Behind the heavy aged door surface crowded with carved robed figures mid gesture, their bodies framed by curling vines and architectural borders. Smaller panels hold solemn faces and symbolic emblems, an all-seeing eye, books, and shields, layered into the wood like quiet prayers there sit a small black metal hanger. Celeste grabbed the navy colored wool long, high necked dressed from it. She throw it on herself and tied the ribbon behind it delicately. Then did the same with her short brown mantle with small flower patterns on it, faded green, beige and light blue.
She sat down at in front of the tall, oval, stained mirror rising from the dark, polished vanity, carefully braided her long wavy hair and made a quite big bun right at the back of her head.
With a couple more necessities, like the brown leather low shoes made for walking long distances without notice, a small bonnet, the soft fabric drawn close to the head, tied beneath the chin with narrow ribbons, trimmed with muted lace and her gloves that she craved a letter on ."B.". Quickly enough she was ready for the after lunch allowed outside time that she thought would be nice to go downtown for a walk, perhaps shopping though she wasn't allowed to buy anything without The Aegis Infirmary's permission and she knew wherever she went the city would seem to be retreating from her step by step. Conversations would falter then fall silent. Shopkeepers would close their doors shut. Windows would close one by one, the sound of wood meeting wood following her like a low echo. People would choose other paths to walk, lowering their heads, pretending urgency where there had been none. And the streets would be emptied gently around her, as if the world itself had learned to make room.
But sometimes she would find small shops or stands runned by non humans. She still wouldn't be welcomed at most of them yet she would still find like three, four shops open for her. The shops that non humans owned were never allowed to stand beside human ones, they were pushed away from the main streets, peeled from the light piece by piece. They were forced into forgotten quarters, narrow, filthy lanes where stone cracked and damp clung onto the walls. Their doors were old, their signs faded from being denied renewal.
It had not always been this way. Five centuries ago, non-humans could not own shops at all. They were forbidden even from buying from human ones. Survival depended on mercy. A handful of corn. A sack of flour. Wheat slipped across a counter when no one was watching. Enough to keep from stealing. Enough to live another day.
♕
She walked down the busy and lively streets with light steps and as she expected the people started to disappear slowly, one by one. Celeste was used to this after many centuries, she kept her chin up, one hand holding up her skirt slightly to walk without tripping, the other hand holding her small coin case, she kept walking.
Celeste then turned to small narrow street between two big colorful buildings. Though the buildings were colorful, their facades were painted in cheerful hues, the middle was so the opposite, it was swallowed by shadow. Sunlight never quite reached. It was dark. It had the usual dark blue and dark green coloring to it, everything here wore the same pallets. Deep blues. Dark greens. Like, even a bright red, shiny apple would look rotten and green, that is if you could find an apple that wasn't already rotting.
She stepped under the dim lightnings until she saw a small stand open, more like, not closing when the man behind saw her. The small stand was made from soft oak wood, only a couple rusty nails holding onto their dear lifes and a red sign that was too dusty to read. Luckily everything the man had on stand was out to display.
Celeste walked over to there with a small smile on her face, greeting the shopkeeper.
"Good afternoon Michail." She stood in front the handmade and delicate lace veils and eyed them one by one.
"Hello there Celeste, how are finding your travels?"
The man behind the stand looked up, his long white beard cascading over his chest, as delicate as the lace veils he crafted. His eyes crinkled until they nearly vanished, folding into the deep lines already etched into his face.
"Well, same as always, good enough." Celeste took the glove on her right hand using her left hand and placed the glove between her and waist, holding it gently to take a closer look, feeling the precious lace.
"Any sales today?" She asked.
"I sold a veil to an engaged, beautiful young Briar lady that came over around the morning." He took a small piece of a pink petal that was sitting on the table into his hands.
"She was soon going to get married and wanted to get a veil for her wedding. Look," He showed the petal he was holding onto. Celeste got closer.
"After she chose the one for her she decorated it with beautiful peonies and camellias with just one trace of her hand."
The scent lingered faintly in the air.
"She left more than the veil behind," Celeste told, her lips curving.
"What about you Celeste, what brings you here today?" Michail asked.
She took a couple steps around the small stand.
"Oh just thought I would stop by to get something to cover my face with."
"Any special occasion for that, may I ask?"
Celeste stopped, she took a veil off the stand slowly bringing up to the light. The dainty patterns of curling vines and small blossoms were stiched into it, each thread looping and crossing with quiet intention. It rested on Celeste's hand with effortless grace.
"I'm going to Bulgaria," she said. "Preferably tomorrow morning. I would like to cover my face during traveling, especially with such a ethereal piece." She looked at Michail up from the veil. "Trust me, it makes it at least ten times easier to travel around when people can't see my face, know who I am."
"Don't let anything weigh you down." He looked at Celeste and took the veil from her hands when she gestured that it was the one. He spoke as he folded the veil with careful hands. "Faces are remembered by those who wish to judge, but the road does not care who walks upon it. Cover yourself if it grants you ease, yet do not mistake concealment for shame. You carry nothing that requires hiding. Go lightly, and let the world do the looking away, not you."
♕
Celeste was slowly walking back to the hospital, from the same once lively now dead looking and silent street. It was a spacious street, she had a lot of space to walk and she sure did loved to walk under the big and alluring willow trees. She never especially loved the burning rays of the sun anyway, and like that she had a chance to enjoy the daylight without frying her already pale skin.
She was holding onto the small bag Michail had gave her with her veil in it with both hands infront of her. Michail was one of the first and only people who had let her shop from them ever since she came back to Greece. Not only was it that, but Michail was also very warmhearted to her. She had a very much liking to him, when he would use all his literature knowledge to say a sentence or give an advice to her. He was a Diannan, the gentle and graceful sky gliders of earth. Though he couldn't use his flying ability, he sure was able to use that "gentle and graceful" part to make his gorgeous artworks.
Her mind was all full with these as she walked by that she didn't even noticed a man walking right up to her, he was walking with unsteady steps, swaying from side to side; none of his steps or movements were proper. He slowly passed by her and as he was walking, he turned his head slightly towards Celeste and spitted out his words:
"They should've gotten rid of your kind centuries ago." He kept his pace.
"Excuse me?" Celeste said behind him, she didn't wanted to get all furious and ruin her already horrible reputation. Some of the people around whom heads were all down and hidden seconds ago looked up to see what was going on.
"You heard me," The man then stopped at once, he turned his back completely to face Celeste.
"You lot were never meant to walk our streets freely. Best remember your place you half blooded." He wasn't even able to meet Celeste's eyes, though his face was turned to her, he kept looking around, behind her.
Celeste tried to keep her calm, she took a deep breath and just decided to try and walk away. That was until the man tried to grab her bag, veil bag from her.
"Oh well what do you have in here, more human blood? Perhaps a couple pairs of eyes or some fingers?"
He reached with his one hand and before he could get any further Celeste caught him just in time. Her fingers closed around him with sudden precision. His hand stopped mid reach, hovering inches from her bag. Her grip tightened, not enough to draw a cry, but enough to make intent unmistakable.
Celeste thought about possible outcomes for a while there.
The worst will happen is that the nurses be mad, will try and make me regret or a couple policemen would come and ask some questions. I mean, it's not like one human could do me bad, he is an easy target, not worth the effort.
"Let him go already!"
"He is out of his mind, he doesn't know what he is saying!"
A couple people were brave enough to speak up like that. Celeste looked around, met everyones gazes, almost everybody was watching them now. Her breathing became heavier, it was like she could smell a strange smell, burning metal?
Though she didn't just wanted to let go, she let a whisper of her through her touch. A brief, contained jolt, no more than a sharp spark, passed into his wrist. It was sublte, almost invisible but enough to make his fingers seize and his breath catch. She released him at once.
"You mad creature!"
Man jumped back, away from Celeste. Turned around to walk away quickly when he perhaps remembered who he was messing with, there was a reason why people turned their heads away after all. He stroked his wrist harshly as he got away.
"You will be paying for this, I'm going to let everyone know that the half blooded is back to herself!"
Celeste stood there, for a couple seconds she didn't moved, people were all staring, whispering with full open eys and trembling hands. Wherever she looked the small gathering there disappeared again, slowly. When everyone was gone she walked away from the street, almost like running, back to her hospital, her head down the whole way back.
♕
Three knocking sounds echoed the small room. There was a little wait after the first one and the last two were right after the other.
"Come in." Celeste yelled from standing in front of her bed, a small suitcase was layed down. Jade creaked the door open and got in, he walked up to Celeste as he was speaking.
"Packing already, Madame?"
"We are to leave tomorrow if it's alright with you."
"It sure is with me." Jade got right next to her, he didn't wanted to eye everything Celeste had been packing, though he couldn't help but peeking a little. It was surprising to him that her suitcase contained loads of white and light colors, because every story that has been told about Celeste or every paintings with her on it contained dark colored clothing, like black, purple, navy blue.
"So…" Jade was a bit nervous about this trip of them, though he liked adventures, he had never been on one that contained catching a criminal.
Celeste turned her head to him with a thin belt in her hands:
"I must confess Madame Celeste, somewhat to my embarrassment, that I fear I'm under packed. I beg your pardon, what, precisely should one pack for such journey? I have only a pocket knife and a few snacks packed so far."
Celeste, with a small, indulgent smile touching her lips. The kind that born of fond amusement rather than mockery, gentle and patient.
"For me," she said, folding the belt and setting it inside the case, "clothes and water usually suffice."
She reached for a corset and folded it carefully before adding, almost as an afterthought, "I am not human."
Jade nodded. "Yes. That much I know."
Then she sat down at the edge of her bed, Jade lingered at the moment then glanced at her, an unspoken question in the slight of his eyebrows. When she did not object, he lowered himself to sit as well.
"But since you're a human, I have a couple advices for you, hoping that will help."
"I am all ears."
"Start by your clothes of course." She started to list. "Cloaks, boots, gloves etc. Then you… well you sure not be needing any medical equipment."
Jade was taken aback.
"May I ask why is that?"
There was a faint curve to Celeste's mouth, patient and almost fond.
"It seems that the world has been gentler with you then most."
His face slipped into an exaggerated look of wounded innocence, lips drawn into faint pout, eyes lowered just enough to feign hurt yet the warmth betrayed him, he placed a hand against his chest.
"You wound me, Madame."
She looked away, the smile fading. "You know I'm half Auriellan, right?"
"Well of course."
Celeste paused for a brief.
"Do you know who Auriella was?"
Jade thought about it for a couple seconds
"…In name, perhaps."
"Really?" She raised one brow.
Jade bursted his words out. "They never taught us much of such things back in my household." he admitted. "We learned these names one, perhaps a single trait, and no more than that, It was believed that too much knowledge of differences invites division. My household held that all species are equal, and feared that if we knew enough or listened to outside teachers and people we might begin to think otherwise."
She regarded him with a faint, thoughtful smile, surprise softening her features.
"Well," She said quietly. "I never imagined the Béthune household held such concern for equality. The last I knew of them, they were quite certain the world ought to belong to humans alone." Her gaze drifted, reflective rather than sharp. "How curious, how much the world has changed in the past couple centuries."
Jade inclined his head slightly, his expression calm.
"Those were darker years for my family, it is true." He said. "But after the human revolution, much was reconsidered. They changed, slowly perhaps sincerely. Time has a way of reshape-"
He paused mid sentence, the rest of his falling away. He looked at Celeste, she was quiet and looking to her front. The moment passed without explanation.
"So who exactly is Auriella?"
Jade got back to speaking. Celeste also turned to Jade again and kept her look, facial, tone as before."
"Auriella was the first." She said. "The one from whom Auriellans came. Her healing water and more marked the begging of the species, and all that traces back to her."
Jade hesitated before speaking again, fingers laced loosely before him.
"If you do not mind," he said, carefully, "I would like to know more about the Auriellans."
Celeste did not answer at once. She was standing by the window now, the light catching in her hair, pale and unkind. After a moment, she spoke.
"They are bound with water, and have many abilities." She said. "Manipulating internal liquids in living beings like blood and tears, purifying water instantly, merging with water and glide through it in silence, healinh with water like I said, temporarily controlling water creatures and influencing water based weather."
Jade listened to her passionately and attentively. "That's really impressive, Celeste. I mean it." He had a soft smile on his lips. "Those are some striking and beautiful abilities."
She glanced at Jade, a little down. "Though, most Auralians can't use their powers at all."
They had stopped near the edge of a shallow stream, the kind that barely announced itself, more sound than sight. Sunlight fractured across the surface, trembling between stones.
Jade crouched to rinse his hands, then glanced back at Celeste, confused and all.
"Why is that?" he asked.
They can't," she replied. "Not anymore."
Jade frowned, straightening. "Why not?"
She considered the question, as if weighing how much truth it deserved.
"Blood thins," she went on. "Not suddenly. Just… over time. Like a river that forgets its source."
Jade's expression softened, attentive.
"When humans and Auriellans first mingled, the children still carried the tide," Celeste said. "Strong currents. Healing hands. Voices that could call rain. But with every generation, the water learned new paths. It spread wider. It grew calmer."
"You mean the power faded," Jade said.
Celeste inclined her head.
"Diluted," she corrected gently. "Shared too many times to remain whole. Most Auriellans now are echoes rather than storms. They carry warmth instead of waves. Touch instead of command."
Jade hesitated. "And you?"
She straightened, finally meeting his eyes.
"I was born closer to the spring."
There was a pause. Even the stream seemed to listen. "So what can you do?" he asked, unable to keep the wonder from his voice.
Celeste's answer was simple, almost careless.
"All of it."
The words had barely settled when the door flew open.
"Evening checks."
The nurse's voice arrived before her body did, skirts swishing as she stepped inside. The moment shattered like glass dropped into water.
Celeste's hand stilled. The faint tremor in the air collapsed at once. Jade straightened instinctively.
The nurse glanced between them, her eyes lingering a fraction longer on Celeste, then flicking to the open window.
"Miss Celeste," she said, already reaching for her notebook. The nurse paused, pencil hovering. You've been accompanied. You're aware you're not meant to have guests visiting at these hours."
"I know," Celeste replied, her voice perfectly level now, as if nothing extraordinary had just been said. As if the word all had not carried centuries in its wake.
Her gaze slid to Jade.
"And you are?"
"Jade de Béthune," he answered promptly, bowing his head just enough to satisfy propriety. "Assigned."
The nurse hummed, unimpressed. She made a quick mark on the page.
"Very well. That will be all for tonight." Her eyes returned to Celeste, sharper now. "End this meeting soon."
Celeste gave a single nod.
She turned from the stream without another glance, the space around her already emptied of wonder, leaving only stone and water and the echo of something that should not have been heard.
Jade watched her go, the words still ringing in his mind.
All of it.
The nurse shut the door behind them with a firm, final click.
Jade took a deep breath, looked up at Celeste again and tried to liven up the conversation.
"So… Who was your parents all Auralians too?" he asked. "Like your mother, was she-"
"She was Auriellan," Celeste said. Too quickly. "Fully."
Something in the room shifted.
Jade felt it before he understood it. The air had gone taut, like a string pulled too far. Celeste's shoulders were still, unnaturally so. Her hands had curled against the windowsill, fingers whitening.
"What was she like?" he continued, unaware he had already crossed the line. "Did she-"
"That is enough."
The words were quiet. That was what made them sharp.
Celeste turned, her expression carefully arranged, as if she were holding a mask against her face with bare hands.
"She is not a subject for study," she said. "Nor for curiosity."
Jade opened his mouth, then closed it again. He saw it then. The tightness around her eyes. The way her breath came shallow, uneven.
"I beg your pardon," he said at once. "I did not mean-"
"I know," Celeste replied, too quickly again. "It's fine."
She moved away from the window, crossing the room with measured steps. She began straightening things that were already in order. The suitcase. The chair. Anything that gave her hands purpose.
Jade watched her, understanding dawning too late.
"I should go," he said gently. "Before I overstay my welcome."
She nodded without looking at him.
"What else should I bring?" he asked, already halfway to the door. "For tomorrow. And what hour would you prefer we meet?"
"Six," she said. "Bring only what you can carry easily. Nothing sentimental."
"Very well."
He paused, hand on the door.
"Good night, Madame."
"Good night."
The door closed behind him with a soft, careful sound.
Celeste stood there for a long moment after, unmoving. Then she crossed the room and lay back on the bed, boots still on, hands folded loosely over her stomach. She stared at the ceiling, at a crack she had memorized long ago, as if it might offer her something new if she looked hard enough.
♕
Jade's room was chaos.
Clothes spilled from drawers. Extra boots. A second coat. A third. Rope, which he had no idea how to use properly. A book he would never have time to read. Medical supplies Celeste had said he would not need. He packed them anyway.
His bag grew heavy, then heavier still.
He paused, sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at the mess he had made.
Celeste's voice echoed in his mind. Calm and controlled. Breaking only at the edges.
He closed the bag at last, far too full, and leaned back, staring up at his own ceiling.
Tomorrow, he thought. And wondered what kind of silence awaited them on the road.