The next few days were filled. This meant they flew by in seemingly the time it took Aureum to blink.
From the early mornings to evenings, Aureum and Vitreum spent at Passer's, and the afternoon belonged to Mendax. In these few days, Aureum learned how to stab with the spear.
It was not a smooth movement that satisfied. The second she tried it in combat, it would be knocked out of her hands.
Mendax had knocked it out of her hands plenty of times. With a broom handle.
Just to add insult to injury.
Vitreum's progress was too little to measure, but so was the time she had spent training. It was no surprise that it frustrated the young girl.
"When will I be able to feel it?"
"When you feel it," Passer said.
"But wheeeeen?"
"If you want it to go faster, focus on it."
Aureum, sitting in the corner, opened her eyes. The child and the older woman were in the same pose they had been an hour ago. Passer had her hands on Vitreum's shoulders as the girl slumped on the floor. She closed them again.
The experience of this frustration was so universal, it was easily forgotten. This is what learning was. Following a set of basic and simple tasks that seemed almost nonsensical until something clicked. Until you could read, dance, or layer the pearl.
Aureum, who knew how to layer her pearl despite its lack of mana, knew that frustration again in learning the spear.
Whatever step she took, whatever grip she held, whatever her focus.
It was wrong.
"Stop! Grip your hand closer to your body. It should be a natural movement."
Aureum tried again. Mendax shook his head.
"Let's take a break."
Worse than getting something wrong was not knowing how to fix it. She had burned with frustration and humiliation.
"Be patient, little Viti," Passer said. "Your sense will grow like a seed sprouting. It doesn't happen in a day."
Vitreum growled as Aureum itched her growing blisters.
———————————————————
Time never allowed a true break. Within the week of Vitreum starting, Mendax brought news.
It was a day that Sitis had her. According to him, looking after the girl was the perfect excuse for him to go on a date with Lacuna. This was squeezed into an afternoon with light coursework.
Sitis' efforts at the university gave him wear. Shadows grew under his eyes, and his black, messy hair grew messier. The Viadelux University was the best place for sorcerers without a strong connection to a bloodline to train, but that honor came with a price. Besides the fact that Sitis was by no means some apprentice sorcerer wet behind the ears like some of the student body. Aureum wasn't surprised to hear they had placed him into the advanced courses.
Still, he appeared better than Mendax.
The shadows were more dramatic, and there was more hair to be messy about with the ugly little man.
It was impossible that Mendax was getting enough sleep. Every time he came back, it was late, and when he left, it was early. Aureum had ignored it. She waited for him to tell her what he was up to at first. Now, she was just waiting for the day he overslept. Or fainted.
Despite her quiet and increasing expectations, he continued on. The benefits of a magically enhanced body.
Aureum planned to go with the ill-advised date, at least for Sitis and Lacuna's sake. Just so the two had a chance at a real date, but Mendax had held her back. He didn't tell her why until the others were gone.
"I've heard there's a man looking for Vitreum."
"Vitreum? Not us?"
Vitreum was a minor player in recent events.
Does that mean—
"I think there's finally been a reply to your letter. And he's it."
That's the only possibility that makes sense.
"Did you see him?" Aureum asked.
"No, I just overheard that someone's looking for her."
"Why did you just let her leave then?!"
"It sounds like he hasn't had luck so far. I doubt the university has been on his list to check."
"I need to go and get her—
Mendax leaned across the table to grab her arm as she stood up.
"I wanted to discuss what we should do," he said. "Especially since if he's coming from the Lapis family, he has every right to take her home."
His words landed upon her shoulders like bricks. His eyes held a cold fire as he peered up at her.
That's correct, he thought. It's time to break this dream of house before it hurts anyone.
Aureum jerked her hand away.
"So what?! I doubt they have the girl's best interests at heart!"
"That could be."
"You're going to let her walk into whatever mess Lapis has waiting?!"
She's not even my kid. Why does this hurt so much?
"Yes."
"You're reprehensible."
"Surely," he said, "but have you thought about what would happen if you ran away with her?"
"What?"
"Any sort of legal custody is impossible. There isn't a city-state in Aeternitus who would recognize it."
"And what does that have to do with this?"
"So if you wanted to keep her, you'd have to run away with her."
"…"
"But can you run away from the Lapis family?"
No.
"I never said I wanted to keep her."
She's not a dog.
"If you don't give her up, that's the only other option."
Aureum's lip raised in disgust.
"Personally, I'm for letting her go," he said. "Unless the Lapis' are eating children, her chances are much better than you two going on the run and her caretaker ending up dead."
"What a cheery outlook."
Aureum was reduced to snide remarks.
How does it always end up coming so fast?
It felt like no matter what she'd done to prepare, there was never enough time. She barely got time to heal before another wave of troubles rushed her.
"For all you know, they really could be eating children," she said.
The chair screeched as Mendax stood up.
"Did she have any wounds?"
He took slow steps towards her.
"No, but—
"Did she not want to go back?"
"She did! But still—
"You don't have anything to stand on."
He stood in front of her, imposing his point.
But she spent time away from her family! Any wounds could have healed! I don't even know if she understands what is safe for her!
"I'm not saying your concerns about their family aren't warranted."
She gave him a glare. He raised his hands in peace.
"I truly believe they are. But at worst, I see her having a stable environment with food and shelter. Can you tell me anything that makes that assumption invalid? Because I have nothing."
"No," she said.
"Then we can't take her any further," he said. "That would be a real kidnapping, not just playing at one."
Aureum felt her eyes begin to blur.
"I just got someone to teach her! This is nonsense!"
"Yes."
"Why did I even bother if she was going to be picked up so soon?!"
She was shouting by the time she finished.
"NONSENSE! UTTER NONSENSE!"
It didn't stop a few tears from leaking from her face. She turned away. She stood there, silently trying to bring herself back under control.
"After everything that has happened," she hoarsely muttered, "everything I have done for her, I have to hand her over to people who may harm her? You expect me to do that?"
"I believe any other choice you have would hurt her more, in the long run."
"Forget about you."
He raised a hand, but slowly lowered it.
"Of course," Mendax said, backing off.
She stood there for a long time. When the door creaked shut, she turned back, only to see that Mendax had slipped out.
It was for the best. She had a lot to think about.
She sat down in the chair again, her brown hair loose and free down her back. She sat, feeling every year she hadn't yet lived.
Aureum was still sitting there as Vitreum burst through the door.
"We're back!" Vitreum said.
"Welcome back," Aureum said.
She had thought about going after the girl, but hadn't. It wasn't as if she was stronger than Sitis, and if it was the man from Lapis asking after her, what would Aureum even do…?
She felt paralyzed.
At least I'm composed, if numb.
"Sorry to intrude," Lacuna said as she appeared from behind the silent Sitis.
"How did things go?" Aureum said, finally standing up.
"They went great," Lacuna said, glancing up at Sitis.
Sitis looked back down at her.
"And you?" Lacuna directed this at Aureum.
"Snowfluffles!"
Vitreum pounced in the direction of her kitten.
"Oh, it was, whatever," Aureum said. "I enjoyed a moment of peace and quiet. Do you want anything? You probably need to get back…"
"Yes, sorry again. We already ate. I'll try to make time for you too sometime," Lacuna said.
Aureum gave a faint smile.
"There's nothing to apologize for," she said.
She waved them off as Vitreum sat down and petted Snowfluffles. His purr echoed out into the room. He'd stayed hidden the entire time Aureum was alone.
Aureum stood there.
All that numbness and composure she'd put the effort up into building came crumbling down. Another tear fell, silently.
She wiped it off, furious at herself.
"Did you have fun?" She said.
"Mmmhhmmm!"
"Vitreum—
Vitreum stilled the second Aureum's tone fell.
Forget it. I don't have the strength right now. This whole situation can wait.
Aureum sat next to Vitreum quietly.
"I'll let Snowfluffles sleep in the bed tonight, so let's sleep together."
"It's his majesty Snowfluffles," Aureum said.
"I think you forgot his title earlier, milady."
"I can call him directly because I'm his friend!"
"Come on, it's already late. I'll read you and his majesty a story."
"Fiiiiine."
Aureum picked Snowfluffles up and put him on the bed. Vitreum stayed seated.
"Aren't you tired after everything today?" Aureum said.
"No," Vitreum crossed her arms for emphasis.
"Well, I'm exhausted."
She picked the kid up and put her onto the bed.
"Noooooooo!"
"Yessssssss."
Aureum stacked the storybooks beside the pillows. Book by book, she read through them. The only limit on stories for this night was until Vitreum fell asleep.
"And the little fox curled up, warm in his den, safe from all the terrors of the night…"
She glanced towards a sleeping Vitreum and kitten, and quietly closed the book. She stared at the boards of the wooden ceiling for a long time.
Let's just take this one day at a time.
You knew this was going to happen. No reason to freak out.
She sighed.
It was a little late for that.
The next morning was a blur. It was the same as the past few days, but Aureum barely noticed it. Mendax of all people was the one to bring breakfast up. That hadn't happened since she'd been forced into bed rest.
I need to focus.
But her and Vitreum's time at Passer's was a daze.
It wasn't just that she had to let go of Vitreum. Not entirely the fact that she had to give her to uncertain guardians. Nor even only that it was one event too many.
It was a feeling of pointlessness that drained her beyond compare.
After all this effort, can I not help even this one girl?
Is the only one I managed to free myself?
It made her want to cry, but the fact that she wanted to cry was revealing about how attached she had become to the brat, which really hadn't been any part of her plans and probably wasn't even a part of Vitreum's agenda either.
Forget the fact that she had already shed a few tears over it all.
She felt like a fool.
They walked to the university, but Mendax didn't even bother to lead them to the training ground. They just wandered the campus with the shadows on bricks and the purple evening sky as the main focus. While Vitreum was running around out of earshot, Mendax murmured to her.
"I've spoken to him," he said.
Aureum gave nothing in reply.
"He doesn't seem to wish her any harm," Mendax said. "Do you want to meet him?"
"…No. I'll meet him alongside Vitreum," Aureum said.
"We need to tell her," Mendax said.
"Well, I'll let you do the honors," Aureum said, bitterness lining the edge of her tone.
"Fine. All right then."
He gave an unnecessary nod before he stepped out and kneeled before the kid. Aureum watched from a distance. Their voices were quiet. No, the truth was she let the wind snatch their voices away from her.
It was a windy day.
The first time such a day didn't bring her joy in a long time.
Vitreum smiled and let out a squeal of excitement. That snapped Aureum out of it.
"I can't wait to go home!"
Well, at least she's excited.
"Let me give this to you first," Mendax said.
He pulled out two dark stone slabs.
Aureum stepped forward in shock.
That's a conversing stone!
The same type of stone that Aureum was still waiting for a reply from Spesavia with, which lined the walls of that grand library of Viadelux University, about a mile from where they stood.
Where on earth did he get that?!
The short distance did not equate availability. If he'd taken such a stone from the university, she highly doubted this conversation would be taking place.
"You take one half," he said, "and I'll take another. Now it's very important that you form your pearl, because the stones only work if you can infuse mana. But when you do, you'll be able to write to me."
"I'll form the strongest pearl!"
That's not how that works, Vitreum! Did you pay attention to anything Passer told you?!
"Wonderful," Mendax said. "We'll all go to meet Aes soon, but for now, try and enjoy this? All right?"
"I want to go now!"
"Sorry, we grown-ups have to schedule things. How else do you think we suck the fun out of everything?"
Vitreum pouted.
"Keep it safe and hidden, Vitreum. It's our secret."
Aureum wandered to Mendax's side as he stood up.
"So, where was that stone found?"
"I might have found it in the study of someone who didn't need it anymore," he said. "Maybe."
"I see. I'm glad she'll have a way to contact us."
Mendax looked at her strangely. Aureum noticed but didn't bother overthinking it.
"I was originally going to give it to you," Mendax said, "in case you got in more trouble."
"Why didn't you?"
"I didn't want to encourage you with an imagined safety net."
"I'm so glad you think so highly of me."
"You would have given it to her anyways."
Aureum didn't respond to that, but she felt glad. There was now a thread of hope, even if the worst came to pass. That spark of warmth felt more invaluable now with its recent scarcity.