Keal sat under the big tree behind Nylessa's house, throwing little rocks at a bigger rock.
"This one's Greg. He's kinda grumpy. That's Fifi, she likes soup. And you, Marcus, you don't talk much."
He sighed. No one said anything back. Again.
---
He felt super lonely.
Not the sad-crying kind, but the weird kind. The kind that made him talk to spoons.
"You're the only one who listens, Mr. Stir-Stir," he said, poking a pot with a spoon.
The spoon didn't answer. Rude.
---
Even Petalina, his favorite daisy, was gone.
"She left me."
"It died," Nylessa said.
"She dumped me."
"It's a flower, Keal."
"She had roots."
Nylessa groaned.
---
That night, Keal kicked his blanket and stared at the roof.
"I have no friends. I'm nice. I smell good. I talk to brooms. Still nothing."
"Even the mop rejected me," he whispered to the ceiling.
---
Next morning, he jumped at the table.
"Nylessa! I made a choice!"
She looked up. "Can I eat it?"
"No! I wanna go to the best magic school ever!"
She raised one eyebrow. "The one that didn't let me in 'cause I lit their welcome mat on fire?"
"Yes! That one!"
"You're eight."
"Then what age do I need to be?! Tell me! I can wait, but not too long—I have romantic goals."
Nylessa stared at him. "You need to be twelve years old."
"Twelve? That's like... a hundred in kid years!"
"You'll survive."
"But what about my heart? It's ready now."
---
"What kind of goals?" she asked.
"Y'know, like—holding hands... slow walking in gardens... maybe she gives me a sandwich."
"You want to go to a magic academy... to get a sandwich from a girl?"
"And fall in love too! But sandwiches are important."
---
He stood on a chair. "I'll be the best mage. No, the best battle mage! I'll beat monsters and pass tests and—"
He slipped.
Nylessa caught him. "Learn how not to fall first."
---
Keal looked at the window. "Also, I need to marry a princess."
"Why?"
"For… romantic stuff."
"Like what?"
"You know! Looking at the stars together! Hugging in windy places! Secret kisses behind scroll racks!"
"...You're eight."
"But I'm emotionally advanced."
---
Later, Keal made a list: Wife Stuff (Magic Edition)
No boom-booms when sneezed on
Laughs at broom jokes
Has a castle, or at least half of one
Can do magic and funny dances
Likes sandwiches
Has soft hands for hand-holding
Doesn't mind if I talk to goats
Thinks I'm handsome even when my hair's all spiky
Wants to stargaze and say dramatic lines like "I feel your magic in my soul"
He read it to the goat.
The goat blinked.
"He's shocked by how romantic I am," Keal said.
---
At night, Keal stood on the roof yelling at stars.
"Magic school! Get ready! I'm coming! I'm gonna be the best! Bring me your books and your weird old scrolls! And if there's a princess there—I'm totally marrying her!"
Nylessa yelled from below. "If you don't come down, you're gonna be grounded forever!"
Keal smiled.
"A lonely kid dreams louder than a crowd."
---