Wait, Greg actually lost? For real?

  She just snipped a tiny lock of his hair, yet she acted like she’d single-handedly taken down some legendary beast. Well, whatever—humans have their own weird ideas of triumph. If playing barber is all it takes to "defeat" him, then Lianel got off easy.

  We were heading to the cafeteria. On the way, Anna—the new girl—just casually ran her hand through Greg’s hair as she walked past.

  The effect was instantaneous. Greg stumbled mid-step, his legs turned to jelly, and he almost face-planted into the floor.

  Inside, I felt that unpleasant prick again. That sharp, splinter-like feeling that I still couldn't find a name for. Why is it that every time someone else touches the top of his head, I feel like blowing something up?

  We sat down at the table. Kael, the Dragonkin, Alphus, and Alexia immediately dove into some endless debate—either about mining taxes or border politics. Typical "adult" talk. A total snooze fest.

  Anna, however, didn't waste any time. She rested her palm on Greg’s head again. Her strokes were warm, slow, and full of a sort of domestic comfort.

  "Ah..." she smiled contentedly. "It’s been so long since I’ve done this. It feels so nice."

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  In response, Greg let out his signature vibrating purr. What’s more, this "formidable mage," without a hint of embarrassment, laid his head right on her lap, closed his eyes, and completely checked out of reality. Anna just kept stroking him, running her fingers through the black strands.

  I sat opposite them, feeling a bitter taste in my mouth. I looked at my gloved hand. "Stay calm," I told myself.

  But watching that "calmness" being handed out left and right by others was unbearable.

  When lunch ended and everyone started drifting off to their own business, I volunteered to walk Anna back to her building. We walked in silence, but the questions inside me were multiplying at an exponential rate.

  "Listen, Anna..." I tried to make my voice sound as indifferent as possible. "You and Greg... is there something between you two?"

  Anna stopped at her room door and looked at me with curiosity. "Why? Why does it bother you?"

  I hesitated, staring at the patterns on the wall. "Well... just because. You two act as if..."

  "A-ha!" Anna laughed merrily. "Don't worry. We have... how should I put it... we share a common ancestor. A very old family story."

  I froze. My heart did a joyful somersault. "OH, REALLY?!" it burst out of me louder than it should have. "So you’re... you’re relatives? Brother and sister?"

  Anna gave a sly smile and nodded. "Well, technically, yes. Distant, but it's the same blood. Why are you so happy all of a sudden?"

  "Oh, just because..." I felt a massive weight lift off my shoulders. "I was just clarifying. Purely for statistical purposes."

  "Mhm, sure," Anna winked at me and stepped into her room. "Goodnight, Alastia."

  I was left standing in the empty corridor. A smile was stretching itself from ear to ear. Relatives! They’re just relatives!

  "Woo-hoo!" I shouted internally, practically skipping in place.