Lotus listened to her daughter chatter on and on. To sit here at the edge of the Blerster lake, feet in the water, and child in her lap, simply holding her as she spoke. It was therapeutic. Even if there was a familiar aura approaching to end it. It was perfect. Only bettered if Mevek knew her as mother rather than-

"Miss Lotus!" Mevek laughed happily, small hands clutching onto her face.

She was cute, so, so cute.

Yes?

"Thank you for listenin' ta me! People usually don't like to."

Lotus frowned. They don't like to? What did that mean? No noble would be cruel enough to tell her baby to be quiet would they?

Mevek just continued speaking without a pause. "They dun say it but I can feel it but you don't get annoyed when I talk! Like Ana! She dun get annoyed either."

You feel it?

"Yea. It don't feel nice so I don't talk much around people who do."

How do you know it's you they're annoyed at? Couldn't it be something else?

Mevek shook her head at that, toddling unsteadily on Lotus' lap. She steadied her baby, afraid that she'd trip and fall into the lake. Mevek wouldn't drown but, she didn't know how to swim yet, even with Lotus teaching her.

"Nuh uh. When people get annoyed at sumthin' else it feels bad but when they get annoyed at me the feeling goes all woozy and painful and starts goin' inta my back n hurts a lot. A lot!" She waved her hands around wildly, trying to show how much it hurt.

This, was concerning. Did Vaktel know about this? Why hadn't he taught her to minimise and block out other people's emotions yet? She let the man nearby hear her as well.

So you don't talk with them?

"I do! Just not lots and lots because then it starts to hurt if I go'n too long." Mevek nodded seriously, and as if she wasn't saying something sad, she stated without any worry, "I'm annoying. Even father gets annoyed if I talk lots."

At this point Lotus didn't know what was going on. Vaktel would surely never let his precious child think of this, so perhaps Mevek just, couldn't control her abilities? That was surprising considering how good she was at retaining lessons. Or just anything in general.

"But I can't not talk cuz I gotta visit the sad nobles e'ryday."

The sad nobles?

"Yea! If they're sad for too long they go onta eternal sleeps n I don' wan' 'em to! S'nicer when they're 'round being happy!"

Oh. Her daughter went around talking to depressed nobles. That was adorable, though disheartening that she already knew of it.

Mevek hopped off of her lap, stumbling, and at her questioning glance, answered, "Gotta go home now. Or else father will worry! And then he'll come ta find n come to apologise to you."

Lotus raised a brow, glancing briefly at the direction of the familiar aura. A look so short that it was unnoticeable by the small child. She wasn't trained after all, and even if Mevek was perceptive she wasn't godly. No child could easily notice something purposely hidden from them.

Why would he do that?

"I get distracted and-" Mevek slumped, sad- "he comes to apologise for me disturbin' people for long. Since they get annoyed. Father's busy so I dun want him to have ta stop work just cuz of me. S'not his fault."

Lotus just shook her head at both the words, and the way the aura that had been near started to move away. So he wasn't going to ruin her daughter's hopes. Good. That was what a proper father should do.

He's busy? Can't you stay longer then?

The aura paused at that, but then continued on.

"No!" Mevek pouted. "It's time to sleep soon! And father always sleeps with me. I wanna cuddle with 'im too!"

Lotus laughed at that, her voice beautiful, ringing out. The wind carried it like it would the music of chines, but better. It was one of the things Mevek had inherited from her. A laugh so stunning that it was enough to let the world stand still for as long as it filled the air.

Her darling daughter giggled too, affected by the infectious atmosphere. She turned to leave but-

"Mevek."

Lotus had a beautiful voice that had inspired countless stories of sirens and goddesses, but that didn't matter now. This was the only word worth saying. She cupped her daughter's face, pressing her lips gently against her forehead. After a long moment, she let go.

Come back soon.

Mevek's eyes lit up.

"Okay! I will Miss Lotus!"

Happily laying a sloppy kiss on her cheek, she ran off towards home and Lotus sighed.

She never was supposed to get so attached to her little hellion. Her little angel. It had been a dry and cut deal, no strings attached, she was even only her sire! Yet, what a fate.

Perhaps one day. Maybe she'd be able to hear the word she longed for from her daughter's mouth. It would be a blessing. Maybe she never would. That was fine too. As long as she could see her, everything was alright.

Lotus continued to watch the sky darken over the Blerster lake. This was her haunt now, and she would not leave.