Chapter Text
A full moon shines over matadero. The first one since Stuart’s binding. Outside the cube, the waves reflect the moonlight into Alden’s new window, an opening in the otherwise smooth wall.
Alden holds his auriad in between both arms as he tries to focus on both the light, and himself as it weaves across the casting aid. He is still raw from the last binding, but something about the glimmering moon called out to him, as he prepares a wave of force to fly outside the magical fortress.
With only that one spell, he exhausts the small amount of free authority recovered over the past few weeks. The force square flies off, magnified by the cube’s defensive enchantments. It makes a noticeable splash into the waters below, and Alden’s gaze stops on a larger droplet, reflecting silver moonlight as it falls back down.
That’s a beauty to thrive for.
The bedsheets are warm as Alden finishes the first midnight casting of his third binding, and he tries to sleep in physical comfort. An hour later, he gives up and uses a sleeping wordchain.
At least I only needed one today.
*****
[Video call from General Stu-art’h, Artona I.]
[Connection fee waived.]
“Greetings Hn’tyon Stu-art’h.” Alden pronounced his friend’s formal name with fluidity. Smiling feebly.
As if I wasn’t kneeling on the learning cushion. In Matadero’s bathroom. Again.
“Greetings, I see you are disposing of shitty thoughts again, Alden…” It’s been less than 5 seconds, and he already can see Stu’s face scrunching up. “I’m still unsure what your title should be.”
Looking back at the toilet with a closed lid, Alden shifts his smile to a smirk. “Shitty wizard.” He says, half in English and half in Artonan.
“No-”
“The wizard of shitty.”
“Alden!” Stu looks away, grapifying slightly. “That was not-”
“Pooper popper protector.” This time all in English.
“That sounded funny.” Stu raises an eyebrow, and tries for himself. “puper popor protocter. Protector. Popper.”
“Yeah that’s it. Pooper Popper Protector. Too long for a title. It will be my official frontline nickname instead.” Stu can see Alden’s smirk plastered on his face. His own face still scrunches in protest. “Fifty years from now we’ll be purifying chaos asteroids and everyone will be forced to call me Pooper Popper Protector with a straight face.”
“Alden!” Stu bemoans lightly. “I wanted to ask if I could come over and meet your friends.”
“Of course! I'll have to ask them to be ready. When are you coming?” Alden’s face lights up further, now with a solid smile.
“Next friday, on your noon.” The new Hn’tyon breathes out a laugh. “But now all I can think of is that Humanity’s only wizard practices his casting in the bathroom.”
“The bathroom of shitty.” And now they’re both cackling.
*****
Flying over the ocean, Alden messages his roommates. Lexi first.
[My Artonan friend is coming to Earth. He’ll be staying with me at Matadero for a few weeks, but he’s been looking forward to properly meeting you guys for a while, and wants to visit the lodge. I will not let him come if any of you refuse, but I’m pretty sure he’ll the best roommate ever :)]
[Danger Smiley. Old Aunt coming?]
[Oh, hey Alden! Yes. Let him come. But you need to come as well, ok? It’s not fair that you disappeared like that.]
[Lutewin Van Nutmet. Monthly Self-exile. Now hypocrite?]
[Not the same! I was fleeing for my life. Alden just up and left one day.]
[About that, I’ll return in two weeks at most! I hope you didn’t destroy all the rugs >:). ]
[Danger Danger Smiley. Oh no!]
[Anyways, in complete digression from topics related to any charred rugs, Lexi?]
[...Ok. He can come.]
[Thanks Lexi! You’re a wonderful roommate :D]
[Alden, forever traumatizing poor Lexi… Tch tch tch.]
[ONLY IF!]
[Oh no! Danger whip!]
[You can assure us that he won’t be treating the lodge as a party room.]
[He won’t, Stu knows proper discretion.]
[And he won’t be inviting any of his friends over.]
[Only him.]
[And that he won’t be adding us all to a list of useful humans to summon into danger.]
[I’m good. Add. Am Danger 🦡.]
[Stu-art’h will not be doing any of that Lexi, he’s just going to chat for a bit, sightsee Anesidora, and then come back. Sorry Haoyu, you won’t get a job to be a danger badger from him.]
[Can I convince him that Aulia is evil? I will try to convince him Aulia is evil.]
[Sure, that sounds fun.]
A few minutes and a couple texts with Natalie and Emilija later, as he was flying down into the Apex of Apex gym, he added:
[Natalie and Emilija might pop up to deliver many many free snacks; he also wanted to try those, and Natalie sees it as an opportunity to network by quietly showing off.]
[More people? No.]
[Yes. Snacks for 🦡. Natalie snacks.]
[!?] Lute chained together a series of fast messages [Free Snacks. !!?? Awesome Alden. Emilija, too??! Need Confidence prepared. ughhbbhnn. Still haven’t paid off. From last date! Double pay. Clean up. !!!! Rugs!!!]
[You’ll do fine, Lute. I think you’ll do just fine.]
[He’s already grabbed the rugs and left.] Lexi remarked. [I’ve not seen him ever clean so energetically. Maybe it’s fine for Emilija to come, if it means Lute will clean up the lodge regularly.]
*****
Stu steps through the summonarium platform, right into Alden’s arms and a hug so tight they could feel each other’s hearts. The Artonan boy had been crying, and a tear mark still remained under baggy eyes.
“They still don’t…?”
Alden could feel Stuart nod onto his shoulder.
Alden hugs him tighter. He’d hug with his authority as well, but just two weeks after binding, Stu’s authority would still be raw, so he held back.
Apparently the new Hn’tyon didn’t care, and the small amount of his self that still remained freed, met forward to greet Alden’s own, tapping around the edges, too small for a proper hug.
Pulling apart, Alden caught Stu’s wince before the boy could hide it.
“Stu! You’re still in pain! Don’t hurt yourself to greet me, please.”
The Artonan sighs, and plops into a nearby couch, exhausted in many ways. None of them physical.
They still haven’t removed the couch Esh teleported in. He looked around at the otherwise spartan summoning reception. Probably for the better.
“You were right, Alden.” Stu took out a wand out of his backpack, fiddling with it.
Alden sits besides him, and waits.
And waits.
He’s got a suspicion about what Stu was referring to, and after checking that its brick was solid, interrupts the boy’s contemplation.
“Gokorratches. All of them.”
“Not all, but…”
“Enough that they made a Hn’tyon on first binding flee their home, and their home planet, in tears.”
Stu’s eyes slowly widen. “I… May have overreacted. I knew they would wait until second or third binding, but I-”
“Gokoratches, eating their brethren when they’ve got plenty of food.”
Looking down, Stu continued fiddling with the wand. Eventually, he taps it on his cheek, cleaning his face from all traces of his prior crying. With that, he looks up once more, and straightens his shoulders.
The Artonan is wearing a colorful pezyva contrasting Alden’s light brown apparel. The outer, more solid triangle, of black borders and a light violet center. As he straightens, the sharp black edges re-define, looking much like a patient creature’s spike. The softer clothes underneath, a whole rainbow of colors, symbolizing the beauty protected.
“Enough brooding.” Says the new Hn’tyon, both eyes set on a new purpose. “I came here to loosen up, meet your friends, and see Anesidora. You told me your school roommates are ready and happy to receive me?”
“They are! I even got Natalie - The Cook of the Moment girl I told you about - to deliver third meal and fruit-based snacks!”
At that, Stu perked up, the final traces of his discomfort vanishing from his gait, as they traveled to Matadero’s roof, and out into the ocean atop a flying nonagon.
In the way, Stu would pass as a wizard with the help of the many wands and rings he’d brought. "It will help smooth over the introductions." He said. "I like your notion of a low intensity week."