𝙷𝚞𝚗𝚝 𝙾𝚏 𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚂𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚜 | ✏️

『6』

     I'm awkwardly waiting for Jamie and Katie to stop hugging, unwilling to interrupt them but also feeling a bit like a third wheel just standing here. Not that they aren't adorable together, but maybe they could pick a better time and place to do this?

     Thankfully, I'm saved by someone barging into our room. The door flies open with a bang, startling the lovebirds enough that they break apart. Katie's face is tearstained, and she quickly wipes at her eyes before bending down to pick up books off the floor. I turn to the offending servant who wasn't invited into our room, and note that it's one of the younger ones.

     Or, younger in terms of I've-been-immortal-for-thirty-two-years. I think he's actually physically older, maybe eighteen or so. I don't remember his name, which sends a stab of guilt through me. I don't want to be like one of the nobles, too high and mighty to remember anyone's name.

     He bows, and I'm momentarily confused before realizing he's not bowing to me, but to the Racers. You're not a Hunter anymore, Rheid. Get a grip.

     "I'm supposed to escort you two to the Throne Room," he says. Katie raises her eyebrows, though she's still looking at the floor so he can't see her face.

     Jamie, ever the diplomat (I've known them for less than a day and I already know he's the politer one), introduces himself and Katie to the servant. "I'm Jamie, and this is Katie. And Rheid, of course," he adds.

     I give him a look, and he pointedly ignores it. "What's your name?" he asks.

     I suck in a quiet breath, wondering how the servant will respond. Jamie is an almost-Hunter. This boy is a servant. Thirty years of working here has taught me that the honored guests of the castle never interact with the servants. Never.

     The boy shuffles his feet, studiously avoiding all of our gazes. "I- I'm Wyatt, sir," he mutters.

     "Nice to meet you, Wyatt," Jamie replies, elbowing Katie in the ribs.

     Clutching her side in exaggerated pain, she grits out, "Yeah, nice to meet you."

     I simply nod my head, acknowledging that I am senior to him, but also that we are both of equal status in the real world. Old servant or young servant, you're all the same to the stuffy nobles.

     I look him up and down, wondering which department he works for. His dark hair falls across his forehead, shading a pale, drawn face atop a lanky body. His servants' robes are black, denoting a junior servant, but as he moves to reopen the door, I can see the inner lining is green.

     He's a library aide, I realize. This makes it even more embarrassing that I didn't know his name - he works in my group! He leads Jamie and Katie out of the room, and I begin to follow before realizing that I'm not supposed to go with them. As far as this boy Wyatt knows, I was just helping them find something in the library. It feels like a sucker punch to the gut that I won't be able to follow them.

     I catch Katie's eye, trying to let her know that I have to stay here, and I see her brief nod in understanding. She whispers something into Jamie's ear, careful not to let Wyatt see or hear her, and he glances back at me as well. Offering up a smile that I hope is reassuring, I bow to them before spinning on my heel and reentering the library.

     They have work to do, and so do I.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Written March 6 and 12, 2024

Word count: 601

{oOoOoOoOoOh nEw ChArAcTeR wHo'S tHiS?}