Chapter 1[]
Korathius knelt in front of a large metal washtub, sleeves rolled up, hands submerged in the soapy water within.
He was trying to bathe a Luminite cub that had been brought in that day with a broken paw, their fur thickly matted with dirt, twigs, and leaves.
The little creature splashed around in the tub, drenching Korathius with soapy water as they attempted to eat the foamy clouds of suds floating on the surface.
Korathius held them still with one hand, carefully scrubbing through their fur with a special brush with the other.
As wet and frustrating as this job was, he quite liked it.
Korathius frequently volunteered at an animal hospital in Lamplight. Dubbed the Beastmaster during his time battling in the Coliseum, the title certainly wasn't a misnomer-he was quite good with monsters, and he enjoyed helping the injured creatures who found their way to the hospital.
A small, slight wizard of 14 years old, he was pale and delicate, with shaggy jet-black hair streaked with grey, big blue eyes, and a scattering of freckles over his cheeks. He was shy and sickly, a wizard of few words, spoken using a text-to-speech app on his phone.
He picked up a pitcher of clean water, pouring it over the soapy monster to remove the remaining bubbles, before lifting them out of the bath and wrapping them up in a clean towel.
They squirmed, licking his face.
"How's it going?" another wizard asked from behind him.
Korathius let out a small gasp, turning around to see one of his co-workers standing over him.
Clad in simple black-and-silver robes, as well as her favourite black yarmulke with the silver embroidery, Miriam was quite tall, easily dwarfing Korathius's small frame. She was seventeen, with a colourless, thoughtful face framed by shoulder-length pewter hair, a small silver Magen David hanging from a chain around her neck.
Miriam crouched down beside Korathius, reaching out to the damp, towel-wrapped cub in his arms.
"Hey, little guy. Do you feel better after your bath?"
Korathius held the creature toward her, removing his phone from his pocket after Miriam had taken them.
"Careful, their claws are sharp. They got me earlier." He indicated a bloodstained white bandage wrapped around his arm.
Miriam cringed.
"Oy vey. That's gotta really hurt. We gotta trim your claws, huh, pits'l?" she directed her attention to the Luminite, brushing a hand over their little head.
"Anyway, I'll help you treat this one's paw and trim their claws, and then let's get lunch. You really need to eat-you keep working during your lunch break, and that's not good for you. Y'alla." She got up, and helped Korathius to his feet.
The two carefully bandaged the cub's paw, and Miriam held them while Korathius trimmed their claws (both obtaining a few more scratches, but nothing nearly as bad as the wound left in Korathius's arm).
"That's better. We'll let you rest now, alright? Y'alla, Korathius."
She took his hand and led him out into Lamplight.
Chapter 2[]
Korathius and Miriam sat at a little table at one of their favourite restaurants, watching the world go by through the window.
The place was lovely-calm and quiet, with soft couches and chairs lining the walls as well as the neat little tables made of dark, polished wood, the lights were dim enough to not be overwhelming while still leaving patrons able to see, and the food was wonderful, with plenty of vegetarian and kosher options.
"What would you like to drink?" the waitress asked.
"I'll have a blackberry iced tea."
"Just water, please."
"Alright, then." She jotted that down on her notepad and left.
Miriam pushed the salt shaker back and forth across the table's surface.
"How's life been treating you, Korathius?" she asked.
"Fine, I guess. Earth History's been hard lately, but it's worth it."
"Nice." Miriam traced patterns in a small puddle of spilt water on the table. "I have a test coming up in AP Potions, maybe we can study together on our break tomorrow."
The waitress returned with their drinks.
"And what would you like to eat?"
"I'll get the chicken stew with rice." Miriam confirmed. "Korathius, do you want the cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches?"
"Yeah, sure."
Korathius took a dainty sip of water.
"Is your arm, okay? That looks like it really hurts."
The dark-haired boy's hand fluttered to the bandage wrapped around his forearm, before reaching for his phone again.
"Yeah, it does. It's okay, though. I've been worse."
"We'll take care of it when we go back, okay?" Miriam offered.
"Alright."
Miriam twisted the chain of her Magen David, a common unconscious stim for her.
"A Browl decided to use my hair as a nest this morning." she told Korathius. "It took forever to get him out, and he pooped on me too. That was vile."
"I know the feeling. I can't tell it happened though. Your hair looks fine."
Their food arrived, and the two began eating in silence, neither certain of what to say.
Miriam held up a spoonful of stew.
"My intrusive thoughts are telling me to fling this at someone."
"Don't you dare."
Miriam huffed, pulling free and setting her spoon down. "Spoilsport."
"The last time you listened to your intrusive thoughts, we got kicked out of the wand shop."
"Fine."
"Excuse me?"
Korathius looked up to see a heavyset wizard with a huge golden pair of ram's horns sticking out from their messy rust-colored hair standing nervously beside their table.
"Have either of you seen a hamster? She got away from me, and I can't find her."
Miriam shook her head. "No, sorry. But we can help you look. Right, Korathius?"
"Of course."
The wizard beamed. "Thank you both so much!"