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"Oh! What is that?" Coco points at a bird perched on an opened window. The atelier is busy with spring cleaning, but she, along with Agott, Richeh, and Tetia, took a well-deserved break from dusting and sweeping all afternoon. She moves cautiously, scared that she'll startle the bird away.
"It's a letterbird! Who could the letter be from?" Tetia stands up and skips to the window. As she gets closer, the bird sets the letter on her waiting hands. Coco comes closer and starts petting the bird before it flies away, and looks at who the letter could be from.
"It's from Professor [Name]!" Coco exclaims. Agott and Richeh come closer to have a look on the elegant seal, and it is indeed from their beloved Professor.
"Richeh wants know what they said." Richeh says, curious to what the letter contains.
"C'mon, it's rude to open it without permission. Besides, it's better if Professor Qifrey or Master Olruggio were the one to open it." Agott tells them firmly... "... but I am curious what it says too, though." she adds quietly.
Tetia's arms sag, "But the Professor is out collecting for dinner..." she pouts.
"And Master Olruggio is probably busy in his workshop..." Coco adds.
It's true, Professor Qifrey was out, collecting herbs and vegetables for a delicious dinner he has planned. His apprentices deserve a warm and filling meal after helping with all the chores of today, after all. Master Olruggio, on the other hand, was holed up in his workshop above, tinkering with a new spell for a client who wants to have different colored lights in their garden, not knowing it was time for spring cleaning.
He's been tinkering away with his back hunched since morning. Feeling the grumble of his stomach, he realizes how much time has passed, and sighs. Qifrey was sure to chastise him of this if he ever found out. Getting up, he bends and stretches his arms and back until he hears his joints pop. He hears the girls chat up a racket and walks towards his door to see if there's anything wrong.
"Oi, what's with all the ruckus?" He says, suddenly startling the girls.
There was a commotion in the common room. It seems that a Letterbird had come and delivered a scroll addressed to Qifrey's atelier. They were polite and well-mannered girls, but this letter had the seal of their beloved Professor [Name] on it! They want to open it so bad! Safe to say, they were itching to know what the letter could contain.
"Professor Olruggio, we're sorry! The letter opened by itself somehow! And now we've might have... accidentally... read it?" Coco sheepishly says.
Accidentally read it? He sighs, if it opened like that, maybe the seal on it was safe. He's too tired to think about the technicalities of it. More importantly though, a letter?
"A letter? Who's it from?" he asks them. Surely it would be addressed to either him or Qifrey if they wanted to reach them.
"It's from Professor [Name]! They're coming to visit us here soon!" Tetia exclaims, smiling. Beside her, Richeh nods excitedly. Agott is the one who hands the letter to him.
"Okay!" Coco exclaims, picking up the broom again. "I'm so excited, I could sweep the place until the broom is empty!"
"Coco, please take it easy..." He says to the girl. Opening the letter, he is greeted with your handwriting, penned beautifully with a new writing ink.
The girls' chatter continue on in the background as he reads.
“To my dearest friends, Qifrey and Olruggio,
I hope this letter finds you all well. How have you all been through the winter? I hope that the both of you, and all the girls are doing well. I apologize for the lack of correspondence on my part. The neighboring villages here near the northern part of the Marshtop Highlands were in need of help all winter and has kept our little atelier busy with all sorts of tasks. But as the season turns anew, their gratitude has showered us with too many resources to store.
I send this letter in hopes that you’ll accept our visit in 3 days' time. My apprentices, Castell and Corvell, will be coming along with me to visit you. We’ll share some winter forage, along with some early spring harvests with you all. I hope that this won’t disturb any upcoming plans in your atelier! Please send a reply if this causes conflict on your part. We hope to see you soon!
Always at your call, your dearest friend,
[Name].
P.S. Have the spring flowers bloomed on your side of Kalhn yet? "
Reading the letter, Olruggio's face flushes. In 3 days?! His workshop hasn't even been touched by the new season yet! But no matter, his area somehow sparkles when there's a deadline coming after all. More importantly, you were coming to visit! He hasn't seen you in quite a while, too.
Telling the girls to take it easy and rest, he grabs a snack from the kitchen before he retreats to his workshop. 'Qifrey wouldn't mind if I reply to them first, heh.' he chuckles to himself, picking up a pen to start writing.
After a little bit, Qifrey arrives at the atelier greeted with the lively chatter of his apprentices. They seem to be talking about a picnic? What a great idea! The season's turned anew, and what better way to celebrate than a picnic outside.
He knocks to signify his presence, and the girls clamor to him to tell him about the letter that arrived just a few moments earlier.
"Professor! What's Professor [Name]'s favorite food? Are they allergic to anything?"
"They're visiting soon! There's more reason we have to clean now!"
"I want to have Agott's Mariberry pie..."
"C-calm down, everyone! A letter from [Name]? Could you show it to me?"
"Master Olruggio took it to his room, Professor." Agott tells him.
'Oh that sly little...' Qifrey thinks to himself. He thanks Agott and sets his foraged ingredients aside, before walking towards Olruggio's workshop above.
A Letterbird is perched on a window when one of your apprentices, Castell, notices it. She holds out her arm to receive the scroll. After giving the bird a pat on the head, she goes outside near the back of your atelier, reaching you as you arrange the various fruits and vegetables you are set to carry in three days' time. She calls out to you at the same time her twin brother, Corvell, does. He came from the other side of the atelier, fixing a wheelbarrow before noticing a Letterbird too. Apparently, both of them have scrolls that they recieved from a Letterbird. How funny, they reached you at the same time!
You thank the both of them and tell them to rest inside and prepare for dinner. You open the scrolls and read.
"To my dearest [name],
The winter has been kind in this part of the Naakiwan Downs. Though, it has not been uneventful on my part - with the preparations I help the villagers with every year. Have you all been well? No winter sniffles have been in your atelier, I hope. I always remind you to take care of yourself. (though i can be a hypocrite when it comes to this, but i digress)
As for your planned visit, please, you are always welcome here. We’ll be happy to receive whatever you bring. The girls have read your letter on accident and are already excited. They plan on hosting a little picnic and are already brainstorming dishes to cook as I write this. I’m sure I’ll be dragged along in the cooking as well.
As far as I know, and from the looks of things as they are now, no conflicts abound with your visit, so please come soon. I WE hope to see you soon. I’ll share with you some contraptions I’ve been experimenting with, and perhaps you can share your input on them, too.
Stay safe in your travels.
Never too far, your dearest friend,
Olruggio.
P.S. Yes, the flowers here have bloomed beautifully, and they’ll bloom even more at your arrival.
P.S.S., I took it upon myself to write and send a reply first. Qifrey is always too fun to rile up hahaha.
(The letter is written in Olruggio's characteristic script, smooth yet with the rough flourish of a craftsman. The post-scripts were written a bit too roughly though, as if the writer was caught in the middle of writing a secret.)
Dearest [Name],
The winter has been as it’s always been: cold and covering the Naakiwan Downs in white. Do not apologize for anything, I’m glad the villages have you there to receive your kindness and help. We’ll be happy to receive you all and the gifts you’ll bring. You know you are always welcome in our atelier. There’ll be a picnic, as requested by the girls, and they are already asking for your favorite food. (I hope it is still Mondstadt’s Hash Browns.) The whole atelier will welcome you all with open arms.
There was a trip I was planning to take to the Great Hall, but your arrival is more important. You know I’ve never really liked that place anyway – seeing you will be infinitely better. I hope to see you soon.
Please stay safe during your travels.
Always near, your dearest friend,
Qifrey.
P.S. The flowers here have bloomed as beautifully as you. Come soon.
P.S.S. I’m sure Olly has already said the same things as me. But for my pride’s sake, I hope you’ll read my letter first.
(The letter is written undoubtedly in Qifrey's handwriting, flowing like the water he controls. Though it's evident it was written a tad bit too quickly, as if rushing to send it faster.)