Rising Shards

Marmalade had never been called to any teacher’s office at school before. It seemed a bit strange that she, Iris, Maia, and Michi had been asked to meet with Ms. Corinani for some reason.

The visiting faculty from Wildfire Hearts all had their own section of the teacher’s offices to themselves. Corinani clearly hadn’t finished unpacking her stuff into her office yet, the tiny office was filled with boxes.

“Hey, come on in, have a seat!” Corinani waved her arms. “I guess there aren’t any seats but stand closer, please! What’s good?” She asked as Marmalade and her group cautiously approached the desk. Corinani cleared her throat. “Watch the big game last night?”

Marmalade was pretty sure there wasn’t a big game last night, but she only casually kept up with the majorly popular sports. She assumed Corinani was just trying to break the ice. It didn't work with this group, as Iris and Maia seemed to just be texting each other, and Michi looked like they wanted to be anywhere else in the world at that moment.

“So what did you need us for?” Marmalade asked.

“Oh, yeah, so,” Corinani said. “I need your help with something.”

“Is this some Wildfire Hearts prank?” Iris asked, barely looking up from her phone. “Because I’m really sick of those.”

“It’s not, I promise!” Corinani said. “Triple pinky swear!”

“Still, are we even supposed to listen to Wildfire Hearts teachers?” Iris asked. “You’re not our advisor.”

“I am your teacher though, I teach a class that you all take, so you have to listen to me in that regard!” Corinani said. “I already asked Principal Penteldtam and he said it was cool, so you should all be cool and listen to me and help me out.”

Marmalade didn’t want to just ask the same question again, so she waited for Corinani to explain herself.

“I need you lot to come with me,” Corinani said. “Into the void for some…lawn…work.”

“Are you trying to get us out of the way of the Recreant games?" Iris asked. "Because that’s what this sounds like.”

“No, no, that’s totally not it. I’m really not trying to do anything of the sort! This won’t even mess with that!” Corinani said. “Or, I mean. You guys get to not go to it and still get points! And I’ll make sure the points don’t positively or negatively influence the Recreant Protocol in any way, shape, or form!”

No one was particularly convinced, so they all started to turn around. But Corinani tripped over her desk and groveled on the ground, a display so pathetic Marmalade was too overwhelmed with secondhand embarrassment to leave.

“Please, you’re the only students I can rely on,” Corinani begged. “I asked my pod of students and they vehemently refused and said some very hurtful things about me.” She sniffed. “I’ll make it worth your time,” She continued. “I have some extra credit, or even a signed copy of one of my books!”

"What do you think?" Marmalade asked Michi.

Michi adjusted their glasses. "If we leave, we get away from this, but if she really got Penteldtam's permission, we might get forced to go later."

"Good point," Marmalade said.

Maia groaned. "Let’s just get this over with."

“Really? I thought you’d say we should start running,” Iris said.

Maia scratched the back of her head. “I mean, yeah, I wanna, But I feel like any time we try to get out of something at this school it just makes it blow up bigger later so I just want to get this over with. And…look at her, dude.”

“Yeah! Look at me! I’m for real crying here!” Corinani said.

“Are you?” Marmalade asked.

“Yeah, falling off my desk really hurt my knees…” Corinani said. “I’ll be good by the time we’re at the void entry building, I think…”

And so Marmalade and her party ventured into the void with Ms. Corinani, with little idea where they were going, but heavily influenced by the incredible power of secondhand embarrassment.

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