> Lara PoV

“Thanks for the ride, Fluffles!” (Lara)

I unbuckle myself and get off from Fluffles’s back. Flying like this takes a bit longer than that using that magic door, but at least we don’t have to bother Ariel or our Moms to come and open it! Now where did-

“Sophie! Come down from there!” (Lara)

She’s doing it again! She’s burrowing herself inside Fluffles’s soft neck feathers! I know the early morning air is chilly and that it’s super warm and cozy in there, but we’ll be late for class!

“Nuuuu! I want to stay right here!” (Sophie)

“Don’t dig yourself in deeper! Fluffles, do something about this!” (Lara)

“Kra? Kwaak!” (Fluffles)

He cranes his neck around and picks up Sophie with his beak. He lifts her up by holding onto her coat.

“Noooooo!” (Sophie)

She flails her arms and legs, but she’s completely helpless like this. Honestly, you can’t tell which one’s the parent and which one’s the child...

“Sophie! Please! You know Nano will punish us with baby food for dinner if we’re late to his class again!” (Lara)

Did she forget what happened last week?! If Mom didn’t interfere we would definitely have been fed that dangerous-looking green stuff! We got lucky that time, but Nano was completely serious!

“I… forgot…” (Sophie)

Sophie’s face turns sour and she stops struggling instantly. As I thought. I think I’d much rather be spanked than have to even smell that foul stuff!

“Then move! We only have a few minutes left! You can put her down now, Fluffles!” (Lara)

He sets her down gently. Sophie straightens up her coat and we start half-running towards the RGA building. I turn around and wave back to Fluffles.

“Thanks again! We’ll see you at noon, okay?!” (Lara)

He nods at us and flies up into the air. After gaining some altitude, he shoots off somewhere. Probably to find breakfast. He and Puff need to hunt for their own meals, after all. I kind of miss feeding them when they were young though...

Well, they seem to enjoy it and they get rid of dangerous monsters in the process. Not to mention Mom says feeding those two can get quite expensive otherwise. All of those are very good reasons so I have to put up with it for now. Well, it’s probably fine if I sneak him some leftover bones or something. He really likes crunching those.

I turn my attention to the rear entrance of the RGA building. At first Fluffles dropped us off directly at the front door, but it seemed to cause trouble for others. So now we land somewhere in the back yard where we can get off or climb on his back in peace. Plus, walking along fresh snow and feeling it creak slightly under my footsteps is kinda fun! You don’t get to enjoy that if you go in through the front!

We enter the Academy and go up to the second floor, third door on the right. Inside are nine small desks arranged in a three-by-three grid. Well, only nine kids signed up for this class so that’s pretty much as expected.

“Yo Lara, Sophie.” (Billy)

I hear Billy’s cheerful voice as he waves at us from his seat. How is this guy always so bright this early in the morning? Maybe it’s an elf thing? Like how he looks like he’s 7 or 8 when he’s actually 14. Or so he says anyway.

“Morning, Billy.” (Lara)

“Hey! You know my name is Bollofrantos! Say it properly!” (Billy)

Yeah right. As if I’m going to say something that long every day! Besides, Billy fits him!

“Good day, Billy.” (Sophie)

Sophie thinks so too!

“You too, Sophie! Also I really wish you should stop saying that!” (Billy)

“Huh? Saying what?” (Sophie)

“It’s still morning so shouldn’t you be saying ‘good morning?’ That’s just common sense!” (Billy)

“Mommy said that wishing someone a ‘good day’ is like a good luck charm, so I’m saying it.” (Sophie)

“Hah, right. As if that religious stuff actually has any merit to it!” (Billy)

Ah, here we go again. This guy seems determined to prove that the Churches of Enuri and Khamis are ‘nothing but scams to leech the money off common citizens.’ If it wasn’t for that odd fixation of his I think we might be good friends. After all Ariel and grandpa both work for the Church and they’re super nice. I don’t see what his problem is.

“Besides it’s not like-” (Billy)

“Mister Bollofrantos.” (Nano/Butler)

“Ack!” (Billy)

Nano’s golem in the corner suddenly springs to life. Rather than have it go in and out of the room all the time, it just sort of lives here.

“Need I remind you such discussions do not belong in this classroom?” (Nano/Butler)

“N-no, sir.” (Billy)

“Very good. Come now, children, take your seats. We will be starting soon.” (Nano/Butler)

I scramble to my seat in the middle of the front row. Sophie’s on my left by the window and Billy’s on my right by the door. Honestly, this room is a bit too wide for just nine kids, but I can’t complain. At least the air doesn’t get stuffy like in those Basic Alchemy classes! Entirely too many people attended those!

“Now then, today we will be continuing our study of multiplication.” (Nano/Butler)

Nano turns around towards the blackboard on the wall. His arm flies all over the place and a few seconds later, half of it is already filled with math problems. Geh, he’s not holding back today either! But I won’t back down! This stuff is necessary to make sure I don’t mess up when it comes to big transactions in the future!

Preparation is vital, after all!

* * *

“Very good. We’re done for today. Class dismissed.” (Nano/Butler)

“Haah, I thought I was gonna die!” (Joseph)

The ginger-haired Joseph behind me speaks up. That guy always says stuff like that. Well, it’s not like I can’t understand what he means. Even my motivation was starting to suffer towards the end!

“Really? From maths? Your head’s as bad as ever. Why are you even here in the first place?” (Janet)

“Aw come on, sis! You know I can’t leave you here alone! I have to protect you from any creepy guys that try to pick you up! I’m still your big brother!” (Joseph)

“Yeah, by about 5 minutes. What’s the point in an elder brother like that?” (Janet)

Ah, the twins are at it again. Still, I think I need to speak up here. I turn around and give Janet a stern look.

“Being an older brother is an important job!” (Lara)

“No it’s not! It just gives him an excuse to boss me around and get in my business!” (Janet)

“That’s exactly what he should be doing! Little sisters just don’t know any better!” (Lara)

“Big sis, you’re yelling again…” (Sophie)

“Whatever. What do you know? You only have a fake family anyway!” (Janet)

“Oh yeah? Well, you smell!” (Lara)

“I do not smell!” (Janet)

“Uhm sis, she has a point. The last time we bathed was- Ow!” (Joseph)

She threw her notebook at his face! Is that any way for a 13-year old to behave?! Wait, does she actually smell? I thought we were trading insults that made no sense!

“Stay out of this, stupid!” (Janet)

No, I’m pretty sure he’s kind of important to this conversation. Hmm? Oh!

“Hey Mom!” (Lara)

“Mommy!” (Sophie)

“Good day, girls.” (Ellie)

“WAAAAH!” (Rest of class)

Why are they freaking out? She came to pick us up like always, right?

“She just appeared! Why?! How?! There was nothing in that corner a second ago!” (Janet)

“So cool!” (Joseph)

“Aah! I thought my heart was gonna stop!” (Billy)

Oh, they mean that whole ‘hide-and-seek’ thing Mom does. It’s no big deal, it’s not like she’s going to hurt us.

“I’m just dropping by to check on you two. Your mother and I have to take care of some errands so we’ll be busy until dinner, okay?” (Ellie)

“Okay!” (Sophie and Lara)

“Here’s some money for lunch and a snack.” (Ellie)

I take the small coin purse and put away in the bag on my shoulder, right next to mine and Sophie’s notebooks.

“Now then. Who is it that dared to call my family fake?!” (Ellie)

Uh-oh. I think someone might end up getting hurt after all!

“It’s okay Mom, she didn’t mean it! Besides I called her smelly so we’re even okay?!” (Lara)

“Not good enough!” (Ellie)

Crap! I need to calm her down! If she did that ‘snap-gyaa’ thing to my friends I don’t think they’ll come near me or Sophie ever again!

* * *

“Hmm, what do you think?” (Lara)

“Uuuu, I’m not sure. Maybe just some pancakes?” (Sophie)

“That’s a bit dull though. I have an odd craving for chocolate right now, to be honest.” (Lara)

“The Apocalypse or the Alamein?” (Sophie)

“Apocalypse.” (Lara)

Alamein is good too, but the thought of saying ‘nuts’ for the whole day is kind of embarrassing.

“Big sis! I know! Let’s have some of those honey cupcakes! Then when we get tired, we can nap until Mommy gets home!” (Sophie)

“Ohh! Not a bad idea!” (Lara)

“What are you two doing?” (Joseph)

I turn my head to the twins that are walking next to us.

“Strategizing.” (Lara)

“Yeah! Startergizing.” (Sophie)

“Huh? But it’s just cake, right?” (Joseph)

“You’ve never been to Zublos’s shop before, have you?” (Lara)

Proper planning is required to fully enjoy it. Otherwise you’ll ruin your day.

“No… Dad says things like cakes are too expensive…” (Joseph)

“Is that so? Well, today’s our treat so don’t hold back and order as much as you want, okay?!” (Lara)

It’s my way of saying sorry for Mom treating Janet like that. At least she didn’t break anything and only dangled Janet by her feet for a few minutes. I wonder if that was really a punishment though? Mom’s air rides are really fun after all!

“You got it!” (Joseph)

“Ah, how is your sister doing, by the way?” (Lara)

“Jan?” (Joseph)

“Urk! I’ll be okay… I don’t think I can eat any of that cake though…” (Janet)

She’s still walking around after throwing up so hard, though. I think that’s pretty amazing in its own way. She’ll definitely need a bath later, though.

“You can just bring it home in a little paper box and eat it later.” (Lara)

“Oh! That’ll be a big help! Isn’t that great, sis?” (Joseph)

“Ugh… If you say so…” (Janet)

“Ah she’ll be fine. How far away is this place though?” (Joseph)

“Should be there soon. Like three minutes more. Five tops!” (Lara)

“Okay… Say, about your mom, is it true she single handedly broke a mountain in two?” (Joseph)

“What? Of course not! Where’d you hear that sort of thing?!” (Lara)

“My dad heard it from some dwarf woman in a bar.” (Joseph)

“Ah, that probably came from Aunt Kelly. You really can’t take anything she says too seriously. She gets a bit, uh, creative when she’s drinking.” (Lara)

“R-really? So it wasn’t true?” (Joseph)

“Come on Joseph. A single person splitting open a mountain? There’s no way that can be true if you think about it, right?” (Janet)

“You do have a point there. I just thought...” (Joseph)

“Yeah, Janet’s right. It took both of them working together to do that.” (Lara)

“... what?” (Janet)

“Well yeah. That mountain was really really big, there’s no way only one of them could break it like that.” (Lara)

Besides, they had to hurry and squash that big bug thing.

“Hahaha! That’s amazing! Say, can I meet your other mom too?! And get both their autographs?!” (Joseph)

“You can’t be serious! That absurd story was true after all?!” (Janet)

“Is it really that strange?” (Lara)

“Of course it is! Something like a mountain- That’s impossible, right?!” (Janet)

“It might be if it was someone else. But since it was those Moms of mine anything can happen.” (Lara)

Janet’s wide eyes snap onto her brother’s head.

“You can’t tell me you seriously believe this!” (Janet)

“Why wouldn’t I? I mean we’re talking about people who raised a gryphon just to make sure their kids are safe, right? I don’t think that’s a sign of someone who knows restraint.” (Joseph)

“... Good point. Come to think of it, they live in this city after all, huh?” (Janet)

“Right?! Trying to point out everything weird in Runetap would probably take years!” (Joseph)

“Big bro Joseph, you’re not from around here?” (Sophie)

“Nah. We moved here just before Autumn. We’re still getting used to the place.” (Joseph)

I see, newcomers huh?

“Wait, did you guys check your chairs and pantry when Winter started?” (Lara)

“Huh?” (Joseph)

“Living furniture and mimics tend to sneak into houses during the 13th month. They’ll pretend to be part of the room and eat up all your food when you’re not looking.” (Lara)

We found five of those buggers in total after Autumn passed. One of them even disguised itself as a cookie jar without me realizing it! It ate like 10 of grandpa’s cookies before I noticed it!

“... That’s a thing that happens?” (Janet)

“I see, that actually makes sense. It would certainly explain why that chair in my room is never where I left it.” (Janet)

“Stab it with a fork when you get back. If it screams, your house is definitely infested.” (Lara)

“Oh! And ask the City Guard officers for help! They’re super kind so they’ll show you how to deal with those things!” (Sophie)

Nice one, Sophie! I almost forgot about that.

“This city really is crazy! I just can’t handle it anymore!” (Janet)

“You’ll get used to it eventually.” (Lara)

“Easy for you to say! I haven’t lived here all my life like you two!” (Janet)

“We haven’t either though. We’ve only been here for like… ten months?” (Lara)

“I’m not like you though! Honestly! How you two can cope with all this strange stuff is beyond me!” (Janet)

Ah, looks like she’s losing it. I better make sure I order some pancakes for her so she can mellow out a bit.

“Say big sis, isn’t that Cloudburst Festival is coming up soon?” (Sophie)

“Oh! That’s right!” (Lara)

“There’s a festival?! Is it any fun!?” (Joseph)

“We missed it last year, so I can’t really say.” (Lara)

Festivals are supposed to be fun by default though.

“Ah, that’s too bad. You know, our old village has a Harvest Festival towards the end of every Summer. It was seriously good fun!” (Joseph)

“Oh! Is there like lots of pie and sweets and stuff?!” (Lara)

“You know it! Almost everyone there’s a farmer and they’re all pretty competitive. They bring out their best stuff during the Festival and hold competitions and stuff! I won the pig-wrestling one last time!” (Joseph)

“Wow, that does sound pretty fun. I just hope this one doesn’t disappoint!” (Lara)

“Yeah! Come to think of it though, why is this Cloudburst festival called that?” (Joseph)

“Because the city floats up into the sky. It’s quite literal.” (Lara)

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I WANNA GO HOOOOOOME!” (Janet)

…

I understand you’re shocked, but you didn’t have to run away like your life depended on it. You’ll miss out on snack time with that sort of attitude!