Ever since I can remember, I’ve been special.

I had been born an adult, waking up one day with memories that had never existed and golden eyes that marked me as something else, as someone else’s. From the moment I stepped outside, I had been treated with respect. I was one of Shy’s creatures, one of his golden ones, and to insult me would be to insult him. Now while there were many people in the world who would not mind to insult Shy the man, Shy the scientist was always a different story.

Sometimes, knowing my creator as I do, I wonder if he had planned everything all along.

Because I grew to hate it.

I grew to hate being treated as a gift, a piece of art. Surely if he had never wanted me to rebel, he would never have given me the personality that wanted to scream and shout against the edicts.
Whenever I ask him about it, he always smiles that elusive smirk and changes the subject.

The thing is, one day I asked him to change me. I asked him to make me more normal, and he agreed.

I still wonder why he said yes, why he unmade me, one of his creatures.

It’s times like that when I wonder if this is all one big plan of his. Then I go eat chocolate to forget about it.

Soon, I grew to forget my old form, my old powers. I moved out of my quarters and found new ones up on the ground, got myself a job that paid pretty well as a junior manager of rooms. It’s my job to make sure everyone’s comfortable, and to make sure that the senior manager is left alone.

***

“Teska!” at the sound of the annoyed squack, Teska looked up, the smile on her face concealing the quick grimace as she saw te older man running towards her. Damn- she had been looking forewords to an early night of.

“Trader Smael.” She acknowledged deferentially. Well, she should have known better than to think she’ll ever have free time. “What seems to be the problem?” The Vella Crean ran, in many ways, like a hotel. And like a hotel, people like her were always on their feet, working.

“What’s wrong?” the aging head merchant raged. She waited, patient for a response and at the face of a ready smile he hesitated. “Now, Teska.” He began roughly. Most people knew the jr. managers well because they often dealt with many of the local problems. Especially Teska. Not only was she in charge of rooms, she also dealt with complaints in general. “I know this possibly can’t be your fault.”

Teska’s smile deepened, gauging that he couldn’t be that angry, and sure that it was something she could fix. “Trader Smael.” She said, her words grave but a smile on her face. “If there’s anything I can do.”

He smiled right back. “You know how close we silk merchants are to our products.”

Teska suddenly knew what he was going to say. As an exotic breed of silkworm merchants, they had an odd affinity to money and their own silk. Their own silk, until they sold it for the money. “Has someone imported your silky to another storage hold?” it was things like this, details of the people that often visited the Vella Crean, that Teska had to remember.

Immediately, Smael nodded. “They put us on the fifth floor when they know most of us are terrified of heights, and placed our belongings on the other side of the Vella Crean!” He burst out. Barely three foot, he would have looked almost ridiculous except for the all too human outrage on his face.

Teska thought it over. “I’m terribly sorry.” She said softly. “Come, I’ll figure this out. We’ve just had some visitors staying for the hatching leave—there are rooms on the ground floor that leads directly into Shy’s mulberry garden. I promise I’ll gain you and your people full access, and move your stocks right away.” She paused, tilting her head as she remembered something. “And I’ll send over a friend with some of that San Ikshivan dragon candy.” She winked. “Shy just returned from one of his trips.”

Very few people knew that the silk merchants had an incredible sweet tooth. Teska was one of them, and relaxing, the trader reached up and patted her hands. “Bless you—I knew you’d figure everything out.” Beaming now that his people would be well taken care of, he leaned forewords, conspiratorially. “Now, we’ve got some lovely golden silk that’ll look good on you. When you’re done, come down and we’ll discuss special prices.” Smael winked, walking away and Teska, watching the small merchant smiled.

She complained a lot about this, about having no time for herself, of being blamed for everything that went wrong. But in the end, she loved it.

“Hey, Teska.” Teska looked up, shrugging the violet jacket she wore as part of her uniform, and smiled.

“Kashiel.” She said, acknowledging the other jr. rooms manager.

“I thought your shift ended half an hour ago.” Surprised, she walked over, tying her hair into a simple knot as she did so.

Teska smiled wryly. “I had to sort things out for the Silk merchants.” Trader Smael’s clan were not the only ones who exported silk to the Vella Crean, but they were the best of nearly all worlds. “Some trainee put him into the wrong rooms.”

Kashiel clucked her tongue in sympathy. Half human, half dragon, she was stunning, and wholly unsuited for this kind of job. She seemed to be the kind of creature who should be ruling people, not serving them. “I’ll talk to them about it.” She promised.

Teska nodded. They got along well as a team. “Aren’t the Avengaean merchants arriving tomorrow?” she asked, inspired.

Kashiel nodded. “They’re bringing in some of that weird glowing stuff that grows well—“ she shrugged. “Why?”

Teska smiled. “I remembered that last time, they seemed really fond of the silk Smael bought in. He’s offered me a special price, so…” she let the offer hand, and Kashiel smirked.

“Always working, Teska.” But there was approval in her voice as she nodded. “Let me check it out for you—take your break. Weren’t you supposed to meet Shy for tea?”

Teska looked at the time. They had adopted earth time because it was convenient, and because people seemed to get a kick out of owning circle clocks. “Yeah—I’m late as it is, a few more minutes won’t make a difference.”


Kashiel snorted. “Go.” She ordered, and Teska, with a laughing salute, went.

***

Running through the Vella Crean, it was not an odd sight to see Teska busy, doing one thing while planning the next. She often joked that while it was the riders who were famous for keeping the world running smoothly—truly, it was people like her, the behind the scenes managers who did it in the end.

They were the ones who made sure that everyone was comfortable enough to be grateful for their lives.

“Teska!”

Teska waved right back, not stopping as she tied up her hair, pinched color in her cheeks and cheated a bit by mentally moving the belt through the loops without touching it.

“Late!” she called out, and someone laughed.

Even though she had asked Shy for this change, even though technically she didn’t live with the scientist any more, it didn’t mean that she didn’t like him. Every week, at least once she met him for tea, a slightly formalized affair with matching cups and themed cakes and all that.

She loved every moment of it, even if it felt a little bit silly.

“Sorry I’m late I had to deal with something but hey I got you free silk.” Was her excuse as she burst into the room, on high energy.

Shy, who was used to this looked up with a slight smile. “So glad for you to arrive.” He purred, no sting in his words as he poured them both a cup of tea.

Teska was beaming, still working through that high as she slumped into a chair. At his slight brow lift, she remembered where she was and sat properly, her back straight and her hands resting lightly on her lap.

She beamed. “It’s been a great week.” She enthused.

“Oh?” he smiled, playing with a sugar cube as he dropped it in. Teska mimicked his actions. She was comfortable, almost talkative with the ones she loved, and a little bit more on the shy side with those she didn’t. Maybe it was her job, or maybe she had been born that way—even though she was quiet, with everyone, she had a slightly warm, welcoming air.

Teska smiled, and told him everything.

There was something special, her relationship with her creator. It was like a friend, a comfortable father or a higher figure. There was also something simple about it as well, something she seemed to generate with most people. It wasn’t that Teska was loved by everyone, merely that because she had to be so damn nice all the time, it had grown into a second nature.

She liked what she did, and because it showed, people liked her for it.

“You know.” She mused, leaning back as she nibbled on a piece of cake. “That day you gave me this… made me normal.” She smiled. “Was the greatest day of my life.”

Shy merely smiled, arching his brow again. It was odd, how one man could convey so many different expressions with one action. “You are different. But you aren’t normal.”

Teska smirked. “I’m special.” She said, copying his tone with a concerned expression. Shy smiled, and this caused her to beam right back at him. “You know.” She said, serious now. “Why did you change me?”

“Because you are one of the few to ask.” He said simply. “Most of the others are happy with what they have, or they try to work with it. Few ask for what you do, so…” he shrugged, an elegant movement that tugged the cheongsam up a little bit, causing the red and green colors to flash.

Teska smiled. “I’m glad you did.”

***

It was several hours later when she stepped outside, the weather cooling down as the sun had set moments before. Exiting the labs always felt like leaving one world and entering another—not that it was such a bad thing.

Moving with a lightness in her step that came easily, she was already thinking about the future, the next morning, the next guest, the next—

“Teska.”

The sound of the voice, the pitch and accent was enough to have Teska smile. It was different though, this smile.

“Connar.” She said warmly, a light entering her eyes that hadn’t existed before. Moving forewords towards a tall, young man with brown hair and gray eyes, she looked up. “I thought you had training.”

Connar, brown rider and leader of what might be called a ‘wing’, nodded his head. “That’s why I need your help.” He began.

Teska rolled her eyes.

Connar, brown rider, wing leader and intimate companion of Teska, always knew where to find her.

“What this time?”

Connar smiled, a bit sheepish. “We can’t get the coordinates right. The training schedules say we’re supposed to be in the mountain area in the north, but it gives us directions to the desert raviens in the south and…”

Teska, while she was usually a rooms manager and dealt with complains of the guests, had spent enough time with Connar and Shy to know how the details of being a Flight Coordinator worked.

“I’ll figure it out for you.” She said, moving towards where the large database system waited for her.

Connor smiled, falling into step behind her and naturally letting his hand fall to her waist. “I missed you.” He murmured.

Teska looked up, mischievous. “Did you?” she asked a bit archly, and he made a face.

“Of course I did.” He muttered, and smiled. “Taufik.” He said, mentioning one of the younger riders. “Is enamored that I know you so well.”

Teska chuckled in response, saying nothing. As they neared the central system which the majority of the riders used, she saw the small group of riders waiting for her.

“I told the others we’d fetch them after we figured things out.” Connar said, explaining why only four riders remained.

Teska shrugged. It was none of her business how Connar ran his training program. “Let’s see.” She murmured, walking forewords and eyeing the computer with wariness.

Someone, one of the other riders chuckled. “Teska’s here to save the day.”

Teska smiled, distracted as she typed in a couple of commands. “You’re just jealous that a rooms manager happens to be better at organizing your flight patterns than your leader is.”

“Oooh.” One of the female riders slanted a glance at Connar. “You’re being beaten.” She teased.

Connar smiled. “Teska can beat anyone at their own game.” He boasted. “It’s no small loss, losing to her.”

“I got your problem.” She pushed away the compliment for now, deciding to deal with it later, when the moment was more special and she could savor it. “Someone cross referenced the Alor Mountains with the Alanna desert, enough to cause confusion.” She frowned, fixing things and entered a master key.

Connar watched her. “I didn’t know you knew the master code.”

Teska smirked. “I’m fixing enough troubles for you riders that Head of computing decided it was faster to give me my own account.”

“You’re already half way a flight coordinator…”

A flight coordinator was someone who organized training programs, where they were held and when, to avoid clashes and also general leaving and arriving schedules. Since the Vella Crean orbited no star and was part of no one galaxy, it was their jobs to open and close portals to different worlds, and to make sure no flight path crossed each other. It had happened once, and the results had been… messy.

Teska smiled, taking it as a compliment it was. Only highly efficient people were given these positions, especially since the Vella Crean was so habitable. “Thank you.” She said, and fixed the problem. “I’m got the coordinates.” She turned, watching Connar with an inquiring glance.

“Five minutes.” Connar said, grinning. “Great. Vennarie, give the others the location, and I’ll meet you soon.”

Vennarie, second in command sniggered. “Some alone time with your girl, then?” she teased.

He mock scowled in response, and she laughed, walking away singing one of those silly love songs under her breath.

Teska watched her go, and smiled easily. “So, rider.” She said, teasing. “How long are you here for?”

“Two, three weeks?” he said, and smiled. “You should be a flight coordinator, you know.” He said.

Teska laughed. “You have to be a rider for that.” She said.

Connar shrugged. “So? You can fly.”

“With a dragon, you oaf.” She reached out and punched his arm, joking and he smiled back.

“We’ll talk more about this when I come back.” He promised.

***

When night fell and the stars flooded the skies, Teska floated closer to the shining depths until she seemed to be sinking in a bath full of dark light and shiny stars. It was a silly, romantic moment that had anyone else been with her, she would have been so embarrassed that she would have promptly dropped back onto solid ground.

“Rider.” She mused, testing the word out loud like it was some incantation she could murmur, and smiled.

It would not be such a bad thing…

***

“Teska! Teska!”

It was too early in the morning, and while physically her body protested, she was already awake, already jumping out of bed and reaching for the pressed jacket that could hide a multitude of sins. “What is it?” her voice came out guttural, and a little bit cranky even to her own ears.

But she had done this so many times, that even before her brain was functioning she was climbing into a pair of trousers and shoes, using gifts to comb a brush through her hair and tie it in a knot under her head.

“…!!”

It passed in such a blur that Teska was a little bit more sane when she muttered. “What?”

“EGG!” too panicked and feeling just as stressed, the man who had stormed into her room just pointed outside.

Teska left the room, and seeing a crowd begin to form, followed it. Surely this was what had caused the man to storm into her room and order her around like she was some slave…

“Isn’t that a Glenn Dragon’s egg?” someone murmured,

“Aren’t they supposed to be extinct?”

“Not extinct, stupid. Just really, really rare.”

Curious now, and panicked despite herself she found herself pushing her way through the crowds, pausing long enough to be polite about it, to find that one of the first floor rooms had been ransacked.

“What—“

Kashiel, who had seen the purple jacket before others, pulled her in. “It’s trouble.” She said grimly. “Seems the last occupant of the room ran away, leaving…” she pointed.

Teska had gotten her job, not only because she was good at it, but because she had an unnatural curiosity for all the other worlds and their creatures. Recognizing it’s large size and it’s speckled exterior, she paused.

“An egg?”

Well, that seemed to sum most of everything that had happened well enough.

***

To the Esteemed Yukihada,

My name is Teska, of the Vella Crean.

We have just recently discovered that someone has … left behind a Glenn Dragon egg. Although we cannot track this person down and think someone disastrous has happened to them, the resident genetic scientist has confirmed that the egg is well, and still alive.

Although the dragons of the Vella Crean have offered to look over it as their own, for the moment we have placed it in the keeping of the scientist—because of it’s fragile nature, the leader of the Vella Crean felt that it was safest to leave it with someone who knows how to keep things alive.

Should someone return to collect the egg, we will pass it over and promise to ensure it’s… well being until then.

Yours truly,

Teska,
Jr. Manager of Rooms.

***

After sending the note out, yelling at everyone she could yell at and promising to look over the egg herself, she waited for a response.

***

To Teska,

It would not be alive unless there is someone fitting where you are, or unless the egg has made up it’s mind.

Hold onto it for a while longer, and see what happens.

Good luck to you!

Yukihana.

***

The note in response, scared her.

Really.

So she watched over it, sometimes a bit comically, looking over and crouching and petting it and wondering if some freak accident was going to cause it to break.

But Shy told her not to worry, that everything would be fine.

So she believed in him,

And waited.

***

The Isle of Mirrors

 

Name: Teska
Age: Young Adult
Gender: Female
Species: Slightly, if a bit oddly human.

Appearance:
Remotely normal, appearance sake wise she looks like a little girl. The type of young adult who, depending on the clothing and the hairstyle and go from late teens to late twenties, she’s of am ambiguous age range with pale, slightly oriental features.
Average of height and slightly on the slender side, she’s not willowy, but skinny, as if she’s never had enough to eat and now seems to be suffering because of it. With long, frail limbs and a slightly pale complexion, among the crowds she blends right in, inconspicuous.
She has a small, slightly rounded face, dark brown/black eyes mid back length brown black hair. Usually worn away from her face in a high ponytail or a braid, when she’s distracted she often plays with it, throwing it over her shoulder and fanning her neck as if it’s more trouble than a gift. A light fringe just barely reaches her brows, which is a good thing because she’s one of those people whose brows always seem to be pitched in a look of slight absurdity. As if she can’t quite believe what people are saying.
Moderately pretty, she’s no show stopper but pleasant to the eyes. Usually dressed in form fitting dresses with a high neckline and elbow length sleeves, her clothing is usually bright, reds and blues and greens, with little designs etched to the edges to give some definition to an otherwise lacking figure.
She has no jewelry, and surprisingly enough, she’s one of the few who has unpierced ears. Usually walking around plain with no tattoos and little makeup (just a little bit) she’s a normal looking young girl who has the attitude of a friend, or a stranger.

Personality:
Quiet like, it’s not that she doesn’t like spending time with other people, it’s just that she hates to waste her energy. Socially she prefers small groups of friends, not liking to be with a huge group and she rarely likes to be surrounded by a lot of noise. It doesn’t mean that she doesn’t like to have fun—merely, her fun usually has to do with solo activities. Like flying, for instance. Or dreaming.
Serious, but capable of making stupid jokes and laughing and antics of other people, she seems nice enough and is moderately selfish. A normal human being capable of both good and bad, so far she seems to have firmly straddled the middle line. Neutral in all aspects, she doesn’t like having her privacy intruded but cheerfully doesn’t mind to intrude on other people’s privacy.
A bit sarcastic, while appearance wise she appears normal and slightly shy, there is something a bit more jaded about her once she opens her mouth. Opinionated in the weirdest ways, she’s the kind of girl who’ll ignore you for months on end and then suddenly pop up behind you with a random question.
Such as. Why aren’t you wearing that green dress your mother got you for Christmas? I thought it was pretty.

Talents:
Not quite that human, she’s got mild telepathy, enough to keep herself in contact with others and so they can contact her, but not strong enough to be able to be used on normal people. Most of her gifts are standard, run of the mill, such as flying for short lengths of time (or maybe it’d be more accurate to say that she floated? Or fell really, really slowly?) lifting small objects without touching them and able to see more keenly in the darkness.

Special Notations:
Teska lives in the Vella Crean, and sometimes her eyes seemed to flash gold. This is apparent only in certain instances, because she tries very hard to pass for human. However, most people do know (or believe) that she is one of Shy’s many genetic created creatures who just don’t want to be special.

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