The next day, Rin stepped again into the training yard with a single goal:
Bond with ANY stick. Literally ANY.
Crowlius sat on her backpack, sipping juice through a straw.
"Today is the day, kid! I can feel it in the air, the magic!"
Rin groaned. "That's just your mango juice."
Crowlius sipped louder. "Magic. Mango. Same thing."
---
???? Stick Practice, Day… Who Even Knows Anymore?
Teacher Gloriana clapped her hands.
"Students! Summon your magic! Speak to your sticks! Become one with them!"
Aster's stick glowed like a miniature sun.
The sticks of the twins hummed like bees on energy drinks.
Rowan's stick glimmered softly, sweet and warm.
Rin's stick…
…fell apart.
It literally snapped in half.
The whole class froze.
Aster burst out laughing.
"Wow! The stick rejected you so hard, it committed suicide!"
Rin glared. "It slipped! The ground attacked it!"
Crowlius nodded gravely.
"Yes. Evil ground. Very vicious."
Teacher Gloriana pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Rin… perhaps try again with a new stick."
Rin rummaged through the practice box.
All sticks were taken.
Except one.
A single… lonely… chopstick.
He stared at it.
The chopstick stared back.
Aster snorted. "You seriously gonna use a CHOPSTICK?!
Rin held it up dramatically.
"IF STICK WON'T CHOOSE ME, CHOPSTICK MIGHT!"
---
⚡ The Bonding Miracle
She closed her eyes.
Breathed deeply.
Held the chopstick in her hand.
Everybody watched.
The wind veered.
The ground shimmied.
A light glowed around Rin—
AND THE CHOPSTICK BECAME ILLUMINATED.
BRIGHT.
BRIGHTER.
BRIGHTEST.
Aster fell back.
"NO WAY. NO. NO. YOU CANNOT—THAT'S A CHOPSTICK."
Crowlius screamed happily,
"She did it!!! She unlocked the sacred noodle magic!!!
The chopstick continued to glow, softly humming.
She stared wide-eyed.
"It… chose me…"
Teacher Gloriana's jaw dropped.
"In eighty years of teaching… I… I've never seen this."
Crowlius puffed up proudly.
"Yeah! My Rin is the CHOSEN ONE OF KITCHENWARE!"
Rin jumped about.
"I DID IT!! I DID IT!! TAKE THAT, TOAST PRINCE!!"
Aster stammered.
"That's not FAIR. That's ILLEGAL. I DEMAND A RECOUNT!"
Crowlius smirked.
"You're just jealous she has a glowing chopstick and you don't."
---
???? The Chopstick Test
He pointed the chopstick at a practice target.
Magic spiraled out—
BOOM!!
A perfect circle of smoke rose up.
The target exploded in confetti.
The class gasped.
Rin gasped.
Crowlius screamed.
Aster dramatically fainted.
Mrs. Gloriana clapped.
"Well… congratulations, Rin. You… have very peculiar… magical affinity."
Rou twirled her glowing chopstick.
"I'm unstoppable now!"
Crowlius whispered,
"Please don't blow up the school." --- ???? Evening Falls… And Something Strange Begins After school ended, Rin walked home, her new glowing chopstick tucked proudly in her bag. Crowlius flew beside her. "Kid, I'm so proud of ya. You bonded with a chopstick-you're a pioneer." Rin beamed. "It's beautiful. I'll name it… Choppy." Then— rustle… rustle… Somebody was following them. Rin froze. Crowlius hopped onto her shoulder. "Stay behind me. I know self-defense! I took classes online." From the shadows stepped a tall man dressed entirely in black. Hood up. Scar across his cheek. Eyes glowing faintly. Rin whispered, "Crow… crow… that man is SCARY." Crowlius flapped forward. "HEY! WHO ARE YOU?! YOU BETTER NOT BE TRYING TO—" The man lowered his hood. Crowlius stopped mid-screech. His eyes widened. "…You." The man said quietly, "It's been a long time, Crowlius." Rin blinked. "You two know each other?" Crowlius gulped. "Yes. Kid… that's not just anyone." He spread his wings protectively in front of her. "That's Sir Alden Arclight." Rin's heart stopped. Her father. Standing right in front of her.
To be continued...