Putz12 Plus One

TWENTY FIVE | SACRIFICIAL SQUID COOKIES

Neither believed what they were seeing was real. Not the way things were going. But it seemed so as the building boasted its various lights and windows, more than they ever dreamt of seeing. Even Inkopolis's greatest shopping center couldn't compare. But every blade of grass and vivid brick tucked neatly in place debunked their beliefs. The sight made her tear up a little and she did her best to conceal the matter. It wasn't crying she felt ashamed of but the immense emotional reaction to it, and she felt in her heart he would mock her for it.

"What the shell, what kind of place do you live in?" He scratched his head.

"Hey, most of my life I've been running and hiding in weird, abandoned places. Shell if I know."

There was a rock in his stomach and he had the urge to apologize but instead stepped forward, slowly, 'til she ran ahead of him carelessly on the bridge.

"What are you doing?! Don't do that!" His yell faded into a whisper. "You don't even know if this thing is stable or not! And if you do get there--" He chewed her out in his head for making him raise his voice as the distance lengthened between them. "--how do you even know if it's owned by someone?!"

"By who? Who the heck owns a magical, warpy castle anyway?"

"I dunno? Maybe The Order?" He froze, but she laughed. He knew he didn't know much about it, but it was worth a shot.

"They're The Order."

"Um, yeah? That's why we can't trust random places which just literally spawn out of nowhere?"

She boldly lifted her chin and pointed, directing his vision to a blinking pair of lights.

"What?"

"They blink unevenly. Look at the rest of the lighting."

And so he did. And the longer he looked the worse it seemed to get. Everything was perfectly even, but those two lights rebelled. "I literally hate you," He smacked her finger away. "Now that I know, I can't unsee it and it bothers me!"

She was back to her stupidly charming giggling. "They outlawed all holidays, too. That's how I know this place isn't The Order." She almost made it through the entrance but he spoke up, slightly winded from how long the bridge was.

"Wait, I, you." Damn it, don't look at me with those eyes. I'm trying to be intimidating here. "How do we know it wasn't seized by them?"

"Damn, Putz." She shook her head, virtually disappearing as she stepped in. "You taught me better than that. Own your word."

Her voice echoed and he cursed under his breath. Stupid Iza. He trudged. There you go again, getting yourself into trouble you know we can't take back.

But it wasn't trouble by any means. They'd thought back then that Free's metro was a sight to see, but none like this. White bricks that shined and flowers -- real orchids lined the surfaces. Candles and staircases and big, arched chairs. Red cushions with golden buttons and a sweet, subtle crackling of the fireplace which sat in the middle of the grand room. He hadn't seen this much gold since the rainmaker was in his hands. Stone steps smooth as suede greeted them, with vestibules leading from the top to different sides of the castle.

From the entrance, there were several halls leading to other rooms. The two took a quick tour and saw nothing scary (or occupied) about it. In the corner of almost every room was a place to sit. At the top floor, chairs glowed in the firelight and tables were full of bulky books. Some whose jackets were of leather, some wooden with marquetry and locks. And some whose spines boasted gleaming gemstone gradients with every hue imaginable. His eyes wandered on all the little things, and the intricate markings on the books, some even written in his native tongue, which begged to be investigated. "Wow, I--"