Leo had decided exactly three things that morning:
- These people were certifiably insane.
- He did not have magical powers; he had a skin condition and a hallucination.
- If one more person called him "Your Highness," he was going to throw something.
He sat stiffly on a cushioned chair that was far too ornate for his liking, his arms crossed tightly and his leg bouncing with aggressive nervous energy.
Across from him sat four people who looked far too calm for individuals who had just dragged a blacksmith's apprentice into a world of madness.
"This is still a prank," Leo said flatly. "A very expensive, very dedicated prank."
Felix smiled brightly from his seat. "We get that reaction a lot."
"No, you don't," Leo snapped. "Because if you did, you'd be locked in a padded cell."
Ember leaned forward, the air around her beginning to shimmer with heat. Fire practically crackled in her eyes. "Do you want proof or not, boy?"
"I want to go home. I have horseshoes to finish."
Kai cleared his throat, his voice like grinding stones. "That is… complicated. Your home is no longer safe."
"That's not reassuring. That's the opposite of reassuring."
Melissa, who had been watching Leo with a pained sort of empathy, finally spoke. "Leo… no one here enjoys forcing you into this. We know how overwhelming this is."
Leo scoffed. "Could've fooled me. You guys seem to be having a blast playing 'Destiny's Gatekeepers.'"
Felix raised a finger. "Technically, she enjoys it." He pointed a thumb at Ember.
"I do not!" Ember snapped.
"You absolutely do," Felix replied cheerfully.
"You love the drama. You even did the 'mysterious hooded figure' walk earlier."
The Demonstration (That Went Horribly Wrong)
"Fine," Ember said, standing up. "You want proof? Watch closely, and try not to faint."
She lifted her hand, palm up. A small, perfect flame bloomed above her skin—red-gold and dancing.
Leo stared. He leaned in, squinting. He remained entirely unimpressed. "…Cool trick. Is that a gas line? Or maybe phosphorus powder? I've seen stage magicians do better with a bit of flash-cotton."
Felix gasped, looking genuinely offended. "Wow. He's in denial and he's rude. I like him."
Ember's flame flared dangerously high, turning a shade of angry blue.
Melissa stepped in quickly, placing a hand on Ember's arm. "Ember. Please. Don't set the heir on fire."
Kai sighed, rubbing his temples. "This is going poorly."
"I told you," Felix said, hopping to his feet.
"We should've started with the floating rocks. Everyone loves floating rocks."
"The WH—"
Before Leo could finish his sentence, the heavy stone floor beneath his chair lifted. Just slightly. Just enough to let light pass under the legs.
Leo froze. His eyes went wide. Slowly, very slowly, he looked down at the gap between the chair and the ground. "…Put me down. Put me down right now."
Melissa lowered her hand immediately, and the chair settled with a soft thud.
Leo stood up so fast the chair tipped over. "NOPE. No. Absolutely not. I am dreaming. I ate some bad meat at the market and I'm having a fever dream."
Felix leaned in close to his face. "If this is a dream, you're being very mean to your subconscious. Also, you have great hair for a figment of my imagination."
...
They should not have let Felix cook. They really, really should not have let Leo help just because he "knew how a fire worked."
The result was a pot of something that smoked, bubbled, and smelled vaguely like a wet dog's regret.
Ember stared at the pot from a safe distance. "That's not food. That's a chemical weapon."
Felix frowned, stirring the sludge with a wooden spoon. "It was ingredients five minutes ago. I don't know what happened."
Leo poked a floating grey lump with a fork.
"It's hissing at me. Why is it hissing?"
Melissa pinched the bridge of her nose, looking like she wanted to return to the Second Realm immediately.
"Please… everyone stop adding things to the pot."
Felix, convinced he could save it, added a handful of dried purple herbs anyway.
The pot didn't explode violently, but it did go POP quite loudly, sending a spray of lukewarm grey soup onto the walls and Felix's face.
Silence fell over the kitchen.
Leo blinked, a drop of grey liquid sliding down his nose. He looked at Felix, who was covered in sludge, and then at Kai, who was looking at the mess with the soul-crushing disappointment of a father.
Then—Leo laughed.
It wasn't a sarcastic laugh or a fearful one. It was a real, belly-shaking laugh. "You people are insane," he gasped between breaths.
"Powerful, terrifying, and completely, utterly incompetent."
Felix wiped his face and grinned. "Welcome to the team, kid."
Leo wiped his eyes, a small smile lingering even as he tried to look serious again. "…I'm still not a king."
Kai nodded slowly. "That's acceptable. For now."
Ember crossed her arms, though the fire in her eyes had cooled to a warm ember. "But you're stuck with us. Like it or not."
Leo looked around at them—at the fire, the stone, the silence, and the blue-haired idiot.
"…Yeah," he muttered, his voice softening. "I figured."
And for the first time since being dragged away from his forge, Leo didn't feel entirely alone.