July 27th, 2024: Qurairu
"I'm home!" Rex called as they closed the door, and trotted into the large house-or, it felt large now that there were only two occupants.
They found their sister sitting at the kitchen table, writing with her blue magic. Her cream colored scales shone in the light, her golden spikes just as well kept. "Hey, Rex," she greeted. "What devilishly dangerous fiend did you save Frisk from today?"
"Ha-ha. Very funny."
"I mean it, Rex. Don't you think you've been a little overbearing?"
"I'm not letting something happen to Frisk again."
"And that's fine-but you don't have to glare at every blade of grass...and need I remind you of last year's incident?"
"That Human was being very rude!"
"Frisk had to use their blue magic to pull you back, and Gerson heaved up a storm so big after that...and then you were grounded for a month and couldn't be with Frisk at all."
"Do we have to remind me of that?"
"Yes," Cera stated firmly, looking down to their-although she found that they had grown quite a bit-Frisk had to look up now-though their horns still technically made them taller.
"Frisk isn't helpless."
"They've been kidnapped twice!"
"By one organization who's being hunted down like 'rats in a maze'."
"That's what we thought the first time!"
"There's more people hunting them, finding cell after cell...Rex. It's done. Let it be."
Rex shook their head stubbornly. "I'm not letting Frisk get taken again," they stated firmly. "I'm going to protect them."
"Maybe be a little looser with your duties?" Cera reasoned. "Frisk shouldn't have to worry if you're suddenly gonna leap at someone who so much as looks at them wrong."
"Not until the world's safe."
Cera groaned, thunking her head against the table. "I'm not ready to fully argue you on this, gods."
"Then let's not." Rex hopped into a chair, and looked at what Cera was working on. "Whatcha doing?"
"Applying for college."
"Huh?" Rex looked up. "Since when?"
"Since last week. Maybe if you weren't so busy fretting over whether or not Frisk could get to the dinner table without being murdered, you would have heard me."
Rex grumbled lowly.
"But yes, I'm applying for college. Psychology even, just so you know."
"Why psychology?" Rex asked as they rested their head on the table.
"Monsters are so attuned to their emotions-their physical state relies on their mental state- Knowing how to help those who suffer can prevent…" Rex looked up silently, knowing what she meant. "And who knows, maybe with enough research, people can find out how to save those souls as well."
Rex swallowed, giving a tiny nod. To prevent and save Beast Monsters-to stop what happened to their parents from happening again.
"...go for it, Sis." They meant it.
August 6th 2024: Qurairu
"...and in summary, every soul has a unique way of thinking, and responding to situations. From Monsters to Humans-and then again with the other world, thoughts and emotions have different impacts."
Cera looked up from where she sat in the classroom, watching the elderly eagle Monster move back and forth in front of the old chalkboard. There was something nice about being in the old fashioned room.
There was the sound of chalk throughout the lesson, and just the variety of old globes and maps were intriguing. Though her focus remained on the task at hand.
"Henceforth," the eagle started. "We'll be putting you in groups." He adjusted his spectacles-rather blind without them, ironically enough. "Your partner will either be differentiated by world, or by kind, due to how different Monsters and Humans are in both worlds.
"You will stay together for the rest of the year, to learn from one another, and to share your learning experience with other groups. Now…"
He started calling names, and Cera glanced about. The room was full of both Humans and Monsters. Ever since the Rift became commonly used, more people found out about it...
And with that, sprouted curiosity-and Cera, wanted to study psychology...suddenly found herself in a class that was accepting Humans and Monsters from both sides of the Rift. It was pleasant, honestly.
"...Cera-"
She whipped her head up as the Eagle squinted down at his list. "Present, Sir."
"Ah, yes, yes...now let's see here...you'll be partnered with...Emerald?"
He didn't use last names unless two shared a first name-simply out of habit due to a major lack of surnames in her Monster kingdom…
She looked around, trying to spot who he had called upon.
A green-flamed fire elemental stood from where she had been seated in the middle of the classroom. Her fires flickered and danced on her form and she turned her gaze to Cera, dipping her head politely.
"Ah, there you are," the teacher murmured. "Find a spot in the room together," he assured, making a motion with his wing, before he started to focus on the other students.
"Yes, sir," Emerald murmured demurely, before glancing around. She pointed to a corner of the room, away from where most were gathered and fairly close to the door.
"Maybe there?" she asked her new partner.
"Sure thing," Cera called, hopping to her feet, and trotting over with ease. "Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too," came the subdued reply. Emerald made her way to the corner, pulling out a small metal chair for Cera. She got one for herself, and sat in it too, putting her notebook and pencil in her lap.
"Thank you," Cera stated as she hopped into her seat, wriggling for a moment, before she was comfortable. "So you're from Earth then?"
The elemental nodded, settling into her own chair.
"This is... actually my first time on your side," she admitted.
"I'm told it's confusing to be in the different worlds...I haven't gone through the Rift myself yet, though my sibling is a frequent visitor."
"Is he an older, or younger sibling?" Emerald asked, picking up her pencil and watching Cera intently.
"Younger by quite a few decades," Cera replied. "They're not even in high school yet."
"... Decades?" Emerald asked, surprise flickering in her voice for a moment as she looked back up.
"We're one of the older living species, it takes a while to grow up," Cera explained. "I mean, they're nearly twenty two, but the Humans will mistake them for ten or twelve."
"So… how old are you, then?" Emerald questioned, writing something down in her notes.
"Thirty-seven," Cera replied. "And you? Any siblings you have to resist strangling?"
Emerald shook her head.
"Only child," she replied. "Twenty-two."
Cera nodded. "Elementals are really good with the age thing, I have to listen to the voice alone to take a guess, but after a certain point, it's impossible."
The flaming girl lowered her head, almost shyly.
"We do have one of the longest lifespans," she murmured.
"Using 'lifespan' loosely?" Cera asked.
Emerald paused, gripping her pencil tighter in her hands.
"... no."
Cera tilted her head to the side. "You're not immortal then?"
"I don't know anyone who is." came the soft reply. "I think I remember hearing about this… our Monsters can live anywhere from a hundred and fifty to a thousand years, while yours have… set limits?"
The girl's voice was slow and hesitant as she struggled to remember.
"The only immortals we have are… Boss Monsters."
Cera nodded. "I was hearing about that, but I thought all elementals were immortal regardless of world."
"I guess that's one of the things they'll be teaching, isn't it?" Emerald asked. "What makes those kinds of differences?"
Cera nodded. "With the way Monsters are tied to emotions, I'm sure it'll come up."
"Are you going to stick around for the other interdimensional classes?"
The elemental pulled at her knee-length black skirt, adjusting it a little while her flames crackled softly.
Cera tilted her head. "If it ties into my Psychology stuff, yes. That's what I'm primarily here for. You?"
"I'm… curious," Emerald admitted. "All this is… kind of unreal."
Cera laughed. "Welcome to my world?" she joked.
Emerald's flames shifted a little, but she didn't laugh… in fact, her expression was almost impossible to read within that sea of fire.
"Why did you join this class?" she asked after a moment.
Cera grew somber. "Like the Professor said, Monsters are tied to their emotions, and on my side, that can make a Monster go feral. They turn into Beasts. A good friend of the family...she turned, and...my parents were in her path…"
"...oh." a long, awkward pause. "I'm sorry..."
Cera shook her head. "It was some time ago, I've had my time to heal."
"I hope… you find what you're looking for then," Emerald managed, leaning back in her chair and taking a moment to look about the room, watching all the other groups locked in their own discussions, as if nothing else existed in the world.
"If those who are turning can be found, they can be helped," Cera stated. "And if that's the case, then perhaps someday, there will be a cure for such things." However, she kept it short. This was to be a year-long group, but she knew this wasn't helping to penetrate this wall Emerald had around her.
The flaming girl nodded slowly, then turned her attention back to her classmate.
"Then can I ask…"
August 15th, 2024: Qurairu
Cera tugged the door open, trudging in. She glanced into the dining room, where Rex was studying. "Hey," she greeted, before making her way to the living room.
"Yo, Cera," they responded, somewhat distracted-before raising their head, frowning as her cream scaled tail vanished out of sight. They wiggled their way off the chair, and headed after her-soon finding her lying on the couch, her face buried into the cushions.
The younger monster made their way over, wriggling, before jumping, and landing with a grunt on the arm of it. "What's up?"
"Busy school day...brain's tired from thinking."
"And…?"
Cera gave a dissatisfied grunt at their prying. "And that's it."
"No, it isn't."
She sighed, rolling over so she wasn't muffled. "Who's taking the psychology classes?"
"You."
"So why are you the one asking all the questions?"
"Because I'm with Frisk all the time. I had to learn to read them since they'll never call for help."
"...true."
"So…?"
She raised her head to give them a half-hearted glare, before relenting. "We were paired up with other students the other week as partners for the class."
"And? What? Got someone bad?"
"I wouldn't say that," Cera replied. "She's just...very withdrawn and well, I…" She huffed. "I think both of us were acting formal due to class, and it just made things awkward-I thought it would clear up in a few days, but it hasn't...and... I think that's going to make things difficult for the both of us, and…"
Rex tilted their head. "Why not go see her now?"
"Hm?"
"Well-if the thing got all awkward because of being in class-why don't you go see her outside of class? Then you can both be more comfortable-and go do something that isn't so formal."
"...huh. You know, I think you're onto something." She kicked her legs, propelling herself upright. "And...if I remember correctly...I know who to go to so I can figure out how to best approach this."
