Chapter Text
“I’ll miss you so much Richeh!” Tetia cried out, covering the light-haired girl in an overwhelmingly tight hug. “I’ll be so lonely without you to study beside.”
Richeh gently patted Tetia’s back, returning the sentiment of the hug. Outwardly she seemed the type to dislike affection, but she actually didn’t mind it much, and even enjoyed in depending on the situation.
“I’ll make my spells even better.” Richeh smiled, small and polite looking. “And I’ll do it my way.”
“Farewell, Richeh.” Agott mumbled, resigned about the situation and where she had to be going next. If she had swapped place with Richeh… but even the town wasn’t big enough for Agott to get recognized the way she wanted to be.
Richeh stared at Agott blankly for a minute, to the point where Agott felt slightly uncomfortable, then jolted forward, grabbing the other girl in a hug.
“I hope you have fun, Agott.” Richeh whispered to Agott’s ear, like it was to be kept a secret from Tetia and Qifrey.
Richeh stepped back, and acknowledged the three in front of her with a final nod as a goodbye, and turned to walk inside the awaiting open door in front of her, a couple craftspeople beckoning her in with welcoming smiles.
Once the door shut, Tetia sighed quite loudly.
“I can’t believe Master Olly couldn’t come! She’s gonna be gone for so long and he couldn’t say goodbye.” She pouted, upset for Richeh’s sake.
“Now, Tetia.” Qifrey crossed his arms behind his back, smiling. “You know how busy he is, and he said goodbye to Richeh and Agott last night.”
“Yeaaah…” Tetia pouted, “it’s not the same, though! When I do my Interim, he BETTER say goodbye and do it right!”
“Well, I’ll try to make that happen for you.” Qifrey started walking, his two apprentices following behind.
“Hmm.” Qifrey hummed, looking at the sun in the sky, it was still fairly early in the afternoon. “It’ll be a longer flight from here to the tailor shop, would you girls like to grab something to eat in a quick visit to Kalhn?”
“No-“ Agott began, grumpy and crossing her arms, but Tetia cut her off.
“Oooh! Yes, yes, yes!!!” Tetia jumped up and down, clutching to the side of Qifrey’s robe. Her small fingers curled excitedly into the smoke fabric. “Can we eat at the stand we saw last time? The one you said we didn’t have enough time to look at?”
Ah, keen memory, this one, thought Qifrey. He ushered both Agott and Tetia on either side of him, arms gently brushing their shoulders.
“Is it alright with you, Agott?” Qifrey questioned, eye shut.
“Well, er…” Agott squirmed, why did she feel she was being scutinized. “ I suppose.” She sighed, shoulders slumping.
Qifrey stood up, hopping into the air with a quick, “come, girls!” Tetia let out a hoot, hopping after him, activating her sylph shoes
The quick flight to the island of Kalhn is colder than many expect. The water brings up an crispness to the air, a reminder of the chilly water that becomes semi-frozen in the coldest days of winter.
In no time at all, Qifrey lands, toes pointed. The girls hop down with him. Tetia bounces on her toes and points in the direction of an alley market.
“It’s that way! …I think!” She grins and grasps Agott’s hands and drags her off, leaving Qifrey to follow the two at a brisk pace.
“Here!” Tetia jumps, pointing at a stand with a couple people in line. Agott is quick to let go of her hand.
“What would you two like?” Qifrey asked, pulling a small satchel of coin from beneath his robe.
“Ooo! I want that one! And two of those!” Tetia pointed up at the menu, indicating her order.
“And you, Agott?” Qifrey tilted his head to the dark haired girl.
“…I’ll have a skewer of the braised pork.” Agott mumbled, fiddling her fingers together as if wanting something for herself was embarrassing. Qifrey leaned over the ordering counter, giving the cook their orders. He was quickly given the food, and handed them to the girls.
“You didn’t order anything, master?” Agott furrowed her eyebrows, cradling the plate with her skewer in her hands.
“Oh, no, nothing.” Qifrey waved his thin hand in the are, brushing off Agott’s slight concern. “I’ll just wait to eat once Tetia and I arrive back to the Atelier.”
“Huhhh?” Agott seemed confused at this point. “Until dinner? That’s not going to be for a few hours, then.” She mumbled, taking a small bite of her skewer.
“She’s right! Did you even eat anything before we left the Atelier?” Tetia put a hand on her hip, angrily pouting like she was chiding Qifrey while holding her food, already half finished. It was similar to how Qifrey reprimanded Olruggio for locking himself up and not eating when he was working on a project… although Qifrey was much more subdued when nagging his friend.
“Really, I’ll be fine, girls. But thank you for worrying about your master.” Qifrey placed his hand on his chin and smiled in a poised way. Agott already had a slightly glum look on her face before-
“Thank you!” Tetia grinned about to take another bite of her food.
“There it is.” Agott grumbled, but she didn’t hold any real disdain for Tetia’s little quirks.
“Now, finish eating you two, and we’ll head out.”
“Yes, master.”