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Another day of work, another noble who wanted the floors of his castle to be paved with glowstones, the worst contraption Olruggio had ever made. If he could travel back in time to tell his younger self one thing, it would be “don't invent this. Just this once, Qifrey's happiness isn't worth the hours it takes to install these things in a room.”
Fortunately, today he had Hiehart with him, a man who did all work with gusto no matter how dull it was.
“This room will look so beautiful once this is done!” he said.
“Mm.” Olruggio drew the spell for the fiftieth time on a tile. His wrist was starting to hurt.
“The Great Hall is truly honored to be graced with the presence of someone like you,” Hiehart told him.
The praise bounced right off of Olruggio.
“It won't for much longer. Once Qifrey passes the fifth test, I'm moving out of this place with him.
“Oh.”
Olruggio didn't need to look up from his work to feel the depression emanating off of Hiehart at that.
“You didn't know? I'm only here as I'm waiting for him.”
“Where will you be moving to?” asked Hiehart.
“Dunno. Anywhere else will do. He's studying to be a professor too, you know. I've told you that, right? I'll be his Watchful Eye.”
“You? A Watchful Eye?” Hiehart sounded shocked.
“Yeah.” Olruggio looked up at him. “What's wrong with that?”
Hiehart looked serious. “It's just hard to imagine someone as brilliant as you taking on such work–”
“Hey! Qifrey's brilliant, too. Just as brilliant as me. Don’t believe whatever rumors you may have heard about him. Any apprentices he raises will end up as wonderful witches, I'm sure of it.”
“The Great Hall will greatly miss you, though–” said Hiehart.
“It's already decided. It always has been.” If Qifrey hadn't decided on a whim to become a professor after spending his entire youth talking about how he didn't want to be one, they would already be out of here.
“I see,” said Hiehart in a tone that made it clear that he did not see.
Olruggio sighed. He liked Hiehart. He was a good witch. Passionate, and a fast worker, which was important when some city wanted enough glowstones to pave nearly the entire streets. He could be exhausting to be around, though. Olruggio already had another fan. Well, at least he liked to think Qifrey as his number one fan…His friend supported him and praised his inventions, sure. But he didn't exuberantly praise Olruggio like Hiehart did. Of course, they had been best friends for over a decade. Olruggio knew Qifrey liked him quite a bit, and well, he hoped that Qifrey knew that Olruggio liked him quite a lot.
Still, when he had brought up his overly-enthusiastic assistant to Qifrey in a conversation, he had smiled and simply responded with, “he probably has a crush on you, Olruggio,.” And yeah, he was probably right. Every witch in their age bracket seemed to have a crush on Olruggio, except the one who he actually wanted to have a crush on him. He was simply cursed like that. Most of them had the sense to stay away, though. They knew that the person he had picked to be by his side was Qifrey. None of them were as open with their affections as Hiehart was.
Couldn't Qifrey at least be a little jealous? Shouldn't he be discouraging Olruggio from spending time with Hiehart? If Olruggio started dating Hiehart, then he wouldn't be able to be his Watchful Eye, and then what would he do?
Of course, Olruggio would never leave Qifrey's side… But still, shouldn't Qifrey be at least a little insecure about that? No… He should be happy that Qifrey felt secure enough in their committed friendship that he wasn't jealous.
It would be nice if he could be jealous, though…
Suddenly, Olruggio thought of a dangerous idea.
“Do you want to meet him?” Olruggio asked.
Hiehart looked up. “Huh?”
“Qifrey. He's a bit shy around strangers, but once you get to know him, he’s a really nice guy. Maybe the two of you could, er… Study together, or something right that.”
“I don't know,” said Hiehart. “I’m very busy.”
“That's a shame,” said Olruggio. “He's my best friend, and he means the world to me–”
“I'll meet him!” said Hiehart enthusiastically.
He fell for the bait. Hiehart would surely praise Olruggio in front of Qifrey, and Olruggio would be able to gauge from Qifrey's reaction how he felt about it. Surely, when Hiehart praised Olruggio right in front of him, he wouldn't be able to hide his anger, right? Or if he could, well…
It would just be more proof Qifrey didn't think about him that way. He had nothing to lose.
Qifrey was unsure when Olruggio told him they were meeting with Hiehart for lunch. Olruggio had to nearly drag him out of his room.
Hiehart had already grabbed a table. He probably got there thirty minutes early, knowing him.
Before they could sit down across from him, Hiehart stood up and grabbed Qifrey's hand.
“I often help out Predis Olruggio with his work!” said Hiehart as he shook it a bit too wildly. “It's an honor to meet his best friend!”
“Ah…” Qifrey did not shake back. He sat down as soon as Hiehart let go. “... Predis?” Qifrey frowned. “I'm afraid I'm not familiar with that word.
“I made it up!” proclaimed Hiehart proudly, letting go of Qifrey's hand.
“Oh…”
“I simply couldn't think of another word to describe the bond me and Olruggio share!”
Qifrey was already starting to look overwhelmed. Maybe this wasn't a good idea.
“Hiehart's studying for the fifth test too,” Olruggio told Qifrey.
“It's quite challenging, isn't it?” said Hiehart. “All that theory puts me to sleep!”
Qifrey nodded, and poked at his mashed potatoes.
“Maybe the two of you could help each other study, is what I thought,” said Olruggio.
Qifrey continued staring at his plate. “I'm sorry, I prefer studying alone. Another person by me is simply too distracting.”
That wasn't true. When he was an apprentice he often studied with Olruggio, and sometimes Alaira. He just didn't want to study with a stranger. Everyone started as a stranger, though.
“That's all right, I understand,” said Hiehart. “Everyone has different ways of learning. That's why there's so many different types of professors!”
“I suppose that's a way to put it.” Qifrey glanced at Olruggio. Why are you introducing the two of us? his expression asked. Don't you know I don't like noisy people?
“Hiehart's a good assistant,” said Olruggio, in a weak defense of himself.
“And Olruggio is a wonderful witch! I've never met anyone as clever and as brilliant as him!” Hiehart positively beamed as he looked at Olruggio.
There it was. The over-the-top praise. Olruggio watched Qifrey's face carefully.
It didn't move at all from his polite smile. Of course it didn't. What was Olruggio expecting? He didn't care. Olruggio sighed and put down his fork. He'd lost his appetite.
“You're right,” said Qifrey. “Isn't Olruggio's magic just wonderful?”
“He really is!” Hiehart gushed. He waved his fork in the air as he talked. “Every contraption he makes, every spell he casts, brims with light and warmth. I'm certain from the moment he was born, he was a brilliant witch! Just take a look at the glowstone. It's such a simple idea, anyone could think of it. But its execution is so admirable! I can't believe he came up with it when he was a mere apprentice!”
“The magic behind it is quite simple–” Olruggio tried to say, but he was quickly interrupted.
“I know!” said Qifrey, nodding. “You know, I remember when he was working on it…”
“You were there for its invention?”
“Yes.”
Hiehart gasped, impressed! “Wow! You're so lucky! Sitting right at the front row of history!”
It was a stone that glowed when you walked on it. Calling it ‘history’ was a bit…
“I really was,” Qifrey agreed. “You know, Olruggio didn't even want to make it public at first. I had to convince him to show it at the Silver Eve Festival.”
“You did?” Hiehart asked. He leaned in.
“Yes. He’s shy, you know–”
“Olruggio? Shy?” Hiehart didn't believe it.
“Of course he is! You haven't noticed?”
What was Qifrey talking about?
“I don't think ‘shy’ is the word I would use to describe myself–” Olruggio tried to say, but his friend continued his story.
“He didn't want to present in front of a crowd, he was afraid he was going to mess up,” said Qifrey. “He got sick right before he went on stage.”
“Do we really have to tell him this–” said Olruggio.
Qifrey continued. “He was so nervous when he was presenting, he couldn't say a single word. He just walked in circles around the platform.”
“I remember that! I was in the crowd, watching!” said Hiehart. “You couldn't tell he was nervous at all. He looked so awe-inspiring, with the light glowing beneath him!”
“If you looked closely though, you could see that he was trembling,” said Qifrey. “I noticed, when I watched him from the crowd.”
Why the hell was Qifrey making him sound so lame? He usually wasn't this talkative around strangers, except when sharing Olruggio's most shameful moments, it seemed. There was no way Hiehart would be his number two fan, after this. He gave Qifrey a quick glare, but he was ignored as Qifrey continued his story.
“You know, he told me afterwards that he didn't notice how many flags were being raised. The only thing in the crowd that he could bring himself to look at was me.”
Olruggio felt his face burn up. He remembered that night well. Qifrey, white hair and cloak making him stand out in the crowd, like a beacon of safety. He looked at Hiehart, who was still beaming. Did he ever stop beaming?
“It's nice to know even the greats get anxious presenting,” said Hiehart. “I haven't presented at the Silver Eve Festival yet. I fear the day I do–”
“It’s not that bad,” said Olruggio.
“It is,” said Qifrey. “My professor forced me to present one year. He said every witch should have the experience once. It was absolutely awful! Everyone staring at you, judging what you've made. Truly one of the worst moments of my life.”
No, it wasn't. It was bad, yes. Qifrey's stage fright wasn't as easily hidden as Olruggio's. But he had suffered much worse. Qifrey wasn't usually the type to exaggerate. Was he trying to scare Hiehart? But why–
Could this be how he showed jealousy? No… Qifrey's polite smile hadn't wavered one bit. His friend wasn't this good at hiding what he felt. He was bragging about Olruggio quite a bit, too. Could it really be...
“You get used to it,” said Olruggio. “It isn't that bad.”
“I can only hope to have a fraction of Predis Olruggio's bravery, when my time comes!” said Hiehart. “You know, I've always wondered. What inspired him to make the glowstones in the first place?”
Don't ask that. Olruggio looked at said inspiration, who blinked.
Qifrey frowned. “I– I don't know.”
“What do you mean you don't know?” asked Olruggio.
“Huh? You never told me. The inspiration… It's dark outside at night?” Qifrey blushed slightly.
Did he really have no clue, or was he just acting because he was too embarrassed to say? Well, whatever. Even if Qifrey probably wasn't jealous, maybe he still could use this as an opportunity to gently push Hiehart off of him a bit.”
“Qifrey was my inspiration,” said Olruggio. He's… He doesn't like the dark. One night when we were walking home from…” Sneaking around outside. “One time when we were walking home and it was late, he thought he saw something in an alleyway and got scared. So, I thought of a way to make the night less scary for him.”
Qifrey shifted in his seat. “I'm sure there were other things that inspired you, too–”
“The main thing was you, though,” said Olruggio. Most of his magic was for Qifrey. How did he not–
“I get it!” Hiehart's loud voice interrupted his thoughts. “You're the shining light that inspires Olruggio, aren't you?” His sparkling eyes were locked onto a terrified Qifrey.
“Shining light?” said Qifrey. “No. Olruggio's the light–”
“You're the spark who lights the genius in him aflame!”
“What? I don't think–”
“Predis Qifrey–”
“Please don't call me that–”
“Sir Qifrey–”
“Just Qifrey.”
“The one who stimulates the brain is as important as the brain itself!”
“Stimulates?”
“It is an honor to make your acquaintance! I'm sorry for doubting you!”
“You doubted me” Qifrey looked towards Olruggio.
Hiehart nodded.
“Yes! I was jealous of you!”
“... Of me?”
“If I was in your position, I think I would die of happiness!”
“You would.”
“To have Olruggio as your lifelong companion–”
“Lifelong companion?” squeaked Qifrey.
This conversation had gone on long enough. Olruggio should've shut it down at ‘shining light.’
“Calm down, both of you!” said Olruggio. “Jeez. It's a bit embarrassing hearing so much praise from two people who are right in front of you, you know?”
“You deserve it!” said Hiehart.
Qifrey looked vaguely ill.
“Sorry…” Qifrey said. “Er, Hiehart…Even if I'm unable to study with you, I want to thank you for helping Olruggio work. I'm glad he's found such a…” Qifrey hesitated. “Passionate assistant. You know, he overworks himself so much, and he doesn't have many friends either.”
“I have friends,” said Olruggio. “Four.”
“You have three,” Qifrey told him.
“There's you, Alaira, Sinocia, and…” He looked at Hiehart. “This one probably counts.”
“Predis Olruggio!” Tears of happiness appeared at the corner of Hiehart's eyes.\
“Are you sure?” said Qifrey, quietly enough that Olruggio couldn't hear.
“Mostly…”
“The apprentices that you two raise together will surely grow up to be magnificent witches,” said Hiehart.
“That's the hope,” said Qifrey.
Hiehart had to leave the two of them shortly after that.
“I have to go!” he said, waving as he went off. “I hope I can meet with the two of you soon–”
“You better meet me soon, I need you to help me next Thursday, remember?”
“I'll be there!” Hiehart literally flew off
“It's amazing how some people have so much energy,” said Qifrey, watching him go. “I think him and Beldaruit would get along greatly.”
“Extroverts, you know,” said Olruggio.
“Mm. Well, I should get going too, Olly,” said Qifrey.
“Can't you stay a little bit longer?” He had barely gotten to talk to him, Hiehart had taken charge of most of the conversation.
“That made me tired, and I have to study,” he said.
Fair enough reasons. “But wait, about what you said–” Were you bragging about me to make Hiehart jealous? Of course I invented the glowstone for you. Were you jealous? Were you?
Before Olruggio could get any of those questions out though, Qifrey got up.
“See you later,” he said, and fled.
Olruggio had hoped that Hiehart realizing that Qifrey was his ‘spark’ would calm down the gushing. It did not.
“I don't know why I didn't realize someone like you would have such a magnificent partner!”
“He's my friend.”
“A brilliant bestie!”
Sure…