A Boy, a Dog Girl and School Preparation: Part Three

The courtyard at the center of the shopping district was a massive sprawl of tables and benches surrounding a massive fountain which shot sprays of water into the air in festive patterns. Dancers, singers and showmen of all types wandered through the crowds, using magic to enhance their acts as shoppers ate and laughed and clapped around them.

Zack saw none of it.

“If a queen gives birth to a son, roll two die. If it is a daughter, roll three. These help set base stats for the new additional pieces connected to the nobility’s…what are these rules?!”

“Seems complicated,” Honey said, scrunching her nose as Zack read the instructions of King’s Field. They sat at a table close to the fountain, their lunches spread before them, Zack’s uneaten.

“I know! This is great! I haven’t even gotten to combat yet!”

“It’s so good to see you excited about the game!” Chistos said, leaning in over his food. “Gratham is the best player I know, but his play style is…erratic.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ll get it when you meet him. His whole family is kinda nuts,” Chista said.

“Nuts? Nuts like a woman who turned into a man so she could use a sword, or nuts like a kid from another dimension and his bunk mate, the human golden retriever?”

“Good point. Nuts is relative,” Chista said.

“I like nuts!” Honey said, chewing on a walnut in her salad.

“So, how much more do we have to buy? I feel like I have a whole classroom waiting for me back home,” Zack said.

“Well, what would you two like?” Chistos asked.

“Dressies. And pretty things,” Honey said, jabbing her salad with her fork.

“Less like you’re killing it,” Zack said, adjusting her hand on the fork. Then he leaned back to think. “Know what I’d like? Some ice skates. Do you guys do ice skating?”

“Indeed we do! There’s a pool on campus we sometimes freeze for skating. You might even want to teach the children at Madam VanVeer’s this hockey sport.”

“Well, to do it I’d need sticks, pucks, padding. Plus dental coverage. Is there good dental care in this city?”

“Before we start thinking of teaching an entirely new sport, maybe we should check our funds,” Chista said, jingling her coin purse. “Let’s see, we have about…”

Nobody saw the shady looking man coming up behind Chista. They were so focused on each other, nobody noticed the man in the hood reaching out until he roughly grabbed her hand, yanking the coin purse from it. Like a flash he was off, running through the crowd, pushing people and running for an alley.

“Damn it!” Chista shouted, standing and pointing a hand at the man as it began to glow blue.

“Chista! You may hit someone!” her father shouted.

Before anyone could say anything Zack leapt up, running forward a few steps before jumping on top of a nearby table. He grabbed the walking stick of the old man there.

“Maybe I don’t need skates and pads. I only need a stick…and something to hit…”

Zack lined up the walking stick with a metal dish which held a yellow sauce for the old man’s food. With a fluid motion he raised the stick and slapped the dish across the courtyard. Before the hooded man reached the alley the dish crashed into his head, knocking him down, sauce splashing over him.

“What the nine hells…” the man grunted before something large landed on him. He looked up to see a scowling demon in the form of a girl on top of him, her eyes wide and angry.

“I don’t like when people hurt my friends,” Honey growled lowly.

“Get off me, you crazy bitch!” The man squirmed under her weight, the sauce from the metal container leaking into his eyes.

“Ironic insult. Down girl,” Zack said, walking over to the guy. A crowd had begin to gather around them as guards dressed in blue uniforms rushed forward.

“Yes Zack!” Honey said, her eyes immediately going from terrifying to bright and cheerful as she looked to him. She hopped off the man and grabbed his hand as the guards arrived, pulling the man up and binding his hands in a glowing magical construct.

“Good shot,” Chistos said, slowly walking over. Zack noticed Chista’s eyes looking away from them.

“Why didn’t you guys do the zap zap like in the woods?” Zack asked.

“In your world, do you shoot everyone who causes a disturbance?” Chistos asked.

“Depends on the city,” Zack said with a shrug.

“Magic is not simply a toy to wield casually. This is what classes in our schools teach. There are powers in our world which could make ordinary humans like gods. Would you want such power used by people who resort to violence at the slightest provocation?”

“Yeah, I get it, I guess. But I’m not in trouble for…” He gestured towards the man being led away through the crowd, cursing and struggling.

“Oh no. We teach responsibility. We also teach bravery. Wisdom is learning what is brave and what is foolish. Though…” Chistos grabbed the walking stick from Zack and handed it back to the old man. “…next time try to avoid using a lame old man’s cane and chirrca sauce.”

“Thank you. But I don’t mind. The lad and his sweetheart were impressive! I can see why she fell for him!” the old man said brightly.

“Sweetheart?” Honey said slowly, turning her head to look at Zack.

“Hang on, we’re not…”

“Sweetheart!”

“No, wait, Honey, we’re not…”

She squeezed him tightly, rubbing her face against his, happy as a clam thinking about her boy in such a way. Nobody noticed the patch of fur which was receding on her neck as she calmed down.

Across the plaza a group of teens watched them. A tall blonde boy popped a grape into his mouth, grinning wickedly.

“Chista Sollei has new friends. Interesting…” the boy said softly.