[FIC] winter is for family
Summary: It’s winter in Askr, and there are plenty of opportunities for Iskra to spend time with their favorite Heroes.
Word Count: 2,492
Note: This is my @summonersecretsanta piece for @canislupus-13! I hope you enjoy, and have a great holiday season c:
While the snow continues to pile on the grounds outside, Iskra sits nice and cozy in the castle’s library. They can hardly even hear the shouts of the Heroes who’ve decided to play outside. Reading the book in their lap makes it easy to tune out the noise entirely. It’s the first in a series that had been recommended to them, and so far it seems promising. If nothing else, it’s giving them plenty of ideas for their own. Askr is always full of inspiration.
After a few chapters, Iskra is ready for a change of pace. They’ve read books in one sitting before, of course, but they want to make this one last a little. The second book is currently in someone else’s possession. While they would surely not mind giving the book up to the Summoner, Iskra has no interest in robbing anyone of their reading time. There’s no rush, after all. They set aside the fiction and open up the other book they’ve been spending time with: a study of various spells used for common tasks around a house. Hopefully they’ll find some that they can adapt for something more interesting than simple chores.
The lighting in the library shifts as the sun continues to move through the sky. Periodically they glance up at the windows, but they don’t pay much attention to how much time has passed. It even takes them a few looks to realize that the snow had stopped at some point. With it stopping, there’s no real reason for them to keep checking outside. Time slips away from them more than ever with every turn of the page.
“I knew I’d find you in here!”
Iskra’s head shoots up in surprise, a Polish curse escaping them out of habit. They’d been so invested in thinking of alternate uses for a that they hadn’t even heard footsteps. Specifically, Nino’s footsteps.
“What’re you reading?” Nino asks, sitting in the open armchair across from Iskra.
It takes Iskra a moment to find the words, still recovering from the interruption. “There have been so many things to set up around the castle lately that I thought it would be a good time to learn some new practical spells.”
“Oooh, good idea. Find anything good yet?”
Shaking their head, Iskra glances back down at the pages. There’s no shortage of interesting, new spells, but none of them feel useful at the moment. One day they’re sure they’ll return to them. Until then, though, they’re just doing a lot of filing away information and not a whole lot of learning. Luckily, the Summoner likes filing away information just as much.
Nino makes a thoughtful noise and taps her chin. “Was there anything specific you were thinking about? Maybe there’s one I’ve heard of.”
“Not really,” Iskra says. “I was hoping I’d think of something while reading.”
“What if you’re trying too hard? I’ve heard some mages talk about how if they think too much about a problem, it’s even harder for them to solve it.”
Iskra considers the theory. It sounds a lot like writer’s block, which they (unfortunately) know to exist. They have been in the library for quite a while. Maybe it’s time for a break. They close the book and stare at their friend thoughtfully.
“You know what you need?” Nino says.
“...No?”
“To play in the snow! I haven’t seen you out in it all day.”
“I don’t know, Nino.” Iskra frowns. There are sure to still be a lot of Heroes outside, and while they value them all, that doesn’t mean they want to be surrounded by so many at once. “It’s probably loud.”
“Oh, it’ll be fun. Trust me. We can do something off to the side if you don’t want to get in the middle of everything. Besides, I’ll be with you the whole time.”
Knowing she’ll be there does make Iskra feel a little better. And it would be a bit of a shame if they didn’t go out and see the snow at least once. Even if they don’t want to participate in any of it themselves, there is a special kind of joy at seeing Heroes have a good time. Iskra stands, and Nino smiles brightly.
“I need to get a warmer jacket first,” Iskra says.
“Me too. Should we meet at the entrance?”
“That sounds good.”
They leave the library together, and that means they’re together when they bump into Larcei. She’s standing in front of one of the castle’s many windows, looking down into the courtyard. Iskra guesses she can’t be too happy about the weather interfering with her training. There are plenty of places for it indoors, but there’s nothing like being outside for it.
“Hi, Larcei,” Iskra greets.
Larcei turns, a small smile on her face at seeing who’s arrived. “Hey, Iskra. Let me guess: you’ve been in the library?”
“Yep.”
“Well, it’s a good day for it. There’s not much you can do down there.”
Nino steps up to the window. “How can you say there’s not much you can do? Look at everything going on!”
Iskra can’t resist a look of their own. True to Nino’s exclamation, there is, in fact, a lot going on. Some Heroes are building snowmen, while others are in the process of forming snow angels. The biggest event is undoubtedly the snowball fight. The white orbs fly through the air from all directions, younger and older Heroes alike participating. From the ones Iskra can identify from this distance, there’s a mix of magic users and those who favor steel. Iskra may have agreed to go outside, but they’re not sure about participating in the battle.
“Iskra and I are going out,” Nino says. “You should come with us, Larcei. I bet you’d be really good in the snowball fight.”
“I’m not joining that.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s childish,” Larcei says, like it’s obvious.
Nino gestures to those participating in the fight. “Do they look like kids?”
“They’re acting like it.”
“They’re having fun. And there’s nothing wrong with acting childish sometimes!” Nino notes the continued doubt on Larcei’s face and puts her hands on her hips. “Training can look like playing if you don’t know what’s going on.”
Iskra has to admit Nino has a point there. Sure, Larcei’s sword training doesn’t much look like playing, as seriously as she takes it, but there are plenty of Heroes who always look like they’re having a good time. Sometimes mages in particular seem to be playing a sort of game as they practice their spells.
“It could be a really good chance to practice wind spells, Iskra.”
That does sound like an interesting test, and they’ve always hated to tell Nino no. “Okay,” they say. “I’ll do it.”
Larcei huffs out a sigh. “Fine, I’ll come too.”
After quick detours to ensure everyone is properly layered, the trio step out into the courtyard. Immediately, a snowball smacks Iskra in the shoulder. There’s a pause in the action, perhaps as everyone wonders how their Summoner will take the attack. With a smile, Iskra brushes the snow off their jacket and sends a quick burst of wind at the Hero, knocking them back into the snow.
Everyone laughs and returns to the fight. Iskra can tell they’re pleased that they’re enjoying themselves. They’ve heard plenty of pleas to relax over the months they’ve been in Askr, but often they lose themselves in a project and forget about everything else altogether. Maybe this is a good idea, to let loose a little. Sure, the most fascinating parts of this world are the ones that don’t exist in theirs, but that doesn’t mean the shared pieces can’t be interesting too. And with two of their favorite people at their side, how can they not have fun?
“That was a good one!” Nino compliments after Iskra uses wind magic to fling a snowball from their hand into Sharena’s back.
“Thanks.” Iskra beams. Then, because they can’t resist, they scoop up some snow and drop it on Nino’s head.
Nino gasps -- both from the cold and the surprise -- and uses her more powerful magic to stir up the snow around Iskra’s feet. The flakes spin up and around the Summoner, like their own personal blizzard. It’s freezing, but they’re still giggling from their ambush on Nino. Their laughter keeps them just warm enough, and it’s not long before Nino is giggling too, and she loses her concentration. The snow drops back down like it had never moved.
A battle cry breaks through their moment. Both look around for the source. It’s Larcei, firing off a snowball at her latest target. Iskra can’t help but laugh again. After all of Larcei’s stubbornness, there she goes, taking the fight as seriously as any of her trainings. Iskra and Nino exchange a conspiratorial look, then both nod. Both build a snowball, and after Nino counts down from three, they both toss their ball at Larcei -- the extra guidance of their magic ensures that both find their target.
Larcei whirls around. For a moment, she seems stunned that the two had teamed up against her. Then she gives a short laugh and charges them. Iskra does their best to dodge, but Larcei easily catches them, shoving the snow in her hand down the back of Iskra’s jacket. With a shriek and shiver, Iskra breaks free. For someone who had called the snowball fight childish, Larcei has sure picked out some childish strategies!
“Just wait until you get snow down your jacket, Larcei,” Iskra warns.
“You’ll have to catch me first,” Larcei challenges, grinning.
Iskra knows their friend is in better shape, but that doesn’t stop them from chasing them through the snow. Nino hurries after them, unable to resist tossing a few more snowballs in the process. With other Heroes still throwing theirs across the courtyard, it’s a dangerous chase. Iskra manages to flash some magic to direct some away, but it’s hard to concentrate on the magic when they’re still trying to grab Larcei.
Just as they had in the library, Iskra loses track of time. It’s only once they start shivering that they realize they should head back inside and warm up. There are plenty of fireplaces to enjoy in the castle, but which one should they try? Perhaps a return to the library? Surely by now their brain has cleared the spell-thinking block…
A snowball thumps into their back and they realize they’re just standing in the middle of the courtyard. Larcei stands several feet away, victorious with having escaped their revenge. That is, until a snowball hits her square in the face. Iskra laughs.
“I guess that’s karma for the snow in your jacket,” Larcei says.
“So there.” Iskra can’t help but stick out their tongue. “I’m going back inside now.”
“I’ll come with you,” Nino says. “I’ve been wanting to go back inside anyways and try to make some warm sweets.”
“That sounds like a good way to warm up.”
“Do you want to help?”
“Sure.”
Larcei walks to them. “Well, if you’re both leaving, I don’t want to stay out here. I’m not a cook, though.”
“You can read us the recipe,” Nino suggests.
“I can do that.”
So just as they’d entered the snowball fight, the three leave it together. Before heading to the kitchen, they make sure to change into dry clothes. Iskra is already feeling much better as they make their way towards the kitchen. Once they walk in, they’re hit with a new wave of warmth. Nino is already there, staring at the spread of recipe cards she’s set on the table. Iskra reads them over her shoulder.
“I think I’m going to make those cookies that have the hazelnuts in them,” Nino says, gesturing at the card.
Iskra’s mouth waters just thinking about it. “I love those.”
“Me too! I’ve never made them, though.”
“Me neither.”
“We’ll learn together then.” Nino pauses. “Well, once Larcei gets here.”
Picking up the card, Iskra skims it. “I can read it off until she gets here…but she would be upset if we started without her. Why don’t we gather the ingredients so we’re ready for when she arrives?”
“Sounds good to me!”
The two move around the kitchen, grabbing each ingredient as Iskra reads it off. It takes them some time to find their way -- there aren’t many labels, since the normal cooks know where everything is. Just as Nino sets the final spice on the table, the door opens.
“I didn’t need an escort,” Larcei grumbles.
“I’m not escorting you,” Shannan says. “I’m walking with you, because we’re going to the same place.”
“Hi, Shannan,” Nino says, waving. “Are you coming to cook too?”
Iskra knows Shannan had raised Larcei, but the mental image of him cooking is still strange. What if he used Balmung as a knife to cut bread? A giggle escapes them. Shannan looks their way with a raised eyebrow.
“Is the idea of me cooking that strange?” he asks.
“A little,” they admit, “but it’s not wrong! I just imagined you using Balmung in the kitchen and it was funny.”
He looks almost scandalized at the thought. “The blade can do many things, but it’s not meant for that. I’d rather not be the first.”
“I wouldn’t either.” There are a number of sacred weapons in Askr, and the idea of using any of them for anything as mundane as cooking is equal parts amusing and terrible.
“But if you want an extra hand, I can aid you with a normal blade.”
Iskra nods enthusiastically. They’ll never turn down a chance to spend more time with the man who’s come to feel like a father. Nino, of course, has no objection either. Shannan joins them on one side of the table, while Larcei remains on the other with the recipe. It’s only a matter of time before she joins in too, Iskra thinks. But even if she doesn’t, the Summoner is just happy that their friend is there with the others.
“What’s up first, Larcei?” Nino asks.
Larcei skips over the ingredients and heads to the first step. “The nuts need to be chopped so they’re ready to be mixed into the dough once it’s made.”
Shannan picks up a knife and gets to it, and neither Nino nor Iskra mind him taking charge on the sharp object part of the process. There are plenty of jobs for everyone. At Larcei’s direction, Nino and Iskra begin to make the dough, mixing the wet ingredients with wet and the dry with the dry until it’s time to put it all together. The treat has hardly begun to be made, but Iskra is already excited to see their work coming together.
And standing there with Shannan and Nino and Larcei, standing with their family, Iskra is reminded all over again of how much they’ve come to love being in Askr.
