say anything else [Cat <3]

[Nikolai Campbell]

Now it was official. Nikolai was definitely in trouble.

Niko had a fairly good reputation of being on time to class and to training sessions. Chase probably have let him skip training entirely if he asked nicely enough or had a valid reason, but training was one thing Niko never missed if he could help it. When he was late to classes or training it was usually only a few seconds after the bell. This was generally easily forgiven when one took into account that he was considerably shorter than his hall mates and less likely to get through when a crowd formed. But now? Now he was entirely at fault and already several minutes late.

In his defense, there were many new things for him to worry about that hadn't troubled him before. At the top of his list was seeing people at Hammel who were secretly part of M.S.A.D. and would hurt him like Jesse, running into Dr. Neville (he didn't need anyone knowing what was on his mind) and, of course, whether or not his dog was safe at home. It seemed entirely likely that someone would take the dog away from him considering how they'd gotten her.

Any one of his worries could have explained why he didn't make it to the classroom before the bell. When the teacher considered what he'd went through (whatever version they knew) they probably wouldn't have gave him any trouble. Strangely, though, the fact that they wouldn't be upset with him was exactly why Niko needed them to be angry. What happened to normal? It no longer existed, and the current state of things could never be normal.

Niko's real excuse for his tardiness was simply that he'd forgotten he had class. It seemed much simpler just to go to Chase's room and pretend he had a reason to be there rather than going to the class at all. It'd save him all this anxiety now at the very least. Unfortunately, Niko didn't dare stray farther than he already had from the routine because, as badly as he wanted simple, he knew they all needed routine. So he walked down the hallway toward his assigned classroom. At least the hallways were friendly now that they were essentially empty.

[Catherine Novella]

Okay this was really annoying. You would think that in the time Cat has been here she would not be getting lost on campus. You really would. Alas your thinking would be incorrect as Cat had not a clue where she was and was currently sitting by one of the buildings looking around for a landmark. Unfortunately Cat could not find one.

Cat really thought about this. All she had wanted to do was go see if her math teacher was in and then go to the library. That really was all. Unfortunately when she was making her way to the math building she made a wrong turn somewhere. Really Cat had to stop reading while she was walking. She really did. That is how she ended up where ever she was. And now cat had to attempt to get back to where she could get herself back to where she needed to be. Yes she was that directionally challenged.

Cat, that morning had the foresight to make sandwiches and bring a few snacks and some water. She didn’t know why she did, maybe she just felt like she had to or some thing. Either way she was glad she did as she knew that it would be a long day and she had no idea just how long she would be lost for. She took a sip of her water finally standing up. She supposed she better find out just where she was. Thing was the halls were deserted and barely anyone was around. Cat sighed in frustration. If she hadn’t a clue where she was how was she to get back to where she knew where she was?

Cat put a smile on her face and looked around. Mostly teachers understood that she was always late. I mean she had good grades and she was able to keep up with the work. That in itself was not a problem. Cat really wondered whether she should buy one of the GPS things… Maybe it would help. On the other hand Cat was just as bad with technology as she was directions. So of course she would just break it. Smiling slightly at the utter stupidity of her ability of break technology and way to get lost Cat made her ways through the halls of the building looking for a single soul to ask directions from.

Cat was walking along one of the hallways when she spotted a slightly smaller student almost running towards her. She was not sure what was wrong but hey it was someone to ask directions from. Though she did feel more then a bit silly she knew this might be her only chance seeing as the hallways were basically bare anyways. With a smile she called out to the younger student. “ Umm hi could you maybe spare a minute to show an lost adventurer which way to the place she is trying to go?” Cat knew she was not an adventurer but she had to at least try to get his attention. With a smile towards him she offered and incentive for helping her. “ I have cookies~”

[Nikolai Campbell]

Niko was almost there and not too late. He was at least within the right hallway now. All he needed was to reach the end without- oh. Niko paused when he heard a voice issuing a request. Please, please don't be a teacher, his mind automatically offered as he looked up toward the source.

It was, fortunately, a student-age looking girl. Wait, was she talking to him? Niko instantly smiled at the mention of cookies. Yes, she had to be talking to him. And if she hadn't been, he wanted her to be now.

"Adventurer? Cookies?"Niko echoed as he took a few more steps toward the blond teen. Those two words were impossible for him to resist. "I can help you." Helping this girl seemed far more important than his class. And who better to help than the foster son of not one, but two Hammel staff? Okay, he was only ten, and he no longer lived in the dorms, so maybe he wasn't the best guide. But he'd try his best to be a good enough one.

"Wait ... I mean, I can't leave the school without telling someone. Is the place you want to go inside?"Niko questioned quickly, figuring that it'd be best to warn her of that now. He could go out of the school but he wasn't about to leave the safety of the building with a stranger. He'd at least have to ask Chase or James for permission first.

[Catherine Novella]

Cat watched as the younger student stopped when she started talking. She looked him over as he slowed down. He did look like he was in a hurry. Cat really did not want to be a bother but the fact of the matter was she had not a clue where she was. She smiled down at him and took the bag of cookies out of her bag offering him some when he asked about them.

Cat nodded at the young boy to confirm that yes, she was talking to him. She knew it was a bit odd in the way she spoke but she couldn’t help it. She was always like that when kids were round. She smiled slightly at the younger boy as he smiled at the cookies reference.

Cat’s face immediately burst into a smile when the younger boy said he could help. “ I thank ye kind sir.” With an overly dramatic bow and a sheepish grin on her face Cat expressed her gratitude. She really did not know what she was going to do if he could not help her. No one else was around anyway. And besides. He looked plenty ready for an adventure. An Adventure to find where she was trying to go that is.

As a look of confusion about where Cat needed to go passed over The younger boys face Cat smiled a bit. “Well I need to get to where I can not be lost anymore. The thing is I am entirely and utterly directionally challenged and I haven’t a clue where exactly I am. I would be most obliged if you could help me find the math Classrooms.”

Cat was blushing more then a bit by now. It was weird admitting she was lost to this kid. But she really did hope he would take up her offer and go on an adventure to find the math classrooms. Cat would not admit it but she needed a little fun in her life. Hopefully the younger boy could help. “By the way I am Cat. My savior, may I inquire of your name good sir?” Cat said with a smile. Hopefully the younger boy would just play along. It was more fun that way.

[Nikolai Campbell]

There were many teenagers in the school that had a million better things to do than talk to him, and those that didn't have anything better to do usually pretended they did. So to have Cat smiling like she was, and talking to him like it was all a game was a welcomed change. Now this was a good way to spend a day. Niko giggled at Cat's bow. She officially had his favor for that one. The cookie he'd taken from the bag sure didn't hurt, either.

Niko listened quietly as she answered his question. The math classrooms? Of course he knew where they where. That was easy, actually. So, why was she blushing? Niko wasn't certain. Teenagers were so strange! It seemed best not to ask her for an explanation. He let it go, content to focus on the strange words she used. It was like kings and knights! He could certainly imagine her as a fair princess, and he as a loyal knight. He would have been a good knight if they still existed.

"I know where the math classrooms are. I can show you. Are you late for class?"Niko questioned curiously before he took a bite from his cookie. If she wasn't, then maybe they wouldn't have to hurry. Niko definitely didn't want to rush this adventure, especially since he really did know exactly how to get to the math classrooms. He'd passed them on his way here, which meant they had to go the way he'd come from. If leading her in that direction could become a game, Niko wouldn't complain.

"I'm Niko, good lady Cat."Niko answered, not actually certain if 'good lady' was what he was supposed to say. It sounded sort of right to him, and it was better than just saying Cat. Plus, she hadn't really laid out rules, so she couldn't be upset if he got it wrong, could she? He hoped not. Ruining it already would have been unfortunate. He was really looking forward to this adventure.

[Catherine Novella]

Cat honestly hated it when other teenagers ignored little kids. Cat herself actually preferred them to adults or other people her age. They were so pure and without troubles that she just admired their ways about doing things. Take this for example when Cat had bowed and was speaking in old English very few people would actually reciprocate her antics, where as the little kid was playing along. Yes Cat really did like little kids better.

Cat really was embarrassed for having to ask him directions. Hence the blushing. So when the boy gave her a strange look Cat just blushed more. Now she was a tomato. “Sorry, but I’m a bit embarrassed asking for directions. You would think I would know better by now.” Cat had had to ask many directions from people in the past but she especially felt the absurdity of it now. She thought again of how he was acting along with her. “What a valiant knight you are to show me the way.”

Cat smiled happily when the boy said that he knew where the classrooms were. She again smiled when he said he would show her. She really had the urge to hug him. “ No I am not late for a class or anything there was only a few questions I had wanted to ask my teacher if she was in.” Cat smiled at him as he ate the cookie. She really was grateful that he able to show her the way. It might just be really fun.

Cat just about squealed when he called her a fair lady. This time she did not resist the urge to go over and give him a hug. Gosh little kids were so cute! As she was hugging him she replied with a “Fair Knight Niko does it pleaseith thee to accompany me on this exciting adventure? Alas I am not the “good lady” but I am the royal scholar in search of the wizard of mathness.” Cat gave a sheepish grin. Hey she was having fun.

[Nikolai Campbell]

"Oh, don't worry!"Niko replied quickly."I get lost sometimes, too, and I've been here a whole year now." Niko figured a year was a very long time. Surely after a year no one should get lost, but occasionally Niko did. Or, well, lost wasn't exactly the word. More like confused- he sometimes went down the wrong hallway, or into the wrong classroom. Rarely did he just not know where he was. But she used the word lost, so he did, too. When she called him a knight, his grin became one of accomplishment as his thoughts transitioned back to his new knightly responsibilities.

"Heh, valiant. Anything I can do to help,"Niko murmured shyly. "And besides, I owe you for the cookie." Which was true. The cookie was delicious, and now it was his turn to do as he'd agreed in return. But he certainly appreciated her praise anyway.

"Really? Well! Then let's go find her."Niko's tone revealed his relief as she explained that she didn't have class. Good. They didn't both need to be missing class. Before he could dwell on that, he was realizing rather quickly that he was being hugged. Wait, what'd he done? Whatever it was, it must have been good. He smiled, his cheeks turning pink.

"Uh. Y-yeah, I- uhm..."Niko stammered, finding it hard to get his words out now that he was feeling shy. There was a pretty girl, a pretty older girl giving him a hug. This had never happened before. Focus. Focus! "I... I like adventures. And wizards, scholar Cat." Here, he smiled. Wizards. What a perfect thing for Cat to say. Being a scholar, she probably knew a lot about wizards in the same way that James, as an expert, must have. Perhaps only those two could figure out that there were secretly wizards hiding among them. (No one else had mentioned wizards to Niko that he could remember)

"You know, Dr. Campbell once told me Hammel was like Hogwarts. To find a real wizard hiding here like James says would be a real adventure."Niko explained hopefully. Oh, James would be so impressed with him, he was sure. Never mind the fact that her teacher wasn't a real wizard- he didn't care.

[Catherine Novella]

Cat smiled as she heard the little knight talk about getting lost. She smiled down at him while he was still encompassed in her hug and replied. “I am just directionally challenged valiant knight so I can not say that I will be able to find my way around well oh kind sir.” She thought it was really cute that he was trying to make her feel better at any rate. She smiled as he grinned some more.

Cat nodded and listened quietly as the boy offered his help any way possible. When he mentioned the cookie Cat smiled again. “ I also have sandwiches and other goodies if we get hungry later.” Cat smiled. “I came prepared. This happens a bit more often then I would like.”

Cat could sense the relief in the younger boys voice when she said she was not late for class. She was glad he was having enough fun as it was. “ Off we go valiant knight. It is a shame we have not a stead to carry us the length of the duration of our travels. I guess we shall just go on foot.” That was when she noticed his blush. Aww he was blushing. How cute! As stated before Cat loved little kids.

Cat watched with interest as the boy stammered his way through a very incoherent sentence. She silently let go of him and set him down. “ Your to cute not to hug.” Yes she said that aloud. Know what? She did not care if anyone else heard her. It was the truth. She nodded as Niko started talking about wizards and adventures. “ I do also like adventures Knight Niko. Wizards are a tricky sort always hiding in plain sight. They just use their magic to conceal their magical awesomeness and stay hidden in disguise as a plain mortal, though some might be meta.” Cat really wasn’t playing into this … she wasn’t.

Cat listened as Niko went on explaining about how Dr. Campbell said that Hammel was like Hogwarts. “That would be an adventure!” Cat’s eyes lit up. An adventure to find a wizard. How fun. “ Shall we make that the journeys objective? To find the Wizard?” Cat already had an idea of who could be the wizard but she was not ready to tell just yet. That would have to wait a little while longer.

[Nikolai Campbell]

Directionally challenged? Well, she needed a compass, then. In fact, he knew his was in a special drawer in his room. Surely Cat could get more use out of it than he could. Next time he saw her, he'd offer it to her. For now they'd just have to get by with his sense of direction. Did he mention he was only ten? Without the stars, he didn't know which way was north or south (even with the stars, he was a little iffy). Left and right he had figured out at least.

Niko wasn't hungry now, but the fact that she was willing to spend time with him was all that mattered from the offer. And when she mentioned that they'd have to make due without a steed, Niko laughed aloud at the idea. The mental image of a horse galloping down the hallways was such a novel, but tempting idea. Then she had to go and say he was cute. Was he? Now that he was back on the floor, he glanced down at his feet nervously to conceal his rapidly forming blush.

"I- I am? Thanks."Niko murmured again, his tone shy once more. "Um, this way." Niko gestured toward the way he'd come from, hoping to further guide her attention away from him and his blush. "Is the way we have to go to get to the math rooms."

Of course it made perfect sense to Niko that the wizard should now be someone other than her math teacher. And it made it more fun for him if he had to figure it out. Besides, how cool could a math teacher wizard really be?

"Yeah!"Niko grinned. She really was an adventurer, like she said before! "Let's find the hidden wizard! A scholar's like an expert, right? So you'll be able to find them, even if they are super good hiders." Niko turned, beginning to walk toward the math classrooms that he'd gestured the direction to before. He figured that even if they were going to search for a wizard they needed to get to her class first. Even Niko knew that you had to get the boring things out of the way before you had fun.

"Scholar Cat, have you ever met a wizard?"Niko questioned curiously. He was being genuine. As much as he would have liked to say this was just a game to him, it needed to be more than that.

[Catherine Novella]

Cat was pleased with the reaction that came out of Niko when she complimented him. It was too cute. There he went blushing again. Honestly she really just wanted to hug him again but figured that would male him even redder. She thought he might not like that. As he laughed at the image of the horse galloping down the halls Cat had to grin. She was making him laugh. That was a good sign.

“You are quite welcome Sir Knight.” She smiled he was acting shy again. She nodded when he gestured in a direction that was the complete opposite from which she came. Some how she had managed to get turned around so completely that she was able to go in the other direction. Cat just had to laugh at the absurdity of it. “ Why thank you kind sir.” Cat held out her arm ad if she was a fair lady and he a knight. "Shall thee escort me to the Wizard of Mathness?”

As Cat walked with Niko she thought about wizards. What had she read that had had them? Oh one of the greatest of all, Merlin. She just might have to tell the story of king Arthur and Merlin to Niko. He might be interested, especially if he was acting the way he was now. She would just have to prove to him that she was not one of those teenagers that would ignore or discriminate against a person, even if he was a kid.

Cat grinned when she got an affirmative on the mission. “ I am glad you are choosing to accompany me.” Cat just nodded as he continued. “ I promise that I shall try my best to find this Wizard, if thy knightliness would protect me from the evil perils of the THE LOST” Cat was happy that Niko knew enough to get all the work done first. Then the two could go on a quest. He was a good kid with a good head on his shoulder. Cat just had to smile.

When the question popped out of Niko’s mouth Cat had to laugh. But she also thought seriously about it. “Knight Niko I can never say that I have actually met a Wizard. But I have studied tomes upon tomes and read of their great plights to help even the noblest of kings. Ever Since the great Wizard Merlin it has been a vanishing Art of Magic and Myth.” Cat had hoped that that explanation would suffice for Niko for now. With a raised eyebrow Cat looked at Niko. “ Sir Niko have you ever met a Wizard?”

[Nikolai Campbell]

"Certainly,"Niko agreed cheerfully, locking his arm with her. It probably would have worked better if he were taller, but this seemed alright. It made Niko feel very important and it was the best he could do. As much as he would have liked it, growing at will was not the ability he'd been dealt. Weather was within his control but not his own height. Speaking of weather... Niko's eyes went to the windows as they walked through the hallway. It was raining lightly- that didn't fit the day they were having, did it? He glanced at Cat as he considered changing the weather.

"The Lost? What is that?"Niko questioned curiously. At this point, Niko would protect her from anything. Nothing could be worse than what he'd already experienced, and this was supposed to be a fun adventure, not a scary one. Nothing could get any of them within the walls of Hammel so she was as safe as ever in Niko's mind. He'd pretend to save her from imaginary foes, anyway.

"Oh,"Niko nodded when she said she'd never met a wizard. He wasn't entirely certain what a 'tome' was, but he didn't ask aloud. He just smiled and answered her question to him.

"No, I haven't. But I've never been a knight before, either."Niko answered passively. Niko had pretended to be a superhero, various animals and dinosaurs, and a few other things that he could remember. But a knight? No. Now all they needed was a castle to escape to when all of this was over. Somewhere safe, guarded by a dragon. Niko shook his head, realizing he was still leading her down the hallway still. He still knew where he was, so he wasn't worried.

"Don't wizards grant wishes? Like... Wizard of Oz, or something. Wonderful wizard."Niko questioned, not sure if they were the same kind of wizard. If given a wish he wouldn't have known what to wish for. But maybe she'd know."What would you wish for, Cat?"

[Catherine Novella]

Cat did not mind one bit that Niko was smaller then her. In fact she thought it added to the cuteness of the whole situation. Not that he himself would ever admit such a thing. Cat looked down at the little knight. It seemed he was thinking about something very important as his eyes kept darting back and forth form the windows to herself. “ What are you thinking about Sir Knight?”

Cat gasped. “ The knight does not know what the lost is? That is a very bad thing indeed! “ Cat pretended to fake horror and contempt all in one go. “ The lost is a mystical mindset that makes this poor scholar lost forever more. I have been battling them since I was little. As they were something that I have struggled with. For the past ten years of my life.” Cat’s eyes glittered. “I wonder if having the Valiant knight around will change the odds any. What do you think Niko? Will having Niko the Knight around change the odds?”

Cat realized that the young boy might not realize what a tome was. "Why fair knight a Tome is a book, normally it is referred to as an old book, An old dusty tome read the scholar in search for a cure to the princes disease.” Cat smiled at him. “Does that make sense to you knight?”

Cat faked to be surprised. “ Why you’ve never been a knight? How shocking valiant knight. I never would have guessed. Knights are extremely dependable you know. They rescue princess and go on quests. The even get treasures for the king.” Cat was worried Niko was losing interest in the game the two of them had set up. “ But they also go in search of a wizard.” There that should put him back on track.

Cat thought about Niko’s question. Did wizards grant wishes? She knew fairy godmothers did but she was not so sure about wizards. She chuckled in her response. “I have not a clue if they grant wishes or not. But I think if you are polite enough about it and are sincere in choosing what wish they might grant it to you.” Cat eyed the smaller boy, with a smile as he asked what she would wish for. “I honestly don’t know.. I might wish to know what happened to my mom but I’m not sure if I really want to.” Cat looked down a little sad. She had not talked about her mom in a while. How in the world did Niko get her to do that?

[Nikolai Campbell]

"It's raining."Niko pointed out. She probably knew that now, but Niko pointed this out like it explained why he was thinking of it. Since it didn't explain anything, he quickly added, "I mean, you remind me of the sun. You can't pay attention to the clouds when something happy and fun is around- like the sun. Soo, why is it raining? Brilliant scholars should be able to spend the day reading in the sun, not stuck inside." Niko tried to keep his eyes from the window for a moment. Whle he could change the weather, he knew it meant a headache later. Was it worth it? It was seeming like it. But he silently kept up the debate for a bit longer. Niko suddenly giggled at her explanation. The lost! Now he got it. That wasn't scary at all.

"That's one of my specialties!"Niko informed her proudly. "I can destroy the lost for you. Don't worry! It's all okay now. You found the right knight. I can definitely help you." Most teachers knew who he was by now, he assumed, so he wasn't worried about asking a teacher for help if they absolutely needed it. But she really would be fine with him; he could handle this.

"Ooh. Yeah, because scholars read books! I get it."Niko nodded. To her surprised tone at him admitting that he'd never pretended to be a knight, he merely giggled in amusement.

"Treasures? You mean the treasures that pirates try to steal?"The idea seemed to fascinate him. Gathering treasures would be a lot of fun, especially if he could distribute the treasures among those he cared about. Knights were definitely his new favorite.

"Right."Niko nodded. Polite. Okay. He could do that. When Cat mentioned her mother Niko was somewhat startled to see her expression shift. Oops. he hadn't meant to upset her! Niko stopped where he was, pulling his arm from Cat, his gaze fixed on her. He was focusing on something, but he didn't say anything for a few momennts. Slowly, the rain began to let up and the sun began to emerge. While his power took effect in the window beyond them, Niko spoke.

"I can ask my dad for you, if you want me to. He might know."Niko suggested helpfully."He has files about students. Maybe someone told him like they told him about me." It was the only thing Niko could think of. James knew all about his life before Hammel, so surely he had to know about Cat as well. James knew everything. He would have stayed with the idea that it was just a wizard and a silly wish if it hadn't been for the real sadness- it really did upset her, so this couldn't possibly be part of the game.

[Catherine Novella]

Cat smiled at Niko as he pointed out it was raining. “Yes it is raining.” Cat laughed slightly as the younger boy quickly went ahead to explain further. She had to smile. Aww he was comparing her to the sun. Little did he know just how much he reminded her of the sun. Always smiling and just full of energy. Cat honestly wanted to give him another hug right now. “ That is so sweet Niko. It is too bad that it is raining, but the rain is also good. It continues the life of the world, and sometimes you can even hear the angels crying when you listen to it. At least. That is what my grandmother always told me.” Cat’s eyes grew softer as she shared a memory. “ So when ever it was raining I would just sit and listen, Listen to the angels crying.” Cat smiled again as he finally under stood what the lost were. “ So I see you can battle the lost quite well now that you know what they are fair knight.”

Cat had to smile when Niko said it was one of his specialties. “I am immensely grateful to you Oh knight, with your help we shall defeat the lost forever. They shall never again bug either of us!” Cat had no doubt in her mind that Niko could battle the lost without any help. She was sure he could. He was a capable little boy. That being said she smiled down at him again bowing. “I thank thee again Knight.”

Cat smiled as Niko put two and two together to get her point. “ Ah yes. I have read many many books in the whole of the sixteen years of my life. I even have discovered many different authors and many many different stories.” Cat looked at the younger boy. “ What pray tell does this valiant knight do for fun?”

Cat smiled at the boy. “ Precisely, Who do you think the pirates steal the treasure from? The kings. So the Kings send the knights out to get their treasures back. And if they come back successful then the knight gets a reward most likely. “ She hoped that would clear up the process that was confusing the younger boy. “ Now these knight normally either, give their treasures to the poor or they divide it to the people that need it the most.”

Cat smiled at the younger boy. She was a bit confused as to what he was doing, when he pulled away from her. She watched with curiosity as he focused on seemingly nothing. “ Uh Niko? What are you doing?” that was when Cat saw the weather begin to change. Oh he was a weather controller. Wait was he changing the weather? To shine a bit of sun? for her? Cat felt really privileged. She really was happy. And it made her more extremely happy that it seemed the knight was trying his hardest to cheer her up. This really warranted a hug. With a smile she wrapped the younger boy in another hug. “ Thank you Fair knight! I did not know I was in the prescience of a weather mage also. What a skilled knight you are to have mastered the changing of the weather and the Knightly duties which have been granted to you.” Yes Cat was gushing. Hey the kid deserved some appreciation.


When Niko started about asking his dad Cat just smiled. “That is so sweet Niko. As much as I would appreciate it I don’t really want to know. I think it is better I don’t.” When Niko started talking about how his dad had files on all the students she was a bit surprised. She really was clueless and still had not put together just who Niko’s father was. “ Well if your father knows everything about all the students don’t you think that is a specific quality of a wizard? I mean Wizards are supposed to be all knowing. Your dad sounds VERY knowledgeable.” Yes Cat wanted to get the game back onto focus of the game. She was not comfortable telling him more abut her mother. After all, as sweet as his intentions were she was trying her hardest to distract him. Hopefully it would work. “ Well do you think your father might be the wizard? If he is then he has been hiding in plain sight. And wizards are supposed to be able to do that veryyyyyyyyyy well.”

[Nikolai Campbell]

Angels crying? Shouldn't the angels be happy? Niko thought so. Always happy and with the most beautiful music to make their heaven home. But, maybe angel's crying could be just as comforting as their singing. And if her grandmother said it, it had to be true. Though Niko didn't have a lot to do with Chase or James' parents, both seemed very trustworthy. If they had told him something like that, he was sure he'd believe it like he believed everything else they said. Niko giggled again at the bowing as she told him thanks again. It was so out of place in the walls of Hammel that it was impossible not to.

"For fun?"Niko echoed. That was a good question. "I got a dog a while ago. She stays in my room at night, and I go outside with her during the day, when I'm not at school. Or, Chase and I play sports. Chase is really good, but when I'm older, I'll be as good as him." There were many other things he could have said. All those days spent on the couch, watching sports with Chase, or cooking with James. It was really hard to decide which to point out. Any time when they were together and not in danger could be classified as fun now.

"I bet the reward would be really amazing! I would have battled pirates and took their flag! That way they wouldn't be able to say they were pirates anymore!"Niko's logic was flawed- a flag did not make the pirate. If anything, it would have been bad for them to lose their flag and travel incognito, but he didn't seem to consider this. The idea that he could stop the pirates from sailing all by himself was too magic to ruin with logic.

Again with the hugs! Niko was as startled by this one as the first, but this time he didn't blush as brightly. His cheeks slightly reddened, but it was light enough that she might not have noticed. Maybe. He was hoping at least. And even if she did, it didn't matter too much because she liked the fact that he'd changed the weather for her.

"Ohh. Okay."Niko nodded. She could always ask later if she changed her mind. He didn't want to ask about his mom or dad, either, so he thought he understood that. Besides that, he was supposed to be in class so he couldn't really walk into James' office now, could he? James might send him to class, and Niko certainly didn't want to say goodbye to his new friend yet.

"My dad? A wizard?"Niko repeated. It made sense- James didn't have a real power, so maybe he wasn't really a meta, maybe he was a wizard in disguise. He'd granted Niko's wish without Niko having to tell him what he wanted, so he must be a very skilled wizard. Besides, he was the single most brilliant man Niko knew. (Counting someone with a power like the librarians seemed unfair; no one could be that smart without a little help)

"Maybe he is!"Niko agreed after considering it. "You know, he does know a lot of strange things. Maybe he learned them because he's a wizard! I don't think anyone has guessed it though. But he's not a mean wizard. Do you think people would like him if he were a wizard instead of a meta?" James was far from a 'mean' wizard. He wasn't actually sure if wizards could be evil but if they could, James wasn't among them.