Repurposed | Quirrel x Sheo x Nailsmith

Chapter Thirteen: In Which The Nailsmith and Quirrel Are Forced To Be Alone

"Your roommate didn't seem too thrilled about you leaving," Mato said with a frown as he led the way to the stag station, feeling as if he shouldn't have burdened his brother with his troubles after all.

Sheo cast a glance towards the direction of his hut, which was now a good distance away. "He wasn't, but he's going to have to manage. He can go a few days without me. They both can."

"How long has he been your roommate?"

"Not long at all," Sheo said with a shake of his head. Has The Nailsmith only been living with him for a few weeks? It feels like it has been much longer than that.

"How about the other one? Quirrel, right?"

"He came by just a few days after The Nailsmith, so he's been with me for about the same amount of time." The three of them were practically strangers still, but even so, Sheo felt such a genuine connection with the two of them.

"Huh," Mato seemed to find this very interesting. "Is that how they always act?"

"What do you mean?"

"They didn't seem very talkative. I mean, I know you have the ability to befriend even the coldest knight in Hallownest but... they did not strike me as the social type."

"Well, that's true," Sheo said with an amused chuckle, remembering his many talks with his roommates. "Nailsmith has a hard time holding a conversation. He never really knows how to respond to anything, but he's a good listener. And Quirrel loves to talk about his books. He could go one for hours about his favorites."

"So... they're good company?"

"Indeed! Best company I've had in a long time."

Mato was going to say something along the lines of, 'they're the only company you've had in a long time,' but decided against it. Insead opting to say, "Really? What's so great about them?"

Sheo's face lit up. "Well to start, Nailsmith's extremely talented! Did you know he's the bug who's been supplying The Little One with all their nails? And goodness are they impressive."

"Wait really? Maybe I should commission him to make me something." It's about time for Mato to get a new nail. There aren't any nailsmiths in the Howling Cliffs, but it's not like he really needs them as he takes good care of the nails he's got. Still, there's nothing quite like the thrill of picking up a freshly-forged nail.

"Ah, I'm not sure about that. He's told me he's stopped making nails. The Pure Nail he made for The Little one was his final project."

"Hm, so he's like you in that sense? Giving up something he was once a master at?"

"Yeah," Sheo laughed a bit, but it fell short. Mato had always said he was supportive of Sheo's decision to quit the nail arts, but Sheo had never been quite sure if that support was genuine. Not that he would ever think his brother would lie to him! It's just that in the past when Mato would watch Sheo paint he would stare with this look of... it wasn't hostility... maybe closer to disapproval, but Sheo always worried that Mato had wished he continued his nailsage journey. "But as you saw, I taught him the basics of sculpting. He seems to quite enjoy it. And he's quite nice, you know? He's a bit awkward, but he's nice. "

"And Quirrel?"

"He's so mysterious," Sheo would have said this in a happier tone if he wasn't aware of the exact reason as to why Quirrel kept to himself. "But when he does talk, he's a lot of fun to listen to. I already said how he loves his books. He has a real creative mind."

Mato didn't say anything for a while, just looking at his brother fondly.

"What's that look for?" Sheo was starting to become embarrassed. Had he gushed about his friends a little too much?