"I'LL see you at home, then," Asmeen said. She waved at them and began walking, making her way to Nara's house quickly. Nara wasn't out in the yard, so she walked up to the door and knocked.

Nyma opened it. Nara's older sister was tall and thin, and she was wearing the white scarf Asmeen had knitted for her around her neck. It did look good on her. She blinked on seeing Asmeen and grinned. "Hey, kid. Congratulations, by the way."

Asmeen grinned. "Thanks." She glanced behind Nyma, seeing Nara walking up.

"Who's your partner?" Nara asked, standing beside her sister.

"A boy called Aven Hilfen."

"Oh," Nyma said, her lips parting.

"You know him?" Nara asked, glancing at her.

Nyma nodded, beginning to smile. "He's my friend. He's the one we went to celebrate with yesterday, because he got in." She looked at Asmeen. "Don't worry about him. He's a good sort."

"Good to know," Asmeen said, tilting her head.

"Well, I've got to go. See you, you two," Nyma said. She raised a hand as she walked off, the scarf swinging from her neck.

"Come in," Nara said, holding the door open wide. "I'm cleaning the house. Even though Nyma's the one with the cleaning business."

Asmeen laughed and walked in, shutting the door behind herself. "I'll help"

"There's no need for that, dear!"

Asmeen glanced to the left, her eyes widening when she saw the white-haired woman perched on a chair. Nara's grandmother, Nana, as she was called by everyone in the neighborhood, smiled and beckoned at her.

Asmeen walked over and sat at her feet as Nara went back to wiping down her windows. "Hello, Nana."

"Asmeen, it's been too long. You should visit me more," Nana said, her eyes narrowing. "Every day you come and see Nara, or she sees you, but how often do you come to see me?"

Asmeen let out a laugh. "You're absolutely right. I'll come talk to you whenever I come here."

"You do that, dear," Nana said. She glanced down at the blanket covering her feet. "And did I ever tell you how much I like this. It's very warm."

Asmeen smiled, glancing at the floor. "Thank you, Nana."

"And I don't believe I've congratulated you yet!" Nana said, patting Asmeen's head. "Good for you, you've made it into the final round."

Asmeen nodded. "Everyone is so proud. Elyn and Wylla did as well."

"Ah, so your father must be happy as well." Nana sighed. "And your partner?"

"Aven Hilfen." Asmeen bit her lip. "He's Nyma's friend. She said he's 'a good one'."

"Hilfen." Nana leaned her head back, pursing her lips. "Yes, I remember the name. They live nearby, I believe."

"They do," Nara threw in, now wiping down the tables. "We've seen them around. He only has a father." She nodded. "I didn't recognize the name before, but I do now." She gave Asmeen a cheeky grin. "Handsome, isn't he?"

Asmeen rolled her eyes. "Yes, he is. I can admit that. But tell me more about him."

Nara twisted her lips together, dusting off the chairs. "Not much to say. He's more Nyma's friend, he's got a different group of friends. Isn't the type to cause trouble. I think he helps Nyma with her cleaning sometimes."

Asmeen nodded. "Well, he doesn't sound bad. He was pretty decent when I met him today. Still, I guess I'll really find out tomorrow."

"Oh, don't you worry," Nana said. "It'll all the work out. The leaders know what they're doing—who are they, now?"

"Dara Segast and Osoric Beor," Asmeen answered.

Nana nodded. "Right. They're wise, but young." They've been doing a good job so far.

"Nana, you tried out for the Flower Children," Nara said, glancing at her grandmother. "And you made it to the final round, too. What happened?"

Nana smiled. "What's to say. On the last day, my partner made it in. I didn't."

"And after that?" Asmeen asked.

"Well, it was a bit uncomfortable at first, but we became good friends. And, as you can see, my life turned out pretty well," Nana said matter-of-factly. "I think it's better that I didn't make it." She gave Nara a smile. "I wouldn't trade what I have for all the Flower Children in the world."

There was a knock on the door.

Asmeen turned, and Nara hurried to open it, nodding at whoever was outside. Then she glanced at Asmeen. "Your sisters."

Asmeen stood up quickly and smiled at Nana. "It must be time for me to leave. Goodbye, Nana."

"Visit soon!" Nana called.

"I will." Asmeen chuckled. She walked over to find Elyn and Wylla standing at the door, exchanging pleasantries with Nara. "We have to go home?"

Wylla nodded. "Yes. Quickly."

Asmeen nodded, her brows furrowing, and gave Nara a hug before walking out. Once they'd reached the dust lanes, she glanced at Wylla. "Why did you sound so worried."

Wylla sighed heavily. "When we went home, well...they haven't forgotten about last night."

Asmeen groaned, tilting her head back.

"We're in trouble," Elyn pointed out, unhelpfully.

"I'm pretty sure they're going to make us stay in the house for a couple weeks now," Wylla said.

Asmeen shuddered. "We'd better get back soon, then."

***

Lots of shouting, admonishments, and lectures later, it turned out Wylla was right—they weren't allowed to leave the house except for their activities with the Flower Children—and, in Elyn's case, work. Wylla, who'd dared to ask for how long, had gotten the lovely reply of, "For however long we say!"

So, it was a quiet room they sat in after finishing their chores.

"El, I'm sorry," Wylla said, breaking the silence. "You didn't have anything to do with it, but you still got punished."

"Right," Asmeen said, nodding immediately. "It was our fault." They'd tried to defend Elyn before, when their fathers had been scolding them, but the two men had been adamant.

Elyn only shrugged. "It was an accident. Besides, it's not like I leave the house much except for work. It really won't affect me. Only you two." She glanced at Asmeen. "When I go to work, I'll tell Nara you can't visit her."

Asmeen gave her a grateful look. "Thank you. And will you also tell her not to come here? I don't think father will like that very much. I'll just try to see her whenever I go for the Flower Children."

Elyn gave her a nod.

"Well," Wylla said, sighing. "Now that we have nothing to do, who wants to eavesdrop on them with me? I'm sure they're talking about us."

This was met with dead silence.

"No thank you," Asmeen said finally. "I'll be sewing. I saw a lovely new pattern I want to try."

"I'll be going over my notes for tomorrow before work," Elyn said, giving them both a pointed look. "Who knows what they'll ask us tomorrow. We should be prepared."

"Right." Wylla let out a groan.

Asmeen bit her lip. "True."

"You can do it later, Asmeen," Wylla said. "We'll study together when El goes for work."

"No, that's fine. We should really study now," Asmeen said, nodding. She pulled out her own handwritten notes from their desk and sat on their bed, leaning against the wall. Elyn as right. It would be best to go over everything for tomorrow—potion recipes, the history of the Flower Children, rituals—she had to be prepared.

Eventually, Elyn sat down beside her. And then Wylla joined with a sigh, and they stayed there for the rest of the day.

We're going to meet Aven tomorrow! I'm excited XD

See you next chapter!