Sithecara picked her way cautiously through the library, avoiding any of the students scattered about in dangerous little clusters pretending to study. She was not one of them, though she also studied at Colaste-inasha, learning the same lessons as they and much more. She passed one row away from a group of giggling girls, catching whispered snippets of conversation. Silly creatures should be concerned about their lessons, but they were whispering about the boys, deciding who would pair with which (this month). One name caught her ear- Lavada, the premiere student, not because of his marks, which were admittedly high, be because of his lineage. He was the only son of the Derine-phayu, eligible to be considered as Taniste himself in a few years. Cara had heard the prince had come to the college this year, but she had yet to see him, and was not inclined to do so. Secrecy and mystery were her companions, so long as none of these young nobles knew who she was, she was safe. Distance was her armor.
Cara ascended the spiral stairs to an upper balcony, found a window seat neat the corner, at the far back, in the mustiest and least used section of the library. She carefully unrolled the aged vellum scroll and smoothed it gently. Scholar Reshire's script was small, even, straight, and precise, which she had always admired. Most of the Scholar's writings were intricate and painfully accurate histories, so dry that many students thought the man must have been the most boring and stuffy ever born in Aelith. Cara knew better; her studies were more thorough and advanced, and also more open- and so she had found this glimpse into the Scholar's inner life, an impassioned retelling of the romance of the gods Urlin and Imryse. Cara had already read it six times, but it was a good read for a cloudy, wet day like today. She settled in and began reading the familiar words.
After a time, she felt eyes on her, and studiously ignored it, turning to the cool window pane and away from the source of the sensation. She let her impossibly long locks fall around her like a curtain to shield her from the observer's curiosity, but it didn't work. Still she was watched, as if she were the first girl to ever sit in a windowsill and read a romance. She looked up finally, looked around, and met the piercingly blue eyes of the watcher. He was clearly a student, young and well dressed in deep blue; he had a golden look to him, smooth golden complexion, unruly golden mane. Something inside Cara fluttered as she took him in. He smiled, and she could not help but to smile shyly in response. Encouraged by her smile, he crossed to her. Cara looked for a quick escape, but it was too late, he had her.
"Hello. You must be new? I've not seen you around." He began as soon as he was close enough to speak in hushed tones.
"No, I'm not new," Cara stammered, then added, "I just like to be alone."
He seemed unphased, as if her predilection for solitude could not possibly pertain to him. "What is your name?"
"Nice meeting you, I have to go...I'll be late for class." Cara breathed, looking down, and started past him.
He caught her arm and turned her smoothly back to him. "Wait, what should I call you?" he insisted.
Cara shrugged, looked up quickly into his blue eyes, and her heart skipped a beat. "Whatever you like," she whispered, and pulled away, hurrying off as she rolled up the precious scroll. He had not choice but to let her go, or make a scene. She felt his eyes on her back until she finally turned out of view.
Professor Borathin Ephesi Maca-eseca, the magical studies instructor, had summoned Cara to his classroom. She set aside her independent research, storing it in one of the secure locations only staff and a life long student such as herself knew of. She passed through the halls unnoticed as ever, she knew which passes were seldom used, but her effort was all for naught. When she arrived at Professor Borathin's classroom, she found class was in session. Eyes wide with shock and anxiety, she froze in the doorway.
"Students, I present our demonstrator for the day. Come on in, child, don't be shy." The Professor said calmly. At least he didn't say her name, Cara thought, blushing as she crossed the room, feeling a room full of curious eyes on her. She glanced towards the students through her hair, then looked again. The watcher from the other day, the golden boy, was staring at her, riveted, from the first row of seats. When he caught her eye, he smiled slightly, curiosity writ large on his features.
The Professor didn't give her away, but he broke the rules all the same. He put her through her paces with simple, first-year magical tasks of each color. Cara obediently performed each one, careful to use the most traditional methods, focusing on the magic and ignoring the students who watched, some bored, some obediently taking notes, one intensely attentive. The golden watcher never took his eyes off her, did not even seem to blink- even trying not to be, Cara was aware of him peripherally. She was held there for the duration of the class. As soon as Professor Borathin dismissed her, and the other students, she bolted for the door.
Not fast enough. The watcher left his supplies on his desk, and rushed to catch her arm. "Tlexepa," he breathed softly, close to her ear:
beauty.
"What?" Cara squeaked, avoiding his eyes.
"You said I should call you whatever I liked. So, until you give me your name, I'll call you Tlexepa." Cara glanced at his face, then looked past him at the other students, some converging towards the door. Several off the girls were glaring at her hatefully.
"I have to go." She said softly, slipping free of him.
He called after her, "
Where
do you have to go?" He sounded unhappy, like he expected her not to answer. Which she didn't. She expanded her hearing as she hurried away, and heard the watcher speaking to Professor Borathin.
"That girl? She's just an advanced student." Is all the response he received. Why was he so interested? Cara wondered, and returned to her research, but in her room, not the library.
She finally learned the identity of her watcher in the temple during the services on First Day. She worked behind the scenes with Morgan as usual while Seaphen Athar performed the services. She glimpsed him in the first row, and he looked right at her. Her hands shook as she handed Morgan the bowl of sacred water and rose petals.
Morgan quirked a brow. "What's the matter with you, Cara?" she whispered.
"
That
boy
is watching me again." she responded in a tight voice. Morgan glanced, then smirked at her. They were not able to say more until after the service.
Cara tried to flee, but both the watcher and Morgan converged on her. "So, I find you again at last, Tlexepa." he said as he casually blocked her escape route. He had caught her in the priest's preparation room behind the altar, so at least this time there was no audience other than Morgan.
Cara looked to the older woman for help, but Morgan just smirked in self-satisfied quiet. Cara was on her own. "I-I didn't realize you were looking for me," she mumbled.
"I think you've been hiding from me," he accused mildly. "This college is not that large, and yet you alone of all the students are hard to find. You're not a ghost, are you?"
Cara smiled and cast her eyes down. "No, I'm not a ghost."
"Why all the secrecy? The professors will not even tell me your name." He leaned closer, Cara looked up into his piercing blue eyes. She opened her mouth to respond, but could think of nothing to say.
Morgan laughed. "Your Highness is having too much fun with a simple mystery." Both Cara and the watcher- was he truly the prince?- turned and looked at her.
Smirking, Morgan continued. "Cara, this young man you're so afraid of is none other than the son of the Derine-phayu, Lavada Eoceda Maca-nuada. Your Highness, this mystery girl is Sithecara, the most gifted sorceress born since the time of your Thaina Shicana ancestors, and she is a foundling of the Faith." She made sweeping gestures to each as she spoke, then placed one hand on her hip and waited for the result of her mischief.
Cara was stunned, hurt, by Morgan's revelation. She blushed furiously, and began to back away.
