Of Larks and Monarchs || ONC2022

Six -- the magic spell you cast

It took a few minutes before Laurence noticed the blue butterfly. Cory had gone to look at more of his paintings, so Laurence did what older brothers do. He reprimanded it.

    "Isaac." He glared, speaking in Osvian. "Eavesdropping is rude."

    Isaac fluttered his wings and stepped off the windowsill, transforming back in the process. "Yeah, yeah,"

    Laurence gestured to a seat. "What do you want?" (Though it sounded more like a threat.)

    "You weren't supposed to notice me, al-natsen." Isaac sat down. He was still wearing the dirt-stained shirt he had on that morning.

    "I wouldn't have if you didn't flutter so loudly."

    Isaac crossed his arms and pouted.

    Laurence rolled his eyes. "That doesn't work on me, er-natsen."

    "Fine," Isaac said. He probably gave up. "I just wanted to say hi to the temella,"

    ...Who seemed to be a few paces behind them.

    "Oh, hey," Cory greeted. "I didn't hear you come in,"

    Isaac stood from his seat, doing that jumpy thing. "I came in through the window. I'm Isaac,"

    Cory shook his outstretched hand. "Your English is pretty good. I'm Cory,"

    Not as good as it could be, Laurence thought. He still had a ways to go before he could pronounce his r's correctly.

    "—Hold on, through the window?" Cory asked.

    Isaac nodded. "Butterfly,"

    He held up a painting. "This one?"

    Laurence turned his head to the side to get a better look. Yep. It was his portrait of a transformed Isaac, who agreed to model for him when he lost a bet.

    "Mhm!" Isaac gently took it from Cory's hand.  "Not the best portrait al-natsen's done of me,"

Laurence sighed. "Pame."

"He agrees," Isaac joked.

Laurence stood to softly hit the top of his head.

"Erou lawe, al-natsen,"

"The feeling is not reciprocated."

Isaac laughed. "When'd you get here, Cory?"

"A few hours ago,"

"Did you use al-faren Maddie's portal?"

"—I think it's my portal rather than hers—" Laurence interjected.

"—Are there others?" Cory asked.

"Of course there are," Isaac said. "Some of the temellas have their own,"

"Temellas?"

"People who aren't from here," Laurence translated. "Newcomers."

He watched Cory's face carefully as he thought about the term, not knowing what it meant. Laurence wanted to tell him what the word came from, which one it resembled, but he wasn't one to spoil someone else's magic.

"That's cool," Cory said.

Laurence was a little irked by how smoothly Isaac and Cory's conversation flowed. He didn't know where to say anything, if he even should. Something something insecurities. At least it was a distraction from the whole... thing. After a few minutes, Laurence had shelved the Isaac painting and returned to his brother and Cory talking about Claire.