A couple of weeks had passed since everything had occurred in school. Arlo was lounging on the couch, watching television. But suddenly someone rang the bell. “I’ll get it,” Arlo spoke to his parents as he went to open the door.

  When he opened it, he was met with the sight of a tall, broad-shouldered man in a crisp military uniform. “Good morning.” The man said, his voice deep and authoritative. “My name is Sergeant Williams. Is Evelyn DuPonts home today?”

  A sweat ran down Arlo’s face as he exchanged gnces with his wheelchair-ridden father, his family was no strangers to the military but this encounter was a bit earlier than anticipated. He nodded at the military official. “Y-yeah, she’s home.” Sergeant Williams smiled at the revetion. “Wonderful, may I have a word with her?”

  Arlo took a step back. “Alright, I’ll get her…” A couple of moments ter, he sent Evelyn to speak with the recruiter. The Sergeant didn’t need to do much convincing since Evelyn had already made up her mind from when she was a toddler.

  When she returned, her eyes were gleaming with pride. “Guess who’s gonna join the military?! Well, not officially, they’re gonna train me till I’m 18.” Arlo and their parents were confused.

  Their mother spoke up. “But, darling… Why would they ask you to join the military? You’ve just recently unlocked your magic.”

  Evelyn was still grinning from ear to ear with pride. “I don't even know, I wasn’t even listening until he mentioned the military. He started rambling about ‘national security’ or something, so I just said, ‘cool, sign me up.’ They said they saw ‘limitless potential’ in my magic— Binocur Mockingbirds or whatever. They’ll be back tomorrow to collect me.”

  Their father leaned in his wheelchair, his brows furrowed, and his gaze was critical but tinged with concern in his eyes. “But, isn’t this too sudden? You should’ve consulted with us first.”

  Evelyn’s eyes narrowed in annoyance as she quickly responded. “It’s my future we’re talking about. I want to make a difference, and my magic will let me do that, to become a hero like Grandpa. To hell with getting other people’s say in it.”

  Their mother was not the type to refuse he child’s dream. With solemn understanding, she spoke up softly. “Well, dear, if that’s what you want to do, then I understand…” She exhales, looking down. “Even if I don’t agree with it.”

  Her father, on the other hand… He was fuming at such disrespect, but he was quickly silenced by the mother. Arlo was shocked by his sister’s sudden decration, but he can’t say he was too surprised, knowing Evelyn and remembering what Valentina had said. “I thought this usually takes a while to be recruited with many processes and stuff.” Evelyn grinned. “It does but I told him I’ll worry about that shit ter, and start training immediately!”

  Arlo internally realized that he was once alone again. He responded with mild irritation. “What about us? Who’s gonna take care of mom and dad?”

  Evelyn’s grin faltered and was repced with slight anger. “Listen here you little shit. You’ll man up and do it yourself. You’re so pathetic to realize you won’t be coddled forever. Either you shape up, or the door is right there.”

  Her mother gasped; she was appalled by the way she was talking to her younger brother even if it was out of good intentions. “Young dy. Watch your nguage, you will not talk to your brother that way!” Evelyn dismissed her mother’s concerns and went to her room to pack her things.

  Their father was silently sitting in his wheelchair, unable to grapple with the fact that he felt useless, a once great fighter reduced to a permanent chair. He wished to protect his children from the same fate, but he realized that Evelyn’s determination had refueled fmes that were once burnt out within his soul.

  Meanwhile, Evelyn’s mother and brother were stifling tears for two completely different reasons. Their mother was crying from a pce deeply rooted in pride and the sudden absence of her daughter’s presence.

  And Arlo? He was stifling tears because of growing internal resentment but also because of how harshly Evelyn spoke, but he knew she was right. He clenched his fist; he couldn’t help but pin the bme onto his sister, even though she was right, even though it felt pathetic.

  The next morning rolled around. And Arlo didn’t want to even wave his sister off. Instead, he just went to the diner, where he saw Zero once more.

  Arlo sat at Zero’s table with his pizza as if waiting for something to happen. He just appraised the other boy’s look, and he had messy bck hair, he was wearing a white hoodie with a stain on it, but suddenly his appraisal was cut short as Zero woke up. “What’s wrong, buddy? Is there somethin’ on my face? You look sorta down. C’mon, don’t be a stranger. Name’s Zero. And you are…?” He asked, leaning back into the seat zily.

  Arlo tried to bring back a sembnce of calm as he spoke. “O-oh uh, I am Arlo DuPonts.” Zero shrugged as he spoke. “Just so ya know, I charge per second you talk to me. You’re already down a few hundred dolrs.” Arlo was visibly shaken by the sudden comment from Zero. “WHAT?! I CAN’T—” Zero cuts him off. “Woah, rex pal. I was only jokin’, lest you’re serious about it. I could go for another pte.” Arlo firmly states his two cents. “No.”

  Zero chuckles, leaning back once more. “Ok, boss. You got it.” Alro, somewhat annoyed, gestures at Zero. “Aren’t you supposed to be at school? And why do you always sleep in this diner?” Zero yawned, stretching his arms, before taking out his phone and scrolling through it. “Dunno. Never heard of it.” Arlo was internally baffled; his expression was visibly saying ‘wtf.’ “Are you for real?”

  Zero shrugged, not taking his eyes off his phone screen. “For real real, more real than opening a pickle jar on a Tuesday night.” Arlo was even more confused. He furrowed his brows, trying to make sense of the situation. “Then how will you awaken and nurture your magic? It starts in sixth grade, usually schools teach you how to handle magic awakenings.”

  Zero raised his eyebrow, looking directly at Arlo. “Sorry to break it to ya. But I’m magicless, there’s not a single bone in my body capable of acquirin’ magic.” Arlo’s eyes widened, and he began to stammer. “But wha— How can you— I don’t get it— “

  Zero’s eyes narrowed ever so subtly. “Ya don’t have to get it. I ain’t forcin’ ya.”

  Arlo cleared his throat and incredulously spoke while clenching his fist. “If I was in your position, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself. My magic hasn’t come yet, and I’m already contempting taking the easy road out. Why would you keep living if you know you won’t get any magic no matter what you do?”

  Zero burst out ughing at the absurdity of Arlo’s question, catching the attention of the other patrons. He casually waved at them like they were his fans before turning to Arlo once more. “Why should I take the easy way out? I mean, the question is not about why I keep living. It’s about how I keep living. Anyway, you owe me your pizza for that question.”Arlo quickly slides his now cold pizza toward Zero as he musters up several follow-up questions, his hands filing frantically. “But what about school? You do and don’t seem dumb. You’re my age and you’ve never been to school? How can you not know what that is? Everyone knows what school is, even the bad guys.”

  Zero looked a bit less amused by the bombardment of questions. “Look, all I know is it’s pointless for someone like me. This is a fantasy world, not a realistic one. Whatever this school is you keep talkin’ about, it can’t help suddenly magicify someone like me. I quite literally ain’t cut out for it.” Suddenly, a demonic howling echoed through the diner as a massive hellhound with white fur and glowing crimson eyes burst through the door. In an instant, it tackled Zero to the ground, its massive paws pinning him down as it sniffed and licked his face.Arlo was startled by this sudden attack; he froze in pce again, watching his new friend potentially being mauled to death by a demon dog. “Are you—”

  Zero cut him off as he spoke to the hellhound. “Easy, Luna, you’re getting your slobber all over me.” Zero sits up as Luna whimpers, rubbing Luna’s fur as he turns to Arlo. “Sorry for the interruption. This is my dog, Luna. She’s been with me since I can remember. Dunno what got her so excited, though.” Zero casually tossed his pizza outside of the window into the air, prompting Luna to zip through the air to catch it and eat it. it was unbelievable; she instantly disappeared and reappeared in the air with the pizza already in her mouth.

  Arlo was visibly nervous, and his heart was pumping with fear like he’d never known before. “Did she just—”

  Zero cut him off as he spoke. “It’s called a perception blitz.””WHY THE FUCK DO YOU HAVE A DEMON DOG?!” Arlo abruptly stood up, as he was frustrated by Zero’s nonchance.

  “Always focusing on the unimportant things. Didn’t I already tell you why’s not the matter?” Arlo gives up, realizing there’s no arguing with this guy. Instead, he moves on from that. “Your dog. Are you sure she won’t attack people?” Zero tilted his head slightly, gesturing to the fact that Luna was already back inside, and was already receiving a lot of love from the patrons. Causing Arlo to shut himself. “Oh.” Arlo sighs, shaking his head. “Ok listen, the real reason I want you to go to school is cause I want a friend even though we just met. My sister was my only friend, and she was leaving for the military soon. As in tomorrow, if you please listen to my request, I’ll buy you—” Zero cuts him off once again. “Deal.” Arlo looked shocked and visibly confused, his mouth slightly open. “W—what?” Zero continues speaking. “Look, I don’t care what you were gonna offer me as long as it is food. Since you offered to buy me something. Buy me food, and the deal is yours.”Arlo blinked in confusion. Was it really that easy? Well, not that it mattered to him. He only wanted a friend. “Ok, so you can get your parents to register with my school.”

  Zero just rested his face on his hand zily. “Don’t have parents. But don’t worry, I’ll be in school in no time.”

  Arlo was skeptical. “Are you lying?”

  Luna trotted up to Zero and started nuzzling him. “Buddy, don’t worry about a thing. You need to worry about not freezing your pizza next time.” Zero chuckled while scratching the back of his head.

  “Ok, fine. I’ll buy you food whenever you want, only when you come to my middle school. It’s called—” Zero cuts him off. “Empyrean Empire Academy. Did I hit the nail on the dot?” Zero smirked with a slight grin.

  “How did you—” Zero just stood up slowly and began to walk out as Luna followed behind him. “Take care of yourself. Thanks for your ice-cold pizza. At least one of us enjoyed it.” One of his hands was inside the pocket of his hoodie as he casually waved at Alro without facing him as he walked out. Leaving Arlo with more questions than he arrived with. Arlo was too ignorant to realize he was still wearing his school’s uniform, with the name on the pel pin.