Published at 29th of November 2025 6:47 pm

Chapter ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY ONE: Event Planning Isn't Hard

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

171

******

Maybe Ive found my true calling, thought Alden. He was sitting in the cafeteria at the table hed helped clear dishes from. His tablet was in front of him, and he was adding Bobbys name to the list of people who wanted to donate food. Event planning isnt that hard.

Because hed told Kabir he would take care of informing the generals, hed sent a message to Drusi-otta earlier, asking her if it was all right to offer Esh-erdi and Lind-otta food gifted by humans who werent the official Matadero chef. Alden couldnt bring himself to call Esh-erdi personally about it. Are you too important to be in the presence of food made by people without a culinary degree? was a bizarre distraction of a question, sovotary.

Not an assassin. One trip to a Rapport sure could reframe a lot of things.

Hed also updated the votary on his planned movements to and from Matadero today, since the last hed heard she was still monitoring him when he left.

Drusi-otta, with her typical brevity, had thanked him and told him that the dishes presented at the days second meal were not something the knights considered at length.

Maybe theyll consider these at length in a good way, though. It looks like it could be a great meal.

He sent a text to Haoyu, telling him to expect his personal trainer to show up at the dorm bearing a cucumber salad. Alden had been sending most of the Apex residents there to drop off their donations.

The hardest part of each phone call was the beginning, when he covered why and how hed ended up at Matadero planning a Thanksgiving dinner. But hed mastered it now. The trick was to say, Its not really Matadero, only the cafeteria at Matadero.

And everyone seemed willing to let it slide even if they were still confused.

People are so helpful, he said, admiring some of the first entries on the list.

Natalie: magic turkey

Zhang-Demirs: stuffed peppers

Molly: blackberry cobbler

Gustavo: feijoada

Gretchen: shortbread bars

And Kabir had just scored them a small flock of Peking ducks from a friends restaurant.

The entree table will look good with those in a circle around the turkey, said Alden.

Kabir nodded absently. He was muttering and counting on his fingers. I think we have plenty now. Its a good mix of main courses and sweets, he said when he finished. For pickups

Ive told people in F to take their dishes to the TC for the batch teleport thats scheduled for 7:45 p.m., Alden said promptly. Ill be picking up the Apex food and the turkey around then, too. After Ive eaten dinner with my friends. Ill be back here with it all in timejust a second, someones calling.

He looked at the name. Jeffy? What does he want?

Hey, Jeffy, he said as soon as the Aqua Brutes image appeared, floating in front of his eyes. Whats?

Do Artonans like jalapeno or maple smoke better? Jeffy was standing in the Apex Wright shop, beside one of the impulse item bins, holding up two bags of beef jerky.

Huh? Alden stared at him. I guess you heard about the thing Im doing somehow. Were good on food, though, and jerky isnt

Hey! Jeffy dove toward the jerky display, and it shook violently. Oops. But look. They have turkey jerky, too!

He waved another bag eagerly at Alden.

Alden hadnt called everyone he knew to request food. Hed focused on adults and the classmates he got along with who had Avowed parents. Mature people with access to full kitchens had been the goal, and since enough of them had said yes, he hadnt had to resort to asking all of his peers for help.

How did the news filter to Jeffy already? he wondered.

No reason to reject him when he looked so excited, though. Alden could just leave the jerky in the kitchen instead of putting it on the feast table. Some wizard looking for snacks might find it later and appreciate it.

Okay. Just dont get too much, he said. You need to put like twelve of those packs you just grabbed back. And you can take the rest to Haoyu at the dorm. Im asking him to collect the food in one spot, so that I dont have to fly all over the island.

I could run all over the island and get stuff for you, said Jeffy.

You still arent licensed to run on the highways.

No, thats not necessary. The plan is set. Just take your jerky to Haoyu, and Ill go get it myself. Thanks.

Jeffy nodded. Ill see you there! I need to ask you about talent selection.

Your own talent selection? Alden asked. You havent done it yet?

He hadnt realized that. Hed assumed Jeffy had accepted something that looked fun as soon as the System offered.

The teachers all told me to wait until theyd advised me, but now Ive let them advise me. And I dont think they really get me, you know? So Im asking everyone else.

Its important that you like what you choose, Alden said. We can talk about it. Maybe not today, but soon.

Its cool that youre the Thanksgiving man for Matadero now, said Jeffy.

A woman wheeling bags of something called instant steel on one of the shops heavy-mover carts turned to stare at him.

Lets not mention the cube loud enough for the entire island to hear, Alden said.

Sorry, Jeffy whispered. Is it a surprise party?

When Alden had finished with him, he refocused on Kabir, whod stood up from the table but failed to make it more than two steps before he received another call of his own.

With the dry ice it should be fine, he was saying. All right. Thanks. Well take care of it when it reaches us. Im sure theyll appreciate it.

He scratched the back of his neck and turned to Alden. That was an ice cream parlor in Rosa Grove. Theyre donating, too. We dont need it, but I couldnt tell them no. The woman who runs it wanted to thank the generals for saving her parents apartment.

Thats awesome.

Kabir was still frowning. I should text everyone and let them know weve got enough now. Im not sure how the ice cream parlor woman found out. She said someone named Larry had just called her. I dont think I know a Larry.

Thats funny, said Alden. My friend who just called must have heard about it from someone else, too. I wasnt even planning on asking him for anyth

[Jupiter: Dont worry, Alden. The cornucopia will be ready in time. I got permission to skip a class, so I could make it.]

Alden re-read the text. Hed told the System to send all messages directly to his interface, so that he wouldnt miss anything from the people hed called.

Jupiter wasnt one of the people hed called.

What cornucopia? What are they doing?

Wed definitely better let everyone know were through now, he agreed. I didnt tell people to spread the news, but theres obviously been a leak or two.

Kabir nodded. Yes. Illand theres another one. Let me answer it.

<<Hello? Were done acceptingsushi probably would be refreshing, but we have plenty to feed the wizards alreayes. Yes, I understand. Someone named Korev-alm?>> He sighed. <<If I see them Ill tell them you sent it. Yes, take it to the TCoh, you already know that. How? No! No, dont tell your neighbors! Weve got plenty.

While Kabir talked the sushi donator down from informing the neighborhood, Alden quickly sent a mass text out to everyone hed spoken to, telling them that the Matadero Potluck was now full. No need to get more people involved. And please let everyone theyd told know the same thing.

[Jeffy: OK. I got the maple smoke, too.]

[Everly: Ill make sure my parents know.]

[Astrid: My mother is making meatballs.]

[Haoyu: Someone just sent a pizza to our room.]

[Astrid: Should I tell her to stop?]

<>[Haoyu: Theres not even a name. It just has a pepperoni smiley face on top.]

[Haoyu: Ill call the restaurant and ask who its from.]

Its only been an hour since we called the first people, Alden said, trying to mental text answers to everyone who needed them. Everyone must have a lot of pent-up gratitude.

Kabirs face was pained. Not all of them. Someone who owns the restaurant next door to one of the ones I called is asking me how many of the Artonans are here to make employment offers and if I could put in a word for him after they eat his burgers.

Alden sat up straighter. The burger maker has the wrong attitude. If theres way too much food, the burgers get frozen and eaten months from now when the next demon slaughter day happens.

Shhhwhy would you say that?! Kabir stared at him in horror. Dont remind me what this place is!

Right. Sorry.

[Liam: Alden, Tinas taking lemon bars to your dorm later. Is Candy Corny there?]

[General Esh-erdi is snakesitting right now,] Alden texted back.

Weve definitely got enough now, he said aloud. By the time the stop message gets around it might be slightly ridiculous. But its fine. The TC stuff will all just arrive downstairs like a normal supply order.

Theres nothing normal about picking up groceries from a deep, dark basement covered in signs letting you know it could be flooded at a moments notice.

Alden didnt point out that the teleportation room was only deep. It was as well-lit as the rest of Matadero, and nothing down on that floor resembled a basement.

[Haoyu: The pizza sender is anonymous. Lexi says anonymous food is too suspicious to feed to wizards. He says Id better tell you that since your judgement about anonymous food and wizards is off.]

Hey! Alden said, affronted. My judgement of both is just fine, Lexi.

******

When ten minutes had passed with no more calls or texts from his half of the potluck volunteers, Alden left Kabir arguing with someone who was insisting that the Artonans needed a cheese course.

He went to the kitchen to find out if they had the ingredients for the dish he hoped to contribute to this dinner as well as Natalies. He searched through the fridges and freezers.

Corn, peppers, no lima beans. Can I just use canned beans of some kind?

In the storeroom, he stared at the jumbo cans. Some of them were new and familiar, but most of them had black labeling in multiple languages, with no brand names. They were stacked on shelves made of stone that glowed a little when Alden touched them.

I hope they didnt can all of this in the 60s and just leave it here. But it sure looks like they might have canned all of this in the 60s and left it here.

Maybe I shouldnt bother cooking, after all. Everyone elses dish is going to be better, and I want to take my time and make it exactly right the first time I try it.

On the other hand, didnt taking a persons turkey obligate you to add food to their table even more?

He checked the time on his interface. Natalies dinner was starting at 6:30 p.m. and continuing until everyone left. Alden didnt have to show up on the dot. And the recipe was only supposed to take 45 minutes according to his grandmothers note at the top.

Connies cooking from the family cookbook.

He didnt know why the thought kept crossing his mind. The angry, lost feeling from a few days ago was gone mostly.

I just want to do it, I guess. A little family thing on the family day. Nothing wrong with that.

Drusi-otta was fine with him leaving the cube. Grocery shopping would take a while, but if he flew fastoh, I could do that!

System, call Dragon Rabbit.

A near-instant pickup. Voice only of course. Alden, this is Dragon Rabbit. You need things. I get them for you.

The familiar greeting had Alden grinning at a can of probably-ancient evaporated milk.

Dragon Rabbit! Im glad you survived all of this stuff. Can you deliver fresh lima beans to the ocean?

There was a pause. You want me to throw them in?

******

Alden and The Nine-edged Son Whose Own Mother Forsakes Him arrived at the delivery point a few minutes ahead of schedule. He decided to use his time wisely, by lying on his back in the sun, watching videos of guys using slings. He needed some offensive options for duels, and Luna Plim had mentioned slings. They were probably more practical than Aldens desire to put something enormous on the end of his string and then smash it around like a hammer.

Ill try that too, though. And probably dislocate my arms.

The man on the current videoa hobbyist who studied historical weaponrylaunched a small rock toward a milk jug and missed for the fifteenth time.

It was obviously hard to aim, and it became even harder to aim when your sling was longer.

But Alden wouldnt actually have to deal with that problem to the same degree. Especially if he was imagining his projectile and his sling rope as a single object.

I should be able to spin it then preserve it in a couple of different ways. Even before the start of a fight. Then, I launch the rock or temper sphere when the attacker is close, and Im sure I wont miss.

Practice would be necessary, and he was sure there would be some wrinkles. But he should at least be able to learn from it. More importantly, if he practiced offense instead of defense versus heavy hitters like Marsha, he wouldnt exhaust his skill even if he lost the battle. Hed be able to keep going for the next one.

Ill start trying it out on people I cant possibly defend against, he decided. I still think my plan yesterday might have worked on Reinhard, though.

Dragon Rabbits delivery drone arrived right on time. It was a large green one with a crown of propellers overhead and fangs painted on its bulbous nose. Alden stood up to greet it and gave it plenty of room to drop the soft-sided cooler bag it was carrying. But it kept circling overhead, propellers buzzing, apparently bewildered by the nonagon.

Right here, dude, said Alden, pointing at the nonagons surface. No, not like that. Dont go under me.

He spun the driving ring on his finger and flew a few feet higher. Come here. Put the delivery on this. On top of this.

The drone flew up again and hovered. Its lights flashed. Please clear the deck of your ship for delivery.

It had a voice that Alden thought was supposed to be sultry.

Of all the choices

The deck is clear. To get it any clearer, Id have to jump off.

He thought he was lucky not to have a brand new case of thalassophobia after what had happened. But he still didnt feel like going for a cold swim.

Please clear the deck. I want to deliver your parcel, the drone said.

If someone were here to entrust me with you, IdSystem, call Dragon Rabbit again.

Another instant pickup. Is something wrong with your vegetables?

Theyre being held captive by a drone with a weird voice.

I can fix that.

A minute later, the drone had been remote piloted into position. It lowered the cooler onto the nonagon across from Alden, along with a surprise t-shirt in a plastic bag. As it flew away, Alden examined his repeat customer reward.

The bunny-eared dragon lounging on its mound of luxury goods was cute as far as advertising went, but he couldnt help wondering how much mental effort Stuart would expend trying to interpret the shirt if he ever saw Alden wearing it.

He opened the cooler and found the lima beans, with ice packs, plus the specific variety of onions his grandmother had recommended and a smoked spice blend that was supposed to be a good substitute for the bacon flavor.

He smiled. I get to eat something my mom probably ate, with almost all the right stuff in it.

He was still feeling pleased with how well his day was going by thetime he made it back to the kitchen. Kabir was absent, but the radio station the chef liked was turned up again, and hed dug out white tablecloths from somewhere.

Matadero really does have almost everything if you look hard enough.

Couldnt expect people to fight and then eat at a naked table.

Alden found an appropriately sized pot, figured out the stove, and congratulated himself on starting the water boiling process without any mishaps.

He read the recipe again.

Measure everything in advance, he decided. No mistakes.

He was looking through drawers and in cabinets, trying to find the measuring spoons, when Kabir returned, carrying an impressive tower of coolers and boxes. One giant takeout bag started to slide as he came into the kitchen, and Alden jumped toward him to grab it.

Whats all this? he asked.

It wasnt time for the TC to send over a delivery yet.

Once Alden set down the bag and grabbed a box full of aluminum pans covered in foil from the next level of the tower, Kabirs face was revealed. He looked worried.

Slowly, he said, We may have misjudgedsome things.

What do you mean?

The TC called, said Kabir. They wanted to know if it was all right to send the food that had already arrived, since they were worried about the staff at the teleshipping area getting overwhelmed with packages.

Must be a busy day, said Alden.

Kabir grimaced at him. I think they were saying that we are the busy day.

Come on. We cant be contributing that much to their load. Even if theyre having to run it all through extra security checks orare these candles?

He stared at the next box. The top was taped, but the label said it contained Special Occasion CandlesAutumn Evening Picnic SetMade by Wrightwax Studio.

You got decorations, too? he asked.

I didnt, said Kabir.

Then these are

I didnt ask for most of the things downstairs. There are buckets full of pickles. Who needs that many pickles? We arent starting a deli. And people keep calling me to ask if Ill be sure to put their restaurants name on the food.

But you called everyone and told them we were good, Alden said. Did they not pass that on? I havent gotten any messages from my friends, so I dont think its still leaking on my end.

Surely if teenagers could chill out and control their urge to gossip, then adults should be able to. He looked at the lima beans waiting to go into their pot and the onions sitting beside the cutting board.

Ill come help you clear the teleportation room. He grabbed a couple of the tablecloths. I can haul a lot of stuff at once if we put it in these. And maybe you can call all of these places and tell them to cease and desist?

Its gone too far, Kabir said. Instead of panicking, he now sounded gloomy. Theres nothing we can do but accept our fates.

I think youre being a littlenever mind. Weve got this. Its going to be fun. He clapped the chef on the shoulder. Lets go collect some Thanksgiving!

******

We dont got this, Alden thought a few minutes later, blinking in mute fascination at the room full of donations. We dont got this. Too much Thanksgiving. Abort.

The Matadero teleportation chamber smelled like twenty kinds of takeout, and it looked like a post office had crashed into a food court. He waded through it all, trying to beat down the growing, nervous worry that he might have screwed up somehow.

I mean its food. His eyes landed on a stack of plates that looked like they might be hand-painted. Its mostly food. Food can always be eaten laterare those French fries?! That bag says French Fry Truck! French fries are gross left over. Why would anyoneno. No, its fine. All we have to do is take all of this upstairs and sort it. And you need to make sure it stops coming. And I will call my friends and make sure nothing weird is going on over there. We can handle twenty gallons of pickles. I have been mistaken for a pickle expert in the past. Long story. Lets do this!

He spun around to give Kabir a high five of solidarity. He ended up standing there with his hand lifted awkwardly. Kabir was staring at a bag of croissants.

Lets do this! Alden said again. Weve got hours still. Teamwork!

He started making a clear spot on the floor to spread out his tablecloths. No problem. No sweat. Gratitude is great, and the fish can have the French fries.

The wizards are going to be really surprised when they see everything, he said.

What if theyre surprised in a bad way?

Theyre going to be really surprised in a good way!

Arguing with my own inner voice is healthy.

Dont you think youre overloading the tablecloth? Kabir asked, finally pulling himself away from contemplating the bakery bag. I dont know if shoving everything into a tablecloth sack will actually make it easier

Trust me! Carrying things is my thing. I can empty this room in two trips if I stack things right and put my mind to it.

Four trips later, he was crammed into the elevator with the last of it. Kabir had been left upstairs to unpackage and sort. Alden had a giant tablecloth sack gripped in both hands in front of him. A few things were probably getting more jostled than the creators had hoped they would be, and he was getting more of a workout than hed expected since hed been moving everything onto the tablecloth as fast as possible. But this was all fine.

He smelled like seafood after accidentally spilling some kind of broth on himself, but that was fine, too.

He called Haoyu, trusting that the System would do its job and block out the background if the elevator buttons were Earth-ending intel.

I hate to say this, said Haoyu when he answered, but I kind of love having so many video lectures instead of regular classes this week. It feels like were on a vacation from school, doesnt it? And someone just brought an entire case of mooncakes to our room. Theyre good. Theyre really good. Im putting them in the dessert pile.

The relaxed tone and the sight of Haoyu standing beside his bromeliad and casually biting into a half-eaten pastry was a balm to Aldens mood.

Everythings normal there, then? Nothings wrong?

Haoyu swallowed. This is my first time collecting food for a wizard Thanksgiving, but other than that, its all normal. The strangest thing going on is probably Jupiters cornucopia. I went over to the girls dorm to see it, and its too large. But everything else is okay. Weve got a couple of unexpected dishes so far, but I figure thats fine as long as they taste good. If I get full, Ill ask my dad to help me taste test when he gets here.

Youre tasting all of it? Alden asked.

Of course. My dad thinks what youre doing is fun. He says Matadero needs an injection of fun. And he bets nobody has found where he hid the rice bomb. Whatever that means. But then he said that if we served subpar food, maybe the wizards would let Anesidora get submerged next time. And I know he was joking, but I started thinking about you getting in trouble for serving subpar food. So Im tasting it for the good of the nation. And so that nothing bad happens to you.

Thank you.

Ive got your back.

Im relieved things are going smoothly over there, Alden said. You wouldnt believe how overboard the restaurants are. Theyre all telling each other. Im worried were going to have to trash some of it. Artonans can eat a lot, but theyre not bottomless. Okay. Call if anything changes. Bye.

Haoyus mouthful of mooncake muffled his own goodbye.

<<NO!>> Kabir was saying when Alden stepped out of the elevator. <<No more! I dont care if its not fair! This is not a chance to show the Triplanets what you can do with your spell impression and a pie crust. Its for thankfulness, and we have plenty!>>

Alde knew it wasnt the most admirable reaction, but he was so much more relaxed now that he had final confirmation that his helpers probably hadnt contributed to the gossip chain that was responsible for the overabundance of food. In the light of his own innocence, Kabirs renewed irritation seemed like an overreaction.

Kabir, its fine, he said in a placid voice. A few extra loads of food to carry upstairs is nothing in the grand scheme of things. It will all work out.

Kabir shot him a look.

Alden carried his tablecloth sack to the sorting corner theyd established and started cutting through tape and opening carryout containers.

Work fast, finish grandmas succotash, go to Natalies

The music was upbeat. It was keeping him going at a good pace, and when one of the songs ended and the voice of the announcer came on for the happy thought of the hour thing they were doing throughout the broadcast to keep everybodys spirits up, Alden was looking forward to hearing it.

<<Happy thought of the hour! For those of you celebrating Thanksgiving with your family and friends tonight, you wont be alone. A young man who had a difficult welcome to Avowed life earlier this year is not only thriving at one of our Apex schools now, hes also organized a group of his new friends to bring some holiday joy to our Artonan visitors.>>

Alden was bent double, reaching for an ugly organic lump that had rolled out of one of the packages. He thought it might be a truffle.

Ive never held a truffle before. I wonder what it tasteswhat? What did the radio lady just say?

It was something terrible. He knew it because his whole body had clenched as his subconscious processed the words.

<<Alden Thorn, a Rabbit attending school at Celena>>

NO!

<<haha! Im not sure how a sixteen-year-old ended up at Matadero, but theres a rumor that General Esh-erdi>>

Stop saying my name. Why are you saying my name on the radio?! With his name! About this?!

Rabbit teenager organizing a feast for exhausted wizards returning to Matadero tonight is a very happy thought. According to one of his friends>>

Whoever it was, youre unfriended!

It took him about three minutes to find the culprit.

Because the culprit was live streaming about Alden and the Thanksgiving dinner.

******

******

DurnMary Davis, named for her great-grandma Mary and Durn-afor, the wizard who her parents admired for founding the passenger pigeon de-extinction program, was sitting at her desk eating a candy bar. The limited edition box it had come in featured Carousel, New Yorks homegrown hero, looking dazzling in his Winter 2040 costume.

DurnMarys social studies homework lay untouched on the desk beside her while she stared at the handsome boy on her phone. Sun-kissed hair, a slightly mischievous smile, and he did the Win-Win wink exactly three times per live Q&A session. To let everyone know which questions were his favorites.

Some of your fans are switching over to Finlay, Win-Win, she thought. You must be so sad, but you just keep smiling for us.

She was going to type that into the Heelfeather Club forum later. If a comment got more than a thousand upvotes, Winston would autograph a photo for you.

DurnMary had a soft spot for A-ranks, so shed keep boosting Winstons spirits as he inevitably faded into obscurity compared to the obvious superstars of the new classes at the Big Three hero programs.

Some people focused all their affections on a single Avowed, but DurnMary thought the best part about being kind of maybe a little bit famous herself in the superteen fandom world was following all of the new kids together. The friendships, the scandals.

They were the same age as the people she went to school with, but they were hotter, richer, and powerful, with the shadow of unknown futures hovering over them.

Any one of them could be a star in the making. Or they could die. Or disappear.

Sometimes, you could even see love blossoming for them.

The cool breeze on Konstantins face, she thought. It was always there when he needed it most. When he was walking back to his lonely room in Garden Hall after a hard day in the gym, one where hed struggled to match the other Ss in combat and suffered another string of humiliating defeats, that breeze came to him.

Just when he was wondering if he should give up and return to the solace of ballet, as his jealous brother Alexei kept commanding him to do, he felt it againso soft, so silky. The wind brushed over the hair on the back of his neckalmost likea kiss.

Thank you, gentle breeze, Konstanin thought, sighing woefully. Youre the only one who cares about the most useless S-rank.

In the dark shadow of the MagiPhys building, Vandy watched over him with her hands coaxing the wind to caress him, her beautiful eyes full of a hopeless yearning.

DurnMary slapped the desk. Yes! Thats going up tonight. Its the next chapter in CNHearts. Its practically a prophecy.

Vandy and Konstatin were perfect for each other.

Everly could have that new fire adjuster at LiJean.

So naturally I volunteered to help him out, Winstons voice said.

DurnMary shook herself free of the ideal romance she was planning for Kon-who-should-always-go-by-his-full-name-stantin. She looked back at the phone.

Duper Supers, chats going nuts. What did you do, Win-Win?

Of course the whole class is contributing, but its an American holiday, soI can take a leadership role if they decide they need me to. Ill be making hotdogs. Like a cooking show with all of you watching. Make some suggestions. What should I top them with? What kinds of condiments do Artonans like? Hit me with your answers and grilling tips in the comments.

Holy Duper Supers, DurnMary breathed as she read back over the chat history so fast her thumb was getting sore from the rapid scroll. We have confirmation that RadishBunny is at the cube. My god. Oh my god! I thought that was just a stupid rumor. He could be the first B-rank there ever. He probably is. This is proof thatthat something! He must be friends with a wizard or maybe

She couldnt think straight.

Alden Thorn. The most mysterious teenager on Anesidora. Maybe on the whole planet. People who said he wasnt that interesting compared to real heroes needed to stuff some non-limited edition Frosted Brutie-Os in their mouth and chew so nobody else had to hear them speak.

He was silent on social media even if you tried to tell him your parents were into pigeons, too. He had such a tragedy of a life. He had been spotted flying around on a green thing that belonged to one of the powerful anti-demon military wizards. But all the curiosity about why he was doing that had dried up after the Maricel Alcantara bombshell. That girl had shot up the popularity rankings fast.

But now Alden was definitely at Matadero? For sure? And he was doing something there?

More. Info. Needed.

[Win-Win, Heelerman, Sir Winsalot,] DurnMary typed. Three heart emojis. One prayer hands. [You are my FAVORITE Avowed. But what is that Alden guy doing at Matadero? Is it safe? Is he breaking the law?]

Win-Win was adorably uncomfortable about discussing people in his class who might be more popular than him. Most of his fans didnt notice, but DurnMary had a gift for detecting his little facial twitches. Or maybe shed just realized that he was more likely to answer questions about his classmates if the person asking the question said something negative about them.

Winston Heelfeather looked at the camera. He put down the pack of hotdogs hed been displaying. He was sitting in his dorm room, in front of the bulletin board with all his non-digital fan mail pinned to it. His roommates didnt let him film in the rest of the apartment.

Weve got a question from FeathersFavoritNYC that I feel like I have to answer. You guys know I always run, but never from the truth.

He winked at the camera.

DurnMary winked back at him.

Im positive Alden isnt doing anything illegal, said Winston. How could a Rabbit break into Matadero when even a deadly organization like SAL couldnt? No, hes just really, really close to the Artonans. He lived with them for months during that thing on the moon. Some people in our class are even saying the System rescued him from The Span before themoh my gosh, by the way, you guys have to remember to visit the socials of all my classmates who suffered through that. Tell them how glad you are that theyre okay! It was really terrifying for them. But yeah. Alden got saved from The Span first. Even though his combat potentialwell, hes the best B-rank in our class!

Winston laughed.

So its natural for him to be close to the wizards and want to thank them for protecting him and cleaning up Anesidora. Some of us are even thinking that with that green octagon hes flying around, hes probably on his way toward a dream job for a Rabbit. There are rumors that hes really hoping that General Esh-erdi will offer him a permanent position if he does a good job as an assistant and octagon driver.

Winston smiled. Its only a rumor, butgood for Alden. A job like that would probably pay better than superhero work. If it ends up taking him away from the program so soon after weve met, I know well all be sad, but well also be happy he found the career that makes his heart race like a speedster.

Sowhen I heard he wanted to host a big Thanksgiving for the wizards and he was worried there wouldnt be enough food, I was so glad to help him out with it. Were going to make this a great party together!

The next twenty minutes were some of the best television DurnMary Davis had ever seen. Winston kept dropping hints about how close Alden Thorn was to General Esh-erdi and it started to sound more and more like his position as the Generals personal Rabbit errand person was a done deal. Meanwhile, the Super Tomorrow group that talked about all the young Avowed was blowing upalmost as big as it had on the day Maricels involvement in trying to stop the SAL terrorists had gone public:

Is RadishBunny leaving us? Nooo. Its too soon! This group only just named him RadishBunny!

Is General Esh-erdi the reason RadishBunny got lost in the first place? Or did they become best friends on that Thegund asteroid?

STOP EVERYTHING. Guys, did RadishBunny help Maricel defeat the SAL people? Maybe shes going to be at #MataderoThanksgiving!

Alden has no family. Remember that. Maybe he met General Esh-Esh on Moon Thegund and became like a son to him. I wish an Artonan would adopt me, too.

Winston was so busy talking it took him forever to get his hotdogs downstairs to the grill outside Garden Hall. But DurnMary stuck with him every step of the way.

She watched as JeffyS-rank Aqua Brute, definitely going placescame over to say hello.

Youre not doing the charcoal right, Winston.

I think I know how to grill, Winston said, massaging one of the briquettes with the flame on the end of his lighter.

The Brute shook his head. My Grandpa grills all the time. He doesnt just light the coals while theyre spread out flat. You need to go get the chimney from the community kitchen.

That sounds pretty logical, thought DurnMary.

Jeffy almost walked into one of the filming drones. He didnt seem to realize he was part of a cooking show.

Like I was saying! Winston said loudly. Today were making hotdogs because Alden asked for my help. And Im always here for my friends.

These are for the Thanksgiving potluck at Matadero? Jeffy said excitedly. I made beef jerky.

He looked at the camera. I made beef jerky. Actually I just bought it, but I mixed it up so every wizard gets a bite of smoky maplepeno turkey jerky instead of only one flavor.

So he does know hes being watched.

Alden realized that the wizards werent going to have a Thanksgiving, so hes planning it for them, said Jeffy. Its a special Anesidoran Thanksgiving with food from lots of countries. Hes a nice guy. He gave me his shirt when mine broke once.

Winston grabbed the tongs before Jeffy could.

I was just telling my fans how Alden is probably going to be making a lot of money working for General Esh-erdi. As his Rabbit assistant.

He keeps saying assistant and Rabbit like hes driving a point home, thought DurnMary. Careful, Win-Win. Youre being more heavy-handed than usual.

Thats why hes at Matadero, Winston said.

I thought he was there because he got hurt and the healer wanted him to stay, said Jeffy.

DurnMarys face was so close to her phone she was fogging the screen.

Thats what he told us, Jeffy said.

These are American beef hotdogs, Winston said. Arfdogs! My favorite brand.

He came to school in a cast and everything, said Jeffy. It was a magic cast.

ARFDOGS, said Winston. Id love to talk to the people who make them about a collab because they are delicieep!

A green blur dropped out of the sky so fast that Jupiter, who was collecting peppers from a nearby plant, dropped several. Winston, apparently under the impression that an aerial attack was taking place, ran away so fast he completely vanished from view.

Hi, Alden! Jeffy said brightly. Are you here to pick up my jerky?

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