Awakening at the break of dawn, I try to quietly escape without disturbing Noel. But his eyes blink open sleepily. “Aeya…?”

His soft hair is mussed, a little more won't do any harm~ I pet his head and let him know I'm going to the library to read.

“Fine…” is his only whiny response as he falls back asleep.

Walking to the library in the crisp dawn light is calming. The sun has just started rising, barely peeking through the windows. The marble stone floor feels cold to the touch. I greet any maids I bump into on my way to the library. Letting my fingers linger on the bronze handles, I think a bit about what I want to read this morning.

Hmn, I shall look for a storybook or something on olden myths today.

When my eyes grow foggy from too much strain, I know it's about mid-morning. Stretching, I tuck the book between my armpit and head off for lessons with Aristole.

Noel is already seated at his desk, his eyes bleary from sleepiness. When he notices me, he directs a wide beam of a smile and kicks his feet back and forth in contentment.

I quickly go in to pet his hair before Aristole walks in. He stares at Noel for a second, blinking a few times dazedly before starting the lecture.

Noel and I dine on meat pies and steamed corn for lunch. Chatting about today's lecture, Noel complains and stabs a meat pie with an obviously misguided vengence, “Ughhh… When are we ever going to use something like trigonometry?”

Dad walks in then, silently glancing at Noel. He furrows his brow as if something akin to a migraine strikes him. But quickly recovers and chuckles in response, “Learning all manners of things will prepare you properly for anything life can throw at you. Even then, it might not be enough,” He pokes Noel on the forehead.

I laugh at his pout, “Remember when you complained about Pythagoras Theorem? We ended up using it to calculate the distance I'll be from home when I move to Harthrow.”

His pout grows so wide, his pink cheeks begin to resemble a chipmunk. Ah, maybe I shouldn't have brought up my move to the student dorm… He was so upset when he learnt of my departure date… Quickly, I try to salvage the situation.

“Anyways, things we learn may be the foundation to understanding concepts on something more useful later on.” Although I'm chiding him, the sad look on his face makes my heart scrunch. I ruffle his hair as way of apology.

A wave of calmness washes over me. Fufu, recharge complete. Ah no, the petting is for him not me.

Moving my hand away, he cheekily nuzzles his head back towards my retreating hand. Fine fine, you spoiled brat~

After eating, Noel goes to take his usual afternoon nap, dad heads back into his study, and I go for my post-meal walk in the gardens.

Comfortably situating myself between a bush of daffodils and primrose, I softly call out, “Nara?”

A few seconds pass by before she peeps out from a distant branch. “How rare of you to call for me, spring blossom.”

I giggle, pulling a petal from her wings. Looks like she rushed here.

“It’s-” I begin but quickly my mouth clamps tight, seconds pass in silence. It’s a while before I notice how she’s brought a gentle breeze with her - it smells of lavender and pine. The scent calms me down and my throat unhitches. “Do you know how to read dreams?”

“Did you have a nightmare?” She begins cooing teasingly.

“I don't exactly remember… But it felt like one... A long and terrible nightmare… ”

She hovers for a bit as if in thought, before answering me more seriously. “Dreaming is in the realm of divination, and divination is the Unseelie’s realm of expertise.”

“...I see.”

“Instead, let me help you when the sun billows higher.” She flies off before I can ask what she meant by that.

Oh, how the Fairfolk love speaking in riddles.

Shade of the floral undergrowth sways gently with the wind, letting gems of light dance onto the pages of the book I've brought with me. I flip to where I last left her, effortlessly falling into the passages.