>>5781018You sighed, and reached out uncertainly to place your hand on hers. She flinched, but didn’t pull away, turning to look at you with surprise and confusion.
“I really am sorry, Henzler,” you’d told her, and meant it. “Look, if you’d like… I still want to be your friend, and to spend time together. Me and my other friends—”
“Logan Pearce, James Efron, Tina Testa, Francis Blachette,” Henzler quickly rattled off, as if it were an exam.
“Uh… Yes, them,” you’d fumbled. “We’re going to the Night Market tonight. You could come along as well, if you’d like?”
Henzler had hesitated, a half-dozen expressions passing across her face like a strobe, before she settled on a small pout and a half-hearted nod.
“Not exactly the enthusiasm I was hoping for,” you said with a lopsided smile, and guided her up to her feet. “Don’t worry, we’ll change that. They’re great!”
Everyone had been surprised when you arrived, Archmage’s daughter in tow. Well, everyone except Pearce, whose expression was carefully neutral, but not exactly one of shock. The initial introduction was awkward—Henzler had even bowed, and begun to make a pledge to be a good guest before you’d stopped her.
“We don’t… Do that. Just follow along.”
(Jeez, how cooped up WAS this girl??)
You and the other three fell into your usual conversation as you strode out from the Tower, with the predominant subject—aside from the Night Market itself—being your first week of classes.
“So what spell’s everyone working towards?” Blonde, bespectacled Blanchette had asked. “I’m working on <Greater Restoration>, personally.”
“Don’t you need to know the regular kind of <restoration> first?” Efron had asked with faux-innocence.
“I’ll have you know that I had a real breakthrough during the ah, break,” he sniffed, adjusting his glasses with a finger to the bridge, tilting his chin out with a proud jut that made you all (well, except Henzler) laugh.
“It’s got to be <Dazzle> for me,” Testa had chimed in.
“That’s a basic bitch spell,” Efron had noted.
“Appropriate,” Pearce had rumbled, drawing a swat from Testa.
“I’m working my way up to <Prismatic Spray>, okay?” she laughed. “I started with Elementalism as a focus, not Illusion.”
“Elementalism’s better anyway,” Efron had stated plainly. “<Chain Lightning> is where it’s at!”
“Well, maybe if you still have delusions of being an Inquisitor,” Blanchette had chimed in, sourly. “You know they have the city guard doing all that work these days… Or the Paladins.”
There were exaggerated gagging and vomiting sounds from all your companions—again, except Henzler, confused and alarmed as she was by it. You patted her arm reassuringly.
