24. Chapter 24

Chapter twenty-four

B eing knighted is an adventure all of its own. I manage to single-handedly tear my specially designed dress right before entering the Throne Room, which means Sandy has to rush a last-minute repair—literal last minute. But other than that, it all goes fairly smoothly. The ceremony is grand, with the entire court present, and I can't help but feel a surge of pride as the king places the ceremonial sword on my shoulder.

Corvu and I are now part of a six-man squad frequently sent out on missions. Since Shelia is around to teach me the magic I need to know, those missions go quite smoothly. I promise, I'm not in any real danger. Corvu protects me with his life, almost turning it into a game to see how many times in a month he has to save me. It's a little embarrassing—one month he got up to about seven. Guess I'm still a klutz. The other squad members are a little strange and not all human, but they have my back.

Gecko is really enjoying himself, learning new things with the Council. Since he's royalty, he can pretty much do whatever he wants, and he loves it. While Corvu and him were looking for a Witch to send them to New York, an act of bravery gave him his wings. What I didn't know is what that actually meant. He can now transform at will into a tiny pixie with wings and then back into a regular boy. It's really amazing. They still won't tell me what the act was, but one day I'll wear them down.

Before leaving New York, I spent days online ordering gear and searching through the markets for the things I needed. Did you know there is such a thing as a solar laptop charger? I didn't. But it works really well. I leave my laptop on the balcony most of the day, and it's charged by the time I use it in the afternoon or at night. I also have a few spare batteries and solar chargers for the tablet I was given last Christmas. Gecko loves playing on it, but of course, it's not really used to its full potential since they don't have the internet here. I also have a battery-operated camera, so I'll be able to record some of the amazing things here.

As for Corvu and me, well, it's been a few months now, and things are actually going really well. We're still waiting to hear news of his sister. Apparently, she comes and goes as she pleases but does live somewhere in the Capital. He's taken me out on a few dates. I had to tell him what it was like dating in our world, so I'm hoping that's what we're doing when we go out to dinner, although Gecko likes to frequently join us. Corvu has been acting a little strange lately, whispering and planning things a lot with Gecko. I don't recall telling them when my birthday was, but I might have. That would be a nice surprise.

As I sit by the window, looking out at the bustling city below, I can't help but think about Kai. I miss her and wish she could see all of this. Maybe one day, I'll bring her over to meet my new friends and see this world for herself. It's a thought that brings a smile to my face as I close my journal, ready to face whatever adventure comes next.