Renalia woke up, disoriented in both place and time. Sunlight beamed through a gap in the rotted wood of the ceiling, lighting the walls that loomed in her peripheral vision.

So small, she thought. Shame flooded her, followed by sadness. I’ll still miss it.

She crawled out of bed, stiffness softening to a dull ache.

Outside, she saw neither her parents nor any other villagers. While puzzled, she spared it no further thought. Malchim had allowed her to stay with her parents, but that did not excuse her from the chores she owed the Ongocks.

She wanted to check on Lexi, but the sun had already reached its zenith. Renalia hoped the Ongock children had prepared breakfast for their dad, not wanting Malchim to regret letting her stay with her parents. So, she ran at a fast clip across town toward their house.

Renalia heard it before she saw it. Sounds of music, occasional laughter, and the susurrations of revelers drifted from the village square. The Baron had arrived, together with merchants and entertainers who tagged along, taking advantage of an armed escort that traveled the realm.

I hope there are jugglers, she thought. No. Chores first, then Lexi, then the festival.

And she would need to attend the Deck Ceremony, whenever that would occur. She couldn’t wait to get rid of her old cards finally.

As she passed the square, she spotted Ullock on the outskirts. He turned in her direction as if to call out to her. She mentally groaned, not wanting to deal with the bully. There were other people she could ask about the Ceremony. So, Renalia sped away with [Bogling Speed], pretending not to notice him.

The ability, now level four, allowed her ten minutes of magical speed. She spent it all, not expecting to go hunting with Lexi and Donaldson today.

As she approached the Ongock house, she was surprised to spot Lexi seated outside, consoling a sobbing Marcy. It pained Renalia to see one leg of the trouser tied into a knot, where a foot would normally exist. But she’s no crybaby like Marcy; she’s an adult now, with a whole Ceremony soon to confirm it.

“Lexi, are you okay?” Renalia asked.

With a lopsided grin, Lexi answered. “No more ‘good mornings’ or ‘good afternoons’ for One-Foot Lexi, huh? Well, ‘are you okay?’ to you too, kid.”

“I’m okay. You’re really okay? Why are you out of bed? Are we… going hunting?”

“No,” Lexi replied, “not for me. Not until I learn how to walk again.” Lexi leaned on her walking stick to stand. It was, Renalia realized, simply Lexi’s spear with the spearhead wrapped in cloth. It didn’t seem safe or easy to use.

Lexi exhaled after she straightened. “No, I’m here for your surprise.”

“My surprise?” In the past, Renalia had scoffed at storybook characters pinching themselves to see if they were dreaming. She never mistook her dreams–so dangerous and eerie–for reality. But now, this weird sequence of events bewildered her.

Lexi turned to lead them into the house. “I thought I would have to fight with Malchim on this, but he readily agreed.”

As Renalia’s eyes adjusted to the darker indoors, she spotted the rest of the Ongock family. They nodded in greeting, but Shim avoided looking at her. Stupid boy.

There were also a couple of strangers. One crouched at the kitchen table, his face plastered to the jar containing Penny. The curvature of the glass squished his face, making him appear like a doll with a mass of grey locks.

“Absolutely fascinating,” he said, standing up and pushing his spectacles back atop his long nose. “No evidence of excrement, but the presence of fine particulate matter coating the inside of the jar suggests a process of aerosolized defecation.”

Lexi said, “Professor Winkleston, this here is Renalia, the hunter who captured the baby bogling.”

“Splendid to meet you!” The professor came around the table, tripping over one of its legs, flailing about to stay upright. He ended up next to Renalia, a little too close for comfort.

“Um, a pleasure to meet you too, Professor, Sir,” Renalia replied, uncertain about the honorifics for professors.

“No, no, no, the pleasure’s completely mine.” Turning to his companion, a young man not yet twenty, he said, “This is my assistant, Loris. What did I say to you last night, lad?”

The teenager took on a far-off look in his eyes as he replied, “You said, ‘Finally! That stupid Baron–’”

“Never mind that,” interrupted the professor. “Skip ahead a couple of minutes.”

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“‘–that backwater dump of a village–’”

“The part about the hunter here!” yelled the professor.

“‘–must be a singularly intelligent girl, to recognize the value of a live specimen, when a whole stupid village–’”

“There! A ‘singularly intelligent girl’, I said. Thank you, my boy. Have I ever told you that you’re brilliant?”

“Four hundred thirty-three times, Professor. Although”–a pause as Loris’s eyes twitched and flickered with light–“you’ve called me stupid two hundred and forty-two times as well.”

“There you go, my lad. Quantifiable evidence. Now, Renalia, tell me everything about the tortoise.”

“Penny’s a tor-tus?”

“Indeed! We don’t have any in Mireland, but they are native to The Central Kingdom and Petravia. As for the particular set of events leading to the death of this Mama and baby tortoise in the bog, that is sadly lost to history. That reminds me, Loris, let’s interview some folks while we’re here. This bog is such a fascinating local phenomenon and egregiously ignored by historians. Why, I’m positive Professor Porcus would be indebted to us for one of your transcriptions.”

Without waiting for a response from his companion, he turned to Renalia. “But never mind that now. Renalia, the floor is yours.”

With the speed of Professor Winkleton’s patter, it took a few seconds for Renalia’s comprehension to catch up. She narrated their encounter with the baby tortoise, with assistance from Lexi. That Loris would somehow remember the entire conversation made her self-conscious and stumble over her words.

After she finished, Malchim prodded a reluctant Sammy to detail how he had been caring for the baby bogling.

“Hm, mind if I try something?” Professor Winkleton asked. Not understanding what or who he asked, Renalia shrugged.

Professor Winkleton approached Penny’s habitat and stuck his hand in, which the bogling promptly bit. “Ow! About a four on the pain index. We’ll have to get a live baby tortoise to compare to.”

Holding his hand in front of him, the Professor approached Renalia. “May I?”

“Sure..?”

“For the sake of Science, my lass,” he said as he stuck out his hand.

Am I supposed to bite him? thought Renalia.

But the professor stuck his hand into her hair, wiggling his fingers among her strands and patting her head. Renalia glanced at Lexi to check if this was normal, professorial behavior, but the woman looked equally confused. He repeated the same process with his other hand on Sammy’s head.

Keeping both hands out in front of him, Professor Winkleton walked back to Penny’s jar. Everyone gathered around as he placed his first hand in front of Penny. It extended its neck and rubbed its head over his fingers.

“Aw,” said Marcy, “it’s so cute.”

Winkleton extracted his hand and replaced it with the other one, which Penny bit again. Sammy frowned, but the professor shouted excitedly. “Aha! It formed an olfactory bond with Renalia. I didn’t think baby tortoises exhibited imprinting behavior, though. Loris, research this when we get back to the university.”

“Um, is it because I can turn into a bogling?” asked Renalia.

“What’s this you say?” The professor turned toward her, the widening of his eyes exaggerated by his glasses.

Renalia encased a hand in [Bogling Skin] to show him.

He reached out and grabbed her hand, lifting it close to his eyes before smelling it. “Fascinating! You must give me a sample.”

“I guess–” Renalia started to say. At the same time, Lexi said, “No, she’s not giving parts of herself to you.”

“Ah, well. Transformative powers rarely persist anyways. Nevertheless, we could–”

“You’ve seen the merchandise, Professor,” Lexi interrupted. “Perhaps we can close the deal now? I’m not used to standing on one leg yet.”

“Of course, of course. I’m quite satisfied. Such a perfect specimen for experimentation, in both size and mobility. The lack thereof, that is. Plus an utter absence of lethality. Why, it’s the find of a lifetime.” Lexi coughed politely, prompting Professor Winkleton to fetch something from the pouch tied to his belt.

He held a gold coin between his fingers, not as shiny as Renalia would have thought, but still quite beautiful. She had never seen so much money in one place. It was more money than her parents earned in months, maybe even a year. She had not imagined that Lexi and Malchim would find a buyer willing to spend so much money on a bogling.

Professor Winkleton continued to hold the coin out. “Um, as agreed, yes? I didn’t anticipate needing to prepare additional funds for haggling.”

“It’s yours, Renalia,” Lexi said. “Take it.”

“What? No, I can’t take that. I’m-I’m just an apprentice.”

“No, you got Penny by yourself. It’s yours.”

“Well,” said Malchim, “if the girl doesn’t want it, we shouldn’t force her.”

Lexi glared at him and gave Renalia’s shoulders a little shove.

Renalia took the gold coin, its heaviness weighing on her in more ways than one. She turned to Lexi, holding it out. “F-for your foot.”

“I appreciate the gesture, kid, but your father already worked something out with Healer Rensto. No, it’s yours, rightfully earned. Put it away, though. People have a way of ignoring claims when greed gets in the way.”

Renalia placed the coin in her pocket, even though she did not feel like she earned it. Her parents labored so hard at farming peat and all she did was pick something up from the ground. It seemed so unfair.

“Well, now that’s concluded, I’m going back home. There’s no hunt today, Renalia. Donaldson’s briefing the Baron on our recent encounter with the Petravian reptile. And later, he’ll take some city folk out so they can play at hunting. Plus, you have the Deck Ceremony at dusk.”

“Malchim,” Renalia asked, “can I walk Lexi home?”

This day had not happened at all like what she expected. But, at least, she would get to do what she needed to do. Lexi first, then chores, then the Deck Ceremony, then the festival.