Art: "Glowup" by ShadowReader29

Nell entered Light Spinner's garden the next day after work; the Delvalian set tea and crumpets on delicately painted plates. Wearing a lovely green sundress, she looked like an amalgamation of Vernish and Delvalian culture. Somewhat like Nell himself.

Light Spinner smiled – he couldn't see her mouth, but her eyes were warm. "I'm glad you joined us." She fingered the opal necklace Nell had given her. "How old are you now?"

"Eighteen."

"Dear me. You just turned eighteen?"

"What's wrong with that?" he asked, frowning.

"Nothing," she said with a shrug. "It makes sense why you're in university at such a young age – you must be very talented in Medicancy."

Nell shrugged. "You said you had another friend coming. Sarah?"

Light Spinner nodded. "She should be here shortly." As if on cue, the doorbell rang. "I'll be back. Take a seat, and have some tea. It's a ginger-and-echinacea blend."

"Is there sugar?"

Light Spinner's cheeks turned slightly pink. "No," she said slowly. "Sarah and I like ours black. Do you want some?"

"If it's not a bother," Nell said.

"It's not. I'll return in a few moments."

Nell sat down at the table, sighing. He still had nerves around this Delvalian girl. It'll be alright. Pulling out his sorcerical calculations notebook, he flipped to a new page; Light Spinner had made it clear that this was a study session.

"That necklace is sweet," a new voice said. "How were you able to afford it?"

Light Spinner entered the garden again with a Dellaneve human. Gesturing toward Nell, she nodded. "He bought it for me. This is the one whom I bumped into."

"Oh, right. Didn't you call him a simple..." she trailed off as Light Spinner glared at her. "Simply wonderful?"

Nell blushed. Had she? Light Spinner nodded. "I think you two will get along. Now...I need to figure out calculations." Groaning, she opened her notebook and dipped her quill in the ink pot.

"I can help you with that," Nell blurted out. "If you need it."

Light Spinner cast a peculiar look. "Are you good at math?"

Nell nodded. "I organize the different steps of an equation by ink colors. Take a look." He showed her his own notes.

Sarah was drawing a diagram of sorts. Without looking up, she grinned. "Light Spinner doesn't believe in pens. You must have royally humiliated her when you gave her yours the other day. Too bad traditional ink only comes in one color."

"Oh, hush," Light Spinner grumbled. "I told you, I prefer quills. I can separate the parts of the equation with bullet points."

"Why quills?" Nell asked. "They're so...archaic."

"They're sentimental to me," Light Spinner explained. "My mother taught me to write with them, and we always used them when I was growing up."

"Her parents are old-fashioned," Sarah explained.

Nell tilted his head. "I thought you were adopted."

"I was," Light Spinner said. "When I was fourteen. But I knew my parents before then. Someday, I'll go back and visit them." Sighing, she changed the subject. "Idiotic mathematics. I've no clue why the professor refuses to actually teach."

"Emeth Cerise can be a bit of a numbskull," Sarah pointed out. "Side effect of being so old."

Light Spinner snorted. "As if you have room to talk."

"I'm only twenty-four, young lady. And I have a family in Tropicilas. Respect your elders, even if they're only four years older than you." Turning to Nell, Sarah addressed him. "So, how old are you?"

"He's eighteen," Light Spinner said before Nell could reply.

Sarah's grin widened. Nell's cheeks burned. Oh, no. "Light Spinner," she said, "do you mean to say that someone two years your junior hit on you?"

Nell covered his face with his hands, mortified. "It – I didn't mean –"

Light Spinner snorted. "Sarah, please. He's barely an adult."

"And I just wanted to give you a parcel," Nell said in a small voice.

"Sarah likes to razz people," Light Spinner groaned. "Ignore her."

"You're just annoyed that I suggested anything about romance," Sarah chuckled. "Knowing you, we'll sing a funeral song the day you get married."

"Is that a jest at me, or my husband?"

"Neither. Just your age once you finally find someone," Sarah said with a wink.

"Sarah, I swear by the moons, I would push you off this table if there was snow to blanket your fall."

"Too bad, Spinnergirl," Sarah said with a grin.

Nell giggled. "You two are hysterical."

"Light Spinner doesn't have a sense of humor," Sarah said.

"You killed it by forcing me to listen to your jokes all day," the other woman replied with a smile.

"So, what do you think?" Sarah asked Nell. "Like her yet?"

"You're both loads of fun," Nell said. "Norwyn said you weren't easy to make friends with, Light Spinner. But..." he smiled. "You two are a riot to be around."

"Glad you're used to it," Sarah said, winking. "We'll keep getting you to hang out. She said you don't have any other friends?"

"Um...no," he replied sheepishly.

"I still don't understand how that can be," Light Spinner said, gazing downward. "You're a Del – and moons, you seem like a decent boy. Why seek out two girls who are older than you?"

Nell sighed. "I grew up in Cindel."

Dead silence; a few moments passed before he dared look up at the women. Light Spinner's eyes were wide, and Sarah's mouth had dropped open. "Cindel?" the Dellaneve woman exclaimed. "How did a Del end up in Cindel?"

"Cheapest place to live," Nell said. "We, um...kind of lived in a slum. No heat or air, candles for light. That sort of thing."

Light Spinner looked uncomfortable. "The Delvalians," she murmured. "They're not kind to foreigners."

Nell shook his head, words rushing from his lips. "I had some friends, but I couldn't keep them. They'd gossip about me. Called my family horrid names..."

"Poor kid," Sarah said. "We won't treat you that way. Promise."

Light Spinner nodded fervently. "I...I'm sorry about that." She looked uncomfortable. "I mean...if you ever need to talk, we'll be here. We can help. Right, Sarah?"

"Right on, girl."

Nell smiled, going back to his work. The girls were a bit different than what he was used to. But they seemed earnest – Light Spinner especially. It made Nell wonder what she hid beneath her distant, stern exterior, and what he might find if he dared to look.

✧✧✧

The next week, Nell came to Light Spinner's garden again, but Sarah wasn't there this time. His friend lay in a porch swing, reading a book. That thin-strapped sundress, with the pink rayon stole wrapped around her shoulders...stars. It took his breath away instantly.

Nell spoke. "Hi. Where's Sarah?"

"I think she had marciales tonight. That, or a barrelball game."

"What's barrelball?"

"You've never played?" Light Spinner chuckled. "Ask her sometime – she'll talk your ear off about it. You mentioned you needed help with an essay?"

"Technical writing, yes. I can't figure it out. It's so...illogical."

"Sit down," she said. "I can help you." Nell did as she asked, taking out his notebook. When the wind blew, he caught the smell of Light Spinner's perfume; roses. Not rose-scented fragrance – real flowers, as though she'd been bathing in their aroma.

Nell opened his notebook to a blank page, and the Delvalian spoke. "Now, I'm not just going to teach you how to write essays. I'm going to teach you how to be confident."

"What's that got to do with writing?" Nell asked, tilting his head.

"Everything. You're writing because you have something to say. You have to be strong, convincing, in your points. Otherwise, you won't win anyone to your side."

"I'm learning to write medical reports."

"And if you pioneer a new cure someday? You'll need to convince medical staff to accept your methods." Light Spinner touched his chin. "Head up, shoulders back. Look me in the eye when we're speaking."

Nell was intimidated by her gaze, but made himself stare her in the eye. "Alright," he murmured. "Where do we begin?"

"Speak up," she said, flicking one of her pointed ears. "I can't hear you."

"Alright," Nell tried again, putting more force into his tone. "What's first?

Light Spinner smiled. "All writing pieces have two things: a structure, and a flow. Since you're a math person, we'll start with structure." Pointing to the page, she spoke. "Write 'one' in Eternitas."

Nell did as she asked. Nodding, Light Spinner leaned in to see his journal. "Now, what is your essay about?"

Nell blushed. "'What's most important to you?'"

Light Spinner smiled. "Well?" He avoided her look; the Delvalian tsked. "Nell, look at me. Eye contact, remember?"

"Criminy." Nell shook his head. "You really want to know?"

"I suppose I must, in order to help you."

He felt his cheeks grow warm. "Love."

Light Spinner tilted her head. Then she giggled a bit – her laugh was so unique. "Love?"

"Yes. Do I...need to expand on that idea for you?"

"I understand the concept. But what kind of love do you speak of, exactly?"

Nell blushed, though he was unsure why. "Um...love for Etherians. No matter who they are." He sighed. "I never believed in returning evil-for-evil. I thought, if people will hurt me...why wouldn't I go out being a better man? I think that's stronger than fighting back. But I've always wanted to get married, and I don't think any woman would find that to be a good trait. A husband who won't throw punches? Who...can't protect her?" He shook his head.

Gazing back at Light Spinner, he saw a deep look in her eyes. "Nell, do you need to talk about anything?"

Nell swallowed. "I...no. The last part wasn't in my essay."

She put a hand on his shoulder. "No matter. That's a fascinating essay topic – I find it most intriguing."

Her compliment warmed him from the inside out. "Isn't my mindset a Seraphite motto, as well?"

"Not exactly. The Seraphites aren't pacifists." Light Spinner shrugged. "I'm an atheist, anyway."

"Agnostic." Nell found it easier to meet her eyes. "What else should I put underneath it?"

Light Spinner leaned in. "Didn't you learn how to write an introduction in primary school?"

"Um, I...I may have forgotten. I thought posture had to do with that."

"With what?"

"Well, isn't an introduction meant to hook the reader?"

Light Spinner nodded. "Posture is a part of hooking the reader. But your greatest power is your words. Remember that."

Nell wrote in the margins, now determined to succeed. And all because a good Samaritan – the Delvalian woman whose ink he spilled – had proven that her culture was capable of kindness.

✧✧✧

After the study session, Light Spinner suggested they go for a stride before Nell headed home. As they walked down the road, her mind kept repeating the words Nell had said to her. The way he'd looked at her...

"I know you don't want to fight back," she said at last. "But why can't you fight back?"

Nell averted his eyes. Light Spinner chose to overlook it; he would get better with practice. "It's foolish," he said softly. "Are you sure?"

"I told you – you can confide in me." Light Spinner looked down at her gloves, wishing she were brave enough to follow her own advice. The pain of Mother's death had not yet receded; she would have traded all the opal necklaces in the world for the chance to be held by Lydia again.

She brought herself back to the conversation at hand. "If you want to, go ahead. I'm...not the best at comforting people, but I'll try."

"It's alright." The Del shoved his hands in his pockets, gazing straight ahead. "When I get into violent situations, I freeze up. I panic, and I can't fight back. The doctors think it's some sort of trauma response – a reaction more serious than normal. I melt to the ground as soon as people even threaten to hurt me."

Light Spinner's hands trembled. Don't think about it...you can't hurt him...keep him away. At arms' length...

She wondered if she should press him on whether he had a traumatic past, but decided against it – now wasn't the time. "I'm sorry," she murmured, walking with her hands clasped so as not to touch anything. "But you can look at blood?"

Nell nodded. "I want to be a surgeon, and I've seen wounds that had me gobsmacked." He sighed. "I do wonder if I could get married someday. Be someone worth knowing. But cowards don't make good companions."

"Trauma and cowardice are two different ailments," Light Spinner said primly. "I can't discuss it, but believe me...I know."

"Why can't you talk about it?"

"Norwyn won't allow me."

Nell frowned. "Alright."

They came up to his house, and she addressed him once more. "Nell?"

"What?"

Light Spinner swallowed. "I consider you someone worth knowing."

Nell smiled, lingering for a moment. Then he walked over and hesitantly wrapped his arms around her. Light Spinner froze in his embrace, her arms remaining limp. He wore no fragrance, but his clothes were clean and crisp, and he was so gentle...

Nell held her for a moment, voice coming out in a whisper. "Thank you." He pulled away, a red tinge to his cheeks. Then he rushed into his house.

❂❂❂

Did you know...

- While Norwyn is probably the most hated character in this trilogy according to my readers, I didn't actually intend for him to be a true "villain." My intention with Alura was to show that even well-meaning parents can jack up their kids, and it's a difficult situation. However, here I tried my best to paint a fair picture of him. He's a far better parent than some others starred in this series, in my opinion.

- When this draft was in the beta stage, raylen-loves-to-read mentioned that most college courses don't begin with teaching introductions in essays. This is very fair. However, you'd be surprised at how many people don't learn these sorts of things in middle and high school (this is coming from someone whose mom teaches high school English).

Tell me what you think...

- Would you call Nell a coward based on the information you have so far? Why or why not?