Song: "A Message of Death" from The Dragon Prince Season 1 OST

Maybe my stubbornness does have a place in my life, Mother. Norwyn tolerates it, but I can tell he does not do so gladly. Because he has no stubbornness himself, however, he has lost his bravery. I love him, but I want to be the one to advise him for a change. Age does not make one infallible.

❂❂❂

Winter break arrived, bringing with it long days of quiet relaxation before heading back to the academy for the second semester of school. Light Spinner sighed as she poured tea into one of her mugs, sitting down in her old armchair and watching Micah play with the other students in the evening snow out in the rose garden. He was her student. She was his teacher. The thought had almost become commonplace; now she was thinking these words with a smile. He's my student. I get to spend my days with him.

Light Spinner pulled out the journal from inside the end table, lifting her veil to sip her tea. The sweet herbs she'd brewed danced on her tongue, as she opened the old book to write with a smile.

Mother,

You were right, as always. There was more to Micah than I'd first seen; he is never intentionally disruptive of my class. You would love him so much, for you have the same goofiness, the same optimism and bright eyes. I now have more wisdom. Not only have I learned how to deal with unruly students, I have begun to ponder that perhaps denying myself of feeling for any one person is why I am so hollow and numb to begin with. I will give this new idea much thought in the future. Perhaps not everyone will leave me, as Nell once did.

Just as she finished signing the closing, Micah burst in through the door. Light Spinner walked over to him. "Drink some tea. It'll keep you from getting sick."

Micah gave a slow nod, blowing his red nose with a tissue. "Why didn't you come out to play today?"

Light Spinner laced her fingers together sheepishly. "I was preoccupied - writing some letters."

"You were keeping your diary, you mean," Micah said as he poured a cup of tea and sipped it. Light Spinner stared at the ground, memories shocking her out of the present day.

Mother's hand moved gently over Alura's as she poured the boiling water over the packages of dried peaches. "You're doing great!" she said. "I'm so proud of you."

"Why? All I did was make tea."

"Yes, but this is one small step," Lydia said. "One small step to what you will learn. We're going to do such great things together, sweet Alura."

Light Spinner clutched the edge of the couch. Steady now. Micah's voice came to her, sounding far away. "You okay?"

She snapped back to reality. "Yes. I'm...fine." The pain in her chest refused to leave. "It's not a diary, Micah. I told you that already."

"Yeah, but you didn't tell me what it was. Last time I asked, you just said it wasn't a diary - "

"- Because it isn't -"

"- But it looks like a diary, so I'm going to call it that anyway," Micah said, downing a big gulp of tea. "Unless you tell me what it is."

Light Spinner shifted on her feet. There's no harm in telling. He won't blab. Micah's not like that. His dark eyes looked at her in a way that nobody since Lydia had. With care - true care, no borders or strings attached.

Lydia. Light Spinner zoned out. "They're letters," she said. "Letters to...to..."

"Who?" Micah asked. "I'll keep it a secret."

Light Spinner scrunched her eyes shut, and two words were her answer. "My mother."

She'd expected Micah to either laugh or comfort her, but instead, he tilted his head. "Well, are you ever going to send them to her?"

Light Spinner's hand combusted in flame, and her eyes blurred with unshed tears. No crying. Please, anything but crying. She extinguished the plasma and gripped the couch, her nails digging into the fabric. "Maybe someday," she lied. But she could never deliver the letters. There was no address to send them to, because Lydia no longer lived at the quiet townhome in Bel Delvala.

Micah touched her hand. "It's okay," he said. "I miss my mom too. But maybe if you sent those letters to your mom, you could catch up." A pause. "If you haven't left Mystacor since you were fourteen, she probably misses you."

Light Spinner bit her tongue. She had to control her tears. "Go to bed, Micah."

He backed up. "I'm sorry if I - "

Her voice twisted, crystallizing as she turned to him. "I said, go to bed," she repeated through her teeth. He backed away, his expression confused, eyebrows knit together with concern. After he left, Light Spinner took deep breaths, counting the seconds, pacing the room. But the tears refused to cease.

Mother, I wish I could take his advice. I wish I could send my letters to you.

I miss you so, so much. You would love him dearly. She imagined Lydia baking cookies for Micah, singing him old Delvalian songs from the time they were their own kingdom, telling him stories...

She sat on the couch, silent tears streaming down her cheeks. She was disgusted with herself for being this much of a mess; she might destroy the living room with her powers. She should have never let Micah see that she wrote at all.

A hand rested on her shoulder, and when she looked up, he was there. His sweet, dark eyes would be there to witness her weakness. Of course they would. "Why are you still here?" she sniffed, her voice more confused than angry. "I told you to go to bed."

He sat down next to her. Light Spinner was deeply ashamed that all she wanted was to hold him again, like the first day he'd arrived. "I know you don't want to talk about it, but - " his eyes widened. "Your eyes are all black."

"That's what happens when you're wearing makeup and..." She swallowed. "Pass me the tissues."

As she wiped her eyes, he spoke again. "Sometimes just being there helps. I know it did for me when Casta barfed on the transport. I couldn't talk to her about it because - y'know - she was barfing." He cleared his throat. "I'm really bad at this, huh? But I'll sit here and hold you if you want. You don't deserve to be alone."

Light Spinner swallowed as he wrapped his arms around her. Releasing a shuddering breath, she returned his embrace, closing her eyes and pressing her cheek against his unruly black hair. The shame over crying became bearable, and she wondered why her light never once ignited as she rested in his embrace.

✧✧✧

The next day, Light Spinner clothed herself in a pink dress, fastened her badge, and mirror-traveled to the Great Hall. Before she even stepped inside, the clamor inside reached her ears, and she groaned. In and out. You don't really have much of a say in what happens. You're just here to get news and leave.

"You can't just expect us to keep taking in refugees," Muriel snapped at Ahelia as Light Spinner entered the Lunarium. "Mystacor has four cities. We're the smallest kingdom on Etheria. The pauperum will take up too many places in this place for sorcerers to live and train."

He'd never admit to agreeing with me now. Light Spinner rolled her eyes as Ahelia responded. "What choice do we have? Let those people die? We cannot fight them. We don't have the power - the Pull is too strong for sorcerers to make much of a difference in combat."

Light Spinner enjoyed when the Guild ate their own instead of turning their criticisms onto her. So she took her binders and stood against the wall, grading and watching. "This is a dilemma," Norwyn agreed, attempting to diffuse the fight. "We do not have the resources to continue such procedures, especially since it compromises Mystacor's safety. But letting those people die is also a cruel action."

"They're paupers," Festinia groaned. "They're probably going to starve to death soon anyway. If they don't want that, maybe they should sell themselves into slavery like their puss neighbors, the Felali."

"Watch your language," Arvina warned, and Festinia rolled her eyes. "We won't get anything done by dehumanizing the felinettas. What we need to do is pray that Amenity will grant the princesses the power to stop the Horde."

Light Spinner snapped her binder shut. "Amenity?" she laughed. "Keep praying to your made-up goddess, Arvina, while the lives of the Tropicil keep dwindling."

"Oh," Festinia said, adjusting her septum ring. "The little atheist arrived. And I suppose you have a better solution?" When Light Spinner opened her mouth to reply, Festinia held up a finger. "We know you want us to slaughter ourselves. Don't worry; I was being sarcastic."

"I'm not here to propose solutions," Light Spinner said coldly. "Only to ask for news."

Muriel cleared his throat. "The Tropicil migrated to the eastern end of the pauperum. Some of them fled through the Whispering Woods to the province of Meya in Bright Moon, but most of them either sailed to Salineas or are trapped at the coast. The western area of the pauperum is completely deserted."

Light Spinner's eyes passed to the map of Etheria that hung on the wall. "How did this happen?" She bit her lip. What does this mean for Micah? Will he have a home to return to? And where in the moons are his parents?

Norwyn sighed. "That's what we're not sure of, Light Spinner. The terrorists are quite good at cloaking themselves among the people, and they don't always wear Horde clothes. They often dress as commoners, enter an unsuspecting city, and ravage it. And their combat training is remarkable."

Low risk. High reward. Evil, but brilliant. Light Spinner sighed. "I see. Thank you, Master."

Norwyn smiled wearily at her, then spoke again. "You all bring up good points, but Festinia's is what I wish to emphasize. We cannot keep taking in refugees. We are a state that is of sorcerers, and it must remain that way. By tonight, we must close the gates to the common people. Muriel?"

"I will, Master."

Light Spinner's hands shook as the Guild disbanded. Only she and Norwyn were left in the room. She swallowed. "Master?"

Norwyn walked down the steps to her, placing a hand on her shoulder, and Light Spinner sighed. I'm not the only one who became the parent to a child from another kingdom. "Where are Micah's parents? Do you know?"

Norwyn shook his head. "We received no news from Sarah and Abraham since the light illusion she sent you."

"Can we cast a location spell to find them?" Light Spinner asked, though it was silly. Neither of them had a clear image of Sarah and Abraham in their minds, and even if they did, trying to locate someone who lived across the world required a spell so large it would take an entire team of trained sorcerers to do it. They won't do that. Not for me.

Norwyn gazed fondly at her. "Micah is yours until they contact me. Do not worry, child. You are a good woman, and I am proud of you."

She wished she could take the compliment. Are you? But she nodded and drew away, unclenching her fists. "Thank you, Master." With this, she left the room to mirror-travel home.

❂❂❂

https://youtu.be/F_Gn2SvaSEY

Did you know...

● I made an animatic out of the first scene of this chapter from the song "Please" by Eleine. It was the first animatic I edited myself.

Tell me what you think...

● What do Light Spinner and Micah have in common?

● How will the news about Tropicilas challenge her relationship with him?