The library was noisy and full of life, with apprentices chatting amongst themselves and young children pretending to read as they goofed off with their friends, careful enough to mind the Templars. Although quiet was best suited for study, Veira couldn't help but enjoy the noise. It was better than stuffy and contained fear of doing something wrong that would set off their vigilant watchers, and it was always heartwarming to see children laugh and have fun. The only way they could pull off this type of afternoon is dependant entirely on which Templars have watch, and today, those Templars were those who tolerated noise. Still, all the mages knew just how far they could go before the fully armoured guards retaliated, so the socialization went on.

Although the teenaged elf enjoyed the excitement around her, she did not participate with it. She was more the type of waiting for someone else to invite her to join them, and insofar, the rest of her peers were content with the circle of friends they currently had. And her best friend Jowan was currently in extra classes, as his last test had not gone so well. But being alone in such a crowded place did not bother her much, and she was content to read while the rest had their fun.

That was when a human girl plopped herself across from where Veira sat.

The elf couldn't tell if the girl wanted her attention or not, as her eyes were still focused on the book she almost had pressed to her face. She peeked over the brim of her book carefully, to get a secret good look at her, just to be sure. The girl was leaning on the table with her torso, her head resting firmly on her palm and grinning. She was awfully pretty, dark skin, brown hair that had hints of red, and a smile that lit up the room. Tilla was her name, someone who Veira only really knew when they had lessons together.

"Hi there," she said cheerfully, not taking her eyes off the elf.

"H-hi," Veira stammered, slowly lowering the book in her hands.

"You're Surana, right?" Tilla asked, "the one Irving is mentoring?"

Veira's heart sank. Many apprentices resented that. "That's right."

"Wow!" Tilla beamed, raising herself up on both hands, "you're way cuter than my friends described!"

Veira almost choked the surprise out of her throat. Her face went bright red. "Oh-uh, t-thanks. Thank you."

"Haha, sorry!" Tilla laughed, brushing the hair out of her eyes, "I'm really bad at putting names to faces! I was just wondering if you'd like to join me and my friends over at that table." She nudged a thumb over her shoulder. "You looked a bit lonely over here!"

Embarrassment aside, Tilla seemed like a nice girl, and here was the invitation she was waiting for. She smiled at the human mage, nodding happily. "I'd like that."

"Psst, Surana."

"Yes?" Veira whispered.

"Don't you think that Templar over there has a butt face?" Tilla whispered back, a giggle in her voice.

Veira snorted, then immediately hid her face in her book when the instructor looked over. She leaned in closer to her friend when he looked back at what he was doing. "He does," Veira agreed.

"Veira what's wrong?"

The familiar voice came from Tilla, and the teary-eyed Veira looked up at her, fighting back the urge to dissolve into uncontrollable sobs. "I'm never going to have children of my own."

Tilla said nothing. She just sat beside the crying elf, gently wrapping her arms around her. "I'm sorry," she soothed, and Veira gave in.

"Why are you staring at me, Tilla?" Veira asked, grinning at the human.

"I really want to kiss you."

Veira spun to face her, eyes wide and cheeks flaring. "Really?"

"Really. Do you want to kiss me?"

"I have for a while."

The human girl smiled. Maker, her smile was like sunshine.

Veira had to convince herself it wasn't love. It was the same for Tilla too. They found affection within each other, to be sure, but it couldn't be more than that. Sometimes they sought out comfort in other mages, such is how it was in the Circle, and next to no one believed it was wrong. You steal moments like that, in secret. But it was true that the warmest and happiest comfort came from each other, when they were together. And they were both content with that.

"What...did you say?"

Irving turned to her, concern in his eyes. He looked more tired than usual, the weariness seeming to age him a hundred years. Had he always looked this fragile? "I'm sorry child," he said quietly, "but Tilla will not be coming back."

"But..." she whimpered, her head spinning, "why?"

Irving wrapped his arms around her, as one would to comfort a child. "I am forbidden to say."

Veira did not hug him back. She did not cry. Six months she had Tilla in her life, and like that, she was gone. The blank stare was all she could muster, all she could do.

To save herself, she vowed to not think of her again.