Source Of Joy

25 | Currently writing: Yanqing Happy Family AU | Please feel free to send asks, even anonymous ones, about what I am writing. I love talking to people

[topaz-witch-tea]

Coco realizing how jealous she can be when another witch offers to redraw the seals in Agott’s sylph shoes.

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The qiflings are in their moody teenager phase and one of them tells Qifrey “I’m too old for hugs!” and just leave him there she’ll-shocked.

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Qifrey carrying Agott and flying to Kalhn during the first month she arrived. She’s hasn’t gotten the hang of her sylph shoes yet and the atelier is in need of more ink and paper. Qifrey has never carried a child in his arms before so this is very new to him and his thought process the whole flight was “don’t drop her. Don’t drop her. Don’t drop her.”

They thankfully land safely in the city and Qifrey rounds the corner to the market when- BAM! The jolt nearly causing him to drop Agott but he quickly found his footing. He looks up to check on Agott only to see her clutching her forehead in pain and the muffled sniffling as she grimaced in pain. Buts of the stone wall had flaked off and stuck itself to the welt forming on Agott’s forehead. Carrying a person added extra height and width, something Qifrey’s muscle memory had not factored in.

He’s so panicked as he rushes her to the medical facility. The welt only getting bigger and redder and Agott cries into his cloak from the pain. He feels like a monster. He’s the worse person ever. Where were the Knight Moralis to take him away and erase his memory? He should be in jail.

The medical facility run the cursory check up and assure him that there was no worry of concussion but to monitor her just in case. If she complained about severe headaches or dizziness, Qifrey was to bring her back immediately. Otherwise, she was to rest for the week and apply ice to bring the swelling down. By then she had stopped crying, but she looked so pitiful with the large painful welt and the bag of ice she was holding against it.

After profuse apologies which Agott kept insisting was unnecessary, they had flown back home. Agott was immediately sent to bed and told dinner would be brought up to her room when it was ready. Quadryphon soup with a berry pudding for dessert was prepared, a deviation from the intended Rhinocerox meatloaf, and Qifrey was fretting over her through dinner and bedtime.

Olruggio: Will ya go to bed? You’ll drive yourself mad reading that.

Qifrey: The pamphlet said I have to monitor her. She could have a bleed. What if it happens in her sleep? I’m the worst, Olruggio. You need to report me. You have to!

Olruggio: Calm down. I ain’t reporting you to anyone. It was an accident.

[topaz-witch-tea]

WHA Fic idea - Spoiler for chapter 78

*SPOILER*

SPOILER!!!!!!!

Agott is invited to a week long conference in the Great Hall after her actions during the Silver Eve fest. These conferences typically revolve around a certain type of magic and features witches presenting their latest research, spells, and contraptions. The theme of this one is Magic Given Form - Practicality vs. Aesthetic and Agott had been nominated to attend by both Beldaruit and Lagrah for her knowledge of decorative sigils.

Agott is absolutely ecstatic and beside herself with joy as she is packing up and leaving. Yet Coco is pondering what the rest of her week is going to look like without Agott there. She’s so used to seeing Agott every night when she woke up or went to bed and now Agott won’t even be there. Even poor brushbuddy, whose favorite places to sleep is next to Coco’s bed or by Richeh’s windowsill, now spends every night in Agott’s room and wakes up every morning confused as to why she isn’t there.

The other girls are anxious about it as well. Agott is a constant during their lessons and now it’s just the three of them. When they run into an issue with their spell, it’s Agott they go to. Now, they’re stuck digging through their books or looking for help from Master Qifrey. It isn’t that there is anything wrong with asking him, but sometimes it’s easier to ask a fellow student instead of the teacher.

Olruggio tries really hard to make it look like he doesn’t care. He’s constantly reassuring Qifrey and the girls that everything is alright and that it’s Agott and when has that girl done anything dangerous and reckless ever. Until Agott misses Wednesday’s call because she got tired and fell asleep right after dinner and Olruggio shows up in the Great Hall himself to make sure he’s okay. He does not tell the other girls and Qifrey this because that would ruin his “I’m not worried. I don’t care. The rest of you should trust her more. She’s fine” facade that he spent all week cultivating.

Qifrey seems to be handling it worse with him accidentally setting an extra plate at the dinner table and standing by the door waiting for his missing apprentice to join them before Tetia reminds him. The poor man is getting a taste of empty nest syndrome and he is not handling it well. Agott calls every night and Beldaruit constantly assures him that she is fine but Qifrey is a step away from walking over there and checking himself.

What if she’s being bullied? What if she doesn’t eat? What if she trips and almost drowns in the sea???

[topaz-witch-tea]

The Great Hall has a Winter Ball every year and it’s typically attended by the Wise and high-ranking witches and their apprentices. Qifrey and Olruggio get invited every year but they always decline because it’s boring, having to chat with everyone is annoying, getting dressed up in fancy robes is a pain and the only good thing there is the food.

The fancy silver scroll envelope arrives but they forget to throw it out. Cue the girls finding it and now they all want to go, even Agott despite the possibility of seeing her mother. There’s food, dancing, music, the whole hall of decorated like a crystal cavern, and of course the magic exhibition. Some of the greatest intellectual minds present their spells at this event.

They beg, they finish next week’s homework early, they do all the chores, they’re pleading at any moment they can for a chance to go. Tetia even writes to Beldaruit asking if it’s possible to bring apprentices (Olruggio tried to say kids can’t go). Eventually they give in and Beldaruit is all too happy to invite the girls, besides it’ll be the first time in years his apprentice attends.

A hefty allowance is sent to them with the excuse of “they need dresses” and “dressing up is good for the soul.” Qifrey and Olruggio get first hand experience at teenage girls shopping. Coco is ecstatic at being in a fabric shop with an unlimited budget and friends she can dress up. Tetia loves dressing up and Richeh is quite picky. Even Agott, who doesn’t care much for clothes has come to love the technical aspects of it.

Six hours. They were in that fabric store for six hours as the children discussed if silk or velvet was better, silver or gold, lace or pearl trim. Should the dresses have high necklines or a scoop? Then came accessories, shoes, and hair. By the end of the day, they were flying back to the atelier half-asleep and carrying three bags each. Olruggio swore that next time, he’s burning the invite when it arrives.

[topaz-witch-tea]

Grandpa Beldaruit worrying over his apprentice and grand apprentices as the harsh winter approaches. It’s set to be even colder this year and it’s Coco’s first winter at the atelier so he send over warm for cloaks for everyone. They’re colored according to the girl’s taste (pink for Tetia, blue for Richeh, etc.) and fur trimmed with spells on the inside. Even brushbuddy gets it’s on coat to match.

On the morning of the fresh snowfall, Qifrey wakes up to colorful blobs zooming around the snow, laughing and chucking snowballs at each other.

[topaz-witch-tea]

I really love Richeh and Agott as a team. I see them as bickering sisters who are on the same wavelength when it matters.

———————— One Shot below —————————

“You hit me!” The boy shrieked, hands cupping his right cheek that was slowly turning red.

Coco stood in front with her face twisted in a scowl and her hand still raised. “Don’t ever touch my friends! You owe Tetia an apology!”

“I only pulled her hair! You didn’t have to hit me! If she didn’t like me, she could’ve just told me so. She should be grateful someone like me even looks at her!”

“She did tell you! Many times!” Coco yelled back as Tetia grabbed her shoulder.

“Hey, Coco. It’s okay. We should just go.” Tetia urged yet Coco dug her feet into the stone floor.

“Prove it! I’m going to go tell my Master and we’ll see what happens to you!” The boy got in Coco’s face, his cheek now sporting a bright red handprint. “I’m not going to be talked down to by an outsider and her group of cheats and rejects. I have a clear sign that you hit me. Can you even prove that I pulled her hair?”

“But you did!” Coco tried to lunge forward.

“Who are the adults going to believe? Me or you? You just attacked me out of no where, though it can’t be help since you come from some backwater atelier. Do you know who I am?”

Coco’s eyes started to sting as the adrenaline caught up to her. She hit a kid in the Great Hall. He pulled Tetia’s hair after she rejected him and Coco had gotten in between and made it worse. She should have gotten an adult, maybe Master Qifrey or Master Beldaruit or anyone. Even Miss Luluci would have handled this better than what she had done. She was in so much trouble. Now people will blame her and Tetia say Master Qifrey is a bad teacher and —

“We also saw you pull her hair.” Agott grabbed Coco by her coat and pulled her back, standing in front of her like a knight. Even brushbuddy had kept from Richeh’s shoulder and curled around her neck.

“Yeah. You get 10 angricheh points.” Richeh stood next to her.

“You’re from the same atelier. Obviously you’re going to cover up for your friend.” He sneered and got in Agott’s face. If she was any less in control of her temper, she would have set his hair on fire and taken her grounding with grace. But she was in control and if she got grounded, then Coco and Tetia would crumble and blame it on themselves and that boy still wouldn’t be punished. Where was the justice in that?

“So you’re saying that you are a victim of a senseless act of violence and you have done nothing to deserve it?” Agott glared.

“Of course I’m a victim. She slapped me out of no where. I’m going to get her thrown out!” He jabbed a finger at her chest.

“Richeh.” Agott uttered.

Richeh lunged forward. Arms outstretched as she pushed Agott, the force sending the girl down the steps. She tucked her head in as she fell but the stone steps were still hard and sharp.

“Agott!” Tetia screamed.

“AGOTT!” Coco ran down the steps towards her friend.

“You pushed Agott. You get 10 more angricheh points.”

“I-I DID NOT! You’re the one who pushed her!” The boy screamed as he watched Agott sit up, some bruising on her arm was starting to turn purple and her nose had produced a dribble of blood.

“Agott is my friend. Why would I push her?”

“You-! You-!”

“WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?” The children turned to the crowd gathered on the bottom steps. Beldaruit stood front and center on his seal chair. Qifrey and Olruggio to his right and Luluci to his left.

“Agott! You’re bleeding!” Coco exclaimed as a red cut along her chin started producing blood.

“Agott!” Qifrey ran forward, picking his student up from the steps and cradling her. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, it just stings a bit…” She grimaced as the blood dripped onto her clothes. “It’s just hurts.”

“Master!” Tetia rushed down and clung to Qifrey’s cloak. “She fell down the stairs.”

“He pushed her.” Richeh pointed her finger at the boy.

“I-I did not!”

“He also pulled Tetia’s hair.”

“So what, she hit me!” He screamed back but Richeh’s face remained impassive.

“Enough.” A stern voice echoed through the hall. Beldaruit turned to his apprentice, “you should take the Agott to the medical spire. The two of you may go with him.”

Qifrey looked down at Agott, whose bloody nose has not ceased and the other two who were crying into his cloak and would be of no help in the interrogation.

“Alright.” He hurried off down the stairs.

“Luluci, please fetch Mr. Rivia’s master. Master Olruggio, please stay with Miss Richeh.”

“Yes, Lord Beldaruit.” Luluci shot off in the opposing direction.

“Yes, Lord Beldaruit.” Olruggio looked up as Richeh watched Qifrey leave with the other girls. His eyes narrowing in as he saw Agott look over Qifrey’s shoulder and meet Richeh’s eyes for longer than normal.

—————

“I’m sorry!” Coco cried. “I never should have hit him! You wouldn’t have needed to do that!”

“I’m sorry too! If I had just been—“

“Hey, none of that. Master Qifrey said you guys aren’t to blame! You’ve done nothing wrong! If we didn’t do anything, then you might have gotten in a lot of trouble! His family is very important!”

“But-but Master Qifrey and Master Olruggio don’t care about those things!” Tetia exclaimed as she sat on Agott’s hospital bed.

“Even if they don’t care, Coco could have gotten in a lot of trouble! The other witches will ask why you weren’t nice to him or why you didn’t just say you liked him to! That’s what it’s like with the old families.” Agott sighed.

The damage was super minor and the bruising would disappear in a day or two. After all, it wasn’t the first time her and Richeh had tried something like this.

“Besides it’s doesn’t even hurt. I’m fine.”

“You’re so brave Agott!” Tetia exclaimed.

“Yeah! So brave and cool!” Coco curled up at the feet of the bed.

————————

Richeh stood with her head held high and her face stone cold as she faced her interrogators. Both Qifrey and Olruggio sat in front of her, with Qifrey looking like he was coaxing a scare owlcat out of the rafters and Olruggio just looking exhausted.

“Richeh,” Qifrey started. “Are you sure you didn’t leave anything out of your story?”

“Yes, he pushed Agott down the stairs and he pulled Tetia’s hair. Coco tried to push him back and stop him. That’s the story.”

“Richeh…” Qifrey pressed while all Olruggio could do was sigh. “Did someone give you this idea?”

“That’s the story. Richeh’s not a snitch.”

“What?” Qifrey was flabbergasted as Richeh ran out of the room, no doubt to keep Agott company in the medical spire.

“What just happened?” Qifrey stared at the door.

“Ah! Just forget it! When they’re like this, there’s no point interrogating them. Agott and Richeh won’t spill even if you threaten to take away dinner.” Olruggio got up, no doubt looking for liquor.

[topaz-witch-tea]

I really love the snippet you wrote! Tbh if you ever expanded on it and wrote more, I’d read all of it 100%. I love the concept of a horrified Qifrey faced with the impossible decision of choosing between his girls, and then his resulting heartbreak when they all think it should be *themself* to get sacrificed. (Of course Agott thinking it The Most probably). Idk I just love imagining the emotional fallout of it all once they’re safe, and how much Qifrey probably won’t *stop* hugging his girls anytime soon (Olly as well of course). The whole concept is immaculate and I love all of it lol

Thank you! I am learning towards writing a full fic but I just need to find the time to write the fic 😂

He absolutely cannot choose. He cannot bear the thought of choosing one over another. He'd rather they just take him because it would be less painful than knowing that he does favor one less and had sent an innocent child to a horrible fate. He is agonizing as the children start giving reasons as to why they're the least favorite and why the others are the favorite.

He likely goes to bed the first night asking Olruggio is he thinks that Qifrey plays favorites. Obviously, Olruggio says he doesn't and that its insane anyone thinks that only for Qifrey to reply "than why does Agott think I do." He keeps them in eyesight and in the house. He even goes as far as to prepare a place in the living room for all of them to sleep since he can't bear the thought of not seeing them.

It would be really interesting if the reason for the girls getting in the situation in the first place is due to them looking for a cure for Silverwood. They love their Master so much that they are willing to sacrifice themselves to get him a cure.

[topaz-witch-tea]

I’m obsessed with eldest daughter Agott. Heavily inspired by my experiences.

Agott and Qifrey had a rough beginning with it being their first time as apprentice and master and both are being a lot of mental baggage into the role. Agott was constantly angry and scared, consumed by the fear that if her skills lacked then she would be abandoned again. Qifrey, with his own selfish reasons for taking on an apprentice, now having to deal with the most volatile child since he roamed the Great Hall. The two of them must have had so many fights in the first couple months. Olruggio being woken up to screaming match after screaming match.

Beldaruit was laughing and felt so freaking vindicated when Qifrey came to help for the first time because his student was “quiet, moody, and refused to cooperate”.

Of course, Qifrey now feels very guilty because Agott was a child and he should have never yelled at her like that. However Agott, like any up-and-coming teenager, smells weakness like a shark.

Tetia: Master Qifrey said we can’t go to the Great Hall!

Coco: Awww! I really want to see the research exhibition. It’s where everyone shows off their new contraptions and spells. I was looking forward to it all year.

Richeh: We tried to beg Master to let us go but he refused. He doesn’t like the Great Hall at all.

Agott: Step aside. Let me show you how it’s done.

Qifrey: Agott, I already told the others no. The spells are too advanced for any of you to attempt and you’re not going to understand the contraptions. Also, the environment there is not great.

Agott: Do you remember when you told me, in this very kitchen, that you regretted picking me as your apprentice and wish you could send me back to the Great Hall? I guess that’s where I will be going.

Qifrey: I’ll see what I can do *pulls Agott into a tight hug*

- That night -

Olruggio: You know Agott is manipulating you, right?

Qifrey (hugging a pillow to his chest): I know… but I feel so bad. I remember how sad and small she looked and how she cried herself to sleep and would walk around with her owlcat plushie. Do you remember when she kept hugging it in case I sent her away??? SHE WAS JUST A BABY! SHE JUST WANTED HER TOY!

Tetia: That’s our Agott!

Coco: Poor Master Qifrey…

Richeh: Do you feel bad about what you did?

Agott: Would you feel bad once you get to see the spell that makes diamonds rain from the sky?

[topaz-witch-tea]

Grandpa Beldaruit - WIP

[topaz-witch-tea]

Qifrey might die from empty-nest syndrome. One day his house was loud and cheerful and the next day, it was absolutely quiet. He prepares enough food for six people but there are only two plates at the dinner table. The days that were supposed to be for lesson planning is now just hours and hours of free time. On days where Olruggio is out, it’s just Qifrey at home alone. No kids to say goodnight to and no picnics to prepare for the next day, just empty silence.

Qifrey last a week maybe two before he cries and calls up Coco, who also cries because she misses everyone. It then leads to them calling Tetia who starts crying because it’s lonely out here and she misses her bed and midnight snacks. Richeh just shows up at the Atelier’s door because it’s not fun living alone in Ezrest and not being able to ask anyone for help immediately. Even Agott stops by under the pretense of forgetting something in the house (she didn’t forget anything).

By that evening, everyone is back in the house for dinner which ends up running late so they all stay overnight. Even if they have to go back to their place the next day, they decide to set up window ways to the atelier so they can all have dinner together often.

[topaz-witch-tea]

Coco discovers jealousy

Coco: *Agott's so nice to let me borrow her clothes. Her clothes are really warm* I'm so happy we're friends

Random female character #1: Hey Agott! Here's your dress back. Thank you for letting me borrow it.

Agott: Of course.

Coco: What a weird feeling in my chest?

__________________

Agott: You need to change this sign to aeriform. A wind sigil won't work

Coco: Thank you Agott! You're the best!

Random male character #1: Hey Agott! Could you help me with this spell? I keep drawing the sign but it isn't working.

Agott (gets up and leaves Coco's side): Sure, here you do it like this (Proceeds to guides the person's pen across the paper)

Random male character #1: Thank you so much! You're super smart, Agott!

Coco: Why do I feel like I want to fight him?

__________________

Random female character #2: Thank you so much for help me! Here, I made you some chocolates! Dark chocolate with a marktea ganache.

Agott: You didn't need to, it was my pleasure to help you! Still, thank you for all the work you put into making this.

Random female character #2: You saved me and carried me to the medical spire.

Agott: You broke your ankle. It was the natural thing to do.

Random female character #2: Even so, I felt sort of like a princess saved by a knight in shining armor. It made me quite happy.

Agott: I'm glad.

Tetia: Uhm Coco? Are you okay? Why are you glaring at Agott? Did you guys get into a fight?

__________________

Random male character #2: Miss Agott, may I have the pleasure of dancing with you?

Agott: Alright.

Coco: I hope that guy falls down the stairs and breaks his legs

Richeh: What?

Coco: What?

__________________

Coco (in the middle of the night): Master Qifrey? Master Olruggio?

Qifrey: What are you doing up? It's midnight.

Olruggio: Did you have a nightmare?

Coco: I think being around Agott is turning me into a bad person.

[topaz-witch-tea]

The qiflings need to use their status as grand apprentices to get what they want. One of them just needs to drop “grandmaster Bel” or in really desperate times, “grandpa Bel”, and they are going to get everything they want and more.

“Grandmaster Bel, could you teach me lightning magic?” - Instant yes. Who cares if Qifrey said they’re too young?

“Grandmaster Bel? I was wondering, could you ask the cafeteria to serve that soup from last week again? It was really good.” - that soup is getting served every week. He couldn’t care less if people get sick of it.

“Grandpa Bel, can I decorate your chair with ribbons?” -Of course! Put all the ribbons you want.

“Grandpa Bel, we all got grounded by Master Qifrey and Master Olruggio for running off and getting ourselves in danger. Sorry we can’t visit you.” - time for Beldaruit to flex his title and formally request them in the Great Hall

“Grandpa Bell, could you make Mr. Easthies go away? He’s scary.” - immediately calls Vinanna “you tell your apprentice to leave those poor children alone. He’s terrorizing my grandchildren for no reason.”

Their birthday and holiday presents are just trunks of dresses and magic tools and books. Rare casting agents, fancy sweets, and the newest tomes are sent to them regardless of Qifrey’s complaints of “you’re spoiling them”.

The children now get “allowances for their hard work” but it’s really just bags of money every time they visit.

[topaz-witch-tea]

Agott in true eldest-daughter fashion fights her parents (Olruggio and Qifrey) so much. The little jabs, the outright refusal to listen to them the first time, choosing to eat dinner in her room and study instead of with everyone else- she is me. I love her so. Sometimes fighting your parents is necessary.

Agott, being the first student, likely fought with both adults a lot. Qifrey can learn theory and everything in between but an actual child is so different. Olruggio recognizes that Agott is very similar to him and we see that during the Festival Arc.

Coco and Tetia don’t have it in them to fight Qifrey and Olruggio unless it’s a matter of life and death. Richeh, as well, since the only moment she showed much opposition was during the exam. Agott, however, it’s a daily basis that they’re both used to it.

Olruggio: Oi! Where are you going?

Agott: I need to buy ink.

Olruggio: We already bought ink last week.

Agott: I need a different kind.

Olruggio: Have you run this spell by Qifrey yet? Does Qifrey know you’re buying ink?

Agott: Oh my god! I just need ink! We don’t even know if the spell will work until I try it!

I cheer you on Agott! As an eldest daughter, your true happiness lies after fighting your parents over a thing.

[topaz-witch-tea]

The Sad Wet Owlcat - Snippet

Based off of this - I really want to write about Agott and Qifrey's relationship

"I know I'm not like Coco or Tetia or Richeh. Coco is intelligent and talented. She solves problems in ways I could never dream of. Tetia is observant of everyone's emotions and is always quick to bounce back in the face of adversity. Richeh's independent, she doesn't require the approval or admirations of others. She walks her own path with her head held high. When faced with that, it's quite obvious to see who's your least favorite."

Agott fiddled with the ear of the owlcat plush, the fur as soft as the day it was given to her 5 years ago. It was in a way a relief to say all that yes the anxiety of the response still weighed heavily. It was as if the weight was lifted from her right side and placed on her left but it still felt good to get it out. It was like vomiting when you're sick. It hurts during and after but it hurts less after. This will do the same.

"Do you- you believe I have favorites?" Her master sounded as if he had been stabbed. So similar to the horror and shock from earlier when he was forced to choose one to sacrifice. Agott doesn't think she'll understand it. Objectively, the choice was obvious.

Her eyes move to the silver swirls on the quilt and she traces her finger along it. "Not in a bad way. Just that there's a clear and correct answer. It isn't a big deal. I know its true. I think everyone else-"

Agott looked up and stopped. Her left hand grasping her owlcat tighter and her shoulders tensed as she looked at her master. Typically, she does quite well in emergency situations. The incident from yesterday proved that but right now she wasn't so sure. There isn't a spell to make your Master stop crying.

Yet tears streamed endlessly down his face and he looked so broken and sad. His form hunched over and for the first time in Agott's life, she felt like he won't be able to pull himself together from this.

[topaz-witch-tea]

Agott is confirmed to have stuffed animals. I wonder who bought them. Was it from her family though I can’t imagine them showing that kind of warmth to her? It’s unlikely she asked for them since she desperately wants to grow up.

I like to think the first day to went to Kalhn with Qifrey and Olruggio, her eyes fell on a large stuffed owlcat. It was clear she wanted it from how her eyes kept going back to it and the way she squished the paw to feel the plush fabric. But she never asked for it, never tugged on their cape or drew any attention to it. Nevertheless, Qifrey had quietly bought it and handed it to her despite her refusal.

“A child should always have a soft companion to sleep with and I would be a bad master if I didn’t provide one.”

The rest of her collection accumulated over the years from birthday gifts or the whims of Qifrey when he spots something he knows she’d like.

[topaz-witch-tea]

The Mariberry Patch

TW: characters death, angst

Behind the atelier was a garden of blooming fruit trees and flowering bushes, a stark difference from the vegetable patch that existed since the atelier’s inception. A robust mountain apple trees with its pink and purple blooms and tall blooming moonolia trees with their plump white blossoms provided a nice patch of shade for the large and wild mariberry bush that grew in between them. Mariberry grew best in the shade and the ones in the wild tended to produce both sweet and sour berries. There was really no way to know which would be sweet as candy or as sour as a lemon until you had them. They also tended to be small, producing make a basket of berries a season.

The little patch by the atelier was different though. It was large and grand, easily the size of five bushes combined and it produced the largest, sweetest berries, all perfect for pie making. It produced for too much for the inhabitants of the little atelier.

Its three apprentices had graduated and moved out to make their mark on the world, leaving on two witches and a brushbug behind. Though the house moved on from its loud and cheerful days, a guest or two was always there at dinner time. It was also quite lived during the first or second week of July.

Coco, dressed in her linen gown and a purple overcoat sporting diamond embroidery and tassels, slowly made her way over to the large bush. The sun had not yet risen and the morning air nipped her skin. Still, she marched on with her basket and set on down by the bush. With muscle memory alone, she plucked the ripe ones. No need to bother herself with checking for bruising and bites, she plopped them in the basket. She continued until her basket was full and fingers felt raw from the rough branches.

“Happy Birthday, Agott.” The words scratched like thorns against her throat. “It’s your 20th birthday today.”

Tears burned as Coco desperately tried to blink them away. “I’m sorry I was away for so long. Mother’s moving her business to Ezrest so I was busy helping her. She sends her regards. The city has so many types of fabric and styles so she’s having a grand time making clothes for the witches that stop by. Mother’s made Tetia a dress already and is making Richeh an overcoat with this crystal embroidered fabrics that just came in. I saw this mulberry silk that I thought would look great on you. I think you’d like it as a dress or maybe a cloak. I almost bought it too.”

By now, the tears flowed freely down her face and neck and seeped into the high collar of her robes. Her form hunched over and her hands gripped the cold grass beneath. “I have this spell I’ve been working on for a client. They have an issue with quadryphons coming down and eating their crops before they could be harvested so they wanted something to scare them away. I had recommended a scarecrow but it seems their young kids are terrified of those. I ended up creating a spell that would make a light dragon appear every time a quadryphon came close. I thought it would take me days to get done but it only took me one. It’s all thanks to you and those decorative sigils you taught me.”

“I—“ The words burned and became lumpy in her throat and felt like it was choking her. “I feel you everywhere, Agott. I never— I could never forget you. What you told me, what you taught me, none of it. I miss you so much. I know I say it every time I come here but it’s true. It’s so lonely. I miss having a roommate. I miss your Mariberry pie and I miss listening to you draw spells. I miss you yelling at me. If you— if you came back, I’d let you yell at me all you want. I’d make a lot of noise and draw the sigils on your sylph shoes super long and just sit there and listen to you. I love you, Agott. I realized that too late but I love you a lot.”

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“Coco! Behind you!”

“Agott!”

“Agott! Master Qifrey, do something! You can do something! You have to!”

“Don’t be stupid, Coco. I don’t think there’s healing magic that can fix this in time.”

“But- You can’t go! You can’t! I can fix this!”

“Hey…don’t go…using forbidden magic on me, okay? I— I don’t want that.”

“I—But—“

“Promise me… you… won’t. I didn’t throw myself in front of that just… just so the brimhats can trick you into using forbidden magic.”

“I promise! I promise! Just save your strength! You don’t need to speak! I’ll figure something out!”

“I know…you’ll figure it out. That’s what I love the most about you. It’s why I love you.”

“Agott!”

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Qifrey woke up with the first ray of dawn. The light glittering through the window and directly into his eyes. Olruggio lay next to him, wrapped in blankets and completely out cold. His slumber was peaceful. His slumber had been peaceful for years near as the silver wood had all but withered and died inside him.

They say it only arises when its host has found comfort. What comfort could a master possibly feel after burying his apprentice? It retreated back when he carried that light, little body to the great hall and disappeared when he realized just how small coffins could come in.

He would sleep uninterrupted until the end of his days. His life long and his wish to grow old alongside Olruggio was granted. Afterall, what peace could the dammed silverwood feast on after Qifrey was forced to bury his first apprentice, his first child, under the patch of Mariberry bushes that she love so?