She had been practicing. For hours, days, weeks even months but the frustration has weighed her down. Her master laughs, amused at how disgruntled she is. The witch told her that it comes with pure concentration. But the spell keeps sending her backwards with a gush of cold air and a bite of frost.

Torrent goes to her, gently shoving his muzzle to the side of her face. She pats his cheeks, conveying that his comfort is well received.

"Thou hast improved." Says her master, beckoning Torrent to her, "Hastier than usual, though."

She watches the snow witch climb atop the spectral steed with ease. She fixes her pointed hat and grasps Torrent's reigns.

"I hath thought that thou would provide me with sound advice" She tries not to let her disappointment show. Years of being the spoiled child clinging to her. Rennala and Radagon's constant mollycoddling, sees to that.

"I've taught you everything I know. What else is there to teach?"

Ranni bites her tongue. Honestly, she does not know as well. She tried incorporating all she knows, almost everything from the spells she had mastered as a child to the most complicated ones found in ancient tomes.

"You're brilliant, Lunar Princess Ranni." Her master clicks her tongue, urging Torrent to walk past her. They dissipate into tiny blue snowflakes leaving Ranni with the echo of her voice, "Just like your mother."


She wanders around instead of heading straight for the Carian Manor. Blaidd, thankfully, was not able to tail her when she left. Aimlessly, she walks for a time the sound of twigs and fallen leaves under her steps accompanying her. It does nothing however to quell her irritation.

She reaches a familiar settlement. She makes no effort to shield her presence, nowhere in the mood to indulge herself to tricks.

"Lady Ranni?" as impeccable as ever Vaughn stands just a few feet away, hurrying to her. "It is late. What brings you here?"

She says nothing in return, afraid that she might say something to offend him because of her childish ire.

There's a tug on her hands, the feel of Vaughn's familiar callouses on her palms somehow calming her. He leads her inside his home. It was bare save for the bed, wooden chest, and large Zweihander leaning on the wall near the bed. She takes a mental note. The crest engraved on the greatsword's scabbard unclear looking through the dimly lit quarters.

Ranni finds herself seated on the bed. He sifts through the chest until he pulls out a satchel.

Vaughn places a basin with a small washcloth beside her feet, the satchel around his abdomen. He kneels on one knee before her, inspecting both her hands. She finally noticed the scars and bruises littering her hands. Ranni thinks back on how she shielded herself without conjuring a barrier.

She stops herself from telling him that lesions like these heal easily in a few days. He wipes away the dried blood and dirt on her palms, the cool cloth providing comfort. His tender touches tickling her.

"I do not mean to pry." Vaughn opens a canister, the smell of mint and Rowa fruit wafts in the air, "But… what happened, My Lady?"

She laughs, mirthless, "A spell gone awry, my dear."

She lets out a small gasp. The endearment slipped past her lips naturally. Even Vaughn's ministrations stopped. She can see him suck in a breath, "I see."

She pushes on, trying to fill in the silence she caused, "Thou might find this unwise. But I am recreating an image."

Ranni feels Vaughn's hand hover on her palms again, "My mother and I encountered this visage. Young was I led by her hand."

Vaughn hums, indicating she still has his attention.

"It is one of my fondest memories, and I wish to see it reanimated even through a spell."

He glances up to her, a shy smile in place. His small nods urge her to continue. It comes to her only now that he is somewhat pleasing to the eyes.

"I've tried for many moons now. I've integrated everything I learned but to no avail. But it shatters mere moments before it could fully form." By the time she finished, he's already tightening the bandages on her hands.

"Lady Ranni, if I may be so bold to share something."

She nods rather stiffly. There's something calming about him that elicit an immediate response from her.

"I know little of sorcery. I can conjure the usual pebble."

"What I do know is of faith." A golden aura surrounds them. Sigils from the Erdtree flashes before her eyes, "Envision it is what you want to conjure. Remember how you felt upon seeing it the first time. The magic is from you, it lashes out because you're unsure on how to form it."

What stares back at her is a pair of resplendent eyes, those which lure her in her dreams.

As quick as the incantation was, all light was drained from the room. All she hears was his soft laugh, "I may have wanted to show off, My Lady. Forgive this fool."

Her mouth quirked upward. The mien she saw moments ago definitely was pleasing to the eyes.