Guys shut the fugck up he’s gon to sleep under his blankey

Did you guys know that I’m a vtuber ?? Well I am!! I’m now three months old, and I stream multiple times a week! If you want a cozy indie streamer who streams games, then perhaps my streams are for you! Check out my YouTube channel Geekling Girl ! ☕️🌸

dan geekling trishelle cuntella and chunky twat ruined the traitors

A new Read-along story adventure with narration and voices by @speekygeeky‘s Mr. Geek-E for you and your little geeklings. The classic Sesame Street story "Follow The Monsters" has now premiered. Here's a handy link: https://youtu.be/0GbjFmEH8wQ

tagged by @wllbyers thank you! (sorry i took so long to do it)

i actually really like it. the photography, books and dark lighting of some of them. but it’s not like entirely true because i had to use lex and not my full nickname because nothing came up. but i like it.

rules: go to Pinterest, search “[your name] core aesthetic” and create a moodboard from the first nine images. No need to mention your name.

tagging: @falconswilson @starkfridays @the-geekling @palladium-poisoned @mattmurderock

Why You Should Be Using More Web Apps on Your Phone#Web #Apps #Phone

Joe Fedewa / How-To Geekl Apps have been a core component of the smartphone experience since the very beginning. They’ve only gotten better over the years, but so have web browsers. You probably don’t need as many native apps as you think—web apps are great. What Is a Web App? A web app—also known as “progressive web app” (PWA)—is essentially an application that runs in a web browser. It looks…

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Parenting issue

Both kids were busted by my husband.

Under the covers.

Reading books.

I know they need their sleep, but I’m ridiculously happy to hear this news.

Time for the yearly D&D game with the nieces and nephews! #dnd5e #Nerdlings #Geeklings (at Columbus, Ohio) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6ydmlKgUtG/?igshid=17fhtem7ln812

We actually started August 20th but these are our back to school shots. PreK, 1st grade, 8th grade and 9th grade. I can’t believe I have a high schooler!!!

Worldwide Software Architecture Summit 2022

Click on link to buy ticket and read more detail:

https://events.geekle.us/software_architecture/

I just found my old Green Arrow converse high tops that my parents got me for my 15th- 16th birthday , and I picked them out solely because the GA costume looked like the one Oliver wears in Smallville. It certainly helped that my mom was a Smallville fan too.

Henfegosn… Uggerson…. Vikjor…..Geekle…… Vicjoria…… when will it end………..

Hey hey, Geekling here! 🌸 I’m a self taught artist who makes digital art ✨ The online space has been hell for artists lately so I’m branching out to more platforms 💕 If you like my art then any support is greatly appreciated! ✨

In case you're looking for a good excuse to keep your little geeklings entertained this Father's Day, (or if you just can't get enough of the wonderful vintage Sesame Street love) we've got you covered with a brand new classic Sesame Street Retro-Read-Along! https://youtu.be/FKlt8xZIZ8k Until next we Sesame-Street-as-a-welcome-excuse-to-get-some-much-needed-YOU-time Speeky, Keep It Geeky Folks! @sesamestreetdream @sesamestreet  @muppetcollab @muppetmayhem @toughpigs @classicsesamestreetfilms @classicsesamestreetfilms @readaloud @sesamestreet47  @jimhenson-themuppetmaster 

To celebrate Lily's 100th day of 3rd grade, my husband let her pick whatever movie she wanted to watch. She picked the live action Return of The King. And we now feel we need to record her watching the whole trilogy.

When Denethor dies. Lily: "Stop Drop and Roll man...daddy he needs to stop, drop and roll."

Gandalf looking a bit helpless at one point in Gondor. Lily: "Angel up, Dude...get some stuff done."

When Eowyn is fighting the witch king and he lets down his morning star. Lily: "Oh snap! He's got a wrecking ball!"

When Eowyn kills the witch king. Lily: "She legit wrecked his face."

When Mt. Doom explodes. Lily: "The floor is most definitely lava."

When Pipin is crying because he thinks the eruption killed Frodo. Lily: "Don't worry he's alive. He lost a finger. So 5+4=9. That's all he's got now. Unless Hobbits are good at mental math...not sure if Hobbits are good at mental math" (Bursts out at the top of her lungs with ‘Frodo of the Nine Fingers.’)

When Aragorn meets Legolas at the coronation. Lily: "Is that the elf queen? Wait. No...Legolas."

As Aragorn walks through the crowd. "Daddy what level is he?"

A Magical Tale of Fire and Wonder (8.452 words) by sharkinlovewithadolphin

Chapters: 1/30 Fandom: Free! Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Relationships: Matsuoka Rin/Nanase Haruka Additional Tags: [Check AO3] Made for RinHaru Week day 2, Theme: Dive In, Blue Prompt: Focus, AU: Magic Summary: Haruka is a witch. No one knows that except his grandma, who was killed in the war. One day his powers are publicly exposed, leading a fellow closeted-witch, Rin, to seek out his help to improve his own recently discovered powers. Haruka brings him to his grandma’s isolated cabin, now his own, and their adventure begins. Can Haruka help Rin with his poor magic skills, or will Rin have to return to Satra without any improvements? Will Rin sink to despair, or will he discover more than just magic with Haruka? Or, alternatively: You’re in a cabin with a magical boy, and he won’t tell you that he loves you, but he loves you. (Buckle up buckaroos, ‘cause it’s going to be an epic, aesthetic-filled and magical journey towards self reflection and lots, and lots of mutual pining!) A huge shout-out and thank you to my very beloved proofer @illbebuyingallofthoseflowers! Having you to hold my bette hand through this is a joy. I also made a YouTube playlist for this fic, if anyone is interested! Read on: AO3 or under the cut:

In the kingdom of Satra, on an early afternoon in March, a group of four young 17-year-old boys were playing a card game in the town square, by the town hall. Their names were Haruka, Makoto, Nagisa and Rei. Rei was quite good at card games, and he would often playfully tease the others and say it wasn’t long before he had to abandon them and play with adults instead. Good luck Rei! Makoto would congratulate, while Nagisa would beg him to stay. Haruka wouldn’t reply, he would just watch in mild amusement. This time was no different. Rei beat them all, and his winning speech was a farewell declaration. Nagisa looked like he was going to cry. “Not fair!” Nagisa yelled. “You always win! I don’t want to play this anymore!” “Don’t be a sore loser, Nagisa,” Rei complained. “Hey now you two, why don’t we just play something else? I brought my new glass marbles if you guys want to try it out?” Makoto tried to intervene. Nagisa looked at him with big, excited eyes. “You got new ones?” Nagisa asked. “Yes, look!” Makoto said, put his hand into his pocket and took out a small leather bag. He opened the strap around it and emptied the content into his palm. They were all sitting in a circle on the stone-covered ground, watching as Makoto carefully put the marbles down on the ground as well, in the middle of their little circle, for the others to see. Nagisa picked one up and inspected it. “A fine marble you got there, young man,” Nagisa said, in his pretend-pretentious voice. Makoto laughed. “Why, thank you,” Makoto said. “My dad got them, completely new.” Haruka looked at the marbles as well, until he sensed something. He looked up and around at their busy surroundings, people walking in every direction or sitting on benches and on the ground like the group did. “Makoto, put them away.” Haruka suddenly commanded. “What?” Makoto sounded utterly confused and looked at him. Before Haruka could reason with him, though, they were already close, big grins on their faces and Makoto suddenly sensed it too, and turned around to look in the direction behind himself. A group of five guys, three years older than them, were walking their way. Makoto quickly turned around again, and started to frantically pick up his glass marbles. Nagisa seemed confused, then he noticed them too, and picked some up to put in his own pockets as well, to help. The guys came closer and closer, until they were standing right behind Makoto, who felt their threatening presence and turned his head around to look at them. “What do we have here?” One of the bigger guys in the front asked, standing in between two other guys. “It’s the geeklings,” Another guy to the first guy's right side answered. “Is that marbles?” The big guy in front asked, rhetorically. “Can we see them?” A guy to the left continued. “Why not just buy your own?” Rei asked, clearly without thinking it through, as he completely shrank into himself after the words had escaped his lips. The guys all narrowed their eyes at him, some of them laughing in a ridiculing way. “Are you hearing this?” One turned to the others, while still laughing in that particular belittling way. “Hey, why don’t you come say that to my face, kid?” “Leave him alone,” Makoto said, voice low and determined. Haruka could easily hear the panic and hesitation in it, though. “Or what?” The guy in front asked, one eyebrow raised. He was hovering over the still-sitting Makoto now. Haruka could feel his own hand clenching into a fist while he glared at them. Makoto didn’t respond. That seemed to only further anger the guy, who in one swift move grabbed the collar of Makoto's shirt and pulled him up to his feet. “Are you deaf? Answer me!” “Let him go!” Nagisa yelled, begged. He got up and moved towards them, only to be met with a punch to his nose from the guy to the left. Rei yelled out and Haruka rose to his feet. “Oh, you want some, too?” The left guy asked Haruka, while looking directly at him. The guy at the front still held onto Makoto’s collar and he started to shake him for a response to his last question, only to get stammering noises from Makoto in response. “Enough! Let him go!” Haruka yelled, fury in both his eyes and voice. His outburst caught the attention from the group. The guy shaking Makoto stopped. “Or what?” He asked again. Haruka glared at him with a look that could kill. The guy laughed and threw Makoto down to the ground. “See? I’ve let him go now. Are you happy?” he asked devilishly. Then he bent down to pick Makoto up by the collar once again, only to suddenly be stopped by something invisible. He looked at his arm and hand, frozen in motion. He heard the others in his group gasping. Then out of the corner of his eye, the guy noticed what had caused the gasping around him. Haruka was standing, eyes illuminating bright blue, hands moving in meticulous movements. A blue smoke started to form at the palm of his hands, and the guys looked at him horrified, expressions full of fear. He held both of his hands out beside him, palms turned upwards, and all five guys started to slowly levitate off the ground, muttering shocked and scared words subconsciously. Haruka noticed that all the people around them had stopped in their tracks completely and were staring at him. He could hear his heartbeat, loud and fast. This is it, Haruka thought. This was the point of no return for him. He could never go back to being normal again. Now everyone would know. Was it worth it? Wasting it on some bullies? He stared the front guy down, who only looked back in fear. It definitely didn't feel worth it at all.  “Let me down!” The guy yelled out. “Or what?” Haruka quoted. “Haruka?” Makoto asked, still lying on the ground with his arms used to to prop him up by his elbows, now looking at him with shock. Haruka looked at him, back at the guy, then did one swift movement with his hand, and all five guys were sent backwards several meters, into a nearby carriage. They scrambled to their feet and quickly started running off. People around them started to clap. Clap. At him. He absolutely hated it. “Haruka?” Makoto asked again, carefully. “When did you…?” Haruka turned to Makoto again. He hated the way Makoto looked at him. People were starting to approach them from every direction. They probably wanted handshakes from him now. Haruka put his hand in one of his pockets, then bent down to give Makoto the two marbles he had helped pick off of the ground before. “I’m sorry,” he said. He sounded hurt, and he could tell Makoto wanted to say something, but he turned around and ran off before he had a chance to hear what it was. He wanted to get away from it all. Quickly. He could tell he was being followed, maybe by his friends, maybe by strangers. He considered using teleportation, but decided against it since he didn’t want to expose any more of his powers than he already had. So he just ran instead. Through valleys, over the small river bridge, and through small paths until he was finally back at his house. He ran inside and up into his room. He felt frustrated, scared and exposed. Only one person had ever witnessed his magical powers, and that was the woman who had taught him. The woman who no longer lived. The woman he missed everyday. He looked at the painting of his grandma that he himself had made. It hung on his wall, the only thing decorating the room. “Grandma, what should I do?” he asked himself quietly. No answer. ~*~

He awoke shortly after to a knock on the front door. He hadn’t even realized he had drifted off to sleep. He got up to answer the door, but realized that he didn’t want to talk to anyone, no matter who it turned out to be on the other side. He hated his parents for never being around, even more now. If they were there, they could have dealt with whoever it was. Even if it were Makoto, his parents might just politely say their typical catchphrase: We haven’t seen him. He stood in front of the door, questioning his existence, when several more knocks brought him back to reality. He sighed annoyed and opened, but he didn’t recognize the surprised face looking back at him. “Who are you?” Haruka asked. It probably came off a bit rude. He had never been good at hiding his annoyance. “It’s you!” The guy on the other side of the open door said, fascination clear in his voice, and something not unlike relief, too. Haruka clenched his fist. And so it begins. “Go away,” Haruka said, anger visible in his tone and he stepped back to shut the door. “No, wait-” A hand quickly grabbed his wrist. Haruka looked at it, then up into desperate-looking eyes. “Please, listen! I was at town square when I saw you and-” “What do you want?” Haruka asked impatiently, while trying to pull his hand away from the guy’s grip, then added bitterly: “I’m not going to do magic for you, go find someone else to bother!” “Wait,” The guy repeated, his grip tightening. Haruka not only got angrier, but suddenly felt threatened. “Let go of me!” He yelled. This guy has clearly already seen your magic, why are you still hiding? Haruka’s eyes started to illuminate again. The guy instantly let go of him. “Wait, I’m not- I’m not going to hurt you, I promise, I’m-” “Just go away!” Haruka yelled again and he stepped back. “Wait- Wait!” The guy yelled again and he put his hand into his own pocket. Haruka was about to slam the door, when the guy pulled something out of his pocket that was so unexpected and ridiculous it stopped Haruka instantly. A stick. A fucking stick . A small one, from a tree branch. Haruka looked at him, confusion now mixed in with his pre-existing anger. The guy didn’t say anything, he held it out from himself, and for a moment Haruka wondered if he was trying to give the stupid stick to him. Then, the thing started to float ever so slightly from the guy’s hand. It could easily have been missed, or dismissed, but Haruka was certain he saw what he did. “You’re-?” “Like you. A witch.” He said, excitedly. “I saw you… I’ve never seen someone display such power before! Not even from any of the elders!” “What do you want?” Haruka asked, less angry now, but still quite annoyed. “I want you to teach me.” He said earnestly. “Why me? You don’t even know me.” Haruka pointed out, his eyes narrowing. “I don’t know anyone else with powers…” He answered. “You just mentioned the elders. Go be taught by them.” “They don’t know about me. No one does.” He admitted. Well that was one thing that Haruka could relate to. “I’m assuming no one knew about you until today, either?” Haruka didn’t respond, only looked away. “My name is Rin Matsuoka.” He informed Haruka. Haruka looked at him. They looked back at each other. Haruka seemed to consider for a moment, then released the tension in his shoulders. “Haruka Nanase.” Haruka stated, not a very formal introduction for sure, but it served its purpose, he supposed. He crossed his arms in front of him. “Why should I teach you magic? You’re clearly not good at it.” “I know I’m not.” Rin agreed. “I’m a knight. My father was a Knight Marshal for the king. I want to be a Marshal like him. I want to use my powers for good. But I can’t, because I - well, I suck. Clearly. But I really want to get better.” “Your eyes don’t even shine. How do I know you actually have powers? You might just have a string on that stick.” “I just recently discovered my powers. I’m still working on it. I swear I’m not lying!” Haruka looked him over. “How old are you?” “17.” Rin answered. Same age, Haruka mentally noted. “No way you haven’t discovered it before.” “I think I was 12 when I started to feel something, but I never thought about it. It wasn’t in the cards for me, no one in my family has powers. And you know how the elders thought no more Satra witches would be born anyway, considering there hasn’t been any new ones for generations.” “That’s a weird excuse.” “No it’s not! I never engaged with magic! How could I have figured it out?! How did you figure it out?!” Haruka didn’t respond to that. “How did you know, then?” “I stopped a bowl from hitting me,” Rin admitted. “What?” “A bowl fell out of the cabinet and I made it stop mid-air. For a moment.” “Okay… and when did that happen?” Haruka gave him a strange look. “A few months ago, I think.” “You’re like a baby.” Haruka concluded. “Hey!” The guy - Rin - said. “I’ll work hard!” “No thanks. Too much trouble. Go bother the elders instead.” Haruka lifted his hand up and put it on the door, about to close it again. “Please?” Rin pleaded, looking at Haruka with what he could only describe as puppy eyes, while moving closer. “I’ll give you anything! I’ll even protect you when I become a Marshal!” “I don’t need protection.” Haruka said. “Money? Please!” Rin continued. “No.” “Please! I’ll give you anything, I just want to get better!” Haruka stared him down again. Rin was a few centimeters taller than him. His hair was long. His clothes looked nice. If his father really used to be a Knight Marshal, he would likely be quite wealthy. Or at the very least stable. Maybe his refusal to accept a no came from being a spoiled brat. Haruka started to dislike him more and more. He could feel his face turn into a scowl. He really did not want to play teacher for some entitled prick. Something seemed to click inside Rin’s brain. “I think I’ve seen you around before. At town's square, keeping to yourself? I’ve seen you before you used your magic, and I saw you after, where you ran away," Rin thought out loud. "You don’t like attention, do you? ” What-? Haruka didn’t respond, but Rin must have gotten his answer from his surprised expression anyway. “If you help me develop my powers, I promise I’ll take the spotlight from you. I can even lie and say it was me who did that whole thing at town's square, so you won’t have to bother with people giving you attention?” Rin offered. “I…” Haruka began, stopping himself. “Please?” Rin continued to plead. Haruka sighed loudly. “Fine!” He said. His logic tried to tell him it wasn’t possible to cover up his little magic stunt earlier; that Rin wouldn’t be able to give him that, since there was no way they could come up with a sensible excuse for the whole ordeal. Yet, anything that could shut Rin up would've been fine right about then. “But if you don’t listen to me, or if you break anything, I swear-” “I’ll be a good student! I promise!” Rin said, excitement overtaking him. “You won’t regret it!” “I already am.” “So when do you want to start?” Rin asked eagerly. Haruka looked past him, and noticed people behind him on the road walking around. They spotted him, and he knew that they knew. Everyone probably knew by now. “Just get inside,” Haruka said in a hushed tone, while he moved away to let Rin inside. Rin practically jumped with joy on his way over the threshold. Haruka quickly closed the door behind him, and they went into the kitchen. And so it began. ~*~

A month later, after near-daily, hours-long training, Rin hadn’t moved past that 1cm lift of his stupid stick. He couldn’t even manipulate air, move a page in a book or lift a damn teacup. Haruka felt close to tearing out his hair. It was ridiculous. He even lent Rin some of his grandma's old and very simple books. It did not work. If anything, it just seemed to confuse Rin further and make his barely-existing magic worse. It all came down to one thing, Haruka realized. The idiot couldn’t focus solely on anything for longer than 5 minutes. He bet he hadn’t read any of the books yet, but only looked at the illustrations, if even that. It was pushing all of Haruka’s buttons, annoying and testing him to no end. “So, who taught you all of this?” Rin asked one afternoon, two hours into practicing. He was standing with his back to Haruka, but he turned his head to face him. “Be quiet and focus!” Haruka demanded. He was meant to make a teacup hover, not waste time asking random questions. “Talking is not going to make you better. Look at the cup and focus!” Rin blushed and went back to staring at the teacup placed neatly on the table. A few minutes passed. Rin sighed. “Nothing is happening.”  “That’s because you’re not focused!” Haruka scolded. “We’ve been over this so many times now. Envision what you want with the cup. Lifting it means you have to envision lifting it first. And you have to concentrate on it.” “I’m doing that!” “No you’re not!” Haruka yelled.  “Stop yelling at me!” “I’ll stop yelling at you when you start to listen and stop talking!”  “Fine!” Rin yelled back, turning his attention to the cup. He stood and stared at it for roughly ten minutes more. Haruka could tell he wasn’t truly focused, though. He exhaled loudly. “This is not going to work.” “What-?” Rin turned his head to look at him. “You’re not focused.” “I am!” Rin defended himself loudly, looking back at the cup. “No, you’re just staring at it. There’s a difference. You’re not truly focused on it. You’re in your dumb head.” “I’m trying, okay?!” Rin nearly yelled. “Not hard enough.” Haruka said. His eyes illuminated and with a swift sideways movement of his head, the tea cup rose into the air and carefully found its way into the kitchen sink, without breaking. “I’m done for today.” His patience had run out, and it was almost that time of the day in which Makoto, Rei and Nagisa would show up and knock on his door for half an hour before finally giving up. They had done that almost every day since the event in the town square. Sometimes together, sometimes individually. Makoto would often do it more than once a day. It was bugging Haruka. He missed them, but he also didn’t want to see them right now. Rin looked sad and frustrated. “Why isn’t it working?” “I already told you. It’s because you’re not truly focused.” “How do I become truly focused?” “I can’t teach you patience, Rin.” “Ugh!” he frustratedly let out. “What’s going on inside your head that makes you so distracted?” Haruka asked. It didn’t sound curious or sincere as much as just an annoyed rhetorical question. Rin blushed, then looked like he was thinking. “Well, I… uh,” he began. “I don’t know,” He didn’t sound too convinced that that was the truth, so Haruka wasn’t convinced either. He didn’t push any further, though. “Just…” Haruka's thoughts were flying all around in his head. How could he possibly teach this guy anything? Did Rin even want to be taught or was he just here to waste Haruka's time? Punish him for ignoring his friends and not attending school, nor work? “Just pack a bag and meet me here tomorrow. We’ll be leaving Satra.” “Leaving?” “Yes, practically stranger I recently met. We’re leaving Satra.” “Rin is fine.” “If you really want to learn, meet me here again tomorrow. Do not bring a horse. There’s no space for them, and the cats aren’t used to them either.” “Cats? Where are we going?” “You’ll see.” “You planning on killing me, Haruka?” Rin teased. “You’re literally the one who showed up at my door out of nowhere a month ago. I don’t think you get to ask that question.” “That’s fair.” Rin left with another promise that Haruka wouldn’t regret it. That he would do his utmost best, prove his doubts wrong. Haruka already regretted it the day after. Rin showed up before the ass crack of dawn the next day, knocking on the door. Haruka could have sworn he just might wind up killing him, after all. Haruka packed a light bag, some clothes and some food and water for the journey, and then they left together, journeying towards Haruka’s grandma's old house; Haruka’s home, in Xenli forest. ~*~

They walked and walked. Took breaks, ate and drank, rested, then walked some more. It was getting darker. It must have been nearing evening. Haruka was surprised Rin hadn’t complained about the distance or being tired, not even once. He assumed he would have done that throughout the whole day. Instead, Rin just talked and talked, about anything and nothing. Mostly about their surroundings and about magic. Haruka was also surprised at how much air this guy must have had in his lungs to be able to walk and talk so much at the same time. He should feel annoyed about having his usual quiet route suddenly be overtaken with such a strong and noisy presence, but strangely enough, he didn’t. Yet another thing that surprised him. “How can you keep talking?” Haruka asked. He hadn’t meant for it to sound rude, but he was very certain that it did. “Ah, sorry,” Rin said, and scratched the back of his neck. A nervous habit Haruka already recognized. Rin did it a lot.  “No, I meant it. How can you walk up a mountain hill and keep talking?” Haruka questioned, trying to make his tone sound a bit softer. He felt a bit out of breath himself, despite taking this route very often. Though he hadn't been to Xenli in a couple of months, it didn't feel much different. Walking to Xenli always took a lot of his energy, especially once they reached the tall mountain and had to walk upwards, but apparently it didn't affect Rin's energy at all. “Oh… I guess training?” Rin sounded like he hadn't even considered it before. Like walking for hours was natural for him. “Training?” “Yeah. Knight training,” Rin clarified. “Is it really that tough?” “Oh, yeah!" Rin chuckled. "I threw up several times the first day some years back, and I was among the ones that handled it best.” “Gross.” Haru said, wrinkling his nose. “Yeah, it is, right? We have to be able to walk and stand around the castle grounds sometimes for days without sleep. And run without getting too affected, too. I run every day.” “Good luck doing that at the cabin. There are pretty much no paths and it’s mostly overrun with moss.” “Cabin? We’re going to a cabin?” “Huh? Yeah? I didn’t mention that?” Haruka asked. “No. I thought you were taking me to some secret witch academy.” Rin admitted. “Are we really just going to some random cabin? In these woods?” “It’s not a random cabin.” Haruka sounded quite offended. “Sorry,” Rin apologized with a slight smile, holding his hands up in a defensive gesture. “I’m just saying…” “I know what you mean. It’s not a random cabin.” Haruka continued. “Okay…" Rin gave him a puzzled look. "What’s so special about this cabin? Other than the long ass walk to it. Where are we even right now?” “We’re in Xenli forest.” Haruka informed him. “Never heard of that. What’s with the cabin though? Why is it not random?” “It was my grandma’s. I learned everything about magic there.” Rin looked at him with a raised eyebrow. “Really?” “Yeah. She was very powerful. Taught me all she knew. She lived in this cabin for a long time, to live in peace. And to teach me in secrecy. I go to the cabin to use my magic, so I don’t wind up getting out of shape or forgetting it.” Haruka slowed down his pace, Rin automatically doing the same. “I see…” Rin simply said. Haruka could tell Rin had walked into uncertain waters. That he didn’t know what to say, or what he was allowed to say. Or ask. Rin was shameless, but he apparently had his limits. “You can ask. If you want.” “What?” “You might be an idiot, but you’re not stupid. You’re wondering about the past tense. If she’s dead, and if so, how.” Rin looked at him, in a way as if he was trying to figure him out. “Maybe. I figured you’ll tell me if you want. Even if you don’t talk much.” Haruka nodded slowly, and kept walking in silence for a bit, until he looked up at tree and spoke up again. “She died a few years ago. Got killed by Tarkutan knights." “Yeah… a lot of people died in that war. I’m sorry.” Rin said earnestly. He looked pained. “She didn’t die in the war.” “What?” “She stopped the war. Did what the knights couldn’t. They found her in a nearby village and killed her in revenge.” Rin looked shocked. “Your grandma is- was Maura?” “That’s what she went by in Satra, yes. Her real name was Kana. Kana Nanase.” “Wait- really?” “I told you she was powerful.” “You didn’t tell me she was the most powerful!” Rin objected. “Wait, I’m going to Maura’s cabin?!” “If you’re going to be weird about it, I’m turning around,” Haruka deadpanned. “No no, I’m sorry. That’s just crazy.” Rin said, amazed. Then he realized he might be acting inappropriately and looked at Haruka again. He lowered his voice and spoke with a sorrow, gentleness and ernesty that Haruka had never heard before in his life, especially not from someone who he had only met for a month. “I’m really sorry. That she’s not here anymore. That you lost her.” Haruka didn’t know what to say. “My father died. In the war.” Rin added. Haruka looked at him with slightly widened eyes. “I think his death is actually what caused Maura - or Kana, sorry - caused Kana to step in. He died in one of the last battles. It was after that, that she led the troops in his place.” “I’m sorry for your loss,” Haruka said. It sounded rather stiff, but it was clear between them that he meant it. “Yours, too.” “Were you close?” Haruka asked. “Very, yes. He taught me all he knew about fighting and defense.” “Like my grandma and magic?” “Yeah,” Rin said with a small smile. "I guess like that." Maybe Rin wasn’t as spoiled a brat as Haruka initially had thought. “You know, I have this theory…” Rin began, and Haruka turned his attention towards him. “I don’t think they really leave us, you know. Like they might not be physically there to scold, encourage and comfort us. But they’re still there in the things that we do. I imagine you must feel her when you do magic, like I do with my dad and training? Maybe it’s their voice in your head. Or the way you do something the exact way they used to.” Haruka stopped walking. He stood very still and looked at Rin with disbelief. “What? Did I say something wrong?” Rin quickly asked, unsure with himself. “No.” Haruka said firmly, but he didn’t add anything else. He looked away and tried to compose himself a little, feeling like he was on the verge of crying while mentally going through all the habits he suddenly realized he had picked up from his grandma over the years. Rin didn’t say anything. He just stood still, watching Haruka carefully. “I’m really sorry if I upset you,” Rin apologized. “You didn’t, I just… that’s a very beautiful way of seeing it. A beautiful world view.” Haruka stated. “Not exactly what I expected of you.” “Glad I can surprise you,” Rin smiled, though it was a careful smile, like he was still worried. Haruka felt awkward for nearly crying in front of Rin, so he just turned away and started walking again.  “How long do we have left?” Rin asked for the first time.  “Almost there.” “Really?” “Yeah.”  Rin seemed to speed up in excitement and anticipation. Haruka followed and enhanced the speed of his own pace as well. Haruka could already hear the familiar distant sound of the water mill in the stream, and after a good 100  meters, the bush came into view. “We have to enter through here.” Haruka said, gesturing to the bush. “Where? The bush?” Rin looked at the bush, then at Haruka, confusion all over his features. “Yes. I’ll go first. Stay close behind me and watch out for the thorns.” “The thorns?!” Rin repeated, but without explaining anything, Haruka made a path for himself by moving the branches in front of him away. With magic. Of course. His eyes illuminated in a deep, bright blue color and Rin could see them light up even from behind. They walked a good 10 meters or more, before reaching the end of the bushes.  “That’s a really thick wall.” Rin pointed out. “My grandma. Good luck getting in and out without magic.” Haruka said. “Smart woman,” Rin acknowledged. “Thank you.” They walked into moss-filled grounds with beautiful nature all around them. The bush branches behind them moved back into place on Haruka’s silent demand. Rin and Haruka stopped as Rin, and Haruka too, took in their surroundings. Rin looked up and saw a black cat sitting up in a tree above them, watching Rin intensely, with bright yellow eyes. Haruka noticed it too, called it to him with the name Akira, and Rin watched as the cat immediately listened, came down from the tree and let Haruka scoop it up while petting it. “Is it your cat?” Rin asked. “I guess? Animals aren’t objects, but I do care for her and the rest of them. My grandma used to say they just belong to the area. Or she would call them her roommates. Ones that she would rescue and bring here herself.” Haruka smiled at the last part, both affectionately and amused, as if there was an inside joke there. “That’s nice,” Rin got closer, but stopped when the cat, Akira, looked at him and bared its fangs at him. Haruka whispered something, kissed her on the top of her head and let her down again. She looked up at him. Haruka's eyes glowed, and so did the cat's. For a moment the two looked at each other, illuminated blue at yellow, before the cat closed its eyes, almost as if she had understood something, and then walked off into a bush. “What was that?” Rin asked. “A cat?” Haruka replied. He clearly knew that wasn’t the answer Rin was looking for, but he didn’t seem to be about to elaborate on that, either. “No, I mean the eye glowing thing,” Rin continued, really wanting an answer on this. “You ask a lot of questions, Rin.” Haruka pointed out. “You avoid a lot of questions.” Rin remarked. Haruka didn’t answer, but just continued to walk. Then, Rin noticed the cabin. “Is that it?” “Are you seriously disappointed?” Haruka asked, offended, noticing the tone in Rin’s voice. He looked back at him from a few meters ahead. “No…” Rin tried. “I mean… It's quite small. At least from what I imagined, since you know… magical place and all.” “Magic doesn’t necessarily equal big houses. Did you imagine a castle or something?” “No, I didn’t. I’m not disappointed, okay! It’s... cute.” “Cute?” Haruka repeated, an eyebrow raised. “Yeah… um, charming?” “Idiot.” Haruka sighed, then continued to walk towards the cabin, staying close to a stream leading up to it. Rin came up and walked beside him, but consciously kept a bit of a distance, as if he was afraid that Haruka would push him into the stream. The stream had big stones in it, some randomly placed, and some purposely put to create a path towards the other side of it. The stream led all the way up to, and past, the cabin. To the cabin’s left side there was a watermill, slowly moving around in circles with the stream. The watermill was covered by a wooden roof and surrounded by a stone half-wall, with wooden beams going from the half-wall and up to the roof. The roof was attached to the cabin. The cabin itself was made of wood and was in two stories, though still looked small. It was built on a small hill, and so stones were placed under it, increasing towards the side that went away from the hill, to keep it leveled. The roof was covered in moss and grass. There was a front door, painted green, and it had a small awning extending from it to protect it from weather damage. From that small awning hung ornaments, crystals, and other decorations Rin could best describe as fittingly witchy. A wind chime made of wood, bone and crystal hung as well, making soothing clinking noises. Beside it was a small window with a wooden frame. Above that window, on the second floor, was another, bigger window, also with a similar wooden frame. To the other side of the cabin, the one not with a watermill, a small shed stuck out from it, in the middle. In front of it, pots, pans, gardening tools and various items were stacked neatly on wooden flooring making up a small porch on top of the stone foundation. Rin had to admit it did actually look rather cozy. Flowers, plants and trees were everywhere. Rin understood the appeal of it all. It must be really peaceful here, he concluded. And it truly was, just after a moment there, he realized just how quiet everything was. They were up on a mountain, surrounded by nothing but trees for possibly several kilometers. The only sounds were the water splashing and moving around in the stream, the creaky noise from the windmill, the birds chirping, and the wind blowing through the leaves on the tall trees all around them. So much different from the usual noise back in Satra, back in the Knights' Village, where there was always someone awake. Only in the very late night could he maybe find a bit of quiet peace, if was lucky. “Are you coming?” Haruka asked. Rin hadn’t noticed that Haruka had resumed walking. “Huh?- Oh, yeah,” Rin said, shaking off his distractions. “Not so disappointed anymore, huh?” Haruka asked, a bit smug. “Hey, I told you I wasn’t disappointed!” Rin objected. When Haruka got to the door, he didn’t pull out a key. Instead, Rin heard the unmistakable sound of a lock opening and a chain lock sliding out and falling against the door. Haruka’s eyes glowed. “Showoff,” Rin said.  “You’re just jealous.” Haruka said. Rin couldn’t deny that. Haruka opened the door and took a step inside. He took off his shoes, and Rin could see behind him that, even though the cabin was small, it appeared bigger inside than outside. Haruka went in, and walked off to put his bag down and take out his flask to drink the rest of his water.  In the meantime, Rin took a step inside and dropped his bag to the floor. The room smelled like dust, but not in a thick way. Enclosed, similar to how an attic would smell, but not quite. The air felt too clean for it, but Rin could tell it had still been some time since someone had been there. Rin looked around the room. The ceiling was low and there were big wood beams around the room, to hold up the second floor. It was an open space with a lot of plants and decorative items everywhere, all of them, again, quite witchy in Rin’s opinion. The space was stuffed. To the left side of the entrance was a wooden table with a bench against the wall and two chairs on the other side. Behind the dining area was another room which Rin could tell, from the open door frame, was a kitchen. Beside the wall between the kitchen and living room, to the right at the end of the room, was a spiral staircase leading upstairs. In the middle of the living room was a big rug, a couch and an armchair that faced a fireplace, going into the kitchen wall. Behind the couch, with a meter space in between, was a door leading to what must have been the shed-looking building from outside. All around the room were floor-to-ceiling bookcases full of leather-bound books, trinkets, colorfully filled glass vials, and various other items. The window frames were full of plants as well, and on the windows hung thin linen curtains. Rin could also spot at least 3 cats in the room. A black one on the couch, a spotted one on the armchair, and another black one lying on the staircase. The spotted one on the armchair jumped down to greet Haruka. “Hi Pochi,” Haruka greeted affectionately, bent down to move his index finger along the cat's jaw once it walked up to him and started to rub up against him. On the dining table books, papers, ink and paints were spread out. Some of the papers contained painted illustrations of flowers and plants, some scribbled words, and others were blank. All around the room, candles were spread out, but on the table many were gathered together, some burned down to the very end. Rin figured this might be where Haruka spent most of his time, at least in the evening.  Haruka went around and lit some candles as the darkness grew more prominent as they got further into the evening. Meanwhile, after taking off his shoes, Rin did some snooping around. He looked around at the titles of some of the books on one of the bookshelves. They were very clearly old books about botany, magic and potions, Rin quickly realized. He walked over and looked at the paint-colored drawings spread around on the table. Haruka walked into the kitchen, and so Rin quickly followed. The room was a bit narrow, though bigger than what Rin expected. There were old wooden tabletops on either side, a fireplace leading into the same chimney as the one in the living room, with a big pot hanging inside of it, and a station with more books and various glass vials and bottles. Just like in the living room, the kitchen was filled with plants as well, though more herbal looking ones. They even hung on the walls and from the ceiling. Dead and dried hand-picked flowers in glasses and vases stood around the tabletop as well.  There was a window to the right side, above a large sink. At the end of the room was a door leading outside. Beside the door, on top of the kitchen tabletop, there was a big basket with two cats lying inside of it. A gray one and a black one. “You really have a lot of cats and plants,” Rin pointed out.  “Their company is comforting,” Haruka shrugged. He walked over and scratched the cats' jaws and necks. They both gave pleased purrs in return. “The plants or the cats?” “Both.” Haruka stated, walked away from the cats, went over to the fireplace, lifted the pot off the hook and exchanged it with a kettle. He opened one of the cabinets under the tabletops, took out a glass bottle with water inside of it and poured it into the kettle. Then he placed firewood underneath and lit up a fire, before walking back over to the still-half-asleep cats.  “Why don’t you use magic for anything?” Rin suddenly asked.  Haruka looked up from the cats and over at him. “What?” “Can’t you use magic to light a fire? Or boil water? Or anything, really.” “Well I can, yes. But I prefer not to.” “Why not? Wouldn’t it be so much quicker and easier? Like the door lock?”  “If I used magic for everything, life would become quite dull. I can unlock doors, especially that one, since it doesn’t have a key. I can make things appear and disappear. I can even create things from memory. But I choose not to use magic, if I can avoid it. My grandma taught me that, as well.” Haruka explained. “The second you start to use magic for everything is when you lose your connection to real life. It might be tempting for you to be lazy, but it would just become boring. Magic would lose its value then, and your powers would seem lesser than they are. You’ll risk ending up underestimating yourself, and get bored from it, even seeking extremes if you’re that type of person.” Rin stood in silence for a moment and just looked at him. Haruka looked up from the cats to see if Rin had heard him.  “I think that’s the longest I’ve heard you talk.” Rin said. Haruka rolled his eyes, and walked past him and out of the kitchen.  “You’re right though! I didn’t think about it like that,” Rin added, as he watched him leave, then followed along. They walked into the living room, and Rin watched as Haruka walked around and watered the plants. “Most people don’t. Some of the elders use magic for everything. It just becomes a way of life for them. To never do anything except use their powers. But they take it for granted, too. And that’s how arrogance is born.” He said, while he touched a plant that had died. While his eyes started to illuminate light blue, the plant slowly rose and gained a green color back in its leaves. “That makes sense…” Rin said, thoughtful. He watched the plant Haruka was working on with interest and fascination. “Your grandma was a really wise woman.” “Yeah, she was.” “So are you, for following her words.” “I can only hope you will follow them as well.” Haruka said. “Nah, I’m gonna sit on my ass and watch as invisible forces make my food, open every door, put on my socks for me, and maybe even wipe my ass as well,” Rin said dramatically, and ironically. Haruka turned to face him and smiled at that. “You’ll have to learn more than lifting a stick if you want to get to a point like that. Not focusing on the action itself takes time and learning. Multitasking magic is really difficult, as well.” “Can you do it?” “Of course.” Haruka said, as if Rin was stupid for even thinking of asking that. “Then teach me,” “You have to learn to actually use even the most basic magic first.”  “Touché.” Rin chuckled.  “Apropos,” Haruka said. “We’ll be starting your first training here, after I’ve made my tea.”  “What do you have planned?” Rin asked, as he bent down to pet a white cat that had curiously walked over to him. It walked away after two pats, though. “You’ll see,” Haruka said. He grabbed another dead plant and revived it as well. “Hey, by the way, if you can bring plants back from the dead, can you bring people back, too?” Rin asked, full of wonder and childish curiosity. “I don’t play around with resurrection.” Haruka said. “Nature is nature. Everything has to die, eventually.” Haruka turned around and looked at him, as if he wanted to make sure he was paying attention. “If witches started bringing every human or animal back, an irresponsible overpopulation would occur and a sense of immortality would spread around, and that only turns you into something even more arrogant than the elders. Plus, if you only decided to resurrect one person, who are you to decide that their life is worth more than others’?” Haruka paused, letting the question sink in in Rin’s head before he continued. “The moral compass for plants is a bit less complicated than that. This plant may help clean the air for a few more weeks or months, maybe years if it’s lucky, until it decides it’s fulfilled its purpose and dies more honorable than just from lack of water. It’s selfish, really, in a way, but my grandma used to say it was to give plants a second chance to flourish. Giving people, or any other animal for that matter, a second chance at life after having been dead is not a decision we can rightfully make. Our biology and phychology is too complicated.” “Does that mean you wouldn’t resurrect me if I died?” “No. I wouldn’t,” Haruka quickly answered with full certainty in his voice. “Oh wow, you could have thought a little bit more about that,” Rin joked. “I wouldn’t resurrect anyone. I have healing powers, potions and spells, but bringing people back once they’ve died is something no mature and sane witch would ever toy around with. The consequences are not that well-known, either.” “Consequences?” “Yeah, if someone came back changed or something. No one really wants to test it to figure it out. Plus, not a lot of people possess the power to do it to begin with.” “Do you?” Haruka didn’t respond, he just went back to tending to his plants. Rin figured he may have finally found something Haruka couldn’t do, but the vibe Haruka gave off and the slight tension in the silence made Rin feel like that wasn’t a no. Rin didn’t ask more questions, but he did try to pet a few more of the cats. One, a multicolored one that had appeared from the corner where the bench was, hissed at him. The white cat from before, now lying on the couch, let him pet it again. That was a first, Rin thought, as all the cats he’d ever met before didn’t like him. When Haruka was done, he went into the kitchen, took the boiling water off the fire and poured it into a teapot. Then he plucked some leaves from the plants hanging on the wall. Rin watched intently as he continued the process of making tea. Then with a teacup in his hand, Haruka went to put his shoes on. When they both got dressed back in shoes and jackets, Haruka led them out of the backdoor in the kitchen. The door led out into a small grass area, almost like a backyard. Rin looked around. He saw a bunch of slightly overgrown, tightly-planted plants, flowers, bushes and trees. There was also an empty clothesline for drying clothes to the left. In front of them, in the middle of the overgrown plants and bushes, a moss-covered stone path went through it. “Where are we going?” Rin asked. “To the river.” “What river?” “Just a river.” “Is it far?” “Why? Are you tired?” Haruka asked it almost like a dare. “No, of course not,” Rin dismissed, though not very convincing. They walked down the path. It split into three separate paths a few meters in. Haruka walked through the one in the middle. The small path on the right side led in to a well just a meter or two inside. Rin could easily see it when they walked by. The one on the left side led further than two meters, but it was broader and very straight lined, so Rin could still see that at the end of it, there was a small patio with a wooden round table and two chairs. Behind it was what appeared to be a greenhouse. “Is that a greenhouse?” Rin asked, while they passed by the path and kept walking. They weren’t far too common back in Satra. People would usually just plant their stuff out in exposed ground. Only very wealthy people could afford greenhouses. “Yeah,” Haruka said. “My grandma used to plant vegetables and fruits there. I try to keep that tradition alive, though I don’t know much about caring for so many plant species like she did.” “But you know how to bring them back from the dead?” “I’ve known that since I was around 7. The other thing requires a lot of continuous studying and reading.” “Reading books like the one I borrowed?” “Yes.” “Yeah, then I would rather just revive them as well,” Rin chuckled, though Haruka didn’t seem amused. “Hey, hey, just a joke.” “You’ll have to get used to reading or I won’t be able to teach you. You should’ve been done with those books in no more than a couple of days.” “A couple of days?!” Rin practically yelled. “Yes. They are introduction books to beginner’s magic. You won’t find anything easier than that. And I will only keep giving you harder and harder material. You’re gonna have to find the motivation to read it somewhere, otherwise we’ll be going back to Satra very quickly.” “Yeah, yeah, I know,” Rin said, brushing it off, and it annoyed Haruka to no end. He didn’t have time to scold him though, as they got to the end of the path and the river came partially into view to their left side a bit further ahead. They spent two hours there before heading back to the cabin. Haruka had announced that it was enough, having long past drank all his tea and was starting to feel exhausted. He had tried to show Rin how to manipulate water, explained how, since he couldn’t get him to learn every other basic thing within magic, maybe he could teach him how to use the next most basic element, after air, which he couldn’t seem to learn, either. It was two hours of mainly frustration. Even Rin seemed off on the way back, barely saying anything. When they got back, Rin asked if there was a toilet. “It’s the door in the living room, behind the couch.” Haruka informed, to Rin’s surprise. So that’s what the shed is? Rin thought to himself, and even to Haruka it was clear that something clicked inside of Rin’s head. He didn’t ask, though. Rin walked out of the kitchen, and Haruka went to boil more water for tea. Haruka went to get the bread he’d brought along from Satra from his bag, then bent it, parting it in two. He munched on one of the two parts and handed the other to Rin once he came out. Haruka sipped his tea and they ate in comfortable silence. “Do you have any food left in your bag?” Haruka asked. “Why?” Rin asked. “The cats will get into it if you leave your bag on the floor like that. Put it in the first cabinet in the kitchen. To the left.” He instructed. Rin got up and did that. Haruka finished his tea and went to wash the teacup. “I’m gonna go to bed.” Haruka said, and started to blow out the candles around the room. “That sounds like a good idea,” Rin agreed, yawning as if to emphasize. Haruka kept one candle lit to use to light another candle with, one that he put on a candleholder. He carried it by the handle and walked up the stairs, with Rin right at his heels. Haruka walked in and used the candle to light some more candles, just so Rin could see where he was walking, since he hadn't been there before. Haruka himself could find his way around in complete darkness, knowing where everything was. “There’s only one bed.” Rin pointed out; the only thing he seemed to notice before Haruka had even gotten to light an extra candle. “Huh?” Haruka looked back at him. “Yes?” Rin didn’t elaborate on his comment. “So?” “Is there another room?” Rin asked. “No?” Haruka gave him a strange look. “So… are we both sleeping here?” Rin almost looked nervous. “Yes? Is that a problem?” Haruka raised an impatient eyebrow at him. Spoiled, came to mind. Childish, too. “I don’t normally sleep in the same bed with someone I just recently met-” Rin tried. “And you think I do?” Haruka asked, offended. “Just get in. It won’t matter once you’re asleep, anyway.” “That’s-” Rin began. “Just don’t sleep naked.” Haruka interrupted. “I wouldn’t!” Rin nearly yelled. “I can go sleep on the couch, though.” “Why are you being so stubborn?” “I’m not!” “The couch is not that comfortable to sleep on. It was my punishment when I was a child to sleep there. But go ahead, if you want 10 nocturnal cats keeping you up all night.” Haruka said annoyed, and stepped over to the bed, put the candleholder on the wooden bedside table, before taking his cotton breeches off. “Wow, wow, wow-!” Rin yelled out loud, covering his eyes with a hand while turning his head away. “Why are you taking off your clothes?!” “Relax, I’m just taking off my pants!” Haruka didn’t raise his voice, but the tone got harsh now, clearly in anger. He blew out the candle and got under the covers, still wearing his underwear and white tunic shirt, not having anymore of this annoying, bothersome conversation. When some time passed and Rin still clearly didn't make any sign of moving anytime soon, Haruka sighed loudly. “Get in the damn bed, Rin.” “But-” “Shut up and get in the bed already,” Haruka grumbled. Finally, Rin moved and walked closer to the bed. He still didn’t get in, though. “Why are you acting like it’s such a big deal? Are you married or something? Promised to never sleep in bed with another person?” “No!” Rin said. “It's just a big deal sleeping in the same bed!” “How have you not gotten insomnia and died from lack of sleep among the knights with that childish attitude? Don’t you all sleep in quarters and tents or something?” Haruka asked. “That’s different!” “How is it different?” Haruka didn’t look at him, as he kept his head half covered by the covers, his eyes closed, and his body and head turned towards the wall opposite to where Rin was standing. Rin audibly gulped, let out some incoherent, mumbled words, then without further word, he got under the covers. Once he got under, all the light disappeared in the room, and for a second Rin thought he had gotten knocked out or something similar, until he noticed the moonlight coming from one of the two small windows in the room, and realized he was still where he was, fully awake. Rin sighed. Haruka and his dumb magic.