"My older brother?" Lucas repeats the man's words with utter disbelief. "No, you're not." Suddenly, there's a surprising amount of force to his voice. "I don't have an older brother. You've got the wrong person."
But the man before us smiles, holding the lantern higher. It illuminates his pallid face amidst the cold darkness of the forest. "I haven't got the wrong person," he says. "It's complicated, Lucas. I'm sorry to bring it on you like this, but it's true. Tell me... where are you from?"
"Tazmily," Lucas says. He sounds a little defensive.
"And your parents, what are their names?"
"Hinawa. Flint." Lucas shudders, checking himself. "But you can't be, you're lying, you can't be..."
"Lucas, those are my parents' names, too," the man says gently. "I was born in Tazmily. Flint and Hinawa had to give me away. You're the right person, I'm sure of it."
"But anyone could say that," Lucas says, distressed. "You could just be some guy. You haven't even told us your name!"
"My name is Saul," the man explains. He puts a hand to his neck — Lucas's same tell for nervousness, I realise with a jolt. "Look, I know this is alarming. I get it. But I came here to find you, Lucas. I came all the way up from the city, just to see if the rumours were true."
"The rumours..." Lucas repeats, but I can tell he doesn't believe him. "Mother never mentioned anyone called Saul. Neither did Father." He steps forward, his lower lip wobbling. "I don't trust you. Enough people have lied to me recently. If I find out you're another..."
"It is perfectly within your right not to trust me," Saul says, holding up his hands. "But I can explain everything when we're inside, I promise. Assuming I can indeed come in?"
"I suppose you'd better," Lucas murmurs. "But for the record, I think you're wrong. I think you're lying."
"And that's okay," Saul says. He sounds kindly, almost fatherly as he turns toward the school's inviting doors. "I'll explain everything, Lucas. I'll tell you the truth. It'll all make sense... I promise."
.
.
.
~~o00o~~
Chapter 51 - The Romantic's Spiral
(Ness)
~~o00o~~
.
.
.
It feels like my last piece of good luck came a million years ago.
Or maybe it came when Lucas admitted he liked me. Either way, the last few days have been kind of miserable. Porky announced intensive changes to the timetable. I was kicked out of my own house. Worst of all, I was brutally attacked by mice.
If there's a God? Fuck him. Seriously. The guy's not given me a break in forever. And now, he's piled a family drama onto my big list of tribulations.
Because when Lucas dragged me outside to act on another one of his miraculous hunches, I was hardly expecting to run into his long-lost older brother. I was also not expecting to sit him down for a chat in our renovated dorm, him parking his greasy self on my own bed. As a result of all this, I find myself glowering at him, listening as he tells his tale.
"But how?" Lucas says again. He looks wholly uncomfortable, sitting underneath that painting he did while I was comatose. "I just — I don't understand."
"I'm your older brother," Saul says. "Your parents, our parents, gave birth to me in Tazmily twenty years ago. They had to give me away because they couldn't afford to look after me. There was no other choice."
"They wouldn't do that," Lucas says stubbornly. "My mother would never do that to her son."
"They made sure it was a loving home," Saul says, standing up and beginning to pace. He passes the bookshelf, and I don't miss the glint in his eye as he observes some of Ryu's items. "They didn't enough have enough money to feed me. I would've died, it was the kindest thing they could've done. They gave me to a couple living in a Onett, one who couldn't bear children of their own."
"When you were less than two years old?" Lucas raises an eyebrow, sceptical. "You remember all that?"
"No," Saul says, now looking at the oaken wardrobe. "Mother and Father — my new ones — told me. Obviously."
"And how did you know to come here?"
"Because you were in the newspaper," Saul says at once. "I figured you'd be of schooling age, and since you weren't at war, I knew you couldn't be at the public school. I had to come and find you."
"How did you arrive?"
"I took the train," Saul says. "I had money saved from my job in the mines. I had to pay the driver extra to stop at the school."
Lucas furrows his brow. I can tell he doesn't believe a word of it, and frankly, I don't either. These are things that anyone could say. This reeks of some sort of scheme.
"What do you think of Porky?" I demand. I'm not sure why I suddenly feel so protective, but Lucas looks so perturbed that I have to speak.
"Porky? I hate him," Saul says, and I'm surprised by the savagery that enters his voice. "He's the scum of the earth. Makes it so hard for anyone to live good, decent lives…"
"Alright then," Lucas says. "So, you've done your research. As it happens, I have a twin brother, too. What's his name?"
"We have another brother?" Saul looks incredulous. "I didn't know, he wasn't in the newspaper."
"Then how about we go and meet him?" Lucas suggests, his lip curled. "I'm sure he'd love to meet another member of the family."
"Sounds good to me." Saul stands, and suddenly he's significantly taller than Lucas. Lucas's expression becomes icy, but regardless, he leads us into the corridor.
When we enter Claus's room, I'm surprised by how clean it is. The posters of women are all gone from his walls, there is no more opium hidden in socks, and the room smells of fresh linen instead of stale males. We have to wake Claus up, which I momentarily feel bad about, but he's quite happy to see us, inviting us to sit on Meta Knight's old bed. Claus has been looking after himself quite well, it seems. He's kept things in order. I suppose, despite all the things that fell behind in Porky's captivity, independence would've been the one thing to flourish.
"Hi, Claus," Lucas says. "This is Saul. He says he's our older brother."
"Oh!" Claus is surprised, but he goes over to shake the man's hand. "Hello, Saul. Am Claus."
"Hello, Claus," Saul says, politely nodding. Lucas glowers behind them.
"Right then," Lucas says. "So, now that everyone is present, can you tell me why my parents never thought to mention you?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Saul looks between me, Lucas, and Claus with raised eyebrows. "Imagine you're a kid, and your parents tell you they gave your older brother away. You'd think you're the next on the chopping block."
Lucas ignores this logic, continuing to glare at him. His initial fluster has completely gone, replaced with cold rationality. "You don't even look like us, you know. You don't look like Mother. You don't look like Father."
"To be fair, you and Claus don't look like your parents," I say.
Lucas shoots me a dirty look. I fall instantly quiet.
"Look," Saul says placidly. "I know I've just come out of nowhere, of course, I wouldn't expect you to believe me straight away-"
"It's ridiculous," Lucas declares. "You're talking absolute nonsense."
"-But, whether you believe me or not, I need to stay here for a while."
"Too bad." Lucas folds his skinny arms. "You can't."
"Lucas..." Saul's expression becomes pleading. "It's so cold out there. It's been a disaster, my mother and father — adoptive mother and father — died when I was thirteen. I had to sell our house, and live on the streets, trying to get a job in the factories, or the mines. When I saw your name in the newspaper, I felt hope, Lucas — please, don't take that away from me. I can't bear the cold any longer."
For the first time, I watch Lucas's stiff upper lip soften. He knows what the street life is like, the daily struggle just to survive. I can see how the battle rages inside his head, pity against disbelief. He looks at me, and I stand.
"...Ness and I are going to talk about it," Lucas says. His voice is less harsh than before, but it still carries that brittle edge. "Please, stay here. We'll be back soon."
"Thanks, Lucas," Saul murmurs.
Lucas takes me into the corridor.
As soon as we're out there, he slackens. He loses that defiant anger. But he still looks stressed, and when I try to take his hand as comfort, he shakes it off.
"We can't keep him here," he mumbles. "He'd be found out. What do we do?"
"I don't know," I say. "He's your brother."
Lucas looks at me. "He's not my brother. For all we know, he's the guy who blew up the Onett High Court. He might want to steal the golden egg, he might be working for Porky..."
"And even if he was your brother, he might still want to do all of those things."
"Exactly! But then, if we send him away, he'll have to sleep in the cold. He might die." Lucas begins to pace past the row of gas lamps, looking more agitated than I've ever seen him. "Why is he even here?"
"...Well, are you completely sure he's not your brother?" Under Lucas's fiery gaze, I raise my hands. "I mean, we thought Claus was a monster for ages-"
"He's nothing like me, Ness. Don't be stupid."
"I'm not being stupid," I say, stung. "This is important. Can you stop glaring at me, please?"
"I'm not glaring! I'm just..." He averts his tired gaze. "Okay, sorry. This is stupid. It doesn't make sense. I hate when things don't make sense."
"Look, how about we let him stay for a night?" I suggest. "We can see what the others think in the morning. We've got a spare bed, he could stay with us-"
"We've also got the magic items," Lucas reminds me. "And I'd rather not be killed in my sleep."
"Alright... then, he could stay with Claus?"
"I'm not putting Claus in danger."
"Then Claus can stay with us, and he can stay in Claus's room." I take Lucas's hand again. This time, he accepts it. "He doesn't seem to mean any harm," I reason, thinking of the gentleness I saw in his expression. "And you're right, we can't send him into the cold. No matter who he is."
"...Alright," Lucas says reluctantly. "But he's not my brother, okay? I'd know if he was. I'd feel it."
"Not your brother," I say, squeezing his hand. "Got it."
We go back into Claus's room, where Saul has parked himself on Meta Knight's old bed. It looks like he and Claus have been speaking, in fact, Saul seems remarkably undisturbed by Claus's metal cheek. But he stands up at once when we return, barely masking the anticipation on his face.
"Well? Can I stay?"
"For one night," Lucas says begrudgingly, though I note there's an air of authority to his voice. "Tomorrow, we'll decide what to do in the long-term."
Saul's expression melts into relief. "Thank you. So much. You don't know how much that means to me, bro-"
But one glare from Lucas is enough to silence him.
And so, it is agreed that Saul will take Claus's bedroom for the night, while Claus will share mine and Lucas's room. Claus seems a little put out by this idea, but he eventually gives in to Lucas's insistence that Saul might be dangerous, and he ends up coming with us quite cheerily. We leave Saul behind us, and we make extra sure to lock our dorm door. It wouldn't do to unexpectedly get murdered.
"It's ridiculous," Lucas huffs, throwing our curtains shut. The night outside has become remarkably still, with not even a breath of wind in the air. "He comes out of the forest, acting like he's entitled to everything. Even if he was my brother, why would he expect me to take risks for him?"
"Not our brother?" Claus says.
Lucas sighs. "No, Claus. He can't be. We don't have another brother, he's just a random guy who's using us for free accommodation."
"But you said-"
"Forget what I said," Lucas interrupts, and there's an unfamiliar impatience to his tone. "Just go to sleep. I'll explain in the morning."
"Okay," Claus mumbles. "Night night."
"Goodnight," Lucas says, and Claus curls up under the covers.
As I watch my paramour wrench his pyjamas from the wardrobe, I feel a familiar prickle of concern. Lately, I think Lucas has been changing. This ordeal has toughened him up a lot from the once-timid boy I knew, but perhaps the changes haven't been entirely positive. Since being in Crazy Hand's hideout, he's been surlier, more reluctant to be open. He's been more serious and more irritable. I just don't like it. It makes me feel as though I'm constantly doing him a great wrong by lingering around him, and worse, I don't feel as though I can bring it up. I don't feel as though I can be honest about it. And what kind of a relationship is that?
The thought troubles me. I change into my pyjamas in silence, a strange sense of foreboding descending into my stomach. It feels as if bad things are coming. Perhaps they're already on the horizon.
I turn back to Lucas, who's now lying resolutely in bed. I come in next to him, and he instantly curls up to me, burying his head in my chest. His hands grip my pyjama shirt like it's a raft, and he's adrift at sea.
Concerned, I can only hold him close. I don't want to pry; sometimes, it's best to wait for Lucas to find the words than to rush him. Instead, I pull blankets over the both of us, rubbing his back, any animosity I was feeling toward him fastly fading. His body rises and falls, and it soon becomes apparent that he's asleep.
I exhale in the silence.
My tired mind doesn't know what to make of Saul. On the one hand, I agree with Lucas. He could be anyone, and he could be someone dangerous. On the other hand, he could be telling the truth. Maybe Lucas is too quick to dismiss him, maybe because he doesn't want to believe it's true. Perhaps having a long-lost brother would be the straw to break his back.
Mulling it over, I curl deeper into the mass of covers. I suppose we'll have to wait until tomorrow, and then see what the others have to say. They might be more rational, free of the emotional biases that Lucas and I are guilty of carrying. Perhaps that'll make them wiser than us.
With that last thought, I fall into a pit of troubled dreams.
.
.
.
.
.
"Wake up, lovebirds!"
I blearily open my eyes.
"You missed breakfast!" Toon Link calls, and there's a flurry of knocks. "You've got mail!"
"Mail?" Lucas shoots up. "Is it from Mount Oriander?"
"No, it's for Ness! Can we come in?"
I tumble out of bed as Lucas opens the lock. Bright light pours through the doorway. The others come in, laughing at me, sprawled on the floor in my pyjamas.
"Here you go," Villager says, dropping the letter on my face.
Feeling rather bedraggled, I open it. I read the neat, slanted writing:
.
.
~~o00o~~
Dear Ness,
This isn't a love letter, though it may seem like one.
You don't know me, and in truth, I don't really know you. But as we arrived at school and sat down for Friday's feast, I found myself staring at you across the room.
...That sounds really bad, now I've written it, but I promise it's not weird. You see, we bear a striking resemblance. Which wouldn't be anything special, but then I looked a little harder, and something caught my eye. I had this weird premonition that you're a magician. Like me. This might not make any sense to you, but I have what are known as SFI (Diplomatics) powers. Professor Ryu had the same powers before his death, and he was the one who told me who I was, and what I can do. I don't know if he's told you about your powers, or if you even know what magic is, but, yeah. Sorry, I think I'm rambling.
My point was, if you want to send a letter back and talk about all of this, well, that'd be pretty cool. I don't know much about all this magic (Ryu used a lot of big words when he explained it) and it'd be good to have a friend to talk to about it. But if you think I'm a lunatic, that's cool too, I suppose. I promise, I'll only be a little bit offended.
I haven't signed my name properly, since I don't fancy being bullied for this. But if you feel like replying, leave the letter under the pool table in the Games Room. I'll be sure to collect it.
~ 910.
~~o00o~~
.
.
I look up, wiping the sleep from my eyes. "Is this some kind of a joke?"
"Professor Shulk delivered it during breakfast," Red says. "It was quite surprising. What does it say?"
I tell them.
"Bear a striking resemblance? And he has magical powers?" Lucas looks concerned. "Perhaps I'm not the only one with a secret brother..."
"That, or Ryu had multiple heroes on the go," I say. "He said we were the only ones. Unbelievable..."
"To be fair, he didn't tell us about Headmaster Hand." Lucas shrugs, evidently in a better mood after a night's sleep. "But, uh, we have someone far more interesting to check on first."
"Who?" Red asks.
"Well," Lucas says, that purposeful expression returning to his face. "He claims to be my brother."
When we walk in on Saul, he's sleeping in Meta Knight's old bed. Villager frowns at the sight of him, and I study that oily, dark hair. In the daylight, Saul looks even more ghostly than before, his skin a pale white. His slender arms are almost hairless, but they're rough with wear, perhaps from working in a factory or the mines. The only sign of life is his breathing, which is hurried and a little ragged, even in sleep.
Pit is the first to speak. "Where did you find him?"
"A morgue?" Toon Link suggests.
"We found him in the forest," Lucas explains. "He came out of nowhere, and declared he was my brother. I decided not to let him freeze to death, so Ness and I said he could stay for a night."
"And what's going to happen when he wakes up?"
"...We haven't decided," Lucas admits. "But most likely, we'll send him back to Onett."
Saul stirs. We anxiously watch, the phantasmal man rolling over and jumping to attention when he notices us all. I realise it might be a little alarming to have seven people standing over you when you wake up. As a result, he looks a little fearful as he climbs out of bed.
"Hello," Lucas says.
"Hello," Saul echoes. His voice is smooth, but tired. He stares between Lucas and the others.
"These are our friends," Lucas explains. "Uh, did you sleep well?"
"Not great," Saul admits, rubbing his shoulders. "These beds are quite stiff..."
"Well, I hope it was better than sleeping in the forest."
"Come on, you know I didn't mean it like that..." Saul groans as he gets up, dusting down his unkempt black shirt. "Sorry for being such a bother. Maybe I should have arrived by day."
"It's alright," Lucas recedes. "I'm sorry too, for being so rude."
I raise my eyebrows. It's rare to hear Lucas apologise out loud. Usually, his apologies come silently in the form of hugs, or extra portions of dinner.
"I can understand it," Saul says. "It's not every day that your brother-"
"I still don't think you're my brother," Lucas says quickly.
"Ah. Well, even so. I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry too," Lucas says.
There's a small quiet.
"We've got to go to Assembly," I remember, stepping in and touching Lucas's hand. Lucas nods, looking across at Saul.
"Ness is right. Stay here for now, and we'll decide what to do with you later. Do you promise not to cause any chaos?"
"I promise," Saul says.
"In fact, Claus can look after you," Lucas decides. "Claus, if he causes trouble, let me know, okay?"
"Okay," Claus says. Saul reluctantly nods.
And so, we hurry out of the door, cursing ourselves for forgetting about the new timetables. Lucas detours to grab the Psychic Stone, shoving it into his pocket. The stairs clatter under our mass of feet. We enter the main Hall with a crash, and Porky looks up from his lectern.
"Aha! Late to Assembly, Ness? That'll be another session of cleaning the toilets."
I seethe at the injustice, but I know better than to protest. I sit down at the end of a row, by one of the Main Hall's giant pillars. Porky waits until the room has fallen silent.
"As I was saying," he continues. "I wanted to commend most of you for obeying the new rules. Professors have reliably informed me that curfews have been obeyed, and you've been travelling in groups of two or more. Let's hear a cheer for good behaviour!"
A couple of students give a half-hearted 'woo!', but it quickly dissipates.
"Now, now, we can't be having that," Porky says, wagging a fat finger. "Shall we try again? Let's have a cheer for good behaviour!"
This time, a slightly louder cheer rings out. It's small, but it seems to satisfy Porky enough, and he straightens himself out, leaning over the lectern.
"Very good. However... not everyone has been so obedient. Indeed, as I was strolling down the library this morning, I discovered a piece of graffiti had appeared, slandering my good name. Now, who would conduct such inappropriate behaviour? Who would besmirch our beautiful walls with filth? Anyone?"
Nobody speaks. I look at Lucas in confusion, and he shrugs.
"I see..." Porky surveys us with the air of a disappointed parent. "Well, according to school policy, vandalism isn't permitted. If nobody comes forward, then I'll have no choice but to remove privileges for everyone."
There are some mutters of dismay, but still, nobody confesses to the crime.
"Alright, I understand how it'll be." Porky steps back from the lectern, his eyes twinkling. To my discomfort, he looks across at me. "If our vandal wishes to stay quiet, then so be it. Access to the swimming pool is revoked. No more visiting the library. The common rooms will be closed-"
The outcry is immediate. Some students actually stand up in protest, their shouts echoing over the high ceiling, but Porky sweeps them aside with a wave of his hand.
"Do not blame me, blame the vandal!" Porky sings. "Bad behaviour will not be tolerated in my school! When the perpetrator comes forward, privileges will be returned. So, I implore anyone who knows anything to come to my office. Until then... assembly dismissed! Have a nice day!"
Porky departs, and I follow the hordes of standing, complaining students. I couldn't care less about the pool closing or about the common rooms, but this graffiti sounds like it might become a pain, especially if it happens again. Unfortunately, I can't concern myself with that quite yet, because there's something else to deal with first.
Saul.
I sigh. I still can't wrap my head around it. I can't wrap my head around his story — much as I want to have some sympathy for the guy, he comes across as untrustworthy. His personality has been bizarrely inconsistent, sometimes victim-like, sometimes calm and collected. My instincts scream no when they look at him. And Lucas's distress concerns me; even as we go back up the stairs, his hand starts to tremor in mine. Regardless of who this man is — and let's be real, he is a man, he claims to be twenty, after all — he's creating a lot of disruption.
When we walk in on him, he's just as he was before. He sits on Meta Knight's bed, his expression set perfectly to neutrality. There's an uneasy falseness to it, but an uneasy rigidness, too. He looks as though someone has carved him out of wax, and not done a particularly good job.
"How was your assembly?" he asks.
Lucas ignores the question. "Where's Claus?"
"Your room, I suppose," Saul says. "I'd hoped he might return, but I think he's a little afraid of me."
"Afraid of you?"
"Afraid of me," Saul says calmly, standing up again. "But, uh, Lucas... there's something I need to tell you. Can we talk in private?"
"No," Lucas says bluntly. "Whatever you say to me can be said in front of Ness."
"Not this." Saul's expression wavers to uncertainty. That victim-like state. "It's proof. Proof that I'm who I say I am. And I'd rather not show anyone... outside of the family."
"We're not family."
"Outside of you, then," Saul says, looking worried. His eyes shift to me. "Would that be okay with you, Ness?"
I fold my arms. "I'm not leaving you alone with him."
But his gaze moves back to Lucas. Saul looks pleading; the look is not unlike one Lucas might give me. Lucas stares back, almost recognising it. Then, he turns back to face me.
"Ness, can you go and check on Claus?"
"Lucas-"
"It's important, Ness." He brings down his voice. "If anything happens, I'll scream. Maybe you can go and answer that letter from this morning."
"I don't want to leave you," I say plaintively. "If I leave you in danger, and something happens..."
"Then it'd be my fault." Lucas pats me on the shoulder, and the touch is a little reassuring. "Please. For me. I'll be fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes." There's a certainty in his expression, one I can't counter. I give a reluctant sigh, knowing that I'm probably setting us up for disaster.
"Okay. But if you hurt him, Saul, then I'll set you on fire. Understood?"
"Understood," Saul says.
Lucas gives a serious nod, even opening the door for me. "Thanks, Ness. I'll come through when we're done."
.
.
.
.
.
Claus seems to be doing okay. When I enter my room, I see him sitting happily by the windowsill, reading one of the books from Ryu; Psychic Control and Balance. The cover is engraved with gold. It looks quite fancy.
But I'm not doing quite as okay. I sigh wretchedly, slumping down in Lucas's bed, my thoughts consumed by the man next door. Who is he? What's his proof? I stretch my legs in agitation, feeling my feet make contact with something flat.
I pull it out. The letter from this morning.
Maybe Lucas is right, perhaps I should reply to it. Because it's intriguing, after all. Could it really be another person with powers? Someone just like us? It irks me that Ryu wouldn't have told us about them... but Ryu always had his reasons for things. Maybe it made sense in his mind.
My eyes rake the slanted handwriting. We bear a striking resemblance... who bears a resemblance to me? Mii? Villager? My thoughts rush to Popo, but I don't think he'd write with such verbosity. That could mean this is a stranger, which opens up a whole host of potential candidates. Being friends with Lucas means I never felt the need to get to know the people in lower years, meaning I probably won't be able to guess this mystery letter-sender.
Which means there's only one thing to be done.
I pull out a sheet of paper, and I get to work on a reply.
.
.
~~o00o~~
Hello, 910.
This is Ness. I received your letter this morning, though my friends ended up getting it for me. I'll admit, it was strange, but I figured I might as well reply. I've got nothing better to do, and you seem like a decent enough guy.
So, you're magical? That's kind of weird, because Ryu told me there were no other magical people in the school. But maybe he meant there are no more psychics; that's what Lucas (my best friend) and I are. It basically means we can shoot fire and ice from our hands, and read people's emotions. In the words of our friends Toon Link, they're the 'gayest powers ever'.
Am I the only other powerful person you've seen? Or are there more? It's kind of weird, knowing that being a magician can get you killed in some parts of Onett. Lucas and I have done a pretty good job of avoiding death so far, but we're pretty sure there are people after us. Has anyone come after you?
And finally, what's your name? It feels weird to be talking to someone without one, just in case you're Porky or something. It'd be nice to meet you somewhere, perhaps? Where and when would be good?
Hope to hear back from you,
~ Ness.
~~o00o~~
.
.
"I'm going to deliver this," I tell Claus, folding the letter up. "Will you be okay here?"
Claus nods, still reading his book, so I head outside. I'm secretly a little pleased with my letter, having made an extra effort to match the writer's semicolon with one of my own. Perhaps I worry too much about those kinds of things, but I like making a good first impression. Father always told me that was important.
...Oh, yeah. I'm not supposed to be thinking about him.
Instead, I hurry into the Games Room, which is pleasingly empty. I deposit my letter under the pool table, picking up a stray newspaper on the way. While I'm here, I figure I might as well give the graffiti a look, seeing as Lucas is too busy getting murdered by his fake brother to read the new psychic books.
It's a quick walk to the library. Porky appears to have added a barrier to the doorway, blocking any entrants from accessing the towering, dusty shelves. However, the graffiti adorns the wall outside, and it's far from subtle.
Porky is an elitist, it blares in bright magenta letters. He must be overthrown!
I grin.
"Ness!"
Jumping, I turn, but it's only Professor Rosalina. She strides out of a nearby door, carrying a hefty book. I force a smile.
"I'd been looking for you," Rosalina says. "How convenient! And right by... this." Her eyes flicker across the graffiti. "Ness, I understand that this business with Porky is troubling, but this is a little crude, is it not? Aren't there more important things to be doing?"
It takes me a few seconds to realise what she's implying. When I do, my mouth falls open in surprise. "I didn't do this!"
"Now, Ness." Rosalina's expression remains stern. "You were seen painting it, I'll have you know. Late last night. You don't have to pretend, you're not in trouble."
"But I was asleep," I say, utterly perplexed. "I was with Lucas, you can ask him-"
"Ness, I'm not angry with you-"
"I didn't do it!" I fold my arms, feeling very hard done by. "Who saw me? Because if it was Porky, or Bowser-"
"It was Professor Marth," Rosalina says simply. "Who has no vendetta against you whatsoever."
"Except for when he invented a whole maths competition because I guessed an answer right!"
"Aside from that," Rosalina amends. "But, I see no reason to disbelieve him. You can continue with your stance if you wish, but I would ask the graffiti doesn't continue. You need to tread carefully around Porky, Ness. He's dangerous-"
"I know-"
"-And he'll be looking for any excuse to get you in trouble. Is that clear?"
"Yes, of course it is!" I look at her, genuinely hurt by the accusation. Rosalina always used to take my side on these things. "I know Porky's evil," I say. "He killed Lucas's mother, remember? He's been creeping around my life since I was just a kid, and he scares the hell out of me. I'm not going to try and overthrow him by painting some goddamn graffiti."
Rosalina's silent for a moment, but she eventually relents, shaking her head. "Whatever you say, Ness. Now, how about more important things? Your powers, have you begun honing them?"
"No," I admit.
"Then, you must begin at once. Ryu spoke in his letter to me: it is of the utmost importance that you train. He said you must be disciplined, practising day by day."
"He told us that too."
"Great! Then I take it you'll begin this afternoon?"
I groan. "We're a bit busy-"
"Ness." Rosalina's expression sharpens. "Whatever you're busy with, it's going to have to wait. Ryu wouldn't have told you to train if it wasn't important. If you're as serious about taking down Porky as you claim, then you need to get started right away, okay?"
There's no disagreeing with her. I look down reluctantly at the floor. "Okay, Professor."
"Excellent," Rosalina says. "I am sorry to be hard on you, but I trust Ryu's intuition even above my own. He wished me to see you through this as best as I could, so that's what I must do, you understand?"
I nod.
"I'm practising as well," she says. "I've gotten a bit rusty through the years. In fact, I got this book, The Elements of Light to study them further." She holds up the hefty tome. "So, I hope to see you out on the field later, okay? Goodbye for now, Ness."
"Goodbye," I echo, a little bit of guilt settling in my stomach.
Rosalina walks back up the long corridor, and I notice a considerable tiredness returning to her figure when she thinks she's out of sight. But I spot Porky coming in the other direction, so I scurry away, hoping that Lucas might be done with Saul. I hurry past a boy and a girl kissing, past two people standing almost like statues by the dorm stairs, but suddenly, my legs give way — I clatter headlong to the floor-
"Ough — oh, sorry!"
I look up, wincing. It's Jeff. His glasses fell too, and I hastily apologise, handing them back.
"You okay?" Jeff asks worriedly. "In a rush somewhere?"
"Not really," I lie, picking myself up. There'll be a nice bruise on my leg by the morning. "Sorry, I wasn't looking-"
"It's okay," Jeff says, and he puts his glasses back on. "See you around, I suppose. Perhaps be more careful in future?"
"Yes, of course," I say, and I carry on up the stairs. But no sooner have we parted than there's a terrific BANG! and Jeff shouts, his glasses falling off his face again. Several people turn around with alarm, and I realise the noise came from inside my dorm.
Shit.
I hurry inside to find a burning wardrobe, Claus staring at it in horror. Smoke billows everywhere.
"PK FREEZE!" I shout, and the force tugs at my gut, sending ice hurtling from my hands. The wardrobe hisses, the flames immediately quenched. Steam fills the room, and hurry to throw open the window. "What happened, Claus?"
Claus looks terrified, overwrought with hysteria. "I said - I said-"
I come over to him. The book he was reading is still in his hands. I pick it up, reading, PK Thunder — Cast a bolt of lightning from above.
"Did you say this?" I ask.
Claus nods, meek.
"Yeah, uh, maybe don't say those things out loud..." Nervously, I open the wardrobe. Thankfully, the contents are unscathed, though a fresh billow of steam emerges. The bolted trapdoor is still there, the golden egg, Lucas's striped jumper. "It's okay," I say, seeing Claus's lip trembling. "Don't worry about it."
"Okay," Claus says, and he immediately sits back down to read again. A little disturbed by his sudden change in demeanour, I do the same, remembering the newspaper I swiped from the Games Room. The headline is immediately concerning.
The Sharks Threaten 'Justice and Consequences.'
The Sharks are on the rise once more. Following Everdred's arrest, various members of the gang have taken to the streets to protest. B.H. Pirkle reports that complaint letters have increased 'tenfold'. Geledegarde Monotoli, senior spokesperson for the Onetian Council, stated that Everdred is becoming a 'figurehead' for those in support of an uprising. Geldegarde's son, Judge Monotoli, was killed in the explosion.
Meanwhile, on Sunday evening, Frank Fly, The Sharks' leader, gave a speech at the Pavilion. Mr Fly declared that Headmaster Hand's arrest was a 'travesty of justice,' claiming The Sharks had infiltrated the trial when they discovered Porky Minch was representing the prosecution. Mr Fly has previously been very public concerning his dislike of Mr Minch (who is, of course, a great businessman and benefactor of the Onetian Financial Sector), calling him an 'Old Pig' and a 'Merchant of Greed'.
'The old pig's wallet's getting bigger,' Mr Fly declared. 'Justice must be served, and consequences will follow.'
Procedures have been put into place to protect Onett's historical buildings from further Shark attacks, but citizens are advised to remain vigilant in this time of crisis. B.H. Pirkle notes that The Sharks have historically been unpredictable, and Constable Mighty, interim leader of the Onett Police Force, has encouraged citizens to report all suspicious activity to the Onett Police Station.
I grimace at the words.
It's a political maelstrom. Three powerful groups, all wrestling for control. Geldegarde and his lackeys in the government, a street gang of political activists, and of course, Porky. Though, I think to myself darkly, only one of those groups owns a city.
I read the next article.
Onett Troops Advance!
The Onett First Brigade are moments from destroying Tazmily, according to reports from Army General X. Agerate. The preliminary attack is scheduled to occur at 8 a.m. tomorrow morning, with Second and Third Brigade reinforcements scheduled to arrive throughout the day. Scouts have said the village is 'swarming with civilians' of all shapes and sizes. Pray for our great city, and victory will be ours!
...And that's enough news for today. Yet another article not to show Lucas. I can only hope that by some strange chance, the attack will fail.
Speak of the devil, Lucas appears through the door, looking absolutely exhausted. I smile, pleased to see he hasn't been murdered. "How did it go?"
Lucas walks stiffly forward. He sits beside me on my bed, and then he turns to me with anguish in his eyes. "He's my brother."
"He's what?"
"It's true." Lucas fixes his eyes resolutely on the floor. "He's exactly who he says he is."
"Are you - are you sure?" Something about Lucas's gait screams dishonesty. "What was his proof?"
"Well…" He falters, looking at me, then glancing hastily away again. "I probably shouldn't say. It was personal."
"What happen?" Claus asks from across the room, finally putting down his book. "Saul bad?"
"Saul's our brother," Lucas says. His expression is so forced that I wonder if Saul held him at gunpoint. It wouldn't surprise me, that oily bastard has been filling me with more and more doubt all day. I hug Lucas close, suddenly feeling protective.
"Our brother?" Claus frowns. "But you said..."
"I was wrong again," Lucas admits.
"What happens with him now?" I ask. "Does he stay?"
"He has to," Lucas says, and I sense some reluctance in his voice. "He can stay in Claus's room. Just because he's my brother doesn't mean I trust him yet."
"And what about when we're in lessons?"
Lucas shrugs. "We'll just keep him out of the way, I guess. Now, uh, why is the wardrobe charred?"
"Oh." I laugh, in spite of myself. "Claus said PK Thunder, and-"
BANG. A great bolt of thunder plummets from the sky. The wardrobe bursts into flames.
"PK FREEZE!" Lucas yells. Ice rushes from his hands, and the flames are quenched. "Ness, you goof!"
"Sorry…" I say sheepishly. "But, yeah, that happened. Those books seem to have a lot of, uh, powers in them…"
"Yeah." Lucas looks over at the looming stack of them. "A lot. They're kind of scary."
"Rosalina says we need to practice," I say.
"Even Claus needs to practice. Since he... y'know…"
"Agreed."
"Guys!" The door swings open. It's Toon Link, flanked by Villager. "We heard explosions, what's going on?"
"Spontaneous acts of magic," I say. "Nothing to worry about."
Villager looks worriedly at the wardrobe. "Aren't you supposed to be practising your magiic outside?"
"Well, yeah," Lucas says. "But Ness said PK Thu-"
"Lucas!" I clap a hand over his mouth. "We accidentally summoned lightning," I explain.
"And that is why you need to hone those powers," Villager reprimands, tossing PK Power Manual in our direction. "Come on, Toon Link. Let's get back to-" He falls short, blushing.
"Well, ain't you keen?" Toon Link raises his eyebrows. "Perhaps I'm not in the mood anymore."
"Of course you are, you're infatuated with me. Come on!"
Toon Link turns distinctly pink as Villager shepherds him into the glowing yellow corridor, and I laugh to myself, wondering exactly what those two get up to. But that makes me wonder if Lucas would ever want to do those things, and my laughter swiftly fades. Lucas has always been more physically reserved than me, and the whole thing isn't really a topic I know how to bring up. It's just one of those awkward things. Something else to worry about once Porky is gone.
"Oh, look at this," Lucas says, shaking me out of my reverie. PK Power Manual has opened on a page about magical stones. I crouch down next to him, glad for the distraction.
The Stone of PSI Power, colloquially known as the 'Psychic Stone' is a legendary artefact. It is renowned among magical scholars, and is often cited as the second most elusive of all magical items. It is part of the primary quintuplet of powerful stones, which comprises the Diplomatic Stone, the Light Stone, the Elemental Stone, the Creation Stone, and the Psychic Stone. These stones have all been documented throughout history, though it is worth mentioning an even more elusive stone, known as the Time Stone.
The Time Stone was allegedly created by Artur, the first man to possess CRN powers. It is said that touching it takes the bearer back in time, though proof of its existence is contested among scholars.
To quote The Psychic Manual, it is not known precisely how Artur's stones work, only that when they were created, they appeared to initiate a sudden influx of magicians throughout Onett. It is suggested that the stones are the 'roots' of the five branches of powers; their existence centralises the force of magic, enabling more people to be born into the magical community.
However, some critics have called these theories outdated, while others believe this is an oversimplification of the Stones' powers. For instance, the Psychic Stone has been recorded to increase the potency of psychic abilities. Researchers have suggested that the stones form a kind of bond with their holder, which enhances the magnitude of their abilities, as well as their emotional volatility...
"I guess that's why Ryu wanted us to keep it safe," Lucas says. "But more emotionally volatile, I don't like the sound of that."
"Me neither…"
We glance at one other; we both know what we've been through, our tendencies toward anxiety. Suddenly, I feel a strange rush of connection with him, and I take his hand.
Unfortunately, the clocktower interrupts us by ringing for lunch.
"We'll have to steal some food for Saul," Lucas says importantly, standing up. "He can't come and join us."
I frown. "Claus joins us, doesn't he? What's the difference?"
"Saul is a full-grown man. People will notice."
"To be fair, Claus has metal in his face-"
Lucas glares at me, affronted, and suddenly, that connection I felt is gone. I look at my feet, an uncomfortable feeling wriggling in my belly.
"Come on," he says shortly. "We don't want to be late."
We find the others waiting in the queue. I join them in silence, remembering vaguely that students are cooking our meals from now on. Luckily, they play it safe with chicken sandwiches. It's a slight relief.
"I sort of want lessons to begin again," Toon Link says, once we're sitting at our table. "It's kind of dull, sitting around and doing nothing."
Villager rolls his eyes. "We spend a whole morning together, and it's a 'bit dull'. Nice to know how much I mean to you."
"I didn't mean it like that!" Toon Link bestows a small, brave kiss on Villager's cheek, and Villager blushes. "I had a lot of fun this morning," Toon Link says. "We should do it again sometime."
"If you behave yourself," Villager says, and Toon Link grins, poking his shoulder.
"Behave is my middle name."
The two break into some kind of prodding war, laughing, and I chance a glance at Lucas. He's moodily eating his sandwich. My stomach sinks again.
"By the way, sign-up sheets for Fitness classes have arrived," Villager tells us. "We have to pick a sport to major in."
Toon Link pouts. "Does that mean the end of the rugby module?"
"Hopefully," Red says. "I didn't enjoy being maimed."
"I'll be choosing weightlifting, of course," Villager says, flexing his sparse muscles, and the others laugh, but I find their voices fading into the distance. I try to focus on my sandwich, but when I bite into it, I end up with a mouth full of gristle. When I open it up, I realise the whole thing is littered with the stuff, and quite suddenly, I feel unwell. Porky's found yet another way to take something away from me.
But even aside from bad luck, half the things that are going wrong are my fault. I keep upsetting Lucas. I keep upsetting myself, being lazy with the magic books, not knowing how to cope with things, and just being a general failure.
I feel miserable. I realise that with an unpleasant jolt, but it's true. It's been too long since I've had something to smile about. The thought makes the uncomfortable feeling in my stomach intensify, opening into a cavernous pit. The others laugh in the distance. Even Pit and Red are getting along nowadays. But perhaps I've depended on Lucas too much for too long, and now I'm facing the consequences. I'm becoming clingy again.
Or perhaps he just doesn't feel the same way about me. Perhaps he went into this relationship thinking he felt one way, when in reality, he just felt another. Maybe he pitied me. Maybe I pressured him somehow. I just don't feel deserving of him — worthy of love, even. Not now I'm literally homeless, a spoilt rich kid with no idea how to deal with his own emotions. All around me are brave people, clever people, funny people, and then there's just me. Worthless. Useless.
And I don't know if things will ever get better. Sometimes, I think I'm destined to lose, to fail at everything I put my mind to. What's to say the fight against Porky won't be the same? What's to say Lucas won't leave me? And that's the exact problem, my dependence on Lucas's affections, my dependence on his validation. His opinion matters so much to me that even one slight, one snub sends me into despair. I keep fucking things up with him. It's all my fault.
The clocktower rings. Lucas goes off somewhere, and for once, I don't follow. The others disappear down the hall, but Toon Link waits behind.
"You okay?" he asks. My expression must've been visible.
I shake my head.
"You want to talk about things?" he asks, softer.
I can only nod.
He leads me up to his room. Something framed is sitting on his bed, and he hastily has to stuff it away, but he makes space for me to lie down and be sad. There's a new lump in my throat, and I don't even know where it's come from. Toon Link sits down next to me, and I feel unbelievably pathetic.
"Did you and Lucas fight?" Toon Link asks quietly.
"Sort of," I murmur.
"What happened?"
I find myself rambling. "I'm worried about him. He's been all quiet today, and kind of angry, and he keeps glaring at everyone. We've disagreed about, like, tiny things, and it's made me feel all guilty. I don't know if he even likes me anymore, or if it's just Saul and everything else... I'm just scared, I guess. I want to help him, but I don't know how without upsetting him."
Toon Link nods wisely. "Okay... yeah, I was wondering if something was up with Lucas. I thought it was just him being quiet, but there's a lot going on... and what about you? You look like you did on pancake day two years ago."
"I look sick?" I look at my pallid cheeks in Toon Link's mirror, grimacing at the pancake memory. He's probably right. "I'm worried about everything that's happening, but it's mostly Lucas," I admit. "Sometimes it's like, he's all I think about. If we're on bad terms, it's like I've lost everything. Is that weird?"
"It sounds unhealthy," Toon Link laughs, but he falls quiet when he sees my troubled expression. "I mean, uh, it's not that bad. Look, I'm sure Lucas isn't angry at you. I know him. He's usually only angry at himself, trust me."
"I don't know..." I say. I sound pathetic again, attention-seeking, and I mentally slap myself. "I mean, I don't know how to help him. And being around him when he's stressed makes me sad."
"But do you still like him? You still want to be with him?"
"Of course!"
"Then ask him what's up." Toon Link pats me on the shoulder, smiling kindly at me. "Communication is important. And you and Lucas are terrible at it. If you want to last longer than a month, you're gonna have to get better."
The weight in my stomach subsides slightly. But that lingering worry comes back again, and I find myself looking at the floor. "What if he doesn't like me anymore?"
To my alarm, Toon Link begins to laugh. He laughs loud, pressing a hand to his mouth to hide his mirth. I look at him, lost, and he waves an apology. "Sorry! It's just, Lucas? Not like you? You're worrying about that? You're basically made for each other! Just tell him what's going on, and it'll be okay. It's that simple."
"I don't want to upset him," I mumble.
"If you're honest, you won't upset him," Toon Link says, actually grinning now. "Come on, he's probably having the exact same conversation with Villager right now."
"...Or maybe he's asking Villager how to break up with me."
"Ness!" Toon Link looks horrified, and he has to sling an arm around my shoulder. "Listen to me when I say this: you are being stupid. You're being irrational. I've never seen Lucas happier than when he's with you. You are literally drawn to one another by magic."
But I look down at the floor. "People grow apart."
"Not you two! Look, even if this is a rough patch, it'll only be short-term," Toon Link says, firmly patting me on the back. "I'm sure of it."
"How can you be sure?"
"How can I be sure?" Toon Link laughs again, this time with utter disbelief. "Ness, you are the most dramatic homosexual of all time. And that's including me, who spent two years pining over Villager before making a move. Throughout the entirety of primary school, I watched you and Lucas get closer together. Inkling and I could only stand on the sidelines, because what you had wasn't like anything the rest of us had! I was goddamn jealous that you and Lucas had such an awesome friendship. A connection like that can't just disappear — it's because you're in a new relationship, that's what this is. Everyone doubts whether their partners like them, it's just a fact. But that's all it is, doubt! It's not true. Lucas likes — no, loves you. And if you don't believe me? You're an idiot. A complete idiot."
I look at him Toon Link with shock. He has to catch his breath after saying so much, and I feel a weird sense of gratitude swelling in my chest.
"Yeah, you're right," I murmur. "But what about the romance? That's new, and there's every chance he doesn't feel the same anymore-"
"Which would be okay," Toon Link says. "If it were true. I don't know exactly what goes on with your relationship, but it's going okay, isn't it?"
"I guess? I don't know," I say, feeling as though my insecurities are being drawn out with a magnet. "Like, we kissed a couple of times, but hardly anything else has changed. Everything's just more stressful and more complicated."
"Well, maybe it'll take time to get used to it?"
"You and Villager didn't take time to get used to it."
Toon Link's cheeks colour. "Okay, fair, but we're different people. And I was desperate for physical attention, which helped. It's different for you and Lucas, it's like the whole Boyfriend thing is just a new label. An affirmation. Does that make sense? Since you were already so close."
"And maybe the label was a bad idea," I murmur. "It's just an excuse for the police to murder us. Maybe deciding to be boyfriends was a mistake."
"That's not what I-" Toon Link begins, but he falls short, looking fearfully over my shoulder. I turn, cursing, and there he is.
Of all the wretched romantic tropes, of all the terrible fucking things that could've happened. Of all the awful pieces of luck, this has to be the absolute worst. If there's a God, I'm going to go up to heaven and impale him with his own staff.
I can only watch, cursing everything as Lucas turns. He runs away down the corridor. I stand, but he's gone, disappeared into the madness of this terrible world.