Rising Shards

”It’s been a while since I’ve been to the ol’ cafeteria,” Chumbler said. ”Now, remember why we’re here.”

”Usually when you say that, you forgot what we were doing and you’re not so subtly making me remind you.” Z.O.K. said. Chumbler’s silence confirmed this. ”You told me you wanted some valuable allies in our ongoing war with the love trio.”

”Right, valuable!” Chumbler and Z.O.K. wandered around the cafeteria, particularly around the new cliques forming of the visiting Wildfire Hearts students.

”Do you wanna try and talk to that Typo guy again?” Z.O.K. asked. ”I think he got expelled, too.”

”I said valuable, Orca Korbley.”

”Don’t just call me by my middle and last name, that’s weird.”

”Also, we didn’t get expelled, remember?” Chumbler said. ”We’re just on the verge of getting expelled. Now help me find one of these robed freaks...”

A few students from Wildfire Hearts sat upright, their expressions darkening immediately.

”Robed...cool dudes, I mean! Heh heh...” Chumbler said, mentally crossing that whole table off the list. 

”Maybe we can focus on people we know already,” Z.O.K. suggested. ”Do we know anyone with really good Cani powers? I mean, mine are amazing and would be great at defending us from the love trio, but apparently not good enough for someone.”

”Shut up, I’m really strong too,” Chumbler said. ”But there’s only two of us, and three of them. So we need at least two more so our numbers game is better than theirs. It’s basic gambling odds stuff, here, you idiot.”

”You’re the idiot,” Z.O.K. said. ”Hey, here’s some familiar faces. Or here are some familiar faces.”

”You get so stiff when you’re trying to talk to people, it’s embarrassing to be around.” Chumbler said.

The familiar faces in question were Latte Bein, coffee obsessed person who did not go to Wildfire Hearts, and Elisa Burwell, popstar named Osiris obsessed person who did. Elisa was reading out loud from a notebook while Latte nodded and sipped from a mug.

”Remember when we went to the void with them?” Z.O.K. asked.

”Did we? I don’t remember that.” Chumbler said.

”Excuse me,” Elisa said. ”You’re interrupting my live performance of an Osiris style radio diary.”

”A what now?” Chumbler asked.

”On Osiris’ new album, each track has narration from Osiris himself journaling his journey to making this a perfect album. Therefore, I have adopted his verbal diary style, and will now continue my audio journey.” Elisa said. She checked her notebook and started reading from  it once more. ”Day thirteen at Wildfire Hearts was a bit unlike the others, I only managed fourteen listens of the new Osiris leaked track, which is a shame. Normally I don’t condone leaks of any kind, but I believe that my constant streaming and multiple purchases of every Osiris album, as well as tickets and merchandise, offsets any potential damage I do to Osiris’ brand by leaking.”

”Oofta.” Chumbler said, reluctantly sitting down. ”So why are you here?”

”Elisa’s really annoying, and this blend of coffee pairs superbly well with annoying people nearby,” Latte pointed at Z.O.K. and then at the seat next to Chumbler. ”You sit down too.”

Z.O.K. obeyed, and Latte took a big sip. ”Mmmhm, yep, that’s even better now.”

”So, business proposal for you two.” Chumbler said.

”I am in the middle of something.” Elisa said firmly. ”Communicate with me when I am done, or else I will destroy you.”

”A-alright...” Chumbler said.

And so the two listened to Elisa Burwell’s diary entries for the entire lunch period. When the bell rang, Elisa got up to leave.

”Hold on, you didn’t hear my really cool idea!” Chumbler said, patting her sweaty forehead. 

”You can tell me tomorrow,” Elisa said, turning her nose up as she turned around. Z.O.K. had to duck to avoid getting stabbed by Elisa’s horns.

”So, Latte, about my idea...” Chumbler turned to see that Latte was already long gone. ”Guess we’ll have to tell her tomorrow, too.”

”Hey, that’s progress, I guess.” Z.O.K. said.

”I suppose,” Chumbler said. ”Every day we delay our machinations against the love trio, the pit in my stomach worsens, and with that, my anxious gas.”

”It’s really gross that you announce the fear farts every time.” Z.O.K. said.

”You told me to warn you.” Chumbler said. ”I explicitly remember you saying ’Ohhh Chumbler, it’s so nasty, at least tell me if you’re going to do that!’”

”I maybe said something like that.” Z.O.K. said. ”But I’m gonna go hang out somewhere to get away from the smell for a bit.”

”Fair, fair,” Chumbler said. ”Try to stay in public spaces lest Rain and her goons murder you or whatever.”

”I’ll do my best,” Z.O.K. saluted.