#studentalthea

A day after the odd exchange with the merchant, it haunted her still. Araceli knew not the reason, whether because she knew the little fox toy was infinitely important but remembered not why, or due to the inherent oddness of the whole exchange. She doesn’t understand why, but there is something missing. A whole on her chest, empty darkness where something else once stood. The thought lingers at the edge of her mind through the evacuation, worry heavy on her brow as she continues her tasks and pretends everything is alright as to not to alarm her people. 

She manages just fine, until she meets Althea’s eyes across the crowd and sees the doubt clear on them. It’s no surprise the Emissary notices, not when their entire relationship was born while they were both wearing masks. Long had they grown from that, but that doesn’t change the fact that they knew each other’s masks, and when they were wearing them. 

With a sigh, she steps away from the crowd and deeper into the crumbling streets of her once home. The sight sends off another pang of loss through her, the reality of her rotting home ever present and sharing space with her worry about her deal. 

“There is no going back, is there?” She asks quietly, as she hears Althea step closer, eyes flickering to meet hers with a bitter smile on her lips.

The streets of her city are shattered, nothing but ruins of once a magnificent citadel. Absent-mindedly, Araceli wonders if this is how the elvhen would feel if they were to find a way to return to a fallen branch. It’s a gutting question, and one she is experiencing at this moment, but luckily, she is not experiencing it alone. 

It wasn't edible and the addition of multiple wide-set, big-lipped magic mouths spouting blessings and affirmations in Celestial might've made the gift even less appealing, but Karme was happy to construct a cake-looking machine to celebrate Althea's success.   "I'm so proud of you! You stuck with it and it might've been hard at times but look! Now you know Celestial! Yay Althea, the greatest witch I know!" The "cake" fired of streamers and was equipped with colorful sparklers and mini firework canons to provide a celebratory atmosphere.  It had taken him years before he spoke the language at a proficiency Lady Juliana approved of, whereas Althea only needed a month or two to become fluent. Sure he was twelve at the time, Karme thought Althea's accomplishment was much more impressive than his. Borwyn was even there in the corner to jingle while strumming the dulcimer embedded into his abdomen, adding to the joyous ambiance. "I never thought there'd be something that I could teach you, and you calling on me to help was the highlight of my year—and I became a Slayer! I'm so lucky to have the smartest, most talented, and of course beautiful witch in the whole queendom as my best friend!"