The shrill ring of the school bell pierced through the bustling hallways of Oakwood High, signaling the start of another mundane Monday. Milo Patel shuffled into his first-period English class, keeping his head down and clutching his worn leather notebook to his chest like a shield. As he slid into his usual seat in the back corner, he caught a glimpse of Zoe Chen’s glossy black ponytail a few rows ahead. His heart did its usual somersault. ...
Lady Beatrice Fairfax surveyed the glittering ballroom with a mixture of boredom and disdain. The annual Midsummer’s Eve Ball at Thornbury Castle was in full swing, with ladies in elaborate gowns twirling across the polished floor and gentlemen in their finest attire engaging in what passed for witty repartee. Beatrice stifled a yawn behind her fan. “My dear, do try to look a bit more enthusiastic,” her aunt, the Duchess Agatha, hissed in her ear. “You’re not getting any younger, you know. It’s high time you secured a suitable match.” ...
The scorching Arizona sun beat down on Milo Prickles’ weathered face as he shuffled across the cracked earth of his desert sanctuary. His gnarled hands, scarred from decades of handling prickly plants, gently caressed the spines of a towering saguaro cactus. “There, there, Bertha,” he cooed, his voice gravelly from years of disuse. “I know you’re thirsty, but the rains will come soon. You just have to be patient.” Milo’s eyes, still sharp despite his advancing years, scanned the horizon. The familiar silhouette of red rock formations shimmered in the heat haze, but something was different today. A plume of dust rose in the distance, signaling an approaching vehicle. ...