Know Thyself

Hazel stayed in the healer's ward for a day and a night. Her wounds were slow to heal compared to what she was used to, but she took the time she had to herself studying and reading. It was nice not having to worry about painting a Guest or cleaning a courtyard. The cat kept her company and eagerly listened whenever Hazel read out loud.

They were currently in the middle of a gorgeous book about a rare, ancient, beautiful creature who never failed to be better than everyone else around her. Hazel read emphatically about this creature, and the cat sometimes considered, with amusement and regret, that Hazel thought of the Ancient One when reading.

"I never really understood what you dream of doing with me, once you've caught me," Hazel read. "She slipped away from him like rain. 'I don't think you know yourselves.'"

Hazel let the book lie open in her lap as she spent the next few moments staring at nothing. She gave a heavy sigh.

"Are you sure we should let that girl return to class?" Master Junzo asked as he and Mordo patrolled the halls.

"The Ancient One made her decision," Mordo nodded. "Hazel was willing to accept guidance and return to the rightful path, and the Ancient One was glad for that. Don't take that away from her."

"I never relish the loss of a student," Master Junzo sighed. "To darkness or otherwise. Still, to think the Ancient One would regard Hazel so highly after what happened..."

"How so?" Mordo raised an eyebrow.

The two men hesitated at the open doorway to the Ancient One's study when they heard voices within. Peering around the corner calmly, they saw the Ancient One and Hazel sitting across from each other. The Ancient One was holding a book open facing Hazel and pointing at different figures on the page.

"When your spells are sealed, your energy isn't really taken away from you; it's simply dormant," the Ancient One was explaining. "Imagine it being contained within you in a box."

"And to access my magic again, I just have to open it?" Hazel asked with raised eyebrows. The Ancient One nodded. "Is that how you do it?"

The Ancient One merely chuckled and set the book aside. Mordo watched on with wide eyes.

"She's teaching Hazel how to cast around seals," Master Junzo explained monotonously as he and Mordo continued down the hallway. Mordo quickly composed himself.

"Of course. That was the plan all along; with her situation, Hazel would need to learn how to overcome a seal before she leaves in the fall."

Master Junzo didn't look convinced. "But had it not been for her inability to cast around a seal, I'm afraid their little scrape would have gotten out of hand."

Mordo smirked. "You don't honestly believe Hazel could have bested the Sorcerer Supreme."

"She was injured," Junzo replied firmly. "Kai tried keeping it from me. The Ancient One sealed Hazel's magic because she had to for her own sake."

"Even so," Mordo dismissed. "That should give you even more faith in Hazel's loyalty. After all, the Ancient One wouldn't continue to teach her if she was a threat."

Master Junzo sighed.

Mordo was never one to question the Ancient One, but this didn't feel like punishment.

Once Hazel was in recovery, the masters understandably demanded she be punished for her transgression before being allowed to continue her studies at Kamar-Taj. Of course they wouldn't expell Hazel if the Ancient One had forgiven her; the Ancient One's words still stuck with them. Hazel couldn't even leave Kamar-Taj because of her situation, but that didn't mean she was getting off Scott-free.

After negotiating, the masters and the Ancient One decided that on top of a confiscated sling ring, Hazel would now spend her free time in the daylight hours helping the masters. Of course, if this punishment were given to any other student, a lesson would be effectively learned, but Hazel always loved having excuses to help others or be around the Ancient One. Wasn't this situation a win-win for her? When Hazel wasn't brewing tea, fetching books, cooking, or cleaning, she got to follow the Ancient One around like a gleeful duckling.

However, after a couple days of this, Hazel and the masters alike realized the true nature of this punishment. Since she was no longer allowed free time, Hazel didn't have even a moment with her peers, let alone her Guests. And since she was constantly on her feet running errands, she was exhausted and had no choice but to sleep at night. It was a horrible consequence for her actions, but Hazel accepted it with boiling chagrin and submission.

Of course, in the long run, Hazel's punishment was more of a protective measure than anything else. The Ancient One knew that it was only a matter of time before Hazel's peers found out what happened, and when they did know, things would become irrevocably worse.

When Hazel was allowed to return to classes a couple days after her admission to the healer's ward, she expected to be met with waves of questions from her peers. Rei and the others had worried over her, but luckily, Stephen hadn't told anyone what he saw during Hazel's time at the healer's ward.

"We were really worried when you were gone for two days," Reiko fretted as the acolytes enjoyed their dinner after a long day of training. "What happened? Stephen told us you were really hurt."

Hazel shrugged and gave her a reassuring smile. "I'm fine. I just fell down the stairs and hit my head; it's no big deal."

"You have to be more careful," Tara scolded her lightly. "I can't believe what all the masters are making you do now, just after you got out of the healer's ward."

"Haha, yeah..." Hazel glanced at the ground awkwardly.

After dinner, Stephen and Hazel parted from the rest of the group to head to the study for a bit of a catch-up session in Hazel's lessons. Hazel was an almost melancholy sort of quiet as they went.

"Sometimes I forget the others don't know why I'm here," Hazel whispered.

"It's probably for the best," Stephen offered. He knew how keeping secrets could isolate a person.

"Yeah," Hazel gave a long sigh and stretched her arms above her head. "I'm exhausted. I've hardly slept, and I have to help Master Junzo with whatever tasks he gives me-I swear he's enjoying this too much. And I'm behind in all my lessons..."

Stephen didn't envy the girl, but he waved a hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it. He'll let up soon enough. Plus, in a couple more days, you'll catch up in your classes. It'll be easy for you."

"Thanks," Hazel smiled, then her gaze drifted. Her face lit up when she found something she'd been looking forward to seeing.

"Giin!" she chirped happily as the Ancient One herself stepped around the corner.

The Sorcerer Supreme didn't seem to mind being called away from whatever she was doing. Actually, she seemed please to see Hazel. In truth, she was thrilled at how Hazel addressed her.

"Grind-tah," she greeted.

"Paaz Shul Grind," Hazel recited, bowing her head politely.

The elder smiled, but her tone was a bit incredulous and scolding. "Hi tin daargein 'Giin,' aan hi grind 'Paaz Shul Grind'? 'Grind-tah' los briit."

"H-hi los..." Hazel seemed a bit flustered, but quickly recovered and uttered a reply. "Hi los Shul, daargiin paarlaan. Mindoran...?"

"Daar los?"

Stephen watched the exchange with a complacent expression. What the hell did Giin mean?

Neither the students nor the masters understood the tongue they now used with each other so often. However, those who cared to pay attention noticed a few trending words, mainly "Haalaan" and "Giin." Judging by how the Ancient One would now absentmindedly refer to Hazel as Haalaan in conversation, they decided it was an affectionate nickname for the girl. What it meant, no one knew, not even Hazel, but no one questioned it. As for "Giin," however, Hazel's closest peers and the masters soon realized by observing the seemingly nonexistent context where Hazel continually used the word that she was using it to refer to the Ancient One. Reactions to this fact ranged from confused to appalled. All the students were taught-no, compelled-to use the upmost respect when regarding the Ancient One, and they only used honorifics when addressing her directly. Even the masters who regarded the Ancient One with familiarity kept their distance, yet this girl was using a single syllable.

The Ancient One reassured any brave enough to ask her that Hazel was being as respectful as possible when speaking in dragontongue, and that no one needed to scold Hazel or confront her about it. There was something about how she explained it, though... What was Hazel Grace thinking? She couldn't just...

Yet she did. Ever since their altercation, Hazel saw the Ancient One so much more often, and each time they saw each other, they smiled or glanced at each other. It was subtle, but more fulfilling that Hazel could have imagined. Had the Ancient One truly forgiven Hazel for challenging her? Hazel couldn't get over what the elder had said in the healer's ward. I didn't mind you challenging me. Hazel felt something not at all like pride, something thrilling. In light of her bleak situation, Hazel would relive her suffering years just so she could have the Ancient One glance at her.

Today, after classes, the two (and the cat!) were in the Ancient One's rooms. The Sorcerer Supreme was reading through an old tome that Hazel had fetched for her, looking for more information about binding rituals similar to the Tangahshii, whilst Hazel knelt on a carpet of newspapers, painting a firebird on a canvas. The cat loafed on one corner of the desk, watching the both of them between dozing.

"It's a shame you'll have to burn it."

Hazel shrugged as the Ancient One watched her paint. "It's the way to give it to the firebird. I owe him for the safehouse incident, after all. Besides, maybe, if I gain favor from enough Guests, they could help protect me until we find a way to fix this."

"That would be best," the Ancient One blinked lazily, then returned to reading. She'd been trying for weeks to find an alternate sacrifice in Hazel's place, but she couldn't find anything helpful yet harmless. She couldn't sacrifice another student or master, but even as she looked into the possible future, so far that seemed to be the only way...

"What's your favorite time of year?"

"Winter," the Ancient One replied easily without looking up from her book. "I like the snow."

"Oh?" Hazel abandoned her work to dry and inched closer to the table. She took another book off the stack on the table and flipped through a few pages. Helping, as she tried so often to do. Then she spoke again, and the questions continued. "What's your favorite food? Your favorite painting? Do you like the smell of old books?"

"Wait." The Ancient One scolded her. "Where's all this coming from? And if you're finished painting, you should go see one of the other masters for a job to do."

Hazel looked down at the table and gathered her stuff. She was almost out the door when the Ancient One spoke after her. Quit playing games.

"Let me ask you something." The elder's voice was calm and quiet. Hazel glanced over her shoulder with one hand on the doorway. "Tell me why you call me 'Giin,' yet you call the cat 'Ancient One.'"

"Because you respond when I call you Giin," Hazel smirked coyly. "It's your name to me. Geinthuriin. But that's such a dreadfully long name... like 'grandmother,' or 'Ancient One.'"

The Ancient One looked mildly, playfully affronted. Hazel continued.

"So I shortened it. And the cat only responds when I call him Ancient One, so I really have no choice."

"But you're confusing several acolytes when they hear you yelling at the cat to stop spilling tea and to get off the counter. They think I let you disrespect me, and they think I've gone completely mad."

"But they know better, deep down," Hazel hung her head to the side. "One more?"

"I don't see why not," the Ancient One smiled.

"If you could be any tree, what would you be?"

"... A willow," the Ancient One decided. "What tree would you be?"

"A hazel, of course," Hazel replied. "I'm here to commit acts of witchcraft, and I always know when it's going to rain."

"Mm." The Ancient One's gaze traveled to the window. "It would be nice if it rained, don't you think?"

Hazel followed the other's gaze to the clear skies outside. A moth on the windowsill crawled in the dust.

"I'll be right back," Hazel got to her feet, not seeing how the elder turned her head to watch her go with an intrigued look on her face.

Raindance

On the highest courtyard, a group of acolytes and a master or two saw Hazel carrying a bucket full of water to the center of the yard. Naturally, they all stopped to stare. In the time she'd been at Kamar-Taj, Hazel had made herself known as something of a magical sideshow. Now, the others stood by and watched, thinking to themselves, "Okay, what's she doing now?"

Hazel dumped the water on the ground before looking up at the sky and shouting.

"See?! It's not that hard!"

Then she walked off, taking the bucket with her. The students exchanged befuddled looks, but on the horizon, grey storm clouds were already brewing and drifting closer to Kamar-Taj.

By that evening, Kamar-Taj was soaked with rain. (Where did it come from? I don't know!) Students took shelter from the rain in the dining hall at mealtime-all students but one. Of course Hazel would linger outside, enjoying the rain and catching raindrops in a silver chalice until she was scolded for it. When Master Tashi found her, he gave her an earful before ordering her to eat in the dining hall with the others before she got sick with the cold or flu. Hazel begrudgingly obeyed and resumed her spot at the table with her friends.

"Out doing a rain dance?" Liam had to tease her when she sat down with them.

"Yeah," Hazel sighed wistfully, sitting by him and tossing her hair over her shoulder to wring out on him. Liam burst out in nervous laughter and shuffled away. The scene began drawing attention from others in the dining hall before a powerful bolt of thunder shook the building, startling the inhabitants into silence. The resulting quiet allowed the diners to hear a ruckus raising in the courtyard—it sounded like a man was shouting.

"Sir, I mean no disrespect. Just take me to Hazel Grace and she'll tell you—"

Hazel got to her feet. "This again."

She moved back out to the courtyard where Mordo was attempting to deter the intruder, a man with flowing, blond hair and a bright smile on his face. When he caught sight of her, his face lit up even more.

"Here she is now."

"Hazel, what's this?" Mordo raised his eyebrows. "You know Thor Odinson personally?"

"Of course," Hazel nodded. "He's been a contact of mine for years, although I don't know why he came here of all places looking for me tonight."

She gave the demigod an expectant look, and Thor quickly explained.

"You called me," he replied. "You asked for thunder and rain, so I give you thunder. That's how you always summon me, Hazel. You're usually in more emotional distress, though. Is everything alright? Is it something we need to speak about… privately?"

He glanced at the other man, but Hazel's face had already gone red.

"I-I didn't call you," she shook her head. "No, I'd only asked for rain this time, but I must've called you on accident. Force of habit." She bowed apologetically at the master. "I'm very sorry for the trouble. Can he stay, just for a bit? I'd feel rude to send him away without at least giving him dinner first."

Mordo glanced at Thor again, then looked back at Hazel. "The Ancient One has permitted you to invite your Guests to Kamar-Taj, as long as you're responsible for them. This should be no different."

"Thank you very much," Hazel straightened, then turned to her Guest. "You can stay for dinner. Two rules real quick; don't break anything and use your inside voice."

"Alright," he nodded, already using a quieter, calmer voice.

Thor sat with Hazel's usual dining company, since there was still enough room for the both of them and setting up a private room would be bothersome. Still, Hazel made an effort to isolate them by having him sit across from her and the two being at their own end of the table. Hazel spared an apologetic look to the others, but the acolytes didn't seem to mind in the slightest. A couple of them were staggered with awe at the Avenger they were sharing a table with, and the others just looked expectant for the following conversation they were sure to find amusing. Thor smiled at them before tucking into the food Hazel served him. He always ate what she provided with no complaint, but he valued her company more than any spread she could offer.

"So," he started. "When I heard you'd gone to Nepal for your vacation, this isn't quite what I had in mind."

Hazel ignored the foul looks from her tablemates.

"What do you mean?"

"You're a free spirit," he smiled at her. "What are you doing here at a boarding school? Look at you, you have a uniform-you eat with everyone else. What is it you do here, exactly?"

"Spiritual enlightenment," Hazel replied. "I think if I'm mindful, I can control the, uh... haunting issue we've been having lately."

"Ah, yes, heard about that," Thor nodded. "You're very gifted, Hazel. I'm sure you'll learn in no time."

Hazel rolled her eyes. "Stop it."

"So what are you learning here?"

"Meditation, history... combat," Hazel shrugged. "You know, the usual."

"Combat?" his eyes widened. "You? Really?"

"What do you mean 'really'?" Hazel lowered her chin and blushed, refusing to meet the amused expressions of her friends. "Of course. It's just for self-defense. I don't know what the big deal is."

"But when Romanoff offered to teach you self-defense, you wouldn't hear of it!"

"That's because Nat scares me," Hazel covered.

"Yes," Thor chuckled. "I do remember you saying something about how she intimidates you. How you would get flustered and flee whenever you saw her. But not because you feared her, but because-how did you put it? 'She's gorgeous. I'm but a flea in the presence of a god, I'm merely-'"

"Dude, keep your voice down!" Hazel shouted, slamming her hands on the table. Her face burned. She felt her onlookers staring, some chuckling, some just as mortified as she was. "What do the others do with you?"

"I think you should worry about yourself," he retorted. "I heard that you went up against the Ancient One."

Hazel glanced at the others in the cafeteria for a split second. Then she had no choice but to ignore the attentive silence from the others in the dining hall.

"Just a friendly spar," she dismissed. "She could totally kick my butt; it wasn't a real fight."

"Still, you didn't hold back," Thor pressed on with excitement and awe. "Summoning fifteen spectral wolves to fight with you? That's impressive; you've grown a lot stronger since I last saw you, as has the Ancient One."

"Yeah..." Hazel couldn't think. She couldn't think of anything to say.

People no longer watched her and Thor.

Hazel didn't let on to her distress while Thor was there. He could tell that something had upset her, but he didn't press her when she wasn't willing to talk about it. He figured she'd call him again if there was anything he could do. After dinner, Hazel escorted him to the courtyard, he told her to take care of herself, and he disappeared in his typical flashy fashion. Hazel allowed herself to breathe a sigh of relief before going back inside.

When she made it to her wing of the dorms, she was intercepted by Reiko. The older acolyte looked troubled as she stood in front of Hazel's room waiting for her.

"Hey," Hazel greeted, a little uncertainly. Reiko pushed off the wall slowly. "Did you need something?"

"Yeah." Reiko didn't look at Hazel; she stared at the ground, arms folded almost dejectedly. Hazel watched her friend with concern. As a higher acolyte and the daughter of a master, Reiko was usually so dignified. Now she looked doubtful, wary... and more human than Hazel had ever expected her to be.

"Was it really a friendly spar?"

Hazel stiffened. "What?"

"You think I can't figure it out?" Reiko straightened and glared at the girl. "You challenged the Ancient One."

"I... well, you see," Hazel looked around and gave a breathy chuckle. She could brush this off. There's no way Reiko could prove-

"You ended up in the healer's ward after skipping class," Reiko recounted. "Then the masters have you doing all their errand work ever since? You're being punished. And now your guest says you summoned wolves to attack the Ancient One. Hazel, what do you think you're doing?"

Hazel's voice was feeble when she finally came up with an answer. "It was a dragon thing..."

Reiko looked her up and down, as if trying to channel her father's gifts for detecting lies. After a moment, she looked away in defeat.

"I think... it's a good thing you don't have any free time to spend with us."

Hazel understood what she meant immediately. For the second time, she felt like she'd been slapped in the face.

"Okay..."

"I'll tell the others if you try anything." Reiko abruptly turned, heading to her own room and leaving Hazel standing stock-still and shocked in the middle of the corridor.

A formal apology

The next day, the Ancient One busied herself monitoring the wards and visiting the sanctums. Luckily, the sanctums and disciples were holding up and had little to report regarding Kaecilius and his Zealots. Oddly enough, things were quiet on all sides. The Masters of the Mystic Arts anticipated affronts any moment now; based on what Hazel had told them, Kaecilius had already reached out to the Dark Dimension. What were they waiting for? Perhaps there was something else keeping them at bay for now. Either way, the Ancient One tried to withhold her dread and savor the last moments of peace before the storm.

The sanctuary was quiet, but it was still a long day. The rain had passed, but clouds lingered until the sky was unpleasantly overcast. At the end of the day, the Ancient One was eager to eat dinner and retire for the evening. However, that evening, as she and the other masters gathered in their private dining room, it seemed the excitement of the day wasn't over yet.

They were all surprised to arrive to an already-set table and a rather indulgent spread of food. A couple pots of tea were set out alongside a pot of soup, fried rice, fried meat, rice balls, and a loaf of freshly-baked bread. The cooks would never prepare a meal like this for the masters; most meals consisted of plain rice and vegetables, and maybe meat on special occassions. Of course, who else would they find responsible but Hazel Grace, who was kneeling by the table and arranging a final place setting. The girl startled to her feet when she noticed her company and remained completely silent until someone else spoke.

The Ancient One knew what she was doing. "What is all this, Haalaan?"

"Haal...?" Hazel was quick to recover from her confusion. She shook her head and bowed. "It's a formal apology. I'm very sorry for challenging you earlier. And summonthing Thor on accident. I wanted to make it up to you, and I'm serving the masters anyway, so..."

The Ancient One didn't know what to say. She'd already forgiven Hazel for her transgressions, and the scene with Thor wasn't that big of a deal, yet here the girl was doing lavish things to make up for it. Or perhaps she was trying to curry favor... but what for?

"Is this chicken real?" Master Junzo asked. The other masters had tentatively moved to stand around the table. They didn't dare touch the food yet; they weren't sure they were allowed.

"What do I look like?" Hazel asked. "And it's from my uncle's ranch back home, so don't start needling me about hormones and cannibalism and all that nonsense."

Mordo peered at the Ancient One. "This was... very thoughtful."

He was asking permission. The food looked divine.

"It was," the Ancient One agreed, then knelt at her usual spot at the table. "Thank you for the meal, Hazel."

The masters followed suit and began serving themselves from the platters and dishes on the table. As Hazel gave a weighted sigh of relief, her face became oddly fond as she watched them for a moment. But then she bowed her head and turned to leave when she was stopped.

"Why doesn't Hazel join us?" Wong offered. "It would be a shame if she didn't get to enjoy any of the food she prepared."

"I don't see why not," the Ancient One smiled. She was pleasantly surprised that no one objected. Then again, more than one of the masters were aware that Hazel had nowhere to sit amongst her peers anymore. Thor's accomplishment alienating Hazel was as successful as it was accidental. How was he supposed to know to keep Hazel and the Ancient One's affairs private?

Hazel happily sat where they made room for her.

"I must admit I never took you for a cook," Mordo said. The food tasted as good as it looked. The fried batter on the fish and chicken was light and flaky, and the soup was rather plain, but hot and satisfying all the same.

"Neither did I," Hazel shrugged. "But when the cooks asked me to help them today and I found out how they were feeding you, I thought I'd just pretend it was a special occassion for once."

"For once," Master Tashi echoed plainly.

"Hey," Hazel snapped.

And they continued chatting. The Ancient One remained silent as always, observing. She considered that if anything, the food wasn't poisoned, but imbued with honesty and love. Surely Hazel was pleased with the effects. She was making a home and a family for herself wherever she could.

The Ancient One was brought out of her thoughts when a warm, shy hand pressed against her wrist. Hazel stared at her gently and earnestly.

"Koga diin unslaad daal," she whispered. (Thanks for letting me stay.)

The Ancient One smiled warmly in return. "Of course, Haalaan."

Master Junzo stared at his food. "If I didn't know any better, Master, I'd think you favored the girl."

The Ancient One raised her eyebrows at him. She knew he didn't mean any harm; he was just teasing Hazel. She considered what she should say to that-if she should say anything at all-but Hazel beat her to it with quite possibly the worst response anyone could come up with.

"Of course she likes me," Hazel stood on her knees to reach across the table. "Because I'm good at helping people. And being an ass."

The Sorcerer Supreme all but dropped her knife and fork as she shot Hazel a sharp look. "Oblaan, Haalaan."

Hazel gave the other a wide-eyed look. "Like the movie, Giin, don't you remember? You compared me to a donkey."

The woman struggled to come up with something to say, a way to explain herself to her company that was equally amused and terrified. It's not what it sounds like.

"Well, you didn't have to say it like that," the Ancient One finally reasoned, regaining her composure.

"Oh, come on," Hazel grinned. "Don't you have any more to say than that?"

"Nii yah," the other replied calmly. "Drem. Naak." (Not here. Be peaceful. Eat.)

Hazel snorted quietly, then settled down as she was told.

A/N: I cut a few lines where the Ancient One was relating parts of the Zealot issue back to Hazel. The interaction did make sense since Hazel was, at one point, involved, but it felt kind of like the Ancient One was obsessively pulling Hazel into everything. I want to be sure to show the Ancient One still has a life outside of Hazel.

Dragontongue Stuff~

In the first interaction, Hazel and the Ancient One are basically just greeting each other and talking about the different kinds of dragontongue greeting. (The Ancient One actually asks why Hazel can call her something as casual as "Giin," but still greet her with "Paaz-Shul-Grind" which is the most proper greeting usually given to a king or something.)

When the Ancient One scolds Hazel, the word she uses is Oblaan, (literally "End"), but because of the context, it could either mean "stop," OR it could mean "die." And I'll leave the answer up to your imagination.