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In the vast sky, two figures flew alongside one another, with occasional twists around the other, or stops to take in the view.
"Say… Agott?" Coco's voice sounded distracted, and with a glance, Agott confirmed that her gaze was set somewhere that wasn't her. "Did we have any guests from Dragonpass Isles coming over?"
"I don't believe so," Agott replied, following her gaze. A squint, a rapid paling, and a furrowing of her eyebrows were the only visible markers of her expression before her sylph shoes took direction. Coco let out a small yelp as she felt her wrist be tugged along. Agott gave an apology, loosening the grip and smoothing the wrist once she felt Coco meet her speed. "We need to hide. In fact, we've already been noticed."
Their direction of flight wasn't to the atelier, Coco noticed. "What is it doing here? Why aren't we going to the atelier?"
Agott's voice trembled, "That dragons likely one from the mountains, not of the Dragonpass Isles." Coco looked at Agott worriedly as she continued, "It'll destroy the atelier in an instant if we step foot into it. We know all too well they don't take kindly to flying witches." Her focus moved rapidly back and forth, as if observing the dragon's movements. "It's much too erratic for a tamed one too, and each flap brings it too far vertically, often at a tilt. I'd imagine it woke up from a possibly decades long hibernation and is still warming up."
Agott laid her eyes on Coco, so as to check up on her. The girl was surveying behind them, eyes widening. "It's getting so much closer."
Agott held back a curse. "The forest is still far. I need to distract it." Her mind scrambled for ideas, which instantly halted with a tight grip of Coco's.
She practically glared at Agott, layered with emotions like fear and dread. Agott's heart jumped from the fright, it was unlike any expression she had seen. Words weren't necessary, Coco wouldn't let her do it alone.
But that was idiotic. What's the point of distraction if it were the both of them. She could feel her face redden and mouth twitch, the adrenaline of the situation and the loud passing sound of wind only made the volume of her yell louder, "Get the Masters, NOW!"
The grip had loosened, a result of Coco's hesitation. But it was plenty for Agott to whip her arm away and come to 180 with her shoes. She knew she was being rash, but she had full trust in Coco and the Masters. She took one final glance at Coco, who had stopped in her tracks. She was speechless, pained, small, and still hesitated; but, with one look to to the danger, she swiftly shot away to the atelier, curving her path to not be seen by the dragon. Now that Agott was the main focus, she could flip her direction back over.
It wasn't long before the dragon closed in on her. With its clumsy movements, her only option was to maneuver around any attacks. The forest was near, and in the midst of the chase, Agott had managed to grab her ink and pen, dipping the nib in, returning the ink, and grasping roughly onto her palm-quire. It never hurt to be careful.
With an attempted snap from the predator, she swerved to the side; another snap and she shot up, its head barely missing her. They were above the forest now. It emanated safety, so much so that Agott failed to realise she made contact against the dragon's back scales, slicing one of her sylph shoes cleanly through.
The dragon rose up in response, and a claw shot towards her, and she dives… Dives? No, she had no intention to dive at all, it made her too easy of a target. Her sylph shoes weren't working, she was falling.
Dragons and falls, Agott wanted to laugh at the absurdity of this pattern. Master Qifrey wasn't here this time, but it was much less hopeless.
Her arms screamed to flail, to submit to the fate of falling, to reach out at nothing; but she knew that there was one choice: to act, or to die.
The Masters had engrained into them to have a backup plan for sylph shoes, and she knew her palm-quire's prepared spells like the back of her hand. She just needed to close it, a spell to slow her down and hover her at a stop just before she landed. It's a spell just like the sylph shoes that acted similarly to a cushion of air, but with imbalance in mind to both inspirations.
Her hands, in all the steadiness she could muster, closed the seal. She's lucky she dipped the pen in ink as she flew earlier, and she was all too grateful that the flight didn't dry it out. Before it could cast, she positioned the palm-quire to her stomach, holding onto it for dear life. It felt like a twisting punch refusing to pull back as it cast.
The dragon hadn't stopped its offense, and she tilted her awkwardly bent body, so as to be pushed by the spell, to dodge another snap. It only acted as a slowing mechanism so she still fell, nearing the treeline of the forest, and leaves angrily rustling at the wind created.
Branches clawed at her as she passed through, and finally, as the wind created had caught the ground, she came to a halt. Her heart still hammered against her chest, the feeling of danger refusing to leave, her breathing rapid and unfocused as she picked herself up and glanced around in search of a hiding spot.
Her eyes landed on a distant tree, it was sizeable enough that the branch above it could hide her. She doubted a dragon this large could enter the forest anyway, as they hunted in clearings.
She pushed herself towards and against the tree, letting out a trembling and exhausted sigh.
"Child, for what reason have you entered this forest?"
Immediately, adrenaline rushed back in, and Agott's eyes scanned desperately for the source, mouth opening and letting out a strained, "Who- no… Where are you?!"
"You rest against me."
Agott stumbled away from the tree almost automatically. The voice returned, "There is no reason to harm you, do not fear me."
Agott released a breath, catching up to the words. "A tree-folk?" she asked, unsure where to look.
"That is what your kind uses to refer to us, yes." The branch above her creaked slightly, Agott using that cue to stand up and run around it, in search of their front.
She located the tree-folk's face, and was momentarily stunned by their watching. "I- I'm sorry. I didn't intend to disturb you. I was chased into here, but I'll take my leave."
She quickly assessed the damage made to her shoes. It was a full cut through one shoe, the seal couldn't be repaired like this. It was too deep a risk to attempt to stuff the hole with something and draw over it.
"The forest plays tricks on those who enter. If you plan on walking, stay put until night."
Agott returned her focus to the tree, perplexed. "The night? I can't… That's far too long, and dangerous. I need to go now."
"Without a guide, exhaustion sets in rapidly. Without a set direction, it is guaranteed."
"Exhaustion sounds far better than being at the maw of beasts."
"Child, rest. Your guide will arrive once night falls. And… I would like some company as well, it is a rarity to see your kind, and a greater rarity for one to not run at the sight of me." Well, if it's like that, she might as well stay and trust their words.
"How long have you… been here?" Agott asked. A large tree-folk like this, they could be centuries old.
"We do not track time like you do." A smaller branch moved to point to a large nearby tree. "Before that tree was a much smaller one, a weak one. It was broken apart too young. Prior to it was an ordinary fruiting one, popular with the forest critters. Signs of rot appeared, and fungi made their home, allowing for the tree to feed even in death. It took a long time until that spot became vacant again."
Agott relaxed under the eyes now, listening closely to the stories and once again resting against them. Passing skittering and snaps could be heard from the forest floor, birds calling and chirping, deers shrieking and bleating, and other sounds she couldn't put her finger on. She raised her knees: huddled up, yet still vigilant.
"I may be old, but memories with fear like yours are the most memorable kind."
"You don't fear anymore?"
"No. Not even of death, or of fire. My roots prefer to remain underground with age, I do not run anymore." Agott scanned the ground for roots or unevenness, it was true. "Your kind is often grounded, as well. How do some fly?"
Agott took her shoes off, and lifted them up to show the tree. "We call these sylph shoes. They allow us to fly. These ones are broken, but I'll be able to fly again soon."
The tree-folk rumbled in appreciation. "The sylphs are both skilled and kind. Despite their pride, it is understandable for their kind to bring others to the sky."
Darkness spread, and yet the conversing did not end. Even if the sounds around them evolved into something much more terrifying, Agott's voice did not lower from wariness. She found wisdom in the tree's words, learning of the forest in a new light to find a modicum of comfort in the darkness. Speaking of light… there seemed to be one in the distance coming closer…
Agott brought it up with another question, "That light. What is it?"
"That very light will be your path. Child, before you leave, I have one request to make."
"A request? You've been hospitable, that's more than reasonable," Agott responded, standing up and patting down her robe.
"You, who flies along the sylphs, can leave the forest safely once your shoes are no longer broken. Someone to lend me their companionship in conversation, that is all I seek."
The light was beside her now. A will-o'-the-wisp, she observed excitedly. She's read of them, but never saw one in person. It wasn't a static orb, the light seemed to flow around it like a turbulent sphere of fire. And yet, when she reached for it, there was no heat. Her voice didn't mask her wonder as she turned her head back up to the tree and responded, "A simple task. I'll return, I promise."
The wisp circled around her before beginning to move, Agott giving a small nod of appreciation to the tree-folk and chasing after it. She heard the creaks of the branches once more, until all that remained was her footsteps, and the sounds of the forest.
The wisp moved playfully. It enjoyed floating around Agott, which, despite the darkness, wasn't too harsh on the eyes. And when it lead in front, it zig-zagged in upwards and downwards curves.
Soon, a new light, a more natural one sourced from a clearing, made its presence known. Agott upped her pace, and so too did the wisp. She lost track of it, but not for long as she viewed the forest-circled clearing properly.
In the center, was a log, and on that log sat Coco. She looked around in wonder and excitement at the wisp that now circled her, and both moonlight and the wisp's own light helped her glow in striking contrast. Agott had stopped now, she was awestruck, breathless, unable to take her eyes off, and could only compare Coco to a forest spirit.
She did, however, notice the girl's head turning and watching her for a moment, as if trying to see through the darkness. Before Agott knew it, Coco had hopped off the log to run over, slamming into her with a hug. Agott failed to hold in a small 'oomf'.
"Agott…" Her voice was adorably relieved, and somehow, she tightened the embrace even further.
"I'm here," Agott managed to let out. Her heart pounded, and arms encircled Coco, returning the embrace. "What are you doing here?"
"The dragon flew away. We assumed you'd come back. But you didn't." Her voice began to crack as she continued, "Agott… I was panicking for hours. I thought you were gone. When dinner passed, all I could do was follow the ring to you."
"Have a little more trust in me," Agott returned with a smile, hoping it would cheer her up even a little.
It had the opposite effect, Coco's voice seemed to be laced with what Agott could only assume was pain as she mumbled into her shoulder, "That's not funny." The hug still didn't end. It was a long one, but Agott didn't mind, even rocking them gently. She was happy, maybe elated, to be on the receiving end of such care.
"Think you can carry me like a princess?" Agott joked as they separated.
Coco stared at her confusedly. "I can try?" Her voice grew teasing, "But the Agott wants to be princess carried? And I get to do the honour?!"
Agott provided context, face and ears crimson, "M-my sylph shoes are out of commission. That is most certainly a-all there is to it!"
Coco was already preparing to lift her up with excitement, jokingly whining, "We could've had a moment there." She gestured her hands and Agott allowed herself to be lifted, wrapping her arms around Coco's neck.
"Oof, heavy," was the last sound that travelled between them, other than a shared shriek, before they fell to the ground.
"That's not very nice of you," Agott said with a laugh, failing to supress her nervousness at their new position. Her head was rested on Coco's arm, who had her other one propped up to lean over her. Agott's own had still hooked around Coco.
Coco giggled, much too sweet to the ears that, considering their current environment, would easily lure her away if she were actually a spirit.
"I don't know how Master Qifrey does it one handed. Does a piggyback ride work okay, instead?"
Agott watched the girl softly, basking in her hair highlighting in the moonlight and her unrestrained excitement. "Of course it does."
Coco caught the expression, going silent with a swallow and preventing even a breath from escaping. Her face seemed to redden, as she gazed down at Agott, realising the situation they were in; it was too dark to see, so Agott confirmed her suspicion by bravely shifting one of her arms off to tenderly press a hand against Coco's cheek. Just for the observation, certainly no alternative reasons. It was warm, comfortingly so.
"Your hand is cold," Coco breathed out.
"And your hand is trapping me against the forest floor, at night," Agott countered, smoothing her thumb against Coco's scar. As much as Agott wanted to continue, heart all too caught up in the moment, it wasn't the best place nor time to get distracted.
"R-right," Coco stuttered, moving off her. It was precisely this type of reaction from Coco that gave Agott a one-of-a-kind, multi-layered feeling. Well, it wasn't just Coco reacting, she had tested plenty of boundaries that left Agott in her own flustered puddle, potentially three-fold in regularity than the other way around. She'll take this one as a point for her for that very reason, however, she'll make an effort to talk with Coco some point tonight. Almost kissing her tested her patience exceedingly... "Right! Um… piggyback ride. I can do that," Coco said, with a determined clench of her fists.
"If you can't, you could always lend me your shoes, maybe you'd prefer to be the one carried." For someone who had been told of her miserable lying skills, she bluffed that one quite well. She couldn't remember the last bit of heavy lifting she had to do. She knew how Coco would take the challenge, call it moral support.
"No! I can do it," Coco said again, even more determined. She hunched her back and slightly and motioned her hands to gesture Agott to hop on. And Agott did, to the best of her ability with the robe anyway, curling her arms around Coco.
It took a few more tumbles until Coco got used to the weight. But once they were in the air, she brought them back to the atelier perfectly safe.
They landed at the front door, shaking their limbs to prevent oncoming cramps. Coco opened it, playfully saying, "Princesses first." Agott wanted to refute by saying it was a piggyback ride not a princessback ride but before she could, Coco's eyes moved onto the accompanying guest and said, "And floating orbs of fire, I guess."
Agott spun around at that. It was, in fact, floating there. What in the stars was a will-o'-the-wisp doing following her of all people? She was no traveller, and her future will be the complete opposite. Surely it won't be permanent… It circled around her, as if reading her thoughts. She was unsure how to take it.
Agott heard a voice behind her, "Interesting… It's not a typical behaviour of them to follow people once they've done their task. But maybe it'll act as your familiar, like Olly's salamander." Agott turned around to look at Master Qifrey. A familar? Usually they're elementals, not will-o'-the-wisps. Salamanders have secretions and shedded skin that aid in spell-casting, what could the wisp do? Make her light spells brighter? Help her fire? Or- "Well, we're glad you're okay, Agott," Qifrey added, interrupting her thoughts.
Agott nodded, and Qifrey led the two girls, and wisp, in. The safety and comfort of the atelier was already getting to her, she wanted to collapse right there.
"Dinner is still hot for you and Coco."
"Coco?" Agott asked.
"I couldn't really eat with the stress of you gone," Coco shared, fidgeting her hands.
"I see. Sorry..." Agott responded, eyes lowered in guilt.
"It's fine. I'm hungry now, so hurry up," Coco said, outstretching a hand in her sight. Agott took it a touch too enthusiastically, allowing herself to be led into the kitchen. It seemed the wisp refused to be a follower, easily moving ahead as if knowing the atelier's layout already.
After serving themselves, they stepped up to the table, sitting side by side rather than across from one another.
Hunger enveloped Agott an instant after she swallowed down a roasted husk potato chunk. She brought her fork to the remaining vegetables, barely savouring them before moving to the next. Coco observed with great interest, before moving to her food, playing with it, and speaking up, "You know, that forest was quite nostalgic."
She could hear an awkward questioning hum, muffled from a mouthful. Coco continued, "Back at the village, the waterhole was known to host kind water nymphs. Mom always mentioned not to go at night, nor any deeper into the forest, but I had never seen the nymphs and curiousity took ahold of me." She paused as she recalled the events, eyes and tone growing melancholic. "They were so pretty, dancing in the moonlight. But once I stopped hiding, they all dropped back into the water. I tried to compliment them and ask them to come back, and one came out in front of me. I remember the feeling of cold water against my cheek, and the look of the clear water being shaped so beautifully. But what I remember most was the sudden water splashes, and turbulence. There was something in the forest, all of nymphs looked at one spot. The nymph tried to push me, soaking my clothes in the process. I don't know what it was, since I ran away. But ever since then, forests give off a chaotic feeling, beautiful but terrifying."
Agott simply watched her, face indescribable as she listened to the story, and arm unmoving, despite her plate still hosting food. Her eyes flicked to her plate, ears colouring a soft pink. "I think you seeing the nymphs fits well to what I felt seeing you in the clearing," she began, not daring to move her eyes to Coco's in fear for what she'd see. "When I saw you there, I couldn't take my eyes off you." Her ears picked up on a small noise from Coco. Agott exhaled shakily and peeked at her with worry. Coco was stunned, face a deeper crimson than one of the root vegetables that laid on their plates. Agott's voice grew in confidence, eyes unwavering from Coco's. "You were beautiful, and I was hypnotised."
Soon, Coco's hands came to cover her face, Agott mourning the loss. "Agott… What do- How do I take that?"
Hands put away their held utensils, and pushed their way forward to take ahold of Coco's wrists, gently pulling them down, and slipping into the vacant hands. Coco didn't try to escape, in fact, she seemed tighten the hold. Agott's heart could easily betray her bravery if one was close enough to realise. "Take it how you most want to," she replied, successfully preventing her nervousness from presenting itself.
The room became silent with Agott, almost tensely, awaiting Coco's next words. They were eventually released in a shy whisper, "Do you like me?"
There it was. "… yes," she answered.
"As more than just a friend?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Why not?"
"Agott… please."
Agott's heart ached at the plea. She couldn't escape the vulnerability that made her sick to the stomach. She let out a shaky sigh, held onto breathlessness for a moment, inhaled, and began, "At first, I detested you. You entered a world I spent countless hours to achieve. You placed us into dangerous situations, and were in the way. I didn't think of you as a witch, and I thought you didn't understand what it meant to be one. But that changed, your ideas are innocent, ingenious, and sometimes stupid, but I admire them. You use simplicity in a way I find astounding, and yet I can't take my eyes off. You're kind, not being deterred from the way I treated you. You're brave, and there's plenty of proof for that. At Silver Eve, some part of me wanted you to be eaten inside by that inability to draw, but the majority of me didn't want you to feel alone for something so common. I felt pain from seeing you like that. I know we're young, but that small crush I dreaded since that labyrinth grew into love that night. I tried to push it aside at Dragonpass Isles, and after that, when all hell broke loose, I was successful. But I can't do that anymore, seeing you there in the moonlight, seeing that the wisp led me to you, my heart refused to die down… I desperately wanted to kiss you on that forest floor, to stop this horrid aching." She inhaled again, voice vulnerable as she let out, "I don't just like you. I love you, Coco."
Coco was speechless, her blush still the same deep red, and her eyes prickled with tears. She untangled one of the hands, and leaned onto Agott, letting silence take over once again. With her free hand, Agott moved a few strands behind Coco's ear. She lowered it, and spoke again, "You don't have to love me as much as I do for you. You have a lot on your plate, I can wait. But I'd still like to hear it."
She felt Coco's head shift on her shoulder and waited to hear the voice she loved most. "You're different," Coco started. "I don't feel the same way for anyone else, nor do I love any magic more than yours. I admire you deeply, as well. I like when you show your cute side, and I like those blushes of yours. I want to be beside you, and hold you, and… kiss you… I like you so so much, but you're right. Love is something just out of reach, but I want to get there."
"And that's okay," Agott replied, squeezing her hand. She let out a blissful sigh, knowing the feelings talk is out of the way. "It's a good thing these plates keep the food warm, we got a little distracted."
"You're more than a little distracting," Coco joked sweetly with a nudge, bringing a deeper blush to Agott's face.
"You're such a dork," She responded, sending one back.
"Your dork."
"Yes. My dork."
As much as she found joy in the fact that the wisp enjoyed her presence even as she laid in bed, it was late at night, and the wisp was far too bright.
"Get out of my face, will you? I'd like to sleep," she muttered.
At that, the wisp became even more playful, entering and exiting her field of sight at surprising speed. Her eyelids provided no escape from the light, either. Agott groaned, pulling her blanket above her and giving a muffled, "You'll get attention tomorrow. We're going out, so I'm sure you'll appreciate bothering us then. That is, if you don't disappear during the daytime." It seemed to work, she could sleep fine under the blanket.
It didn't disappear, Agott observed as she woke up. It was still as it floated beside her, do wisps even sleep? She pulled the blanket off her, getting out with no hesitation and already preparing for the daytrip. Such simple discipline never got through to Tetia and Richeh, especially the latter who was insistent on her odd waking routine.
At Agott's shuffling, the wisp stirred, before shooting towards her with impressive energy, and spinning around her. "Yes, yes. Good morning. How about you go bother Coco for a little bit, this time. She's sure to match that energy of yours. If she's awake. Don't wake her and return to me if not." The wisp unexpectedly heeded those words for once, Agott almost felt a little sorry for Coco.
She stepped out of her room and moved to the bathroom, this short journey was the worst part of the routine. She was never sure if she'd get caught with bedhair rivalling a kraken, the atelier members have their unique reactions to the sight. She supposed she wouldn't mind Coco giggling as she played with it.
After checking on and styling her hair, she found her way to the kitchen. She could hear a sizzle, and neared closer, looking at the ingredients laid about. "Crépes? What's the occasion?"
"None at all. The girls mentioned craving the cheese and vegetable filling. It has been a few months, it's a reasonable request," Master Qifrey replied. Agott understood that craving all too well, that filling was mouth-watering and perfectly savoury. She was delighted they were having it again.
Her head nodded in appreciation, and she asked another question, "Is Coco out here, too?" The wisp hadn't returned, so she's likely awake as well. It's simply a matter of where.
With a smile from Master Qifrey, Agott realised how it bizarre it was to ask such so soon after waking. She grew hot from embarrassment, Master Qifrey turning around and telling her, "I believe she's sat on the sofa."
Agott stepped upstairs to the living room, turning her head to the left. She was there, all right. Brushbuddy was on her head, trying to reach for the wisp with its tiny hands and slapping Coco's head out of annoyance. It let out pwees and nbiis as if giving Coco directions. Coco giggled, letting herself be controlled into moving her head to get Brushbuddy closer to the wisp. It was an adorable sight, and Agott couldn't help but stop to watch.
As if instinctual, the wisp floated to Agott to spin around her, and Brushbuddy collapsed in defeat. Coco's head turned, and eyes followed, giving Agott a sweet, and utterly captivating, smile. "Good morning, Agott!"
"Good morning," Agott replied, returning a smile. She neared the sofa and sat beside Coco, raising her finger to greet brushbuddy with a gentle scratching before moving her eyes to Coco. "It hasn't been bothering you too hard, I hope?" Agott asked, glancing at the wisps up and down motions, was that how it displayed anger?
"Not at all. It's growing on me." Brushbuddy perked up as the wisp floated onto Coco's head as well, attempting to slap it, only for it to go right though. It looked at the wisp confusedly, with an accompanying, 'nbii?' and Agott held in her laugh at the sight.
"And Brushbuddy, it seems. It left in quite a hurry to greet you this morning. It almost felt like I was handing it over for you to babysit."
"I find it quite cute, actually! It loves to lead me around, so much so that when I was getting ready it seemed to know my next step. I'd imagine it'll be hard to lose things now," Coco shared, hand moving to rest on Agott's. She felt Brushbuddy scurry down to her shoulder, wisp following, the former looking down at the hands with a curious noise, before making its way to lay on top of them. No escape now.
Coco could now safely tilt her head onto Agott's shoulder, listening to her breath hitching and returning. "Is it just the shoes that you're buying?" Coco asked, closing her eyes.
"I think a sleeping mask would prove to be useful as well." Agott could hear a small laugh from Coco. "Can't imagine it, can you?"
"Not at all. I'd love to see it though. Is it because of the wisp?" she asked, before letting out a hum, "Mmmm… maybe we should just call it Wisp instead of the wisp."
"I agree. And yes, this one's still getting used to our need for sleep at night. It's rather spirited, pun intended, which makes sleeping quite the endeavour."
Coco hummed again, too relaxed to respond properly. Their peaceful contact lasted a few minutes, Coco lifting her head off with a call from the kitchen.
"Shall we?" Agott asked, giving Brushbuddy a gentle nudge and watching it climb back up onto Coco's shoulder.
Wisp once again led the way. "We shall," Coco replied.
Breakfast passed smoothly, with the food delicious enough for no leftovers. Even Brushbuddy was allowed to help, nibbling on little pieces given to it.
And now, they were in Kalhn. Agott and Coco split up from the others, heading to the many sylph-shoemaker stalls. Such shoes are more unique than ordinary ones in structure, as they required a perfect fit to allow for the seal closing. But even with the seals coming with the shoes, she knew she'll rub them off as soon as she got home.
Once she found a well-fitting pair, with plain conjuring ink to avoid unintentional waterproofing, the two followed Wisp in search for a sleep mask.
It seemed Wisp had other plans, leading them to a jewellery shop, and circling the ring section. Agott groaned in embarrassment at the sight, and Coco found it all too amusing. "Too soon, Wisp," Agott mentioned. It looked almost hesitant to leave, it was cute. Agott turned her head to Coco with a faint smile. "Did you tell it something?"
Coco took her hand, tangling their fingers meekly and swinging their hands. "Maybe I did." Knowing Coco, it was likely (and for the most part) something sweet, like matching rings, but her mind went elsewhere.
"I- I see."
Agott felt Coco pull her along. "Wisp is getting away, come on." Her focus moved ahead to confirm, it was. The drag subsided as Agott caught up, journeying through the crowd of witches alongside Coco.
In the end, she obtained herself a simple black eye-mask.
Once they returned to the atelier, Agott was quick to ask Coco, a little bashfully, "Could you redraw the seals for me?"
Coco lit up at the request. "I can?!"
"Please. I felt much too slow returning back with them. I take pride in being able to meet your speed."
"You don't have to explain yourself, silly. I know. I'll fix them up nice and fast," she replied.
Agott looked at her gratefully. "I'll be back in a moment, I need to rub these glyphs off. I'll see you at your desk?"
Coco nodded, and Agott moved to grab a wash cloth. It was an easy enough task to wipe the ink and break the glyph, less so to remove smudges.
She made her way up to the workspace, and once she entered, she was willingly lured by the radiant eyes on her into moving herself to sit on Coco's left, supporting affection all the while preventing drawing difficulty. She placed her shoes on the desk and watched as Coco dipped into focus.
As time passed, Coco bent closer and closer to the shoes. Agott didn't dare question the posture, even if Coco corrected her own countless times, instead observing the little imbalances be added that gave the shoes their unique appeal.
Once completed, Coco turned them around and aligned them, not pressing them together fully to avoid another incident. She sighed away her focus, leaning back and to the side, into Agott, starved of affection.
As a sign of appreciation, Agott turned her head and pressed a kiss to Coco's cheek. She released it, face tinted pink, and Coco tensed up, flicking her head to Agott excitedly. "You...!"
"Me...?" Agott replied with a fascinated grin.
"You beat me to it."
"I wasn't aware we were competing for it," she added, watching Coco. Her eyes were wide and unblinking, almost intimidating. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Big mistake to take notice of it. Agott gasped when Coco lunged at her, like a cat, pushing her down and crawling over her. Agott's heart caught, but the attack didn't end there. Coco immediately moved her head to each cheek, pecking them with determination. Agott couldn't avoid letting out a laugh, ticklishness taking over any other feeling, both physical and mental.
Agott protected one cheek by turning her head to look to the side, unintentionally motivating more targeted attacks from Coco. Agott, breathless from her laughing, attempted to push Coco's head away with a 'You little...!', she didn't want it to end, but she might prefer something a little more sweet, and slow.
Her head turned to look at Coco, who pushed back adorably. It was hard enough to deny her of affection. Her hand seemed to agree with that, slipping off unexpectedly, and her lips became victim to all the force Coco put in. As quick as the kiss happened, so too did it end. Agott's heart had beat so painfully from the collision, she barely noticed the feeling of their teeth clashing or soreness after.
"Ah," Coco let out, eyes wide. "Th-that was purely accidental."
For a moment, Agott shared that reaction, her face unbearably hot; but once she evened her breathing, her expression transformed into one all too familiar to that moment in the clearing. She didn't want it to end just yet. It may have been instant, but she craved that softness a little more.
With her eyes now laid on Coco's lips in deep focus, she lifted her arms to wrap around Coco's neck, tentative from anticipation and her own nerves, pulling her back down and managing out a wavering, "This isn't," before returning Coco's lips to hers. In an instant, warmth and relaxation enveloped Agott, enabling her to narrow her eyes nearly teasingly at Coco, who still reflected nervousness and surprise at the sudden kiss. Agott closed her own, taking in the feeling of lips against hers, her heart soaring, and that of Coco pressing back into her. She moved one hand to play with her hair as they kissed, swallowing any noises the girl made from the touches.
They separated, distance almost non-existent. Agott opened her eyes to the sight of Coco looking at her in wonder, cheeks a vibrant red. "Wow," was all Coco could let out.
"That's what you have to say?" Agott replied, exasperated.
Coco leaned back at that, Agott's hand journeying to her cheek to make up for the loss of proximity. "What else am I supposed to say?" she countered.
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe 'I like you, Agott,'" she said, mimicking Coco's accent humorously.
"So romantic."
"Coco, we were quite indisputably ki-" Her speech was interrupted by another kiss. She melted into it without fuss, closing her eyes once again.
She felt the lips escape much too soon, chasing after it, to no avail. Just as she considered opening her eyes, she felt Coco's forehead press against her own, a hand slide into her own free one, and a whisper, "I like you, Agott." And finally the sensation returned, and lingered perfectly, Agott's heart leaping even more.
Another pull away, came another 'I like you, Agott'. And another, and another…
Agott moved her palm to stop Coco's lips from silencing her after one more confession. "Okay, okay. A-gott it." Her hand moved to tenderly hold her jaw, watching the smile form on Coco, whether it be from the pun, affection, or both. She traced it, looking up to Coco and finally responding with her own, "I love you, Coco."
Coco, giddy as she was, leaned down one final time, savouring Agott once more. They refused to leave this time, instead dancing against each other, moving from top to bottom lip with smiles and passion. The force behind each returning press rotated, from tender to overly excited, to bruising, and back again. Agott's exploring hand almost acted like a conductor of their movements, in addition to sound — which neither were safe from.
At long last, Coco's arms ached too heavily for rest, and she listened regretfully, pulling back, moving off Agott, and sitting up. She helped Agott up as well. Both girls were flushed, catching their breath.
"Flight test, then?" Coco eventually asked.
"Flight test," Agott responded, taking the shoes a little distractedly and putting them on. "There's a place I'd like to visit. Back in the forest. Do you know of the tree-folk?"
Coco twitched, eyes widening and lips pressing together with a bruising strength. The fearful response was quickly rectified with a fake smile, and narrowed eyes, upon noticing the worried look plastered across Agott. "Right. The tree-folk. Sorry. Memory."
Agott didn't press further. She did however say, "You don't have to come, you know."
"No, it's fine. I'm curious now why you brought them up."
"You'll see when we get there. We'll have to take Wisp with us."
"Wisp has been here the entire time. So that solves the search side," Coco shared, pointing to one of the room's corners that did, in fact, host the very still Wisp.
Agott practically exploded in red-hot embarrassment. "What?!"
Without a dragon chasing her, and a gentle handhold rather than a painful grip, the trip to the forest was pleasant, and went without a hitch. The sylph shoes were little different: more sensitive to one side but perfectly manageable.
"This time, I'd prefer to not be scratched through the treeline. Keep that in mind, Wisp." Wisp seemed to understand, and it angled its direction almost imperceptibly.
"You got hurt?" Coco asked with a worried look to Agott.
Agott nodded, flicking her free wrist to tell Coco to focus on Wisp. "Nothing significant. No need for worry."
Soon, Wisp slowed down and stopped, Agott and Coco matching it like ducklings. From above, the tree-folk certainly did look obvious from their canopy size. "I take it we just go down then?" Agott asked Wisp, which answered by descending.
As they landed, she could see the branches shift slightly in greeting. She tugged Coco along to the front of the tree-folk.
"You have returned so soon."
"I did just fix the shoes. It's kil-… I mean, it achieves two things at once." Agott didn't know how the tree would take the proverb.
A smaller branch, a much more dexterous one, stuck out to Coco and she took it curiously. "The creatures of this forest only ever move in pairs with their mate. I take it this one is your mate?" The tree asked.
Agott blushed furiously, Coco looking at her shyly. "M-mate?! Well… We- we don't use that term for ourselves. But…" Her voice grew quieter, "I suppose so…"
"Child's mate-"
"Coco," Agott interrupted.
The tree was unaware of the word, forgetting the existence of names. "Child's Coco…" Agott sighed, close enough, and the receiver didn't seem to mind. Coco was looking up to the tree, still holding on to the branch. "You appear intimidated."
"A little," she replied.
The branch moved away from the hold, Coco lowering her hand to her side. "I only wish to converse, not to harm," they said, similarly to what was said to Agott. The tree creaked slightly. "This is the same guide of yours, child, is it not?" They asked, Wisp circling about at being mentioned.
"Right. Yes. I'd like to ask about that actually. Why? Shouldn't it remain here?"
"I am not of their kind. But you may find that your future is not what you assume. It may know there is more to guide."
Not what she assumes? Why would she not return to the tower? That sounds ridiculous. She didn't realise she was clutching Coco's hand, until she felt a returning squeeze. Her eyes lowered in guilt as she apologised, Coco, forgiving as always, took the apology and simply left it there.
With her free hand, Agott creased her eyebrows. "But even then, that has to be years away. Why now?"
"Despite being guides, they do very little in this forest. Idling for years at times. Some disappear entirely. This one seems joyful, you have been letting it guide you with smaller tasks, yes?"
"That's true…" Agott replied, hand falling down and letting silence overtake them.
"The forest feels so different when you can see. Less chaotic and more peaceful." Coco brought up.
"I have grown to enjoy both. They bring their own unique stimulation. Once I took notice, time passed with more enjoyment."
"What do you do, anyway?" Coco asked.
"My roots grow deep and far, and so, while my body may not move, I can cover wide distances. Despite their lack of mouths, the plants speak in their own way." It makes sense why they wanted Agott to return, plants don't seem like the best conversation partners…
The three chatted some more, Wisp communicating in its own motions. When the sky grew orange, they separated from the tree, Wisp moving ahead.
"Was that okay?" Agott asked Coco. She was worried still, and even if the conversations relieved her slightly, some part of her need to confirm.
"It was new. That forest still feels untouched to me, it's nice to learn something that's more raw than magic," she replied.
"I get that."
"It's cute that they call you child."
"In their eyes, everything is probably a child. Old me wouldn't be any different."
"Hmmm. Old you," Coco repeated, tilting her head, both cutely and awkwardly as they were still flying.
"What?"
"Just imagining it. You with wrinkles, maybe some sun spots, and grey hair."
Agott shivered. "I'd rather not think of that."
"It's beautiful though! And you're beautiful, so that will be double beautiful."
Agott blushed at the compliment, "We'll have to wait and see."
"Is that your way of saying you want to grow old with me?" Coco asked with a giggle.
"It's far away, but I don't think I'm getting ahead of myself. Despite the whole… well… brimmed cap mess, I've been rather confident in our future ever since Wisp came." Her eyes narrowed teasingly at Coco. "I still haven't forgotten about the rings yet, either. So I can't be the only one who thinks this."
Coco let out an embarrassed squeak, before taking a deep breath, and squeezing Agott's hand. "Yeah."
Agott laid on the sofa, reading a book as usual. On her lap floated Wisp, it was still for once. She had been getting used to its presence, and found it especially useful as a mobile, handless book light without needing to use a float-glow lamp. Of course, Wisp wasn't reduced to just a book light, but given her current state, it was more than suitable to consider its use.
She picked up on some shuffling nearby, tilting her head slightly, and watching with great interest as Coco leaned over her and pecked her on the lips. Coco moved herself over on her knees, arms crossed on the sofa, and eyes on Wisp. "Agotta say, I'm a little jealous of Wisp, and Brushbuddy too."
Agott looked amused. "What, because they get to cuddle with me out here?"
"You know me too well. You guys are just soooo cute!"
"Cute… Well, I'm not entirely against it," Agott added, cheeks now pink.
Coco took her eyes off Wisp and moved them to Agott in slight shock. "I thought you didn't want the atelier to know?"
"Something like that. I know they're accepting, but the thought of them making adjustments for us is odd. But I'd be willing to let them know, even if it's through cuddling here."
"I think they've been waiting for us to date or mention dating each other, if anything," Coco shared, gesturing her hand to tell Agott to move before standing up slightly, sitting on the edge, laying down, and pressing into her.
Agott's legs curled around Coco's, and she placed her book away to hold her. "Is that so?" Agott whispered against her. Coco's heart fluttered at the affection, and voice, placing her own hands over the one that held her.
Wisp hovered over them now, unsure where to sit, or more like float. With a little 'sorry' from Coco, it waved around for a moment before deciding to float away, likely to find Brushbuddy or branch out to the other girls.
It happened suddenly. It had been a few years since they started dating, still at the atelier, and currently they stood in the kitchen alone.
Agott sipped from a spoon, testing the broth they made, while Coco watched her from the side. Her eyes traced the scene, burned them into her memory, because it truly felt they were in the moment: in a home and kitchen of their own, cooking meals together. Her thoughts scrambled through made up scenes, memories, hopes, appreciations, and desires; and her look became intense, face reddening, even more when she noticed Agott now looked at her confusedly.
"I love you." Coco managed to let out.
"I love you t-" Agott stopped as she processed the words. Her voice grew impossibly soft as she placed the spoon onto the counter and moved to hold the girl's scarred cheek. "Coco..?"
"I love you, Agott. I'm so… stupid, how did I think that I just liked you for some of these years. I love you. So much. Even more," she answered, eyes switching between Agott's loving ones, and hands unsure what to do.
"Whether like or love, you've always made my heart flutter telling me," she said, leaning to kiss Coco, who accepted it heartily, before adding, "A little more with 'love' though. I love you too, Coco."
"And I love you for your love for me."
"We're doing this now? I love you for your love for me loving you, then."
Coco moved to trap Agott against the counter, opening her mouth with determination to continue the exchange; but before she could utter a word, Richeh passed by with a fake gag, responding to the public display of affection with a simple, "Romantic Tetias." Agott and Coco curled in embarrassment as they separated.