“If this doesn’t work out, we need a good excuse.” Violet said. “He’ll think we’re crazy if he isn’t really a carvatian.”

“If worse comes to worse, we say it was a social experiment and then leave before he can question us.” Lizzy said, carefree.

The two of them walked into the metalworking classroom and looked around. There was just one student working at a bench and the teacher behind his desk on his computer, eating an apple. The boy perked up his head at them.

“Are you two here to join the metalworking club?!” he asked, excited.

“No, we’re here to tell you to get out.” Lizzy said harshly, not wanting to waste time. “So scram.”

The kid knew he wasn’t winning this fight and scampered out of the room, where Violet closed the door to lock anyone out. The teacher had just finished his apple and threw away the core. 

“Mr Riley,” Lizzy started, tossing him an orange. He caught it and began peeling it with a smile.

“Ok, what can I do for you two?” he asked.

“Carvatian.” Lizzy said confidently. The teacher tilted his head and waited for some kind of further explanation.

“Is that some kind of code word or something…?”

“Are you a carvatian or not?” Lizzy asked.

“Is this one of those new identity things you kids came up with?”

“Thanks for the data.” Lizzy said, getting her phone out and acting like she was typing something. “This was a social experiment and you gave interesting data.”

“What kind of experiment?”

“Have a good afternoon.”

The two girls walked out of the classroom, disappointed. They weren’t sure where they could look at all. Even their teacher was a stretch and neither of them really thought he’d be one.

“Ok, that was a bust.” Lizzy said. “A dead end, and I wasted an orange.”

“We’ll find something.” Violet said optimistically. “If we search long enough, we’re bound to find someone who’s a Carv-”

“Hey,” interrupted a kid who had been listening in on their conversation with Mr. Riley. It was the same one who Lizzy had told to scram. “You’re looking for a-” He stopped and looked around before leaning in and whispering. “A Carvatian.”

“And you are?” Lizzy asked, raising an eyebrow. 

“I’m Keter.” he said, bowing his head a bit. “I’m a Carvatian learning here.”

“Really?” Violet asked, amazed.

“Prove it.” Lizzy said, crossing her arms.

“Beyond knowing what one is?” Keter asked.

“Yeah.”

The three of them all fit into a single use bathroom and Lizzy kept her arms folded. She wasn’t going to believe it until she saw his true form.

“You want me to really turn normal?” Keter asked nervously.

“Yes.” Lizzy said, narrowing her eyes.

Keter closed his eyes and when he opened them, his eyes were a soft red color. His hair also grew around his shoulders and slowly turned a beautiful crimson shade too. From his head came a pair of horns, as well as his skin turning red and his teeth growing sharp. Protruding out from his back were two dragon-like wings and small dark red barbs appeared along his forearms. Finally, a tail poked out from his backside, which was tipped with a sharp razor-like end.

“Yeah, that’s a Carvatian alright.” Lizzy nodded.

“Can I go back now?” Keter asked. Violet took out her phone and snapped a quick picture of him.

“Hey!” he complained. Slowly, his features reverted back to his human disguise. “You’d better not show that to anyone.”

“Hey, focus.” Lizzy said, taking out the key. She explained to Keter what they needed. Keter looked intrigued.

“I’m looking to eventually make magic objects, you know.” he said, examining the key all over. “Maybe I can tinker and see what turns up.”

“How long will that take?”

“You got time after school?”

Lizzy was in the back of the classroom texting on her phone. School was over and before leaving Mr. Riley said they could use the metalworking room as long as they locked it when they left. Violet had already gone home and Keter was examining the key with intrigue. Lizzy was just telling Lisha she’d be home later.

“I’m staying after school.”

“Whatchu doing?”

“Music with a friend.”

“Ooo is it that gorl?”

“No ma, just another friend.”

“Remember to be back by 4.”

“Don’t wrry I will <3”

“Kk make sure to get a snack”

“Can’t go without one ;p”

“See u at dinner”

“See u tonight.”

“You texting your girlfriend?” Keter asked, manipulating the key in his hands and making it rotate in the air.

“She’s not my girlfriend,” Lizzy growled. “Keep your eyes on the key.”

“This thing is fascinating.” Keter marveled. “Where did you get this?”

“Ruler of Hell gave it to me.” she answered, cleaning her nails.

“Queen Lisha gave that to you?!” the boy asked, shocked. “How? Why? Why does Hell’s queen give a human a magic object like this?”

“Because you’re talking to the princess.” Lizzy glared. “Now do your job.”

“Jeez, you don’t have to be like that…” Keter mumbled. He tried to do something with his magic, but it made the key jostle around and shoot a small plume of fire into his chest, knocking the young carvatian over.

“You’d better not break it.” Lizzy threatened. “I have two moms who’d kill you for that.”

“Calm down, I’m not.” Keter said. “I’ve been doing this longer than you’ve both been alive.” He tossed the key back to Lizzy.

“So can you do it?” she asked.

“I can’t modify that key,” he said. “But I could theoretically forge a new one.”

“How do we turn theoretics into reality?”

“Well, I know where that was made. Hell itself. I’d have to forge another one here.”

“You got time now?”

“Come on, I don’t need ma noticing we’re out here.” Lizzy complained. They were near a lava waterfall.

“Don’t rush me!” Keter fussed. “This is delicate.”

Keter jumped under the lavafall, pulled a rock over to act like an anvil, and closed his eyes. He scooped up some lava and twirled it around his fingers like it was clay, and shaped it into a thin shape. He put it against the anvil and pulled his tail in his hand, and the blade tip changed to be the shape of a hammer, which he used to start forging the key. After enough hammering and painstaking craftsmanship, Keter crawled back out from under the lavafall holding a red-hot object. 

“It just needs to cool, but it should be done.” He clenched it in his hands and blew on it. When he opened his hand, there was a bronze-looking key with an iron skull symbol on it. Keter dropped it into Lizzy’s hands.

“Pleasure doing business with you.” she smirked.

“Doesn’t feel like business.” Keter grumbled. “I don’t exactly get anything out of this.”

“Which is why I got you this.” She took out a strange-looking fruit that one of her aunts sent Lisha once and gave it to Keter, whose eyes were lighting up.

“Oh man, locrian fruit?! I don’t know how you got this, but I’m taking it!” He started happily biting into it, looking like he had reached heaven despite being in Hell.

“So what’s next?” Lizzy asked, turning the key over and holding it up.

“We test it.”