Instructor. She knows that word--it was among the first Idunn learned in Fodlan, along with student, knight, Seiros and archbishop. It means Igrene is someone who will teach her things. Maybe sheโll show her some new flowers, or tell tales of her travels outside the village. Maybe sheโll impart some of her Guardianโs strength onto the dragon, or fill her hands with spools of thread to mend her broken soul.ย
She huffs out a breath. Idunn is looking forward to having Igrene as a teacher.ย
โAnother instructor, like you,โ she answers, simply and plainly. She sets aside her work to scoot closer to the Nabatan, starry eyes excited to tell her story but unaware of the otherโs implication.ย โWe were picking herbs in the greenhouse. I did a good job, and...โ With her free hand she points a finger to her brow.ย โRight here. She gave me a kiss.โย
Totally platonic. Not that Idunn would understand a romantic advance, anyway.ย
Manakete pushes the envelope close to Igreneโs face, well within range for her to lift her hand and grasp it between her index and middle.ย โI had Roy help me with my letter,โ she explains,ย โItโs for everyone back home. I wanted to tell them that I was doing okay... And that a ball is soon.โ And so it does. The letter begins withย โDear Everyone,โ details all the small steps sheโs taken toward a brighter future--all the friends sheโs made and experiences shared--and how she hopes they are all well. Idunn hadnโt the proper heart to thank the Arcadians for their deeds before, but now the gravity of their kindness is becoming a clearer picture in her mind. With buds and sprouts growing over scarred scales, she finally puts into words what they all mean to her.ย โYou were all very beautiful. I wonโt forget you.โย
And it concludes with a bit about the ball. Idunn, from her letter, is eager to learn of human customs. She believes the night will be one of smiles and laughter and dancing. Maybe sheโll learn how to join in, but even if she doesnโt, she thinks sheโll be content just to have watched. The only part that is of her own handwriting is her name signed at the bottom, its letters shaky and uneven:
Many humans adopt their home into their surname, and she has resolved to do the same. Bern isnโt where her heart lies, and the Divine Dragon clan is long gone. As far as sheโs concerned, her place is with the desert.ย
โIgrene... Are you also going? To the ball?โ
Idunn's eyes sparkle in the golden dapple of the nursery, and she nestles herself closer as she tells Igrene of her kissing adventures โ or, adventure โ and the tension seeps from Igrene immediately.ย
An instructor. Someone like her.ย
"I see," she says softly, the corners of her lips curving upward to crease her eyes in a gentle smile. It would have been easy to assume that there would be someone at the monastery who would attempt to trick a dragon, to manipulate them as they might a very powerful child, but there is a relief in Igrene's voice as she reaches out to stroke a lock of Idunn's hair over her shoulder with the backs of her fingers. "What an affectionate person she must be."ย
At the mention of the letter, Idunn produces and presents it to her. Carefully unfolding it, Igrene prepares herself for more of the same dragon-scratch as on Idunn's schoolwork โ a thoughtful gesture indeed โ but she is surprised when she sees a clean script, even spacing, no spelling errors, and she thinks with some warmth that perhaps one of the noble lordlings had assisted Idunn with this.ย
This is confirmed when Idunn mentions Roy's name, and Igrene breaks from reading the letter to give Idunn a soft look. "Roy is a good man."ย
And it's true, she thinks, Roy is a good man โ so alike to his father, if the tales were true, with their aims and ideals, and most importantly with their assistance in protecting the dragons, protecting Arcadia. Another lord would not have fought with the goal of sparing Idunn, of saving her, guarding her โ another lord might have fought to slay the demon, to gain glory for their name and their home. She could not say that she was particularly close with the young lion, but she could say that she respected the kinship she felt with him.ย
Igrene's eyes flicked over the letter as Idunn spoke, and it reads as many letters do โ straightforward, factual, a detailing of a life lived โ but with each word Igrene feels her throat becoming tighter, the context of the situation more and more apparent in the letter as it must have become more and more apparent to Idunn herself.ย
It is all she has not to sob upon reaching the words ย โYou were all very beautiful. I wonโt forget you,' and Igrene presses a knuckle to her lips when she continues, squeezing her eyes shut to tamp down the tears that have formed at the sight of Idunn's signature, shaky and scratchy but only belonging to her, claiming her home as her name.ย
It takes but a second to gather herself, and she smiles, full and brilliant at Idunn, her voice thick when she says, "It is a lovely letter, Idunn. I think everyone at home would be delighted to hear from you. You are missed terribly."ย
The mention of the ball allows Igrene to collect herself further, and she clears her throat as she hands back the letter.ย
"I had not thought much of it," she admits, leaning back and tossing a stray lock of hair over her shoulder. Balls and formal events were not something that she had much experience with, and while she supposed not all of them followed the same stuffy rubric, it was difficult to imagine what one that didn't might be like. "But I suppose if you are so excited, then I shall have to go with you, hm? It would be a good experience, wouldn't it? It might even be fun."ย