Art by LunaTiel

Rushing through the indoor market plaza wasn't exactly Nell's idea of a relaxing first day living in Arxia, Mystacor, but he did need to get dinner. So it was that he, with a basket around his elbow and a shopping list in hand, studied the stand of fresh produce.

Fresh was a massive overstatement. Most of the other vegetables looked fine – Mystacor could grow anything tough enough to survive the cool weather – but the carrots were...lacking. Nell frowned at their withered roots; even the good-looking ones couldn't hold a candle to the tubers Mum used to grow in Cindel before they'd moved. She couldn't make the shepherd's pie without them, and she refused to use substitutes.

Sighing, he picked out the rice and quinoa, as well as the mild spices used to add a bit of sass to the blend. But as he turned around to check out at the supermarket, a voice addressed him. "Ah, a new face. What is your business here, young fellow?"

Nell turned around; a middle-aged satyr with graying brown hair carried a basket full of carrots. "I just moved here – my name's Nell. Yours?"

The satyr chuckled. "You have not been to Arxia much, have you?"

Nell shook his head, trying to recognize the man. His eyes wandered to a Guild badge with a pale blue stone in the center, and he blushed. "Master Norwyn! I apologize – you weren't wearing your crown –"

"Don't worry, Nell," the man said with a smile. "I'm no king. So what are you here for?"

"Um..." Nell swallowed. "Mum means to cook a Vernish shepherd's pie. I needed carrots, but..." He shook his head. "Seems they're all looking a bit glum."

"A dilemma, to be sure," Norwyn said, scratching his gray beard. "How many do you need?"

Nell checked his list. "Four, sir."

Norwyn responded by dumping five carrots in his basket. "Master," Nell exclaimed, "there's no need. Don't you have your own grub to worry about?"

He smiled. "My daughter can cook with anything. Including less-than-stellar carrots," he said, grabbing a few of the least-withered ones from the market. "Besides, it would be used for carrot cake. This old man doesn't need any more weight," he said, patting his belly with a grin.

"Your daughter...?" He knew Norwyn had an adopted child, but Nell didn't know anything about her except the Delvalians in Cindel didn't like her – which wasn't saying much, seeing as how they despised everyone who wasn't part of their ethnic group.

Norwyn nodded. "I asked her to greet some new neighbors we received." He tilted his head. "Would you, by chance, have a house on Calyx Road?"

Nell's eyes widened. "Yes, sir. Do we...live close to one another?"

"It would appear so," Norwyn chuckled heartily. "Well then, it seems she's currently visiting your parents with her friend." He sighed fondly. "I am glad she chose to make someone her acquaintance – she is notoriously difficult to befriend."

"I'll have to meet her sometime," Nell said.

"Yes," Norwyn agreed. "She can be a bit...persnickety. But don't tell her I said that," he added with a wink.

Nell gave a polite smile. Older people were usually the eccentric types, and the satyr had a reputation for being extremely community-minded. "Nice to make your acquaintance. I hope we can get together sometime. If that's alright with you," he added quickly; he had long since stopped inviting himself over, though it was a Vernish custom.

"Good day to you, Nell," Norwyn said with a nod. "I must go back home now, and see that dear Light Spinner had a good visit. I trust that you know the way back?"

Nell nodded. "I've got a map."

"Good, good," he said with another smile. "All the best to you, young one."

✧✧✧

Light Spinner walked along the road to the house of the new neighbors. From beside her, Sarah frowned. "Are you okay?"

"Fine." The flatness did not match her words.

"Don't worry about the man being a Del," her friend said, though she looked as uneasy as Light Spinner felt. "He wouldn't disrespect the Head Sorcerer's daughter. And if he did," she said with a grin, "I'd beat him up."

She didn't smile back. Sarah had a good heart, but Light Spinner couldn't help but feel jealous that her friend could throw punches and be hailed as a hero. "Thanks," she said anyway. "Ready?"

"Of course," she said. "Bring it." Her blue-tinted black hair – a trait of the Dellaneve – blew in the wind with her smile.

Light Spinner closed her eyes and knocked on the door. A muffled, accented female voice spoke from behind. "Coming! Coming!"

Scarcely had Light Spinner stood when it opened; a short human with curly brown hair and black eyes stood to greet them. Light Spinner noted the pink sari, an aspect of Vernish attire, around her shoulder. "Hello. I saw you moved in here," she said. "I'm Light Spinner – Norwyn's daughter. I live in that cottage down the road."

"And I'm Sarah," her friend said, grinning. "Light Spinner's bestie!" Scarcely taller than the Vernish woman, Sarah had almost too much energy. Perhaps that was why Light Spinner refused to fully trust her.

"Oh, it's so nice to meet you all!" the lady replied. "I'm Sember. Come on inside."

Light Spinner shuffled a bit, exchanging looks with Sarah. "Of...course," she stammered as they entered the room.

They sat down on the couch – an old, dilapidated thing. A slurred voice spoke from the hallway. "Sember, who's here?" Light Spinner swallowed, tensing on the couch as a man entered the room. Observing his tousled black hair and pointed ears, she guessed this was the Del who lived here – he wore no veil. Was he drunk?

His eyes immediately snapped to Light Spinner. "You!" he snapped. "Sember, why did you let a Delvalian in my house?"

Light Spinner rose, head high. "I don't want to cause trouble. Let's go outside."

"Oh! Um...I guess so," Sember said. As they exited the house, Sarah rolled her eyes; one thing Light Spinner did like about her friend was the lack of ethnic prejudice. Unfortunately, everyone had something that scared them...

The Vernish woman pulled over chairs for the three of them. "I'm sorry about Luís. He never feels well nowadays, but he's mostly harmless. Don't worry about him – you two are welcome anytime."

"Thank you," Light Spinner said, crossing one leg over the other. "Why did you come to Arxia?"

Sember sighed affectionately. "School – my son is going to university for Medicancy. I'm so proud of the boy."

Sarah smiled. "Where is he now?"

"At the market," Sember said. "I would have you all over for dinner – Master Norwyn, too! – but I couldn't afford enough for everyone, you see. We are always spread so thin."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Light Spinner said. "If you need work, the Guild of Sorcerers could use staff in the Great Hall. Sarah and I work in the potion shop there."

"I am trained in potions," Sember said, "but I'm afraid I have to stay close to my family. Both of them have health concerns, you see. I work as a receptionist at the clinic where Nell nurses as an assistant."

"Wow. Already?" Sarah said. "That's cool."

Sember smiled. "What are you girls studying?"

"We're starting our third year," Light Spinner said. "I'm in Illusionary Arts, and Sarah is in Applied Sorcerical Defense."

"Also known as, 'I'm training to be a soldier'," Sarah said with wide eyes. "Not here, of course. But I want to join the military back at home."

"My, my. Quite ambitious, aren't we?" Sember said, looking uncomfortable. Light Spinner cleared her throat with a stern look in Sarah's direction; Verns were pacifists.

Her friend shrugged as she replied. "Maybe. Light Spinner'll be an artist once she graduates. Her illusions are pretty sweet."

"Oh, are they?" Sember chirped again. "Show me, sugar!"

Light Spinner blushed a bit. "Okay." She configured a mandala in the air, closing her eyes and drawing with moondust. Her fingers flew from one end to the other, making all the lines, shapes, and dots needed to communicate to the lunar fabric what she wanted it to do.

Then she focused on Sarah. Her unruly black hair, her almond-shaped black eyes, her ivory skin. She imagined her friend flying gracefully through the air in marciales, executing the motions perfectly in order to create an immaculate form used to bring justice. Peace. Love.

When she opened her eyes, the illusion imitated her intent. Sember gazed at the piece with wide eyes. "Your skill is incredible! Are you going to be a theater performer?"

"That's the plan," Light Spinner lied. "Thank you." Dispelling the illusion, she spotted Norwyn going into their house; this meeting had been painfully long. "I must go now for dinner. Sarah?"

"I'm headed home, too," the Dellaneve woman said. "It was nice to meet you, Sember! You'll have to introduce us to your son soon."

"Oh, I hope so," Sember sang as they walked away. "Thank you both!"

As Light Spinner rose, walking toward her house, she sighed. The Vernish woman had been the most exhausting person she'd dealt with in a while. From her fake cheerfulness to her stammering around Light Spinner as if she would be attacked and destroyed...stars. She must have found out already.

It's okay, she thought, forcing herself to stay strong. It was only a matter of time before people saw you as you truly are.

A monster.

❂❂❂

Did you know...

- I wanted to make a reference to the red strings of fate with this chapter title, but I didn't want it to seem too cliché. I hope my purpose is accomplished.

- For those who remember, Sarah is Micah's mom. Light Spinner makes a passing reference about being in school with her, and I wanted to actually do something with that in this story.

Tell me what you think...

- Why do you think Luís might hate Delvalians?