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Agott taps her pen impatiently on the table,
“Coco.” Agott calls out softly, a bothered expression written all over her features; the slight furrow of her brows and the downward frown on her lips making it all evident. “Could I…ask you a question?”
Coco’s midway through spooning a hearty chunk of eggs to her mouth as she nods, a content smile on her face.
Recently the two of them have begun to share their breakfast together in the mornings, both of them opting to work and share tips in between bites, it's awfully domestic.
The naivety only makes Agott feel more conflicted; it was ridiculous, she shouldn’t care about a stupid answer for a stupid question.
“Guh ‘head,” Coco speaks through a mouth full of food, cutting off a small piece of toast for the brushbuddy, beaming as it takes it with both hands.
Agott hesitates, averting her gaze as she coughs into a fist. “You and Tartah…”
Coco stares at her curiously, munching away on her food.
“Are you two—”
The moment she opens her mouth, the door to their room opens, effectively cutting Agott off as the wood squeaks on its hinges.
“Girls!” Qifrey calls out excitedly, hands clasped together as he smiles wide. “We’re preparing to head off to Kalhn to restock on some of our supplies, would you like to come with us or stay with Master Olruggio?”
Coco immediately shoots up from her seat, startling the brushbuddy as she raises a hand. “I would!”
His smile deepens, “Well that's one!’
“And you, Agott?”
He adjusts his glasses, leaning against the doorway. “Perhaps you could get some new tools for yourself.”
She shrinks in on herself, glowering slightly at his interruption. “I’ll come as well.”
“Splendid!”
“Master! Look over there, they have candied apples!” Tetia excitedly tugs at Qifrey’s robe, a sparkle in her eyes as she points in the direction of a food stall.
Qifrey lets out a slight chuckle as he fishes out his coin purse, taking out a few gold coins and dropping them in Tetia’s hand. “Don’t wander too far, come straight to Mr. Nolnoa’s workshop when you finish.”
Tetia jumps up and down excitedly, eyes shimmering as she takes the money graciously, "Thank you!"
“Well then,” He turns as he looks at the other children, wearing his signature smile. “Let’s go shall we?”
The three of them follow closely behind, momentarily stopping as Coco bends down to pet a whiskercat, letting out a childish giggle as it nuzzles her hand.
Agott fidgets with her thumbs, the question from earlier had been gnawing at her mind for the whole day. She wasn’t sure why exactly it was so imperative for her to get her answer. Coco could be friends with whoever she wished, nowhere did Agott have any power to dictate who she could spend her time with.
But what if Coco and him were more than friends? What if they both fancied each other and Coco would rather spend her time with him rather than her – surely not.
Whatever. It was none of her business.
Agott bites the inside of her cheek, brows furrowing as she closes her eyes.
This could be a good thing, Coco wouldn’t pose herself as a distraction anymore and Agott would be free to study more. The Silver Eve festival was only a few months away as well, the more time she had for herself the better. She should already be dedicating the majority of her time towards preparing for the festival. All of these silly, useless conflictions were nothing but nuisances that affected her preparations.
“What are you thinking about?”
Agott turns her head to see Coco staring back at her, a small smile on her face.
“Nothing.” She mutters, adjusting her hat as she accelerates her pace.
The entrance to the Starry Sword soon comes to view, with Coco racing forward to enter the store.
“No matter how many times I see it, the silver tree is so pretty.” Coco says as they all make their way inside.
"Indeed it is." Qifrey pats her on the back before Mr. Nolnoa comes over to exchange pleasantries.
Qifrey bends down to address the two of them. "I'll be discussing some important matters with Mr. Nolnoa, both you and Agott are free to explore, should you need anything you must only call out my name."
"Okay!" Coco says happily, rushing forward to the silver tree as the brushbuddy scuttles on her arm and onto a nearby branch, inspecting the plant.
Agott moves closer to Coco, observing the tree with her. “It's quite the view."
"It's pretty." Coco picks up a fallen leaf, holding it in the light as she watches it shimmer.
“I wonder where Tartah is.” Coco thinks aloud, scanning the large area around them. “We were supposed to practice our spells together the next time we met.
Agott’s face immediately darkens at the boy’s mention — why need him when Coco had her?
“I wonder.” She responds flatly.
Coco places a finger to her chin as if she were in deep thought before spinning on her heel a moment later and grabbing Agott’s forearm. “He’s probably going through the catalogue, let’s go check it out!”
“Mm.” Agott groans internally, the last thing she wanted to do was see him trampling all over her and Coco’s time together.
Still, watching Coco so happily lead her all around the building was slightly endearing, so Agott supposes she isn’t too upset.
Or so she thought until she was forced to act as a third wheel while the two of them smile and laugh over simple spells.
“You’re doing amazing.” Coco cheers on
Agott observes his drawing with a particularly keen eye. “That line is too short, it’ll mess up the entire glyph if you don’t fix it.”
Tartah shoots her an annoyed look, grumbling. “I know.”
“Do you?” Agott mumbles under her breath, loud enough for Tartah to hear as his irritation grows.
A few more moments of silence pass, save for the quiet scratching of pen against parchment and Coco’s excited squeals.
Tartah's nearly finished drawing the majority of the glyph, when he lets out an exasperated sigh. “Nearly there.”
Coco nods in fervor, beaming. “It looks great.”
Agott points the tip of her pen to the center of Tartah’s glyph, clicking her tongue as she taps the drawing. “This here is too wobbly, it won’t give you the result you desire if you can’t draw a proper line.”
Tartah’s cheeks flush red from her critique— throwing a sideways glance to Coco as he slides the paper away from her. “I wasn’t asking you!”
She huffs. “If you can’t even do the most basic of spells, how do you expect to become a self-respectable witch?”
Coco flashes her an undecipherable look before easing the tension in the air.
It sends a weird feeling through Agott. She brushes it off.
“Aww, don’t be like that Agott!” She whines, “We’re both trying really hard!”
Agott sighs, reclining herself against the back of her chair. "Alright."
Tartah groans as he fails once again to draw the glyph, frowning as his spell only lets out a puff of smoke rather than a fireball.
Agott holds back a frown, what an utter waste of her and Coco’s time. They could be doing something so much more productive, rather than sitting around for something pointless.
“It’s fine!” Coco exclaims hurriedly, “Don’t worry Tartah, I’ll go get some more parchment paper, you’re doing great!”
With that Coco stands up, flashing a quick smile to Tartah as she rushes out of the room.
“You don’t keep parchment paper in your room?” Agott questions, as if such a simple blunder had lowered his own standing in her eyes.
Tartah frowns. “I haven’t exactly been studying magic for a long time yet.”
She clicks her tongue. “That part is evident.”
“What are you getting at?” He interrogates, pushing a finger into her chest. “Plan to embarrass me in front of her, eh?”
Agott stares at him with cold indifference, shoving his hand away as she points her chin up. “I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Your glyphs were mediocre. I was helping you.” She states matter-of-factly. "It's not my fault if you can't perform a simple task."
Tartah’s frown deepens, fists clenched at his sides. “Don’t be daft, you were pointing out every single thing I did to make me look bad.”
“Maybe it’s an issue with your own skills then.” She retorts, voice dripping in condescension.
The room grows deathly quiet with Tartah glaring at her as he clenches his jaw. “I don’t have the fondest idea of why Coco would hang out with someone like you.”
Agott scoffs, smugly crossing her arms. “Because I’m better than you.”
Right as Tartah opens his mouth to retort, Coco opens the door, parchment sheets in tow as she quickly makes her way to the table, dropping the paper all over it with a slight thud.
“Sorry, I would have been back quicker but Mr. Nolnoa stopped me for a quick chat.” Coco informs, plopping down on her chair as she quickly shifts a piece of parchment in front of Tartah.
Tartah throws another glare to Agott before relaxing his face as he addresses Coco. “It’s no worries, thank you.”
A few more minutes pass with Coco and Tartah conversing happily, taking the time to giggle over some stupid inside joke. Not that Agott cares.
It isn’t until Tartah attempts to draw a glyph from memory that she speaks up.
“Why bother with that if you can’t even draw it while looking at a reference?” Agott questions, posture entirely arrogant. “Witches — no, a novice like you shouldn’t even bother drawing it in the first place.”
She presses further. "It's pathetic—"
“Agott.” Coco intercepts, staring straight at her with tight lips as her upset eyes burn right through Agott.
She freezes, looking dumbly at Coco before she closes her mouth and adverts her eyes away, slinking away from the pair slightly. She’s never heard that tone from Coco before, much less directed at her.
Coco doesn’t ease her face, instead only deepening the frown on her face. “Stop it, I don’t like how rude you’re being to Tartah.”
"If you don't have anything nice to say than don't say anything at all." She snaps.
“Sorry.” Agott mutters out quietly.
Coco sighs heavily — sending a pang of worry through Agott’s body — before she fully turns away from her, returning her attention to Tartah’s glyph.
That was weird. Agott feels weird – is this disappointment? No, it feels…worse, like she’s drawn forbidden magic and gotten caught by the Knights Moralis. It feels familiar…but more subtle, similar to back when she–
Oh.
It’s shame.
But she doesn’t feel shameful for her words towards Tartah, even now she still feels the slightest edge of discontent as she stares at his back. Only when Coco cut her off and looked at her with such disappointment did Agott feel any remorse, when Coco spoke to her like that.
She squares her jaw, tightening the grip around her pen.
There’s an uncomfortable sensation stirring in the pit of her stomach. Why should she feel ashamed? She hasn’t done anything wrong, it’s Tartah’s own fault for not being able to succeed.
Agott closes her eyes, no, that’s not true. It’s not his fault, she shouldn’t be blaming him for her own issues. She’s almost jealous of Coco, how easily compassion comes to her.
It's awkward for a few minutes longer, neither Tartah nor Agott dare to speak up, allowing Coco to fill the quiet with her own instructions and tips as he listens carefully.
Agott spends the rest of the time absentmindedly sketching out random glyphs, anything to keep her mind off of that interaction, however she still can't shake that uncomfortable feeling.
When Qifrey comes up to the room to fetch them, Coco only gives her a mere glance in passing, that fact alone only makes the weight on Agott’s heart heavier.
Qifrey gives the two of them a curious look, before throwing a smile to Tartah as he waves the younger boy a goodbye.
Tartah deadpans as he quickly looks away.
Agott toys with the hem of her shirt, even after dinner she hasn’t been able to properly speak with Coco. It makes her feel uneasy. How badly did she upset her?
She’s currently huddled around her desk, knees to her chest as she recalls the upset face Coco wore earlier that day. Maybe once she comes inside for bedtime Agott will have a chance to properly apologize, she hadn’t intended to hurt her feelings like that.
But was what she did truly so terrible? She was merely being honest and–
Agott brings a hand to her head, clenching her eyes as she grinds her teeth. Again with this deflection, why was it so hard for her to admit fault? All of the mental noise was starting to become exhausting.
“Agott.”
She jolts up, turning around to see Master Qifrey standing patiently outside with the door slightly ajar; she can see the rest of the girls eating happily around the table through the crack in the door.
“May I come in?” He asks, a gentle smile on his face.
Agott straightens up, nodding.
He quietly closes the door behind him, making his way towards Agott as he pulls Coco’s chair away from her desk and brings it a few feet away from her.
“Coco told me about what happened.” He informs, clarifying further when he notices her sour expression. “Not to worry, she wasn’t exactly keen on telling me.”
“I had only noticed you children’s upset expressions earlier and was curious.”
Agott frowns, turning her body away from him. “I apologize, Master Qifrey.”
Better to just apologize and get it over with quickly.
He places a warm hand on her shoulder. “I’m also interested in hearing your side.”
“There’s nothing to explain.” Agott states plainly. “I can admit I was rather…hostile and I regret it.”
Qifrey taps his finger on the wooden desk, a rhythmic pattern. “I think there’s something more to it.”
He softens his eyes, leaning in closer. “If you wish for Coco’s company, there are kinder ways to go about it.”
Agott tenses at the phrasing, bristling. “What exactly did she tell you?”
“It’s not what she told me but what I’ve noticed.” He explains, there’s a familiar sense of longing in his eyes as his face drops, Agott doesn’t press it.
His signature smile reappears. “I’m not accusing you of anything, in fact I’m quite glad you’re making an effort to connect with the others.”
“However, poor Tartah doesn’t know what he’s done wrong, isn’t it unfair for you to treat him like that?”
She narrows her eyes. “I suppose.”
“I’m confident Coco would prefer for you two to be on friendly terms.” He whispers. “And you would prefer for Coco to be happy with you, no?”
She stills, a slight shine going over her eyes as she contemplates his words.
“I understand.” She says quietly, a downcast look on her face. “Thank you, master.”
He ruffles her hair affectionately. “I assume Coco will be expecting an apology from you tonight.”
Unfortunately for her, the task appeared more difficult than she had thought. Coco appeared rather keen to avoid Agott for the time being, leaving her with little opportunity to apologize.
Even now as they lay in bed, Agott can only think about the words on her mind, unable to voice them.
Until those thoughts are interrupted by Coco rustling on her side of the room.
“Coco.” Agott whispers out, wishing to take the opportunity.
When she doesn’t hear a response she stays silent for a minute longer. Well, she only needed to get the words said in the open, anything to ease the uncomfortable gnawing at the back of her mind.
“I…apologize, what I said was unwarranted and rude.” She continues, “Tartah is a dear friend of yours and when I demeaned him I understand that not only did I upset his feelings, but I hurt you in proxy as well.”
She swallows, the words felt weird on her tongue, was apologizing always this awkward?
“I assure you, I will make it right, what I said…stemmed from my own jealousy, I don’t believe he is incompetent.”
Agott waits a few moments longer for the slight chance of a reply. A part of her almost feels relieved when none comes.
“That is all.” She quickly finishes.
She turns on her side, back facing Coco as she brings her pillow to her stomach, clutching it. The apology did make her feel better, at least, even if her recipient wasn't conscious to hear it.
“Agott.” Coco calls out.
She tenses as she feels Coco’s gaze on her.
“Are you awake, Agott?”
Agott swallows hard as she responds with a small, "Yes."
“You’re so nice.” Coco says, a certain melancholy to her voice. “You always bake me mariberry pie whenever I ask, help me with complicated spells, and eat meals with me.”
Coco extends her arms in front of her, eyes adjusting to the darkness. “I don’t like it when you’re mean to other people.”
“I’m sorry.” Agott murmurs.
“It gives everyone the wrong impression about you.” Coco mutters out. “My Agott is nice, she loves animals, and helps those who need it.”
‘My Agott,’ The words replay in her head, she turns her head to look at Coco.
Coco fidgets with the hem of the blanket. “I don’t like it when you and Tartah fight, and I don’t like when you sit apart from everyone else.”
Agott doesn’t know what to say, she can only lay there in the dark and wait for Coco to keep talking.
“I want everyone else to see the Agott I know.” Coco mumbles with a yawn.
It’s like there’s a stone lodged in her throat, Agott can’t make a noise. She’s never been described in a positive light like that before.
“Yea, okay.” She squeaks out.
The two of them lay there for a moment longer.
“And you don’t need to be jealous.” Coco adds. “You’re the closest person to my heart.”
Agott blushes bright red at that, clearing her throat. “I see."
Coco doesn’t speak again, neither does Agott.
“Goodnight, Agott.”
Tetia narrows her eyes as she observes the glyph closely. “Hmm.”
Richeh takes a look as well, standing closely around the pink-haired girl.
“What are you working on?” Coco asks as she fishes a piece of bacon above the brush buddy. “Oh! Is it a revision of your super-soft-sandy-bed glyph?”
“Indeed it is!” Tetia confirms, waving around her ink-stained pen. “I just can’t figure out how to make the sand expand large enough to fit a person…”
Richeh points to a particular keystone. “Why don’t you enlarge this one?”
“I could.” Tetia mumbles as she taps the parchment with her pen. “Yes, yes…yes!”
“Great thinking, Richeh!” She praises. “I’ll try that.”
Coco asks curiously. “Won’t that get sand all over the inside?”
Tetia waves her finger. “Nope! I already planned for that and made it to where the super-soft-sandy-bed will hold its shape with no stray sand getting anywhere!”
Coco leans in, watching. “I’ve been meaning to ask this, but why do you enjoy sand glyphs so much?”
“It reminds me of when my parents and I would go to the beach.” Tetia explains warmly. “That’s my reason!”
Richeh lets out a hum. “Richeh also enjoy the memories of her childhood.”
Tetia looks up at Coco expectantly. “Well, what about you?”
“Oh, well.” Coco pauses to think. “I would go to a pond to play with the fish and deer a lot.”
“That sounds nice.” Tetia smiles. "I think deer are super cute."
Tetia sticks out the tip of her tongue as she moves her face in closer to concentrate on closing the circle of her glyph.
“I can’t wait to try it–”
POOF!
All Coco can see is a cloud of sand filling her vision and the sound of coughing coming from the right of her.
As the dust settles, she comes face to face with an Agott covered in sand, staring daggers at Tetia.
“Ah!” Tetia exclaims. “Ah, ah…uh…Agott!”
“Umm…I’m really sorry!”
Agott rises to her feet. “It’s…”
Tetia puts her hands out in front of her, bracing herself for whatever verbal assault Agott would inflict on her.
“...fine.” Agott says, dusting the sand off of her.
“Accidents happen.” She hisses that last part out, entirely unconvincing.
Richeh tilts her head. “Hm?”
Tetia slowly lowers her guard. “...You’re not going to yell at me?”
“No.” Agott bites, as she walks away from the group.
Coco squints her eyes as she sees Agott concealing a shaky fist with a deep frown making its way onto her face.
“Coco?”
Tartah makes his way to the entrance of her atelier, curiously looking around him. “Coco, why’d you call me over here?”
Coco smiles sheepishly at him, before pushing Agott out in front of him. “She has something she’d like to say to you.”
His face immediately shifts into one of discontent, he crosses his arms defensively. "I bet she does, doesn't she."
“I’m sorry for being rude to you.” Agott mutters, hands folded in front of her politely. “It was uncalled for and I have no right to comment on your abilities as a witch.”
Tartah narrows his eyes as he sizes her up and down, suspicion written all over his face. “What’s this about?”
Coco watches the scene closely, frowning at his apprehension.
Agott grimaces, scratching at the nape of her neck. “I’m sorry, Tartah.”
“I apologize for how I treated you the last time I visited, nobody deserves to be disrespected like that in their own home.”
Agott opens her mouth and then closes it, before promptly opening it again. “I would never wish for anybody to treat me the way I did you.”
There’s an awkward shift in the air as he mulls over her words, an uneasy crease in his brow as he hesitatingly speaks. “...Well alright, I suppose I accept your apology.”
Coco sighs in relief, putting her hands on both of their shoulders. “Great! Now we can all be friends again!”
Both Agott and Tartah eye each other, they’re not sure they were friends at all in the first place.
Agott fidgets anxiously as she waits for Coco to enter the room, a few nights of preparation and lost sleep had all been for this exact moment.
Coco opens the door, smiling as she locks eyes with Agott. “Hi.”
“Coco.” Agott greets with a nod. “I’d like to show you something.”
“If you have the time, that is.” She adds quickly.
Coco laughs lightly. “Of course.”
Agott quickly fishes out the glyph from her pocket, extending her hand out for Coco to take. When she does, Agott quickly leads the two of them to the center of their room, placing the sheet of parchment down on the floor as she quickly motions for her to sit down.
“Right.” She whispers to herself, reaching for her pen to complete the glyph. Immediately enveloping the room in a series of bright lights as they made their way out of the paper.
Coco’s eyes sparkle as she watches the spell lighting up the room around her, a slight breeze causing her hair to blow gently, she can smell the familiar scent of water as it fills the room. A deer manifests out of the light, moving towards her as it bows its neck to sniff her.
“So this is what you’ve been working on.” She whispers, finger reaching out to a bead of light.
A genuine smile makes its way to Agott’s face as she takes in Coco’s overjoyed expression, a slight blush coloring her cheeks as the blonde stares in awe.
“Thank you Agott.” Coco whispers, the light making the gold in her eyes shine brightly, there are tears welling in her eyes.
It’s breathtaking, Agott quickly surmises, the wind swaying Coco’s hair ever so subtly, the small beads of light floating around her, it makes Coco look radiant.
Agott coughs into her hand as she looks away, the tips of her ears are burning – from the praise or that other…tingly feeling, she’s not sure. “It’s nothing.”
Her breath hitches when Coco takes Agott’s hands into her own, the warmth spreading from the palms of her hands directly into her heart.
Agott meets Coco’s eyes and they instinctively soften, “When you and Tetia were talking about your homes, I…overheard you mentioning a pond with a deer.”
Coco lets out a quiet laugh as she wipes away the tears. “Yea, I remember that.”
They stare at each other for a moment longer, the blush on Agott deepening as she leans away from her. Coco shifts her hand, moving her fingers to interlock hands with Agott before enveloping her in a deep embrace. “Thank you.”
Agott’s heard those words leave Coco’s mouth on numerous occasions, but there’s something different, it makes her heart pound as she attempts to voice acknowledgement.
“Of course.” She whispers out, a nervous hand on Coco’s back.
Agott brings her face closer to Coco’s body. “Thank you, for uhm, for deciding to be so patient with me.”
“I understand that I’m not the easiest person to get along with.” She admits.
Coco laughs into Agott’s shoulder, a beautiful sound that Agott wishes she could hear on repeat. “Yea, you’re not.”
“Ha!" Agott guffaws, “Quite blunt aren’t you?”
Coco smiles. “Mm, you’re the one who said it, not me.”
“Thank you for making this spell for me.” Coco’s voice becomes soft, barely a whisper. “And I meant it.”
“You’re the closest person to me, Agott.” She confirms, “You don’t have to question where you stand next to me.”
“Just as long as it's you be my side I think I'll be alright.”
Agott’s face blushes a furious shade of red as she tightens their hug. “I feel that way as well.”