Elwin Quotes

Hey,” Keefe said, stepping closer. “Don’t worry, okay? Am I ever wrong?” “Yes.” “That hurts, Foster. And I’m right about this. Elwin will fix everything, I promise.

She steeled herself for a serious shock of cold- but the reality was a thousand times more miserable. “Aw, those little shrieking sounds you’re making are super adorable,” Keefe told her. “Ready to punch me yet?” “S-splashing y-you s-sounds b-better,” she said through chattering teeth. “I suppose. But we both know I’ll splash you back- and then you’ll retaliate, because you may look all sweet and innocent, but you have a feisty streak. And then it’ll be an ice-water war, and Elwin will ban me from the Healing Center and you’ll be lost without my visits, and Id rather not make you suffer like that.

Are you kidding?” Sophie and Fitz asked, once again in perfect unison. Elwin chuckled. “I’m sure if Keefe were here, he’d have a lot to say about how in sync you two are getting.” “Just more proof that Fitzphie’s the best,” Fitz told him, with a wink that shouldn’t have made Sophie’s heart flutter. But hearts could be foolish things.

Keefe’s right,” Elwin said, making them both jump. “You two do stare into each other’s eyes a lot.” “It’s how we concentrate,” Sophie argued, becoming very interested in smoothing her disaster of a ponytail. “i’m sure that’s what it is,” he teased.

Sadly, there’s no cure for teenage angst,’ Elwin told her,...

She’d expected him to hand her the open vile, but he scooted even closer and press the glass against her– something Elwin had done for her dozens and dozens of times. But it was a very different experience with Fitz. Especially when his finger accidentally grazed the edge of her lips. Not that he seem to notice. He didn’t blush the tiniest bit- which was extra annoying, said she was certain in her cheeks for me on red.

I GREW UP IN THE untouchable slum of Elwin Peta in Kakinada. All around me was abject poverty. When you are surrounded by so much misery, you don’t see it as anything extraordinary.

You’re bleeding,” Fitz interrupted, lifting Sophie’s hand and examining her palm. Thin streams of red dripped down her skin. “These look bad, Sophie. You should get them treated.” “I’m fine,” she said, trying not to think about the blood, or the fact that Fitz was technically holding her hand, since both things made her head spin way too fast. “Really. It’s not a big deal. We don’t need to call Elwin.

The horse is by Nature a very lazy animal whose idea of heaven is an enormous field of lush grass in which he can graze undisturbed until his belly is full, and after a pleasant doze can start filling himself up all over again.

No’ what, Sophie? What’s wrong?” She shook her head, feeling her eyes burn. Either Elwin’s happy-elixir was wearing off, or the truth was so real and painful it cut through the fake haze. “Fitz is right,” she whispered. “It is my fault.

Um... slight accident in my alchemy session." Keefe mimed a huge explosion, complete with sound effects. "Destroyed Galvin's cape." Elwin dropped her hand, cracking up. "Wish I could have seen that! Sorry," he added when he caught her scowl.

Sophie was starting to put serious thought into Keefe’s “kidnap Elwin” plan.

A stone may determine the course of a river. He was that stone at this horrible moment which had become the center of the whole universe. The eldila of all worlds, the sinless organisms of everlasting light, were silent in Deep Heaven to see what Elwin Ransom of Cambridge would do.

The law doesn't require truth, only the appearance of it. Most cases simply rest on a version of it that's acceptable to both sides. You want to know the only truth is? Everybody lies.--Elwin Stark

I appreciate the pep talk, Dr Worries-Too-Much. But really, I'm fine. I mean, yeah, I'm a little queasy, and I have a slight headache - but wouldn't you, if you hadn't eaten in two days? Or has it been three?" Elwin sighed. "Actually, it's probably closer to four at this point." "Okay, four," Keefe corrected, trying hard not to wince. But almost four days unconscious in the Healing Center? That was a Foster-Level of almost dying! He'd have to make sure he returned the favor the next time he saw Mom of the Year.

And by ‘piquatine,’ you mean . . . the stuff that melts off skin,” Sophie confirmed. “Coooooooooooooooool,” Ro breathed when Elwin nodded. “Can I watch?

That… doesn’t bother you guys?” “It does if the search is going to cause more Elwin visits or Tribunals,” Grady told her.

But Elwin was different—and not just because his treatments were gentle and he always wore funny glasses and silly tunics covered in colorful animals.

You treated Romhilda?” “I did. And I hope I’m around if you ever call her that to her face,” Elwin noted, likely remembering how strongly Ro felt about people using her full name.

IT TOOK ELWIN MOST OF the night to clean up after the Foster Foot Energy Triumph—as Keefe had named it

Elwin’s residence is just as bright and bold as his fashion sense, and every pane of his windowed walls is set with a different color of glass.

And while the decor is somewhat sparse, there are plenty of “Elwin” touches—like the room holding his stuffed animal collection

Uh-oh. You just wrung your fingers,” Sophie noted. “Nothing good ever happens when adults do that.” Elwin snorted. “She has a point.

Alone without purpose, they fell asleep.

All the cool kids sleep with stuffed animals," Elwin told her.

If you’d been there, the only thing that’d be different right now is that Elwin would have another patient.” “And there’s no guarantee I would’ve saved you,” Tam added with a smirk.

(It should also be noted that some of Biana’s returned confidence may stem from her use of one of Elwin’s Emotional Support Stuffed Animals—a stuffed yeti apparently named Lady Sassyfur.)

A circle is a shape with infinitely many sides. Mathematicians used this trick of thinking about the circle as a shape with many sides to first try to work out one of the most important numbers in mathematics: pi

Get ready to hate me,” Keefe said as he set a tray in her lap filled with mouthwatering candy and desserts and then told her she couldn’t eat any of it. Ro and Elwin were zero help—both munching happily on trays of their own.

You’re going to tell us we can’t do this, right?” she asked. “Because it’ll hurt my recovery?” “Nah. I just want to see what happens,” he said. Keefe pumped his fist. “WOO, we have Elwin approval! That makes this official. This. Is. Happening!

Is it ooze time, is it ooze time, is it ooze time?” Ro asked, bouncing on the balls of her feet and clapping her hands. Elwin nodded, turning to Fitz and Sophie. “Who wants to go first?” “Foster volunteers!” Keefe said, with a smirk that so deserved a pillow to the head.

You’re not going to Nightfall,” Sophie interrupted. “You’re doing bed rest until Elwin says you’re better.” Keefe smirked. “It’s cute that you think that.” “I mean it, Keefe.” Ro cracked up. “Wow, she just stamped her foot—that’s adorable! Are they always like this?” Elwin nodded.

Uh . . . you’ve seen how cute she is, right?” Keefe asked. Sophie flung a pillow at his head. Or, she tried to. Throwing with her left arm was much harder than she’d expected, and . . . She ended up nailing Magnate Leto in the face. Keefe doubled over, clutching his sides and gasping between choking laughs: “THAT . . . WAS . . . THE . . . GREATEST . . . THING . . . I’VE . . . EVER . . . SEEN!” “IT WAS!” Ro agreed, nearly collapsing to the floor in a fit of giggles. Fitz and Elwin were cracking up too—though they at least tried to cover it with coughs. Sophie slunk down under her covers. “Sorry.” “It’s all right, Miss Foster,” Magnate Leto said, handing her back her pillow. “It’s good to see you regaining some strength.” Keefe wiped the tears streaming down his cheeks. “You realize I’m going to call you Principal Pillowhead from now on, right?

Oh! It’s like a snickerdoodle.” “Okay, I don’t know what a snickerdoodle is or why anyone would want to eat something called that,” Ro said, hooking her arm around Elwin’s elbow and hauling him toward the door, “but she took her medicine and your three seconds are up. So out with you! My boy needs a good, long talking-to.

Then prove it,” Ro said. “Not with a dagger,” she added for Elwin, who was already on his feet. “With that.” She pointed to one of the empty sedative vials near Sophie’s cot. “I’ll fling that toward her head—and don’t worry, I’ll make sure it will miss her—and we’ll see if she knocks it back at me or if it shatters a few inches from her ear.

Remember, Krakie’s got your back,” Keefe told her as she lay still, letting Elwin check for signs of setbacks. “And so does Fluffy,” he added, pinning a Prattles T. rex next to the kraken on her bandaged hand. “Dude, enough with the cutesy pin names,” Ro told him. “Never!” Keefe said, adding a verminion he called Cheeky. “You’ve got this, Foster.

But in the meantime . . . play nice. And if anything like this happens again, try defending yourself in a way that Elwin can quickly heal with an elixir.” Ro crossed her arms. “Fine. But I’m going to need a list of exactly what kinds of injuries that leaves available—ranked in order of how painful they are.” “Can I get a copy of that list too?” Keefe asked.

When an octopus farts, it can't hide it.

Della crouched in front of Sophie and turned Sophie’s face from side to side, then squeezed Sophie’s cheeks, giving her a fish face. “What are you doing?” Sophie asked—though it came out more like “Wharyoooing?” “Attempting to fill in for Elwin. He gave me a Sophie Survival Kit, as well as a separate list called Crazy Messes That Sophie Will Find A Way To Get Herself Into.

I take it you’ve never seen a Flasher at work before?” Elwin asked her. “No,” Tarina admitted. “But I’ve wanted to, ever since I first heard the legends.” “Legends,” Bo scoffed. “You’re looking at a party trick—nothing more. You want to see something legendary, you should visit our microbiology labs.” “Yes, nothing’s more exciting than bacteria,” Elwin muttered. “And just so we’re clear—my ‘party trick’ saved your princess’s life.

Even Bo cracked a smile when he had his first bite of mallowmelt—and then helped himself to the rest of the tray. Tarina took down almost as many ripplefluffs. They were both sampling their first custard bursts when they jumped to their feet and drew their weapons. “It’s not an intruder,” Sandor told them, shaking his head. “It’s the physician—you should’ve recognized his scent from Sophie’s clothes.” “I smell like Elwin?” Sophie asked

The Greek mathematician Archimedes drew a shape with ninety-six sides around a circle and used the geometry he knew to measure the perimeter of the ninety-six sides shape. Then he divided that by the diameter of the circle.

(It should be noted that Elwin Heslege, who’d been assisting the family as a physician, reported seeing some improvement in Fitz’s temperament with the use of what he calls an “Emotional Support Stuffed Animal.” Elwin gifted Fitz with a sparkly stuffed red dragon, which he instructed Fitz to call Mr. Snuggles, and recommended that Fitz try hugging Mr. Snuggles whenever he was upset, or if he couldn’t sleep. Numerous reports indicate that Fitz still has Mr. Snuggles in his possession and finds a great deal of solace and comfort from his stuffed dragon.)

Never mind. Elwin said I’m not supposed to tease you.” “We’ll see how long that lasts,” Ro said, shoving her way into the Healing Center. Her eyes scanned Fitz up and down. “So . . . you’re awake.” Fitz nodded. “I am.” “And you’re okay now?” Keefe asked. “Mostly,” Fitz admitted. “Good. Because you were out for a pretty long time, and some people were starting to worry—I mean, not me. I figured you were just playing it up for sympathy, but . . .” He cleared his throat. “Ugh, this is really hard if I can’t make fun of you.” Fitz laughed. “That almost makes it worth it.” “Oh, I’ll find a way,” Keefe promised.

I’d written the note while Elwin prepared the charcuterie board and Lucien waited in the pavilion area to scoop up Alexandra when she was done. It was the most daunting task I’d ever faced, trying to find the proper words to convey just how much she meant to us. Our garbage can was full of torn and crumpled up balls of paper with ink stains of words that just didn’t make the cut. After Elwin told me to stop forcing it, though, telling me to read it out loud as I wrote it, it came effortlessly. It was a little embarrassing at first, reading such intimate words out loud, but he didn’t judge—only encouraged and praised

You just missed the Fitzphie Ooze Fest,” Keefe informed him. Tiergan stole a glance at the slime-filled basin, and his olive-toned skin took on a greenish tinge. “That explains the smell.” “Yeah, sorry about that,” Elwin told him. “I’ll take care of it as soon as I get this packed up.” Tiergan looked like he wished he’d arrived ten minutes later—or had waited in the hall—as Sophie and Fitz gagged their way through their medicine and Elwin wrapped up all the foamy ooze. “So, what brings you to our smelly little corner of the school?” Sophie asked when she’d finished her last elixir. “That hurts, Foster,” Keefe jumped in.

Elwin’s records indicate that Marella is yet another of his patients to receive one of his Emotional Support Stuffed Animals (as is her mother, actually)—though Marella seems to be more secretive about her stuffed animal buddy and hasn’t mentioned its existence to her friends. Still, in the interest of thoroughness, it must be noted that Marella is the proud owner of a sparkly blue-green stuffed kelpie, which Elwin named Sir Splashyhugs. It’s even possible that Sir Splashyhugs was the first Emotional Support Stuffed Animal, since he was gifted to Marella when she was three and struggling to adjust to what happened with her mom.

Any chance you could get us a bucket of ice water for today’s lesson?” he asked, straightening up and clearing his throat. “I promise not to dump it on Foster’s head—unless she wants me to.” Elwin sighed as he headed for the alchemy section of the Healing Center. “Why do I have a feeling I’m going to regret this?” “You won’t!” Keefe assured him. “We’re working on body temperature regulation.” Sophie groaned. The day they’d practiced that skill at Exillium had been long, hot, and very, very sweaty. And given the large silver basin of freezing water that Elwin set on the cot next to hers, it looked like a lot of shivering would soon be in her future.

This is why you’re not supposed to catch more than one lightning bolt at a time,” Elwin said, leading a familiar round-faced boy into the treatment area. “I thought I’d found a way to do it,” Jensi said, patting the ends of his brown hair, which was sticking out in every direction. Both Jensi and Elwin froze when they spotted Fitz and Sophie—and the panic in their eyes reminded Sophie they still had their masks on. “It’s okay,” she said, tossing back her hood and shoving her mask up on her forehead. Fitz did the same, and Jensi and Elwin each did a double take. Then Elwin laughed. “Should’ve known you’d find a way to end up here,” he said, wrapping them up in a group hug. Sophie hugged him back, remembering how once upon a time she’d been afraid of Elwin. It hadn’t been Elwin’s fault—she’d been afraid of all doctors after growing up with needles and hospitals and scary human medicine. But now she knew that Elwin was a giant teddy bear, with dark, messy hair, and smiling dragons all over his tunic. “Yeah—they told us you were banished,” Jensi said in his trademark rapid-fire manner. “But I knew they couldn’t keep you away—and cool—you have to tell me about Exillium—are those the uniforms—they’re awesome—but what are the masks for?” The happy reunion lasted about ten seconds, until Elwin noticed their patient.

They pulled apart when Keefe shouted, “YOU GUYS HAVE TO SEE THIS!” They ran to the main room and found Keefe standing under the skylight, holding up Mr. Snuggles like it was a baby lion about to be made king. The sparkly red dragon twinkled almost as much as Keefe’s eyes as he said, “I went in to check on our boy and found him cuddling with this!” “Isn’t that the same dragon Fitz brought to your house that one time?” Dex asked Sophie. “WHAT?” Keefe shouted. “YOU KNEW AND YOU DIDN’T TELL ME?!” “Mr. Snuggles wasn’t my secret to share,” Sophie said. “IT’S NAME IS MR. SNUGGLES?! That is . . . . I can’t even . . .” Keefe ran back to Fitz’s room shouting, “ARE YOU MISSING YOUR SNUGGLE BUDDY?!” “Fitz is going to die of embarrassment, you know that, right?” Biana asked. “I didn’t know he had a stuffed dragon,” Della said. “I wonder where he got it.” “Elwin gave it to him when Alden was sick,” Sophie explained. “And Elwin named him.” “Wow, you really know my brother super well, don’t you?” Biana asked. Sophie’s cheeks flushed. “Well . . . we have to do a lot of trust exercises.” Dex sighed. Down the hall, Sophie could hear Keefe laughing hysterically. “I better make sure Fitz is still talking to me,” she said. “You should be worried about me,” Keefe told her, stalking back into the room. “You deprived me of the Snuggles—that cannot be forgiven! Actually it can, but you have to convince Fitz to call himself Lord of the Snuggles from now on.” Sophie laughed. “I’ll see what I can do.” Fitz’s door was closed, so she knocked before going in. “I told you, Mr. Snuggles’s visiting hours are over,” he called through the door. “What about your visiting hours?” she asked. “Oh! I thought you were Keefe.” Sophie pushed open the door. “I get that a lot.” “YOU SHOULD BE SO LUCKY!” Keefe shouted from the main room. Fitz had Mr. Snuggles perched on his lap, and the sparkly dragon looked almost defiant. Like, Yeah, I’m cute and glittery—what’s it to you? “So . . . I guess the secret’s out,” she said. “Looks like it. You’d think almost dying would earn me a little slack.” “NOT WHEN YOU’RE CUDDLING WITH A GLITTERY DRAGON, DUDE!” Keefe shouted.

Aw, those little shrieking sounds you’re making are super adorable,” Keefe told her. “Ready to punch me yet?” “S-splashing y-you s-sounds b-better,” she said through chattering teeth. “I suppose. But we both know I’ll splash you back—and then you’ll retaliate, because you may look all sweet and innocent, but you have a feisty streak. And then it’ll be an ice-water war, and Elwin will ban me from the Healing Center and you’ll be lost without my visits, and I’d rather not make you suffer like that. So how about I teach you Alvar’s trick to make it not feel so cold?” “You c-c-could’ve o-offered th-that f-five m-minutes a-ago!” “Ah, but then you wouldn’t have been as freezing as I needed you to be. See how well I distracted you?” She was very tempted to dunk his head. “W-WHAT’S THE TR-TRICK?

Just keep in mind,” Dex warned the Council, “that if this goes anything like the time I accidentally gave her limbium, there’s going to be a lot of Sophie-vomit. So if that’s going to trigger a hurlfest for you guys, this could get really messy really fast.” “Actually, I think I have an elixir that will help with that,” Elwin told him. “I’ll grab some when I go back for Bullhorn.” “You’re bringing your banshee here?” Grady asked. Elwin nodded. “The last time I worked on Sophie’s allergy, he was the only way I knew if something was or wasn’t helping.” Right. Because banshees could tell when someone was either close to dying—or really, really, really close to dying. “Gotta say, it’s not sounding like a whole lot of fun to be the moonlark right now,” Stina mumbled. “And it’s not feeling very awesome, either.

But . . . Sir Astin was surprised when I showed him the bottle of Quintessence.” “Well, yes, because I never thought you’d bring it to Foxfire! Or carry it around in your satchel, letting it get shaken and jostled all day! It’s amazing you didn’t blow the school to pieces. That was when I learned to never make assumptions about what you’ll do. I’d foolishly figured you’d run straight to Alden. Just like I’d figured Mr. Dizznee would have you two wearing protective gloves—proper starlight bottling procedure. Instead you burned your hands and called for Elwin, and then you showed up to your session and plopped the bottle on the table. Of course I panicked! I knew I’d have to make a report to Dame Alina, and you’d face a Tribunal, and all kinds of other consequences we could’ve avoided if you’d gone to Alden.

Elwin set the tray of balms in her lap. “I’d recommend plugging your noses,” he told all of them as he lifted her bad arm and held it over the basin. “Psh, I want to bask in this!” Ro sucked in a long breath as Elwin untied the bands securing Sophie’s chain mail and unleashed a plume of something Sophie could only describe as weaponized morning breath. The strips of bandage underneath had gone from white to brownish yellow, and they made a horrible squish as Elwin slowly cut through them with narrow scissors. “Here we go!” Ro said, clapping as Elwin pulled the cocoon apart and . . . Keefe coughed. “Okay. That might even be too gross for me.” Sophie couldn’t decide which was worse: the way the ooze fizzled and foamed the second it hit the air, or the way it clung to her skin, dangling off her arm in long snotty threads instead of dripping into the basin. “Any chance I can get a bottle of that stuff?” Keefe asked. “I think my dad really needs to smell it.” “Nope. This is all going to Livvy,” Elwin told him. “Uh, if she’s going to use it for an elixir, I’m never taking one of her medicines ever again,” Fitz jumped in. “Me neither!” Sophie agreed.

VIOLATION SERIOUSNESS SENTENCE PRINCIPAL’S COMMENTS ASSAULT ON ANOTHER PRODIGY According to numerous reports, Ro stomped on Shayda Adel’s foot to punish Shayda for attempting to trip her. 10 out of 10 Apology required. Technically, Mr. Sencen wasn’t involved in this incident. But since his bodyguard was, it’s going in his file. And for the record, I completely understand Ro’s behavior. But I can’t condone harming another prodigy. I’ve ordered Ro to apologize during orientation. —Magnate Leto LEVEL SIX VIOLATION SERIOUSNESS SENTENCE PRINCIPAL’S COMMENTS Update: In an effort to contain the story of the Neverseen’s recent brutal attack on Mr. Vacker and Miss Foster, I’ve asked Mr. Sencen to spread the rumor that Miss Foster and Mr. Vacker are away on a mysterious assignment. Elwin also reports having to repeatedly chase Mr. Sencen away from the Healing Center. —Magnate Leto Second Update: At Ms. Ruewen’s request, I’ve given Mr. Sencen permission to visit Miss Foster in the Healing Center. (Apparently Miss Foster’s morale needs a boost.) Keefe may have untraditional methods, but he does ease Miss Foster’s worries and generally improves her mood. —Magnate Leto

Okay, new plan!” Keefe said, jumping to his feet. “As soon as Leto goes home for the night we’re busting you out of this room—and before you tell me you’re not allowed to move, don’t worry. Ro will be super careful as she carries you.” “NOPE!” Elwin called out. “You can’t stop me!” Ro shouted back. “And don’t worry—I can be gentle when I want to be. I was thinking we’d go spike a few DNA panels with some of my favorite amoebas. Make sure all the brats who tried to harass me when I first got to this place know I haven’t forgotten them.” “And then we’ll raid the secret cafeteria where they hide all the fancy desserts for the Mentors,” Keefe added. Sophie’s stomach growled, and she gave herself three seconds to imagine it—to picture what it would be like to creep through the shimmering halls when they were empty and quiet and dark and see all the hidden places Keefe had discovered. But . . . “Don’t you go shaking that adorable little head at me, Foster,” he said before she could get a word out. “Clearly you need my help. You’ve had this campus to yourself all night every night, and you haven’t caused even a tiny bit of chaos. Don’t you realize you have the chance to top the Great Gulon Incident—or try, at least, since nothing will ever top that kind of genius?

I promised to show you a secret cafeteria, didn’t I? Perfect way to end your Foxfire slumber party!” It felt a little wrong to go hunting for desserts while Fitz and Biana were trying to figure out how to live with their murdering brother. But . . . butterblasts did sound pretty good. “Hang on—what are you wearing?” Keefe asked as she threw back her covers, revealing the sparkly slogans on her tunic. “Is that a Bangs Boy reference? Because you know I haven’t let him into the Foster Fan Club, right?” Sophie rolled her eyes. “It’s an inside joke—and Linh made this for me.” “Yeah, well, it still breaks the fan club rules. As penance, I’m getting you a tunic that says, Empaths Give Me All the Feels, and I expect to see you wear it twice as often as Bangs Boy’s.” Ro snorted. “Subtle.” “Ridiculous,” Sophie corrected. “I try,” Keefe told them as Sophie took his hand and let him pull her slowly to her feet. “You good?” he asked when she wobbled from the head rush. No. But she wasn’t going to admit that, so she told him, “I’m up.” “You are. It’s pretty amazing.” “Isn’t it?” Elwin asked as he emerged from his office and helped Sophie strap her arm into a sling. “Bring me back some butterblasts, okay?” “Done!” Keefe told him, bending his elbow to offer Sophie his arm, and after one brief second, she let him lead her toward the door. “TO THE SECRET CAFETERIA!

His words trailed off as Fitz poured the elixir into Sophie’s mouth, and she shook her head, wondering if the sour flavor could make the glands near her ears explode. “Here,” Keefe said, pulling a fresh box of Prattles from his cape pocket. “Wash it down with this.” “We’re good,” Fitz told him, giving Sophie another piece of the snickerdoodle candy. “Wow,” Ro said, elbowing Keefe. “Nothing you want to say about that, Hunkyhair?” “Nope!” But his smile faded when he noticed Sophie’s chain-mail-covered hand. “Don’t worry, Krakie’s safe with me,” Sophie promised. “So are all his friends.” She scooped up the tiny metal animals she’d piled in her lap. “Be glad you weren’t around when Elwin cut through the fabric.” “I’m pretty sure I’m going to have nightmares about the ooze,” Fitz added. Keefe reeled toward Elwin. “You did something oozy without me?” “And me?” Ro added. Elwin laughed. “Don’t worry, there’ll be lots more ooze tomorrow.” “There will?” Sophie whined as Ro stalked forward, poking Elwin in the chest. “You’d better wait until I’m here,” she told him. “Yeah, what time should we arrive to catch the Great Fitzphie Ooze Fest?” Keefe asked. “We’re not calling it that,” Sophie told him. “Oh, I think we are. And don’t worry, Foster,” Keefe added, patting her on the head. “I’ll still love you when you’re oozy. Maybe I should get you a tunic that says Oozemaster.” “Please don’t,” she begged.

The last name made Ro unleash an impressive string of ogre curses. “I take it that means you know the guy?” Keefe asked. Sophie could see every one of Ro’s pointed teeth when she said, “I do.” “And?” Keefe pressed. “It’s none of your business,” Ro snapped back. “Pretty sure it is, since Foster’s supposed to trust him with her life,” Keefe argued. Ro muttered a few more creative words under her breath. “Bo’s a loyal Mercadir. That’s not the issue.” “You call him Bo?” Keefe noted as Sophie asked, “Then what’s the issue?” Ro ignored both of them. “Stay here,” she told Keefe, “and don’t even think about leaving until I return.” “Where are you going?” Elwin called as she headed for the exit. “To throttle my father.” The door slammed hard enough to shake the walls, and Sophie, Keefe, and Elwin all shared a look. “Yeah . . . we definitely need to get the story on Bo and Ro,” Keefe decided. Sophie nodded. “Do you think they dated?” “Ohhhhhhhh, now I do! And I’ve been trying to get dirt like that on Ro since she got here!” He cracked his knuckles. “Okay, this is going to call for some epic-level snooping—and if that doesn’t work, I guess I know what my next bet will be!” “No more betting,” Elwin warned. “At least not on my watch. And today’s lesson better be chaos-free or I’m nixing these little sessions.” “Aw, we can’t have that. Foster would miss me too much. Who knew the way to her heart was my mad teaching skills?

VIOLATION SERIOUSNESS SENTENCE PRINCIPAL’S COMMENTS DESTRUCTION OF ACADEMY PROPERTY According to a report from Miss Foster, Mr. Sencen set off a device in my office, shattering the majority of the windows in the glass pyramid. 20 out of 10 None. Mr. Sencen remains absent, making punishment difficult to issue. And this does appear to confirm his involvement with the Neverseen. But I suspect there’s more to the story. —Magnate Leto Update: The glass pyramid has been rebuilt. Foxfire is also teaming up with Exillium for skill lessons. And Mr. Sencen has yet to return to campus. The Council is pressuring me to expel him, but I see no reason, (particularly since everyone should be focusing on the upcoming Peace Summit in Lumenaria). —Magnate Leto VIOLATION SERIOUSNESS SENTENCE PRINCIPAL’S COMMENTS Second Update: Foxfire’s midterm break was extended after the tragedy in Lumenaria, and… I’m grateful to have the time to adjust. There’s so much to do… and I’ll be so much more limited now.… But I’ll find a way to manage. In the meantime, it should be noted that when the academy resumes sessions, Mr. Sencen will be returning, and no disciplinary action will be taken against him. —Magnate Leto Third Update: Sessions still haven’t resumed. But Miss Foster brought Mr. Sencen to see Elwin for treatment after Mr. Sencen received several serious wounds during a sparring match with King Dimitar. Apparently, one result of the match is that Keefe will now have Princess Romhilda serving as his bodyguard, which will likely cause tension on campus. Preparations will need to be made. —Magnate Leto

You don’t want this butterblast, do you?” He took a huge bite of a round, golden pastry topped with giant sugar crystals. If it weren’t for her injuries, she would’ve leaped out of bed and wrestled it away from him. “Don’t worry, I’ll save you a bite. But first you need to go one solid hour without your stomach growling. So ignore me”—he took another giant bite of the butterblast—“and focus on Krakie. Or you can focus on Krakie’s new buddies.” He set three Prattles pins on her tray—a jaculus, a kelpie, and a sasquatch. “Meet Bitey, Scaley Butt, and The Stink—your new bandage buddies! We need to figure out the perfect place to put them. I think Scaley Butt should be near Krakie so it looks like they’re swimming together. And then Bitey could be close to The Stink so it looks like he’s trying to chomp him.” “You’re a very strange person, you know that?” she asked as he pinned the new creatures in place. “I think the word you’re looking for is ‘awesome.’ I’m an awesome person—who stopped you from thinking about how hungry you are for, like, five minutes.” “And then reminded me,” Sophie noted with a stomach growl. “Oops. Well . . . okay, your new hour starts now!” It was a very long afternoon. But it was worth it when Keefe gave her the last bite of butterblast, which was chewy like a doughnut but tasted like pancakes hot off the griddle and was filled with some sort of thick, maple-y cream. It was quite possibly the most amazing thing she’d ever put in her mouth—and that was saying something, considering she lived in a world with mallowmelt and custard bursts and ripplefluffs and pudding puffs. “If you want another,” Keefe told her, “you’re going to have to let Ro carry you with me into the secret cafeteria.” “Not happening,” Elwin warned. Keefe smirked. “Keep telling yourself that.

What are you doing?" Sophie asked... "Attempting to fill in for Elwin. He gave me a Sophie Survival Kit, as well as a separate list called Crazy Messes That Sophie Will Find A Way To Get Herself Into.

Sophie stared at the crouched horse. "What if I fall?" "We have Elwin on standby." "Very funny.

Elwin… felt like family.

His palm rested over hers when he finished, and she got the sense that there was something he wasn’t saying. But then his eyes skipped past her, landing on Fitz for a beat before he shifted his focus to Elwin.

Relax,” Elwin told them. “It won’t be as bad as you’re thinking.” Translation: It definitely would be bad.

Stay here,” she told Keefe, “and don’t even think about leaving until I return.” “Where are you going?” Elwin called as she headed for the exit. “To throttle my father.” The door slammed hard enough to shake the walls, and Sophie, Keefe, and Elwin all shared a look. “Yeah . . . we definitely need to get the story on Bo and Ro,” Keefe decided.

IT TOOK ELWIN MOST OF the night to clean up after the Foster Foot Energy Triumph—as Keefe had named it—so Sophie was stunned when he still let Keefe and Ro into the Healing Center the next afternoon.

Keefe reeled toward Elwin. “You did something oozy without me?” “And me?” Ro added.

dreams again. “You need the rest,” she told him. But he shook his head. “I need a distraction. Please, Sophie. Let me help you with this.” It was impossible to say no when his eyes got all puppyish. Even Elwin caved and pushed Fitz’s cot next to hers.

I liked to think of as their soul, spreading into their necks and up into their faces like veins beneath the surface. Lucien was red. Elwin was green. Kylo was blue.

With a deep sigh, she murmured almost wistfully, “Lucien. Elwin. Kylo. At least I know you’ll always be there for me, even if it isn’t real. Thank you for never letting me down.” My brothers turned to look at me simultaneously at her words, so many unanswered questions forming in our minds. Even if it isn’t real?

It's called multitasking," Elwin argued. "And spying," Livvy added.

Normally I’d think someone wearing a sparkly mask and calling themselves Physic was crazy. But it’s the Black Swan, so . . .” Sophie sighed. “She better be as good as Elwin.” “If she’s not, we’ll sneak into the Lost Cities and kidnap him,” Keefe promised. When she didn’t smile, he nudged her with his elbow. “Aw, don’t worry too much, Foster. Fitz didn’t look half as bad as you did during your last few brushes with death, and you’re still with us—though maybe you two could cool it with the almost dying thing, okay?

All the cool kids sleep with stuffed animals,” Elwin told her. “It’s why I gave Biana Betty-the-Yeti while I treated her injuries from Nightfall—though she insisted on renaming her Lady Sassyfur.

Elwin clutched his chest, then spun her toward him and flashed an orb of orange light around her head. “Okay, who are you, and what did you do with the sedative-hating Sophie Foster?

Probably smart to get the teal one over with next,” Elwin suggested. Fitz held up the vial in question, squinting at the ocean-colored liquid as it sloshed around the tiny bottle. “Hmm. Hopefully this doesn’t ruin your favorite color for you.” “It won’t.” She ordered herself not to meet his eyes. The last thing she needed was him guessing why the color was her favorite. But she couldn’t help a quick glance, and . . . Breathing became impossible again—which turned out to be a good thing when he poured the medicine into her mouth and the taste of old broccoli and boiled cabbage hit her hard. “Here,” he said, placing another candy on her tongue. “Better?” “Kinda.” The second bite did the trick—until Keefe’s voice called from the doorway, “Dude, are you guys feeding each other?

Ugh. Fine, we can hold off the late-night exploring—for now. But I’m still super disappointed in you, Foster. You’ve got the Fitzster passed out cold right there. And you know Elwin would be down with sneaking him a few funky elixirs. You could be giving him hairy feet and purple freckles and pretty pink ringlets. But what have you been doing instead?” He snatched the knotted piece of extra bandage from her lap and held it up by the corner, like it was some icky dead thing. “Do I want to know why I found you staring at this like it holds the secrets of the universe?” “It’s called trying to improve my telekinesis,” she grumbled, reaching for the scrap—but of course Keefe raised his arm and dangled it just out of her reach. And he was too far away to punch. “Why would you need to improve that?” he asked. “Need I remind you that you’re the Ultimate Splotching Champion? Also the Girl Who Dropped Bronte on His Grumpy Butt—which you should be bragging about more, by the way. Why isn’t that embroidered across all of your Foxfire uniforms?

Elwin nodded. “You need the rest. If I had my way, I’d keep you knocked out like your cuddly friend over there, but—” “Cuddly?” Sophie interrupted, skipping right over the sedative part of that conversation. “See for yourself,” Elwin told her, helping her scoot up a little so she could see where Fitz was sleeping with his arms wrapped around a sparkly red stuffed dragon.

It was either that or strap him down to one of the cots so he’d stop all the frantic pacing,” Elwin explained, adjusting her pillow to prop her head up a little more. “I would’ve voted for that,” Tam noted. Sophie sighed. Tam and Keefe had been feuding since the moment they’d met—even though they were so similar it was kind of hilarious.

Though Sophie couldn’t help a small protest when he brought over their trays of elixirs and one of the vials was very yellow and very . . . chunky. “Don’t ask,” he told her. “Just chug it and don’t think about it. And plan on lots of interesting remedies over the next few days. Livvy and I talked last night, and we’re stepping up our strategy—and I’ll be honest: It’s not going to taste good. But I think we’re onto something this time.” The words would’ve been a lot more encouraging if the new elixir hadn’t tasted like chewy sneeze. But they both managed to choke it down—and passed Elwin’s quick exam.

Keefe’s right,” Elwin said, making them both jump. “You two do stare into each other’s eyes a lot.” “It’s how we concentrate,” Sophie argued, becoming very interested in smoothing her disaster of a ponytail.

The new congealed selkie skin medicine tasted like eating a stale gummy bear that had spent a few days chilling in a dirty litter box—but choking it down turned out to be the least disgusting part of Sophie and Fitz’s morning. The real prize for Ickiest Way to Start the Day went to the moment Elwin announced that he needed to change out their bandages to give their treatment a fresh start. Even Livvy didn’t stick around when Elwin sliced into the cocoons and unleashed a musky plume—and she kept a running top ten list of the grossest things she’d done.

He looked even grumpier when Elwin set a tray of medicine in his lap. It had to have at least thirty elixirs on it. Sophie was all set to tease him, until Elwin brought over her tray, and it probably had forty. Her mouth watered just looking at it all—and not in the “I’m hungry” kind of way. In the “vomiting is probably in my immediate future” way. “This is actually only half of it,” Elwin warned. “But I don’t want to overwhelm your stomachs. So you’ll take the rest tonight.” “Can’t wait,” Sophie mumbled—but it sounded like “hant ate” because she was trying to use her teeth to open the first dose.

LEVEL TWO VIOLATION SERIOUSNESS SENTENCE PRINCIPAL’S COMMENTS DITCHING ELVIN HISTORY According to a report from the gnomes, Keefe was found hiding near the Leapmaster during the morning session. 1 out of 10 Warning issued. I let Keefe off with a warning because he’s never caused problems before. (He also did extraordinarily well on his midterms.) He’s a year younger than his peers, so occasional moments of immaturity are natural—but I gave him a lecture on setting a positive example and he looked inspired when he returned to his session. —Dame Alina VIOLATION SERIOUSNESS SENTENCE PRINCIPAL’S COMMENTS DITCHING THE UNIVERSE According to a report from the gnomes, Keefe was found napping near the main amphitheater during afternoon session. 2 out of 10 Note sent home. Clearly the warning I gave Keefe yesterday wasn’t enough, so I sent a note to Candleshade to apprise his parents of the situation. Lord Cassius assured me he’d correct the problem. —Dame Alina VIOLATION SERIOUSNESS SENTENCE PRINCIPAL’S COMMENTS DISRUPTING STUDY HALL According to a report from Sir Bubu, Fitz Vacker began emitting gaseous noises and had to race to the bathroom. Keefe then took credit for slipping Gurgle Gut into Fitz’s lunch. Fitz didn’t seem upset. He claimed it was a prank (instead of a case of bullying). But the other prodigies were thoroughly distracted. 4 out of 10 One detention assigned. Perhaps allowing Keefe to skip Level One was a mistake—though his Mentors claim he continues to excel in their sessions. Still, that doesn’t excuse disrespectful behavior! I reminded Keefe that he could end up expelled if he continues down this path—and asked Elwin to make tomorrow’s detention particularly unpleasant to serve as a wake-up call. Elwin said he’ll have the prodigies refill vials of pooka pus, which should make Keefe regret his recent life choices. —Dame Alina VIOLATION SERIOUSNESS SENTENCE PRINCIPAL’S

VIOLATION SERIOUSNESS SENTENCE PRINCIPAL’S COMMENTS Third Update: According to a report from Elwin, Mr. Sencen was involved in the recent destruction in the Healing Center—but apparently it happened during a skill lesson that went awry. For that reason, I’m simply noting the incident here, rather than creating a disciplinary report. It should also be noted that Mr. Sencen brought Miss Foster to the Mentors’ private cafeteria for butterblasts. —Magnate Leto VIOLATION SERIOUSNESS SENTENCE PRINCIPAL’S COMMENTS DISRUPTING LUNCHTIME According to a report from Lady Galvin, a number of prodigies began emitting unpleasant gaseous noises midway through the lunch break and had to race to various bathrooms. No proof has been recovered, but the general consensus is that Mr. Sencen slipped Gurgle Gut into their lunches. 5 out of 10 One week of detention assigned. As far as I can surmise, every prodigy affected by Mr. Sencen’s prank had recently been gossiping about (or hassling) Mr. and Miss Vacker about their eldest brother—which is why I’m limiting his detention to a week. I cannot allow such behavior to go unpunished. But I refuse to deny the motivation. —Magnate Leto Update: Foxfire has been placed on an extended hiatus after the traumatic events during the Celestial Festival. Sessions will resume as soon as the Council determines that it is safe to do so. —Magnate Leto

So . . . there really wasn’t much she could do—except have Elwin tell Keefe she needed to skip the day’s skill lesson, since Keefe’s teasing and Fitz’s fragile mood would surely be a disastrous combination.

Livvy nodded. “Took me three stops to find all the right feces.” “They better not be for our new medicines,” Fitz warned, and Sophie definitely echoed that sentiment. “Don’t worry—they only go in the topical stuff,” Livvy promised, handing her satchel to Elwin. “Though I did also bring congealed selkie skin. And hollowthistles—remember those, Fitz?” The tinge of green to Fitz’s skin made it clear that he absolutely remembered them—and the week of misery he’d endured, thanks to hollowthistle tea. “Relax,” Elwin told them. “It won’t be as bad as you’re thinking.” Translation: It definitely would be bad.

He looked even grumpier when Elwin set a tray of medicine in his lap. It had to have at least thirty elixirs on it. Sophie was all set to tease him, until Elwin brought over her tray, and it probably had forty.

Just plug your nose when you take it because this stuff is potent. Bullhorn wouldn’t come near me for three days after I brewed it.” “Great,” Sophie mumbled. But she still reached for the vial. “Oh, you can’t take it now,” Elwin told her, tucking the vial into the satchel slung across his shoulders. “We’ll have to wait until right before bed so you can sleep through the worst of the queasiness. This is tough stuff. Like I said, I made it for Sandor, and I’m sure you’ve noticed that he’s a little bigger than you.

But it was a very different experience with Fitz. Especially when his finger accidentally grazed the edge of her lips. Not that he seemed to notice. He didn’t blush the tiniest bit—which was extra annoying, since she was certain her cheeks were neon red. “You’re helping me so you don’t have to take your own medicine, huh?” Sophie teased, ordering her head and heart to get their act together. This was one friend helping another—nothing more. Fitz confirmed it when he winked and added, “Also letting you test them all, so I know which ones are the grossest. Want this one next?” He pointed to a thick brown elixir. “I’m guessing it’s all kinds of wrong.” “Actually, that’s one of the good ones,” Elwin corrected. “It’s the shimmery pink one you should be afraid of. In fact, you’re probably going to need a chaser for that.” He reached into his pocket and pulled a handful of the silver-wrapped squishy candies he’d given Sophie before, setting them on the tray next to the vial in question. The elixir looked like melting sugar swirled with strawberry syrup—but when Fitz twisted off the lid, it smelled like a bathroom after someone had eaten a whole lot of asparagus. “Drink it fast,” Elwin recommended. “And hold your breath.” Sophie nodded, using her free hand to plug her nose as Fitz counted to three and tipped the medicine into her mouth—but her taste buds still immediately tried to convince her that she should spit the rotten sludge back out as fast as she possibly could.

I can help with the bath, too,” Edaline offered, “since it’s going to be difficult with only one arm.” “Uh . . . is this a bad time?” Tam asked from the doorway, his silver-blue eyes darting around the room like he wasn’t sure where to look. “Elwin said to head here straight after study hall, but . . .” “It’s fine!” Sophie said, pulling her covers up higher, even though there was absolutely no reason to. “We were just . . .” She glanced at Edaline, who stood up to give her some space. “Never mind, it doesn’t matter,” Sophie told Tam. “You’re here! Let’s talk about Shade stuff!” Linh peeked her head over his shoulder. “This is fun! I never get to see Tam blush!” She pinched her brother’s cheeks, and Tam rolled his eyes and stalked into the Healing Center, with Linh giggling right behind him.

So wait—I’m going to be the only one sleeping?” Sophie clarified. “Great, because that doesn’t make me feel weird at all.” “You shouldn’t,” Elwin told her. “Well, you should a little,” Livvy argued, “since I’m betting the Pretty Boy’s going to spend most of the night staring at you as he listens to your dreams.” “What else am I supposed to stare at?” Fitz wondered.

Gildie’s coarse fur looked singed on the edges, and her enormous eyes were clouded and watery, but she seemed okay. Her foot still clutched the bottle, which was filled with tiny yellow beads of sparks and capped with a glowing golden seal. “You did it!” Sophie transmitted images of the treats she would give Gildie as she wrapped the bottle in her cape and tucked it under her arm. Then she pulled out her home crystal—glad she hadn’t given it back to Grady and Edaline—and leaped her and Gildie to safety. “WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?” GRADY demanded as he paced the living room. Edaline stayed outside, treating Gildie’s scorched fur. She couldn’t bear to look at Sophie’s burns, and Sophie couldn’t blame her after Jolie. She was surprised Grady could stand it. Alden and Elwin were on their way. This was the one thing she hadn’t thought through. She knew she would have to confess what

Be glad you weren’t around when Elwin cut through the fabric.” “I’m pretty sure I’m going to have nightmares about the ooze,” Fitz added. Keefe reeled toward Elwin. “You did something oozy without me?” “And me?” Ro added.

No more betting,” Elwin warned. “At least not on my watch. And today’s lesson better be chaos-free or I’m nixing these little sessions.” “Aw, we can’t have that. Foster would miss me too much. Who knew the way to her heart was my mad teaching skills?” “Or I’m just bored,” Sophie countered. “Nah, you’re realizing I’m the total package. Beauty and brains—” “And super modest,” she noted. “Exactly! And, because my amazingness knows no bounds, I even come bearing presents!” He pulled a box of Prattles from his cape pocket with a dramatic flourish. “Today you’re getting my brilliant lesson and candy!

So she sat there, hour after hour, telling herself she wasn’t sulking, she was resting like the good little patient Elwin needed her to be. She’d almost convinced herself it was true, until Keefe marched through the doors to the Healing Center and declared, “Wow, it’s like walking into a cloud of sulk in here.

Perhaps not. But deny it all you want—we both know you care about our world’s future. Why else would you spend so much time helping Miss Foster’s causes?” “Uh… you’ve seen how cute she is, right?” Keefe asked. Sophie flung a pillow at his head. Or, she tried to. Throwing with her left arm was much harder than she’d expected, and… She ended up nailing Magnate Leto in the face. Keefe doubled over, clutching his sides and gasping between choking laughs: “THAT… WAS… THE… GREATEST… THING… I’VE… EVER… SEEN!” “IT WAS!” Ro agreed, nearly collapsing to the floor in a fit of giggles. Fitz and Elwin were cracking up too—though they at least tried to cover it with coughs. Sophie slunk down under her covers. “Sorry.

எல்வின் புனேவில் காந்தியைப் பார்க்கச் சென்றார். பழைய பேஷ்வாக்களின் நகரத்தை, காந்தி தனது தற்காலிகத் தலைமையகம் ஆக்கி இருந்தார்; எல்வினுடைய திருமணப் பிரச்சனையை முடித்து கொஞ்சநாள் கழித்து, மிக வசதியான தொழில் அதிபருடைய ஒரு மாளிகையில் தீண்டாமைக்கு எதிராக உண்ணா நோன்பைத் துவங்கினார். எல்வின் வரும்போது உண்ணாவிரதம் முடிந்துவிட்டது. ஆனால் மாளிகையை பார்த்ததும் எல்வின் திடுக்கிட்டார். "பளிங்கு மாளிகையில் காந்தி சாகும்வரை உண்ணாவிரதம் இருப்பது, இயேசு கிறித்து சிலுவையில் அறையப்படுவதற்காக ரோல்ஸ் ராய்ஸ் காரில் போவது போல் இருக்கிறது" என்று எல்வின் பத்திரிக்கையாளர் ஃப்ராங்க் மொரேஸிடம் சொன்னார். அவர் காந்தி இருந்த மாளிகையை வெளியிலிருந்துதான் கண்டார். வீட்டின் எஜமானி தாக்கர்செ ஒரு கிறித்தவரை வீட்டில் தங்க அனுமதிக்கவில்லை. அவர் சர்வண்ட்ஸ் ஆப் இந்தியா சொசைடிக்குச் சென்றார். அங்கே அவரைப் போன்ற தீண்டத்தகாதவர்கள் எப்போதும் வரவேற்கப்பட்டார்கள். அங்கே அவர் சரோஜினி நாயுடுவைச் சந்தித்தார். தாழ்த்தப்பட்ட இந்துக்களும் பளிங்கு மாளிகையில் செல்ல அனுமதி மறுக்கப்பட்டது. எங்களை அனுமதித்தாலும்கூட நாங்கள் உபயோகித்த மண் பாத்திரங்களை எல்லாம் எஜமானி உடைத்து நொறுக்கிவிடுவார். நாங்கள் போன பிறகு தனியாக தீட்டுக் கழிக்கும் சடங்குகள் செய்வார் என்று சரோஜினி நாயுடு சொன்னார். இந்த சம்பவம் பற்றிச் சொல்லும்போது எல்வின் "நான் என் வாழ்வின் இறுதிவரை பாபுவிடம் விசுவாசமாக இருப்பேன். ஆனால் அவருடைய தொண்டர்கள் சிலர் விசுவாசமாக இருப்பதைக் கடினமாக்குகிறார்கள்.

ரோட்டரி கிளப்பில், எல்வின் பேசினார் "இந்தியாவில் வறுமை நமக்குப் பழக்கப்பட்டுவிட்டது. அதனாலேயே அது என்னவென்று நாம் மறந்து போகிறோம். ஒருநாள் நடந்த நிகழச்சியை நினைத்துப் பார்க்கிறேன். ஒரு குடும்பம் கண்ணீருடன் எங்களிடம் வந்தது. அவர்களுடைய குடிசை தீயில் எரிந்துவிட்டது. அவர்களிடமிருந்த எல்லாப் பொருட்களும் தீக்கிரையாகிவிட்டன. மீண்டும் அவர்கள் சாதாரண வாழ்க்கைக்குத் திரும்ப எவ்வளவு பணம் தேவை என்று கேட்டேன். 'நான்கு ரூபாய்கள்' என்று சொன்னார்கள். 'ப்ரேவ் நியு வேர்ல்ட்' நாவலின் ஒரு பிரதியின் விலை நான்கு ரூபாய். அதுதான் வறுமை. ஒரு தடவை, பஸ்தார் மாநிலத்தில், மரண தண்டணை விதிக்கப்பட்ட ஒரு மரியாவிடம், அவனைத் தூக்கிலிடும் முன்னால் "உன் கடைசி ஆசை என்ன?" என்று கேட்டார்கள். நகரத்துப் பாணியில் செய்யப்பட்ட சில சப்பாத்திகளும், மீன் குழம்பும் வேண்டும் என்று கேட்டான். அவனுக்கு அதைக் கொடுத்தார்கள், அதில் பாதியை அவன் மிகவும் அனுபவித்துச் சாப்பிட்டான். மீதம் உள்ளதை ஒரு இலையில் சுருட்டி, ஜெயிலரிடம் கொடுத்து, "எனது மகன் சிறைக் கதவுக்கு அந்தப்புறம் காத்திருக்கிறான், அவன் இதுநாள்வரை இப்படிச் சுவையான உணவைச் சாப்பிட்டதில்லை. அவன் இப்போதாவது இதைச் சாப்பிடட்டும்" என்று சொன்னான். அதுதான் வறுமை. உங்கள் சின்னக் குழந்தைகளை அழகின் வடிவமாக இருக்கும் வயதில் சாகக் கொடுப்பது வறுமை. உங்கள் மனைவி சீக்கிரம் கிழவியாகிப் போவதையும், வாழ்க்கையின் பாரம் தாங்காமல் உங்கள் அம்மாவின் முதுகில் கூன் விழுவதைக் காண்பதும்தான் வறுமை. அகங்காரம் பிடித்த அதிகாரியின் முன்னால் பாதுகாப்பின்றி நிற்பது, சுரண்டல்காரர்கள், ஏய்ப்பவர்கள் முன்னால் ஒன்றுமே செய்ய முடியாமல் நிற்பது, அதுதான் வறுமை. நீதிமன்றத்தின் வாசலில் பலமணிநேரம் காத்திருந்தும் உள்ளே நுழைய அனுமதி மறுக்கப்படுவது, அதிகார வர்க்கம் செவிடாக, பெரியவர்களும் வசதி படைத்தவர்களும் குருடாக இருப்பதைக் காண்பது, அதுதான் வறுமை. எப்போதாவது கிடைக்கும் தீயில் சுட்ட எலிக்காகக் குழந்தைகள் சண்டையிடுவதைப் பார்த்திருக்கிறேன். வயதான பெண்கள், விசிறிப் பனைமரத்தின் தண்டுப் பாகத்தை, களைப்புடன் இடித்து மாவாக்குவதைப் பார்த்திருக்கிறேன். ஆண்கள் மரங்களின் மீது ஏறி, செவ்வெறும்புகளைப் பிடித்து, மிளகாய்க்குப் பதிலாக உண்பதைக் கவனித்திருக்கிறேன். பட்டினி, அவநம்பிக்கை, சொந்தங்களை இழப்பது, எதுவும் பயனில்லை என்று உணர்வது. அதுதான் வறுமை. அது ஒன்றும் அழகானதில்லை.