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Fanfic
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Astrosa
Allyson
Chapter Three
Jon tried to find another solution but he admitted defeat after a week. There was no other answer; Astrosa went free whether he liked it or not. Now there was the question of what to do with her. She couldn't live in the palace, that much was clear. She was the age of a convent girl, but it didn't seem like the right place either. It took a while for Jon to see the obvious solution; she could train as a mage at the Royal University. Jon called in a messenger to send word to Harailt of Aili immediately that he would be joined by an interesting new student.
That was how Astrosa found herself in the Dean's Office of the University, an old brick building where mages and scholars were educated. She had just finished a three-day journey from the Asylum to the University; now she sat in Harailt of Aili's office.
Harailt studied the ten-year-old, trying to see the danger in this little girl. She was very small and petite, with straight raven-black hair that fell down to her back. Her skin was pale from a life indoors, a strong contrast to her hair and eyes. Her eyes were very striking: blue so deep and cold that they reminded Harailt of the Inland Sea in winter. She must have purchased clothes on the way because she was dressed in a navy turtleneck and long black skirt, despite the summer heat. She stared at him as well, glaring until he looked away.
Astrosa smiled, knowing she unnerved him. That made her happy; she liked that people were frightened by her. She focused her eyes steadily on him and said, "Where do I go now then?"
Harailt smiled at her and said, "It's about supper time now; why don't you go to mess? Someone will show you around later, all right?"
"Fine then." Astrosa said in a clipped voice and allowed herself to be led to a large noisy room she took to be the mess hall.
Astrosa looked around with a furrowed brow for a moment. Here came a dilemma: being kept in solitary confinement since she was a week old had not given Astrosa time to meet anyone her age. The youngest person she'd ever met had been a twenty-year-old guard, and she had been six at the time. Astrosa didn't know whether to sit at a table with people or an empty one. Her problem was solved when a brown-haired boy got up and clearly waved her over to a table occupied by him and two others.
As soon as she sat down, he smiled and held out his hand. "I'm Nealan of Queenscove, a mage student here."
Astrosa shook his hand after a moment and started to say, "I am Astro-"
Neal interrupted, his eyes glinting mischievously. "I know who you are. You are Astrosa of Cont�, daughter of the late Duke Roger of Cont� and Delia of Eldorne. You are training in mage studies and spent the last ten years-"
"I think we all get the idea, Neal." a girl at the table interjected with an exasperated sigh. "You know the girl's life story; no need to show it off."
"Alas." Neal said dramatically, throwing back his arm exaggeratedly. "I am destined to have my creativity struck down by cruel heartless women."
Astrosa was peering at Neal curiously. "How did you know those things about me?" she asked sharply.
Neal sighed loftily. "I hear things," he said, trying to look wise and dignified.
"Meaning you eavesdropped," a boy said firmly.
"Basically." Neal said with a shrug.
The girl who had spoken first addressed Astrosa now. "Since Neal here can't seem to manage it, I'll perform the introductions. I'm Akilah of Heathercove, Aki for short; I'm fourteen and this is my fifth year of training to be a scholar. I specialize in interpreting code and I want to work as a code-breaker for the Army. You need to go ten years to graduate, unless of course you're in advanced training." Astrosa noted that Aki looked smug.
"Like her, she means." the boy interjected. "She likes pointing out that she's smarter than us."
Akilah laughed and said, "No, I don't point it out, I only hint." She paused to gesture towards the boy. "This is Otto of Jesslaw, who's starting his third year of illusion magic studies. He's thirteen, although you'd think he was three from the way he acts." Winthrop stuck his tongue out, but Akilah ignored him. She pointed towards Neal and smirked. "Neal's already introduced himself so I needn't redo it. He started here early; even though he's only twelve, this is his fifth year. He majors in healing magic, a family tradition.
Neal said, "Akilah here doesn't understand the true art of taking something incomplete and ruined and shaping it whole again."
She sighed and said, "Sure I do. It's called a needle, Neal." Akilah noted a quiet girl slumped in her sheet and spoke, saying, "This is Dawn of Naxen. She's the baby of the group, nine. It's her first year here majoring in Ancient Cultures."
Dawn looked up and smiled softly. "Insane." she said.
Otto, Neal, and Akilah looked utterly puzzled, but Astrosa smiled dryly. "I see you know your Dead Tongues, huh?" Dawn looked pleased and embarrassed and looked back down at her plate. To the others Astrosa explained, "My name is a feminine version of the Old Ones' word for Insane or mad." They nodded understanding although Otto still looked alarmed. A bell suddenly rang, and a flurry of motion began as students started eating.
The sudden noise took attention off Astrosa, giving here a chance to study these four as they talked. Akilah had sharp gray eyes and dirty blond hair pulled into a plain bun. She wore a gray shirt buttoned at the elbow and a white knee-length skirt. The skirt was embroidered with gray thread shaped into codes. Her face had a business-like air that Astrosa liked immediately. Her attitude told Astrosa that this girl took no nonsense from anyone.
Otto had curly brown hair that he'd attempted to straighten with gel, to no avail. His eyes were green and excited, and even now, he bounced in his seat. He wore a read shirt with a yellow sun sewed on and a blue happy face in the center. His pants were bright blue khakis with a red and yellow trim. He seemed friendly and cheerful, a new experience to Astrosa. All the people she'd ever met had been insane, sickeningly patronizing, or dead serious. He showed his emotions brightly on his face, something Astrosa chalked up to weakness.
Dawn was another new experience. Shy, reserved, and quiet, she reminded Astrosa of a little girl who had sometimes walked down the halls to visit another patient, her uncle. She had straight strawberry blond hair that hung down to her back in a ponytail. Her eyes were pale blue, large and doe-like. Her clothes, a pale yellow blouse and a tan skirt blended into the background, as did she. Despite that, her eyes were intelligent and when she spoke, everyone took what she said into account.
Neal looked� showy. Astrosa couldn't think of another word. His light brown hair was messy and it swept back from a widow's peak. He had striking emerald green eyes. He wore a light green shirt with a pea-green tunic that matched his eyes perfectly. His breeches were forest green, and the entire outfit matched perfectly. He seemed smart enough; for all that, he was overly dramatic. His humor was very dry and sarcastic, the only thing about him that Astrosa actually could relate to.
After supper, Astrosa found someone to show her the sleeping quarters. She headed into her new room for a night of sleep.
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