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It started with a sneeze.
It wasn’t unusual for Silver to sneeze after waking from a nap outdoors. With the manner of creatures that came to flock around the idiot while he was sleeping, and the gifts they were so fond of bestowing upon him, it was to be expected that he’d inhale a petal or two.
This, however, was not a petal or two.
Sebek folded his arms and glared at Silver, who was fast asleep despite the three alarms blaring and ringing loudly. Granted, Sebek’s own aural faculty was far superior to Silver’s weak human hearing, but this wasn’t the first time Silver had overslept.
It also wasn’t the first time Sebek had found Silver in bed like this. Not only did Silver’s bad habits include oversleeping; he also had this annoying tendency to bring the outside to the inside. What manner of royal guard was he, to lie among flower petals like this? They weren’t even rose petals. At least those would honor their liege and his garden, which was planted with seeds from the Queen of Briar Valley herself!
Sebek kicked the box spring, hard enough that the entire bed shook, but still, Silver slumbered.
Sebek’s brows furrowed, and he opened his mouth to shout Silver’s name, to demand he get out of bed this instant, when suddenly, Silver sat up with a violent sneeze, causing the petals around him to flutter. There were more of them than Sebek had thought.
“Have you no shame?” Sebek asked.
Silver rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand before blinking up at him. “Oh. Hi, Sebek.”
“Don’t ‘oh, hi,’ me, you lazy lout! We were supposed to meet for training ten minutes ago!”
Silver’s eyes widened, and he tore his blanket off with one hand while smashing the other hand atop each alarm to silence them.
He was dressed within minutes, shoving his feet into his shoes as he belted his baton to his side. Silver could move quickly when the situation demanded it, but still, he could have moved just as quickly — even more so! — if he’d gotten up on time!
Once outside, Sebek brandished his own baton. “Prepare yourself, Silver!”
Silver nodded with a yawn, making Sebek bristle. It was even more irritating that as sleepy as Silver was, he still easily blocked every one of Sebek’s strikes. It wasn’t surprising to Sebek — it had been like this from their very first bout, when his grandfather had brought him to Lilia for training — but it was just as galling now as it had been back then.
However, outside of Master Lilia himself, there was no better sparring partner in all of Diasomnia than Silver.
(Malleus was leagues beyond any of them, but one could not expect a royal personage such as he to occupy himself with training his guards).
And then, Silver left himself wide open, and Sebek seized the opportunity, knocking Silver’s baton out of his hand so hard, it went flying.
“Nicely done, Sebek,” Silver said, and then he yawned again.
This was slightly concerning. Silver didn’t typically yawn before falling asleep. It was also annoying. The number of times Silver had yawned was making Sebek feel like he needed to yawn – and unlike Silver, he wasn’t even tired!
And then, Silver sneezed.
It woke him up — usually something like that did — but Sebek was more focused on the sneeze itself.
It had to be a trick of the lighting. Perhaps another spontaneous gift from the forest creatures. Except that they tended to keep their distance when they sparred. Maybe, when Silver had pushed his hair out of his face (this is exactly why Sebek gelled his back!), there had been an accidental sleight of hand — the sort of skill Ace Trappola had used during the fairy gala.
Or maybe Sebek was more tired than he was willing to admit, because what it looked like…
…and what it could not possibly be…
…was that a flurry of flower petals had just come out of Silver instead of flying off him.
Silver coughed, then thumped himself on the chest a few times. He looked more tired than Sebek had ever seen him. Silver’s half-lidded, sleepy eyes had dark circles under them, as if he hadn’t slept enough. Which was an impossibility, with Silver’s penchant for dozing at the drop of a hat.
Had Sebek’s victory only been because Silver was ill?
Silver coughed again, covering his mouth with his sleeve, and he swayed on his feet — enough that Sebek found himself grabbing both of Silver’s elbows to keep him from falling to the ground.
“Thanks,” Silver said, his voice raspy from coughing. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me this morning.”
Sebek didn’t either, but it obviously had something to do with the single flower petal clinging to Silver’s lip.
It was the only reason that he kept his hand at the small of Silver’s back as they returned to the dorm to accompany Malleus and Lilia to breakfast.
“Silver seems sleepier than usual,” Malleus commented “Is this the season for humans to hibernate?”
“Humans don’t hibernate,” Lilia said. He reached over the table to grab a handful of Silver’s hair, lifting his head off his breakfast plate.
Silver opened his eyes and met his father’s gaze. “I fell asleep again?” he asked, dismayed.
Lilia released Silver’s hair and patted him on the cheek, completely ignoring the bit of egg stuck there. “Perhaps I shouldn’t have kept you up all night going on that quest with me.”
“’S fine,” Silver said. He picked up his cup of rapidly cooling coffee and chugged it down.
Sebek wrinkled his nose. It was maddening how Silver could tolerate the taste enough to drink it all at once, while Sebek still struggled with more than a dollop of coffee in his milk!
And of course, gaming late into the night with Lilia would explain Silver being sleepier than usual. It would not, however, explain why his performance had suffered. Sebek had trained with Silver since they were children, and he’d always been frustrated at how well Silver blocked and parried, even half asleep. It was as if he were so used to his frequent drowsy spells, he’d learned to adapt.
Silver dragged his hand down his face, dislodging the bit of egg, and if Sebek’s eyes didn’t deceive him, there was a flower petal mixed in with the egg when Silver wiped his hands on his napkin.
His eyes hadn’t deceived him. Silver suddenly sneezed into his elbow, sending a flurry of petals fluttering around his arm, several of them wafting to the table. One of them had the temerity to land in Malleus’ cup of coffee!
Malleus levitated it out of the cup. “Is that what they are teaching you in practical magic? I don’t see a practical application for such a feat.”
“And I haven’t used any flowers in my cooking lately. Sebek,” Lilia asked. “How long has this been going on?”
“Since this morning,” Sebek answered. “If it has been happening longer than that, I am unaware.”
“You spend enough time in each other’s company,” Malleus said. “I am sure you would have noticed if it had begun sooner.” He turned to Lilia. “What do you think, Lilia?”
Lilia propped his chin in his hand and studied his son’s face. “Silver?”
“Sebek is right, Father. It’s only been since this morning.”
Lilia drummed his fingers on the table, looking back and forth between Sebek and Silver.
“You know what it is,” Malleus stated.
“I don’t,” Lilia said, “but I have my suspicions. I’ve heard of it in my travels, but I’ve never actually seen a case of it.”
Sebek felt a prickle at the back of his neck as Lilia reached across the table and took Silver’s hands in his.
“I’m afraid, my boy, that you have a very bad case of unrequited love.”
Silver barely reacted to the news. Despite Lilia’s dire warnings, Silver dismissed it as nothing, stating it was an impossibility. That there was no one that he had such feelings for.
“I love all of you,” Silver said, “but I don’t think that’s what you mean.”
“It is not — and besides, we love you, too!” Lilia said cheerfully. His expression grew somber. “No, I mean, some part of you must be pining. Have you started to view any of your classmates in a new light?”
“Riddle explained unbirthday parties to us last week,” Silver said. “I didn’t realize how much work went into them.”
“That’s not what he meant, Silver!”
“Oh,” Silver said. “Well, Ruggie asked me to help him in town last week. He and his friends needed someone to defeat a restaurant owner in arm wrestling. I was happy to help, and it was very encouraging, the way he and the other members of his dorm cheered me on.”
“Being taken advantage of isn’t what he meant, either!”
“How is that being taken advantage of?” Silver countered. “He asked, and I agreed to try. It was good training; I think you would have enjoyed the chance to arm wrestle him, too.” He cleared his throat, but thankfully, no flower petals escaped his lips.
“Jamil showed me and Kalim how to remake a potion—”
“Lilia asked if you saw anyone in a new light, Silver! The Scarabia housewarden’s retainer has helped you many times!”
“Familiarity isn’t the worst way for someone’s affections to grow,” Lilia said. “Do you think about Jamil at other times?”
“Only when Kalim mentions him,” Silver said.
“Which is often,” Lilia said. “He does that during Pop Music Club meetings, too.”
“Does your heart race, as if you have run a long distance?” Malleus asked. When Lilia looked at him in surprise, Malleus pouted. “Hunt often describes a racing heart as a symptom of love.”
“Indeed, it is,” Lilia said, patting Malleus on the arm.
“No,” Silver said. “Nothing like that.”
“Then clearly, it must be something else!” Sebek said, and then he realized that he had just suggested Master Lilia was incorrect. “My apologies,” he said bowing his head. “I did not mean to—”
“Relax, Sebek,” Lilia said. “It was just a thought. If Silver isn’t pining hopelessly after someone, then you’re right. It’s obviously something else. I’m sure it will pass soon enough.”
It did not pass. If anything, Silver’s symptoms were getting worse.
“Perhaps,” Lilia suggested — after Silver’s latest bout of coughing had left a carpet of white rose petals on the lounge floor — “it is time to make a list.”
Silver looked up and wiped at his mouth, leaving a bright pink petal on the back of his hand. Sebek itched to pluck it off. “A list of what?”
Lilia sighed. “A list of possible suitors, of course.”
“Suitors?” Silver looked puzzled. “No one has expressed an interest in courting me.”
Sebek huffed.
“Oh?” Lilia asked. “Is there something you would like to share with the group, Sebek?”
“There are plenty of possible candidates!” Sebek protested. “Silver is in fine shape, thanks to your training!”
“True,” Lilia said, tapping his chin thoughtfully. “But surely that isn’t the only thing to catch a young man’s eye.”
“Yes, his eyes!” Sebek said, leaping on that. “His eyes are… eye-catching.”
Lilia turned to Malleus. “Looks like the ‘eyes’ have it, wouldn’t you say?”
Malleus sat back and propped his chin in his hand. “What about that Deuce Spade from Heartslabyul? He was very helpful and restored Roaring Drago to good health.”
“Silver wouldn’t be…” Sebek clamped his mouth shut. He didn’t think Silver would be interested in Deuce Spade, the lesser intelligent of the duo from Riddle’s dorm — but Malleus had just praised the young man! Perhaps there was more to him than—
“He is close to his mother,” Silver said, interrupting Sebek’s train of thought. “That’s very admirable.”
Lilia summoned a piece of paper and a pen and wrote Deuce’s name at the top.
“Father,” Silver sighed, expelling a yellow rose petal. He grabbed the petal from the air — his reflexes annoyingly sharp — and set it down on the end table.
“Who else?” Lilia asked, tapping the pen on the paper.
“There’s no one else, Father.”
“So it is Deuce! Problem solved!”
“Silver does not harbor tender feelings for Deuce Spade!”
“How do you know what’s in Silver’s heart?” Lilia asked.
Silver turned and looked at Sebek. “Yes, Sebek, how do you know?”
“Because…because… Because Deuce is not Silver’s type!”
“I have a type?”
“You said yourself that he loves his mother,” Lilia said. “Sometimes, it just takes a spark.”
“To ignite a roaring flame,” Malleus added. “I believe Spade is a suitable candidate.”
Sebek wasn’t about to argue with his liege. If Malleus thought it so, then obviously Sebek was the one in the wrong.
“Kalim!” Lilia exclaimed. “Of course!”
“Kalim is a very dear friend,” Silver said, stressing the last word slightly.
“Friendship is often the start,” Lilia said wistfully.
“Al-Asim is the only housewarden who invites me to gatherings. Even though he doesn’t remind me of them afterwards.” Malleus added sullenly. “But he is thoughtful. Put his name on the list.”
That made double the number that had been on there before!
“Riddle Rosehearts,” Malleus mused. “You spend significant time with him, do you not?”
With all respect to his liege, if it was simply a matter of spending a significant amount of time with someone, then Silver could just as easily have fallen in love with Coach Vargas!
“Sebek?” Malleus asked. (Nothing escaped his notice!) “Do you disagree?”
Sebek’s eyes widened. “No, my liege. You make a good point.”
“Yes, you two are in Equestrian Club together,” Lilia said.
As was Sebek!
“And despite his fiery temper, he is a good lad. Very smart, if a bit high strung. Reminds me of someone,” Lilia added, looking at Sebek.
Sebek couldn’t hide his look of dismay. Were they actually going to add Riddle to the list, too?
“I like Riddle,” Silver said, “but I’m not in love with him.”
“I should say not!” Sebek couldn’t help interjecting. When three sets of eyes looked at him questioningly, he added, “That is, I haven’t seen it.”
“Because there’s nothing to see,” Silver said. “And Father, if what you say is true, then I’m sure that this,” he picked up the flower petal from the table, “is something else.”
“Doesn’t hurt to account for all possibilities,” Lilia said, brandishing the list. He wrote Riddle Rosehearts beneath Kalim's name with a flourish.
Silver sneezed, sending another flurry of yellow petals into the crook of his arm. He brushed them off, raked his fingers through his hair, and sighed.
“Silver!” Sebek barked. “Do not dare allow me this victory!”
Silver rubbed his nose. “I’m not, and I wouldn’t.” He opened his mouth to say something else but suddenly bent over in a violent fit of coughing.
Sebek dropped his baton and rushed to Silver’s side, watching as a near flood of petals covered the ground. When Silver stood, Sebek placed a steadying hand at the small of Silver’s back. His heart twisted when Silver leaned against him.
“That was the worst one yet,” Silver said. His breathing was harsh and ragged, and Sebek was at a loss what to do.
“I will help you to your room,” Sebek announced.
To his surprise, Silver nodded in agreement. He was obviously feeling poorly if he didn’t even try protesting that he was fine. But then, Silver had always been the more pragmatic one, knowing his limits. And then he had the nerve to turn his head, to look at Sebek with that crooked little half-smile. “Thank you, Sebek.”
They shuffled along, Silver leaning heavily on Sebek. The only reason Sebek didn’t haul Silver into his arms and carry him was because Silver had to stop several more times to cough up a few more flower petals. Even the birds seemed concerned, flying around and twittering anxiously. One alighted on Silver’s finger when he lifted his hand, the one not clinging to Sebek.
At the rate Silver’s illness was progressing, Sebek expected to see an entire rose, thorns and all, next, and then the very idea made him sick to his stomach. Hadn’t Lilia said that was a foregone conclusion, if Silver’s feelings remained unrequited?
Silver might still be in denial, but it was time that one of them took this ailment seriously.
A shower of green lights appeared in the training yard, and then Diasmonia’s housewarden and vice housewarden stood among rose petals carpeting the ground. Lilia crouched down to sift his fingers through them, but Malleus simply levitated one of them up until it landed in his palm.
“Orange,” he said, stroking it with one finger. “These are different from before.”
“Yes,” Lilia said, standing up and causing the petals to scatter. “They are indeed.”
He watched Silver and Sebek make their way slowly toward the dorm —
Silver leaning heavily against Sebek; Sebek’s arm around Silver, never once letting Silver falter
— and sighed heavily.
It was obvious that this situation was even more dire than he’d imagined.
Sebek wasn’t about to ask Master Lilia for the list, but he had a good memory for details. Silver had even commented on that! He picked up his pen and stared at the blank sheet of paper in front of him. His eyebrows furrowed in determination, and he scratched the first name on the page, his hand smudging the ink as he wrote.
Deuce Spade.
In hindsight, Sebek could have chosen a better time and place to confront Deuce. Any other time and place.
(At least Epel, Jack, Ortho, and Yuu hadn’t arrived yet.)
“Seriously,” Ace said, wiping his eyes. “That’s a good one.”
“Why is that funny?” Deuce demanded. “I’m actually flattered!”
Ace stopped laughing and frowned. “You don’t seriously love him, do you?”
“No!” Deuce said, glaring at Ace. “It’s just that…it’s nice to know that someone thinks I’m good enough to love.”
He turned to Sebek. “Maybe I can talk to Silver?” he suggested. “I mean, even if I don’t feel the same, if there’s something I can do…”
“You should consider yourself lucky that—”
“Sebek!”
At Silver’s sharp reprimand, Sebek nearly jumped out of his skin, sending Ace into another peal of laughter.
Deuce looked from Silver to Sebek to Ace and back to Silver, and then, with a look of determination, got to his feet.
“Look, Silver,” he said. He blanked out on his next words.
Silver glanced at Sebek and sighed. “I appreciate the thought, Deuce, but I’m not in love with you.”
“Thank the Seven!” Deuce said, clutching his chest. Then, his eyes widened. “Shit, I didn’t mean—”
“Your flirting is just as bad now as it was with that ghost,” Ace said. “And I could have told you Silver’s not in love with you. Look at him,” he said, tipping his head in his upperclassman’s direction. “And look at you.”
“Shut up!” Deuce said.
“What are you fighting about this time?” Jack asked wearily as he and Epel joined them.
“Nothing,” Deuce said quickly.
Ace took one look at Sebek’s face and sighed.
“Eh, just Deucey running his mouth before his brain catches up. Same as always.”
Silver cleared his throat, and Sebek looked at him in a panic, waiting for a shower of petals to rain down on Deuce’s head.
“I’m very sorry to have disturbed your lunch,” Silver said, bowing his head to the others.
“Oh, no problem at all!” Deuce said. “Sorry for the misunderstanding!”
“I’ll see you after class,” Silver told Sebek, and then he headed to the table where some of the other sophomores were sitting. When he took a seat, Ruggie Bucchi scooted closer to Silver and pointed to his tray. Without hesitation, Silver picked an apple off it and handed it to his classmate.
How dare that shameless human take food from Silver’s lunch? Had he no respect for the nutrition needed in order to stay in top shape? Considering Ruggie's size and stature, he most certainly did not!
Sebek’s eyes widened in horror. Hadn’t Silver also mentioned Ruggie during their conversation at breakfast? Something about Ruggie recognizing Silver’s superior strength?
“Sebek is glaring at Ruggie. What did he do this time?” Jack asked.
Epel picked up his own apple, tossed it in the air, and caught it before taking a huge bite out of it.
“I dunno,” he said around a mouthful of apple. “But at least Silver doesn’t seem too upset.”
Sebek wanted to strangle every single person at this table.
“Sebek,” Silver said stonily, later that evening. “I told you that it’s not—”
He wasn’t able to finish that sentence, for he was gripped with another attack. This time, the flower petals were blue, as deep a blue as the dorm uniform Epel sometimes wore. Was the fact that the colors were getting darker a sign that Silver’s sickness was rapidly getting worse?
“It’s not,” Silver protested feebly.
Sebek didn’t know what to say, so he wrapped his arms around Silver instead, enveloping him in a hug.
Silver hugged him back, pressing his face against Sebek’s chest, and Sebek was even more determined than ever to find the source of Silver’s ailing heart.
“And you don’t want us to tell Silver?” Kalim asked, his eyes wide. “Why?”
“Because this is ridiculous,” Jamil said, folding his arms over his chest. “To think that Lilia would embroil you in one of his pranks.”
“Master Lilia would do no such thing!”
“I mean, Lilia does love his practical jokes,” Kalim said, attempting to make them both happy. “But I’m also worried about Silver. Of course, I’ll do anything to help!”
“And drag me into it,” Jamil muttered.
“So, if Silver is in love with me, all I have to do is kiss him? Like in that fairy tale where that prince kissed a dead girl?”
“What? No!” Sebek said. “And Silver is not dead!”
Yet. The word rang in both their heads, and Kalim and Sebek exchanged worried glances.
“I’m sure it’s nothing,” Jamil said.
“I don’t know, Jamil.” Kalim wrung his hands. “Silver’s always been a little sleepy, but he’s also been a healthy eater, and he’s really good in flight class. Yesterday, he picked at his food, and then in the afternoon, he nearly fell off his broom helping the freshman class. Coach Vargas gave him an earful!”
“I’ve never heard of such a thing. Don’t you think if this kind of illness really existed, we would have read about it?”
“Maybe we did and forgot?”
“How would we forget something like this?” Jamil asked.
“I agree with your retainer,” Sebek said. “We would have heard about it. But Master Lilia has traveled the world. If he has encountered such an illness in his travels, then he is also the one who knows about the cure.”
“Even if so, that would require Kalim to also be in love with Silver, and he is not.”
“I can still kiss him, just to make sure,” Kalim offered. “It couldn’t hurt, right?”
“No,” Jamil said firmly. “Whatever this illness is, how do we know it’s not contagious?”
“For it to be contagious, that would mean I was in love with someone who didn’t love me back! And that’s not true at all!” Kalim threw his arm around Jamil and hugged him.
“We are not friends!” Jamil insisted. “And you are not kissing Silver!”
“This is getting us nowhere,” Sebek said. He turned on his heel and left the other two standing there without so much as a goodbye.
“If you need anything else, let me know!” Kalim called after him, waving to Sebek as he walked away.
“I’m really worried about Silver,” Kalim said when Sebek was out of earshot. “It has to be serious if Sebek wants someone else to kiss him.”
“Stay out of it, Kalim,” Jamil said. “I’m sure Malleus Draconia won’t let anything happen to one of his retainers.”
Kalim still looked unconvinced. “Maybe Lilia can make him a soup to feel better.”
Jamil blanched. If anything, that would make him feel worse — but then, Silver was an unusual character. Maybe it was the sort of thing he enjoyed. There was no accounting for taste, after all.
“Silver,” Sebek said, shaking his partner awake. “Get up this instant!”
Silver sat up at once, rubbing his eyes. Peach colored rose petals were scattered across his bed, and he swept them away in annoyance.
“This is getting ridiculous,” Silver muttered.
“How do you feel?” Sebek asked.
“Fine,” Silver said. “Much better than yesterday.”
“Did you…”
Silver blinked at him, and then he realized what Sebek meant.
“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I have not suddenly found undying love with one of my friends. Why?” he asked, a small smile creeping onto his face. “I didn’t know you were so invested in my love life.”
“I am concerned about your ability to guard Malleus!”
Silver rubbed his head. “I admit, I am, too.”
“You said you were feeling better!”
“I am,” Silver insisted. “It’s just…” he gestured toward the bed.
He grabbed his pants from his wardrobe, and then he looked over at Sebek. “Did you plan on staying while I dress?”
“No!” Sebek said. “But I will wait for you in the hall, in case you need my assistance!”
Silver couldn’t help laughing at the way Sebek practically ran to the door, pulling it shut behind him.
A bluebird swooped in from the outside and perched on Silver’s shoulder.
“I don’t know,” Silver said, shaking his head. “Father is wrong. He must be. That is…” Silver stared at his door, picturing Sebek on the other side, pacing in the hallway. He pressed his hand against one of the bedposts and swallowed.
The bluebird rubbed its head against Silver’s cheek in sympathy.
Sebek scowled at the list in his hand. There was one name left, and it was the one he was most concerned about.
Riddle was one of the few humans Sebek respected. He appreciated order in all things — except the architecture of his dorm, but that wasn’t Riddle’s fault! — and he was a talented and powerful mage.
Not nearly as talented and powerful as Malleus, of course, but Riddle was only human.
Of all the suggestions on the list, Riddle was the one that made the most sense. Silver was often telling Riddle that he would talk to Sebek about his attitude — as if Silver were Sebek’s dorm head instead of his fellow retainer! But if Riddle found Sebek’s attitude off-putting, then perhaps he did need to rein it in a little. Master Lilia had often told Sebek the same thing.
(It was just so difficult to remain silent when the humans were so obviously mistaken about things!)
But this was for Silver, who — despite his assurances to the contrary — was not getting better.
Even the colors were all over the place! There was still no thorny rose, and Sebek would prefer to keep it that way. Once a fully formed flower emerged, that meant that the sickness had taken root in Silver’s lungs. How tragic it would be for Silver to lose his life to thorns, the very symbol of Briar Valley!
And even if the condition weren’t fatal, how would Sebek ever defeat Silver honestly, unless Silver was at his best?
The list crumpled in his grip, and he sat it back down on his desk to change into his PE uniform.
“The two of you are late,” Riddle said with a frown.
“I apologize, Riddle!”
“He can hear you without you shouting.” Silver covered his face and began sneezing — one after the other, without cessation.
“Are you ill?” Riddle asked. “You should not have come if you aren’t feeling well.”
“I’m fine,” Silver said. He lowered his hands, sending a shower of pink rose petals to the ground. “It’s just…” he gestured to the petals, shaking his hand vigorously to dislodge one that was stuck to his palm.
Riddle’s eyes widened as he looked from the flower petals to Silver. “Did they just…did you…”
“It’s nothing,” Silver said firmly.
“Obviously, it's something!” Riddle argued.
“Finally! Someone with some sense!”
“You’re both being…being…” Silver sneezed again, sending another petal into the wind.
Riddle walked up to Silver and grabbed his face with one hand, turning Silver’s head from one side to the other.
“What does Malleus say?” Riddle asked. “Surely, he must have some idea what sort of spell this is.”
“Spell?” Silver asked. “I thought I was just sick. Fa- Lilia said he’d heard of it in his travels.”
“I don’t mean to disregard Lilia’s advice,” Riddle said, “but I’m unfamiliar with such a malady. I don’t recall hearing either of my parents discussing such a thing, either.”
“Your parents?”
“They’re both medical mages,” Riddle said abruptly. “I will be following in their footsteps after I graduate.”
Hope bloomed in Sebek’s chest. Surely, if Riddle was interested in magical ailments, he would understand the importance of returning Silver’s affection!
Riddle released Silver’s face. “What exactly does Lilia think it is?”
“Unrequited love,” Silver said, at the same time Sebek said, “hanahaki.”
Riddle curled his fingers under his chin in thought. “I’ve definitely not heard of that, but if unrequited love is the cause, then it seems more like a curse than an illness.”
Silver pressed his hand to his head. “A curse,” he said. “Of course.”
“Not necessarily!” Sebek said. “Surely, Malleus would recognize a curse if one had been cast! And when would you have encountered one?”
“You said your father adopted you,” Riddle said. “Perhaps your birth parents were cursed?”
Silver didn’t answer, because his eyes were slowly closing. He swayed on his feet, and Sebek lifted him over his shoulder and carried him to the fence, where he set Silver down on the ground before turning back to Riddle.
“Lilia believes that in order for this sickness — or curse — to be lifted, Silver’s love must be returned.”
“Has Silver stated that he’s in love with someone?”
“No, but Master Lilia—”
Riddle held up a hand. “I respect Lilia, but I understand that he has played more than one prank on you. Deuce once told me about this steak you insisted was—”
“I admit that Master Lilia has managed to fool me on occasion, but not about this,” Sebek said. “Not about Silver.”
“Yes, I suppose you are right,” Riddle said. “It’s just hard to believe.”
“I need the object of Silver’s affections to return that affection.”
“Yes, I understand the parameters.”
“Then…please, Riddle, do so at once!”
“Me?” Riddle asked, his eyes wide. “You think Silver is in love with me?”
“Someone’s in love with Goldfishie?” another voice asked immediately after, causing Riddle to jump.
“Floyd! I told you not to keep coming here! Your presence is distracting to the horses!”
Floyd pouted. “You said not to scare them. I’m not scaring them. They’re way over there, and we’re all the way over here. And what’s this about you and Jellyfish bein’ in love?”
“I’m not in love with Silver!” Riddle said. “And I don’t believe he feels that way about me, either!”
“Why not?” Sebek challenged, ignoring the way Floyd was glowering at him. “Silver respects you greatly!”
“Respect is not love,” Riddle said gently. “Believe me, I know.”
Floyd propped his chin on Riddle’s head. “Goldfishie’s smart. He knows the difference.”
“Of course, it is still important to respect the one you love,” Riddle said between gritted teeth. “But it's possible to respect someone without being in love with them. That’s all I meant.”
“Besides, Jellyfish doesn’t love Goldfishie.” He lifted his head, allowing Riddle to move away from him. “He’s got his eyes on some other sap.”
“Are you calling me a sap?” Riddle asked hotly.
“Nope,” Floyd said, popping the P. “You’re too angry. You and Croc, you can both be so loud.”
“I am not loud!” Riddle shouted, making Floyd chuckle. “And aren’t you supposed to be working at the lounge right now?”
“Yeah, but Sharksucker took my shift for me.”
“Ruggie,” Riddle sighed. “Of course."
Ruggie. Again, with Ruggie!
“Since he so thoughtfully gifted you this free time, then go do your homework, or play basketball, or engage in some other activity that does not involve you interfering with our club!”
“Maybe I’ll join your club,” Floyd said.
“Yesterday you wanted to join the Pop Music Club.”
“Yeah, that seems fun, too.”
“We were in the middle of a very important conversation!” Sebek exploded.
Floyd snorted. “More like the middle of a crisis, if you ask me.”
“Even more reason for you to leave, as Riddle has suggested!”
Floyd looked from Sebek to Riddle and then to Silver, fast asleep near the fence.
“Leave, Floyd,” Riddle said tiredly. “Please.”
“Fine,” Floyd said, turning to leave. “Just one more thing, though.”
“What?” Riddle asked, annoyed.
Floyd leaned down and pecked Riddle on the lips, and then he gave Sebek a smug look before bounding away with a cackle.
Sebek stared after him in disbelief.
“Please..." Riddle took a deep breath. "Don’t tell anyone. I’m still getting used to the idea myself.”
Sebek looked over at Silver, and he hoped from the bottom of his heart that Riddle was right, and that he wasn’t the one Silver was in love with.
Not if Riddle could return the affection of someone like Floyd Leech.
“Should we wake him?” Riddle asked.
Silver saved them both the trouble — or rather, a couple of birds did. One landed on the fence and began to sing. Another flew down and grabbed that unruly lock of hair on Silver’s head and pulled.
“Oh,” Silver said, his eyes snapping open. “I am sorry. Thank you both for waking me.”
He got to his feet and looked from Sebek to Riddle and back to Sebek again.
“Sebek…” he sighed.
Sebek folded his arms over his chest and set his jaw stubbornly. No matter how much Silver denied it, there was someone out there that he was in love with, and Sebek would find him!
“You want me to kiss Silver?” Ruggie asked, flabbergasted. And then, he grinned. “What’s in it for me?”
“What’s in it for— you will save Silver from certain death!”
“That’s what’s in it for you. And for Silver,” Ruggie added.
“How Silver can harbor any affection for someone like you, I do not understand!”
“Wait, for real, you think Silver’s in love with me? This isn’t like, some kinda of freshman dare?”
“A dare? How dare you make a mockery of a very serious situation!”
“You aren’t exactly convincing me here.”
“What’s wrong with Silver?”
“Ain’t nothing wrong with him. I’m just not ready for commitment. Surely a guy like you can understand.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You’re all ‘I am a guard of Malleus’ and ‘do not interfere with my training, human!’” Ruggie said in a reasonable impression of Sebek. “Talk about singular focus.”
“My focus is just fine!”
“And on Silver.”
“Yes!”
“Then why don’t you kiss him?”
Sebek sputtered. “Because Silver is not in love with me!”
“How do you know? Did you ask him?”
“If you will not help me, then you must not be the one who Silver has unrequited feelings for.”
“That’s what I’ve been tryin’ to tell you!” Ruggie grinned again. “But I’ll still kiss him for you, if the price is right.”
“You insult the great Malleus Draconia with your words!”
Jack and Deuce, who were passing by on their way to the field for practice, stopped in their tracks.
“Oh, no,” Jack muttered. “What has Ruggie done now?”
“That’s one way to add flavor,” Lilia joked.
“Father,” Silver said tiredly.
“Lavender,” Malleus said, examining the latest flower petal. “How curious.”
“He claims he is getting better,” Sebek said. “Clearly, he is not!”
“You’re still coughing up rose petals,” Lilia mused. “That’s surprising.”
“I’m not going to cough up a rose bush, Father.”
“You never know,” Lilia countered.
With a sigh, Silver picked up his spoon and resumed eating his stew.
Next to him, Sebek’s fingers tightened on his fork. There had to be something he could do — and before Silver did cough up a rose bush!
Sebek didn’t know what to do.
The idea of a list should have been laughable, but if Master Lilia was right, and Silver’s ailment truly was this 'hanahaki,' then time was of the essence! Silver was not getting any better. Every time he seemed to improve, another coughing or sneezing fit — or both! — would come upon him, sending a shower of flower petals everywhere.
It was only a matter of time before the problem grew worse. Literally.
He didn't want Silver suffering from thorns tearing up his insides — the pain and agony he would be in, all while the person he loved remained oblivious. And once the rosebush began to grow, it would suffocate Silver, filling his lungs and his throat.
The very thought made Sebek’s stomach twist.
Aside from the immense suffering that lay ahead, the idea of seeing Silver, lying lifelessly wherever he fell when he succumbed to the plant growing inside him — never to be woken —
his eyes never to flutter open again, revealing the color of the sunrise, of the dawn, the first light of a new day breaking
— it was not to be borne!
Why was no one taking this seriously? Silver could literally die from this! How had he even contracted such an illness? Was it a human thing? Since Sebek’s mother had been the pursuer, it wasn’t as if his father had suffered any sort of flower-based trauma.
Something induced through magic, then, something Sebek’s father lacked? Through the high concentration of magic at an arcane academy like Night Raven College? But if magical concentration were the cause, then Silver would have suffered in Briar Valley, in the presence of Malleus’ immense magic. And none of the other students, none of them fae, seemed likewise afflicted.
Clearly, then, it was happening at Night Raven College because there was someone here that Silver had fallen for. If only Silver weren’t so oblivious to his own feelings!
Sebek stared at the list — the three names that Lilia and Malleus had come up with plus the singular name that Sebek had added in a fit of desperation.
How could he have ever thought someone like Ruggie would cooperate? And that Silver would fall in love with someone like that?
But then, Ruggie had recognized Silver’s strength. And surely, he had to recognize that Silver was good-looking. As a beastman, his eyes were sharper than most humans.
Sebek didn’t understand any of them. He didn’t understand how Kalim thought it was just that easy, to kiss someone whether you loved them or not — whether they loved you or not. He didn’t understand how Riddle could return the affection of someone like Floyd Leech, who, along with his brother, were two of the most…
Sebek crumpled the paper beneath his hand. Of course. It was so obvious, now.
He was out the door and headed toward the Hall of Mirrors mere seconds later.
“That sounds vaguely like a threat. Should I take it as one?”
Sebek supposed he could, if he wanted, but at this point, Sebek was desperate.
“Silver is quite the catch!” he pointed out. “A fine young man with an admirable upbringing! He may not be the smartest, but he’s certainly no dunce!
— except where his own feelings were concerned —
“And he trains very hard, so he is quite strong!”
“Yes, I've gathered as much.”
Jade sounded amused. How dare he find humor in this situation when Silver was in desperate need? In literal danger of losing his life?
“There is no reason why you shouldn’t love Silver!”
“Ah,” Jade said. He reached over and plucked a lavender flower petal from Sebek’s lapel. “May I ask what makes you so convinced that Silver loves me?”
Sebek’s nose wrinkled.
“Because of the mushrooms!” Sebek said. “You both seem fond of those. And you helped him obtain translators from the craft fairies! And…” Sebek searched his memory for something, anything, to seize upon. “The rope! He gave you that rope for your birthday!”
“Yes, it was a very thoughtful gift.” Jade sounded a little too agreeable. “I’ve gotten much use out of it.”
“And because you …” Sebek cleared his throat a few times. He’d been talking for so long, and so loudly, his voice was hoarse.
To his credit, Jade offered him a glass of water, one that Sebek took and gulped down eagerly.
Unfortunately, in his haste to finish and resume his campaign, he accidentally inhaled some of the water. He began to cough, and Jade thumped him on the back a few times — quite effectively.
“Oh, my,” Jade said. “I confess, I did not see this coming.”
Sebek looked in horror at the flower petals on the floor — the ones that had apparently just come out of his mouth.
“Perhaps you should directly address the subject of our conversation.”
As much as Sebek hated to admit it, Jade was right. It was long past time that he confronted Silver with the truth.
Once Sebek had left, Jade crouched down and picked up a single rose petal, studying it under the muted lights overhead.
“Hey, Jade!” Floyd greeted as he entered the lounge. “Whatcha got there?” Floyd asked, peering over his shoulders. “Hey, those are red like in Heartslabyul’s rose maze. Was Goldfishie here?”
He looked around as if he might find Riddle skulking in the shadows.
“Sneaking into Heartslabyul again, Floyd? I certainly hope Azul doesn’t find out about it.”
He was lying of course, but then, Floyd knew that he was lying.
“And if you’ve been to Heartslabyul, then you know that roses grow in many different colors. Their rose garden might be impressive, but I can introduce you to an even wider variety of colors and species, if you accompany me on one of my—”
“Don’t involve me in your boring hobbies!” Floyd interrupted. His hand was still on Jade’s shoulder, and he stared at the floor a bit longer. “I remember something about rose petals and Jellyfish. Was he here?”
“No,” Jade bit the end of the rose petal he held and was disappointed that it didn’t taste out of the ordinary. “But close enough.”
“Silver!” Sebek said, bursting into Silver’s room.
Silver looked up from his homework, saw the way Sebek’s face was flushed, as if he’d run straight from the Hall of Mirrors, and got to his feet.
“Are you feeling alright?” he asked, touching the side of Sebek’s face. “You feel warm.”
“It’s you,” Sebek said. “It’s you.”
“What’s me?”
“The curse!” Sebek coughed into his hand, and he showed Silver the deep red rose petal stuck to his skin.
“Oh,” Silver said. “I suppose it is contagious, then.”
Sebek wanted to slap himself in the forehead at how obtuse Silver was being, but there was another way to get his point across. He gripped Silver’s arms and looked deeply into his eyes. He started to lean in but stopped when there was just a hairsbreadth of space between them.
Silver’s eyes widened. “Oh,” he said again, his breath fluttering over Sebek’s lips, and then, “yes,” just before he closed the remaining distance between them to press his mouth against Sebek’s.
“Lilia,” Malleus said, “have you found something in that book?”
“This book?” Lilia asked, turning it around to show the cover.
A Mage’s Guide to Magical Maladies, read the cover, and beneath that, 2nd edition.
“It appears I was wrong,” Lilia said, perusing the page he was on. “The reason Silver never had more than flower petals is because he never had hanahaki at all. That’s something I remember from one of my dramas.”
“One of your dramas, Lilia?”
“Yes, and it was a major end of season plot twist, too, because no one expected Flynn had feelings for Anastasia at all, let alone ones that ran so deeply.”
“Did you find anything in that book?”
“The book? Oh, yes. Silver just has a good old-fashioned case of spring fever.”
“Spring fever?”
“A simple nuisance, no worse than a common cold. I'm sure it will pass soon enough.”
“Lilia,” Malleus said sternly. He folded his arms over his chest. “Did you suspect it was spring fever all along?”
“Well, one can’t be too careful,” Lilia said.
“No,” Malleus said, displaying a black rose petal between two of his fingers. He’d found it just a few minutes earlier, on the staircase. “One cannot.”
When Lilia said nothing more, Malleus sighed. “At least I am assured that neither Silver nor Sebek will suffer any lasting effects.”
“One hopes that they will,” Lilia countered, but Malleus had already disappeared – most likely to visit Ramshackle. “After all,” he said to the empty room, “in the spring, a young man’s fancy often turns to thoughts of love.”