Young Writers Society

Kynina grinned back and nodded. “That is fortunate,” she agreed. “Maybe she’ll just get another sword. The magic it had wasn’t even super interesting, it just made it a little faster and sparkly too. You can probably artifice those in a beginner’s class.”

Thane narrowed her eyes. Who artificed their sword just to make it sparkly? The sheer annoyingness of the idea had her turning around to say, "That's incredibly dumb" without even thinking of how much she'd later regret inserting herself into the conversation.

Railyn chuckled at Grumpy Gut's joke, but her face clearly didn't mean for it to be a joke. "I agree, that was dumb haha. That's probably the reason why her sword broke so easily."

Thane gave him a blank look that somehow conveyed both how incredibly obvious she thought that was and how incredibly dumb she thought he was for feeling the need to point that out.

“Exactly.” Kynina nodded enthusiastically again. “Not very practical, is it? And a pretty bad use of time.”

"I wonder how some people even got into this academy," Railyn said. "It's painfully obvious when someone has different priorities in a battle-mage school."

"Their rich snooty parents paid their child's way in," Thane said softly. "Not much to wonder about."

Kynina tipped her head to the side, as if to say that may be true to the grumpy girl. “They probably haven’t learned to take it seriously yet. Hopefully it’ll occur to them why they really should be here sometime soon.”

"If they haven't figured that out by now, they shouldn't be here," Thane said calmly. "They're taking away spots from people who deserve them."

"Well, if their rich families didn't fund the school, none of us would be here right now, so," Railyn shrugged, "I shall take some annoying kids who don't know what they're doing for the opportunity to be here myself."

Thane narrowed her eyes in extreme annoyance but said nothing. Her facial expression said enough.

“You’re both right,” Kynina said. “It wouldn’t be possible without that funding, but boy, there are definitely some undeserving ones who are also highly annoying.”

Railyn got another rude stare from Grumpy Goo.

"Yes? It's rude to stare. You got something to say, say it. If not, then keep your dirty looks to yourself." He sighed. He didn't like getting nasty but he didn't like people just... staring, like they're better than everyone else.

Thane watched him and said dryly, "Sorry, I thought it was already clear how stupid you sounded. Didn't realize you needed me to say it out-loud."

"Sooo, you mean to tell me that you paid your way in here? Because if you didn't then those snobby rich kids did." Railyn shrugged. "Just because you disagree doesn't mean I'm not speaking facts." He shined the grumpy one a smile.