Allie bid brusque goodbyes and Faham hovered about, waving at some people. He didn’t seem to have as many friends as Allie, which worried Raz a bit. She didn’t broach the topic though. Not when he was so enthusiastic to continue figuring out her aspect options.

“If we look at the strongest ones…” he said, looking at his phone as they walked through the New Europe side of the unstation. “...Mobility, Technology, and Information are probably the best and most varied.”

“Mmmh.” The options bounced around in Raz’s skull. So far, she had thought of Phones, Devines, Social Interaction, Information, Information Access, Technology, Convenience, Distraction/Addiction, Cultural Change, Modernity, Mobility, Entertainment, Messages, Calls, Communication, Connection, and Isolation. The last one had been a bit painful to admit, but she couldn’t deny it after thinking of it. Her phone had, at times, made her feel like that girl on the lonely isola again.

She’d at first been excited to consider the possibilities, but the longer she thought of it, the smarter it sounded to just go with the phone aspect. It paid well. Really well. And, most importantly, it would make getting into a mid-tier school a breeze. Studying with Capi didn’t sound so bad.

“Can be tough finding foci for some of them,” said Raz.

“It is?”

She nodded. “Castleyard communal wonderchamber for example doesn’t have technology or phone foci. They’re sorta lacking on Earth foci in general. Well, except cheap building related ones.”

Faham made a thinking face. “Where could we test all foci then?”

Raz shrugged. “The fancy wonderchambers cost a ton to visit, nevermind buying the foci. But, honestly, the more I think of it, the better I feel about the phone aspect.”

Faham blinked, studying her face.

Allie’s eyes moved to her, thinning.

“Yeah.” Raz nodded. “It’ll pay really well and get me a good scholarship so I can attend a decent academy. Plus, picking it over some generic aspect makes entering easier. It’s got a lot of pros.”

“You really think so?” Faham asked.

“It’ll also let you guys move to Oor quicker. Just total win-win.” Raz grinned. “Yep! It’s decided. I’m gonna become a phone wizard.”

“The fuck you are.”

“Excuse me?” Raz turned to Allie.

“The. Fuck. You. Are. Got trouble hearing?”

“Whah?” Raz gaped, confused. “Allie what?”

“You become a phony wizard and  we’re gonna have a problem.”

“Oh.” Raz put hands on her hips. “We are?”

Allie looked dead serious. “Yea. You fuck up your dream ‘cos of some pity for us, then I’m gonna kick your ass disown you.”

“What? I don’t pity you.” Raz laughed, unable to believe what she was hearing. “Where did you get that?”

“From you being about to fuck up your dreams.”

“I didn’t. I… What? It’s a smart choice. And what do you know about my dreams–”

“I heard them all. You never wanted to be some shit ass phone mage. You want help. You want to matter.”

Raz snorted. “Those were little kid’s hallucinations! Daydreams! This is reality.”

Crowds began to avoid them, especially Allie as her expression darkened.

“You’re being ridiculous,” said Raz. “I’ve always wanted to be a wizard to help you guys out. To help you move to Oor. That’s number one priority. You are my siblings. My sibs. Mine! I’m not abandoning you. Whatever Maroque, Magogram, Joram, or everyone else does. I’m not! I’m getting you home. With me. That is my choice to make, not yours.”

“Fuck you. If you become a phone mage, I’m becoming an unfarer.”

Raz let out a shocked squeal. “No! What the heck? Allie no! NO! No you are not. That’s way too risky, you know how many people die there?”

Arms folded, Allie shrugged. “Yea? Not your choice.”

Raz groaned, pulling at her hair.

“I’m going right now. Bye.” Allie took off.

Raz grabbed her.

Allie spun and slapped her face so hard Raz nearly stumbled. Her ears rang. Raz saw her turn and continue strolling off. Raz lunged, tackling Allie while screaming at her. She pulled at her leaves, making Allie growl through needle pointed teeth. A harsh grip seized her hair and tossed Raz to the ground. She bit Allie’s ankle, screaming all the while. It went ugly from there.

Faham tried to stop them, but to no avail. Allie punched and slapped and Raz returned the hurt with vicious wrath.

A dull timbred male voice spoke with a voice that resonated in the air, “Article one, section nine of Magogram constitution: Unsanctioned violence is forbidden. The first punishment is immediate restrainment, which I decree unto you now.”

Raz snapped off of her sister into a standing position with her hands folded behind her back. Allie stood next to her, deep red bruises on her pale skin.

A law wizard in deep blue stood before them, his eyes blazing with asymmetric blue crosses encircled by perfect white. He grasped a glowing silver badge engraved with the upside down sword of Magogram Law. Various other law and combat related foci decorated his sharp uniform and stiff pointy hat.

“What a surprise. If it isn’t the angry plant lady. Again.” His gaze turned to Raz. “What did she do to you?”

“She started it,” said Allie.

The law wizard’s eyes bored onto Raz. “I see. Yes. The guilt is clear on you–”

“They are sisters!” shouted Faham. “It’s a sibling argument! No assault, no arresting please please please!”

The wizard glanced around the crowd. “I see. We will settle this at the station.”

“We were going to Oor,” said Raz.

“Nah. I was going to Un,” said Allie.

“You will stay quiet during the transfer, or I will decree you into silence.”

“I… I’m their legal guardian!” said Faham.

The law wizard looked at Faham, a boy so short he could’ve passed for one three years younger. Then at adult sized Raz and downright ripped Allie. Eventually, he said, “You will accompany me.”

With Faham in tow, the wizard hauled them to jail. It was sorta ‘inside’ the unstation, with access corridors that led to a windowless building of imposing halls and secure looking metal doors. All of it over-decorated in classic Magogram style, of course.

The cells were two by two meter plots without bars or doors, just a white line encircling them. They had a bench-bed and nothing else. The wizard pushed Raz into one and Allie to the one beside hers.

 “Article one, section nine of Magogram constitution: Unsanctioned violence is forbidden. The fifth punishment is long term confinement. I define your prison along these lines drawn on the floor.”

Raz’s hands came free. 

“Place your weapons and foci on the floor.”

Allie glared at the wizard, but pulled out a thick hunting knife and tossed it past the barrier. Then a smaller one from her boot.

“Your foci,” repeated the wizard.

Raz was startled. “I have a foci! I just awakened!”

“Yes. And I now order you to relinquish it peacefully.”

Raz chuckled, strangely delighted. “Wow.”

“Now.”

“I’m armed and dangerous now?”

“Not for long…”

“Here you go.” She pushed her phone towards the wizard. “Please don’t break it.”

He collected their ‘weapons’, let out a weary sigh, and left. Faham was let into the ‘cell block’.

“We are in so much trouble, oh no. How are we getting out of this?”

Raz tested her cheek and winced. The bruises were starting to sting. 

“Chill. They’ll keep us a day tops.” Allie leaned against the wall near Raz.

Raz gave her little bro an apologetic smile. “Sorry Faham, I know you looked forward to the trip.”

“I don’t care about the trip. I want you guys to make up and you to stop that nonsense about phone magic. Nobody believes it.”

Raz was taken aback. “What do you mean? It’s the fastest way I can become a proper wizard and get you a nice life.”

“Raz.”

Raz turned to Allie, narrowing her eyes at her. She hadn’t forgiven her yet and waited for a chance to launch a verbal counterattack. Whatever dumb excuse Allie tried to come up with, she wouldn’t buy it. This was her choice and she was doing them a favor they deserved.

“You’re my hero.”

Raz had no counterattack to that, but she tried. “Maroque saved us.”

Allie’s amber eyes bore into her. “Didn’t. You did. Would never have made it without you.”

“That’s unfair.” Raz swallowed. “That’s not a reason to leave you guys here.”

“You saved us already. You wanted to save the others too. You tried.”

Raz breathed slowly, trying to forget.

“You got two of us out of there.”

“Faham lost his wing,” Raz argued.

“I don’t mind,” said Faham quietly. “I don’t.”

“He doesn’t. We’ve talked.”

“But not to me, clearly.”

“Raz. You don’t wanna be a phone mage. You can’t. You wanted more. You fucking said it over and over and over again. You can’t kill your future for us. Not now.” Anger seeped into Allie’s voice. “Not, when you’ve got that chance you always wanted. Raz, I’m your sister. Not your kid. Not some weight you gotta drag around. Shit, I love you forever, but if you ruin your life for me I’m quitting you. I mean it.”

Raz wiped at the wet around her eyes. “But I’m not even sure anymore. I don’t know.” Her voice was breaking.

“Then don’t know. Then do something else. Whatever you want. But never ever use me as an excuse to be a weak ass loser to ruin your own life. We can wait. If it takes months.”

“Or a year, or two,” said Faham, blurry eyes. He sniffled and gave Raz a determined look. “I’m with Allie!”

Raz went blind with tears and laughed with relief and love.

Allie reached out to the edge of the cell, as did Faham. They couldn’t touch through the magic, but she’d never felt them as close. 

Something broke. A weight? A restraint? Something Raz had set on herself without realizing and clung onto for years. An obligation that’d slowly become her life’s purpose. 

And with it gone, she felt free-er than ever in her life.

She bawled her eyes out and laughed her throat sore, professing her love for best siblings in all of Un and reality. She promised to love them forever and they believed her. They all cried and laughed at stupid jokes.

And when that sense of euphoria began to subside and that freedom finally settled in, Raz felt something she’d almost forgotten.

An old daydream of a lost girl.

A wish of someone small and insignificant.

Why should she not pursue it, she asked? If it was a one in a million chance she fulfilled it, wouldn’t it all be worth it? 

It would.

A wish hardened into something she could not yet articulate.

“I like it,” said Allie all of a sudden.

“Huh?” Raz blinked.

“Your eyes look good.”

Raz grinned. “Wait till I resonate my real aspect. I’ll be cool as heck.”

“Nah.” Allie pointed at her face. “Magic won’t make that cooler.”

Raz tried and failed to suppress her grin. In terms of coolness Allie was up there with GG, an actual viral arctuber legend. A praise from her was something she could cherish the rest of her life!

“Now you’re dorky again. Stop it.”

Raz sucked in her lips, but the grin wouldn’t stop.

Allie groaned, looking away.

“Gosh, it can’t be?” said a demure woman’s voice. At the entrance to their cell block stood a member of Magogram special forces decked in all black, with a tacticool vest full of foci and weapons, a black pointy hat, and a black blindfold penetrated by three glowing eyes. “Why, pray tell, are Maroque’s wards in the unstation jail?”