Delicately, Felix took Mouse’s hands. He curled his fingers around Mouse’s. Almost absent-mindedly, he traced the shape of Mouse’s palm, then gently interleaved their fingers. “I don’t remember your hands being so small.”

“Compared to a human, we have small hands for our size,” Mouse replied.

“No, I mean…” Felix caught Mouse’s hand between both of his. “Smaller than usual.”

A servant shoved by. She caught sight of their hands and giggled quietly.

Mouse shifted awkwardly, half-retracting his hands. “Er, Your Majesty, the spell?”

“R-right!” Felix shook his head. He curled his hands around Mouse’s, shaping them into cups. “Right. Um. Okay. I… don’t always use incantations, and for this one… I didn’t need one, but I expect a flame-casting incantation will work well… do you want to try?”

“Let’s try it without the incantation first,” Mouse replied. It’s not as if I know any fire incantations. I’m not a fire elemental.

To be honest, I thought it was impossible for moonlight-elementals to cast fire. Not only me, but every teacher and moon elemental I’ve ever spoken with insists upon it. It’s the canonical thing moonlight cannot accomplish, our classic example of the element’s failings. Something about moonlight being too cold.

Mouse shrugged to himself. But somehow Felix manifested fire, so I guess it’s not impossible after all.

“Okay. I’m going to send magic through your hands. Remember how it flows and shapes. That’s the most important to replicate.”

Mouse nodded. “I am a caster myself, Your Majesty.”

“Right, right, I… I shouldn’t keep forgetting that. You’re an accomplished caster… or was it, you’re the duelist and your brother is the caster? I think I heard that somewhere…”

“Can a girl not do both?” Mouse replied smoothly. Damn, I didn’t expect that little lie to come back and bite me.

“O-of course!” Felix nodded. “It’s very impressive, too. I’m pretty good with magic, but my skill with a sword is nonexistent. I’m awful. At best, I’m pretty sure I can hold the right end.”

Mouse chuckled. “If the Mage-Emperor can be considered ‘pretty good,’ then I don’t think anyone would dare clam to be a good mage.”

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Felix blushed. “T…the spell.”

“Right, right.” Mouse closed his eyes, focusing on the flow of magic where their hands met.

Felix let out a breath. He squeezed Mouse’s hands gently. Mouse braced, ready for an influx of foreign magic. Ugh, after the purification, I just can’t relax around Felix’s magic.

Magic began to flow between them, Felix’s magic. He took a breath, and let it out. It doesn’t hurt. No, it’s warm, almost friendly. His shoulders unwound, and his fingers uncurled.

“Guide it. You want to feel the heat. It’s cold, but there is heat. Focus on that. Draw it out. Give it a spark, something to reach for.” Felix tightened his grip. Magic surged between them. Mouse felt it build up in his hands, more magic than he’d ever felt before. He bit his lip, confused. How can you store that much magic inside of you? I— He frowned. Warm. That’s not just Felix’s magic. It’s actually warm.

“The heat, do you feel it?”

Mouse nodded. “Faintly.”

“Good. Good. Then… spark!” Felix pushed Mouse’s hands back toward him.

An image formed in Mouse’s mind at the same time, a shape. The magic became a flicker, a flame. He turned his hands over and grabbed at Felix’s, startled. The magic… was that the magic that shaped itself? Gave me that idea?

“Yes! You’re almost there. Come on, a little more!”

The spell destabilized. Moonlight surged through Mouse. It resonated in his veins and warmed him from the inside. He grabbed at Felix. “Your Majesty!”

“You’re so close! A little more!” Felix pushed more magic into Mouse.

“Felix, please, I can’t!” Mouse pushed back instinctively.

As soon as he did, he regretted it. His stomach pulled to his spine from fear. No! I—if they meet, if I fight him, I’ll—

Magic met magic. The two fought against each other, Mouse’s overwhelmed, but Felix’s out of homefield. Moonlight rushed through Mouse, too intense, his veins blasted by it.

Silver light burst out from both of them. Mouse shuddered. He yanked his hands out of Felix’s and stumbled back, back slamming against the wall.

All around him, the world shuddered. Something dripped onto his shoulder.

Ba-thump. Ba-thump.

Shit, now?

“Mouse, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. I just—I can’t get anything right today,” Felix said. His body morphed as he rushed over to Mouse. Skin peeled off his face. Blood washed away his features, blood that dripped and dripped, nonstop.

The air tasted of slaughterhouse, thick and humid. The wall squished under his back.

Mouse waved his hand. “I… I’m fine, I’m fine.”

Bloody hands grabbed his head. Mouse looked at Felix, but didn’t know where to look to meet his eyes, and turned aside again.

“Is this… oh no. I’m so sorry. I thought, just a little more, and it would—I didn’t think it would cause an episode, I’m sorry. You were doing so well, and it’s all my fault, I… Mouse, I…”

“It’s fine. I’m fine,” Mouse repeated. He stood and pushed Felix away. It’s okay. My room is right there. I just need to get there.

Something grabbed his hand, wet and hot. Mouse flinched and pulled away. Horrible sounds escaped the thing’s throat. Nothing Mouse recognized as speech. He shook his head silently. Please, let me go. I just need to go back.

A bloody hand pressed against his forehead. Mouse slapped it down, but too slow. Darkness enveloped his vision. His body went limp, and he slid to the floor.