“You’re not worried I’m going to break things?” asked Mizuki, looking at the magic that was held in place around the head of the staff.
“Are you going to break things?” asked Kell.
“No,” said Mizuki.
“Then no,” he said. “Actually, I was thinking that maybe we could partner up from time to time. I read up on sorcerers at the wizard academy. There are some interesting things that we can do together.”
“There are?” asked Mizuki. “We—sorcs—don’t really have training, and no one said anything about wizards to me, except that I should do my best to stay away from them.”
“Oh,” said Kell. Again, he seemed a little disheartened. “Do you take the wizard-and-sorcerer feud seriously?”
“No,” said Mizuki. “I mean, I guess not. It’s old stuff.”
“It’s not
Mizuki frowned a bit. “Is that from something?”
“It’s from the Zotl Bixium,” said Kell. “There was a sermon a few weeks ago.”
“Huh,” said Mizuki. “It’s weird how those things get into your head without you even realizing.”
“Bixzotl is a favorite of wizards,” said Kell, nodding. “Mostly because we do the same things over and over.”
“God of Repetition,” said Mizuki. She looked over at the large crates of spices. “You’re here for the same reason I am?”
“I suppose so,” said Kell. “Bethany thought that I might want first crack at things.”
“Do you cook?” asked Mizuki, raising an eyebrow.
“I can follow a recipe,” replied Kell. “Can
“It’s basically the only thing I’m competent at,” said Mizuki, smiling a bit. “You’ve actually been to Kiromo?”
“I’m half Kiromon, like you,” he said. “Again, it’s kind of funny that we grew up three years apart and you have virtually no memory of me. I’d be offended, if I offended easily. I came over to your house a few times, when our parents were doing things together.”
Mizuki shrugged. “Sorry.”
“No, it’s fine,” said Kell. “So long as you don’t call me Elk.” He hesitated for a moment. “Well, it was good to see you, even if it’s basically the first time for you. I should get going.”
“You’re not going to buy anything?” asked Basil, who had been standing off to one side for most of the conversation, pretending as though it wasn’t taking place in her shop and she wasn’t eavesdropping, which she almost certainly was.
“Oh,” said Kell. “Well, yes, a bottle of
The transaction was completed somewhat awkwardly, and Mizuki couldn’t help but notice that Kell had a lot of rings on his string. That wasn’t all that unexpected. Wizardry was a skilled trade, and once they’d paid for their mana stones, they started bringing in quite a bit of money. They didn’t have the raw destructive potential of a sorcerer, but they had quite a bit more utility and fine control.
Once Kell was gone, Basil turned to Mizuki. “He seems smitten with you,” she said.
“Does he?” asked Mizuki.
“It’s a good match, if you ask me, historical enmity aside,” said Basil.
“I’ve actually got a date with a guy over in Liberfell,” said Mizuki.
“Tough to make it work over that distance,” said Basil. “It’s a shame Kell never seemed to have made much of an impression on you. He seems sweet.”
“He does,” nodded Mizuki. “I don’t know.” He
“Not to your liking?” asked Basil. “You know, when you partied with Alfric, we thought maybe that would finally be your match. But I take it there’s no movement on that front?”
“There’s no front,” said Mizuki. “He’s not interested in me, and I’m—well.”
“Interested in
Mizuki shrugged. “I like boys. It’s hard not to look at one and see all the good qualities. I see Alfric’s good qualities. There are things that would be good about partnering with him. Um, don’t let him know I said that.”
“But is the same not true for Kell?” asked Basil, raising an eyebrow.
“I don’t know,” said Mizuki. “It’s really hard to say. I don’t remember him. There was a little boy we called Elk, and I can picture him in my mind, but he didn’t leave much of an impression, and… I don’t know. Are you trying to set me up?”
“Historically, we’ve had little luck with that,” said Basil. “We just want you to be happy.”
“I’m happy where I am,” said Mizuki. “The party has been good for me, and I like having people in the house.”
“It’s temporary though, isn’t it?” asked Basil. “That’s what you said, last we spoke.”
“It’s temporary,” said Mizuki. “But there’s a part of me that wishes it weren’t. If we somehow manage to get through the next two rings of dungeons, we’ll be traveling further afield, and… well, eventually we’ll have to leave Pucklechurch.”
“I don’t think that would be so bad, if you were with people you like,” said Basil. “I know after your fallout with the Pedder boys you retreated for a bit. And there are others you’ve had your disagreeable moments with.”
