B L A N C A

He didn’t know quite how to respond. He supposed there was nowhere he needed to be at that very moment, but finding the place he was supposed to live seemed important. “I’m supposed to be in room 506,” he stated simply. “I have a map, but these buildings… and… well it doesn’t make any sense.” It was easy to find your way around back home. Each tree and flower guiding you through the forest.” He smiled sweetly. “Oh yes. The prettiest. It’s the most beautiful place in the world and I know that without even having seen any of the world.” It hurt still to think of home, but talking about it helped. “Accounting? What is that? I’m not particularly good with them, sorry.” In his experience numbers were useful for keeping track of seasons, territory, and generations of families, but not much else. “What does accounting do? Is it a kind of magic?” 

Blanca watched him curious as she waited for him to respond. “Well I could help you find it if you want.” She offered as she moved to standing. “I know what you mean, it gets pretty confusing and complicated. I got lost a few times when I first got here.” She agreed as she exhaled slowly. The dark haired woman got quiet as she listened to the way he talked about his home. “It really sounds like you have a beautiful home. Wish I could visit there someday.” She nodded as she held her book under her arm and examined the tree.

She couldn’t help but snicker at his line of questioning. “No, no magic, though I am in awe of people who make it look easy. It is more to do with numbers, and keeping track of them.” She nodded as she explained this. “Not to pry but....what are you exactly.” 

The creature next to him was lovely with a soft voice and dark kind eyes. He looked down at where she tapped the paper. Ahh, so she was also a student. “Learning new things is hard.” He’d found that to be universally true whenever he’d tried to learn new things. “A minute… oh no, no. I’m just a bit lost.” And a lot overwhelmed. “This lovely old tree reminds me of home.” He smiled shyly and pointed at her paper. “What are you trying to learn?” 

Blanca smiled a bit and nodded her head at his comment. “No kidding,” she agreed, learning had always been hard for her. She wished that was different. “I’m sorry you are lost, is there somewhere you are supposed to be? I could help.” She offered looking up, he seemed soft, and sweet. She was curious, that seemed so rare here. “Yeah?” She looked up at the tree and smiled. “Must be a pretty home!” She nodded brightly. “I’m trying to learn accounting...I’m not very good at it though,” she sighed heavy. “You any good at numbers?” 

Ever was lost. Lost in all senses of the word. He read the letter again and again, not fully understanding what was expected of him in this place. There were too many buildings and too many beings and he missed home with a fierceness that made his whole body, still unaccustomed to remaining in it’s ‘human’ form for this long, ache. He tried to remember the directions he’d been giving to find his room. “506. 506,” he repeated under his breath, though he hadn’t actually even found the correct building yet. Was it too late to just run away back home? He found a nice looking oak tree old and creaking it’s language in the breeze. Sitting under it he reached out a hand to the bark. “Hello old one.” It was only then that he became aware that he wasn’t the only creature enjoying the gift of the oak tree’s shade. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.” 

Blanca wouldn’t admit she was struggling, but to be honest when it came to academics she was generally struggling. She was flipping though her text book. She was attempting to take notes and hoping it would stick. She had hopped staying on campus and studying would help her retain some of the information. The notebook beside her had a well organized outline. She was at least good when it came to organization. She heard a number....she didn’t need to remember that did she. Her eye brows knitted together and she looked over at the other person. “Oh....” something about their reaction to the tree seemed....spiritual? “You’re totally not...I just was trying to see if any of this would stick,” she tapped the end of her pen against the book. “Did you want a minute?” The mistress questioned in a soft tone.