I hated mornings. Mornings of days where I knew I had to at least try and be Miss Dragon Tower Representative were even worse.

I was tugging on the gloves that came with the dragon uniform. I wasn't wearing the uniform but I needed the gloves. Stupid scars. Stupid curse mark. I sighed loudly as I stepped out of my room and then leaned on the railing that looked over the main space of Dragon Tower.

A few seconds later Jarec was coming up the stairs that led to the floor below.

"Can you come with me to get the Newspaper club folks?" I asked him. I raised my voice and leaned forward on the railing to ensure that he heard me.

He looked up and blinked at me a few times. "Sure, but why?"

"Because I know Thoth and Albenion are going to be there and I need a buffer. I'd rather not have this," I waved my left hand, "act up. Plus, you were in their Tower, you can make small talk or something, right?"

He was grinning, and maybe I should rethink this choice but frankly it was hard to feel bad for either of the Pegasusses.

(*********)

Scraps had joined the two of us by hitching a ride on Jarec's shoulders. Curled up around the back of his neck like a very odd scarf. One that looked around at the school like a very curious toddler.

Jarec's grin was getting more concerning as we got closer.

I would have started having doubts about asking him to come with me. But weighed against the options of going alone or taking someone else it was hard to really regret it.

The door to the Newspaper club was innocuous from this side. Not even a sign or hint for what was inside.

I knocked on the door and hoped that my bubbling nerves wouldn't be enough to make the curse and its side effects to bubble up.

The door opened and standing there was a face I was vaguely familiar with at this point.

Albenion.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

He took a look at me and frowned. Then I saw a bit of movement from Jarec waving from next to me. Scraps tilted his head in that unnatural jerky motion of his.

"Jarec, uh hi."

Was Albenion's face pink?

I've made a terrible decision.

Time to make peace with it.

"Good to see you again Rupert," Jarec sounded very smug. Welp. I wasn't getting involved with that.

"And there they are. Representative Stewart, and good to see you again Jarec."

Jarec snorted. "Thoth. I see you got the stains out."

The look on Thoth's face worried me. What stains? What antics did Jarec get into?

If I don't ask, I can deny everything.

"Good morning Representative Thoth, Albenion." I nodded at both of them. Be polite. Let Jarec do the talking.

I could handle this.

I hoped.

"Are you guys ready to see the secrets of Dragon Tower?" Jarec asked. He winked at Albenion.

I should not have brought him.

Mistakes have been made.

Stay calm. The last thing I needed was for the curse to do something.

Albenion looked at Thoth who nodded at him.

Thoth answered Jarec's question, "Lead the way."

(*********)

The way back to Dragon Tower was awkward. At least for me. Jarec was apparently having the time of his life.

"I heard about a certain incident in Beginner's Alchemy," Jarec was saying with a delighted grin.

Albenion grimaced, "You did? How? I thought I-"

"I have ways. I heard something about you and got curious."

Albenion was slightly pink, "Really?"

On second thought, maybe the curse reacting and zapping my eyes again would be welcome right about now. Please?

Stupid useless thing only itched at my discomfort.

"Jarec certainly seems more comfortable," Thoth commented to me.

The other two didn't seem to notice.

"Does he? I haven't noticed," I responded dryly.

"Is the snark a Dragon trait?" He sounded almost annoyed.

I wasn't sure how I had gotten under his skin, or if it was something else I wasn't aware of, but I maybe shouldn't be as happy about it as I was. "What can I say, us Dragons are special."

"Is that the word humans use for it?"

"I have no idea what you mean."

Thankfully for our dysfunctional party we arrived at Dragon Tower then.

"Serafina, you're up," Jarec said despite the fact that he was just as accepted by Dragon Tower as I was.

I sighed dramatically. "Open Sesame."

(*********)

Thoth being in Dragon Tower made my skin itch. Something about it felt wrong. Almost uncanny. I couldn't quite name it or explain it, but I knew it was there. And 'it' was bothering me.

Celica was out. Chaser practice.

But the other two were here. And I was almost certain they were up to some semblance of mischief.

No, I had no proof. But I could feel it in my bones.

Russel was lounging on a sofa with his feet up and in his hands was a black book with a white skull on the front.

Fethris was sitting by the window with a very large green centipede running across his hands.

"Fethris, Russel," I greeted them, "This is Representative Thoth and Mr. Albenion." Unfortunately, there was no way to ask them both to behave with both of our guests right there.

But as the door closed of its own accord behind us, I knew it was far too late to turn back.

I also realized that maybe it wasn't my towermates I needed to worry about, it was Dragon Tower itself.

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