It had been a while since last she'd written to her family, but once the messenger hawk appeared at her window that Nymor afternoon, she knew that she couldn't keep them in the dark forever, lest her mother get a panic attack. Gritting her teeth, Elaine stared blankly at the page before her, not a word written on it, and this was because, well, she wasn't certain as to where she should start.

Sitting at her desk, Elaine began to put down her thoughts on paper, only to quickly realize that so much had happened since her last correspondence that she would need more than a single page to cover everything. She picked up her pencil and tapped it on her forehead, trying to recall all the events that had taken place. If nothing else, she wanted to alleviate them of their worries. They were aware of how challenging Glyph Academy could be, just as they knew most students in attendance were of a higher class than herself. 

Her parents always fretted that she might not be able to blend in with the aristocracy, and although it took some time, Elaine liked to think that she had adapted to her new lifestyle. This was a significant change from her rural upbringing. No more was she that humble country girl who got anxious whenever a newcomer came strolling into town. So again, where was she to begin?

But then, Elaine realized that she had not yet mentioned that she did, in fact, have friends, two of whom were nobles. She smiled to herself and picked up her pencil, the tip scratching against the paper as she began transcribing her thoughts. Slowly but surely, lines of text began to fill the upper half of the page. She would go on to elaborate on how her roommate was an expert Medical Mage—Aeris knew they needed a few more of those in Page—as well as she was skilled in Plant Magic. Despite a rocky start in which Elaine had nearly gotten her face bitten off by Gulp the veladora snaptrapper, the two had quickly become close friends. If it were possible, she'd love for Ellend and Liam to meet them as she knew they'd get along well given how naturally kind Fearne was.

Then there was Custas, the fast-talking mage who hailed from the far-off country of Urista. She included how he'd been the one who had helped her attain a wand holster that rested on the table beside her, even if he had to swindle a vendor using his charmspeak to do so—Elaine made sure to exclude that part as it wouldn't make for the best first impression. What's more, Custas was a Summoner, a rarity but never the less an impressive attribute.

Custas once told her that he was Bonded to a total of four spirits, but she'd only ever seen him Summon two: Serpens the Elusive and Felis the Seeker; the latter of which had assisted them both during a test for their first Black Magic Defense lesson. She was eager to see him Summon the others, however, he'd made it clear that he was but only a beginner—much like how Fearne was still a novice Medical Mage—and he would only count on the spirits' powers if it was absolutely necessary, which made sense, she supposed. 

But when he wasn't beckoning an otherworldly being, he resorted to using his Wind Magic, the same kind that let people soar across the air or jump thousands of feet off the ground. He had done neither, but with some more training, Elaine was willing to bet he could pull it off, and she'd coerce him into doing so if he refused.

As she reached the halfway point of her page, Elaine felt the burning on the sides of her face, and she realized what last she'd written were two words: Kliff Dresden. As she dwelled on it some more, she recognized that she really didn't know a whole lot about the guy, well, discounting what she had already heard from others. He was the heir to one of the most powerful Noble Houses in Incante who owned a remunerative wand-making enterprise that spanned across the entire country. Honestly, Elaine could have never imagined making friends with someone like him, and yet, there she was, sitting in her dorm room, scarred with a blush, a stupid grin stretched between both of her cheeks.

She didn't know why the boy made her feel this way; she had never experienced anything like this with anybody else. Elaine recalled an instant some two years ago when she'd run into Lacy pacing back and forth outside their house. Now she could identify that, yes, she had feelings for her older brother, as she'd often get giddy around him ever since they were kids.

As young as she was, the concept of love was one that alluded her, and when it was that Elaine saw Lacy standing at their front door flustered—raising a trembling fist to knock only to pull it away at the last second—she couldn't resist the urge to ask the girl why she became such a reck around Ellend, earning a startled yelp! as she did. Lacy hadn't gone into much detail, but she had said that she would understand when she was older.

Was that it? Was this...love that was blighting her? No, of course, it wasn't! It couldn't be! Once again, Elaine hardly knew anything about Kliff. How could she harbor feelings for someone she'd only just acquainted herself with for the lesser part of a month? That was just preposterous! But a handsome portrait of the young man puffed into her mind from a cloud; he was smiling at her, trapping her within his blue-colored eyes seasoned with specs of yellow. It took a slap on either side of her face in order to quell the inflamed blush, and Elaine went back to writing shortly after that, the image fading out of her.

"Now then," she said, finishing the last sentence, tapping the end of the pencil on her chin. "What else is there for me to say?"

What kind of sorcerer do you want to be? a voice that sounded vaguely like her brother's inquired.

Elaine frowned down at the paper. Did she have an answer to that oh-so-obvious question? Her lips were sealed closed, and her hands formed knuckles on the desk. She was doing this for her family, wasn't she? She wanted to learn magic not only to be a sorcerer but in order to help people. Wasn't that enough? "No, no, it isn't." That answer brought no satisfaction to her; a desire and one's spirit weren't mutually exclusive, after all. Who was the sorcerer buried beneath her Essence? Was it even possible to unearth that reflection of a stranger and embody her passion?

What kind of sorcerer do you want to be, El? Yes, that was definitely Ellend's voice. But the more she considered what he'd asked, the stronger her exasperation became.

"I'll figure it out," she grunted to herself. "Sunder me, I will."

Closing her eyes as she exhaled, Elaine began detailing how her classes were going, as she was certain Ellend was more than curious to learn about them. She described her battle with the homunculus, about the insane tests orchestrated by Allan Marsh himself, the dangerous and deadly Abyssal Mage, and even how well she was doing in Potion Making—what kind of apprentice potion-maker would she be if she wasn't?

Then there was the Aire Club, too, and Elaine grinned as she highlighted Casey's energetic personality. But in doing so, she was reminded of the conversation she'd last had with the club leader. She had a plan, one that, according to her, would benefit the Aire Club in the long run, though she didn't explicitly say what it was, causing Elaine to doubt that the girl had a plan to begin with.

But she needed it to work, otherwise, she'd have to find a different way to procure a Radiant Star, and the fact that they were getting increasingly closer to the end of the semester didn't fill her with hope. If she failed, what would Professor Marsh do to her, she wondered, and she shivered in her chair as she imagined his terrifying, lifeless eyes and creepy grin. Just what would be her punishment? Would he try and have her expelled again? Would he—

Movement from behind brought to her attention Fearne shuffling with a satchel sitting on the edge of her bed. She was wearing a simple, plain-white floral dress along with her red open-toed flat sandals, and a ribbon was tied over her chest. Gulp grunted on the bedside table, and the girl smiled at him, patting the plant on his head until he calmed down, his fangs curving inside the creature's hideous snigger.

"You look nice," Elaine chuckled. "Going somewhere?"

Fearne glanced at her with a smile. "Eh, just to Lakestone. I have to...get a few things."

"Lakestone? Didn't you just go there?"

"That I did," Fearne said, and the way she repeatedly stroked her ponytail was a clear indicator that she was nervous. "It's something for my mother. There's a shop in town that allegedly sells really good herbs. I figured I would check to see if that was the case, and send some down to her as a surprise thank-you gift."

Elaine frowned. "A gift, huh? Good Aeris. Fearne, why are you so nice? Here I am only sending a stupid letter, and you're going out of your way to buy your family presents. I'm a failure as a daughter!" she groaned dramatically. Then again, it wasn't like she had a lot of tokens to spend. As such, she was a lowborn; she doubted she'd be able to afford anything with the low quantity of money she had on her...unless, of course, she could convince Custas to use his charmspeak again.

"Oh, Elaine," Fearne said distractedly, sliding something else into her satchel. "I'm positive your folks will be thrilled when they hear that you're doing well; happiness doesn't always have to be bought."

"I guess you're right," Elaine sighed. She stared outside her window, the sky darkening with every passing minute as evening gradually gave way to night. Even if she was using the archgates, Elaine suspected that Fearne wouldn't return until the Twin Sisters were waxing and waning. "Maybe I should come with you," Elaine suggested, getting out of her chair.

"Please, don't trouble yourself. I'll be fine," Fearne replied, waving a hand. "I know the safest route to take to get where I need to be. And unlike Custas, I actually have a pretty good sense of direction."

"But...wouldn't it be safer if we went together?"

"Safer? You mean, do you think Todd might try something again?" Fearne asked, a finger to her bottom lip. "Because I think he's more interested in Custas than he is in you or me. Well, I guess he might not like Kliff, too, considering he lost to him in a duel and all. But it's not like I'll be strolling through an alleyway by myself. I'll be fine, honest. Plus, from the looks of it, you're little friend is starting to get restless."

Elaine shot a glance to the windowsill where the red and white-feathered bird was profusely tapping at the glass, shaking all four of its folded wings. It must have been eager to get back into the sky again, and it'd be insensitive to keep the bird waiting like this, especially when she hadn't even finished writing her letter. When she looked back at Fearne, the girl was already by the door, a tap of her hand making it disappear in a smog of white smoke. "I appreciate you looking out for me," Fearne said, "but I can handle my own as well."

"I...I know you can," Elaine sighed. "I just worry, that's it."

Fearne turned to wave, smiling as she stepped into the hallway outside. "This shouldn't take long, promise. I'll be back soon." Their dorm room door materialized in front of her, strips of wood magically falling into place until the room went silent, save for Gulp's grunts and the messenger falcon's pecking of glass.

Elaine exhaled as she sat back down at her study desk. Worry over Fearne wouldn't take her anywhere productive, so she did as her roommate suggested and returned to her letter, a pencil clenched tightly in her hand. Midterms are coming up, she thought as she began the sentence of a new paragraph. To be honest, I have no idea how they'll go. People keep telling me that if I keep studying, I should do relatively all right...but this is Glyph Academy we're talking about. There's no way of knowing just how insane these exams might be, and if my first week was any indication, the professors made it quite clear that they're okay with throwing curveballs our way.

Elaine frowned, yet she tempered her emotions with a subdued smile when she continued writing. But don't worry, I haven't forgotten how grand of an opportunity this is. I want to succeed in my studies, but I also want to enjoy my time here as a student. The friends I've made are some of the best I've ever had, and I've learned more about my magic in a single day than in my entire life. Ellend, once I come back, I'll show you the new spells I can cast. "Even if I have no idea how I actually learned them," Elaine said aloud. But brother...I still haven't made any progress in finding a cure for your condition.

Elaine froze as she finished that last sentence, and regret pricked her stomach. She had gone to visit Professor Dragonthorne again after class yesterday evening. She was a nice lady, however, the Medical Mage still hadn't any word from her friends in the Capital, the ones investigating if there was a healing spell that could possibly nullify the damage of Ellend's injury. She always knew it'd be a long shot, but she had to try regardless. For his sake.

She glanced at the wand, reaching for it as if to grab ahold of her brother's hand. No matter what anybody told her, Ellend should have been the one to be accepted into Glyph Academy, not her. As far as she was concerned, her brother far outmatched her in regard to his sorcery...or at least he would have, had it not been for that Shadow-forsaken duel. 

"No point in dwelling on that now," she grumbled. "I'm here now, and they're all depending on me." The future of Harwood's Potions, the future of her family, her future as a sorcerer; should she graduate from the academy a Professional Sorcerer, all her desires would be within reach.

Elaine diffused a frustrated sigh as her pencil began scribbling again, but a flash of light deep within her mind reawakened a memory. With an audible start, she grabbed at her forehead, squeezing her eyes closed tightly as pictures of an unknown time came flooding in the darkness. A gray-colored world expanded before her, where a house caught in an inferno roared in a fiery fury.

There was a woman there, staring at it in pain with eyes that appeared pink. "Live your life well," she said, holding a glowing palm directly at her. "Be safe, my Alight."

That was where the memory ended; Elaine hadn't noticed it, but she'd broken into a cold sweat, watery beads stinging her skin. "Wh...What was that?" she said reluctantly and to nobody. A dream? No, it felt too real to be a dream. What was it trying to tell her?

At the window, the messenger falcon unfolded its wings and started beating them repeatedly as if it were preparing to take flight, cocking its head to the side so that it may aim one of its sharp eyes at her. Obviously, the raptor was getting tired from waiting, or maybe it just didn't like to be cramped up in a room when it could be soaring through the clouds. Regardless, Elaine gave herself a shake, a feeble attempt to forget what she had just remembered, assuming that it was a memory at all.

"Sorry for taking so long," she mumbled quietly. "Wait just a few more minutes, please. I'll be finished shortly." Whatever she'd just seen, Elaine wanted no part in it.

*

* *

Fearne stepped into the Front Gardens, trying to forget what had happened; it wasn't easy, but she needed to move on. The orangish-colored sky was shimmering as clouds—like enormous balls of cotton—bounced over the Eternal Gardens, the pollen-touched wind causing her ponytail to flicker behind her head. 

Her mother, Thea, wasn't a fan, but Fearne always loved the fall season, and these high autumn days carried a Melody that only she could hear. The songs of the natural world were lost by many, but her mothers had taught her how to listen to them, even as the noise of relativity attempted to drown them out.

She hesitated as she ran into a small crowd of students on the stone path stretching away from the academy's main doors, and as she neared them, she could almost instantly discern a few of their sour expressions. She imagined once they put some distance from her, they would parrot what others had already concluded about her. 

A halfbreed in a Glyph uniform? A halfbreed with a wand? A halfbreed daring to use magic? Those unkind words were to her as ordinary as a tree in a meadow, or a fawn sipping from a river deep within the forest. And just as always, she tuned them out, choosing instead to focus on the Melody.

It was difficult to explain, but each Melody was unique from the other, carrying with them a separate rhythm, a separate tone. When in her family's gardens, she could hear the jovial jingles the flowers gave off as they staggered and jumped in a gentle breeze. Meanwhile, while she was collecting herbs in the forest, she was greeted by a boisterous chorus performed by the mighty trees towering proudly above her. At first, she didn't like how obnoxiously blaring their performance was, but, in time, she grew to appreciate the passion they discharged, and she would often nod her head in accompaniment with their roars.

But the worst kind of Melody, at least, in her opinion, were of the plants secluded on a lonely windowsill, or a tree isolated by an empty park bench, cut off from the natural world. Even as a child, she noticed that nature seemed a lot less happy whenever it was that humanity got too close, and their Melodies reflected their dour emotions. 

Some of those Melodies were enough to bring a tear to her eyes. Yet, interestingly enough, none of the plants on campus seemed unhappy; the Melodies echoing here were as strong and untainted as ever. That was good. It meant that the Glyph staff was keeping them happy and in good health, which was all that Fearne could have hoped for.

"See her? That's the one I told you about." Whispers just loud enough for Fearne to acknowledge made her glance left, where three students sat on a bench. One of them, a dark-haired boy, snickered as he spoke into the ear of the girl beside him. "She's a halfbreed. They tried to keep it on the down low, but somebody found out."

The girl scoffed. "Seriously? How disappointing. Does Glyph just let anyone in or what?"

"Maybe they felt sorry for her," the other boy sitting at the edge of the bench snickered as he leaned his head back at the sky. "Hell, I would be too if I was unlucky enough to be born a halfbreed."

"Ssh! She'll hear you!" the girl said, soft yet curtly.

"So what if she does?" the dark-haired boy said loudly. "It's not like she can do anything. And if she did, that would be an even bigger mistake."

He was right; she was helpless. 

Giving her ponytail a yank, Fearne proceeded swiftly past them, all the while their laughter and hurtful comments slaughtered her from behind. She tried focusing on something, anything else. Like the branches of the trees swaying elegantly in the breeze, singing their mighty songs, or a flock of fairies flying overhead. Oddly enough, one amongst the flock glowed a hot magenta kind of color instead of the traditional blue or red​​—did fairies come in different colors in this part of Incante?

But no diversion could ward her away from the cruel reality that was a halfbreed attending Glyph Academy. Maybe I should have told Elaine? Fearne grimaced at the thought. No, there's no need to involve my friends in this. I have to be...have to be strong. Fearne gripped the vine bracelet tightly; it was the only thing she could think of to keep the tears restrained behind her eyelids. When she touched it, she felt them, and she remembered Rosal City's Melodies. "I have to be strong."

Yes, if she were to be a Medical Mage, if she were to make it as a Professional Sorcerer, then she needed to preserve an undying heart. Breathing out, she continued to the Nexus, heeding the eternal Melody meant just for her.