cat sat again and gave a soft burring sound.
Dante began to fill the glass up with the shake. "I guess he has more family stuff going on. I know one or two things about that." When the glass was three-quarters of the way full, he pulled back the pitcher and wiped up the access with a finger to suck it clean and hummed at his handiwork. "I like it." He shot the ceiling a look. "Knowing him, he'll probably complain and want it sweeter."
The fat cat's tail flicked and it gave a lengthy miaow.
Dante rummaged around for a moment to find a container mug and poured the leftover remnants of the shake into it. "Shouldn't you be doing what cats do and hide or something?" he asked when he went to clean the pitcher.
The fat cat yawned.
Dante shrugged. "Suit yourself." It took him a minute to clean the pitcher and hang it on the drying wrack. Grabbing the glass, he told the cat, "Well, come on. Maybe he'll perk up a little bit seeing you."
The fat cat stretched out.
Dante left the kitchen and passed through the living room to get to the stairs with the cat following his every step. Though, he raised an eyebrow when the fat cat had an abundance of energy to climb the steps and it disappeared into Dante's room far before Dante had gotten to the second floor. He sighed when he heard Carlisle's grumble and then his hissing. "Lips, don't hiss at the cat."
"But it could be feral or something!"
Dante sighed as he came into his bedroom. Carlisle's clothing was folded atop the dresser in exchange for a pair of Dante's shorts, but he lay huddled in a ball with the comforter surrounding him. Those beautiful eyes of his glared daggers at the fat cat before he looked at Dante with a pout. "Get rid of it before we catch something," he whined.
"Well I know you're feeling better," Dante remarked dryly. He handed Carlisle the glass. "Here. This should help a little."
Carlisle greedily took the glass and slurped up the contents through the straw when his nose scrunched.
"I'm not making it sweeter," Dante deadpanned as he went into the bathroom. "Deal with it."
"Rude," Carlisle muttered, though he continued to sip the sake. He glowered at the fat cat when it attempted to move in closer and tried to shoo it away. "Shoo, shoo, leave! I don't want you here. You're trouble waiting to happen."
The fat cat burred, but it sat down.
Dante chuckled as he began to brush his teeth. "I think this guy just needed a warm place from the snow, baby. Let it be. It'll probably want out in the morning."
"Oh, it better." Carlisle leveled the cat with a firm look. "And I want that thing far away from me tomorrow. Preferably in a shelter."
The fat cat came over to Carlisle's side and began to knead.
Carlisle's eyes narrowed as he whispered, "I know what you're doing, but it won't work. I'm in enough trouble, so just leave me alone."
The fat cat widened its eyes to show those gray orbs. "Can't," he grunted.
"Why not?" Carlisle whispered furiously. "If you don't know, I had a very long day and Lucy got pissed at me for even speaking to you two."
Muta glanced over to the bathroom and hissed, "We'll talk later. Trust me when I say I need to stay here with you to protect you."
Carlisle snorted. "That's rich. I know you hate me," he grumbled.
Muta opened his mouth, but he stretched it into a yawn when Dante came back into the bedroom. Muta made a show of purring and curling into Carlisle's side, tail tucked in.
Carlisle scowled while Dante climbed into bed and remarked, "And look. The horrible, feral cat likes you."
"Yeah. Guess I have fans everywhere. Even flea-bitten ones." Carlisle put the glass on the nightstand and turned over to face Dante, examining his face. "Thanks for coming to get me," he murmured.
Dante rubbed Carlisle's bottom lip. "Of course, Lips," he murmured back. "Why didn't you call me when you were upset?"
Carlisle lowered his eyes. "You were at work." Voice small. "I didn't want to bother you."
"You're not a bother," Dante promised him. "I've accrued enough time off to have a vacation for at least a month, so don't worry about calling me when you're upset, okay? I'll come get you."
Carlisle swallowed. "I don't want to mess up your life—"
"And you're not," Dante soothed. "I like you, Lips. Let me take care of you."
That brought a gleam in Carlisle's eyes. "What are we, in the fourth century?" he teased. "You're really trying hard to domesticate me, Prince, and we haven't been on a date yet."
"I'm trying to change that." Dante kissed Carlisle's nose then a burning kiss on the lips. "But I can wait until you're a little soberer because I can tell you're still a little tipsy." He caressed Carlisle's cheek and whispered, "Sleep, baby. I've got you."
"You're going to give me a baby boy complex in a hot minute if you keep saying things like that," Carlisle grumbled, but he did not offer a protest when Dante gathered him in his arms. "Do you always have to be big spoon with your boyfriends?"
"Yep."
"You dom jock," Carlisle insulted as he nuzzled under Dante's chin. "Dom Dante. Has a ring to it, doesn't it?"
Dante tightened his hold on Carlisle. "Shut up and sleep," he grunted. "I have an alarm to wake me up in an hour so I can study, wake me up if you need to, all right?"
"Oooo, I now get the privilege to wake you up after you dare threaten my life last—?" Carlisle snorted when Dante pinched his ass in punishment. "Evil man." But he still closed his eyes and listened to Dante's heartbeat. For Dante, falling asleep was easy and came naturally.
But for Carlisle…
His eyes opened and lazily drew to the window as the last glimpses of light were fighting for life. They'll come for me, won't they? That's why you're here.
Yes, Muta answered. They don't know where you are. But they suspect you exist.
I understand. Carlisle grazed Dante's sleeping face with a few fingers. I'm not running this time. I want to stay here. His eyes closed as he selfishly indulged in Dante's warmth and security. I want to stay here with him. I'm not evil. Maman isn't evil.
I know, kit. Muta nuzzled against Carlisle's back. We both know.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Cellophane flowers of yellow and green
Towering over your head
Look for the girl with the sun in her eyes
And she's gone
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Lance sighed as he kept to his study. Hours poured into research when it came to the gods and God Slayers and fáirths and Éirulan, but he had come up with nothing more than he already had and it wore him down. Aine knocked before she came in with a blanket wrapped around her and drinking hot tea. She leaned down to kiss his cheek. "Hi, stranger."
"Hi." Lance yawned. "I'm sorry, little fox. I didn't mean to ignore you."
Aine shook her head. "You didn't. Besides, I've been studying anyways and just wanted to check how you'd feel about a later dinner." She got the topic of his research and softened. "Still nothing?"
"Nothing," Lance echoed with a trace of frustration. "I wish Misty was in town solely because he might know more about the lore than I do." He scrubbed his face. "I feel like I'm hitting a dead end."
"What about going to Éirulan?" Aine proffered.
Lance shook his head. "Something about that plan doesn't feel right," he explained. "I don't want to go across the continent and end up empty-handed, but I can't just sit at home and do nothing." He looked over at Aine. "I'm sorry. I feel like I'm not making sense." He pushed back and tugged her. "Come here."
Aine sighed as she fell into Lance's lap and curled into him. "You're making sense," she promised as she ran a hand through his hair. "I don't want you leaving until you're absolutely sure you're ready and the feeling you have is confidence." As Lance hummed, Aine laid curious eyes on a file. "What's this?"
Lance traced her line of vision and picked up Cymbal's file. "Ah, Mary Jane and I were looking at him a little earlier today before we went back to Mom and Dad's house. We both had a strange feeling about Cymbal from Mount Altana."
"Good or bad?"
"Not bad," Lance answered slowly, "but I'm still not sure if it's good." He rubbed Aine's back. "But it's enough for me to recommend him as the Mount Altana pick for the advanced classes for the training camp. So we'll see how it goes."
Aine hummed. "Follow your instincts. What do they say about him?"
"Not much," Lance admitted as he stared at Cymbal's profile picture. "Nothing outside of he's someone I should watch."
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Ah
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK.
Laxus pushed open the already ajar door to peek in and soften when he caught Mary Jane curled up in her bed, dead to the world, with a book sprawled beside her and Igneel's scarf acting as a pillow on top of her pillow. He crept over to remove the book and made sure to get a bookmark so she never lost her spot and laid the book on her nightstand. His eyes landed on Igneel's scarf and hardened. She's too young.
He had the intention of trying to remove the scarf—
The scent of smoke and embers swirled around him.
Laxus growled as his nostrils flared and lightning filled his eyes. "You don't understand what you're doing." Low words full of threat.
The embers and smoke increased, but the scent no longer lingered around Laxus. The scent pressured around Mary Jane as she sighed and snuggling into the scarf, sated.
Laxus shook his head when he felt a delicate hand on his arm. Looking down, his wife was looking up at him with gentle warning. He let her pass him as she drew the covers over Mary Jane before coming back to guide him out of the bedroom. The second the door was closed, Laxus hissed, "Mira, you can't be serious."
"And we can't interfere any more than we have," Mira said, mindful.
Laxus shook his head. "She isn't even an adult—"
"But she alone knows when she's ready." Mira drew closer to Laxus to cup his cheeks. "She's always going to be our little girl. She'll be your butterfly. I know they were kids and didn't know what they were doing. But I think we both know they know what they want."
Grayed jade saddened as Laxus covered her hands with his. "She's my little girl, Mira," he whispered. "I can't lose her again."
"Oh, Laxus," Mira cooed, "he'll help us find her again if you let him. You can't keep him away forever. You know as well as I do who her soul wants." She thumbed his cheeks. "You just need to accept it." She reached up to kiss his chin as he closed his eyes.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Follow her down to a bridge by a fountain
Where rocking horse people eat marshmallow pies
Everyone smiles as you drift past the flowers
That grow so incredibly high
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Watching the light leave the sky felt like seconds had passed or maybe hours depending on your perception. There was no chariot that raided the sky to cut off the light's umbilical to the earth and let the night take the helm. It happened like a time-lapse. Those midnight blues that inked the sky kept shoving and shoving against the tampered oranges that had done a valiant effort in aiding the day.
More confident, the stars fought through dusk's glower to be seen. The Moon had been guided out with them, ready for her long shift in these winter months and envious of the Sun's extra hours of sleep. With its last breath, the dawn tried to keep its head above water, but dusk was too powerful and shoved it down until nothing but darkness remained.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Newspaper taxis appear on the shore
Waiting to take you away
Climb in the back with your head in the clouds
And you're gone
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Kyler peered out the curtained window to watch the murder of the sun and the ruling of the moon. He turned back to the room to see Tesla checking her attire and re-strapping her boots while Gary looked tense and Cullen a blank slate. He gave the three of them a gimlet stare and a nod. "It's time."
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
From the safety of the Magic Council camp, Sergeant Anbessie and Officer Kimbley approached the two guards on duty for the tunnel to the Boundary Forest. Sergeant Anbessie raised an eyebrow as both guards became at-attention in her presence and she had no intentions of letting them be at-ease. "Has Mister Redfox rung the line?"
"No, ma'am," one guard answered. "Not a sound all day."
Sergeant Anbessie swung her face to worried Kimbley and inclined her head in confirmation. "It's time."
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
With the moon bathing over Luna, she looked like a moon-child. She had fallen asleep in Nashi's hold and Nashi had issued a warning look when Blanche suggested Hemlock take Luna back to her room. Still dressed in their attire, they had been left alone once everyone realized the sisters would most likely sleep in the same bed for the night. Nashi did not give a damn if that upset Invel in the morning. Her eyes sought the night sky as she let out a breath, thumbing Luna's arm. It's time.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Lucy in the sky with diamonds… Ah
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Two cloaked figures dropped into a dank cavern were old blood lied and the bones of the deceased, but they had nary a second to reflect on the atrocities this earthy cavern had once been the center of. They gathered their strength as they looked into the abyss they could be traveling into and already, the song of screams bounced off the walls with bloodlust as its conductor.
"The trial has begun," the first cloaked one spoke. "Are you ready to confront your half?"
A locked jaw. "He doesn't have the key," the second reminded. "He might not be mine."
"You know as well as I that you lie," the first murmured. "He will. It is only a matter of time."
A huff. "Key or not, I will not leave him to suffer." The second cloaked one showed the glint of their dagger. "Get ready, old friend." As the second one revealed a broadsword with the hilt a charming white crusted in gold, the first one allowed their power to flow over the pair of them. "It is time."
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Picture yourself on a train in a station
With plasticine porters with looking glass ties
Suddenly someone is there at the turnstile
The girl with the kaleidoscope eyes
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
The home he had built was nothing special in his opinion. He preferred simple rather than extravagant. Perhaps it was silly—several told him so—but he preferred his minka which he had tailored perfectly with his engawa that wrapped along the entirety of his home and it surrounded his prized focal point of his orchid tree that never faltered even during fall and winter. Some claimed he had enchanted the poor tree, but, for some odd reason, this tree came along with his home and no matter what he did, it would never leave. Even as gentle snow passed by the windows, the orchid tree stood tall and in full bloom.
He walked through the halls in his yukata with his hands tucked into his sleeves until he came upon his living room. Some found it odd there was a brick fireplace in such a traditional home—even he thought the same—but the fireplace was there and that was that with a roaring fire that could warm in the coldest of people. He crouched near the fire, but he had no intentions of stoking it which was good because the fire was self-determined to stay alive. The flames danced in his eyes as he warmed himself up, sighing.
He turned away from the fire and decided to make himself a pot of tea to settle himself. The kitchen was by no means advanced, but it was not too old-fashioned as a testament to the rice cooker and the donkey clock, but even so, he still preferred to warm his tea over the fireplace in the living. While he waited for his tea, he decided to bring out his art materials. Now was as good as ever to paint his thoughts.
The sumi ink had already been prepped. He brought his paper and brushes over to his flat table and knelt upon the cushion. Careful in his poise, he dipped his brush in the ink and let his strokes takeover with the imagery cemented in his mind. Maybe he had been painting for hours or maybe it had felt like it, but he felt it in his bones when he was finished only to sigh at his painting. He looked at it up and down, but nothing made any more sense to him than the day before that and the day before that.
He breathed, "Who are you?"
And his painting—the painting that haunted him and fed into his dreams—was off a level-headed man with bright hair and a ring on his middle finger that held more significance than he could understand. And the man held an older but striking resemblance…
…to Lance.
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Ah
•
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Ah
•
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
TO BE CONTINUED…
BEEP… BEEP… BEEP…
The focus felt submerged like a force was attempting to keep it shut.
BEEP… BEEP… BEEP…
But the beeping would not stop.
BEEP… BEEP… BEEP…
The darkness tightened before it loosened and the focus cracked open. Water rushed in, but the focus never minded having to see underwater. A sting shot the focus, however, and it was clear this water had been tainted with something cleansing. The focus shut again.
BEEP… BEEP… BEEP…
The focus tried again to part and piece together the blurs in its vision. It peeked past the watery film and blinked time and time again, but the blurriness would not clear and the need to go back under—to sleep—was too strong. But the focus led in vacant sweeps to the outside with no recognition of anything, only observation.
BEEP… BEEP… BEEP…
The focus shut and there was darkness and the reopened to grasp the light even if the feeling to sink down, down, down would never go away. Glimpses passed through the focus even if none of the glimpses sparked anything inside them. Coats. White coats. Blurred figures passed in those white coats, but none of them would give the focus a time a day. They looked busy as they moved back and forth with gestures or mouths moving or something in their hands.
BEEP… BEEP… BEEP…
One of those blurred figures approached the focus, but their face did not ignite anything within them. They felt nothing. They felt the pull to go back under and the focus shut.
BEEP… BEEP… BEEP…
The focus opened half-lidded to see that figure had stood before them, but nothing about the figure stirred anything inside them. It was time. It was time to go back under. To sleep. To dream.
BEEP… BEEP… BEEP…
A blurred hand palmed the glass, but the figure never spoke. If they spoke, the focus never heard nor was interested to hear. Sleep. Dream. Exist. Nothing else mattered. Sleepily, the focus roamed the face of this figure and something vague caught the focus' attention. This face… Something…red…was on this face.
BEEP… BEEP… BEEP…
The figure left not a second more and the focus was read. Time to go back to dreaming. But that red would appear in those dreams as though hedging on something familiar, like it was something they were supposed to know.
BEEP… BEEP… BEEP…
Perhaps it clicked for them in a dream or while they were awake or in the in-between place of being asleep and awake. But that red stirred something. Not enough to rouse the focus. But it stirred something. A dream. A nightmare. A careless thought. A childish desire. An old memory.
Father…
Chibi-Luna pops in. "Good day, class!"
The students cheer: "Good day, Teacher! What's our Fairy Lesson for today?"
"Today's Fairy Lesson actually revolves around two of the duties of a Guild Master," Chibi-Luna explains as she brings out her slideshow. "The first responsibility we'll be covering is recruitment! You see, the Magic Council has a recruitment department for many who don't know. The recruitment departments works with Legal Guild Masters in promising Wizards who would be an asset to them. Non-Mage-based Guilds will have Guild Recruiters who attend fairs to entice other types of Wizards to their Guilds!"
A hand shoots up. "Is that sort of like a college fair teacher?"
"Exactly!" Chibi-Luna equates. "But for Mage-based Guilds, recruitment isn't that simple. Of course Guilds send representatives to go to convention. There's International Guild Con and Oh My Guild that are both held once a year in the USM where Mage Guilds from around the world come with different sets of Mages to feature in panels and have battles to draw in new blood," she explains. "But some Guild Masters recruit personally."
"Like how Ghost and Constantine and Number Five were recruited?" comes a question from a student.
Chibi-Luna nods. "Yes, that's right! While people do come to Fairy Tail because we're considered a powerhouse guild, Master Erza has recruited many Mages personally. I'm not quite sure how she does her recruiting, but she's doing something right!" She goes to her next slide. "The next duty of a Guild Master is one-on-ones. You know the student-teacher conferences we do?" She giggles when the students groan and grumble. "Well, I promise these one-on-ones aren't as bad," she assures. "These meetings are completely confidential and completely optional. Anyone can sign up for them really. Guild Masters set time aside to work with their Mages one-on-one on their goals."
Chibi-Luna goes on, "When I mean goals, it could mean a number of things. Mages before worked in wars and other sorts of hard labor and that was their only source of income. But now, Mages in Guilds are known to still work hard within the Guild, but many Mages branch out for other things. A Guild Master may help you figure out how to apply your Magic in other ways or help guide you towards resources for your studies! Guild Masters are a wonderful source of connections and wisdom and it's always smart to meet with your Guild Master once a quarter just for recommendations or maybe little nudges in the right direction."
Chibi-Luna claps her hands. "That concludes our Fairy Lesson! Author-san knows there was not too much action in this episode, but this is the calm before the storm. She hopes some of you got the references made and encourages you to point them out! Just remember everything has a meaning and some new faces you might see in the future might have been familiar this entire time! But there is one reference Author-son did want to give. The ending theme is the same song Mashima-sensei loved when he named Lucy Heartfilia's character. See? Everything has some sort of meaning!" She winks. "Next time, on Fairy Adventure: SO BELOW!"
Voices of Characters in Order of Appearance
— • — • — • —
Luna Dragneel – Brynn Apprill
Salma -
Mariem -
Hemlock – Alex Organ
Invel Yura – Clay Wheeler
Gary Fullbuster – Griffin Burns
Skade – Sean Schemmel
Nashi Dragneel – Lauren Landa
Checkmate – Jeannie Tirado
Companion -
Silver Fullbuster – Yuri Lownethal
Ena Fernandes – Xanthe Huynh
Peter Shuusei-Thompson – Joe Ziejas
Marek Wanoa -
Adrian Flammel -
Tesla Greer/Hylia Lynk – Galena White
Kyler – Ray Chase
Lance Dreyar – Johnny Young Bosch
Mary Jane Dreyar – Erica Lindbeck
Carlisle Justino – Eric Scott Kimerer
Aphtan Ángel – Adam Gibbs
Mahalia Ángel -
Dante Princeton-O'Neill – Adrian Petriw
Elder Mozah – Cree Summers
Naseer Raml -
Offer Kimbley – Greg Ayres
Sergeant Anbessie – Pam Dougherty
Jasper Langley – Zeno Robinson
Muta the Exceed – Jason Douglas
Aine Fernandes – Carrie Kernanen
Laxus Dreyar – Patrick Seitz
Mira Strauss-Dreyar – Monica rial
• — • — •
Additional Voices
Opening Narrator – Mary McGlynn
Description Narrator – Mary McGlynn
Closing Narrator – Melissa Fahn
— • — • — • —
⌜OPENING THEME
⟪ Your Hands Grasping Even Yourself ⟫
Noisycell
Lyrics by
Noisycell⌟
•
⌜INSERT SONG 1
⟪ Flower Shower ⟫
HyunA
Lyrics by
PSY
Composer by
PSY, 유건형, SPACE ONE, Anna Timgren⌟
•
⌜INSERT SONG 2
⟪ DUN DUN ⟫
EVERGLOW
Lyrics by
서지음
Composer by
Olof Lindskog, Gavin Jones, Hayley Aitken, 72⌟
•
⌜ENDING THEME
⟪ Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds ⟫
The Beatles
Lyrics by & Composed by
Lennon-McCartney⌟
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
TRANSLATIONS
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Perlagog → Fioren-Minstrish
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Mas maganda ang pakiramdam ko.
I feel better.
• — • — •
Mas mahusay ang iyong perlagog sa tuwing nakikita kita.
Your perlagog is better whenever I see you.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Perench → Fioren-Minstrish
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Donne
Give! / Give me!
• — • — •
ouais, s'il te plait
Yes, please
• — • — •
Je veux que tu me baises encore dans le tapis et qu'on puisse se blottir pour toujours
I want you to fuck me into the carpet again and then we can snuggle forever