Glint stood, arms crossed, staring at the shocking thing that happened. If he weren't still pretending to be a person without much emotion, he would shake Jasper silly and ask if Jasper truly grew up in the realm of America. Not only did Jasper use magick, but he did a spell he learned not long ago, and did it in a way that no one else could do.

Except King Vezperex. Glint marveled.

It was the same story. They both couldn't get complicated spell songs smooth and accurate by voice. They both could instead imagine the notes in their heads, sending the symbols through their arms and out into the world. The notes would combine on their own if they were in the right sequence. The spell would succeed. All this could be done in a matter of seconds if practiced.

Jasper's test was to turn a pillow into a cloud and making it rain. Across Noier, that was the common elemental spell used to test magick levels when children first went to school. Glint knew he could teach it to Jasper despite his own limited magick. Intuition told him not to show how badly off he was to Argenton.

"Carp, you did it." Glint furrowed his brows still in disbelief.

"I could try again. Maybe it was a fluke?" Jasper offered.

"Carp," Glint said again, shaking his head. It was ridiculous what he did and that he even thought it would work. And it was so natural. "Why did you think that would work?"

"I just thought—"

"You can't just think, this is absurd."

There was absolutely no way he automatically thought that would work. Unless he was some kind of genius. He wasn't Ozian. He didn't know the basics of the basics. Without that, no way could he do such a feat, yet he did. Glint couldn't wrap his mind around it.

It had long been something only King Vezperex could do. He was special. He couldn't sing complicated spells and that was the solution he invented for himself which couldn't be taught.

I would know. I tried to teach myself. How does this boy...? Glint shook his head again and again. It was impossible Jasper could come up with this, and successfully do it on the first try.

For each part of a spell, there were symbols representing water, air, movement, and so on, and each symbol carried its own note. The notes activated would glow in the air. As the spell progressed, the melodic combination would be completed and the spell would be fully activated. If broken down even further, similar symbols were only slightly different in notes, but they needed to be sung correctly or the spell would fail. Everyone in Oz, no matter the country, did it the same way.

With Jasper's way, symbols for the magick came out of his arms and made notes on their own. It was like little bells chiming. Another impossible feat. Notes did not have their own sounds.

Argenton straightened his back and gestured to Glint. "Ye actin' like it's so rare and shockin'. What's with that?"

Should I confess? He still hadn't thought it through himself. But maybe with Argenton here, Jasper would be more likely to say what's up with all the Oz stuff in his journal. He might talk about it all on his own.

"I've only seen King Vezperex do that. He usually did magick that way. Complicated ones."

Then he quickly added as he remembered. "We call it raw magick."

"Raw magick?" Argenton scoffed. "I think we call it pure magick. Much better name."

Glint narrowed his eyes at Argenton. It didn't matter what it was called. The fact was that Jasper was not supposed to be able to do it at all.

Unless Jasper's keeping something from us. He didn't want to get into this just yet, but they were practically on the road to the question. Might as well the asker be him.

"Is there something you're not telling us, Jasper?" he asked.

Jasper already told his entire life story. He used to live in normal land when natural disasters changed America. Then, all the Americans had to figure out other ways to live. All the humps they lived in were mounted on one giant machine in case they all had to leave and go elsewhere.

What a way to live. Always on the alert. He grimaced. Not so different from me, I suppose.

There wasn't much else. Jasper didn't have any magical awakenings. And he didn't talk about his journal which was suspicious. If he were to reveal anything, that should have been it. Glint certainly could not do the honors or risk losing the boy's trust. Nothing was worse than someone snooping in your private journal.

"Wait," Jasper said, "I do have a theory. My brother. He would always say I had Oz dreams because we were related to Oz people. I did have Oz dreams, er, sometimes."

Sometimes? Liar.

"So, we should find him," Glint said and wanted to smack himself for that. It was too late. Argenton and Jasper began to talk it out. The plan was set. But first, the mask. It was still ten and Jasper announced he wanted to rest some more, so he went up to the loft with Argenton. Glint was left to make do with the sofa.

And they're in love with each other already, are they? He glared up at the two. If Argenton had Jasper by his side, maybe he wouldn't need whatever it was he needed from Glint. Emotional support was a strong friend.

The lights all switched off, throwing Glint into the dark. He bumped his knee into a hard corner.

"Hey!" he called up to the loft. Jasper must have had some master switch or something, "Where is the carp sofa! Carps and flamingos!" he hissed. He didn't like using magick for mundane things. It was a waste of energy. Especially now when he wanted to have it incubating before using. What if he returned to Lumar and found it infested with Haunters? But both Jasper and Argenton were quiet. Probably ignoring him.

Fine then. Be that way. He hummed a simple little light spell and found the sofa right by his leg. Grumbling, he climbed onto it and tried to get comfortable. It wasn't at all comfortable though.

Argenton's dark shadow, no doubt a form of magick corruption, he thought, and Jasper with that magick, and Lady Green with Haunters. So much going on. But what is all this?

* * *

"Glint," someone called him, and he turned. He was in Lumar. Torrent came down the road. Glint covered his eye, but it was too late. Torrent started shouting for Meridie, yelling that Otbelesk had returned.

"Traitor to King Veneficus!" Many voices started to chant. "Long live King Veneficus."

Chains strapped to his body. His magick was draining yet again. A yawning hole opened up beneath him and this time he knew he wouldn't be able to return. Meridie was suddenly in front of him with a dagger in her hands.

"Long live King Veneficus," she said calmly and dove the dagger into his throat.

Glint woke with a start, clutching his neck, feeling for any wounds. An alarm clock pierced his troubled mind with its obnoxious sound.

"Can you turn that thing off?" he hollered.

At last, it was quiet. He lay for a moment in the darkness, realizing the banishment could happen again. If Meridie was too strong. Or if Veneficus found out Glint had been Otbelesk this entire time. His magick would certainly be drained instead of weakened. It was the smarter move for defeat. Veneficus had to go. Once that big boss was taken care of, then Glint could tackle Meridie.

Kill Veneficus if that's what's important. You can do this. He tried to tell himself, but the resistance was still too strong. The nights spent in the jail cell, the whippings across his back, and the assault. The horrendous assault. Worse than Meridie. He felt dirty and ruined for days after. Today, he was finally okay with his body and for being third gender. But it took years. He was afraid that if he went to Thagarmius, he would never escape the darkness.

He sat up. He would take the mask and leave. Leave it to Jasper and Argenton if they wanted to do it. Glint would worry about Lumar only. That was all. And Calani. Once he got home, he would somehow get her out. Once she was safely home in Noier, he would forget about Lady Green with the Haunters. It wasn't his problem, was it?

Or admit you're scared. No shame in admitting fear. He pursed his lips.

Once Jasper announced they would leave, Glint hurried off in front of them. His plan was to get the mask, say farewell, and return to Ozel Emla. With the way time zones worked across realms, he might just get back before Meridie woke up and be able to save Calani.

Get her to Noier. Then I can be a watchtower guard and wait for my magick to return.

All the way back down to the bottom of the hump, Glint weaved around lingering people and found Keg's shack. There, he received the new mask right awawy. It was painted white with a silvery shine to it. It was exactly his old mask but brand new. Of course, looking at the world with both eyes was nice but only in the comfort of home. He put the mask on and smiled at Keg.

"Thank you, this is just what I wanted."

Keg smiled with wink. "Ay, you are much welcome. Have a good one." He waved.

Glint rejoined Jasper and Argenton when Jasper handed him a cup.

"Coffee?" Glint widened his eyes. He hadn't had American coffee before.

"Not the best, but it does the trick," Jasper said with a slight smile. Then he and Argenton walked side by side, each with their own cup. Glint took another sniff and was filled with comfort. He decided he would enjoy a nightly stroll under the stars, listening to Jasper and Argenton chatter, imagining that there wasn't a big war going on back home.

The coffee was bitter but good enough. It was a deep, creamy coffee that would have been perfect with peach pie or chocolate crumble cookies. He missed luxuries like dessert. Sugar was rare in Lumar nowadays.

What would I do for peach pie? Or pumpkin pie? Or blueberry pie? He licked his lips, chucking the coffee cup in a bin after Argenton did the same. Anything? Become Otbelesk again? If only it were easy as pie. He smiled. Any pie and every pie. I would eat them all.

Lost in thought, he realized too late he had followed Jasper to a strange tunnel with red and green dimmed lights on top.

"Hold on, what's the plan?" Glint asked coming out of his drowsy pie daydream.

"Jasper's brother went down there with Lady Green," Argenton said, "It's confirmed it was her."

"Carp, really?" Glint hissed. Lady Green? Here? But why?

"Encountered her in Noier with her warrior women," Argenton explained, "Gave us shit. Fimzle, she's messed up."

Lady Green was here in America and snagged Jasper's brother. Jasper could do magick, so if she knew about his abilities somehow, it would make sense. It could also be possible that Jasper's brother showed signs he could do magick.

Breeding Haunters in Lumar, threatening Noierns, capturing non-Ozians? What's going on here?

Soon, they snuck safely to the domed tunnel entrance. Jasper explained this led into tiers of land belowground where people used to live until some natural disaster swallowed it up. Instead of relocating, the American's just built on top of it. His plan was to sneak in the back to avoid sounding off alarms. The sneaky back entrance was an obvious unprofessional jagged hole someone cut out then fixed with a handmade hatch.

What am I still doing here for? Glint couldn't sneak back now. A gaggle of patrolmen began meandering about in the clearing beyond their hiding spot at the dome structure's wall.

"A little challenge here, I think, with what's beyond here. I thought I planned it well, but," Jasper paused to adjust his knapsack straps, clearly hesitating.

Well, what is it? Glint couldn't take it. He shoved Jasper aside and opened the handmade hatch. First and foremost, immediately he began to sweat as heat blasted in his face. Inside was a forest of pipes, a rickety pipe crossing way going from the landing near the hatch to a platform on the other end. Could be a rusted a pipe. Could be dangerous but not too bad.

At that moment, a gust of hot steam billowed up from below like a fountain. Even from here he could tell how hot it was. It made the air ripple with its heat. It stung Glint's skin even though he was at least a few arm lengths away from the middle of the pipe where it sprouted from.

He shot a glare at Jasper. "Carp, you didn't think to say this earlier?" he snapped. Glint thought he might walk away right now. This was a good reason to.

The promise, sure, he thought as his conscience nagged him. I CAN still leave. Argenton will be fine, he tried to convince himself. And he thought he might eventually find out about Jasper. A non-Ozian who could do magick would be talked about, surely. Glint wouldn't miss anything. Calani, however, he wasn't sure how she would be involved. She sounded like the type of person that would be loyal to her friends. If Jasper was her friend, she might end up going up against King Veneficus with him.

And I could be there with her.

His heart fluttered at the thought but soon after his nausea about Thagarmius spoke volumes. It was a good reason to convince himself he couldn't go there but now thinking of Calani he hated how traumatized he was about the place.

If I didn't feel this way, would I actually see this through?

Argenton tapped him on the shoulder. "Water magick master, yeah?"

"I suppose." He shrugged, pulling himself out of his thoughts.

"We can divert the steam together," Argenton said, "I'll take away the heat. Ye can get close and drive it away."

Glint poked his cheek with his tongue. It was a good idea, he had to admit. He met eyes with a panting Toto. Toto was probably only wondering when Jasper would feed him next, but Glint imagined otherwise.

"You should repay Jasper." The dog seemed to say. "My master didn't have to do that."

It was true. Jasper could've up and left Glint at any time. Maybe it was the same for both of them, getting involved in each other's lives more than they had planned but being much too nice to leave without repaying.

And so, it was. Glint and Argenton's magicks harmonized in spell song to hold the steam at bay below the pipe while Jasper hurried across. Glint went next quickly followed by Argenton. Everyone survived and no one was burnt. The spells faded once safely on the platform.

"Thank you, and sorry," Jasper said quickly and led them down into the rest of the domed space. He looked over his shoulder. "Can I still get your help? I need to find my brother. I don't know what Lady Green will do."

I don't know either. Let's find out, shall we? Glint wanted to say but held his tongue. But he couldn't get back without Argenton's fire element magick. The scalding heat would burn him even if he could make the water part of the steam go away. All he could do was hope they found Jasper's brother soon.