Chapter Text
Rosemary ran up the hill, chest aching as she did. She just had to get up there, then she could rest.
"Rosie come on! You can do it!" Lavender called down to her with a laugh, watching her from the top of it. Rosemary could hear their family behind her at the top, laughing and talking about something. She could hear Sage, her snorting about some joke, she really wanted to know what was so funny.
She kept slipping as she tried to climb up the ever growing hill, feeling like she wasn't getting anywhere. She dug her fingers into the dirt, clawing her way up what felt like a few feet. Though when she looked up her mother was even farther away, laughing with a smile on her face as the sun hit her armor.
Or was it her dress? Rose couldn't tell as she looked down again, and kept trying. Slipping then climbing, over and over. After a while the laughter and chatter were turning to screams and cries, Sage yelling out "Rose! Rose!"
"I'm coming!" Rose yelled back, looking up at the top of the hill.
"Rosemary wake up!" Sage shook her, getting a little rougher now.
Rose groaned as she finally gained consciousness, rubbing her eyes as she looked at Sage, "What?.."
"You were having that dream again, I couldn't just let you stay like that." Sage turned to grab something from the side of the bed, while Rose sat up. Then she handed her a cup, still steaming, the smell of some sort of tea hitting her face, "It isn't what you normally have, but it should be close."
Rose smiled a bit, slowly taking the cup from her, "You know you don't have to do this every time I have that dream, right?" She took a sip of it, humming slightly at the flavor. It was less sweet than the normal tea, but she liked it nonetheless.
"I do, otherwise you'd be a mess." Sage watched her for a moment, messing with her dress. That's when Rose noticed she was ready for the day already, her arm was on, her hair was done, her hat was even on her head. "..You do remember what you were like after the first time, right?"
She sighed a bit. Of course she did, she was convinced something had happened. That they were all trying to keep her from knowing as a punishment, or to not guilt her, or something. Rose pulled the cup back to her lips so she could have an excuse to give no response.
Sage looked away from Rosemary, looking at the doors to the small balcony. Rose's eyes followed Sage's, to see the warm light coming in through the glass of the doors.
"..Want to go outside?" Rose asked her, moving the cup to just hold it in her lap. Sage looked at her, already in a panic before she continued, "Just on the balcony! Nothing that crazy, promise!" That seemed to calm her slightly, and get her thinking.
Then she got up, picking up Rose's leg to help her put it on.
Rose leaned against the railing as the two got onto the balcony. It wasn't big, hardly had the room for them to both stand there, but they never really minded having to be close. Sage watched what of the sunrise they could see from their spot, though Rose's focus was on the city that was bathed in the golden light.
It hurt her brain with how big it was, going as far as she could see. They weren't the only building so tall, but none of the others were anywhere near them, looking like pillars trying to brace the city against the vast sky above. She couldn't tell why they were like that, but they all seemed to be built that way with the same purpose in mind.
Rose sighed a bit, letting those questions fall away as her gaze fell back to the city. People were starting their days, she could see some coming out of homes, or going into shops. She couldn't make out a lot of details from so far up, but was sure there were a lot of things going on for them.
One of those being the academy, which had her looking up again. She tried to find it from the balcony, looking around for the building they'd be spending so much time at once orientation was done. Sage grabbed her shoulder tightly, pulling her back, "Rose be careful! You almost fell off!"
Rose looked at her, smiling sheepishly, "I was just trying to see the academy, where-"
A knock cut into the two's conversation, drawing their attention to the door it came from, "Girls, you up?" Anise called through the door to them.
"Yes!" Sage called back, grabbing Rose's hand to pull her back into the room.
Rose was finishing putting her hair into the puffs as she finally got to where everyone was sat. She paused in the doorway as she listened to Sage laugh while trying to tell a story, leaning on her sword while she listened. "And- and then she fell in the mud! The pig ran squealing away!"
Anise's laughter, loud and sincere, followed the ending of the story. That got Rose moving again, getting into the room. Ginger looked at her, a smile ever so slightly gracing his lips, "There you are Rose, I thought you went back to bed by now."
"I'll have you know I wouldn't even think about that!" She defended, despite the thought having crossed her mind. Repeatedly. "I didn't miss anything, did I?"
"No, Sage was just telling Anise here about your first pig race." Ginger leaned back into the couch as Rose sat next to him, an arm resting on the back of it behind her. His other held a cup of coffee, a lot lighter than he normally had it. Then again he normally had it how their dad did, bitter with just enough milk and sugar to not be black coffee. The thought had her mind going back to him, what was he up to right now?
That thought lead her to thinking about the farm, then had her realizing something. Ginger had changed, no longer in his dirty work clothes, now in pretty nice clean ones. Were they loaned to him by one of the others? That'd be sweet.
Rosemary groaned as she shoved the thoughts aside, head lulling back to rest on Ginger's arm, "I only fell off five times! It isn't that funny!"
"It is!" Anise argued with a smile, looking at Rose, "Mornin Rose, sleep good?" She asked as she took a sip of what Rose assumed to be coffee too. Did she have hers just as light?
"I did, yeah!" She smiled at Anise, before feeling something be set in her lap. She looked down at what it was, seeing a plate with a fair stack of pancakes. The top one had a smiling face on it, decorated by fruit and syrup. Her stomach growled at the smell that hit her nose.
"Eat up, we've got quite the day ahead of us." Aloe gently encouraged, before handing Ginger his own plate. He quietly thanked her, while Rosemary was busy digging into the food.
Over breakfast they spoke of the plans for the day, shops they were visiting, and a couple places to go for lunch. Rosemary didn't listen as much as she was supposed to probably, too focused on the food that tasted simply too good. Magic had to be a part of this recipe, she was certain of it.
"That sound good to you Rose?" Aloe asked her gently, getting her attention finally. She glanced at everyone who was looking at her, swallowing her food.
"Mhm! Sounds great!" She happily chirped, watching the older adults going back to talking amongst themselves. Hopefully Sage got some of that.
"What do you mean you weren't listening?" Rosemary whisper yelled at Sage, as the two followed the trio in front of them.
"In my defense, the food tasted really good." Sage held her hands closer to herself, her broom being held by Aloe for now. She knew they had reason to not fully trust her with it, but that didn't mean she didn't like her parting gift being kept from her. She messed with to the charm around her prosthetic wrist, her matching parting gift to Rosemary, her thoughts going back to her mother at the station.
"Fair, I can't hold that against you really." Rosemary sighed, looking around as they walked. Her eyes fell on the various people that filled the streets, giants to dwarves to elves to demonborne, walking and talking to one another like they were all the same. She wondered what kind of people she'd meet in the academy, which lead to her trying to look for the building again.
Between the people here for orientation, the people here cause they live here, and the large buildings she couldn't find something that looked like a school. Not one that she knew anyways, but maybe it didn't look like the schools she knew back in Pebble. None of the buildings around here looked like the ones back in Pebble, they were all bigger, looked like they were built to look different. Each one had its own look, you didn't have to read the signs outside to be able to guess what the shop inside was.
Distracted by all the things and people passing by, Rosemary bumped into Sage, causing her to almost bump into Ginger before her. The witch turned around to face Rose, "What was that about?"
"Sorry! Got distracted, this place is just so…" She trailed off on a search for the right word.
"Much?" Sage offered, glancing around at the city. There were so many people around, carts were going down the streets, carriages as well so it didn't exactly smell the best, the buildings felt so tall, like they were about to collapse in on the group as they walked, so many voices were chatting, music was playing from different businesses, and there still. Was. More.
"I was thinking amazing!" Rosemary smiled at her, taking one of Sage's hands in her own. The witch looked at her, returning the smile more sheepishly. With a squeeze of their hands the two carried on with their family members.
The first shop they went into was a forge, the couple apparently having something to pick up. Rose didn't really get what it was, but instead focused on waltzing around the forge with Sage. Trinkets and weapons were all around the shop, Rose gripped Thorn more as she looked at them all.
They ranged from short swords, to jagged daggers, to small hunting knives, to lockets with ornate detailing, to jewelry waiting on the jewels to be put in them. Most of them weren't delicately made, all looking more sturdy and thick. Dwarven work possibly? Then how do you explain the few that were thin and delicate?
"Looking for something?" A new voice suddenly spoke next to the two, causing both to jump and Rose to get ready to swing the sword at them. A hearty laugh is what they got in response from.. well, at first it seemed like no one, then they looked down.
He wasn't that short in all honesty but he was still short, as he was obviously a dwarf, though Rose couldn't help but sense something.. off with him. His build much thicker than either girl, muscle mostly, but he couldn't be that old by dwarven standards, barely having peach fuzz, though it could just be the blonde hair making it difficult to see.
She could've sworn somethings were peaking from his hair, but with the way it was fluffed up she couldn't quite tell.
He looked at the two with a smile, rubbing his hands on the apron he wore that had the name of the forge on it. The witch and fighter calmed as they fully took him in, and saw he worked here, "Sorry about that! I thought you two would've heard me walking over!" He smiled at the two, offering a hand to them, "I'm Parsley, welcome to The Burrow!"
"Rosemary, most just call me Rose!" She took his hand and shook it firmly, smiling brightly in return. He used only one hand to shake hers, but still fully encapsulated it as they firmly shook. She was amazed at just how large someone so small could be, staring at her hand for a moment even after he pulled away from her.
"And what about you?" He asked the blue haired mage, who stood a little straighter before answering.
"My name is Sage."
"Nice to meet both of you! New in town, or are you just visiting?" He put his hands into the pockets of his apron, watching the two happily as he waited for the answer.
"New in town! We're actually here for the academy believe it or not." Rosemary proudly informed, moving her sword as she spoke so that it was now held before her. That seemed to draw Parsley's eye to Budding Thorn.
He smiled at it, "Now where'd you get that?" He moved closer to it, looking at the decorated long sword.
Rosemary moved it closer to herself, both hands resting on the hilt, "Nowhere. Why do you want to know."
Sage frowned hearing Rose close off so swiftly, resting her hand on her best friend's shoulder. She looked at Parsley, speaking with a slight frown still, "It was her mother's. Why?"
Parsley put his hands up, "I was just curious, honest! I haven't seen a blade like that, the metal isn't from around here." He looked between the two, smile staying as he attempted to keep them happy. His eyes went to the sword again, watching the mixed metal gleam in the light.
"Hey!" Rosemary let out quickly as Parsley pulled her closer. She relaxed slightly seeing he was still focused on the sword but that didn't do much to even soothe her. Still she didn't pull away, letting Parsley just inspect the sword.
"I know this sword.. Dad!" He called over to a dwarf that, upon them looking over, had been talking to the adults who looked at them as well. "Sorry- didn't see you were with customers."
"It's alright, isn't it?" His father looked at the three, the couple giving their go ahead for him to go help his son. He looked back at the younger adults, gesturing for them to come over, "What seems to be the issue?"
Parsley let Rose go, going over as he spoke, "It's not an issue, but Rose's sword, I know it from somewhere but I can't figure it out."
Rosemary held Budding Thorn close to her torso, making sure it couldn't be easily taken from her. She looked to Sage, who gave her a slight nod before she took the first step towards the other group. It only took a moment for them to meet up with everyone else, looking down at the older dwarf.
"Can I take a look?" He took some glasses from a pocket and put them on. They were an odd thing, seemed to be made of copper, and on the right lens there were more lenses that he could flick down, getting smaller as they went down from the initial lens. Maybe to get a better look at details?
Rosemary hesitated strongly before slowly offering the sword to be seen, "Don't take it please." She gripped the sword tighter as he had tried to grab it from her.
"Alright, alright!" He laughed out, adjusting a few of the lenses before he started his inspection of the blade. Though the warm smile on his face fell into a look of realization.
"What? Is it something bad?" Sage asked as she squeezed Rosemary's shoulder. Anise rested her own hand on the younger witch's.
"I'm sure it isn't Sage, just tell us what it is." She comforted, turning her attention back to the elder dwarf after she had. Ginger held himself as he watched this go down, stepping to be on Rosemary's other side from Sage.
"It's.. I've only ever seen one sword like this." He looked at Rosemary, taking his glasses off as he did so, "Where'd you say you got this?"
"It was my mom's. Her name was Lavender." Rosemary answered, pulling the sword away. He tried to grab it again, but a glow of Sage's hand and a glare from Ginger had him pulling back. "Why."
He thought about it for a moment, before looking to Parsley, "Go help your mother Parsley, I'm sure she could use it."
That caught the group off guard, even Parsley seemed surprised. He hesitated before speaking, "Sure dad. I'll see you two at the academy." He said to Rose and Sage, before leaving to the back of the shop.
His father sighed, focusing on the customers at hand, "Your mother is a legend here kid, and that sword of hers is one of its own."
Rosemary looked down at Budding Thorn, as she took in what he said. She knew her mother was a hero, it was the first thing anyone thought of when it comes to her.
"How is the sword of all things a legend?" Ginger questioned, pulling Rosemary closer to himself. He was tense as he eyed the dwarf, his grip on Rosemary a little harsh but she just leaned into him a bit.
He went into a long explanation on how it was of two metals, and imbued with some kind of magic that kept it together or something, Rose couldn't care to listen. Instead her attention was on the sword in question, tilting it slightly as it gleamed in the light of the forge. She was holding a legend, one she hadn't even heard of! How much of her mother's story did she not know? How much would she learn while she was here?
When the world came back to her attention, they had left the shop. She took in a deep breath of the town air, before she turned to follow her group.
Though she was stopped by the young dwarf grabbing her wrist, "Wait- I have something for you." He said quickly, causing Rose to look at him. When she did he let her go and offered something that she took a second to recognize as a sheath. She slowly took it, feeling over the solid leather with golden roses embroidered onto it.
"I thought you'd like it! Plus, I saw you didn't have one and figured it'd be a nice welcome to Lyngarth present!" Parsley explained to her happily.
He was caught off guard when she hugged him, squeezing slightly, "Thank you. It's really nice!" She pulled away after a moment, "I really have to go now- but I'll look for you at the academy ok?" Rose smiled at him before running after her group, tying the sheath around her waist before putting her sword in it.
She could've sworn she saw a cloaked figure when she turned to wave back at Parsley again–in fact she was sure it was the same figure who'd hit her when they were walking last night–but they were gone before she could catch any detail that might've confirmed it.
Rose tried to shrug it off as she caught up with her group. It was an odd feeling though, the same person in the same hood running into her twice in two days? It didn't leave her mind, but she did shove it aside for now.
Rosemary was bored. They'd been up and doing things all day, but it all was so boring. A magic shop, (not one with terraspheres mind you, Sage wouldn't go into one) a book store to get the most uninteresting books known to man, (plants, history of Lyngath, intro to fighting, weapons 101, so on so forth) and the one exciting store, a shop of familiar's, they had to leave thanks to Ginger and Aloe getting sneezey around the cats.
"Can we get some food?" Rosemary asked the group, kicking her legs as she and Sage were sat on a bench. Either she was ignored or unheard as they kept their conversations going. She slumped against the bench, looking around in pure boredom, "I thought we'd be doing something exciting."
"Rose, what part of school shopping sounds exciting?" Sage questioned, as she looked from her spell book to Rosemary.
"The part where we're in one of the biggest cities!" She looked at Sage, though her eyes focused on something past Sage. A familiar looking cloaked figure, seemingly staring at her but their hood still pulled down. By the time Sage turned to see what Rose had the figure looked away, getting lost behind the crowd.
"What are you looking at?" She asked the pink haired girl, looking back at her and away from the mystery person.
"..Come on, think I found something exciting."
"What- Rose!" Sage set her book down in time for Rose to grab and drag her along. She probably got them caught, but Rosemary was determined as she pulled her along through the crowd.
"Rosemary where are we going?" Sage demanded, trying to stick close to her friend as they continued on, suddenly turning several times.
"I can explain when we find them." Rose glanced back at her as they turned another corner, causing Sage to hit her as she suddenly stopped.
The witch went to complain again before her eyes landed on the cloaked figure. The cloak was a deep forest green, copper colored trimming and elven detailing that Sage could make out as some sort of phrase she couldn't quite read. They were standing at a tree, looking up into the branches at something the two couldn't see.
Rose slowly let Sage's hand go, walking forward, "Excuse me?"
Apparently that was enough to make the elf jump, turning to face the two. The sunlight coming through allowed Rosemary to finally see their face, even with their hood still up. Piercing green eyes stared into her blue ones, the two tense in this small clearing.
"Rose I think we should go." Sage insisted, watching the elf closely. She could feel her fingers twitch when they slowly began reaching for something.
"It's ok! I just want to talk!" Rose tried to reassure both of them, looking between the two for a moment. Now it was time for Sage to meet the elf's eyes, the two watching each other silently for a few moments.
"..Be quick." They finally decided, voice quiet and words mumbled. Rose focused fully on them, who now waited for her to continue.
"Right!" She nodded slightly, taking a breath before asking, "Why have you been following us?"
Sage stepped forward quickly, now by Rosemary's side with a hand out stretched with crackling blue magic glowing between her fingers, "You've been following us?!"
"Sage don't-" Rosemary grabbed her wrist, but the elf took off by then, running away from them and the tree. She groaned as Sage let the magic fizzle out, rubbing her own face, "Why'd you do that?"
"Because we were being followed by them, what in all the layers of hell made you think we should chase after them?!" Sage looked at her, voice louder now that the elf wasn't in front of them and she could process what her best friend has been doing unbeknownst to her.
"To get answers, duh! If they wanted to do something they would've by now, right?" Rosemary argued back, arms crossed as she spoke. Sage huffed, looking away and towards where the elf had run off to.
"How have you not been kidnapped by now?" The frustration was staying, it would for a while, but Rose knew it wouldn't last forever. It didn't make it better, but she tried to keep it in mind for situations like this. "Come on, we need to get back before Ginger has a heart attack." She turned to fully face Rosemary, hands clenching by her side.
Rose watched her for a moment, her grip on herself tightening at the frustration burning inside her friend. She offered her hand to her, "You're right, let's get going ok?"
When Sage hesitated to take her hand her heart tightened just a bit. Not quite squeezed but it felt like pressure was put on it, making it work just enough more for her to feel it. That pressure didn't leave the whole walk back to their families, leaving her in her own head as Sage lead them along.
Obviously they were berated once they got back, Ginger the absolute angriest out of all of them, "You two know better! What made you think walking off like that-"
"Ginge." Rosemary looked at him, smile slipping back on her face though a tad more wobbly than before. That was enough to make him look to her instead of Sage, who was now looking at the ground. "Don't yell at her, it's my fault. I saw something that looked cool, and wanted to check it out with her."
The two fell into a silent stare down. The same blue eyes staring into each other, a silent conversation that the other three weren't privy to. Anise broke the silence, "Well, no matter whose decision it was you're both grown. Just tell us if you want to go off looking at something, alright?"
"Anise, they're hardly adults." Aloe argued with her wife, sighing when she got an annoyed look from her, "Apologies. But especially right now, with so many people out and about, we need you two to stay near us. Something horrible could've happened." She gently explained to the girls, who now looked to her.
"Understood." Sage simply put it, glancing away to anywhere but the others. She didn't need to look at them right now, she knew she should've stopped Rosemary way sooner. She squeezed her hand, Rosemary squeezing back.
"Good. Now, let's find somewhere to eat lunch, and then we'll finish up our shopping, how does that sound?"
"Great! I could go for some food." Rosemary kept the cheeriness in her voice as she responded, though it and the smile faded just a bit when the other three turned away and began leading to wherever they'd be eating. She looked to Sage as the group began making their way, watching her quietly as she thought over all of this. Even though she knew she'd feel better soon enough it still hurt to watch her friend being like this, hurt worse knowing she was the reason for it.
Yet again.
Rosemary and Sage squeezed hands again as they stepped into the magic shop, though it was for a couple reasons. The shop was so much bigger than the inside had lead them to believe, grand stairs lead to a second floor that looked down on them, it's own curios hidden from them for now. Astrology was a strong theme throughout this one, golds, rich blues, and royal purples everywhere, constellations labeling the different sections with their various merchandise.
None of that even touched on the items themselves, so many that it made Rose's brain feel like it was swirling trying to keep track of the differences, but that was all just the first reason. If that took their breath away then the second was like falling onto your back out of a tree.
A large cabinet behind the front desk nestled between the two grand staircases was where Sage's eyes had fallen, and caused her mouth to do the same. It was filled to the brim with terraspheres, little balls to rings to bracelets to weapons to so much more. Each was different, unique for whatever caster decided to take them.
The two were stuck in the doorway as the three walked to the counter, Anise chatting up the man behind it. Ginger looked back at the two, waving them over. Rose took a breath, squeezing her eyes shut before pulling Sage towards the counter.
Maybe that was a poor choice cause when she opened her eyes again the cabinet was so much taller- well felt so much taller now that she was so close. A glance to Sage gave her all the information she needed, Rhubarb would loathe this place.
"So, whose getting the uh.. the terrasphere?" The man behind the counter asked, glancing to the two as they joined.
"My cousin, Slime!" Anise happily announced, wrapping an arm around Sage proudly, "It's her first, my Aunt is like.. way stuck in gold magic, y'know?"
"M-mhm! My sister's the same way." He chuckled a bit, voice sounding nervous as he spoke.
"…Anise?…" Sage quietly said, looking to her cousin. Rose had to bite her lip slightly to not let the small pained noise slip through as Sage squeezed her hand even tighter.
"Yeah?" Anise looked to her cousin, oblivious to what the nerves on her face actually meant.
"Why don't we go get the other stuff first?" Rosemary suddenly spoke,hand hitting against the counter to make sure she got their attention. "Then we can spend aaaaaall our time on the terrasphere after! Make sure it's perfect, right Sage?"
The young witch looked to the young fighter, grip loosening quite a bit, "Yeah- yeah that would be great.."
Aloe sighed, Ginger getting a slight frown to his face as he watched the two. Anise continued, "Oh, sure! Here," She stuffed a hand in her jacket pocket, before pulling out a piece of parchment, the fancy kind of paper as Rose put it, "Take this, you two can go and grab them. There are signs all around to help if you get lost." She explained with a smile still as the list was handed over.
Sage took it from her, starting to read it over while Rose spoke, "Thanks! We'll get back to ya, come one!" She gently pulled Sage away from the group, barely catching Aloe and Ginger chastising Anise for telling them to run off yet again.
Once they had turned down an aisle, she stopped them. Sage let her hand go, looking around the aisle, "..Rose we don't need anything-"
"What's up?" Rose asked as she turned to her, arms crossed now. She watched as Sage shrunk into herself at the mere question, eyes looking at the aisle of wands instead of at Rose.
"..What.. do you mean?" She questioned, hoping that maybe Rose would let this pass for just a moment longer!
"Sage, please. I can't help if you're keeping this from me." Rose rubbed her face slightly. If Sage was going to lie she'd need to try harder than that.
Sage sighed, holding the list closer, "Look it-.. I don't want to get a terrasphere."
"Then let's tell them that! I'm sure-"
"Rose if they were ok with me not having one do you think they'd keep trying like this?" The witch asked with exasperation so clear it was almost painful. "I can't get a terrasphere. I don't even know how to do this new magic, I've hardly learned anything about it!" Sage looked down at the parchment list again, trying to read it again like it would help stop the purchase.
Rosemary watched her, glancing down at the list for a moment before she settled on what to do. She rested a hand on Sage's shoulder, "I think I've got an answer!" The joy in her voice only got a sniffle in response, before Sage was looking at with those watery eyes, "Let them buy it for you, but don't use it! Or forget it at their place while we move to the dorms, they won't get it to you before the first visitations, and by then you'll be breezing by, and they'll see you don't need it!"
Sage thought over Rosemary's ideas, rubbing away the tears with another sniffle. She took a few breaths to collect her thoughts, and make sure her voice didn't wobble too much when she did answer, "Those.. those can work." Sage agreed, fixing her posture to have her head held high again, looking at Rose again.
Rosemary smiled at her, letting her shoulder go but then wrapping her arm around her, "Right? You should listen to my ideas more." That got a wet laugh from Sage as the two went about their shopping, staying clear of their families as they did.
Eventually they did return, a basket full of everything on the now tear stained list. The three seemed excited seeing them, Anise and Aloe already holding what Rosemary could tell were terraspheres before the magic in them even began glowing, "There you two are! Come here Sage, we picked out a few you might like," Anise explained, gesturing for them.
Sage squeezed Rose's hand, but kept her breathing even as the two got to the group. The older witch showed off some of them, both of them looking over the magic items.
Each was a little different, one a small ball of gold and marble, a loop at the top for a chain to be secured to. Another was a bracelet made of some precious blue gem that gleamed strangely in the light. Many of them followed this line of thought, Sage's heart slowly working itself up as they went through more and more and all she could feel was apathy to any of them.
That was until Rose pointed out one, looking like branches braided together into a ring, "How about that one?" She suggested, looking to Sage.
"Woops- didn't mean to grab that one!" Anise chuckled a bit, though stopped when Sage actually picked it up. It was the first time she'd actually touched one of them, let alone inspected like she was currently doing.
Sage didn't know why, but it felt the terrasphere was calling to her, speaking to her but using no words. She ended up holding it in her open palm for a moment before the branches began to unbraid themselves, causing her to step back from the others. Aloe pulled Rose from Sage's side, giving her over to her brother despite her small protest.
After a moment Sage no longer held a ring, but a staff long and like a crook, a notch on the end making the very tip go upward after the downward curve. She was looking at it, feeling her magic flowing through the staff and back into her.
"Well?" Anise questioned, excitement clear in her voice. Sage didn't respond, tapping the staff against the ground for a moment which cause it to begin changing back. Anise handed the other terraspheres to Ginger, who fumbled to not drop any, needing Rose's help to properly hold them all, "Think that's settled then! Slime, we got the one!" She called over, before pulling her wife along to the attendant.
"I just.." Sage sighed as they walked the streets again, staring at the ring on her hand now, tilting her metallic hand about to see how incredibly unflashy this was, "I didn't mean to actually pick one,"
Rose wrapped her arm around Sage's shoulders, other resting on her sword's hilt, "I know, but our plans still work! Hey, you might even get to just wear it around when you're not usin it, looks good on you,"
"..Really?" Sage focused on her instead of the ring itself. She didn't get time to process how close they already were before Rose pulling her even closer, faces now squished together.
"Yeah it does!" Rosemary reassured, loosening her grip so the two drifted apart again, though her arm still rested around Sage's shoulders, keeping them behind the older adults.
Sage looked back at the ring, a small smile coming to her face. If Rose was so confident.. maybe she should try to trust this, what's the worst that could happen?