How Did We Get Into This Mess - KOTLC Oneshots

For Now | Chapter One | Maybe

"Ugh, why do you even lug around your textbooks when you could just conjure them," Ariel grumbled, huffing as her luscious black hair hit her back once again. It popped against her gold cape, which is why she liked Level Seven so much. "Especially on these stupid stairs- I would tumble down and crack my head open."

"It's an experiment I'm doing," Jolie explained. "To see if I can conjure myself back to the same spot if I have a physical object to tether myself."

"I swear, one of these days you're going to get stuck in that void of yours and not be able to get out."

"It's for science!"

"Leave science to the Technopaths and Alchemists- you could be a beast in Bramble! My Mom has offered to coach you, you know. You're super fit anyway, even before you started lifting textbooks."

Jolie laughed.

It was a running joke that she should play Bramble. She went to every game for as long as she'd been alive- but she hated playing it.

"I told you, it's a texture thing! The ball messes with me!"

"Sure," Ariel joked. "That's what it is."

They both knew the real reason was Brant. Her friends never mentioned him, but they all knew he was what took up all her free time outside of Foxfire.

"I'm always dizzy by the end of this," Jolie blurted.

"Because we're jogging down a spiral staircase?"

"Or maybe it's your shampoo!"

Ariel mock-gasped, pretending to be deeply offended. She changed the subject, checking to see if her brown foundation matched her skin. It was a shade too light. She used it anyway.

"Did you hear? They might be sending Lady Cadence off to Ravagog soon. I'm so ready- I mean, I have so much respect for her, but every time I see her I want to loosen that bun of hers. It has to be bad for her scalp!"

"What was that, Miss Sanjay," came a deep, yet lighthearted voice. It was the Beacon of the gold tower, Prentice Endal. His son had a half-full nexus, which explained why his question didn't come with a detention.

"Nothing!"

"Be on your way, then."

"Congratulations, Wylie," Jolie said, clapping. "That's an impressive nexus!"

The boy blushed, hiding behind his father. A leash ran from his belt to Prentice's wrist, decorated with Prattles pins.

"Thank you," he whispered, grinning. "I got an Eckodon pin yesterday! They're super rare because of how hard they are to find! Did you know they use sound vortexes to move super fast?"

That's right. Five-year-old Wylie was . . . a dinosaur kid.

"I didn't know. They're plesiosaurs, right?"

"Right!" Wylie confirmed, beaming.

"I'm sure you can talk to Miss Ruewen when you visit Verdi on Saturday," Prentice said, nudging them away.

"Bye!"

"See you Saturday- wear a swimsuit!"

Verdi was having a bath on the weekend- and when she shook to get dry, everyone would get soaked.

"Ok!"

"Has the Match Fail been processed yet?" Jolie inquired, turning to her friend.

Ariel shook her head.

"Stupid matchmakers sent them to couples therapy-again."

"I keep telling you, the old ways don't apply to the present day," the blonde insisted. "If anything, this is more proof."

Prentice slowed, Jolie's thought capturing his attention.

Or so it seemed.

"Jolie? Why don't you come to my office tomorrow? We can have a little chat about your volunteer hours."

The blonde furrowed her eyebrows. She could have sworn she'd finished well over the minimum requirement.

"Ah, alright!"

"Didn't you complete your hours already?" Ariel asked once they were out of earshot.

"Maybe they upped the requirement?"

"Maybe."

( I love foreshadowing, don't you? )