#serenaofesperia

[afkj-morgan]

Hey, doll (@serenaofesperia). This is for you. It's been useless to me since the second it arrived but it might do something for you?

*Morgan tosses the plush right at Serena.*

(Plush (and drawing) were send to Morgan by @magister-atlas)

[afkj-gervan]

Serena steps out of the interrogation and sighs in relief. What a bore! At least Gervan is still around. Serena quickly runs to catch up with her fellow noble and falls into step beside him.

“Thank Dura that’s over. At the very least, they separated us from the riff raff. Although the cakes they served were horribly stale.”

Serena’s face grows more solemn after her initial assessment. She looks over to him, pensive.

“How did your talk with Andro go? What did he ask? Do you think one of us could have…you know…?”

(( 𝐆𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐧 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐚 𝐚 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐦, 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐮𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞. 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐟𝐮𝐥, 𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟… ))

╭──────── · ·☽ ❍ ☾· · ────────╮

⎯ . ݁ ˖ ☪︎ 𝘏𝘦 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘤 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘦. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘦𝘴. 𝘞𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘭.

⎯ . ݁ ˖ ☪︎ 𝘈𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘶𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴, 𝘸𝘦'𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦.

╰──────── · ·☽ ❍ ☾· · ────────╯

(( 𝐇𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐮𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐧𝐞. ))

╭──────── · ·☽ ❍ ☾· · ────────╮

⎯ . ݁ ˖ ☪︎ … 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝙮𝙤𝙪?

╰──────── · ·☽ ❍ ☾· · ────────╯

[magister-cyran]

so…..like…..

do all court mages have to dress like there’s some funeral going on at all times….?

…or did you actually pick those clothes on purpose?

// @serenaofesperia

...

Oh... my sincerest apologies, Miss Serena. I was so lost in thoughts, that I have failed to hear your proper address.

Nevertheless, the inquiry of such a distinguished and promising young lady shall not be ignored.

Court Mages have free choice over their daily attire, as long as it is suitable to be worn at the palace. Such elaborate embroidery on black is simply my own, personal choice. Fret not, for any unfortunate funeral that I must attend, my dress will be humble and appropriate.

[professor-zorya]

A small gift box is placed at the foot of the gargoyle. It’s wrapped in pink, with a bright bow on top. The attached card reads:

Dear Professor Zorya,

I was out shopping today, and the makeup set I bought came with this lipstick! The MINUTE I saw it I knew it would be the PERFECT shade for you. It’s not as dark as your current shade, but a pale pink that’ll match the flowers in your hair and compliment your eyes. And it has a shimmer to it! You HAVE to wear it. It’ll be GORGTASTIC.

XOXO

@serenaofesperia

P.S. NO this is not a bribe so you can take it! Really, who do you think I am?

*Zorya carefully reads the message. It is strangely not unusual for her to receive little gifts of her students. Sometimes, however, she cannot fathom the thoughts that these students must have had when sending their gifts. What good is a lipstick to something that is essentially a stone?*

...

*Leaving her body contemplating, Zorya leaves her usual spot to give it some thought.*

Hm... it really would go well with the flowers in my hair. I admit, Serena always has the right taste.

*She has the gargoyle apply it for a test.*

I suppose I can wear it.

*Zorya returns to her spot on the gargoyle's head, nodding satisfied with the result.

[afkj-morgan]

@serenaofesperia wanders into the Lyceum Graveyard, far after curfew hours. She’s dressed more simply for once, with a pale pink cloak wrapped around her (not doing many favors for a disguise, but the thought is there). She glances around before stepping in, making sure no one…and nothing…is following her.

“Morgan? Hello….?”

She wanders for a bit, peering behind gravestones and wrinkling her nose at the dirt. She jumps when a crow squawks at her.

“This is so stupid.”

It’s unclear if she means the person she seeks or the fact that she’s here at all. Finally, she brushes some leaves off a low wall corner and sits down with a huff.

“He goes on and on about wanting to be informed, but when something actually important happens and I make the huge effort to come here, he’s nowhere to be found. What a joke…”

Aa-chooo!

*The sneeze is sudden and dull, followed by a deep and annoyed groan. The sounds are coming not far from Serena's location, from underneath what seems to be a small mount of fresh dirt.*

Hope the news is worth interrupting my beauty sleep, dolly.

*The dirt disappears, having been just a magical cover to hide the unmarked grave beneath. Morgan sits up within before then wearily dragging himself up the sides like an undead, out and to the wall upon which Serena is seated, ignoring her stare and whatever noise she manages to make.*

So... what happened? Did someone steal your favorite pair of shoes?

[afkj-morgan]

~TOM Era~

Serena once again has her pink cloak on as she makes her way to the Lyceum. graveyard. She picks her way around leaves, avoiding crunching them and alerting a certain individual to her presence. Past the honors to long dead professors she weaves, until she comes to a familiar patch of dirt and sits on the low wall.

“Morgan? I know you’re there! It’s me, your favorite student!”

When nothing but the wind replies, she rolls her eyes.

“Look, I’m leaving school tomorrow for good and…I thought you might want to say goodbye. Guess I was wrong though, so…I’ll just leave this here and go…”

The heiress sighs. Places a gold tin on the low wall. And stands to go…but not before looking back one last time. @serenaofesperia

...

*She wasn't wrong, really. But Morgan hates sentimental good-byes and if she didn't bother to bend over the little patch of grass to look INTO his little retreat, then ... why should he move? He was grunting quietly, something he feared gave away more than he wanted. He heard the small object being placed on the cold stone and the gentle shuffling of her feet and the small pause that followed. She was looking back.*

*With a grin on his face, Morgan extends his hand up. Perhaps one last loving prank to send her off?*

...

*Despite the darkness, his giant hand slowly emerges from the grave, a faint green light illuminating its edges. It searches for ... the tin. Or.. her?*

[afkj-gervan]

Gervan! So…a little birdie told me you decided to walk the Atelier with that new student…

I personally don’t get what all the fuss is with them…we can all throw a spell or two easily. But….if they managed to catch your eye….well. You just have to tell me what I’m missing ;)

XOXO ~@serenaofesperia

╭──────── · · ☽〇☾ · · ────────╮

⎯ . ݁ ˖ ☪︎ 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴, 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘢. 𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺, 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘦 𝘓𝘺𝘤𝘦𝘶𝘮 𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶.

⎯ . ݁ ˖ ☪︎ 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩… 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦, 𝘐'𝘮 𝘢𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘥.

╰──────── · · ☽〇☾ · · ────────╯

╭──────── · · ☽〇☾ · · ────────╮

⎯ . ݁ ˖ ☪︎ 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘥, 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘸𝘰, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨—𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘊𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮.

⎯ . ݁ ˖ ☪︎ 𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦'𝘴 𝘦𝘺𝘦, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦.

╰──────── · · ☽〇☾ · · ────────╯

[professor-zorya]

A gold tin finds itself at Zorya’s feet in the graveyard. Attached to it is an envelope: pink, scented with rose, and undoubtable in who it may be from.

“Dear Professor-And-Now-Headmistress Zorya,

Thank you for all the years of support and teaching you’ve given me. I know it might not seem like it sometimes, but I really do like your classes and pay attention! Yes, even the time you caught me using magic to have my quill take notes for me…

But that’s what I like about you. You pushed me to be better and didn’t give up on me. Some of the professors let me paint my nails in class and…I don’t think they assumed I’d fail…but they let me just…pass. You always demanded I do better, and while it was annoying sometimes…I really appreciated that you cared enough to recognize when I was letting my mana work for me instead of using it to be better.

So…don’t tell anybody, but…I’m going to miss you and your classes now that I’ve graduated. A lot. Promise not to cry for me? Then I won’t cry either.

I hope someday I can visit you again, or you can come to my home and see me and tell me one more time that I’m doing good…but you know I can do great.

Thank you for everything.

Your favorite noble alumna,

Lady Serena Vaile XOXO <3

P.S—I hope you enjoy the stone polish in this tin. It’s the best quality I could find and will keep your skin nice and shiny and sparkling.”

Serena...

*With a very soft expression Zorya rereads the letter a few times. She is not exactly the straight-forward type, but she is not lacking a heart. Letters like these are among her most treasured possessions. The tin containing the stone polish is acknowledged with a simple nod and placed onto her work desk. It shall be used shortly.*

*The letter, however, Zorya carefully enchants. After all, it will have to last for some time. She steps close to her bookshelf and reaches for one of the books higher up. In fine gold print a title is written on its cover - "Like Wind Through My Heart". Zorya's eyes trace the title before she opens the book, revealing that quite a few pages are cut hollow at their center. It leaves enough space for other items to be placed well protected between the covers. The letter fits the space perfectly.*

There. May your story be as beautiful as that of your favorite book. I very much look forward to witness it unfold.

*Zorya gently closes the book and places it back onto the shelf. With still a warm smile on her stone cold lips, she returns to her desk. A thank you is needed in return, regardless of how short it might be.*

To Lady Serena Vailes May the warm winds of Esperia waft through your heart and quicken your mind - let your wings carry you far and beyond the horizon. Always with you, Zorya