Plink! Plunk. A few minutes ago Oswald had been standing outside his partner, no, his friend Constance’s dorm.

He hardly noticed the rain washing his face clean because he was too caught up in whether checking on a “friend” who went back early sick would make him more or less believable as an average student.

While pondering his options he’d watched the amusing sight of Constance delicately traversing around several puddles to approach him.

Now they were plodding across the wet ground as the tirade slowed to a soft shower. He was almost glad to enjoy something like the rain since he couldn’t remember ever doing so.

Possibly because of her disguise designed to fool everyone else but most people they passed as they walked seemed sympathetic to Constance’s sickly mannerisms. Quite frankly it was just funny to him how far from reality this was, though, every now and again he went along with it, guiding her around like an aide to an elder.

“Did you have a meaning behind your appearance outside my building or was it simply coincidental?”

The girl’s eyes shone with excitement as she continued, “Perhaps we were given additional details?!”

Since she had been given one of the fancy appearance-altering orbs he was left with the regular communication one he realized he seldom acknowledged. Patting around he pulled it out just in time to see it illuminate and flash once, twice, and a third time. This visible signal meant a communication was to be delivered.

The boy was bewildered when his hand was grabbed by the girls. Her slender gloved fingers and the orb slipped discreetly in his pocket. Still recovering from this he watched as she frowned at him.

“I don’t know how you knew there would be a message at this time but there is no need to be casting it out for the whole world to see!” He noticed that her frustration was often a bit more simple to decipher than others, at least to him.

She had moved so fast that her switch of the hand holding the umbrella had almost escaped his view. Her hand moved to readjust her neckerchief while he took note of it gracing the brooch as well.

He’d been wondering where she had placed the orb today since it varied between her choice of accessories. She ironically began directing him and they ended up in the school gardens which were vast, mesmerizing, and abandoned by the majority of the population.

Once successfully hidden amongst the greenery he took out the orb again. It beamed radiantly against the dark lighting of the day and then expanded about the size of a baseball. The scrolling message moved across the orb warning:

storm clouds prey …on careless scholars, dress warmly. - G.E.

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

The boy squinted trying to make out the meaning behind Grandpa Ed’s fashion advice. He knew how these things worked but had always been slower than his companion at deducing meanings.

Sure enough, he soon heard an audible groan from her so he knew she must have found the answer before him. In a matter of seconds he too was frowning, the command was simply busy work.

The academy's records were pretty much futile to check since most of the students were of royal and aristocratic origin. If you were not aware of those who attended the school it would most likely be because they were foreign like his roommate most likely was or from less influential merchant families like Elodi Beatrice. That old geezer was only insisting on gathering this knowledge because of his belief that the more information the better.

“I suppose we know the true purpose for him sending us here. That cheapskate just wanted free admission for someone to report the current admissions information to see if they matched current SELLERS data.”

He said this with little surprise but plenty of distaste. Grandpa Ed had always taught them to make sure a client wasn’t taking advantage of them for a hidden reason while the most common culprit of this was himself.

As he focused on the message he noticed the girl bob her head in modest acknowledgement of his assertion.

His eyes drifted to her, wanting to see if she would soon burst out in a justified rage that would personify what he felt as well.

Surprisingly, her full light mauve lips were not frowning or even pursed. Instead, they began to spread into a small smirk that seemed to raise her turn-up nose ever so slightly. It seemed she would be using Grandpa Ed’s order to her advantage and she had little intention of revealing.

Whatever plans she had were of little importance to him. It wasn’t like she could do much stuck inside as Constance all day.

In any case, if it was not an issue for her he supposed it was not such a big deal after all.

“copy…records” He pondered on the message one more time before squeezing the orb tightly so it could regain its original form and then promptly plunged it back in his pocket.

It’s just reviewing, and it won’t be difficult, just tedious. He thought this might be a good way to satisfy her desire to have a real goal and his own desire to keep her away from disobeying the original orders.

Holding out his arm to act as her prop once again they set back out of the garden.

Just as they had reached the crossing between the direction of the boy's dormitory and the women’s, they were approached by Oswald’s roommate.

“Hey, what are you two doing out here?! The cold isn’t good for a sickly lady like you.”

Clearly interested in her decision to come out after he’d been the one to inform Oswald of her “sudden flare up”, the conversationalist sidled over to her the side opposite Oswald as if he were somehow being helpful to the “frail” girl.

“I’m sure you won’t tell me what you two were discussing all ALONE, but I will be honest. I am a bit hurt that you never addressed me even though we’ve met several times.” This was just a ruse to convince the girl they were closer than mere acquaintances in Oswald’s opinion.

Constance’s eyes shifted from one side to the other nervously which he took to mean that since he had never introduced or discussed with her about the roommate she’d been talking to him with no idea who he was.

“Aslow D. you shouldn’t bother her too much, she isn’t feeling well already.” Although he rarely addressed him by name, doing it this once would be fine since it was to relay the name to Constance.

“Yes, I’d hate to bring down the mood but I should probably be retiring to my room again. Thank you for accompanying me, sir Flannerdam and Lord… Aslow.”

There was a tinge of confusion in her tone since her character as perfect lady Constance meant she should be addressing everyone in the most proper manner possible, but then again how could she possibly know how to greet Aslow d. Speaking of, Oswald twinged in embarrassment, already knowing what would come next.

His roommate narrowed his black beady eyes and tried to hide his displeasure.

“Yes- well you should get going then, and for future reference…. my name is Aslow D. Ah-s-loo-w D.” For whatever reason, the roommate insisted on this, and Oswald did not care to know why, but was ashamed of his association with Aslow D. when he reacted this way.

He noticed Constance’s face flared with annoyance at both him for never informing her of such a thing, and at his roommate for being so ill-mannered about the whole thing. Playing her role meant this was soon replaced by a plastered-on smile and an awkward chuckle.

“My apologies, I’ll be heading back now, Aslow…. D.” With that, she hurried off as fast as one pretending to be weak could have. He and Aslow also started back to their room. Back inside, he was bombarded by questions about him and Constance.

He had to admit drama was always a bestseller for Aslow D. If he added on to rumors about someone else (rumors Aslow D. had introduced upon him), he would be able to get away from the interrogation.

As the roommate began his next retelling of the students' escapades and endeavors, Oswald settled into his bed, thinking that the useless assignments weren’t all that bad. He was annoyed by Grandpa Ed’s dismissal of mainly the girls and his abilities but personally, hanging around the school was somewhat comfortable.

The sun had finally burst its way out of the clouds and the boy drifted off into a relaxing cat nap.