strength of adversity

        Fernand. The sole representative of those from Valentia at this academy. Not who she was expecting, but fate has a way of leaving her surprised. Perhaps this was the goddess’ way of granting him a second chance. 

princessmacedon​:

Whether it was sheer excitement or simple impatience that drove her to wander past the flowers again and again, Maria could not say. Perhaps it was one spurred on by the other, anticipation the flame that burned away the patience she usually held onto. Regardless, it was only her first time passing by the next day that she found what she was looking for: a letter, addressed to ‘her’ – and with a few flowers of its own, to boot! She giggled to herself at the sight, stowing it away with the rest of her things as she hurried on to her next class. 

It was only once she’d returned to her dorm for the afternoon that she sat down to read, only to pause as she held the letter in her hands. …She would need something to hold these letters, something to keep them safe. They were too important to stash away in her desk drawer like her discarded essays and graded assignments. Perhaps a lovely box with a little ribbon… such were the thoughts floating through her head as she smiled to herself, setting pen to paper.

Dear Somebody,  I feel the same way! When I wrote my first letter, I wasn’t sure if I would get a response at all… But you proved me wrong so quickly, and I couldn’t be any gladder for that. Of everyone who could have picked up my letter, I’m glad that it was you.

She must have been able to tell how kind you are! I know I can, even through these letters. You seem gentle, calm, considerate… The fact that your friend came around just makes me think that even more! And thank you for your words, too; coming from my very first friend, I don’t think I have any choice but to believe them!

She paused a moment there, reading over the lines once, twice, thrice– ah. The ink had blotted again. Such was the consequence of being moved by words, but she found she didn’t mind all too much… and she hoped that her pen pal didn’t, either. 

I do bake! I love to make all sorts of yummy things, but just like you, my baking doesn’t compare to somebody else I know. The person who taught me makes the tastiest treats! But still, even though it’s not the same as your homeland– maybe if we ever meet, we can exchange gifts, too? I can’t be the only one getting so many presents, you know! Your flowers, and my cookies… I think that sounds really nice. What about you? Do you have a favorite kind? 

From your friend with many recipes up their sleeve, Somebody else

The scene remains the same: a redheaded student kneeling next to the flowers, tucking a carefully folded paper just so between the leaves and blooms before trotting away. …But this time, the smile on her face is much wider.

        With each letter she receives, a smile is returned, equally as bright as the sun that shone on the flowers. Despite never having met this person formally, Silque feels almost as if she has found a kindred spirit. Coincidence or by the blessings of Mila, she wonders. No, she shakes her head. Anyone could have found the letter, Mila may provide the lucious flora that the letters sat in and may wish the best for her children, but it is they who take action and create their own path.

        As she plucks the letter and walks away to find somewhere to sit and read, another thought crosses her mind. What if, by some misfortune, the letters stop coming? Either through theft, accidental cleanup, or worse—

        A sigh leaves her. People have their own reasons to go down whatever drives them. It was nothing out of the ordinary, it had happened to those in her life before, so she should take the time to cherish the present. Today, she chose to sit in the dining hall with a snack and occupy herself with both studies she needed to catch up on and the letter.

Dear Somebody else,

Wouldn’t it be funny if we met while leaving these letters? I suppose you could say we would come full circle. I suppose if that is what fate wants, then so be it. 

Anyway, exchanging gifts, that sounds lovely.

        She lifts the pen from the paper, pausing for thought, contemplation. That is, until the ink drips and decides for her. A bit misplaced to be covered like a period, but maybe it could be salvaged another way. She continues writing, running with her idea.

:) 

        Would they understand what that meant? If she explained it through words, it would be like her, trying to explain a joke. She leaves it to the reader’s interpretation.

I fear if we leave treats and such in the same place with these letters, the cats may reach it before we do. They can be quite crafty despite their lax temperament. Or even a particularly hungry student (or professor) may help them selves to an afternoon snack haha.

Favorite kind... I am not too particular about my cookies, as long as they’re sweet. Although, you can never go wrong with chocolate or even nuts. And you? Shall I weave your favorite flowers or surprise you? 

Did you know they have all kinds of meanings? Flower language.

Sincerely, your floral friend, Somebody

        Though despite all this, it was not the fighting that turned her off from participation. No, it was almost the opposite. Silque sat in the safety of the medical tent, cookie in one hand, tea in the other, and eyes trained on the field. She didn’t need to be on the field to learn from others. Today, she would study through observation rather than practice.

        The horn cuts through the silence as footsteps leap, blades unsheathe, and magic is expelled. 

Status: Pass / Fail / Hiatus

Skill Points:

Earned: 1

Previous: 4

Current: 5

Skill point(s) allocated to faith skill: D → D+

Completed threads:

        Though it may not look it, Silque always held some admiration for horses. She hadn’t much experience with them as they always belonged to cavaliers back home. They were much larger in person, but surprisingly gentle creatures. Some of them at least, so long as there were treats present. 

        The horses were to be groomed and bathed so their coats were nice and shiny, nothing less for the Gloucester nobles, of course. This, she shakes her head at, if they were that valuable, couldn’t they take care of them themselves? No, it was much easier to plop the task on the students. 

        “You could go anywhere you wish, that must be nice,” she remarks as she leads the horse out to pasture. A few minutes grazing then she would lead it back to be groomed properly.

        Peace couldn’t last long, however. Distant growling drew closer and suddenly, a very large monster was before her and the horses in unbridled fear fled. As relieved as she was for their safety, what of her own? She would have to make do and aid where she could to take out the beast.

        Silque only had a couple of spells—offensive magic and tending to the wounded—but she had proved herself useful enough to aid in taking down the enemy. Was that one of those Demonic Beasts she had heard about? Poor soul, at least it was put out of its misery. The shock of the beast had worn off leaving a new concern in its wake. The pasture was empty, free of the beast and the horses.

        Suddenly, she regrets practically telling that horse to be free. The nobles would be upset their horses weren’t properly taken care of, but she imagined they would be livid if they found out their animals had gone missing. There was no feasible way she could round up dozens of horses on her own, let alone one in its frazzled state. Her eyes scan the perimeter for another student or two to help her. If they could corner a horse somewhere then rein them in, surely they could round up the equines in no time.

        “Are you two alright?” She extends her hands to the students. “If it’s not too much trouble, could I ask for your assistance in herding? I imagine we would be much more efficient if we joined forces.”

Rhys had been wondering how obvious his note had been. Apparently he wasn’t the only one to be sending feathers, and wondered if there could be any overlap in guesses. He looked up to see Silque, a fellow clergy member.

He peered at the note and smiled, eyes sparkling with delight. “Yes, that was from me! How did you know?” Rhys was pleased that someone new to the academy could get his tidbit of encouragement. “You’re rather new, right? Take this as a token of welcoming you to to Garreg Mach. I haven’t been here terribly long myself, I’ve really been running in circles with my own note,” he admitted with a soft laugh.

“I’m delighted to meet you! You’re a student, right?”

        “Well, you have kind eyes that match the words of the note—or maybe it was a lucky guess,” she giggles. She’d like to believe the goddess smiled down upon her. 

        “I’m glad to have found you,” she holds the pen, admiring the work of it, “I wanted to express my thanks for the words and gift, I shall cherish it for the longevity of my life.” Inelegant words left her before she could correct them. She clears her throat after a pause that was a few seconds too long, realization seeping in like syrup in pancakes—a somewhat sticky situation. 

“Oh.” Well, that threw a wrench in things. By now, surely other participants had already found their secret senders, and the possibilities that Pent had lined in his head—ranked by likelihood of ‘Double Exclamation Points’—dwindled. “Thank you kindly regardless, Maria… A sweet for your trouble?

.  .  .  .  .

(He popped another in his mouth also, surprised by the sudden, sharp sour flavour. … That wasn’t half bad. Were any of the others like it?)

.  .  .  .  .

“Silque…” Someone was already walking away from the girl; whoever it had been must have also suspected their note came from her. There was only one way to find out, wasn’t there? Taking their place, Pent held out the note by means of greeting. “I’m sure you have found yourself busy today; would you be able to help me out with this?”

@sancturum​

        Another mysterious author. She was beginning to wonder if a goal to help lost souls be found was simply creating more. A jest, of course. Earnestly, she hoped those still wandering about the monastery for their ghost writer would find them eventually.

        She turns at the call of her name. Eyes drift to the bag of candy, to the note, to the professor, then back to the note. Quite clever wordplay, she remarks with a simple nod of acknowledgement and a smirk pulling at the corner of her lips.

atypicalsenerio·:

Scrawled in old-fashioned script on a single sheet artlessly torn at its edge are the following words: You are your own light.

“Hmmm.” Soren took his words into consideration. Perhaps he focused too much on the way the note was written and not the note itself… he was lost in his own consideration when Marth patted his shoulder.

Soren’s eyebrows raised and he shrugged off the pat, not going quite so far as to physically swat at Marth’s hand but still dismissing it. “We shall find our query eventually.” His eyes followed Marth’s hand post shoulder pat. “And you, perhaps, as you seem to be in woeful need of one, a date.”

He spun on his heel, somewhat missing having flowing robes, and went off to find another possible sender. There was one woman who seemed to be turning down quite a few notes as being from herself, and at least statistics said she may be the rightful sender, or more likely than other options he’d thought of.

“Would you, a lady of the cloth, be the one who wrote this sentiment?” he asked Silque, without much preamble.

@sancturum

        Silque is approached once more by a boy with a clear brand on his forehead. Could he share a similar fate the branded did from Valentia? Perhaps he wielded a legendary sword—Well, one more look at him. Likely not, maybe a mage of sorts. 

        Eyes scan over the note. Simple, to the point (like its recipient), and with a hint of divine meaning to it, easy to mistake for her, but alas, another poor soul she had to turn away. While this event was sweet in intention, she couldn’t help but notice some participants slowly beginning to experience frustration in their searches. (Mila grant them strength in their endeavors, some sorely need it.)

drat, wrong again. 

peony gives a quick huff of frustration as the pink-haired student walks off, probably also in search of her the writer of her note. the way she spoke, though…yeah, that was definitely a poet! her language is so pretty and eloquent…

third time’s a charm! peony thinks as she sets off again, thinking hard. she feels as though trying to read the note had already seared off the top layer of her brain. 

it must be someone very kind of heart with a vast vocabulary. and those with a vast vocabulary must have been of noble birth, or taught someplace else. peony’s never heard of half the words written on the note until it was read to her. she pauses to think when a passing figure, clothed in white, catches her eye. she resembles a nun or cleric – oh! weren’t they known for their kindheartedness?

well, it’s worth a shot. what had peony to lose?

“hello!” peony floats up to the blue-haired woman and bobs her head in greeting. “is this note from you?”

@sancturum​

        “Greetings!” Silque waves to the... hm. Student, she assumes, the wings were another matter to address on another day. Though, her eyes were drawn to the way they glistened in the light. They were real, right? She couldn’t be floating otherwise. Silque, have you forgotten your manners? It’s not polite to stare. Her eyes drift back to the note, hand coming up to press against her lips in thought.

        She reads the note, mumbling softly, trying the words on her own tongue. What beautiful imagery, but a shame it didn’t come from her words. 

        Well. She is stumped.

        Silque reads the note, then reads it again. The feather was a nice touch, something she could get some use out of later. Sturdy stem and— Oh, the letter’s owner, original owner, that was her first priority. 

        Unfortunately, she only has knowledge of a handful of people here, so she would need to judge based on instinct. Which, wasn’t so unfortunate, this event was set up to meet others and the thrill of sleuthing excited her a bit. 

        She walked the halls, observing other students—who would send, what looked to be a... sideways heart? The cleric approaches a blonde student and holds the letter out, feather pressed to it by her thumb. 

        “Pardon, but is this your letter?”

[letter arrives with accompanying owl feather]

To whoever receives this letter,

Concerning: ‘Campaign of Encouragement’

I hope you are are healthy and not too battered after recent adventures. Looking after yourself it important for maintaining team morale in any party. Maybe take some time to engage in your favourite hobby like fishing, gardening, riding or reading. Alternatively simply relaxing with the monastery cats is a viable option.

Of course, your studies and personal goals are important. Keep striving forward and setting your sights higher. I know you can do it and find a new path to tread. Remember there is always more to learn and practice yields results.

Yours faithfully

X

        In search of her own elusive writer, she is stopped first in the hall. The pink hair reminds her of a certain mage from back home, and the starry eyes while certainly unique, sparked some passion behind them. In reminiscence, the cleric smiles at an uncanny encounter. Her head tilts the slightest when she is presented with a letter and owl feather attached. 

        Silque examines the letter. The words feel familiar and certainly like something she has seen before, but the writing, was any but her own. 

༓ 𝐑𝐔𝐋𝐄𝐒 : share five songs / pieces of music that represent your muse! repost, don’t reblog ༓

༓ Homura ( 炎 ) - LiSA ༓ “僕たちは燃え盛る旅の途中で出逢い / 手を通り越して離した未来のために / 夢が一つ / う度僕は君を想うから / 強くなりたいと願い　泣いた / 決意を餞に  //  We met amidst a blazing journey / For the future that we held our hands and let go for / Every time a dream comes true, I will remember you. / I cried and wished to become stronger. / I will dedicate this resolve for you.”

༓ Gravity - TAEYEON ༓ “위태롭던 내게 넌 Gravity / 방황하던 날 강렬하게 이끈 힘 / 외로운 시간들을 지나 / 드 / 어 / 제자리를 찾아 / 더 끌어안아줘 날  //  For me, who was in danger, you are gravity Days when I wandered, the power that pulled me strongly / Past the painful times / I finally found my place / Hold me even tighter.”

༓ Oceans - Hillsong United ༓ “Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders / Let me walk upon the waters / Wherever You would call me / Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander / And my faith will be made stronger.”

༓ The Last of the Real Ones - Fall Out Boy ༓ “I was just an only child of the universe / And then I found you You are the sun and I am just the planets / Spinning around you.”

༓ Flamesgrace, Guiding Light (From Octopath Traveler) - Yasunori Nishiki ༓ Gentle instrumental that evokes the feeling home.

princessmacedon​:

Those who were logical and patient would most likely wait a day, Maria was certain, to allow ample time for discovery, thought, and response. It was unfortunate, then, that she would be unable to count herself among them, for when nighttime came and sleep again failed to claim her, she had shrugged on a coat and taken to her feet. Though even familiar paths turned strange when cloaked in silver moonlight, determination drove her quickly to her destination, and– there! Hid amongst leaves and petals, a letter she was most certain was not hers… and yet it was hers. 

(Come morning, Maria would not be able to remember whether or not the night air had carried a chill with it, for the thrum of excitement that beat within her chest kept her warm all the way back, and bloomed as she at last sat down in her chair.)

Dear Somebody,

How cute! She wasn’t sure how she expected to address or be addressed, but it was a delightful surprise nonetheless. 

It’s very nice to meet you! You can’t see my face, so I think it’s important for me to tell you just how big a smile your reply brought to my face. (It was very big! And I have you to thank, so: thank you!) And thank you again for your offer to listen, to be my friend. If I’m honest, that’s what I’d like more than anything. I’m not sure I’ve ever made a friend before; I have siblings and people similar to them, and there was a girl my age once… But I can’t say with confidence that she saw me as one. So I guess that would make you my very first!

That was enough of that, she thought, hesitation sinking its frigid claws into her. What if she scared her Somebody away with pessimism? That would be no good at all!

You said you’re new here yourself, Somebody. Are you doing well? I’d gladly give you the same offer you gave me. And yes, I do like flowers! I like all plants, and used to care for a window plant many years ago. Even if I didn’t, I would be glad for any gift. Like you said, the sentiment is there, and that already makes it the loveliest. What about you? Do you like plants, and flowers, and maybe cookies too?  

Her brows scrunched together in great concentration, only to unravel all at once as she furiously doodled at the end of her page.

With great excitement, Somebody else✿

Only a few hours had passed when the neatly-folded letter was returned to the same home as the ones that came before, carefully deposited in a nest brushed free of dewdrops as Garreg Mach slowly woke.

        A curious mind has led Silque to wonder if the letter had been taken, by the wrong person or no, and if there was a reply waiting. The greenhouse hosted plentiful flowers to harvest as well as an answer, apparently. A chuckle to herself as she picks up the letter, tapping it in her hands thoughtfully, before tucking it away to read later. 

        Lucky for her she chose to reply later, for when she laid her eyes on the letter, she had no immediate idea of how to respond. A midnight drink was in order for her own peace and to generate an appropriate response. The tea kept her hands warm and her heart was stirred to action not brought upon by the floral notes soaked in liquid, but the anticipation to sit down and write. The debate of whether it was alright to wander about after curfew was pushed away as she settled in and took a sip of her drink. She needed to return the cup anyway—a suitable enough excuse, if she was caught. 

Dear Somebody else,

The feeling is mutual, amazing how we can communicate in ways other than face-to-face. It is like a gift in its own right, something to look forward to for the next reply. Additionally, I take great honor in being your first friend. 

I can empathize with you, I remember a couple of years ago, I tried making friends with this girl, but she was quite blunt and persistent on her refusal to friendship, but she came around eventually. Just like flowers in even the harshest conditions—be it the blazing sun or harsh winters—I believe you will find your place and blossom beautifully. 

Speaking of which, I do enjoy flowers. I’m unsure what traditions are celebrated here, but back in my home country, there are quite a few parades and all kinds of celebrations where we exchange gifts and offer some to the goddess. Ah, talking about it makes me a tad bit homesick, but worry not. Had I not come here, I wouldn’t have met such a kind individual by means of letters. 

Cookies? I love all kinds of sweet treats. Do you bake, Somebody else?

Cordially yours, Somebody

present tense or past tense / first person or third person / double spaced or single spaced / action or emotion / similes or metaphors / OCs or existing characters / fluff or angst / music or white noise / character or plot / make them cry or make them laugh / tea or coffee / happy ending or bittersweet / morning or night / comic sans or times new roman