Aligeri - Chapter 1

Chapter One: The Celebration

It was that time of year again: the birthday celebration of Princess Ruby Saffir. She would be turning eighteen, becoming a young woman, and (perhaps more importantly) attracting suitors. The royal family had gone to great lengths to prepare the festivities, but one kink in the plan had made its way into the preparations: the royal cook had fallen terribly ill. No cook, no cake. This problem needed to be resolved as quickly as possible.

So this was how Alyxander Legume, Celest's one and only local baker, was stuck with an order for an enormously large cake for someone else on his birthday. Oh how lucky he felt.

Not that this was much different from any other birthday for Alyx. By now, he expected the day to go by like any other in the year. If someone so much as said "Happy birthday," to him, he considered it a pleasant surprise.

The small, brownish-gray squirrel was peering inside a window, staring with wide, black eyes that shifted too and fro occasionally into the bakery. The little animal was, in reality, a sprite, and being one, she was a little on edge in the city. She usually only came here when she was with one of her friends – well, friend. She only had one friend. She was, well, too on edge to really make more than one.

However, the baker she somewhat knew, considering her friend, Chay, was friends with him. So, being lost and nervous, she had come there to calm herself down at least a little. The door hadn't been open, though, so she found herself peering through the window, not knowing what else to do. At least she was out of sight from most people... and, well... a squirrel at the moment. Her name was Ellen, and even if she wasn't in squirrel form, she acted so much like one that it wouldn't have made much difference.

"Boogedy," a familiar voice chuckled as a hand batted at Ellen's tail. "Whatcha looking at, kiddo?"

Chay was just tall enough the reach the window sill, and seeing Ellen in the city was quite unexpected. This sprite, in contrast to his friend, was in his more typical form, his stringy orange hair continually falling in his face despite being pulled back into a low ponytail that barely covered his tiny pointed ears. He stared at his and Ellen's reflection, ice blue eyes looking into her animal ones.

The small squirrel jumped. Seriously, Ellen looked rather panicked until she realized that it was Chay who had spoken. Her wide eyes (if possible) got even wider, and if she hadn't been scared enough to go into her animal form in the first place, she probably would be clinging onto her friend's arm at the moment to calm down, even if it was him who had scared her in the first place.

Since he was here, she'd change back once she felt "safe" in a sense. She was just a little more jumpy than usual right now. Ellen looked back to Alyxander inside the bakery. He looked rather busy. What occasion was it? For once, she wasn't being cautious (well, she actually was...) but curious.

"You know, it's hard to talk to you when you're like this," Chay said as he offered his arm for her to climb up. "I'll let you inside so you can change into something more sociable. Alyx won't mind."

She hesitated, as if she was still a little nervous, but after a few seconds Ellen climbed up his arm until she was comfortably on his shoulder. She was still kind of shaking slightly, but then again, she really always shook at least a little. She kind of wanted to change back, actually. It was still kind of awkward for her to go around in that form, even though she was used to it.

Chay opened the door and tried to sidle past Alyx quietly, but...

"So, are you going to help me bake today, Chay?" the baker asked. "Or do you have other plans for the big celebration?"

He had an unnaturally bitter tone as he said this, and the sprite shrugged slightly as he let Ellen down onto a chair.

"You should see all the decor they have out there!" he told his friend. "They've got green and violet and red ribbons strewn about like grape vines!"

"I know..."

The sprite looked around a few times nervously as she was set down on the chair, and once she finally came to the conclusion that nobody was going to see her change, excluding Alyx and Chay, she changed back to her normal form. Her large, dark brown eyes looked around her as she smoothed out her earth-toned brown hair which fell a little below her shoulders and ended in a slight V-shape down her back.

Immediately after she was more human again, the sprite stood and slowly and "stealthily" shuffled over to nervously get close to Chay. She didn't mind Alyx that much anymore, but she still wasn't as used to him as her fellow sprite, and thus, she was still somewhat afraid of him. Occasionally, her eyes would glance over at the door or window.

"Awe, why so glum? Today's too beautiful to be miserable!"

"Easy for you to say. Look at this order I have to complete by noon."

Alyx shoved one of his floured hands into the pocket of his apron and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper. He tossed it at the sprites.

"I've only got a couple of hours to mix, bake, and decorate it, and I don't even know if they're paying me for this request or expecting this as a gift."

He paused from mixing the batter to look over at them. He was easily twice their height, but that was expected. He had dusty brown hair that fluffed lightly to his shoulders, and at this distance his eyes appeared to be a deep, amber brown.

"Does she talk at all?" he asked. "I don't think I've ever heard your friend speak."

Alyx didn't seem to be in a very good mood, which kind of intimidated the already easily intimidated little sprite. About over halfway behind her friend, she stared at the paper he had tossed at them for a moment before averting her eyes as he changed the subject to if she ever talked. Her face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and shyness, she finally said something in front of someone other than just Chay:

"S-s-sorry..."

Her voice was high, soft, and somewhat squeaky, just like one would expect coming from...well... a squirrel. Speaking seemed to make her more nervous, as if the sound of her own voice had scared her, and she ducked behind Chay even more, so that her eyes were just slightly in a position where she could peer up at Alyx. The baker sighed, shaking his head as he sat down on a stool.

"You haven't told her, have you?"

"Told her what?" Chay asked, genuinely confused. Alyx slid part of the neckline of his tunic to show the bandages underneath, and the sprite suddenly realized what he meant.

"Oh! No, I haven't. You said not to tell anyone..."

Alyx whistled. To normal, human ears, this would have sounded perhaps like a blue jay's call, but to a sprite (or any woodland creature), it was clear enough: "She'd understand what I am."

Ellen looked... confused. What he was saying was, actually obvious, hinting that he was an aligeri. However, this sprite wasn't really smart enough to know what someone meant unless they told her exactly what it was they meant. No beating around the bush. What she did figure from this was that he could speak like a bird, and she looked kind of surprised. Timidly, she looked from the ground up to the taller man again, running the message he had said so softly through a whistle through her head over and over and over as she started at him with her large eyes until finally (although it took her long enough), it finally clicked in her mind what he had meant.

She, for one, didn't really care what he was for one simple reason: no matter what he was, he still made her nervous. To Ellen, that was all that mattered. Either someone made her nervous and scared her, or they didn't. Did it really matter how much they scared her? Not really. It mattered if she sort of wasn't scared of them anymore, but kind of nervous, but that was all. Chay would probably know that odd little logic of hers, considering it wasn't a secret how skittish she was.

Chay waited for her to think it through until he saw that little glimmer of understanding.

"Wow, I think that's the fastest Ellen's grasped anything new and surprising," the sprite laughed. "Come on, Ell; really, he's not usually this grumpy. He's just bogged down by work..."

Alyx said nothing as he stood up to continue preparing the cake. Chay scratched the back of his head.

"Sheesh, I don't think I've ever seen you in such a fowl mood."

"You, of all people, should know why," Alyx grumbled. He'd just finished filling the pans to be baked. Finally, Chay remembered.

"Oh!" he exclaimed excitedly, then frowned. "Oh yeah..."

The sprite swiveled around to explain to Ellen.

"In case you didn't notice, today's Princess Ruby Saffir's birthday," he explained. "Well, it's Alyx's birthday too, and everyone seems to forget..."

He turned back to his friend.

"I'm sorry Alyx. Just... all the colors... and the decoration... I..."

"Got distracted," the baker finished for him, sliding the pans into the oven. "Yeah, but this is the first year I've had to remind you."

Alyx sat back down on his stool and leaned against the table.

Ellen was quiet, but she looked sympathetic at the news. It really is a sad thing to be forgotten. How unfortunate for him to have his birthday on the day of the princess' of all days. She didn't know how much it would count, but she decided it was worth a shot to say:

"H-Happy Birthday, Alyx..."

Twice in one day. It was probably a record. And she only stuttered once that time.

Alyx glanced towards her and smiled softly. The gentle curve of his mouth was one so subtle, yet so strong that his outward demeanor seemed to lighten instantly.

"Thanks," he said. "I seldom hear that from anyone other than Chay."

All it took was that little smile to make him seem so much less intimidating towards her. Ellen slightly loosened the grip on the back of Chay's tunic and moved a little less out from behind him. As he thanked her, she just kind of nodded quickly, bobbing her head up and down a few times in a swift motion.

She was starting to like Alyx a little more. Smiling always helped her opinion of people.

He laughed slightly and leaned back a bit.

"Well, when this cake is done, I'm going to have to deliver it to the palace too. I could use the extra hands to get it there."

"Extra hands?" Chay echoed with a silly scoff and a grin. "I can do more than that..."

"You can, but you won't," Alyx said, his tone taking a serious edge. "If you get caught..."

"As long as it looks like I'm actually supporting it, they won't notice a little levitation charm..."

"No, I don't want you to risk getting caught. Chay, we'll be in the palace. Guards will be everywhere..."

"Pfft! You're being paranoid!"

"I'm being cautious. You know the laws of the land."

Chay stuck his tongue out. He didn't much care for the human laws against magic; they hindered his fun.

"Don't be such a worry weasel! You know as well as I do that most humans wouldn't notice a little cantrip or two if it turned their knees backwards and made them squawk like a goose!"

Alyx didn't look convinced.

Ellen understood what he was up to, and she looked kind of like a worry weasel, herself. Literally. But, it wasn't mostly over Chay wanting to use a little magic to help carry the cake, it was over the fact that it was being suggested that he'd bring it to the palace where guards would be everywhere, and that Alyx was strongly arguing against him using any magic, hinting that something bad could happen to Chay. Something really bad. Like death.

From behind her friend, she whispered softly, "Um..." and then trailed off for a moment, unsure how to say what she wanted to say.

"N-nothing bad will happen to you, right? Nothing bad to Chay..."

Her speech was slightly broken. She had a small problem with going from speaking from first person to third person at random. The less calm she was, the more she talked in third person.

"No, nothing bad will happen to him," Alyx answered for his friend. "Not as long as he keeps his magic in check. Ellen, do you think you could help me carry the cake too? Then Chay wouldn't have an excuse to use his magic to lift it."

Chay stuck his tongue out at Alyx again while the baker rose to check on the cake pans.

"O-oh, okay..." The sprite replied to both Alyx's statement and his question. She seemed somewhat relieved by this, and the momentary panic and worry settled into a "calm nervousness." At least, that would be the best way to describe it when it came to Ellen.

Alyx flipped the cake pans in the oven and closed it again.

"Shouldn't be too much longer," he mumbled. "When they're done, do you two want to help me decorate?"

Chay's ears perked up and he jumped excitedly.

"Oh! Can I? Can I, please?"

Decorate the cake? Judging by Chay's excitement, it would be a fun thing. But, then again, Chay's idea of fun wasn't exactly the same as Ellen's. Not that she really had a good idea of how to do many fun things, of course. Looking kind of unsure of herself, her large eyes looked at the oven for a few seconds before she asked in that simply innocent way of hers:

"How do you do that?"

Sure, she had been here before, but she had never really done anything except cower behind Chay. Today was really the first day she had even spoken to Alyx at all, or to Chay while she was in front of Alyx, so of course she wouldn't really know how to do anything cake-related. I mean, she didn't really know how to do most things that humans or people "human like" did in the city. She was just too used to not coming in the city.

"I'll show you," Chay said with a squeak of eagerness. "Alyx lets me use my magic to decorate the cakes."

"I figure it's a fair trade: let you use it now so you're not as tempted to use it later."

Alyx smiled at both of them.

"Besides, it'll get done faster that way."

Ellen smiled a little at Chay's excitement.

"Okay!" She said, trying to be at least a little enthusiastic so that she wouldn't dampen Chay's mood. Besides, if he was happy then that at least made her a little happier. She had to admit that she was a little excited: he had said he'd show her how to decorate a cake! That meant that she'd be able to learn something new!

After that point, Chay couldn't wait for the cake to finish baking. It took every ounce of self-control he had to keep himself from asking Alyx when it would be ready every five minutes. Soon, though, the baker was pulling the layers from the oven and getting out the ingredients for the icing and decorations.

"Wait for me to close the blinds before you start, alright?" he said to the sprites as he moved the supplies to the table. "Don't want anyone seeing you work..."

Ellen was a lot more patient than Chay was. She was just hoping that she wouldn't do anything wrong and mess up the cake. Her magic wasn't exactly that great, and definitely not something one could use for something they were going to eat unless it was a fruit or vegetable.

Chay pulled two chairs up to the table so he and Ellen could reach.

"Let's get started! Here, you mix this sugar and cream to make the icing, and I'll get it on the cake. It's like glue that keeps the layers together. Then we pour the icing on top like a waterfall and let it drip down the sides. Then we add other decorations on it to finish... hey Alyx, what's going on the cake?"

"Would you believe apples?" the baker asked. "And apple blossoms? Apparently, they're the princess's favorite."

Ellen nodded as she started mixing the ingredients together, trying to keep up with his explanation. When he was telling how it went on it like a waterfall, she commented with, "Oh! I see, like snow falling on a mountain..." Trailing off, she looked over at Alyx as he said what the decorations were.

"Apples are yummy..." She said softly and shyly, but could help but ask, "And apples can go on top of cakes?" Looking over at Chay, there was an utterly perplexed look on her face. She just couldn't seem to understand how people could put fruit and then use it as a decoration.

Obviously, she was thinking that when they had meant decorations, they hadn't meant that you could eat them; that they were simply for show. Alyx raised an eyebrow, but Chay just sniggered.

"Yeah, decorations on food have to be edible, so that it looks and tastes pretty."

As he said this, he wriggled his nose slightly, and one layer of the cake moved to be stacked on top of another. He started icing the new layer.

"I love decorating these things."

"... Oh."

It made sense once he told her. Her face was flushed pink with sheer embarrassment and she hushed up, quietly mixing the rest of the icing. Ellen really didn't want to say something so stupid again, even though she just couldn't help it.

She looked down at the bowl, stirring, stirring, stirring... It was almost hypnotic. She liked mixing. It was fun. It was obvious that although she was quiet and embarrassed, she was slowly getting more and more relaxed: she wasn't shaking at all, she had a calmer look on her face, and she overall just didn't look tense or worried. She wasn't even looking in a bunch of directions at random.

Several minutes later, the cake was finally stacked.

"Time to pour the icing on top," Chay said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Want help with that?" Alyx asked. "Even if you stood on the table, that cake's taller than you."

"Pfft! Not a problem for Chay Taproot!" the sprite declared. "Ellen, you want to pour it? You can stand on my shoulders and we'll be tall enough."

Alyx put his head in his hand.

"Please don't fall on the cake..."

With that, Ellen started getting a little nervous. What if she did fall on the cake?! Then she'd ruin everything! It would be all her fault! However, she decided that she might as well try, because Chay was so happy and wanted them to be able to do it all...

With a nod and without any other objections, she went to climb on his shoulders and be able to pour the icing on the top.

Chay held onto her legs firmly, and even if she felt unbalanced, he was very steady standing on the table beside the cake.

"Just pour it right in the center and it will trickle down the sides, just like water. Then we can put the fruit on top."

Her hands were shaking slightly as she poured the icing onto the cake carefully, she was very afraid that she was going to do something wrong...but surprised herself when nothing happened. The icing went on, and thanks to Chay holding onto her, she didn't fall in.

She looked relieved and pleasantly happy that there were no mishaps caused by her yet.

"It looks great," Alyx complimented while Chay helped Ellen down. "And now for the apples."

He brought over a tray of paper thin apple slices and fresh blossoms to be strewn on the cake.

"Don't," he said just as Chay tried to eat one of the apples. "I don't have that many of those, and they're very difficult to slice that thin."

Ellen looked at the tray with her wide eyes, and then over at the cake. How exactly were they going to go on the cake? Did one just throw them on, or did they stick them on in certain areas? Curious, very curious indeed...

Chay wrinkled his nose, but Alyx wasted no time in starting to put the apples on top of the cake in a flower-like pattern.

"Like this," Chay told Ellen as he started putting slices on the highest level he could reach. "Oh! I know! You could add the flowers! Just put them on the cake so that they look like they grew there... just don't actually make them grow there."

After hearing Chay's suggestion, Ellen nodded.

"I think I could do that..."

Taking a few of the blossoms, she studied the cake for a few moments, deciding the best places that they would look. After she had found a few spots, she carefully stuck them on before looking over at her friend.

"Am I doing okay?"

"Heh," Chay chuckled. "Ellen, relax. You're the one who knows plants. That is what your magic is about."

"R-Right..." Ellen answered, a little embarrassed again. She was trying to relax, but she just thought that she was going to make a mistake, and she didn't want to do that. So she continued to put on the flowers without comment until she had put on the last one.

Alyx stood back to take a good look at the cake.

"I think we did a superb job, if I must say so," he said with a smile. "I can't believe this thing is almost as tall as I am..."

On the table, the cake certainly towered over him, but he knew when he made it that it was going to be about a foot shy of coming to the top of his six foot frame. The baker looked over at the clock.

"We better try and get this thing over to the palace before it gets too late. Are you two ready to go?"

Ellen nodded. She didn't have anywhere else to be, so she really didn't have any problems with bringing the cake over now.

Chay nodded too, and Alyx prepared himself to lift the cake. Sliding one edge off the table, he waited for the two sprites to get a hold before sliding it off all the way. It was heavy! The baker stumbled a bit under its weight. Chay glanced over at Ellen and, with a wink and a wriggle of his nose, lightened the load as he continued to support it above him.

When the two sprites went to help Alyx carry the heavy cake, and then Chay winked and made it lighter above him, her eyes widened slightly. Hadn't Alyx said not to use magic? What's more was that he said that Chay would be fine if he didn't use any. Did that mean that something bad could happen to him now that he wasn't?

But... Ellen didn't say anything. It really was a heavy cake, after all... and Chay might get mad at her if she said anything. Just carry it... just carry it... She told herself.

Alyx was the one who was walking backwards, so at least both sprites could see where they were going. The baker was used to carrying large orders, but this was a little more than he had expected. He didn't need to ask Chay to open the door for him, but he did ask one thing:

"Let me know if I'm about to back into anyone, okay?"

"No worries!" Chay assured him. "Now let's get this cake to where it needs to be before we get crushed beneath it!"

However, he nearly did back into someone. A tall and rather skinny woman who looked to be maybe just a bit older than Alyx was walking in the same direction that he was, only a little slower and she had a stack of dresses in her arms. She was wearing a simple and light blue shaded dress, and seemed to be rather well proportioned. She had long golden hair and pale skin, but from their position, that was all they'd be able to see. One would be able to guess that she needed to deliver her package to the palace for Ruby's birthday. Also, thanks to her speed compared to theirs, it wouldn't be too long before they collided.

"Alyx! Head's up!"

It's very difficult to stop your momentum when you're carrying something so heavy, and even with Chay's warning, Alyx still nudged the woman slightly.

"Sorry," he said, trying to readjust his grip on the cake as his speed shifted. As the lady was bumped into slightly, she quickly moved to the side and turned to face who it was that had done so, revealing one crystal blue eye and one fresh green eye. She smiled lightly.

"Oh no worries, I see you have quite a load there yourself."

She paused as she saw that there were a few others carrying the large cake as well.

"Are you by any chance sending that over to the princess' birthday at the palace?"

"As quickly as possible," Alyx replied. "This has to be the most ridiculously large thing I've attempted to transport..."

"How do you think we feel?" Chay piped in. "It's bigger than either Ellen or me."

She shook her head.

"I'd help you carry it, but I have quite a few dresses I need to transport. I'm sorry, if my arms weren't full..."

With a pause, she added as they walked (she had picked up her pace since they were in a hurry):

"My name is Clarice, by the way."

"Alyx," the baker said with a slight nod. "And those two are Chay and Ellen."

"Hello!" Chay greeted cheerfully. "So what are you bringing to the party?"

Clarice laughed a little at Chay's enthusiasm. Her laugh was quick and bubbly.

"It's a pleasure, Alyx, Chay, and Ellen."

Ellen had given a shy nod in her direction but said nothing. Looking back at Chay with a bright smile, Clarice answered:

"Gowns. Some specially requested, others that I designed myself."

She held out her arms a little to gesture towards the vast amount of billowy fabric.

"I'm a tailor," she clarified for good measure.

"Tailor, huh?" Alyx echoed. "Are you new to town? I thought Celest's tailor was male."

By now, they'd reached the palace gates, and given their loads, the guards not only let them through, but held the doors as well. Alyx thanked them as the passed. Clarice nodded.

"You caught me. I came here not very long ago. In fact, I'm really just barely settled in; I moved in from another kingdom that my family lives in. The tailor here is my older brother, and he came here when he wanted to become a tailor... and now I have too!"

At the end, she laughed. Her story seemed to be somewhat of a circular mess.

"He's a little sick right now, though, so I had to come here myself."

"Have you met Miss Mimosa yet?" Alyx asked after she'd explained this. "She's the village wise woman and may be able to give you something for your brother."

Clarice shook her head, but her smile only widened.

"I haven't, but thank you for that information. I'll be sure to see her soon."

After saying this, as they entered the castle, she looked around. It sure was beautiful in there, and definitely looked like there was a celebration being prepared. She wondered where she was going to put the dresses. Was she supposed to give them directly to the princess...or...

She wasn't too sure. Meanwhile, Ellen was getting more and more like her old frantic self. She really didn't like it in there. It was too big...and there were too many people that would pass by them. Guests and guards...

"C-C-Chay..." she whispered, her voice small. "Ellen is frightened..."

"Don't worry," he tried to reassure her. "We'll probably be putting this cake down soon. Then, we can leave."

Sure enough, moments after he said this, several of the kitchen staff were waving them over to a table to set the cake on.

"Guess this is where we turn off," Alyx said to Clarice. "I'll see you around."

Clarice nodded.

"Yes. It was a pleasure meeting you and I hope to see you again sometime soon," she said cheerfully with a wave as she turned to find a place to put her dresses away in the other direction.

After they had set the cake down, Ellen returned to her nervous clinging of Chay. Even though he had assured her, there were just too many people, and the place was just way too alien too her. Chay shook his head and turned towards the baker.

"Alyx, I think Ellen and I are going to go see what sort of things are going on in the public festivities," he said, tugging Ellen towards the exit. "We'll catch you later."

Alyx waved to them as he went off to receive payment for the cake. When he was out of sight, Chay sniggered.

"Come on. Let's go find him a gift. I'm sure he could use the cheering up."

Ellen nodded as she stayed close to her friend.

"Yes, let's cheer up Alyx..." she agreed, happy that they were leaving the palace.

"What kind of things does Alyx like?" she asked curiously.

"Well, anything to spiff up the shop is good," Chay said as they headed out into the main street. "Alyx doesn't always have much in the way of free time..."

Back in the palace, servants had helped Clarice get the gowns to where they needed to be, and the payment she was due for them.

Ellen nodded. Something to spiff up the shop because Alyx had no free time. She didn't say anything, but she was trying to figure out what could spiff something up...

Clarice had thanked the servants that had helped her and given her payment, and then headed back towards where she had came. She wasn't exactly going to stay there, because well...she wasn't a specially invited guest or anything, and being new to the town, it would be strange to go if she had the option to, anyway. But, wondering what to do next, she thought that maybe she'd try to find the wise woman that the people she had run into not long before had told her about. Maybe...

"You look lost," a calm, low voice said. "Are you new to town?"

Clarice had gone further than she had realized. The woman who had asked her was young and petite, and she looked at the tailor expectantly with vibrant violet eyes and her hands folded delicately before her.

At the sound of the voice, the blonde looked over at the young woman, her slightly confused face turning to a friendly smile. She looked slightly embarrassed as she admitted:

"Yes, I am new to town, and I am a little lost..."

The woman chuckled, her short black hair falling briefly into her face. For a moment, it seemed that her eyes shifted color... but it must have been a trick of the light, for when she looked up at Clarice, they were still violet.

"Well, where is it you might be going?" she asked. "Perhaps I can help you find your way."

"Hmmm..."

Clarice looked around her before back at the woman. She seemed somewhat indecisive.

"Well, I was going to go back to my brother, at the tailor shop..." she started. "I'm sure I could find my way back..."

Then, with another pause, she said:

"But I was told about a wise woman in this town that could help with a sickness he's picked up recently. Do you possibly know where I might find her?"

The woman nodded.

"I happen to be headed in that direction myself. We'll walk together to the shop."

She began walking in its direction. Clarice smiled happily.

"Oh, what a coincidence, then! Thank you very much."

As she started walking with her, she said politely:

"My name is Clarice, by the way."

"Pleasure to meet you," the woman replied politely. "My name is Feles."

Feles walked with a casual, yet almost regal stride. She looked over at Clarice a few times in their journey, as if making sure that she was keeping up. Soon, they reached the tiny store. It was only a few shops down from Alyx's bakery.

"Do you like tea?" Feles asked as she reached for the door.

"Feles..." she repeated. "That's a lovely name."

Looking over at the shop with her mismatched eyes, Clarice looked back at the woman and answered:

"Well yes, I do like tea."

Feles opened the door and walked inside. The shop was rather tiny, and it was very homey. Various dried herbs hung from the ceiling, and dozens of jars and wooden boxes lined shelves behind what looked more like a table than a counter. There was a bench and two chairs for guests, and an old armchair for the wise woman. Against one wall was a narrow stairwell that led to an upstairs, and nearby was a fireplace just barely large enough to hold one large, cast-iron pot. Feles walked towards the fireplace and pointed towards the half-burned logs resting there.

"Incendete," she said softly, and a tiny spark leapt from the tip of her finger to the logs, igniting the wood. She turned back towards Clarice.

"I'm quite glad you like my name. I hope that you use it instead of Miss Mimosa. Honestly, the formality gets tiresome, and really isn't appropriate for my age. What kind of tea would you like, Clarice?"

Clarice was silent with the sudden brutal shock of finding out that Feles was the wise woman she had been looking for, and with this realization, embarrassment at her naive attitude in this new town settled in her face, her cheeks going beet red. Not wanting to make herself even more pathetic, she opened her mouth to answer--or at least say something, but all that came out was an odd, nervous, and embarrassed sort of giggle. This happened a few times, when finally, she was able to choke out a, "A-any kind of tea that you'd like, eheehee..."

The wise woman smiled as she placed a kettle beside the fire to warm.

"That you're more focused on your own mistake rather than my magic is comforting. I'm sorry I didn't tell you outright that I was the person you were looking for; I have to be cautious with newcomers, as not everyone is so accepting of magi. You passed my test."

"Test?" the blonde echoed, shifting her gaze over towards the fire that she had set with her magic. Clarice laughed again. It was all becoming clear--alright, well not really, but sort of.

"I understand...I, um, think. Eheehee..."

At the last part, she put on a kind of shy but somehow bubbly smile, tilting her head to the side a bit. Feles chuckled, looking at Clarice with bright emerald eyes.

"Please, you've nothing to be embarrassed about. Have a seat. I'd like to get to know you better. Today is going to be enough of a whirlwind with all the suitors who will be arriving to seek Princess Ruby's hand; no need to get worked up over something else. Please, sit."

Clarice nodded, and sat, trying to calm herself down. After looking around the room and examining it rather curiously, she was successful, and seemed to be capable of stringing some sentences together correctly. Now with a more level head, she was able to say in her usually cheerful tone, "So what is it you would like to know about me first, then?"

"Well," Feles said as she slid into her armchair. "Seeing as you understand that I'm a mage now, perhaps you could start by telling me what you are."

Clarice's smile faded slowly as she was asked this. It went from cheerful, to hesitant, to slightly ashamed.

"I'm..." she started, then paused as she thought for a moment. Feles seemed kind, and she was a mage, so whatever she was, she shouldn't mind her, right? She figured so, and that's the thought that helped her finish. "I'm an aligeri."

The wise woman nodded softly, folding her hands in her lap.

"Does your brother know?"

Clarice shook her head in response.

"No... he doesn't. I'm... afraid of how he'll react if he ever does..."

Raising her eyes, which had shifted down to her lap, she added, "And he was so understanding when I came so suddenly. He...he didn't seem to mind at all. I don't want do disrupt our relationship."

The blonde smiled softly, but sadly. She really did love her brother so much, even though she hadn't seen him much in her lifetime, considering he had moved out so many years ago. Feles took in each word she said and rose, getting the tea ready.

"Hopefully, there will be some point when you'll be able to safely reveal your true nature to your brother. It's very unfortunate that the humans don't realize that the only reason aligeri turn evil is because of their hatred towards them. It is a sad irony that the very evil they fear is one they created."

She went behind her counter and started to blend herbs.

"You aren't the only aligeri hiding in the city, Clarice, but they won't likely reveal themselves to you until they know you can be trusted. I would introduce you, but it really isn't my place to do so. Would you like sugar with your tea?"

Clarice nodded. She didn't expect herself to be the only aligeri in what was to be her new home. Trust wasn't an easy thing to build, either. She assumed that eventually she'd make some friends of her own race, but who knew how long that would take. It didn't matter, she'd be patient.

"Yes, please," she answered at Feles' question. Shortly, the wise woman had made a cup for both of them.

"I hope you're able to make yourself comfortable in Celest," she said, smiling as she took a sip from her cup. "If you need any help, just ask."

Feles sat back down in her armchair.

"Now, I know your brother is ill, but I think we should talk about lighter matters. I will be sure to visit him today with some medicines. Anyway, have you met anyone else in town yet? Anyone of interest?"

Clarice nodded, and a smile once again came upon her, happy to talk about things that weren't so serious.

"Yes, actually. When I was dropping off those gowns at the palace, I bumped into a young man named Alyx. He was bringing a large cake to the palace with two friends of his, so I assumed that he's Celest's baker."

"Oh really? You've already met him? I thought for sure he'd be spending the day sulking."

Feles looked up from her cup with a brief flash of surprise, her eyes appearing to be bright magenta for a moment.

"Alyx visits me often for advice, but I seldom see him out and about on his birthday. He tends to get depressed seeing the celebration that gets held for the princess, since people forget that he was born on the same day. I suppose I'll wait a while to give him his gift, if he's still at the palace. I wonder why they commissioned him for a cake instead of baking one themselves..."

Clarice, who had just taken a sip of her tea, nearly spit it out at the news.

"Really?! His birthday, today? Oh my goodness, how unfortunate..."

Looking sympathetic, she said, "If I had known...I would've said something..."

Of course, she knew that she hadn't even known him before today, and she had done nothing wrong at all.

"And having to bake a cake for her must've been terribly frustrating, as well..."

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say it was someone's idea of a sadistic prank. Poor Alyx is always getting jeered by other boys his age because he's so shy. It's been like that since he was old enough to toddle, and his parents tried everything they could to help him make friends, right up until each of them passed away."

Feles stirred her tea before taking another sip.

"I hate to say this, but your brother is one of those boys who tease him. He doesn't like it that Alyx won't let him tailor any of his clothes because he's uncomfortable with being measured."

Clarice frowned.

"That's so cruel...just because he's shy..."

Even her brother? How upsetting. Of course, it's not like she completely knew his personality, only that he was kind to her, and usually somewhat patient and understanding. She wasn't happy with the news, but not completely surprised either.

"One of these days, I'm sure he will be more outgoing, but not until others are less critical."

Feles got up again and went behind the counter once more. She turned towards the shelf behind it and reached as high as she could, just far enough to reach the top shelf and pull a box down. She turned back, placing it on the counter.

"This is the gift I made for him. Would you like to see?"

"Oh? I'd love to see it!" Clarice responded happily at the question.

Feles smiled and carefully removed the lid from the box and reached inside. She removed from within a tunic made of a soft, crimson fabric and held it up for Clarice to see.

Clarice smiled broadly. From one who knew about the ways of clothing, she could genuinely say, "It's beautiful!"

It looked very well made and very comfortable. She remembered what Feles had said about Alyx not letting her brother tailor for him. She wondered if Feles had made it with magic, as well.

"Thank you," Feles said. "Hearing that from a real seamstress means a lot. For one, it shows that even a mage can sew a little here and there. I hope Alyx likes it as well."

She folded it back into the box and closed it. Suddenly, she looked back up, a glint of an idea in her eyes.

"I know: why don't you deliver this to Alyx? It might help him open up more."

Clarice grinned, and laughed.

"I definitely wouldn't mind!" she agreed, besides, maybe it would give her a chance to learn a little more about the town, or at least a member of it. "Do you think he'd be back from the palace by now?"

"Most likely," Feles said, coming in front of the counter to hand her the box. She looked at Clarice, locking her violet eyes with the tailor's.

"I hope you two will become friends. I'm sure you'll find that you both have a lot in common."