Some time later, Luz was deep into reading book five of Azura ...

"At long last, her eye fell upon that which she sought. Tucked back in the darkest corners of the open air market, there was a tent of red and gold, lacking any sort of clear, easily legible signposts, unlike the other stands or tents. Instead, the only identifying mark to be found was the simple emblem hanging just above the tent's entrance; a plain black silhouette of a raven's head.

That had to be it.

Azura made her way carefully through the crowds, avoiding the filthy puddles that had accumulated on the worn roads, a foul mixture of wastewater and litter from the town. She dodged around some of the bawdier townspeople, who were drinking and conversing loudly, staggering about. Finally, she reached the far side of the square, where she stood alone before the Ebony Oracle's tent. Taking a nervous breath, she drew the fabric aside and stepped in.

Upon entering, Azura was immediately assaulted by the powerful smell of sandalwood and dragon's blood, the incense hanging heavy in the air. On top of cluttered bookshelves, cabinets and tables, candles glowed from all around, their melted wax having accumulated for many hours, piling along their base like thick tears. In the center of the room was a round table adorned in a rich purple fabric, a crystal ball dominating the space. Behind the table was a velvet curtain that hid a back room of sorts, one that Azura could barely catch glimpse of from the small crack of light.

This was certainly the place she had been told about. And yet, now that she was standing here, something inside her made her hesitate. What if this soothsayer wasn't anything like the person that had been described to her? What if they saw through her disguise and decided to turn her in? She would be hard-pressed to find a quick and easy escape, when she was already so deep in Briarblood territory ..."

Luz turned the page, grinning, tossing a quick glance at Hunter to check his reaction. He seemed absorbed in the tale. Eagerly, she continued reading.

"Azura was startled from her musings when a dark figure suddenly appeared from behind the curtain, causing her to gasp aloud. They were draped in a flowing purple cloak and wore a chilling mask that gave the impression of a harsh-eyed raven with a hooked black beak. They seemed to glare at her, making the hair on her neck stand on end.

'Warrior of Peace, Azura,' they spoke, drawing out the vowels of her name like an enchantment. Their voice was both reedy and deep at once, and she could not identify it as masculine or feminine. Feeling unnerved, Azura asked,

'How did you know my name?'

An eerie chuckle filled the air of the strange tent.

'Would the Ebony Oracle not be negligent in their craft if they failed to identify the aura of someone as brazen and bright as the Good Witch? Your power shines for all to see.'

Azura realized that what they said made perfect sense. She felt a little foolish she had not considered such a thing sooner. Still, it made little difference now, she supposed.

Pushing back the hood of her cloak, she revealed her face, seafoam locks of hair cascading down her shoulders.

'Then I expect you already know why I am here as well. I seek a reading from the Ebony Oracle! Will I vanquish the great evil that plagues this land? Will I immerge victorious against King Wrathmore?'

The mysterious figure chuckled again, apparently very amused with her. They spoke in their sonorous tone,

'Such candor. Such openness. Few speak so directly. I find it ... refreshing. But do you not fear that I might betray you? Surely you must know that I serve his Majesty, as do all in Briarblood.'

Azura gazed into the oracle's strange red eyes, answering boldly,

'I was told that your business is open to all, to the foolish and the wise, to the weak and the strong, to paupers and kings alike. If you are a person of your word, then you will not turn me away.'

The raven-headed person took a step closer, approaching the round table in the center of the room. Their eyes remained burning steadily on Azura as they spoke.

'You are quite right. My loyalty is to the quest of knowledge above all else. I would never turn away any who seek the truth. Even my enemies.'

A gloved, black hand appeared from the draping sleeves of their cloak, and they picked up one of the many white taper candles cluttering the room. They dipped the flame into the small incense burner that sat on the table, lighting it and sending a new column of smoke curling into the air. As they returned the candle, they continued,

'But know that my generosity has its limits. I must work within the confines of the King's directives. I will gladly scry into your future, Good Witch, but the advice that I can give you will be minimal. Knowing that, do you agree?'

Azura had come this far. She wasn't about to back down now. She nodded to the enigmatic figure before her.

'Agreed.'

The oracle nodded their head, then reached out to pick up the incense burner. They passed the smoke over the large crystal ball slowly, speaking in a low murmur.

'We seek to gaze beyond the present moment. We seek to gaze into the flow of time. We seek to gaze into the one called Azura ...'

Slowly, the crystal ball clouded over, as if it was being filled with a soft purple smoke. The oracle leaned forward, their red eyes fixed on the glass ball, staring into it as if trying to peer through a thick fog. Azura watched with bated breath.

After a tense silence, the oracle finally spoke, their voice hardly more than a whisper.

'Aaah, yes ... I begin to see it. Your path ...'

Azura leaned in a little closer, although she still only saw mere smoke in the crystal ball. Eagerly, she asked,

'Yes? What is it?'

The oracle continued to stare, their gaze never wavering from the orb. Quietly, they stated,

'Your path ... it has been a tumultuous one ... you have suffered many trials along your quest ... made many sacrifices in the service of others ...'

'Yes,' Azura said, filled with nervous energy. The oracle leaned even closer to the crystal ball, their beak nearly touching it.

'Hmmm ... alas, my Good Witch ... it seems that all of your efforts ... they have not been enough.'

She stared at him, her heart in her throat.

'What?'"

Quickly, Luz turned the page. Hunter took the opportunity to comment,

"Well, it's sort of predictable so far."

She looked up to him.

"In what way?"

He said,

"I knew her fortune wasn't going to be good. I mean, why would the writer go through all the trouble if the fortune was that everything was going to turn out peachy keen?"

Luz nodded,

"Yes, yes, but it gets better! You'll see, it's good!"

He agreed reluctantly,

"All right ..."

Luz cleared her throat and then continued reading.

"The Ebony Oracle hummed, their voice one of pity.

'On your current path, there will be a great conflict. A mighty clash of power, enough to rend the skies like thunder. But you shall fall ... and the King will remain on his throne.'

'No,' Azura shouted, her voice desperate.

'That can't be right! There has to be more to it then just that, please– tell me there's more.'

The raven-headed oracle shook their head.

'It is as I have told. This path ends with the iron grip of the King.'

Azura felt despair threatening to consume her, but she refused to give in to it.

'But there has to be something I can do to change it. I'm not going to just accept defeat. Surely our futures are not all written in stone, are they?'

She felt the unnerving gaze of the oracle fall upon her once more.

'I have told you only that which I can see of the path you currently walk. There are many such paths that each of us may take.'

A sense of hope rekindled within her.

'So then, couldn't I just take another path?'

The strange soothsayer seemed to be studying her.

'And which path would you wish to take?'

Azura didn't hesitate to answer.

'I must be victorious in my battle against King Wrathmore. I need to save the lands from his evil tyranny!'

The oracle chuckled, a haunting sound, like dead leaves tumbling in the breeze.

'Tell me, Azura ... what makes you so certain that the King must be toppled from his throne? The citizens of Briarblood raise their voices in praise of the one who delivered them from a chaotic realm. You would be so quick to vanquish their savior?'

Azura crossed her arms, looking defiantly upon the soothsayer.

'King Wrathmore is no savior. Stories are told far and wide of his cruelty against his own citizens. He treats his people as pawns for his own games, commands their loyalty through terror instead of trust. He persecutes and punishes the innocent and locks away any who dare to oppose his arbitrary rules. If you really are wise, then you cannot deny the pain and destruction left in his wake!'

The oracle's eye was drawn back to the crystal ball, as if something compelling had appeared there. They spoke in a distracted tone.

'Some believe that order sometimes requires a harsh hand. Perhaps a powerful kingdom is worth such a cost.'

Azura scoffed, answering with confidence.

'True power comes from treating people with compassion and working for the good of everyone. It might not be as 'orderly,' but it's a world that everyone deserves. One in which people can follow their hearts without fear of being crushed underfoot. A place of peace and friendship!'

The oracle was entirely absorbed with gazing into the crystal ball, and Azura thought perhaps they did not even hear her speak. But after a few moments of silence, their strange voice returned, milder and softer.

'What you speak of is mere folly, a dream undoubtedly beyond reach. And yet, the visions I find here ... they are ... ever-dazzling, ever-colorful ... like the unfolding of an ethereal rose.'

Azura strained to see into the glass sphere, but the gift of supernatural vision was beyond her grasp. Undeterred, she asked them,

'It's possible, then– the future I describe? Can you tell me how I can walk that path?'

The oracle gingerly touched the crystal ball, then slowly shook their head.

'That information is ... beyond what I am allowed to reveal. And even I am uncertain as to how this vision may be reached.'

Azura felt her heart begin to sink. She replied sadly,

'I see.'

She began to wonder if it had been a mistake to come here. All of that effort, and she knew no more than when she had started. It seemed as though she was to return empty-handed.

'Wait,' the oracle spoke, almost as if they had overheard her musings. Their red eyes looked strangely determined.

'There is one thing that I can tell you.'

Apprehensively, Azura asked,

'What is it?'

The oracle tilted their beak towards the crystal ball.

'I see ... a stranger. A wandering traveler. You will soon meet him on your journey.'

Azura's sapphire eyes watched the oracle carefully as they spoke. In their strange voice, they solemnly intoned,

'When he offers to join you, then you should accept. He will help you with your quest.'

She asked,

'How will I know that it's him?'

The oracle studied the swirling orb.

'His hair ... it will be pale as the lightest of straw ... and he wears a red bandana.'

And so, that evening, Azura learned a vital clue that would help her on her journey. This piece of good news was desperately needed, and that night Azura slept soundly, content in the knowledge that her struggles would not be all in vain.

However, what Azura did not yet know was that her future companion would be a little more familiar than expected ..."

Luz grinned, excited at all the fun surprises Hunter would have when she got to the next part of the book. However, he interrupted before she could continue reading.

"What does that mean? Is this stranger somebody she already knows?"

Luz gave him a secretive smile.

"Perhaaaaps. I don't wanna spoil the surprise though."

He looked disappointed at this answer.

"I don't mind being spoiled, you can tell me."

She eyed him, hesitating.

"Really? You sure you want me to ruin it for you?"

He nodded, looking so eager.

"Go ahead."

Well, if that's what he really wanted, Luz wasn't going to deny him. She leaned forward and told him with a silly grin,

"Well, the stranger Azura meets is actually . . . . ... the Ebony Oracle!"

Hunter blinked at her.

"What? That ... doesn't make any sense."

Luz waved the book in her hand as she gestured, saying,

"It does though, see, he just made up the part about seeing a stranger in her future who would help her. That way he could go in disguise and meet her later on as the mysterious stranger so that he could join her and help her out!"

Hunter frowned, thinking it over. After a bit he shook his head.

"Nah, I don't buy that."

Luz raised a brow.

"What do you mean you don't buy it?"

He replied,

"Why would this guy dress up and go through all this trouble to help this girl he barely even knows? Especially when he's at risk of getting seriously in trouble with the King if he gets caught? It doesn't make sense, who would do that?"

Luz gazed at him, deadpanning,

"... yeeeah, I can't possibly think of anyone who might do something similar."

He looked confused. Luz decided to gloss over that point and continued,

"It totally makes sense though, he can see directly into her aura when he's scrying. He realized how sincere and kind Azura really was, and saw the truth about the King's cruelty! That's what convinced him to help."

Hunter hummed, looking unconvinced.

"I dunno. I just have a hard time buying it."

He glanced to her and added,

"But it could also just be the face you make every time you read his lines, it's a little hard to take it seriously when you do that."

Luz gave him an indignant look.

"What? What face?!"

He shrugged.

"I dunno, sort of like ..."

He scrunched up his expression, giving her an unnerving, weird smile and wild eyes, and Luz immediately dissolved into giggles.

"Wh-what, no! I don't do that!"

"Yes you do!"

She struggled to stifle her laughter, telling him,

"All right then wiseguy, if my acting's so bad, maybe you should read the lines then!"

Hunter immediately looked taken off-guard.

"Me?"

Oh, yes, this was a perfect idea. Why didn't she think of it sooner? Luz turned the page to the next chapter and bounced to her feet.

"Yeah, Malin's basically this broody badboy, it should be a piece of cake for you. Although he's sassier in this chapter because he's pretending to be a wandering traveler, but somehow I think you can handle sassy, too. So I'll read Azura's lines and you can do his!"

He seemed a little nervous about this proposition.

"I ... guess I could, but, uh. I don't think I'll be particularly good. It's not like I've done anything like that before."

"It's fine," she assured him,

"It doesn't matter if you're good or bad, it's just for fun. Just give it a shot."

She handed him the book. He glanced at it and then gave her a confused look.

"Don't you need the book too?"

Luz smiled, putting her hands on her hips.

"I got this thing basically memorized. I might need it to jog my memory every now and then but otherwise you can have it."

He flicked through the pages, skimming the chapter briefly. Luz watched him, trying to be patient. When he'd skimmed the whole chapter she eagerly asked,

"You ready?"

He sighed, still looking wary.

"I guess so."

She told him,

"You'll be great, don't worry."

Then she turned and went to stand in the middle of her bedroom, in the center of her throw rug. She cleared her throat, closing her eyes for a moment and visualizing the chapter. Yes, good, she had this down pat; it shouldn't be difficult. Dramatically, Luz began to recite the narration:

"It was a chilly morning when Azura continued on her way, rising at the crack of dawn to pack her bag, douse her campfire and follow the path northward into the Shadowed Woods. A gentle fog still clung to the ground, the flowers and grass painted in morning dew. Birds chattered in the trees, welcoming the new day, and Azura savored the sweetness of the air. At times like these, it was almost easy to forget the heavy burden our heroine carried. But as relaxing and beautiful as the woods were, Azura could never forget the reason she was here; to free the people of this land once and for all."

Luz turned and slowly walked across the room as she said,

"And yet, alas, it seemed that Azura's attention had strayed for too long– lulled into a false sense of security, perhaps, by the sweet smell of blooming jasmine or the delightful song of the morning lark. This brief lapse of focus proved to be her undoing, for hidden in the underbrush was a devious trap meant to snare the unwary. Azura stepped right into it, and the rope tightened around her ankle, before yanking her forcefully upwards and sending her hanging ..."

Luz climbed the ladder of her bunk beds, hopped onto the top bed and then tipped backwards over the side, so that the top half of her body hung upside down off the bed. She grinned at Hunter and continued,

"... hanging upside down helplessly, swinging there among the trees! She cried out and tried to undo the knotted rope, but the snare was firmly tied, and she had dropped her magic staff in the chaos! Our heroine struggled, fearing a grisly fate!"

Luz wriggled, pretending to fight against a trap, and called out,

"Hey! Anybody out there? Hello? I need some help!"

She then held a hand to her mouth in a stage whisper and said,

"At first, Azura did not notice, but someone heard her calls for help. They cautiously approached before standing before her, wearing a smug grin."

Hunter was clearly feeling awkward about his role and Luz's dramatics, but he came forward anyway, standing in front of Luz, staring at the book in his hands. He cleared his throat and said,

"What do we have here? Looks like spring came early this year, with such delightful fruit ready to harvest."

He cringed at the words that had just left his mouth.

"Holy titan, that's awful."

Luz giggled,

"Shh, it's not that bad."

She switched back to Azura mode, saying,

"Hey, is this your trap? This thing's really dangerous! Think you could help me out here?"

Hunter looked back down at the book, reading hesitantly.

"Asking for favors from a stranger and you haven't even introduced yourself yet. Shouldn't I have the honor of your name first, at least?"

Luz waved her arms, acting exasperated.

"Do we really need to spend time on pleasantries?! My name's Azura, happy to meet you, can you get me down now?"

Hunter furrowed his brow, answering,

"Azura, huh? Hmmm. Sounds vaguely familiar . . . are you a trader around here, by chance? Or, no, that's not right. Wasn't that the name of a clown with the circus troupe?"

Luz stared at him in disbelief.

"What?! No, I'm not a clown, you– you're just messing with me, aren't you? Are you gonna let me down or not?"

Hunter looked up from the book, the slightest signs of a smile showing.

"I haven't decided yet."

Luz growled, pretending to flail in the trap and struggle to break free.

"You big jerk, what do you do, just go around trapping people and–whhAAAH!"

Luz's tirade was cut off abruptly when she'd wriggled too much in her theatrics and suddenly was falling backwards straight off the bed. Thankfully for her, Hunter's reflexes were sharp, and he dropped the book and caught her before she could go careening into the floor. She found herself in his arms, being held firmly in a bridal carry.

She blinked, startled and dazed. He was suddenly so close, so ridiculously close, that it messed with her equilibrium. He lifted one of his fluffy eyebrows as he looked at her, a spark of humor in his eyes. A nervous laugh escaped Luz.

"Eheheh ... whoops."

He held her against him as if she was hardly any weight at all, despite the fact they were surely around the same size; she watched as he worked to maintain a serious expression but the amusement leaked through as he told her,

"You probably shouldn't get too immersed in the role."

Her face warming, Luz found herself babbling,

"Wow you're strong huh, you didn't even flinch when I fell."

He gave a brief snort of a laugh, setting her down gently. He responded,

"Been through a lot of training."

He looked a bit tickled with her comment though, like it had pleased him. Luz cleared her throat, trying to quash down the fluttery feeling in her chest, the sensation of being held against him clinging to her mind.

"Ah-hem! So! Uh ... yeah! Umm. Where ... where were we? Give me a sec, I can think of it."

He leaned down and picked up the book from the floor, trying to flip back to the right page. Meanwhile, Luz was battling with her brain to get back on track.

"Ummm ... wait, yeah. They argue a bit more, he cuts her down, we can skip ahead to that. Then something about how he looks, dressed like a traveler and stuff. Azura ... as Azura dusted herself off, she sized up the man who finally decided to liberate her. He was dressed in well-worn, practical garb, a patched shirt and pants, a leather pack on his back, and sported heavy boots covered in mud. A red bandana tied back his unruly blond hair, and Azura surmised that the stranger had been on the road for quite some time. Perhaps he set these traps up just to rob unsuspecting passers-by?"

Hunter had apparently retrieved the correct page, and he read his next line.

"Now that I've rescued you from that cruel snare, tell me, does the fair lady Azura need an escort to the next town?"

Relieved to be back on track with the story, Luz huffed, acting offended.

"I most certainly do not! I am no damsel in distress, you– you scoundrel!"

He replied calmly,

"Such animosity toward the fellow who showed you kindness hardly seems deserved."

Luz gesticulated at him as she spoke,

"Considering I'm fairly confident you set those traps to prey on the unsuspecting, I wouldn't exactly call it a kindness."

Hunter took a moment to study his next lines, as if considering them carefully. When he spoke, it was in a relaxed voice, sounding almost casual, and it carried a distinct undertone of confidence.

"You misjudge me, my lady. I am naught but an innocent traveler by the name of Malin Gael. I assure you I am merely a passer-by, just the same as you. I am somewhat familiar with these woods, however. These traps are set by a hunter in the village over. They're quite common for larger game. Although, I suppose it would be unfair of me to expect the inexperienced traveler to know this."

Luz's face lit up, thrilled that Hunter was actually starting to get into things. She quickly squashed her smile and put an outraged expression back on her face, saying,

"Inexperienced? I'll have you know I am a very experienced traveler. In fact, I am ... oh, crap, where did I put my staff?"

She quickly moved to her closet and stuck her head inside.

"Sorry, sorry, I forgot I was gonna use it– ugh, everything's a mess in here."

"You have a staff?"

Luz pulled her head out of the closet to answer, a tiny wave of toys falling out from the motion.

"Yeah, well, it's not real of course. I was just gonna use it as a prop."

He seemed to ponder something for a moment, then gave a short little whistle– Rascal, who had been lounging on Luz's pile of plushies, fluttered over to land on his hand.

Luz watched as the palisman shifted into a staff, and then Hunter turned to look at her. She grinned.

"Really?"

He told her cautiously,

"Just don't let it get to your head."

She rushed over and accepted the staff, giving an eager giggle. He gave her a stern look.

"Right, sorry. Not going to my head. Uh, where was I..." She backtracked in her mind.

"Oh, right! Ahem. Azura located her staff in the underbrush and held it aloft, declaring loudly–"

Luz lifted the staff high, proclaiming in her most dramatic voice,

"I am, in fact, Azura, Warrior of Peace, wielder of the mythical Ethereal Staff, and I am the witch who is destined to free this land from the evil King's clutches once and for all!"

A mighty pulse of light shone brightly from the staff as she spoke, and Luz felt a thrill run through her. Hunter frowned, complaining,

"Rascal, don't encourage her."

Rascal gave a chirp and Hunter rolled his eyes. He glanced back to the book to read his line, then smiled, apparently liking it. He looked back to Luz and spoke in a decidedly sassy tone,

"That's a very pretty stick and all, but it's gonna take more then that if you want to challenge the King."

Ok, yeah, Luz knew he was right for this role. She actually felt kind of genuinely annoyed.

"... are you claiming the mythical Ethereal Staff is not qualified enough? Seriously?"

He pretended to consider this a moment and then said,

"It's more like you're the one not qualified enough. You couldn't even survive this forest."

Luz snapped back,

"Hey, that was just bad luck! Anyone could have missed seeing those traps!"

He shot her an honest-to-goodness smirk, replying,

"You gotta develop an eye for these sorts of things if you want to make it around here. I could help you keep an eye out, if you'd like."

Oh, man, now that he was getting into it, he was really good. Luz scrambled to recite her next lines.

"Absolutely not! You're rude, condescending, untrustworthy, and besides, I travel alone! The only exception for that will be–"

She paused, pretending to look horrified.

"Will be ... oh no."

She clutched her staff, smiling sheepishly.

"That's, uhh, a red bandana you're wearing, isn't it?"

He frowned, as if confused.

"Yeah ...?"

She stared and muttered,

"With hair as pale as the lightest straw . . ."

He asked,

"What?"

Luz explained,

"I saw an oracle and they told me that I'd meet a stranger who'd help me on my quest, and you're the one! You're definitely it. But ... oh, man, why'd it have to be you?"

He placed a hand on his chest, speaking smoothly;

"You continue to slander me when I've been nothing but a gentleman to you, dear lady."

Luz scoffed.

"Uh-huh, sure."

He took a step closer, a teasing light in his eye.

"You admit you need my help, though, right?"

Luz felt her heart quicken a little.

"I– ugh, I– yes, but– ughh, this has got to be some sort of divine prank."

He smiled, chiding her lightly,

"Now, there's no need to be like that. There's an awful lot I could teach you, you know. I've taught a lot of people, actually."

Luz was struggling to focus on her lines and not get too distracted with how convincing Hunter was becoming in his role. She swallowed and forced out,

"What exactly have you taught them?"

He tapped his chin, humming in thought.

"Oh, this and that, survival skills, mostly– hunting, trapping, fishing, archery, tanning, cooking. I even know some things about magic."

Luz imitated surprise, asking,

"Really?"

He nodded, gazing at her, his words honeyed as he replied,

"Mmm-hmm. Would you be interested in that?"

Luz tried to ignore the funny feeling she was getting with him staring at her like that.

"I, ummm, maybe?"

He took another step closer, and Luz's heart bounced. He dipped his voice lower, into something almost velvety as he said,

"Fair warning, I'm a bit of a harsh teacher, but I'll try to go easy on you."

Luz's brain scrambled. Oh god, why was he saying it like that? This– this wasn't how she'd interpreted the character before, but it was terribly convincing. Alarmingly convincing. Too convincing. Uhh, wait, what the heck was her line? Luz stumbled over her words.

"Ahh, umm, y-you don't have to be my teacher or anything, you can just tell me what you know and that's fine, really!"

He took a moment to read his next lines before shifting his focus back to Luz. Giving her a wicked little smile, his adorable tooth gap showing, he said to her slowly;

"Well, if positive reinforcement's more your thing, I'll gladly accommodate."

"Ah," Luz uttered, her thoughts short-circuiting, face getting hot. He inched even closer to her, until there was hardly a breath between them. In a low, silky voice, he practically purred in her ear:

"I'd be very happy to do anything you find motivating."

Luz felt the high-pitched laughter bubbling out from her almost painfully as she dropped the staff and backed up into the wall, her face burning.

"Ok ok ok, ummm yeeah that– ok, ahaha, that, I, uh, forgot about that line! Somehow!"

At Luz's reaction, he immediately fell out of character and looked concerned and self-conscious.

"Ah, um, sorry, was that not good?"

Urgently, she answered,

"No, god no, that was incredible! I mean, uh, that was ... uhh, well it was a different slant on the scene then how I usually read it so it caught me by surprise but it. You're good. Like. Really good."

He looked at her for a few moments, processing that. He said,

"Oh."

Luz was pretty sure her face was just, like, solid red at that point, there was no way in heck he did not notice how freaking red she was, there was no way she could recover from this gracefully.

She tried anyway.

"I umm, I kind of forget my lines for the next part for some reason, could I maybe borrow the book a bit?"

He blinked. He looked down at the book in his hands, but didn't hand it over. Instead, he rubbed at his undercut, glancing away with a nervous smile.

"Actually, I, uh ... I have a bit of a confession."

Luz stared at him, confused. He glanced back at her, his smile growing slightly sneakier. Almost shyly, he said,

"I ... miiiight've made up some of that last part? Just. A little bit."

Luz stared.

She opened her mouth to speak.

"I–"

Stopped and stared at him more. He gave her an apologetic grin.

"Give me thaaaat," Luz said, grabbing the book from him and skimming over the page. Found the right spot.

Yeah, she didn't remember that line because it wasn't there.

"Hunter, I'm going to kill you."

Just the tip of his tongue poking out puckishly, he teased her,

"Don't you mean Malin Gael?"

Luz picked up the magic staff and pointed it at him, demanding,

"Rascal, turn him into a frog or something! You know he deserves it."

He chuckled, looking unconcerned with her threat. The little cardinal on the staff gave a few chirps.

"He says he doesn't want to get in the middle of this."

Luz gave a disgusted sigh.

"Ugh, whatever."

The staff shifted back into just a cardinal and the bird fluttered over to perch on Hunter's shoulder.

"I thought you wanted me to be convincing."

Luz crossed her arms, grumbling, wishing her face wasn't still so hot.

"Yeah, well, you just wait. Azura will get back at him in a few more chapters from now."

He looked intrigued at this idea, as if the thought was appealing to him, which wasn't helping Luz with getting her blush under control. But then, a thought seemed to occur to him, and his eye fell on Luz's alarm clock. His enthusiasm seemed to drain away into disappointment.

"Ah ... that might have to wait. We should probably think about getting some rest tonight."

Luz looked at the time and her eyes widened upon seeing '4:36'.

"Oh, shoot. I guess we got a little carried away, huh?"

He smiled, looking a little self-conscious.

"Yeah."

She looked at her book a moment, then moved to her desk. Picking up a light glyph, she stuck it between the pages as a bookmark, setting the book down. She glanced at him and said with a smile,

"Tomorrow night, then."

He sat down on the bottom bunk. He answered,

"... maybe."

Luz laughed.

"I know you want to."

She watched him push the plushies to one side so he would have room and then shimmied under the covers. Looking at her, refusing to acknowledge it, he said pointedly,

"Good night."

Luz shook her head, smiling. She switched off the lights, then climbed the ladder to her top bunk. Dropping onto the mattress with a thunk, she stared up at her bedroom ceiling, which was plastered with plastic glow-in-the-dark stars.

She said,

"G'night."

The room was dark and still. She waited several moments, but Hunter said no more.

Struck with a silly impulse, she rolled over and whispered,

"Sleep well, Malin."

The amused snort she could hear below her was deeply satisfying.

Once she was finally in bed, it didn't take long for exhaustion to catch up to Luz. Her mind swirling with the events of that night, she soon dipped into a peaceful oblivion.