Chapter Text
Lisa’s dear students are hard at work in the Library, Amaryllis organizing new book arrivals while Razor reads a new textbook. Razor couldn’t help but wonder about something, though.
. . .
“Amaryllis, can I ask a question? A weird question.” He looks behind his chair, Amaryllis is almost finished placing books on a shelf.
“What is it?” He sits on the table next to Razor, looking down and skimming the textbook he was just reading.
“Why do you hate Bennett?” His expression is so innocent, the tone of Razor’s voice was almost worried.
“W-Why are you asking that!?” Amaryllis immediately gets defensive.
“Bennett is kind and nice. Amaryllis is kind and nice too. But you two fight always. Why?”
Amaryllis sighs, looking away, his face solemn.
“Ugh, guess there’s no point in knowing why you’re asking me that… he’s your best friend and all, or whatever…” He mutters under his breath.
“Something happened back then, he hates me because of it. He’s a part of the Adventurer’s Guild, so naturally I hate him too.”
“But you are friends with me and Fischl. We hunt. That is weird.”
“Well y-you two are different!” Amaryllis is starting to sweat, nervous at how Razor’s clearly seen past his lies.
“Different?” Razor tilts his head like a very confused puppy.
“L-like… Different like…”
He’s struggling to think of anything; This has never happened before, and he’s not ready to answer-
“Amaryllis! You okay?”
Oh the poor wolven boy got anxious- he doesn’t like seeing Amaryllis distressed like this.
“I’m…”
He sighs, facing Razor.
“Have you asked Bennet why he hates me?”
“Yes. Bennett said you hurt the Guild, so he was hurt too. Then told me to never ask about it again.”
“I see.”
There was a moment of silence before Amaryllis spoke up once more.
“I don’t really hate Bennett. I’m more… afraid of him.”
Razor was shocked.
“Afraid? Why? Don’t be afraid of Bennett, he is good.”
“He is… he’s kind and brave, despite his horrible luck.”
A slight redness creeps up on the tips of Amaryllis’ pointed ears.
And Razor notices.
“So you like Bennett?”
Amaryllis nods. “You like him too, don’t you?”
Razor was shocked once more.
“H-How did you know? Did you use potions?”
Amaryllis giggles, endeared by the last question.
“You silly, it’s so obvious. You talk about him constantly, you two spend so much time together… It would be a lie if I said I wasn’t a little jealous of you.”
Razor nods, understanding where Amaryllis is coming from.
“So if you like him, why don’t you want to be friends?”
“Like I said, I’m scared. He hates me. Not only do I have zero chance of him liking me back, I just… I don’t want to be… hurt…”
“It’s why I’m always so mean to people, if they don’t like me, the feeling might as well be mutual. It’s easier to handle relationships that way.”
Razor listens closely, but his face brightens up as he’s thought of an idea.
“Razor understands! I will make Bennett not hate you anymore. Then you can be friends.”
Amaryllis genuinely laughs at that.
“Why do you want us to be friends so bad?”
“Because it is nice.”
“...seriously?”
“Yes.”
“W-Wait, but I’m technically your rival now- so wouldn’t you want to stop me from being close to Bennett?”
“You are not my rival. You are my partner.”
“...ooOOHH! So, you don’t really mind me liking Bennett too?”
“No mind at all. Razor just thinks Bennett is very delightful. Now I know you like him too, you deserve friendship. I just know, Bennett will like you. You are fun.”
Amaryllis smiles.
“You’re really amusing, you know that?”
He ruffles Razor’s hair, making him laugh.
“Time to read again, Lisa will make the sky black and scary.”
“Oh shoot you’re right, she’s gonna get back soon!”
The two resume what they were doing earlier… but Amaryllis feels like an enormous weight has been taken off his shoulders. He’ll be grateful to Razor for this.