Chapter Nineteen: A New Normal | Part 7
They’d scarcely left the rec hall before Thirtyx shoved his carefully measured bag of coin at her. “Thank you, thank you. A hundred times, thank you.”
Seerla took the coin, but she did so with a roll of her eyes. “It was seriously nothing. Did you really think I would talk you into taking a Competency exam, then leave you hanging without a way to apply for apprenticeships? It’s such a ridiculous law. No one knows that the Veriths are behind this.”
Thirtyx scratched at the back of his head. “I have a feeling Grimmary will fight this, but the real work will probably fall on a bunch of lawyers. Could take months.”
“Hmm, sounds like Lamiakk needs more lawyers, then.” Seerla’s eyes gleamed with mischief. “Good thing we’re planning to join their ranks.”
Thirtyx inhaled a breath of fresh air, basking in how much lighter—physically and emotionally—he felt being free of his first round of applications. “And I’m happy to do that wherever they’ll let me. Truly, if I get in anywhere, it’ll be nothing short of a miracle.”
“Speaking of which…” Seerla shook the bag of coin. “How in the world are you financing this? I know they’re fairly cheap to mail, but given how the stupid Verith council sent you here with a fully-paid tuition but no pocket money…”
“Sometimes, during term break, Mrs. Wiggins slips me some coin for reshelving books in the library.” He flashed a wry smile. “She claims it annoys her when I look bored, but we both know the truth. I save it for replacement uniform parts, sending letters… this.”
Seerla shook her head in exasperation. “Look, my parents are paying me nicely to avoid you, so if it isn’t enough for your applications—”
“I’m not taking your money, Seerla.”
“I just want you to know that you can.” She stepped in front of him and placed a hand on his chest to halt him. Thirtyx blinked at her. He struggled to focus on the seriousness in her eyes rather than the warmth of her fingers against his shirt and the way it picked at that pleasant hunger.
“I’m serious, Thirtyx. I would do just about anything for you. You know that, right?”
The part of his brain that formed words turned to mush. All rational thoughts collided in a crash that sent them flying to the far corners of his skull. What was that supposed to mean? Of course, he knew what it meant, but did he know what it meant? And why couldn’t he parse through his theories while her fingers remained on his chest, undoubtedly feeling his heart thudding at an embarrassing speed?
She seemed to notice his vacant-eyed panic. Her hand fell away. Thirtyx found the return of brain function far less pleasant than her touch had been. “Sorry,” Seerla said. “I just… I really want you to know that me keeping my distance doesn’t mean I don’t care about you. Because I do. A lot.”
Seerla’s indecipherable energies made him lightheaded with how closely they brushed his romantic hunger. He needed to get a grip and say something before she thought she’d overstepped or embarrassed herself or—
The bell tower chimed 36th bar, and they both jumped.
Thirtyx forced a chuckle and scratched awkwardly behind his ear, resisting the urge to dig in his fingernails to ground himself in reality.
As the chiming subsided, Seerla’s hand flew to her heart. “My crafting circle! Oh, shoot, Thirtyx, I forgot. And most of their moms are friends with my mom, so I absolutely cannot bail. You’re alright, though?”
“Yeah. I mean… yeah, I just mailed off 12 apprenticeship applications. And thanks to you, I didn’t have to lug them back to my room. So. Great! Yeah, I’m doing great.”
Thirtyx was pretty sure he’d be better off melting into the cobblestones than continuing to exist as a person after that. But somehow, Seerla didn’t seem fazed by the most awkward sequence of words in Lamiakk’s history. Her eyes gleamed. “See you next time Dexy’s distracted?”
“Yeah— yeah, see you!”
As she walked briskly toward the academic building, Thirtyx massaged his temples. If only he could hold that moment close for the rest of his life while surgically removing the part of his brain responsible for his role in it.
Logistical Note: Traitor to the Throne will be taking a break from June 17 – July 13.
There are only so many times I can apologize for schedule disruptions without it sounding hollow, but I really am sorry, and I tried so many avenues to keep from doing this. But while you all know I’ve been struggling with burnout and some related hits to my mental health, I now have a physical health issue as well. It’s quite minor (no need to worry!) but it’s causing significant fatigue and brain fog and will continue to do so until I can have an (again very minor) procedure in June. In the meantime, I sadly need to conserve my energy for my day job. My inability to operate at full capacity right now makes me want to flip a table through a window, but I’ve finally accepted that it’s my current reality.
I’ll return with the start of chapter 20 on July 14, a date that will position a true treat of an installment to land on the story’s anniversary date of July 21. 😉 Please enjoy the next few weeks and be kind to yourselves!
Calley Jones 