Page 72 of Guiding Reason

Butler Bot 35: Oh. I see. That is a highly informative story, Boop-Beep.

Boop-Beep: It can’t worry you! After all, Guardian Vin doesn’t have a weapon on him in the Grounds.

Butler Bot 35: Well. He brought their guns back from the clinic. And from the Battle of Starlit Stage—I told them how bravely they fought! After the battle, Guardian Vin stripped and cleaned, then reassembled the weapons. I gathered someone had planted trackers on them. The weapons are still here in the suite. Guardian Vin keeps them in his room.

Boop-Beep: In that case, I wish you good luck. It will probably be best for you if you are only seen if needed. Oh! Pay Guardian Vin a compliment on his excellent shooting! Orperhaps the way he used his illusion skills during the Battle of Starlit Stage. Yes, that is probably wiser. You shouldn’t bring up shooting at all.

Butler Bot 35: I agree. Can I contact you again if I have further questions?

Boop-Beep: Of course! Maybe we can talk about very balanced and highly nutritious meals for Conduits more then. That would be urgently exciting!

Butler Bot 35: I don’t see how so, but of course. Chat soon.

(TowerChat to External, Champions’ Tower bot network.)

“Either of you make this team look like idiots, I will personally get you each a demerit.”

Col tried to look as menacing as Vin, but that was a lost cause.Vin was born knowing how to frighten people just by looking at them, and those two are too set on wasting their time with rivalry to care anyway. Fucking idiots.

“Absolutely. Hyran?” Taros looked smug in his combat pants, their dark blue matching the dark blue flower pattern on his black shirt.

“Yes, understood.” Hyran wanted to please, Col had already learned that much about him, but he was still going to do whatever it was they were going to do.

“You two are idiots, but by all means. I’ll be upstairs eating snacks and telling the butler bot exactly how stupid you are. Bye.”

And there really wasn’t anything else to say. The two of them didn’t move and were clearly waiting for Col to vanish into the Champions’ Tower, so he did.

The interior of the building was almost as quiet as the day they had arrived, but a vaguely familiar Guardian—blond and blue-eyed—was heading toward the exit. He smiled at Col.

“Conduit Coldis. I’m so happy to see you again. Do you remember me? You were struggling a bit the last time we met.”

It hit Coldis then. “You’re Shoda. Of course. I should’ve recognized you right away.”

Shoda waved that away. “Nonsense. You organized the most immediate rescue operations while needing some rescuing yourself. How is that head?” He tapped a finger against his own.

“Oh. All better. Well, still taking medication I don’t enjoy. But nothing to worry about.”

Shoda looked toward the exit. “And already going out. All by yourself?”

Col shook his head. “I had things to do and took my Guardian. But he’s an idiot, and Guardian Taros is an idiot, and the two of them are right outside where they decided to be idiots together.”

Shoda chuckled. “Jealousy?”

“I’m not actually sure, but something of the kind. My team is my family, and they’re protective. Guardian Hyran imprinted on me in case you didn’t know.”

“Oh, I could tell at Starlit Stage. He was apologizing so much.”

Col shrugged. “He does that.”

“Conduit, maybe I can help. To repay you for the help you and your team have rendered my city. Well, it won’t come close to repaying that, but I might know a way they can work through their jealousy. And I’ll make sure you get them back in mostly pristine condition.”

Narrowing his eyes, Col asked, “Do I want to know?”

“Hmm. Let’s assume no, but if you get curious, you can message me? I’ll prepare a recording for your personal viewing pleasure.”

“That works. Thank you.”

Shoda shrugged. “I was about to make some ice sculptures, but this might turn into more fun. For me, not them.”