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Early mornings at the Atelier were often slow. Agott was already at the table, eating quietly while flipping pages in a book with her free hand, while Qifrey worked diligently on preparing breakfast for the rest of the group. Brushbuddy was curled up in the windowsill, taking an early nap in the sunbeams. Coco shuffled in as she yawned and rubbed her eyes, mumbling quietly and squinting against the harsh sunlight. “G’morning, Master Qifrey. Morning, Agott.”
“Oh, Coco. Good morning.” Qifrey smiled over his shoulder before turning back to his preparations. “Have a seat at the table. Olruggio might not be joining us; he had a terribly late night working on his most recent commission, and I suspect I should let him be. I trust Tetia and Richeh will be joining us shortly.”
Coco nodded and took a seat next to Agott, leaning over to try and steal a glimpse at what she was reading. The other girl glanced at her from the corner of her eye before sliding the book across the table until it was between them. A quick peek at the page she was on showed a spell she hadn’t seen before.
Sensing her confusion, Agott pointed towards the small description printed next to the drawing. “You remember the bird of light beacon I used not logn after you arrived at the atelier? It’s not dissimilar to that. At least, it has the same basic components.”
Coco nodded enthusiastically as her eyes glimmered, pouring over the spell's composition as she traced it with her finger. “I don’t think I’ve ever drawn this one! Where did you get this book? I’d like to check it out for myself sometime.”
“Oh, well,” Agott mumbled and covered her mouth thoughtfully, “Master Qifrey gifted it to me for my birthday last month. Though, if you should like, I’d be happy to lend it to you once I’ve finished reading it.”
“You mean it?” Coco gasped and clasped her hands together. “Thank you, that’s so thoughtful of you!”
“Yes, yes. Think nothing of it. Just don’t damage it and return it when you’re done.” Agott coughed and waved off her vibrant enthusiasm.
Tetia yawned loudly and stretched as she walked into the kitchen, pulling out the chair across from Coco and sitting herself down before letting her head rest on the edge of the table. Qifrey smiled as he set two plates down in front of her and Coco. “Late night? I’ll remind you girls that you are still growing. It’ll do you no good to skip out on a night's rest, though I’m positive Olly has lectured you enough on the matter.”
“I slept fine…” Tetia barely lifted her head, resting her chin against the wood instead. “It’s just so early! I can’t help it if I’m still tired.” She slowly pulled herself into an upright position and slid her plate closer, perking up at the sight of breakfast.
The three ate their meal in relative silence, Agott and Coco still glued to the book between them. Eventually, it caught Tetia’s attention. “Oh, you’re finally reading it! Thats the book on light spells you got for your birthday, right?”
Agott nodded without glancing up, too focused on the page to pay her much mind. Brushbuddy squeaked as he stretched before trotting over and hopping up onto the table. As he sauntered by, Tetia scooped him up and placed him on her shoulder, eliciting a soft squeak. “It’s such a shame there won’t be another birthday around here for a while. Parties are so much fun!” Tetia sighed dramatically and scratched the brushbug’s fur with one finger.
Coco looked up and tilted her head to the side. “Not for a while? When’s the next birthday?”
“Master Olruggio’s birthday is in September! Mine isn’t until October, and Master Qifrey’s is in December!” Tetia recited dutifully before taking a bite of her bread roll. She chewed quickly and swallowed before continuing on. “That’s all for the rest of the year. Still, Master Olruggio doesn’t like too much fuss, so the next time we’ll actually have a proper party won't be for a few months. How tragic!”
“I see. It’s impressive you seem to have all those dates memorized!” Coco nodded along thoughtfully. Her gaze shifted from Tetia to the brushbug on her shoulder. “Speaking of which, I guess Brushbuddy doesn’t really have a birthday, does he? I mean, I know the day of the test he came home with me, but I’m not so sure that counts.”
Tetia gasped and quickly (yet gently) pulled Brushbuddy from her shoulder and into her cupped hands, narrowing her eyes. He squeaked quietly and curled up in her palms.
“That won’t do at all! No birthday means no celebration or presents!” Tetia frowned and held him up in her hands. “Everyone deserves to have their birthday celebrated, you know?”
Richeh finally emerged from the hallway and took her own seat, eyes still half closed as she leaned back in her chair. Qifrey set down the final plate in front of her before taking his own seat. He smiled at the four girls, then looked towards the small brushbug. “Well, no time like the present. Why not make today his birthday?”
Coco and Tetia were both immediately fully awake, locking eyes before jolting up at the table.
“Really?”
“You think so?”
Qifrey chuckled and waved for them to sit back down before gesturing to their plates. Both girls smiled sheepishly and took their seats. “I don’t see why not. Your planned lessons are brief, and there should be plenty of time for a small impromptu celebration. That being said, there will be no such festivities until you've cleaned your plates.”
Breakfast continued in its usual fashion with the exception of hurried whispers between Tetia and Coco while Richeh nibbled on her food, and Agott kept her focus on her book. Once the table was cleared, Tetia began rambling off ideas. “Usually a party would have some sort of sweet or cake, but I think brushbugs prefer ink, right? Maybe we can take him into Kahln later to pick some out! Oh, it would be so cute to give him some presents, too! But what would you even give to a brushbug…”
Richeh, who had finally perked up a bit after her meal, rested her cheek in her palm as she watched Brushbuddy skitter around the kitchen. “I don’t think there's much you can give to someone so small. He doesn't wear clothes, nor own anything material.”
A small yet excited gasp from Tetia caused the other three girls to look over. The pink-haired apprentice was practically swooning at the thought. “But just imagine how cute little clothes would be! Just the thought of a tiny hat or little cloak is enough to bring a smile to anyone's face, isn’t it? It’s a shame they don’t make any shops selling such a thing.”
Coco blushed and fidgeted awkwardly in her chair, keeping her eyes glued to the book still open between her and Agott. The former raised an eyebrow when she noticed her expression. “What’s wrong? Is it the spell? If you don't understand something, you can ask.”
“Ah, no, no. It’s not that.” Coco giggled nervously and refused to look up. Brushbuddy scampered up the leg of the table and plopped himself down beside her hand.
Qifrey, noticing her discomfort, looked between the girls and back at Brushbuddy. “Coco, your mother was a tailor, was she not? Perhaps making clothes is the kind of skill you picked up along the way?”
Coco stiffened as all eyes landed on her, shifting to make herself smaller. “Well, I um…”
“Is that true? Do you think you can make something?” Tetia leaned over at her side, a huge grin on her face.
“Well,” Coco squeaked out and covered her face with her hands. She abruptly stood from the table and hurried off in the direction of her room.
Agott blinked in surprise, looking around at the others and their equally confused expressions. It was only a minute or so of conflicted silence before Coco came barreling back in, something clasped in her cupped hands. “Here!” She held them out towards the group, refusing to look up.
Carefully, Qifrey unclasped her hands with a gentle touch. Sitting in the small of her palm was a tiny folded cloth. Upon closer inspection, Qifrey lifted the fabric and turned it over in his hands. He was quiet for a few contemplative moments before he grinned, fighting back a fit of laughter. “Oh, my goodness.”
“What is it? I want to see!” Tetia stood on her tiptoes to try and get a better look. Agott closed her book carefully and set it aside as she and Richeh both attempted to decipher what they were looking at.
Qifrey took care as he unfolded the garment the rest of the way and held it up for the group to see. A tiny green cloak, not unlike the ones all four apprentices wore, complete with white trim and little buttons.
Tetia cooed, and Richeh picked up Brushbuddy from where he had settled and handed him off to Qifrey.
“Did you make this?” Agott asked quietly to Coco, who still had her face buried in her hands. A bob of her head was the only answer she received.
“There we are. Quite a fashionable little friend, if I do say so myself.” Qifrey grinned as he set Brushbuddy back down on the table. The brushbug stood still in confusion, but made no attempt to get the fabric off.
Then and only then did Coco peek through the cracks of her fingers, a tiny smile on her face despite her obvious embarrassment. He did look really cute in his little cloak…
Qifrey leaned over and placed a hand on her shoulder. “It’s wonderful. How did you ever find buttons so small?”
“They’re little beads,” Coco confessed as she lowered her hands.
Agott and Richeh had busied themselves in an intense discussion of the best way to make a tiny matching hat while Agott looked on with her arms crossed. Despite her calm demeanor, the tiniest upward pull of her lips was visible.
“Well, what's a new outfit without a little outing to show it off?” Qifrey suggested with a warm smile. “If we’re going to make this a true celebration, I believe your idea to acquire some ink should serve as a perfect stand-in for a traditional meal.”
The four girls went off to finish getting dressed for their trip into town while Qifrey hung back in the kitchen. He held out his hand, allowing Brushbuddy to climb into it before lifting him to his shoulder. “Well, shall we go wake Olly, puffpuff?”
A tiny squeak from the bug was his closest thing to a reply.
“Still not fond of the name? And here I’d hoped it had grown on you.”
~~~
Nolnoa’s shop was just as it always had been: walls lined with various wares from pens to ink and parchment, a massive silverwood tree in the center. Coco was as wonderstruck as ever as she fluted around shelf to shelf, inspecting every item for sale as if it were a treasure. Qifrey smiled fondly as he kept watch of his apprentices.
“What kind of ink do you think is the tastiest to brushbuddies?” Tetia asked as she picked up a bottle, swirling it around and peering inside at the dark liquid. “Do the ink’s properties affect the taste?”
“Can’t say I share their palate, so I wouldn't be able to say,” Olruggio grumbled through a yawn as he half-slumped against Qifrey's shoulder. “Let’s hope he doesn’t have an expensive taste, mm? Nothing top of the line or anything, girls. Ink’s about enough as it is between the four of you.”
“I appreciate you coming along with us, my friend.” Qifrey smiled and nudged Olruggio’s side. “I’m sure the girls will be sensible with their money. I’ve offered them a budget to work with.”
Olruggio rubbed his face and sighed. “You say that like you’ve given me much of a choice. Can’t leave you five to your own devices in town. Not without the lot of you encountering a dragon or running your pockets dry.”
Coco didn’t notice when Brushbuddy squeaked as they passed a shelf and hopped off her shoulder. She was so enamored by the shop itself that the tiny push of feet as he hopped away failed to register. It was only a few minutes later when she reached up to help him into her hands that she noticed he was gone. “Brushbuddy?”
Tetia and Richeh looked over at the sound of her worry, and Agott set down a palm quire to come to her side. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m sorry, I don’t know where Brushbuddy went. I swear he was on my shoulder, but he’s gone.” Coco hurriedly looked around the shelf, peering behind the wood to try and find him.
“Well, he couldn't have gotten far. He can’t open the door to the shop on his own,” Agott offered as she helped her look. Richeh and Tetia hurried to join in as they searched high and low for their missing companion.
Qifrey raised an eyebrow as he noticed the commotion. “Oh, dear. Missing bug?”
“Great.” Olruggio sighed and grumbled despite joining in their attempts to look around.
After a few minutes of searching, Coco stumbled upon an empty bottle of ink on the ground, its lid having rolled away and landed a few paces from her foot. She lifted the bottle and turned to Nolnoa, who had been only half-paying attention from his workbench. “Mister Nolnoa? What kind of ink do you store on this shelf?” She pointed to the line of bottles where it seemed to have fallen from.
Nolnoa raised an eyebrow and adjusted his glasses. “That’d be ink with invisibility properties. I try and keep it separate from the rest so apprentices don’t go getting it confused and wondering where their spells have gone.”
Coco paled as she looked at the empty bottle. “Invisibility ink?”
“Oh dear, I’m terribly sorry, Nolnoa. I have a suspicion the little culprit is nearby. I assure you I’ll pay for any damages.” Qifrey hurried over to talk to the shopkeeper while Coco continued her frantic search.
Agott, noticing her discomfort, was quick to make her way to Coco’s side once more. ‘What’s wrong? This is proof he’s nearby, isn't it? I’d have thought you’d be relieved.”
Coco shook her head as she crouched down to peer behind the lower shelf. ‘What happens if you ingest invisible ink? What if something happens and it turns Brushbuddy invisible and we don’t find him?”
Agott blinked, fighting back a smile. “I can hardly imagine that would be the case.”
“Well, you don't know that for sure!” Coco blushed and shook her head.
Before either girl could get another word out, a tiny squeak came from a few feet away. Richeh leaned over and bent down, scooping something up from the floor.
Brushbuddy was fast asleep, his little tummy visibly full as he blissfully napped off the ink he had consumed. “Not invisible,” Richeh confirmed. “Just tired from his meal.”
Coco exhaled with palpable relief (as did Qifrey from across the room. A located brushbug meant no further damages to pay for).
“Looks like he enjoyed the taste of this one then! Maybe it smells good?” Tetia picked up another bottle of the very same ink and held it up.
Qifrey chuckled and pulled out his coin pouch. “It seems he has. Come now, bring it over and we’ll take it home.”
~~~
Both bottles of ink were paid for, and the group returned home in time for the apprentices to have their lessons. Brushbuddy found a spot to sleep off his adventure on the couch while the four girls continued chatting and working on spells.
It was only later that night when the other three apprentices had gone to bed that Coco snuck through the hallway, peeking into the living room where she’d last seen Brushbuddy with her hands tucked behind her back. She found him cozied up on a pillow near the fireplace, his little cloak still tucked around him.
A quiet giggle escaped her lips as she pulled her hands around and opened them, a tiny green cap in her palm. Gently, Coco placed it beside his head before turning to leave and return to her own room.
“Goodnight, Brushbuddy. Happy birthday!”