Much like Jon had thought, Milo had walked by the table some time while he and Thalia were eating their food. He passed wordlessly them, then soon came back with a sandwich on his plate, sitting down at the head of his table.

He plopped into his seat and started eating without comment. He looked more disheveled than Jon had ever seen him.

Milo looked over at Jon, and Jon turned away, as not to look like he was staring. Jon waited for a wayward comment, but it never came.

Jon hated to admit it, but he was somewhat happy with this quiet Milo.

“Are you okay?” Thalia asked.

Milo grunted. Jon accepted that as a satisfactory answer.

They ate a quiet breakfast, until both Hector and Mallory shuffled into the room with a loud conversation.

“Are you sure that we should take today off?” Hector asked.

“It was your idea,” Mallory said. “You demanded it!”

“I know,” Hector said. “It’s just… you have more stuff to do, right?”

“Pfft-” Mallory waved his hand. “I’d rather just stay here.”

He looked at Milo as he passed.

“I bet the young prince can’t wait to get rid of me, right?” Mallory snarked.

Milo ignored him and continued eating.

“Wait, what?” Mallory doubled back after passing Milo. “Nothing?”

“Are you okay, Milo?” Hector asked.

Milo looked Hector in the face.

“There’s… dirt on his face,” Hector commented.

“Holy God, there’s dirt on his face!” Mallory looked at Hector then changed his tone. “I mean, there just happens to be dirt on his face. Happens to anyone.”

“I… uhh… oh.” Hector grimaced. “I think I understand.”

Hector looked at Milo.

“I’m gonna be preoccupied today,” Hector said. “But if you want any help-”

“Meech me!” Milo said, his mouth stuffed with food.

“Huh?”

“Teach me!” Milo said when he finally had a clear mouth.

“Teach you?” Hector and Mallory exchanged glances. “Like… now?”

“Yeah,” Milo said.

“Well, um…” Hector scratched his head. “I don’t have anything right now, but would you take a lesson with Mallory?”

Milo rolled his eyes. “Sure.”

“I don’t like that eye roll,” Mallory said, “but I’ve already thought of some ideas to help you.”

“Whatever,” Milo replied.”

“Hmmm…” Mallory hummed through his mouth as if he were disappointed. “Hmmm…”

After a few more tilts of the head and some groans, Mallory let it all out with a loud sigh.

“Sure. Alright. After breakfast!” Mallory marched off for the kitchen. “But I want to go to Jon’s match!”

Milo looked at Jon. “You have a match?”

Jon looked up at the sky, so he didn’t have to answer.

"Why is Jon able to have a match and I can't!" Milo asked.

"You're not ready!" Hector said, "but maybe, if you do your lessons, you can go watch Jon's match and learn something."

Jon felt flattered. Milo simply groaned and quickly shoved the rest of his food into his mouth.

“I’ll catch up, Mal,” Hector said. “Go on without me.”

“To the kitchen?” Mallory asked. “Which is… right around the corner?”

“Sure,” Hector said. “Yeah.”

Mallory looked on in concern, but then shrugged.

“Alright.” He walked off.

Hector turned to Milo. “Milo. I hate asking favors. But can you do me a favor?”

“What?” Milo asked.

“Um… you know how Mallory is going to teach at the School of Mana, right?”

Milo kept eating without responding.

“Do you know-”

“Yes!” Milo answered. “I know, better staff, but they don’t match up to our history. Just ask!”

“Can you…” Hector groaned. “Would you ever consider hiring Mallory to work here?”

Milo still continued to eat. He then put his fork to the side when he was ready to answer.

“I don’t know.” Milo said. “I think I’d have to consider what he offers the library. And what Callach says. But sure.”

“Really?” Hector asked. “That’s… but what about the school.”

“The school can eat it,” Milo said. “I don’t care about anything outside of my jurisdiction. But what about you?”

“What do you mean?” Hector asked.

“Mallory could stay here,” Milo told him, “But you’re gonna have to go back to the castle. The two of you are kind of useless without each other. Anyways, that’s how Callach talks about things.”

“Since when did you listen to Callach?” Hector asked.

Milo didn’t answer the first question.

“If I split you guys up, you’ll be useless,” Milo said. “I don’t understand it, as the two of you are annoying enough by yourselves as it is, but I’ve been advised to look at you two as a sort of marriage.”

Hector scoffed. “What?”

“Anyways, you guys are emotionally tied to each other, and that’s why when you get sent to the castle, you’re gonna do a shitty job, because you’ll be all sad and stuff.”

Hector’s eye twitched. “Callach said that?”

Milo continued. “If I want you to do your job well, then that means I should find a way to keep Mallory as close to the castle as possible, right?”

“Well,” Hector started.

“Which is pretty far from the library,” Milo said, “but I could also put Mallory on extended leave, on account of me never wanting to see his dumb face around here, which would mean that he could be at your side forever and you don’t become a sappy loser king. Then you can train me. And Mallory could act as an in for the library."

“I… Wow…” Hector stuttered. “That’s… very well thought out.”

“And kind!” Thalia added.

“And kind,” Hector reiterated.

“I know,” Milo said. “I couldn’t move for 5 friggin' hours! I had time to think.”

“Sorry,” Hector said.

Milo took a deep breath through his nose.

“I don’t… I don’t have anything to protect.”

Both Jon and Thalia stopped attending to their plates and paid full attention to him.

“What? You…” Hector had trouble finding the words. “The Library of Mana-”

“This Library isn’t important to me,” Milo explained. “I mean, not in the sense that anything in it is important. But it’s still my domain. And I need to protect it, but…”

Milo looked up from his plate and sighed. “I have a reason to be strong, but not a reason to be stronger. I’m protected here, and I have nothing here to keep me going. At least while my father-”

Milo took another breath, stopping himself. “I still think a lot of what you have is bull…”

Hector sneered but didn’t interrupt.

“But I will at least attempt to learn this… power, that you and all your friends seem to share. And then when the next tournament comes, I’ll kick your ass.”

“Who says you have to wait for the next tournament,” Hector said. “If you help me with this, you can come whenever you want.”

Something flickered in Milo’s eyes. Jon didn’t know if anyone else saw it, but he did.

“I… I would have to talk with Callach, and maybe I could do this under jurisdiction under my dad. Maybe I could pull some of my own money to buy him out.”

“You think the School of Mana would let you do that?” Hector asked.

“Those guys can eat it,” Milo explained. “Part of the reason we’re so understaffed is that they keep poaching away any probable students. All the royal families use tutors now, if they even have any mana users, and…” Milo scoffed. “After the Period of Power, a lot of people actually wrote in wanting to apply to do school here.”

“Really?” Hector asked.

“Yeah. We were doing slow, then it looked good, but then the School of Mana had to go and offer them carriage rides and…”

Milo growled. “It’s fine. That’s why I have to get stronger. And stronger than all those stupid mages. The entire reason that this palace was made as a library in the first palace was so that everyone could use it! But nobody wants to come to a stupid old dusty library and read stuff. They just want to…”

Milo tapped the table anxiously with his fork. “Whatever. Just… Sure. If I can.”

“Uh,” Hector’s face glowed. “Thanks, Milo-”

“No promises!” Milo said. “Don’t… I don’t want you not to train with me just because it doesn’t work.”

“What?” Hector shook his head. “No way! Anything that happens between you and me is that. That won’t ever stop.”

Milo made a small smile. “That’s what I hoped. I’m gonna get ready for whatever insidious lesson this mage has for me.”

Milo took his plate with him and floated over to the orange room.

Mallory was walking back with a plate in each hand. He passed Milo on his way to the table.

“Why does he look happy?” Mallory asked. “Did someone die?”

“No, he’s just excited for his lesson,” Hector said.

Jon made eye contact with Thalia. They agreed not to intervene.

“Yeah, right,” Mallory said. “It’s not like you have to protect me all the time, Hector.”

Jon stayed with Hector and Mallory as they finished their meal. They talked mostly about things they were trying to work out with Callach.

“I might need your help reaching the shelf on the second floor,” Mallory explained. “There’s no ladders, and it’s too high.”

“Don’t you have magic to reach those books?” Hector asked.

“Yeah, but I can’t read them from this low,” Mallory explained. “I need someone to spot the titles for me!”

“How did anyone ever get a book before?” Hector asked.

“I dunno. They probably memorized the stack.” Mallory shook his head. “This place is archaic. That’s the whole reason you have me here. Try to loosen up the dust.”

“I”m gonna go see Milo,” Thalia said. She ran off with her plate as well.

Mallory slammed the table with glee, as soon as she was far enough.

“Did Milo exercise today?” Mallory asked.

Jon nodded. “I didn’t say anything.”

“Good,” Mallory nodded.” That kid has an ego, and it’d be good not to break it.”

“That probably means he’s tired,” Hector said. “Does that mean you’re gonna go easy on him.”

“Don’t worry,” Mallory stretched out his fingers. “That kid will be able to handle anything I can dish out at him.”

Jon didn’t know why, but something inside told him that Mallory was a scarier teacher than Hector was.