A Boy, a Dog Girl and the Way Things Are: Part One

The lanterns rose into the air. All across Bell’s South the people could see the massive cloud of them rise from the university. It was a yearly ritual, a warm and comforting blanket from the ancient wizard.

Skabbart was not comforted.

He stood in a crowd of people raising their own lanterns, blending in with those happy people. He had no special disguise. His whole life was a disguise.

They were all from the old man.

He knew what the lanterns were. An acknowledgement of loss.

An admission of guilt.

Is my father’s face carved into any of those gourds? Do you remember him and his friends?

It did not matter. Before the year ended, when the snow fell and the days turned dark, he would remember.

The whole city would.

*

Baltz watched Zack play in the pentagrams qualifying match, his eyes following the ball between all five courts. His loyal butler, Jelks, sat next to him, his bald head and eyepatch making him look more like a pirate than a man servant.

“Why are you so fascinated by this boy?” Jelks asked.

“He stood up to me. Even after finding out I could buy and sell him. He supports Chista, despite her ineptitude. And Timbul is close to him. He has always been a good judge of character.”

Zack leapt towards the ball, smacking it high up into the air on his own court. The defender near him had a wall of magical brick constructs built up with only a tiny hole left. He focused on it, all angles playing in his mind. Focus, he told himself. The ball came down and his racket smashed it through the hole, ricocheting off the opposite construct wall and onto the ground between the player’s feet. Maximum points achieved. The defender was out.

“Yes!” Zack shouted, his fist pumping into the air.

“HE'S MY SWEETHEART!” Honey cried out, her voice rocketing through the stadium.

“How much of your interest is jealousy, sir?” Jelks asked.

“None. I learned long ago athletics is not my forte, despite how much I wish otherwise. I adapt to the way things are. Zack, however…”

Baltz leaned in, his eyes focused on Zack.

*

The game was won. Zack and Timbul cheered outside the stadium, surrounded by their friends. Honey kissed Zack over and over.

“Honey, you…okay, you can…I’m sweaty and gross!” Zack said.

“You’re my sweetheart and you played the best!” Honey said with another kiss.

“You know, I actually scored more points than Zack in the second round,” Timbul said.

“If you’re jealous, I’ll kiss you. You’re not my type, but I’ll slum it for you.”

Baltz stepped towards the group, Jelks walking behind him, his driver’s cap low. Timbul slapped him a high five.

“You made it! Hey, did you see the last smash I made?”

“No, because when I go to sporting events I like to stare at the wall instead of the players,” Baltz said. He then turned to Zack. “Good work. You can barely tell you’re a rank amateur.”

“I can never tell if you’re insulting me or not,” Zack said.

“He is. Baltz doesn’t do compliments,” Chista said, her eyes narrowing. Chistos put his hands on her shoulders protectively.

“Speaking of competitions, the wizardry demonstration is coming up. The top five this year go to the mountain resort in Volken for a week of winter relaxation.”

“Yeah, and I’m gonna be one of them!”

Baltz shook his head. “In a way, this saddens me. I get tired of humiliating you. Zack, please convince her to stop trying for things she cannot achieve.”

“I can’t. Don’t believe in the concept,” Zack said, crossing his arms.

“Good for you. But you aren’t a proven failure.”

“A proven failure who saved my life? Honey’s life?”

“Chista didn’t only save me! She made me better! Now I wear clothes and kiss my sweetheart and don’t poop in the yard!” Honey said, standing next to Zack and crossing her arms confidently.

“Later we’re going to have a discussion on things you should brag about,” Zack said to her.

“You know what? They’re right,” Chista said, stepping away from her father and getting into Baltz’s face. “I did something extraordinary. And I can do it again. I’m entering the demonstration. I’m going to be one of the top five. And you’ll have to take back all the crap you said to me, rich boy.”

“If you place, I’ll bow to you,” Baltz said with a confident smirk. “Timbul, let’s go. I owe you a dinner for exceeding my expectations. I always pay my debts. Jelks, the carriage!”

Timbul gave an apologetic shrug as they walked away. Chista turned and began to stomp away herself. “I’m going to the carpet. Apologies if the ride is bumpy later. I need to stomp on something.”

She marched away, the late fall chill outside the stadium at VanVeer Academy suddenly feeling colder.

“I don’t like fighting…” Honey said. Zack held her closer, then turned his eyes to Chistos.

“And why didn’t you stand up for her?”

“The last thing my daughter needs is her celebrity father fighting her battles,” Chistos said. Zack sensed him holding something back with those words.

“Trust me. Kids wants their dads to fight for them.”

Zack led Honey away. From the top Academy window, Savy VanVeer watched the scene.

“Time for some instruction…” she murmured.