“Something else?” Yu asked, once he finished with the counter. By now he was so, so tired — which was the only reason the question sounded like an honest offer to do more work instead of a straight-up death threat.
His exhaustion had actually returned, right alongside the pain. Now that Yu was focusing on that instead of a million wapashit things to do, he realised that his hearing had also cleared. He had no idea what had caused the change.
Bubs looked around the kitchen, tehn into the pot where Yu had collected most of the spills.
Yu dared him to find something else to complain about. Well, he dared him in his head. Because if he said that out loud, Bubs would come back with ten more faults before Yu could even manage his first void breath. Yu didn’t believe this — he knew Bubs would just do that. Because he knew that Bubs was an ungrateful arsehole. How’s that? Is that enough “knowing” for you, you swamp-rotten piece of shit?
“So you have already eaten,” Bubs said.
This was not what Yu had expected. This felt very much like a trap. And part of that feeling was the sinking suspicion that Bubs already knew the answer.
“Yes,” Yu admitted. He was not dumb enough to lie. Or maybe not smart enough. Hard to tell.
“Do you want seconds?” Bubs asked.
“What?”
“Stew.”
“Oh. Wait, I meant — Oooh!”
“Well, what is it?”
“No?“
This was so a trap.
“All right,” said Bubs. “You can go to your room and rest, then.”
“I didn’t — Oh. Uhm. Yes. Good night.”
Yu was so, so ready for bed.
“Your first watch starts with the Witching Hour,” Bubs added. “Be here a quarter hour early. Don’t be late.”
“What? Wait — You mean the Witching Hour … tomorrow?”
Bubs stared. “The Witching Hour in one and a half hours.”
“WHAT?”
1000 Followers!
Dear Travellers,
Within the last week, we passed two milestones.
This marks the one hundredth update of The Glass Wizard across twenty-eight months of writing.
Also, more than a thousand readers now walk alongside Yves, Midnight, Yu, and their companions on Royal Road. Some of you have been here from the very first steps, others joined somewhere along the winding trail. Some of you share your presence and thoughts, others prefer to remain in the shadows. Some I know as fellow writers from the forums and beyond, and others remain unnamed. All of you have my sincere gratitude.
Stories may be written in solitude, but they are never truly created alone. I would not have come this far without the encouragement that Royal Road and its community have offered me. There have been grand gestures of kindness, and so many little things that matter more than one might think. Thank you for everything.
With Christmas only days away, I am immersed in the careful work of revising the opening chapters, shaping a more deliberate beginning for Yves and his journey.
By now, the W key on my laptop has entirely worn out — no doubt from an excess of wizards wandering the world. After cleaning and various optimistic attempts at revival failed, I conceded defeat and reassigned the letter to the F2 key instead. This works well in theory. In practice, muscle memory remains unconvinced, and there have been rather a lot of instances of The Glass izard along the way. One adapts, eventually. The work on the rewrite will wend its way well into January.
That said, I hope to begin Chapter 20 during the holidays nonetheless — fate and festive obligations permitting.
Thank you, dear Travellers,
for your time, your patience, your kindness,
and your companionship along the road.
With heartfelt gratitude,
The Duckman
and Yves
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