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Casper Ferreiro had many regrets in life. The biggest: losing Odward Stonegarden. All he had to do to keep him was be nice. A simple rule many people live by.
Odward Stonegarden is now a pro Gorotama player, living his dreams. A life that Casper Ferreiro has nothing to do with.
Instead of going pro like kid Casper always dreamed, he works for his Dad. A job he’s come to love. Especially, the days when it’s just him and his Dad working in the forge. Even with the feeling of being content in life, there are always going to be the ‘What-ifs’.
“Casp, take these to Mr. Anki, will ya’?”
“Sure, Dad.”
Mr. Anki was one of Dad’s more annoying customers. Besides the fact that he can be difficult, Casper likes talking to the old man.
It’s an hour trek to his workshop, not the idealist, especially in this heat. Casper sighs when he finally sees the building.
It smells the same when he enters: spicy and flamey.
“Mr. Anki, I got your order!” Casper yells into the shop, moving beads out of the way to enter further.
“Casp, my boy, thank you.” Mr. Anki emerges from the back.
“Yeah, no problem.”
“This should be the last needed part.”
Casper hums, handing over the dagger.
“Yeah? For your special project, you won't tell me about?” Casper huffs, leaning on a table.
“Come and see.”
Casper’s eyes widen. Mr. Anki has never let him see before. “Really?”
“Well, if you don’t want to, that’s fine.”
Casper shakes his head. “No! I want to.”
Mr. Anki smirks, leading him back to the main workshop. The floor is covered in ruins.
“It’s magic. Real arcane magic.” Mr. Anki breathes in awe.
Casper admits it’s beautiful, but magic? Doubtful.
“You have many regrets, don’t you?” Mr. Anki questions. It ruffles Casper a bit because the old man knows he does.
“Yeah? Everyone does.”
“This is my gift to you.” Before Casper has time to react, the dagger he helped make is plunged in his chest.
“W-why?” Casper drops, clutching the cloth around the dagger. He can’t die here. His Dad would be the first to find out. That would destroy him.
“You’ll see.” Anki walks away. Casper can hear him shuffle things around. He tries to use his Tama, but it doesn’t work. Fear coats his throat. He grows colder with each breath.
‘Sorry, Dad, Cal.’ His body goes limp.
It’s strange to be waking up after giving up on life. Even stranger for it to be in his old dorm.
‘Ah, is this my life flashing before my eyes?’
Casper slowly sits up, eyes scanning the room. He zeroes in on Odwards' stuff. The stuff he took back after joining the knights. Odward's favorite hoodie lies on a chair. Casper shakily brings it to his nose, inhaling the scent he had almost forgotten.
Funny how even years apart ones first love still haunts.
Casper looks at the calendar. The day after tryouts, of course, it is. Meaning soon Odward will come get his stuff back.
Milo was easy to find. “Hey, Milo. I wanted to apologize for yesterday. I was a bit rude, honestly; jellyballs can be an amazing tama.”
Milo stares at Casper like he suddenly grew a second head.
“Uh, oh, yeah, no problem.” Milo stammers. “Um, does this mean you and my brother made up?”
Casper sighs dramatically, “No, Oddie needs some time to cool off; then I’ll apologize to him.”
Truthfully, Odward still needs to join the knights.
“Oh, okay.”
“Hm, see ya.”
Casper joins his sister at the bard's table.
“What was that?” Callista questions.
“Me apologizing to Milo,” Casper answers, taking a bite of bread.
“Why?”
“Because it’s the right thing to do?”
“Hm.”
“Whatever, I need your help. I need you to help me practice.”
“Your ‘please forgive me Odward speech’?” Callista teases.
“No, Gorotama.” He’s beyond rusty and already having trouble adjusting to having both eyes and ears working at 100%.
“Huh, sure?”
Casper is on the ground panting.
“Casper, what's going on? We can’t be making stupid mistakes.” Callista lectures, blocking the sun from Casper.
“I know, I know. Just give me some time.” Casper didn’t think it would be this hard to get back into it. He should have known a second chance was going to be anything but easy.
“Time? We have to be ready for the season now! Is this about Odward?” Cal was right. He needed to be ready; sadly, that’s easier said than done.
“No! Odward has nothing to do with this.”
“Then?”
Casper sighs, looking around at the empty field. “You won’t believe me.”
“Try me,” Call pushes, crossing her arms over her chest.
“I’m from the future. I had an accident that injured my right eye and ear. Having both again is a bit disorienting.” Casper's hands skim the smooth skin.
Callista doesn’t answer. She stares like she’s trying to see through him. “Fine. Let’s say this is true. How?”
Casper looks up at his sister. “I don’t know. Magic, I guess.”
Callista groans, flopping down next to Casper. “Well, the banner ceremony is soon. We should get ready.”
“Yeah, can you do me a favor and be nice to Odward and the new team?”
“New team?
“You’ll see.”
Seeing Odward in the rusty armor is the first time he’s seen him since coming back. He looks amazing. Callista looks over in shock. “How did you know?” She whispers.
“I told you,” He whispers back.
Later that night, Casper waits in front of Odward's dorm.
“If you're here to tease, then leave,” Odward states, pushing Casper out of the way to open the door.
“Actually, I’m here to apologize. You were right. I was being an ass. I’m sorry.” Casper wasn’t expecting Odward to pull him in and kiss him, and it seems like he was right not to expect that.
“Oh. Well, okay.”
Casper waits for Odward to say anything else; when that doesn’t happen, he coughs. “So, um, can we try again?”
Odward sighs, and Casper’s heart breaks all over.
“I think we need a break, Casper. I have a new team to whip into shape,” Odward explains.
A break, so not a breakup. Casper could work with that. They had breaks before, and they always came back.
“Sure, yeah. Just, um, let me know when you’re ready.”
“Yeah, goodnight.”
Casper smiles, “Goodnight.”
A break means he gets to keep Oddie’s stuff. Very much a win.
Casper doesn’t like fan events. He used to, he supposes, but that was before the accident. After it felt like too much, and like everyone was staring. So Callista usually took the lead on them.
When the knights show up, he’s in the middle of talking to a child. Callista spots them and starts to walk towards them, but Casper grabs her wrist tightly. She can’t leave him alone here.
“I’m just going to say ‘Hi’,” Callista informs, shaking her wrist free.
Right, the current Callista doesn’t know. Isn’t aware that her brother, who used to soak up the attention, no longer enjoys it.
The kid eventually leaves. Unfortunately, a reporter takes their place. “Mr. Ferreiro, is it true your former teammate Odward Stonegarden has joined a new team?”
“Uh, yeah, the Knights,” Casper answers, looking over at Callista. She’s still just talking to them, he hopes.
“Hm, and how will that affect the bards this season?”
“Well, it shouldn’t affect us so badly. We have some great first years who are ready to step up.”
“I see, and what brought on this change?”
Casper swallows thickly, “I suppose he wanted a challenge. I’m afraid you’ll have to ask him.”
“Hm, now I…” The reporter keeps talking, but Casper doesn’t hear. Anki is walking down the street towards the workshop. He’s younger and has fewer wrinkles than Casper remembers.
“Sorry, I’ve got to go,” Casper blurts, rushing to catch up to Anki. Suddenly, everything felt slow, like a core moment in the making.
Callista looks back at the shop to find her brother gone. “Did you all see where Casper went?”
Milo points down a street, “He ran that way a few seconds ago.”
“What?” Casper just left her here?
“Yep, I saw that too.” Key announces, trying to hold on to the bag.
“Whatever, see ya around.” Callista runs in the direction Milo pointed.
“Mr. Anki!” Casper grabs the old man's arms, turning him around.
“Hm? Ah, you're one of Calliban’s.”
“Yeah. I need to speak to you in private.” Definitely not his best idea, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s the only one he has.
“Oh? Well, I suppose I can manage a few minutes.”
Anki brings him to an abandoned alleyway. “So, lad?”
“Magic. Tell me about it.” Casper demands, trying his best to look intimidating.
“Magic? Who told you about that?” Anki muses, stroking his beard.
“You did.”
Anki’s eyes widen, suddenly more alive than Casper ever saw them.
“I did, did I? Tell me more.”
“You tell me more.” Casper counters, already not feeling safe in the alleyway.
“Magic is the greatest gift of mankind. It allows for wonders beyond our imagination. Like this one.” Anki motions towards Casper.
“Is it real?” Casper hopes it is. A real second chance.
“Do you think it is?” Anki questions, instead of answering.
“I don’t know.”
“You will.”
Casper groans, “Helpful.”
“Hm, just know, boy, magic always comes at a price.”
Casper glares. He knows the price. It was his life.
Anki walks out of the alleyway like he was never even there.
Casper sighs, looking up to the sky. He exits, walking down the path he knows by heart.
“Dad?” Casper yells, jumping on the front table.
“Yeah?” Calliban yells back from the furnace.
Casper walks back, finding his Dad. “Can I practice on some of the old armor we have in storage?” He needs a distraction, and over the last few years, this has become the best distraction. Just losing oneself in the repetitive but precise movement.
Calliban looks up, pauses, nods his head, and continues working on the Knight's armor.
Casper nods, going to the back to pick up the armor his Dad gave to them.
It needs to be fine-tuned to fit them, and if he spends extra time on Oddie’s? No one would be the wiser.
It’s hot in the furnace, making his makeup run. Sweat drips down his nose and onto the armor.
His Dad eventually finds him. “Huh, nice job, Casper. I’m going out for a bit. Can you watch the store? And if those kids come back, their armor is behind the counter.”
Casper raises the goggles from his eyes, wiping the sweat from his forehead. “Yeah, Dad.”
Callista storms in not long after. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming home?”
Casper glances up from the newly finished armor, “Sorry, I saw someone I knew and wanted to talk to him.”
“Ugh, whatever. You did this?” Callista questions picking up a piece.
“Not really; it’s Dad’s work, just made some modifications.”
“So, you work here? In the future?” A weird look passes over Callista’s face. A look Casper understands.
“Yeah, wasn’t the plan, was it?”
“No.”
“Ssyelle and Key should be here soon; let’s go.”
Casper puts his armor in a bag, laying it next to their old armor.
“What are you doing? Also, your makeup looks awful.” Callista questions, jumping on the counter.
“Last time they lost their armor because of us, and Dad gave them this. Just trying to keep things similar. Also rude.” Good thing Odward isn’t coming here. It’s hard wearing makeup and being a blacksmith.
“What are you two doing here?” Ssyelle questions.
“Apparently, you didn’t do enough research on Calliban; he’s our Dad.” Callista mocks, swinging her leg back and forth.
“Can we just get our armor back?” She pleads, without really pleading.
Casper throws the bag at Key. “Enjoy.”
“Uh, thanks.” Key nods, already struggling under the weight.
The suns setting when the group meets back up.
“Uh, I think he gave us the wrong armor.” Key states the obvious.
“What do we do?” Ssyelle questions, holding an arm guard in her hand.
“Ooh, is that our armor? Nice!” Milo praises, walking towards the group.
“Well, um, not tech-”
“Whoa, that is some nice armor.” Odward also praises.
“Yep! Sure is!” Ssyelle laughs, strained.
Casper spends the whole next day training. It’s slow going. He can’t seem to kick the habits he learned to be able to play Gorotama after the accident.
Casper comes to one conclusion: “Goyen Sunspear is going to yell at me.”
“Yeah.”
Casper throws the ball at Cal. “No need to agree so quickly!”
“Hm, it’s true though.”
Casper doesn’t reply. He doesn’t need to reply.
Callista looks over. “Why don’t you move on from Odward? What’s so special about him?”
Casper stares at the sky. Odward is Odward. They’ve been together for a year—the longest relationship Casper has ever had. Odward knows Casper; it’s just easier like that.
“He’s my first love,” Casper replies, feeling it in his chest.
“Lots of people get over those. I don’t think he’s worth it,” Cal snarks, throwing the ball back at Casper. “If he loved you, wouldn’t he come back already?”
Casper shrugs a shoulder. “I’ll wait.” He would to. He would wait a lifetime just to be in his presence again.
It’s dark, and Casper decided to train in the gym. He wishes he didn’t.
Pain erupts from his chest, as real as the dagger. He grunts, falling to his knees, holding his chest.
Is this it? Is this all the time I get? I haven’t even kissed him or played in an official game. Please no.
“Dude, are you alright?” Falco questions, dropping his Gorotama ball to jog closer.
Tears swell in Casper’s eyes as he looks up at the first-year.
“Yeah, yeah. J-Just give me a second.” Casper grits out, willing the pain away.
“Are you sure I shouldn’t go get the nurse?” Falco bends down, stabilizing Casper.
“Y-Yeah,” Casper breathes, lowering his head back down. The pain slowly subsides enough for Casper to realize how tight Falco is holding his arm. “See, I’m fine.” Casper pulls away from Falco, slowly standing.
“Right.” Falco stays close enough to catch Casper if needed.
“Yep, so, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell anyone. It was nothing really.” Casper hopes seniority holds here.
Falco’s face scrunches up, showing he very much does not like the idea. “If you let me walk you back to your dorm, I’ll think about it.”
Casper sighs. “Fine, come on, first-year.”
The pain is fading, but it still hurts. He bites back a grunt. He doesn’t need to show a first-year how weak he is.
“Do you know what happened?” Falco questions, closer than he should be.
“Panic attack,” Casper lies. He’s had those before; this wasn’t a panic attack. This was the dagger being stabbed into his chest.
Falso looks caught between belief and disbelief. “Ah.”
Luckily, the rest of the walk is silent.
“Thanks, I guess,” Casper whispers, slinking into his dorm. He curls up on the bed, holding the hoodie close to his face.
‘Magic always comes at a price.’
Casper squeezes his eyes shut.
The morning air is cold as it slams into Casper’s face; the sun not even up yet. There’s nothing better than running in the morning. Something he started a few months after he started working for his father. It helps clear his mind.
‘Magic always comes at a price’
Casper assumed the price was his life. If it wasn’t? What’s the price?
Casper speeds up, his bangs flushed against his head.
‘Shit.’
“I can’t believe we’re actually watching,” Callista complains.
“We’re playing whoever wins; why wouldn’t we watch?”
“You know who wins.” She shoots back. And guilty.
“So? It’s about analyzing.” Casper gracefully falls into a seat. If it’s also about seeing Odward play, well, Callista knows that.
When Odward gets slammed, Casper’s suddenly glad he gave them the better armor.
“Ouch,” Callista says without a hint of sympathy. “Seems like the shadows are gonna take this one.”
Casper doesn’t bother correcting her; she’ll find out soon enough.
“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Cal roars from the stands. “Holyshit!”
Casper smirks over. “Glad you came now?”
“Shut up,” She yells and punches him in the shoulder.
It’s 9 at night when the yearning becomes too great. The hoodie no longer working to satisfy the burning in his heart.
So, he stands outside Odwards' dorm, knocking.
Oddie opens it with a knowing look.
“Hey, saw your game. You looked good.” Casper glances down, tapping his foot against the doorframe.
“Yeah, we did,” Odwards answers, lacking any real pride.
Casper glances back up and lets his eyes do the asking—can I come in?
Odward moves away from the door, allowing Casper entry.
“Can I sleep here tonight?” Casper knows it’s a long shot, and maybe he should have waited to ask, but it’s been so long (for him anyway).
Odward looks Casper up and down, taking him in. “Yeah.”
Casper's shoulders lower in relief. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you, too, Casp,” Odward whispers.
Casper doesn’t waste much time in tangling their bodies on the bed, breathing in the real thing. His heart finally settling.
This. This is why Casper likes Odward. The quiet moments they spend together.
Casper nuzzles his face into Odward's neck, trying to memorize the scent. Odward removes Casper’s hair tie, his hands cascading through the green hair. Casper leans into the hands.
Odward had to have known that if he let Casper in once, he would keep coming back, like a stray cat.
“Thanks for the armor, by the way.” Odward kisses Casper’s cheek.
“How did you know I did it?”
Odward’s hands slowly circle Casper’s nape. “Calliban didn’t know our sizes.”
“Hm, I could have told him.” Casper counters.
“Yet, you didn’t.” Odward pauses, holding Casper tight. “Casper, I’m sorry for what I said that day.”
“It’s okay.”
They fall asleep holding each other.
Casper wakes up to Odward's second alarm. Odward will let it go, not even waking up till his 5th or 6th alarm. That is, when Casper isn’t there.
“Oddie, the alarm,” Casper yawns, turning over to snuggle back into the blanket. That’s the first warning Casper gives Odward.
The second he gets an elbow to the side. “Alarm,” Casper says again. Casper peeks over to see if that woke him up; it didn’t.
“Ugh, Oddie, the alarm!” Casper hits Odward with the pillow he was using.
This is why Casper preferred them to sleep in his dorm. He would wake up to his alarm and make sure they were both on time.
“I swear,” Casper groans, putting the pillow on his face. “Don’t your neighbors complain about this?”
Casper sighs, bending over Odward's sleeping form. Casper crawls over Odward, turning off the alarm himself. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”
The fifth alarm eventually goes off, and Casper turns it off, just like all the previous ones. Casper’s even sure he heard someone yell ‘Thank you, God’ when he turned off the second alarm.
Casper stretches, standing up. “Oddie, time to get up.” Casper pokes him in the cheek.
“Time?” Odward questions, muddily.
“7:15.” The time they always get up.
Odward groans, sitting up. “Don’t go back to sleep. I’m leaving for my dorm.”
“Alright.” Odward kisses Casper on the cheek. It makes Casper warm. He didn’t forget.
Casper spends some extra time on his makeup and hair (it’s a mess).
Callista pegs him quickly. “You look happy. You two back on?” She teases, swirling her fork.
“No, I don’t think so.” Odward never said the break was over.
Callista barks out a laugh when she sees Odward walk in. “Right.”
Odward sits down at the table, eating his breakfast.
The whole group raises their eyebrows. “Wow, you actually got here on time.” Ssyelle voices, surprise clear on her face.
Odward glances over. “What?”
“You usually show up last minute or not at all,” Milo supplies.
“Hm, I can be on time,” Odward says matter-of-factly.
“We see,” Key laughs.
A boy a grade above Odward pauses, looking at him. “Thanks for finally turning off your alarms,” He says nonchalantly, walking away.
Ssyelle laughs, “Does he usually do that, Milo? Let his alarms run?”
“Uh, yeah,” Milo answers, looking at Odward's shocked face.
“I’m a heavy sleeper; I can’t help it,” Odward defends. He wasn’t aware others could even hear them.
“So, is there a reason you got here early?” Ssyelle questions, propping her head up on her hand.
“No, not really.”
The day started nicely, but it quickly deteriorated.
Odward wishes he had time to go watch the Bards v.s. Roses practice match, but he doesn’t.
Casper made a complete and utter fool of himself. He was about to score the winning goal when the hypnotic spells surrounded him, a rookie mistake.
The mist turns into that day, the ground covered in blue flames. Key in the air. A perfect replica of his nightmares.
He drops to the ground, bringing his arms up to cover his eyes and ears. The blue dragon races towards him.
When he opens his eyes to peek, the ball is gone, and the Roses have scored.
Casper groans, standing up from the ground, trying not to meet Goyen Sunspear’s gaze.
“Dude, what the hell?” Callista questions, jogging up beside him.
“I forgot.”
“Come on, Casp, if you keep making these mistakes, Goyen Sunspear will take you off the starting lineup.”
Casper grits his teeth. He knows she’s right. “I’ll do better, promise.” He knows she’s just being harsh cause she’s scared.
“Good, let’s go get that point back.”
They got the point back, but still ended up losing 2-3.
“What was that?” Goyen Sunspear questions, back in the locker room. “Are you seriously telling me the Roses beat us? The. Roses.”
Casper sighs, standing forward; he can’t let the rest of the team go down for his mistakes. “Sorry, Goyen, that was my fault.” Casper is suddenly grateful for his adult mindset because the glare that is sent his way would be enough to make him crumble back then.
“Don’t you think I know that?! What were you even doing? Helping the Roses?” Sunspears roars, spit flying.
Casper looks down at his feet. There isn’t really much he could say. He knows he fucked up.
“Hah.” Sunspear runs a hand through his hair, seemingly calming down. “Callista, from today you are the only captain of the Bards.” Even if Casper saw this coming, it still hurt.
“Yes, Goyen,” Callista responds. To others, she must look happy, but Casper knows she’s mad.
“You’re all dismissed besides Casper. You are to run till you drop.”
“Yes, Goyen.”
Casper thinks these Goyens need reality checks, like, come on, you are beefing with teenagers. Talk about embarrassing.
Casper runs 50 laps before the sharp pain sends him to the ground. He turns on his back, trying to take deep breaths.
At least I can see the stars, Casper muses. It’s a much better view than he’s previous death.
It passes more slowly this time, but it passes. He takes a quick shower. Once done, he glances between the hall that would lead him to Odwards or his.
There’s a 50/50 chance Odward would let him in. He decides to take the chance.
He knocks and waits.
Odward opens it, looking just as drained as Casper. “Hey, long day?” Casper questions, again asking if he could come in with his eyes.
Odward huffs, moving out of the way, “Yeah, you?”
“Yeah.” Casper pulls out Odwards ' blow dryer, plugging it in. Once done, he crawls into bed beside Odward. “I’m not captain anymore,” Casper says, laying his head down on Odward's chest.
“What? Why?”
“I messed up during practice too much. You know how Sunspear is.”
“Sorry.” Odward strokes Casper's soft hair.
“It’s fine. He was bending the rules by having two anyway. What about you?”
“Key had Dragon’s fever; the Shadows accused us of stealing, which turns out Ameline did. That all accumulated into Key going ballistic with Milo and Ssyelle having to save him. On the plus side, I think he upgraded his tama.”
“Yikes, sounds draining.”
“Very. It’s hard being the only upperclassman.”
“Sounds like it. That’s more problems than I’ve had all week.”
“Hm, this bunch sure knows how to create them.”
The explosion from Key wakes them both up; the difference is Casper was mid-nightmare.
“What was that?” Odward questions blinking in the dark.
“I’m surprised it woke you up,” Casper teases, swinging his legs off the bed, trying to regulate his breath.
“Of course it woke me up!” Odward exclaims, standing up from the bed and looking outside. “There’s a fire…dammit, Key!” Odward runs out the door towards the mess. Casper stays by the window, staring at the blue.
He eventually goes back to bed, waiting for Odward, who comes back in a few hours.
“Is anyone hurt?” Casper questions moving over for Odward, who now smells of ash.
“Milo hurt his arm, but besides that, no,” Odward answers, lying on Casper’s chest.
“Hm, that’s good.”
“Yeah.”
Casper runs his hands up and down Odward's back, and soon after, he falls asleep.
The first alarm comes too early. “Ugh, why do you set them this early?” Casper groans, blindly reaching for the clock.
Once he clicks it off, he quickly draws his hand back into the warmth of the blanket. That sequence repeats 4 more times.
“Next time, we are staying in my room,” Casper grumbles, running a hand through his hair.
“Wake up.” Casper knocks his hand into Odward's head.
“Hm, I’m up.”
“Then did you hear what I said?” Casper inquires.
“Yeah, your room,” Odward mumbles, still wrapped in the covers.
“Up. Get. Up!” Casper yells, dragging the blankets off Odward. “Why do you set the alarms so early when you don’t get up?”
Odward groans from the lack of warmth. “So, I don’t sleep in.”
“Shouldn’t you go see Milo or something?” Casper pushes, tying his hair back in a ponytail.
“Yeah.”
“Hm, don’t go back to sleep.” Casper bends down, kissing Odward.
“I won't.”
The whole school is whispering about what happened. Not surprising and not unwelcome. It means people won't be talking about him not being a captain.
“You heard?” Callista questions the moment he sits down.
“Who hasn’t?”
“There’s talk about expulsion.” Callista strings, obviously wanting Casper to say what’ll happen.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” Cal huffs, “Whatever, are you back or not?”
“Not?” Casper really needs to ask. Maybe they are; it’s not like they had a proper breakup, so why do they need a proper make-up? “Maybe? I’m not sure.”
Callista laughs, making Casper roll his eyes.
“You two are too messy.”
Casper shrugs; he doesn’t think they are that messy. He thinks it’s a reasonable level for gays.
Goyen Sunspear is especially brutal during training. Whether it’s from Key’s situation or their loss to the Roses, Casper's not sure.
He does know he’s dead tired by the end. “I don’t think I can move my legs.” Casper grunts.
“At least you’re not the poor first-years.” Callista comments, looking on as one pukes.
“No kidding.”
Casper walks into his room and finds Odward putting things away. “Hey, wanna help me train?” Casper questions, wrapping his arms around Odward's stomach.
“Train? Why?” Odward leans back into the hold.
“Cause I’ve been going through a rut; besides, it would be fun. Don’t ya’ think?”
Odward sighs, “Fine.”
It was fun; it’s always fun playing with Odward.
“Thanks,” Casper pants, hands on knees. “It’s the most fun I’ve had in a while.”
“Me too.”
“Let’s get out of here.”
The week passes like that. Simple.
“Callista, no matter what Sunspear says, don’t provoke Key,” Casper warns, face darkly serious.
She glances over, nodding. “Alright.”
The game is tough, even without the ever-looming fear.
Key scores the winning shot, without burning anyone. The crowd thunders out their chants; it’s deafening. Dust is kicked up along with the blue fire.
Casper crouches, clutching his chest. “Why? Why, now?” He grits. Looking for his sister. Her back is turned, looking at the goal, like most of the players.
Casper bends his head down, trying to breathe through the pain. To others, it probably just looks like he’s upset about the loss.
Casper eventually has to bite down on his lip to stop the scream. This one really feels like the end. Far worse than the actual dagger.
“Hey, man, you good?” Milo questions. Surprising Casper, surely he should be off celebrating with his team.
Casper would answer, but if he opens his mouth, he’s scared he’ll scream.
“Casper?” Milo tires again, way too nice for his own good. “Um, it’ll be okay, you know?” Milo comforts, bending down to pat Casper’s back.
Casper glances up at Milo, and what he sees must have scared him enough to fall back on his butt.
“Casper? What’s wrong?” Milo tries again. Casper grunts, clutching his chest tighter as the pain increases.
“Callista?!” Milo screams towards his sister. Her head snaps back, brought out of her stupor.
She jogs over, looking confused. “Did you hurt your leg?” She bends down, trying to uncurl Casper.
Casper doesn’t let her uncurl him; he stays crouched in on himself. “Casp, stop being difficult. What’s wrong?” She huffs, trying to see his face.
Milo hovers close, glancing between the two siblings.
“Okay, you're starting to scare me. What’s wrong?” Callista grabs his shoulder, shaking a bit.
“Magic always c-comes at a price,” Casper repeats almost like a mantra at this point. He falls forward into Callista’s arms.
“What? I couldn’t hear you?” His words were lost in the screaming crowd. “Shit, Milo, help me!” Callista orders, fear coursing through her veins.
“How?” Milo questions equally panicked.
“Pick him up!”
Odward turns to Casper to find the three of them huddled on the field. “What’s going on?” He questions.
“I don’t know!” Callista screams, again trying to push Casper's limbs apart.
Odward bends down, taking Casper’s head in his hands. “Casp, what is it?”
“J-Just give me a-” Casper cuts himself off, gasping in pain.
Milo comes back with the nurse. She shoos everyone away.
For a split moment, he’s sure he saw the dagger in his chest.
She gasps, shaking her head. “Child, what did you get into?”
Casper laughs, coughing up some of the blood that’s been pooling in his mouth.
“Not my fault.” It really wasn’t. She looks sad. “Am I dying?”
“Have you already?”
Casper grits his teeth, breathing in. “So that’s it?” Casper’s voice breaks.
It’s over? His great second chance ends like this?
“Perhaps not.”
Casper jerks awake, startling the medical personnel around him. The defibrillator was positioned above his chest.
The doctors and nurses bustle around taking vitals, but Casper’s eyes are locked on Odwards, who is standing awkwardly by the door.
Casper finally glances at a Doctor. “How long was I out?” His voice cracks from dryness.
“Two weeks. We weren’t even sure you would wake up.” The Doctor supplies, handing over a cup of water.
So, none of that was real? Nothing. He brings a hand up to his scar. Casper looks back at Odward, who has yet to move.
“Shouldn’t you be training?” Casper questions, light and teasingly.
“I was in the area.” Odward finally steps forward. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
Casper lets his eyes drift over Odward. “Yeah, really thought I was a goner.” Odward looks awful; maybe that’s hypocritical coming from the one in the hospital bed, but he does. He looks like he hasn’t slept in ages.
“Hm, from what I’m told, they had to restart your heart twice before.” Odward now stands beside Casper.
Casper nods his head. “Have you been here long?” Casper wants to reach out and hold his hand, the hand that looks rougher than the hand Casper knew.
“Two days. Your Dad needed to go back to the forge, so I offered to stay.”
“Thanks.”
Odward sighs, sitting down on the edge of the bed. “Casper, I-” Odward looks up, looking for words. When he looks back at Casper, his hand finds Casper’s. “I realized there was a lot of stuff I wanted to tell you. It scared me to think I would never get the chance.”
Casper wraps his hand around Odwards. “Tell me now.”
“I still love you. I never stopped. Somehow, I always thought we had more time to fix it.”
“You mean it?” Casper swallows through the lump forming in his throat.
“Yeah. I know we weren’t the best at times, but we were us.”
“So, where does that leave us?” Casper doesn’t want to give up hope. He shouldn’t. Odward is a pro player who doesn’t even live close.
“We could restart?”
“We could,” Casper breathes. Fear courses through him. Fear of another heartbreak.
“Okay.” Odward bends over, kissing Casper on his forehead. The fear subsides.