Mar 21, 2019 5:30 am
Verrian leaves the gathering, feeling both an impulse to hurry to her next destination and a familiar dread of getting there. It's easiest just to avoid thinking about it and enjoy the sun-dappled streets of the School as her feet do their plodding duty.
She pauses at the gurgling stream and the small, delicate bridge of green stone that crosses it, leading to the path to the Jade College. This will, in all likelihood, be the next to last time she will use the bridge. She needs to gather together the few belongings she keeps at the College and decide on how to dispose of them. Some things will go to a few favorite students, some to one or two fellow teachers she particularly admires.
One item will go to someone she particularly hates.
She is surprised to be congratulated by a few excited students who have somehow already heard of her selection to the exploration party. There are hugs and laughter and more than a few tears. Their optimism is a function of their youth and unthinking hope. The optimism of some of her colleagues smacks more of desperation and need.
Once she has handed over all her books, notes, artwork, and other minor treasures to people she will remember fondly, Verrian take the last item to someone she would like very much to forget. As she climbs the stairs to his chamber at the top of the tower, she watches the sun from the windows glint off the fine steel and the inlaid jewels along the handle. It is expensive, excessive, and deadly.
Just like him.
She sails past the boy sitting at a table outside of his chamber as he stammers that the Master is busy and she really should wait to be announced. Verrian opens the door and steps into the chamber of the Master of Jade College, Aisurn Iene.
"I've come to perform the happiest task of my entire life," she says. "Saying goodbye to you forever."
She pauses at the gurgling stream and the small, delicate bridge of green stone that crosses it, leading to the path to the Jade College. This will, in all likelihood, be the next to last time she will use the bridge. She needs to gather together the few belongings she keeps at the College and decide on how to dispose of them. Some things will go to a few favorite students, some to one or two fellow teachers she particularly admires.
One item will go to someone she particularly hates.
She is surprised to be congratulated by a few excited students who have somehow already heard of her selection to the exploration party. There are hugs and laughter and more than a few tears. Their optimism is a function of their youth and unthinking hope. The optimism of some of her colleagues smacks more of desperation and need.
Once she has handed over all her books, notes, artwork, and other minor treasures to people she will remember fondly, Verrian take the last item to someone she would like very much to forget. As she climbs the stairs to his chamber at the top of the tower, she watches the sun from the windows glint off the fine steel and the inlaid jewels along the handle. It is expensive, excessive, and deadly.
Just like him.
She sails past the boy sitting at a table outside of his chamber as he stammers that the Master is busy and she really should wait to be announced. Verrian opens the door and steps into the chamber of the Master of Jade College, Aisurn Iene.
"I've come to perform the happiest task of my entire life," she says. "Saying goodbye to you forever."
Last edited March 21, 2019 1:24 pm