Chapter Text
Another day.
Another plain, and completely un-noteworthy day. As per usual. See, you'd think that as a kid, you'd have a lot of things to do. Like, you know. Playing with your friends, and stuff. But… that was the problem. He didn't really have any friends. And so, it seemed like the only thing he could do was sit under a tree, reading to himself.
Reading had always been a hobby of his. A way to escape from the world. What was there to escape from, really? If he knew what, it was definitely that. His older sister would often comment on how he ‘always had his head in another reality’, in relation to that. It was, to be honest, a bit annoying? Whatever. It wasn't as if it would deter her if he voiced his opinion on it.
… Speaking of which. It's been too quiet. That usually didn't mean anything good. And sure enough, in the distance, was his sister dragging some other boy towards him.
“HEY! HEY, RUNT!! I’VE BROUGHT YOU A FRIEND!” She yelled, gesturing to the somewhat afraid boy.
“You- why are you…?” He couldn't really find the words to say what he wanted to. “I don't need a friend.”
“Yes you do, you runt. I know that it's much better for you than reading those tomes all day.”
Beside her, the boy had finally let go of her hand, and was now keeping his hands close to his chest. He was… staring at him, looking a little worried. At least, that's how he read it.
“Fine.” He put the book down next to him, and waited. His sister giggled, and ran off. Leaving just the two of them. “Uhm… Are you gonna come closer?”
Wordlessly, he walked up to him until he was able to look down at him, hesitated a little, before finally speaking.
“H-... Hi.”
“Hey.”
“Er…” He looked in the general direction of wherever his sister had gone. “Your… your, uh…?”
“Sister.”
“Right- your sister brought me over here because… because you use spells. And because I do that as well. So I… guess she thought we would… be good together?” The boy sat down in front of him, scanning the area. “Soo… whatcha reading?”
He looked at the book for a bit, before looking back at him. “Don't you think it's a bit early for that? I don’t know your name yet.”
“Ohh, you're right!...” He leaned back a little. “My name's Elementalist! Because-”
“Because you use elemental spells?”
“Yeah! Yeah, exactly! N-not awesome at it, but I'm sure I'll be better when I'm older! Okay, okay, what's your name? And then what are ya reading?”
He could tell that this boy was a huge talker. It wasn't exactly his vibe. Maybe he'd learn to live with it.
“I'm Wizard… The book's just something I grabbed from the library, I… don't really think it has a name.” He played with the star on the tip of his, admittedly, quite oversized hat.
“Oooooo!! It seems interesting! Can I-” As he said this, he was reaching for the book. To which Wizard pushed him away.
“Hey, no. I didn't give you permission to read it, or touch it, or… or anything.”
“Awh… you're so rude!! I'm considering not being friends with you for that.”
“It's not really like I'd care.” He picked up the book, holding it to his chest, then got up and started to head off. Elementalist, noticing this, followed after him.
“Hey! I wasn't being serious, y'know!” He paused for a second to catch his breath. Which he really shouldn't have, considering he only ran a short distance. “Uhm, I- I think that Wizard is a really cool name. It's like, obviously a spellcaster would be called that, but actually being called that is a whole different story!”
Wizard stopped, and turned. “You… actually think so?”
“Of course I think so! It's not like, something, uh-... If I could explain it, it's like you were to meet a celebrity!” He skipped ahead of him, still talking. “Like, of course you'd think that Beethoven would be named something like that, because he made beats, or… something. You know what I mean, right?”
“Not really, but… thanks, anyway. Yours is, uh… it's nice. As well.”
“Thank you! Thank youuu!! I love it when people say that!!” He clapped his hands, then looked around him. “Aha… so, uhm! Where are we going, exactly?”
Shrug. “I dunno. Somewhere.”
“That doesn't tell me anything.”
“I barely know you.”
“And? I want to know you!” He slowed down a little, letting Wizard catch up to him. “We won't get anywhere if it's one-sided! But, hey; we're making some good conversation right now!”
There was no reply for a while.
“Okay, way to ruin it,” he chuckled, and said no more.
They were walking for what felt like ages. There were points at which Elementalist would point out another runner and tell him what he knew about them. And it seemed, to Wizard, that he knew a lot. Maybe an uncomfortable amount of stuff.
“How… how do you know so much?” he finally said, after the fifth list of facts he recited, apparently from the top of his head.
“Most of them, they're, well, kinda my friends! Or, heh, were my friends! They don't talk to me much anymore, but I think it's because they've got other activities,” he laughed, and continued on, “Scorcher, for example! He's a hot-head, as I told you! I feel like he randomly stopped wanting me around, and I'm never sure as to why.”
“Have you considered that maybe it's because you love to yap people's ears off?”
“Heyy… you might be right on that one. I- I try not to speak too much, but I can't help it, alright? There's so much I wanna say! So much I wanna do!” Elementalist groaned, “sometimes I just wish that I could freeze the stream of words that come out just like I can freeze water!”
“Hm… I think everyone wishes that from you.”
“S-shut up…!”
“Hey, you said it first.”
They both stopped in front of two comparatively large doors, and Wizard pushed them aside, going inside. Elementalist was a little more apprehensive, but he did follow him inside after a few seconds.
Inside? Oh, inside was a masterpiece. Elementalist could do nothing but take it in. As much as possible.
“Th… this is…”
“A library. Yeah. You've… never been to the library?” Wizard walked ahead, placing the book on a nearby bookshelf.
“No… this place is, well… it's so intricate, and stuff! I don't think I've seen anything like it!” He paced around, looking at all the different decorations and trinkets dotted across its interior. “I should come here more!”
“Okay, now I get why you aren't that good at spells,” he snickered, turning back to search for a book on the shelves.
“You-!” He started, then smoothed out his hair. An act of embarrassment. “You… you're kinda right. But- c'mon, it is really magical here! And I think you can agree!”
“... it is. I'll give you that.”
Wizard was combing through the rows, apparently with no success. He was so focused, in fact, that he didn't notice that Elementalist had snuck up behind him.
“Heeeeeeeeyy!! You need help, Wiz?”
“I would rather-” Wait.
“Wait, did you… what'd you say, again?”
“I saaaaid,” He stepped back a little, hands behind his back, “do you need help? Y'know, with the book you're trying to find!”
“No, uh. The last. Thing, you said.”
“Oh! You mean me calling you Wiz? It's cuz I like you, silly!” He looked away, still in the same pose as before. “Ya know, if you don't want me to, uhmm… call you that, I'll stop. S-sorry.”
“No, it's… it's fine. It's better than being called a runt, at least.” Wizard stepped aside. “You wanted to help, right?”
“Yeah! What are we looking for?”
“It's blue. Like, dark blue. Something about knowledge, I think.”
“Oh.” He rummaged around, taking a blind gamble.
“What are you doing? You're not going to find it if you just-”
“This one?”
Wizard stared at it for a good minute. Yeah, no, that was definitely the one.
“... how?” His snarky tone had faltered, replaced with one of genuine confusion.
“I looked for a dark blue book.” He handed it to Wizard. “I got you a dark blue book.” Then, he just sat on the ground. Much to the annoyance of Wizard.
“Right… er, could you get up? This is a library. Or, in other words, a public space.”
“My bad!” He stood up, cartoonishly putting a hand to his chin. “You got any other activities to do?”
“Well, normally I'd just read this on my own. But now that I have company… especially one that can almost never be quiet… I'm not sure.”
“I'll stay quiet, just for you!!” He clasped his hands together, waiting for him to make the next move.
“Alright.”
He grabbed his hand, taking the two of them to a secluded corner of the library. This area was a little more decorated than the area outside of it, so clearly someone had claimed this spot as their own. Wizard sat down, leaving some space for Elementalist beside him, where he sat quite snugly.
“Psst. Does this… make us friends, now?” He whispered, leaning a little against him. The response back was a hum of acceptance.
“Hehe… thanks.”
Time passed. Probably a couple minutes. Or hours. But however long it was, there was one thing for certain:
Elementalist was dead asleep. And it didn't seem like he'd wake up until prompted. What Wizard didn't really want was an unconscious person- no, what he didn't really want was his friend to be seen in such a vulnerable situation with him. Sure, he looked comfortable in the state he currently was in, but it had to end at some point.
“Hey. Can you, uh… wake up? Please?” He nudged him, twice. Then again when he didn't wake up.
“Hmm? Oh… I didn't even mean to, it's just that it's… really quiet in here, so I just-”
“You know you don't need an excuse for everything.”
“My bad. Force of habit.”
Force of habit…? And what exactly would he need to be excusing so often that it's become routine?
Elementalist could tell what he was thinking from his expression, and followed up. “Look, when you're being accused of so many things that you know you didn't really do, you stop trying to prove it wrong and start blaming it on something else.” He rubbed his eyes, and yawned. “Well, uhm…”
With barely any warning, he was dragged again, towards the nearest window. Wizard pointed outside, looking at him.
“It's dark out. I think we should be getting home now…”
“Want me to walk you home?”
“I appreciate the gesture, but, uhm. How do you intend on doing that?”
“Eeeeh, who cares? Look, Wiz, I wanna make sure you get home safe! I don't know if you can use your spells as a torch, sooo, I'll take it upon myself to lead you through the dark!”
“I… okay. Sure. I'll show you the way.”
They were still holding hands throughout the trip back home. It was an unconscious decision, if anything. It was a while back, so Elementalist told him a few stories on the way. They varied a lot, but they were intriguing, nonetheless!
They had to come to a close here, though. In front of a house that could nearly be mistaken as a tower, they separated, and Elementalist looked up at Wizard, a little sadly.
“I'll still be here tomorrow, don't act like I'm disappearing forever.”
“Ok... Okay! I'll see ya soon, Wiz! Bye!!” He waved, and dashed off.
“Goodbye to you, too…?” He waved back, although he was already long gone by now.
The door was in front of him, so he just had to knock and be done with it. And that was just what he did.