Page 71 of Two Who Live On

“Ba-bawk.”

“Yeah, he totally looks like a beet. Red and round. If only his hair was green.”

I sat down, tempering Gael’s mind as he and his rooster cluckled in unison, believing I hadn’t heard their thoughts. Fucking rooster.

Syncing to Milo, our link connected seamlessly with him at the other side of the arena.

“Found you,” I thought.

He smirked, adjusting his tie.

“Did you have a hand in this turnout?”

“Might’ve owed Chanelle a favor, so I called in a few others. Besides, a lot of these enchanters would gladly attend a showcase in exchange for some of the fortune I passed their way.”

“Seems unfair.”

“Not really.” Milo’s eyes fluttered, his mind wrapped in potential outcomes this single event might offer for the guilds in the years to come.

“There must be some excitement to expect, having brought Enchanter Evergreen here to witness Gemini’s Spring Showcase firsthand,” a reporter said, drawing Milo back to an interview on the cusp of beginning.

“Honestly, every showcase that’s happened throughout the city—no, the state—and those yet to begin have been teeming with excitement and filled with truly talented young witches,” Milo answered. “It’s difficult not being able to attend them regularly. It’s important for guilds to remember much of our work involves observing, uplifting, encouraging, and training the next generation of magic. I’m simply glad the amazing coordinator of this event found the time to reach out and explain why I deserved to reward myself with such great competitors today.”

“Speaking of competitors, any predictions on who will win this showcase?”

“Thankfully, no spoilers from my branch today.” Milo laughed; his whole face beamed with joy. “But something tells me Caleb Huxley is going to display some impressive skills.”

My heart thumped. Was he being sincere or polite, given the odds stacked against Caleb?

“Who?” The reporter paused, checking the roster of students lined up and the names next to the best branches first, and his expression did little to hide how stunned he was when he spotted Caleb’s rank or branchless status. “I’d never want to question your foresight, and who doesn’t love a good underdog story? But surely there are more impressive candidates in today’s event. After all, he’s ranked awfully low.”

“I’m not suggesting winners. Remember, I haven’t seen anything about that.”

Liar.Milo had likely seen a hundred outcomes. Okay, maybe a dozen. Still, there were probably fragments, he subtly, suggestively pushed. I was grateful none of the kids could hear the interview. I could only imagine the spinning wheel of thoughts it’d create.

“Every single student out there is impressive.” Milo had this boyish grin of admiration like he was amazed by the next generation of magic. “Not merely a handful. In fact, every student who ranked showed potential for making it to first place, and too many for me to count who didn’t land among the top 160 students this year. All the first-year students show so much promise and potential it’d be unfair to declare a prediction based on magic, ranking, or anything else. Honestly, I was simply in awe at Caleb’s perseverance. No branch, and he pulled through in two rounds where branch capability was at the forefront of placing. I’m honored to see each of these brilliant young witches who are about to display their talents.”

Chanelle moved into her announcement, forcing a quick end to the interview and drawing me away from Milo’s mind.

“I hope everyone’s excited for Gemini’s Spring Showcase Casting Royale Finale.” Chanelle waltzed across the freshly fixed arena floor. “Similar to our first round, this is an independent match, but roots are completely allowed. All magic, in fact. Like the second round, if you’re knocked out of the arena or simply knocked out—you’re finished. However, there are no dampening cuffs to make things easy, and there’s no time limit. Last witch standing wins!”

Cameras zoomed in on the top twenty-four students who’d landed in the finals. Should’ve been forty, but two teams had a stalemate which resulted in an extra sixteen cut from the finals. I scanned the contestants, counting on my fingers. That was an even number, but I knew there was one additional student disqualified from the finals. Jamie stood among the crowd, a proud smirk plastered on his face.

“What the actual fuck is he doing here?” I linked to Chanelle.

Her breathy sigh hit the microphone, and she ignored my question. “Let the casting royale begin!”

The kids sprang into action, firing branch magics which turned the arena into a flurry of chaos. I lingered close to the fresh memory that rose to the surface of Chanelle’s thoughts, glimpsing theuncomfortable conversation she had with Headmaster Dower and two other administrators, each reassuring they’d never question her judgment, passion, or expertise in the educational field, while simultaneously skirting coy repercussions if the Novak’s didn’t get their way.

I quelled her frustrated and discerned thoughts. Annoying administration. Entitled parents. Spoiled kids.

Speaking of kids, I attempted to focus on the finale. Jamius and Caleb, like many students who shared the same homeroom, grouped together to eliminate others first. Not encouraged but not against therules of an all-out royale. Jamius had five copies standing at the ready, guarding them from Kenzo, who each boy warily eyed, convinced he’d target them first. Kenzo had mockingly suggested he’d destroy everyone from his homeroom if they dared to place in the showcase, yet he’d gone out of his way to assist them in the first round.

He didn’t bother with Caleb or Jamius, leaving them to the fates of other students.

“Try lasting long enough for me, branchless.” Kenzo bolted ahead, ducking and weaving past magics while conserving his branch. “If anyone gets to knock you out of this competition, it’s me. But first…those fuckers!”

It appeared, despite weaseling his way back into the finale, Jamie had made a glaring error. He’d goaded Kenzo during lunch, mocking Gael and our entire homeroom.

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