SHE turned back to Kinal. "I'm sorry to disturb you—"

"Not at all," Kinal said easily, nodding at her. "One of the reasons we are here is to help the trainees, and to tell them about our life. It helps you make a decision, after all."

"Right," Asmeen said, twisting her lips together. That made sense. "Well, thank you for helping me."

"Of course," Kinal said politely. "Now, do you mind if I ask you a question first?"

"Not at all," Asmeen said, looking at him and waiting.

"Why do you want to join the Flower Children?"

Asmeen bit her lip. "My mother was one. Well—she was the leader, in fact." Kinal arched an interested eyebrow, but other than that he said nothing. Asmeen flushed slightly, remembering what Aven had said. "And, I mean, my father does want me to get in, and I don't want to disappoint him, but I want to make it as well. I've worked for it for the past five years."

Kinal nodded, not showing any judgement. "That's perfectly alright. We have many people whose parents were once part of the Flower Children. So, what do you want to know?"

Asmeen twisted her fingers together. "I—just, like, what do you do? What is it like?"

If Kinal was annoyed by her incredibly vague question, he didn't show it. "It's a routine, really, but it's fun. We all live in the same place, so everyone gets up at the same time and goes to work. Basically, if you join, the Flower Children will become like family."

"So—do you have to live with all the others?" Asmeen asked.

Kinal pursed her lips, tilting his head to the side. "Well, no, not if you live nearby. Some of us who's homes are very close live there and come to work from there."

"And—there's no rule against, say, courting? Or marriage?"

Kinal shook his head. "It's all allowed, but generally, when a Flower Child gets married, they'll want to quit, as we have a full day of work, and it's quite hard to maintain a good relationship if you're away from your partner all the time. Especially in marriage, you know."

Asmeen nodded. She did know, indeed. "So, what is the work you do?"

Kinal's eyes seemed to light up as he gazed into the distance thoughtfully. "Generally, we wake up and do a ritual for Bjóll. And after that, work varies for the day. Sometimes—quite of ten, actually, we make potions for the infirmary, as they are always in need of new medicine. We're also in charge of just cleaning the town, hearing complaints and solving them, things like that. "

"So—you don't get tired, or anything, doing the same thing every day?" Asmeen asked carefully.

Kinal, to his credit, didn't look offended. "Of course doing the same thing does become a bit monotonous at times, but Dara always keeps things light. She organizes activities like this ball, and other Flower Children nights, so that there's a bit of change."

Asmeen nodded slowly. She couldn't imagine Dara Segast being fun, but perhaps Dara had to maintain a certain image in front of the trainees, being a leader and all.

"And of course, if things get too bad, you can always leave," Kinal said lightly. "It's not a big deal. We all understand that once it's time to move on, moving on is the best choice."

"When someone leaves—what will they do then?" Asmeen asked.

Kinal's eyebrows furrowed as he thought. "Well—there are certain provisions in place. Trading, tutoring, and you can always get a place at the infirmary. Dara helps you with all that. It's not really something I've thought about much, to be honest."

"That makes sense," Asmeen said, nodding. "So, when did you join?"

"On my third year trying," Kinal said, leaning his head back and grinning at whatever memory he seemed to be remembering. "My partner—well, we never fought as much as you and Aven, Bjóll, you two are something else—" He gave her a teasing grin and continued, "In the end, I made it, and he didn't."

"Wasn't it...awkward?" Asmeen asked. She fought with Aven, but she didn't want to think of what would inevitably happen, that only one of them would get in, that at the end of the day they were still competitors, still rivals.

Kinal nodded thoughtfully. "For a while, yes. But he eventually moved on, found a good job, and now we're friends." He looked at her, his expression softening. "I know very few people who aren't on good terms with their partners. We're all mature enough to accept what happened."

Asmeen nodded and looked down, a bit embarrassed at having been so transparent. Still, now that she'd said it. "I don't really...I'm worried. Even though we fight, Aven's my friend."

"It's scary, isn't it?" Kinal said, looking much wiser than her. "It is, of course. Most people want the best both for themselves, and for their partner, once they've spent some time together. The partners really do suit each other. But, Asmeen, you have to understand—" He looked her in the eyes, his face turning serious.

Asmeen gave him her full attention.

"Dara and Osoric choose the person that is meant to be a part of their group. That is what is best for the them. And even though their partner might not think so, they will realize in some time that not being chosen was best for them."

Asmeen nodded, understanding. "So even if one of us doesn't get chosen, we'll just have to..."

"Accept it and move on," Kinal said, nodding somberly but kindly. "It's alright if that takes time, of course, but it will happen. Take my word for it."

"And—can both partners be chosen?" Asmeen asked. "I've heard of it happening."

Kinal frowned slightly. "It has happened, and in those cases, both partners were meant to make it. It happens every few years—but don't depend on that happening," he warned. "Try to do your best, work to get in yourself."

"Even though your Aven's friend, you're telling me to aim on getting in alone," Asmeen said, in an attempt to lighten the mood.

It worked. Kinal cracked a small smile and leaned back. "I only want what's best for both of you. And rest assured, that will happen, whether you get in or not. But for what it's worth, I would be honored to be a Flower Child alongside you."

Asmeen smiled at him, understanding that the conversation was over. She stepped aside. "And I, you. Thank you for helping me."

"It's what I'm here for," Kinal said kindly. He gave her a bow and waited for Asmeen to finish her curtsey before walking away, mingling with the crowd.

Asmeen let out a sigh, turning away. Talking to Kinal—it had lessened her doubts, somewhat, but she knew that she'd have to work out her feelings on her own. No one else could do that for her.

Still, this wasn't the night for such heavy thinking, so she forced a smile and began walking. She could see Wylla in the crowd, still dancing—did she ever get tired? It was like all of Wylla's drained energy from the training had returned tonight. Perhaps that was why the leaders had organized this.

She could also see Nara, chatting with a small group gathered around her, positively beaming. Asmeen let her be. Judging by the expressions on Nara's listeners' faces, they wouldn't take her entry too kindly. And besides, Nara was handling herself just fine.

Luckily, just then, she spotted Elyn.

She looked just as much a vision as Nara did, in her gorgeous dress—well, Asmeen was proud of her handiwork—and just generally looking gorgeous. But, unlike Nara, she was standing alone near the food. She didn't look tired or sour. In fact, she looked pleasant.

Asmeen walked up to her and nudged her with her elbow. "What are you doing her all alone?"

Elyn turned to her, her face impassive. "I could ask you the same."

Asmeen grinned. "I'll have you know that I danced with two people, and I spoke to a Flower Child for quite some time."

"Those two people were Nara and your partner?" Elyn asked. On Asmeen's questioning look, she said, "I saw you. I see you and Aven aren't fighting anymore."

Asmeen grinned sheepishly, her mind running through all that had occurred. "Well, something happened, and...yes, we're trying to get along again."

"You two seemed quite close out there," Elyn said, tilting her head towards the dance floor. Asmeen flushed, and Elyn rolled her eyes, thankfully changing the subject. "So, what did you talk to the Flower Child about?"

"He was Aven's friend, Aven introduced us," Asmeen said. "He just told me what it was like to be a Flower Child, what they did, what a day was like...all that."

Elyn nodded, turning her gaze back into the crowd.

"Elyn—why do you want to be a Flower Child?" Asmeen asked curiously. When the twins had arrived after their fathers' marriage, and they'd begun preparing for the training, Asmeen hadn't questioned it. At that point, she'd thought it was normal for someone to want to be a Flower Child. But after her conversation with Kinal...she was starting to wonder.

Elyn turned to her, her eyes slightly narrowed. "Why?" When Asmeen only shrugged, she sighed. "It's always been my dream. When I was a child, I got sick, and father of course, asked for a private healer."

"Of course," Asmeen muttered. Azol had always been Azol.

"The healer that came was a retired Flower Child. She ended up telling me about it, and I just thought it sounded so amazing, and since then I've always wanted to be one."

Asmeen nodded. "And Wylla?"

The corner of Elyn's lip tipped upwards. "You know Wylla. When I said I wanted to be a Flower Child, she decided she would be too. And when we got older...I think she sees it as something exciting. She's always liked things like that. Being part of a big group, doing something worthwhile."

"Sounds like Wylla," Asmeen agreed. She'd clearly always been the same bubbly girl, ever since childhood. "I've never heard stories about your childhood."

Elyn shrugged. "Most of them involve mother, and that's a bit of a touchy subject. We've never heard many of your childhood stories either, you know." She gave Asmeen a knowing look. "For the same reason?"

Asmeen flushed and looked away. "Maybe."

"Why do you really want to be a Flower Child?" Elyn asked, turning the question onto Asmeen. "Is it really because of your mother? You don't talk about it much."

Asmeen sighed. "I want to do her memory proud."

"And because of your father," Elyn said like she was stating a fact.

Asmeen nodded. "I want to make him proud as well. He has mother's old locket hidden up in his study somewhere. I've never seen it. He said he'll give it to me once I make it into the Flower Children. So, I suppose—I want to prove myself."

Elyn didn't respond to that, instead staring blankly ahead, so Asmeen rapidly changed the subject. "Have you even danced yet?"

"Yes," Elyn said, almost defensively.

"With whom?" Asmeen asked, giving her a skeptical look.

"With my partner. And Wylla," Elyn said.

Asmeen waited, but Elyn didn't say anything further. "That's all?"

Elyn gave her an unimpressed look. "As if you've done any better. You just told me you've only danced with two people."

Asmeen shrugged sheepishly. She hadn't considered that. "But you look so beautiful! Has no one asked you to dance?"

"I have been asked," Elyn said carefully.

"You didn't accept?" Asmeen asked, her eyebrows furrowing. Elyn was no Wylla, of course, but this was a night to relax, and Elyn was known to very occasionally have fun. This had seemed like one of those moments.

Elyn sighed. "I...not yet. I just wanted to watch for a while."

Asmeen pursed her lips. "Well, you've watched for plenty long. Now, the two of us are going to dance, and then please socialize a bit."

Elyn let out a dry laugh, looking amused. Maybe she really was enjoying herself. "Alright, I will. I do have friends, contrary to what you and Wylla seem to think."

"Who did you bring, as a guest?" Asmeen asked. Wylla had brought one of her friends that Asmeen didn't know—she couldn't remember all of Wylla's friends—but she hadn't seen Elyn with anyone.

"One of my coworkers from the bakery," Elyn said, waving a hand in the direction of the dance floor vaguely. "I sent him to mingle."

Asmeen sighed. "Well, after I dance with you, I'll be sending you to mingle as well. Understood?"

"Understood," Elyn said simply, and she took Asmeen's hand.

See you next chapter!