The wolf and the gnome

The academy courtyard was already bustling with activity. Students of various races mingled, their distinct features creating a vivid tapestry of diversity. Vampires kept to the shade of the tall willow trees, their pale skin gleaming faintly. Werewolves exuded raw, unbridled energy, their human forms barely containing their natural intensity. Elves walked with a grace that seemed almost choreographed, their melodic voices carrying above the chatter. 

Theron scanned the crowd, his sharp blue eyes quickly finding a familiar dark head. 

Kael Dravenheart was impossible to miss. The lycan prince lounged against a marble bench, his confident smirk framed by his perpetually unruly dark hair. Draped over his arm was a red-headed siren whose outfit seemed to be in a losing battle with basic decency. That must be Ingrid, Theron thought, shaking his head. Or as Kael will inevitably—and incorrectly—rename her, Indigo.

As Theron approached, his expression neutral, Kael's sharp eyes spotted him instantly. The prince's grin widened. 

"Theron! My favorite gnome!" Kael's voice boomed across the courtyard, earning a few looks from passersby. 

Theron sighed, already regretting this interaction. "I'm your only gnome, Kael." 

"Exactly! That's why you're my favorite!" Kael declared, as if this logic was irrefutable. 

Before Theron could retort, Kael turned back to Indigo—Ingrid he mentally corrected—and leaned in to whisper sweet nothings into her ear. Except, Kael's whispers were about as subtle as a marching band. 

Theron rolled his eyes as Kael said, loud enough for half the courtyard to hear, "You must be part mermaid because I'm drowning in your beauty. I can't wait to see you after class"

Oh, for the love of— Theron thought, pinching the bridge of his nose. 

"Still going to the assembly?" Theron asked, raising an eyebrow at Kael, who was still occupied with the siren clinging to his arm.

"Oh, yeah." Kael gave a lazy grin before he and Ingrid dove into what Theron had come to refer to as a "tongue fight."

Theron rolled his eyes, calling it a tongue fight because it sounded a lot less intimate than a kiss. Considering the number of tongue fights Kael had indulged in, Theron sometimes wondered if Kael's tongue would ever get tired.

"See you later Indigo" Kael said with a final wink, making the once-smiling siren frown slightly.

"It's Ingrid" she for what might have been the hundredth time .

"Same thing" Kael quipped back with a shrug as he approached Theron.

"How long do you think Indigo will last this time?" Theron asked dryly when Kael finally peeled himself away to join him on their walk to the Great Hall. 

Kael shot him a playful look. "Indigo? Who's Indigo?" 

Theron arched a brow. "The siren whose name you've been butchering all morning." 

Kael waved it off like it didn't matter. "Ingrid, Indigo, it's close enough. She knows I mean well." 

Kael suddenly looked down and hollered, "Rex! I've told you a million times to stop spying on me!" 

Rex's calm voice chimed in through Theron's watch. "I do not spy, Master Kael. I monitor. There is a distinct difference." 

Kael groaned, throwing his hands in the air. "Theron, can you please explain to your overachieving AI that I don't need constant babysitting?" 

Theron smirked, enjoying this far too much. "Well, considering your stellar track record of getting into trouble, I'd say Rex is doing us all a favor." 

Kael scoffed. "Name one time I got into trouble." 

Theron shot him a look. "Do you want the short list or the full novel? Because I'm pretty sure Rex already has the chapters organized." 

Rex cut in smoothly, "Indeed, sir. Chapter One: The Time Master Kael Tried to Climb the Headmaster's Tower to Impress a Dryad." 

Kael winced. "Okay, that one doesn't count. It was a dare!" 

"Chapter Two," Rex continued without missing a beat, "The Incident with the Exploding Potion in Alchemy Class." 

"That was an accident!" Kael protested. 

"Chapter Three: Convincing the werewolf pack to streak through the library during finals week." 

Theron doubled over laughing as Kael threw up his hands. "All right, all right, I get it! But why do you keep watching me?!" 

Theron wiped tears of laughter from his eyes. "Because I asked him to." 

Kael stopped mid-step, staring at Theron. "You what?" 

"Look, someone has to keep an eye on you," Theron said, grinning. "You have a talent for turning harmless situations into full-blown disasters. Rex just makes sure you don't accidentally set the academy on fire." 

Kael crossed his arms, mock-offended. "I've never set anything on fire." 

Rex chimed in, "There was that one time in Pyromancy class—" 

"That doesn't count!" Kael cut him off, glaring. 

Theron clapped Kael on the back. "Face it, buddy. Rex is just here to save you from yourself. And honestly, he's doing a great job." 

Kael muttered something under his breath, then glanced at Rex. "If you're going to monitor me, at least do it discreetly. I have a reputation to maintain." 

"Understood, Master Kael," Rex replied. "Shall I adjust my protocols to include an occasional applause track for your more... dramatic moments?" 

Theron burst out laughing again as Kael groaned. "I swear, Theron, one day I'm going to reprogram that smug piece of metal." 

"Good luck with that," Theron said, still grinning. "Rex, add Kael vs. Technology to the appendix of his biography." 

"With pleasure, sir," Rex replied.