“So, how was your first week?” asked Adit.

“Quite wonderful. My charge however, is beginning to make me question signing up for this.” Kulah sighed.

“I hear ya,” laughed Adit.

“Do you remember when we were like that?”

“Full of rage and the liability to murder someone?”

“No, silly. I mean younger and fresh faced,” chuckled Kulah.

“You’re starting to sound like a granny there.”

“I have to say, I’m impressed with his work ethic. The freshmen here usually don’t survive their first classes and always end up in remedial. He’s something else.”

“Yeah, well he’s stressing my charge out. Ganny’s been trying to friendship her way into his heart. Honestly, I think she’s got it bad.”

“You don’t say?” gasped Kulah.

“Yup,” smirked Adit.

“That’s unfortunate then,” chuckled Kulah as she took another bite of her fufu and boiled plantain.

These dishes were part of Malak’s national cuisine ever since the first Sorkos elves had landed on the soil of Euris. The staple crops of plantains and different tuber varieties had led to an explosion of cultural flavors still celebrated in the present day.

“Why?”

“He’s demi.”

“Oh.” Adit was taken by light surprise. “You sure?”

“Of course. Said so in his socials he linked in the application email.”

“Wow.” Adit bit into a cornbread slice. “But that means Ganny’s still got a shot, right?”

Kulah shook her head.

“That, my dear, solely depends on Mr. Freijord. And we are not to meddle.”

The two were seated on the restaurant’s patio. Since the school was based in the coastal, capital city of Runa’an it had many seafront eateries and shops. Near the restaurant lay a beautiful beach with pink sands and turquoise blue water.

“Wanna go swimming?” Adit suddenly asked.

“Now?” Kulah cautiously asked. “Why do you ask?”

“Humor me,” smirked Adit. “Check please!”

***

“I don’t see why we left brunch early,” frowned Kulah.

“Like I said,” sang Adit. “Humor me!”

The two stood at the beach on the school’s south campus. The waves lapped at the pink sand shore as a school of Qorrobil swam through the air, fragrant with Ocishisque blossoms.

Some other students had the same idea and peppered the beach here and there. A couple of marine life classes were prodding at tidal pools while a couple of sophomores tried to impress various seniors passing through.

The two stood farther from the other students at the water’s edge. Kulah had shed her blazer and let her braids out of her bun, allowing them to whip about her face. Adit had similarly shucked off their turtleneck and rolled up the ankles of their jeans.

“I don’t suppose you know how to swim?” they smirked devilishly.

“On the contrary, I practiced every day at the manor pool.”

“Lovely, but this ain’t no pool, princess,” drawled Adit. “This is the big ol’ sea. Just miles of coastline and no cement fencing it in.”

“I’m aware.”

“Wonderful. Now off with the shoes,” demanded Adit. “You won’t be needing them.”

Kulah looked at Adit like they were crazy. Adit was a lot of things, spontaneous being one of them, but that’s what she loved best about them.

Neatly, and carefully, Kulah set aside her pumps and placed them on a dry rock.

Satisfied, Adit kicked off their sneakers and waded into the water. Turning around, they beckoned Kulah forward with a slender red hand.

“Since you know nothing about these waves, princess,” smirked Adit. “We’ll start easy.”

“If you insist,” purred Kulah.

***

New text from cranky snufftoad

-I had a lot of fun today. Thanks or whatever.

You

-gr8! have favor to ask

cranky snufftoad

-Dear Aura, your grammar’s shit.

You

-only u wud take grmr srsly in text lol

cranky snufftoad

-What the fuck do you want?

You

-o yea. cud u help me @ calc? Im dying

cranky snufftoad

-Can’t you ask someone else?

You

-dude, i dont kno many ppl. ur the only 1 i kno whos good at dis stuff.

cranky snufftoad

-Fine. And fix your damn grammar. Texting you like this makes fuckin’ my eyes bleed.

You

-thx bruh! Tmrw @ 8?

Cranky snufftoad read your message.

‘Hmm. Guess he went to sleep.’

With that, Dhurgan clicked off the phone and rolled over in her covers to sleep.

‘Night Homraz.’