[color=fdc68a]“So this bracelet thing here, it’s called a… um, ke-toh. Hmm, I don’t think that’s how it’s pronounced.”[/color]

Mouth full of lasagne, with occasional bits flying out onto the table, Aaron read the word out phonetically. He and Arrlo were sitting in one of the rare abandoned corners of the always rowdy library.

[color=fdc68a]“It looks like Navajo archers used it but then… uh, it became jews- I mean, jewellery in 1870, around then. That’s when they started to add slivers of- nope, just silver.”[/color]

[color=fdc68a]“So really, this,”[/color] he pointed to the brown jewel in the very centre, [color=fdc68a]“is the most important part; the Miraculous part, if you will. The rest is just decoration,”[/color]

Arrlo looked up from the snack popcorn that Aaron had gifted him with earlier as an apology for the frantic ride to school earlier. They had made it to class mere moments before the teacher closed the door. Aaron had breathlessly delivered an excuse, something about waiting for a package for his father ([color=fdc68a]“FedEx, you know how they are,”[/color]). Aaron would have preferred not to lie, but Pops had specifically requested that he didn’t get into trouble at school. Luckily the teacher had seemed satisfied with the excuse and let him go to his seat, where he then had to sheepishly ask the pretty girl with the raccoon earrings next to him for a pen. All his stationery had flown out from the morning commute, though luckily his tourist's guide remained.

[color=f7941d]“You seem to read very slowly,”[/color] Arrlo observed, having just finished his popcorn.

Aaron snapped back at the kwami, [color=fdc68a]“Just give me a sec, okay?”[/color]

The little fairy flinched and the boy immediately felt regretful.

[color=fdc68a]“Sorry, I’m kinda sensitive about this whole reading thing. Dyslexia blows,”[/color]

Arrlo relaxed and smiled. [color=f7941d]“It’s ok. There's nothing to be ashamed of, you know,”[/color]

[color=fdc68a]“…yeah, but even so.”[/color]

Aaron droops his head and chuckles.

[color=fdc68a]“Thanks anyway, though,”[/color]

A loud commotion happened on the other side of the library. Seemed like a lot of people are laughing about something.

[color=f7941d]“Why are we having lunch in the library anyway?”[/color] Arrlo inquired.

Aaron shrugged. [color=fdc68a]“Everyone else was doing it. Thought I’d try to scope out any potential buddies. It’s already my third day here and I’ve got zilch.”[/color]

[color=f7941d]“Well you’re not going to make any friends here in this isolated little corner.”[/color]

Aaron scoffed indignantly, [color=fdc68a]“I wanted to do some research first. Fine, let’s go dazzle some people with my flawless personality!”[/color]

They both cracked up from that statement. Aaron returned the book and made his way to the center. Whatever the ruckus was, it had already started settling down. But before he could try and join one of the cliques, Aaron noticed some sort of … eagle man?

[color=fdc68a]“That’s weird,”[/color]

But Arrlo didn’t have a response. He was muttering to himself.

[color=f7941d]“Another user so close to my own? And so soon to his awakening? There’s no way…”[/color]

Well, that was no help. Maybe it was the school mascot? Or some weird DC tradition he didn’t hear about? The eagle guy started to move towards the girls’ bathroom.

[color=fdc68a]“Aw hellll no! Like I’m gonna let that happen!”[/color]

Aaron briskly strode up to the eagle guy, grabbed his left shoulder and roughly twisted him around.

[color=fdc68a]"Hey buddy,"[/color] Aaron said, though his tone negated any sense of amicability from the latter word, [color=fdc68a]"what do you think you're doin', huh?"[/color]