"Huh..."

After arriving at the institution where humans were taught to utilize magic, the welcome one of the four most powerful mages received was…

"Where is everyone?"

Nonexistent.

Only the sound of Cter scratching her head accompanied her down the wide gravel path leading towards the main building. The large sign spelling out the full name of Soul's School was unmistakable. She was at the right place. The lake and green fields behind the school were the same too, just as how Cter had left them. The tree where she had farted out her first ice magic still stood tall. All that was missing were souls, human or monster. Not a single one in sight, not a single one to be felt in Cter's aura. No monster aura and no fledgling human mage aura.

Just quiet.

Cter had some guesses as to why though.

From her robe pocket she brought up her journal, flipping it open to the conjured bookmark she had placed for the week. She read the week and its dates, the first time in a month. It confirmed her suspicion with a brief "I see" which had her pocketing her journal again. The quiet around her she understood.

Understood with a gentle hint of rude pleasure.

It was final's week at Soul's School.

And she didn't have to do any!

Oh how Cter wanted to laugh out loud without any care in the world. All the stress from staying up late at night was inverted inside of her, resulting in an overwhelming sense of happiness that almost had her twirling around in the middle of the wide path with her arms outstretched to freely touch without any resistance where her worries and panic would be!

She stopped just short of making a rude gesture and blowing a raspberry at the large entrance inviting any and all to learn within its dry-aired embraced.

Still, how wonderful it was that she didn't have to worry about any of the exams being taken within the brick walls she was approaching with a bounce in her happy gait. Her mantle jostled on her shoulders as she hummed a pleasant tune accompanied with a whistle. The chestnut-brown hair swayed from side to side with each of the jolly steps.

Eventually though Cter reached the massive gate big enough to welcome anyone that wished to enter. The same one she'd stood before each and every day, mostly, for years on end. Her left arm curled inwards to get a better grip on the books she didn't have anymore. The reflex tickled her, and she laughed quietly out her nose.

"Been a while, hasn't it?" she greeted to the door as she placed her sleeved hand onto it. "Sorry for punching you with excitement last time." Like those every days, mostly, for years on end, the door opened without any real effort from Cter. It only needed her to hint at it with her body weight for its magic to understand. Without a sound, its impressive span swung open.

"If you're a late student for the exams please write your name and course on the form here next to me and proceed to the appropriate room," a slim skeleton monster informed factually without looking up from her book titled 'A Soul's Search'. Cter had heard of it before, it being a romance novel between a human and a monster. While it didn't really entertain the same shock value of its material during Cter's day-and-age compared to when it was released, it was still very well written, or so she had heard. "Points deducted for your late arrival you will have to discuss with your lecturer after you've been cleared of cheating."

Should Cter have politely corrected the skeleton monster and carefully informed that she wasn't a student?

Probably.

Did she?

Well…

First she planted her left elbow into the open palm of her right arm held across her stomach. "I might be a bit more than just late," she said with her voice lowered in pitch for dramatic effect. As the skeleton monster began to move her chiseled, standing-oval-shaped head away from her book Cter extended the fingers of her sleeved hand over her face. "I am Cter, the Fourth Monster Mage."

She was courteous enough not to raise her voice or throw out the gust of air since that would've just resulted in a whole bunch of strewn-about forms about late arrivals to the exams littering the large hallway. That wasn't the way of a Monster Mage. Promoting human and monster cooperation did not manifest itself positively with improper administration as a result of unnecessary boasting.

Only boasting fitting the zeitgeist of promoting cooperation positively.

The skeleton monster's smallest finger was left inside the closed book as a bookmark in the haste to scramble herself proper for the important guest that stood back-lit in the enormous door. "Monster Mage," she greeted with a deep bow that would've broken her non-existent nose on her table. "W-What brings you h-here to Soul's School?"

What brings her…

Cter's left arm fell down via its elbow pivot. "Didn't the message of my visit reach Soul's School?" Strange.

"Oh no no no no," the skeleton waved with her seven remaining fingers hastily enough that Cter craned her body back as to not be hit by any flying fingers that might come loose as well. "I-I meant that w-we didn't expect y-you today."

"Ah," Cter voiced with an acknowledging nod. Her hand pivoted back up over her face again. "I am pleased to see that you are prioritizing your mission of education," she then congratulated as she spoke around her hand. "The Fifth Monster Mage might just as well be taking his or her final exam as we speak. Perhaps even the sixth."

"Yes, yes indeed," nodded the skeleton monster with her permanent smile shining a bit brighter as the nods continued. "It is quite the honor to have you here during these most important days for both the faculty and its students." The nods slowed down as the skeleton monster collected bravery within her soul. "If I might be so rude as to ask you to please have your aura contained during your stay here? It is to prevent cheating. The human students are not allowed to feel with their auras during the written tests, nor are the monsters."

"It is fine," Cter smiled after angling her hand down just enough for her calming smile to show. "I was a student here too." Then she put her hand up again. "Before I became a Monster Mage, that is."

"I see." The skeleton monster put her three-fingered hand against her ribcage pushing against the folds dress that seemed to wrap around her ribs. "Well, I am guessing that you're here to see Professor Leraull then, Monster Mage?"

Cter kept her fingers spread as she answered. "I am. Will that be a problem now with the exams?" Her extreme lean for effect she shallowed as it became hard to keep. She did not have eight visible abs like Barbeqa had.

"It shouldn't be a problem, no. Professor Leraull has appointed one of the traveling mages in charge of his exams during the week. He has been asked to come visit on occasions for one reason or the other, but with your scheduled visit he's been enjoying some quiet organizing, in his own words. His office should be the same as when you studied here. Down the main hall on the left bridge, two doors to the left, then the third door on the right in that corridor, just in case." The skeleton ended her explanation with a warming smile. "Just be sure to knock, please, Monster Mage."

That the skeleton monster thought that Cter was above knocking before entering was quite amusing.

"Then I thank you for the information," thanked Cter with her right hand extended to shake the skeleton monster's, yet with her left hand still spread over her face. She hadn't really given that part of her entrance any real thought, resulting in a rather strange dilemma for her.

When was she supposed to lower her left hand from her face? Too early and it wouldn't be as important as she wanted it to be, too late and it would be just the same, albeit more awkward.

What to do? What to do?

"Script," answered the skeleton monster as her name as she took Cter's hand in her three-fingered one. "Braille Script."

Aha!

Cter found an excuse!

Her left hand joined her right in embracing Braille's three-fingered hand. "Thank you for the information, Braille Script." In it she left a conjured bookmark the same as she had in her own journal. The cyan glow was quickly noticed by the skeleton as it glowed between her bones. "As thanks."

A bright blush turned the bone-white cheeks a pinkish hue. "Oh..." Braille said with an embarrassed fluster to her voice. Her quietly-salmon-colored eyes shifted down to her book opened slightly ajar from her detached finger among its pages. "You noticed."

Cter's first thought was to give Braille a magical finger, but then she'd have nowhere to put her real one that she detached.

"It should hold for the rest of the book." Even if it was just a bookmark Cter had conjured Braille still had the vast majority of her book left to read. "Maybe two depending on how fast you read."

"I've only managed this far in the span of a month," the skeleton monster was again a bit embarrassed to admit.

"Must be a good one then if you want to spend time with it."

The blush turned the bones the brightest of red. "Yes..."

Seemed like the monster was eager to get back to her reading, so Cter decided to leave her to it. With a wave she headed down the large hallway underneath the large hanging tapestry that said–

"Wait!"

For as profound as the changed motto was it didn't really speak to Cter as much as the shout from Ms. Script stood up with her book clutched against her chest with her arms diagonal over the inscribed title. Her salmon-colored eyes had flared inside the dark hollows that were her eye sockets. Her knees were shaking, oscillating the soft fabric of her dress, in contrast to the solid clacking taking place underneath it.

She regretted her yell before her voice even had time to settle in the large entrance hall adorned with paintings and statues. "I m-mean..." she stuttered. "I j-just c-checked the c-clock." Wherever it was. Not anywhere Cter looked. "P-Professor L-Leraull w-will be making a r-round to a-answer q-questions from the s-students. It'll t-take a...while."

Mhm?

Braille averted her eyes as Cter's brow sank with careful doubt. Careful in the sense that Cter was curious too as to why the shy, bashful skeleton decided to stand up and loudly demand the attention of a Monster Mage. There was awe and respect in Braille's voice when Cter spoke to her, maybe even a bit of hesitation of saying anything at all for fear of saying something stupid.

So why did she shout like that when she was fully aware of the quiet time that were the exams at Soul's School?

"A while, you say?" Cter prodded with a tilt of her head that cascaded hair over her the edge of her shoulder. "How long would that be?" She couldn't prod too hard though as that would just have Braille sit down again and say that she was mistaken and that Cter could just head over to the Monster Professor. Braille was lying, that much was obvious, but for what and why though?

The pink flares inside the skeleton monster's sockets scrambled like confused fireflies for a good reason. Any reason! Anything at all! Her aura almost puffed the folds in her dress like a bellow. "I...uh..." Among her scrambling Cter noticed that Braille's grip on her book had hardened. A clue, most likely. "How ab-bout s-some t-tea, M-Monster M-Mage?" W-While you w-wait?"

Cter chuckled to herself before she turned around fully to walk back to the skeleton gasping with disbelief that the Monster Mage turned to return. "Sure, I can go for some tea." Cter had the entire day, after all. No way that anyone of the students would be out of the lecture halls before supper came to squeeze at their stomachs. "Thank you for offering." The pile of late forms was untouched as well. If a student was that late then they wouldn't be there at all.

"Y-Yes." The pink scrambling returned, searching desperately for any and or all tea to be offered to the Monster Mage walking gently back with her hands folded behind her back. "T-Tea." It wasn't long until the salmon colors became flickers. "Tea..." Followed by rapid streaks bouncing against the walls of the widened eye sockets. Desperately they searched, but nothing was found. Not a drop of liquid in sight on or near the table. Good, since there weren't any risks of the forms being spilled on. Bad, because the Monster Mage that wanted some tea was approaching.

What would she do!

"Perhaps the tea is being carted to the exam rooms as well?" Cter offered to the panicking monster who's dress was flowing and flying like she was dancing. With a sweep of her sleeved hand behind her Cter summoned a chair to sit on. As she did, the skeleton monster's head turned to her gifted bookmark. It was still in her hand, to her surprise. "I'm a Monster Mage," Cter reminded with a gentle lean forward before the pressure became to much for poor Braille Script. "I've learned things not taught here."

God, that felt so good to say!

"Y-Yes, f-forgive me."

By all means! Cter had never felt so...skilled before. Never felt that she's done such an impressive impression before! Not a big deal because it changed the world, but a big deal because she's changing someone's world. Smaller, but without any of the baggage that all of the world brings with it.

Leaving only the joy.

Cter motioned for the skeleton to sit down again. "Please." Otherwise the monster girl would just shake herself apart into a pile of bones with her dress acting as a very expensive bag. It was like someone had thrown an assortment of pans and pots down a flight of stair as Braille seated herself again with breath uneven and blush burning. Her grip on her book loosened, with a slight, painful grimace being let through. Cter guessed that the poor girl must've squeezed her finger inside the book, but couldn't show it.

It took a minute or so before Braille had lowered her clutched book down onto the table again. As if brushing aside the hair out of her firstborn's face, she opened the many pages left that she had to read to get to her loose finger, which she slid back into place on her hand before replacing it with her gifted bookmark. Her eyes lingered on the paragraphs spanning the length of the page, as did her reattached finger. It was as if she didn't want to leave the comforts of the paragraphs. "Monster Mage?" she asked with a reluctance that stemmed from more than just her shyness. "You...you are the embodiment of human and monster cooperation."

That Cter was, yes.

"Yes," continued Braille with her blush having reached her reattached finger. Her pinky finger. "You are." Come to think of it, was it really attached? No, not really. Her hand and her finger were still separate. To the naked eye they were attached, but the way her aura felt, and the way it didn't move with her little jostles and shy squirms didn't look natural. "This book..."

"It means a lot to you," Cter guessed the obvious. "Do you use your finger as a bookmark for all of your books?" It was a curious quirk, to be as polite as possible. "That why you only read one at a time?"

That might've been a bit too far.

"I..." Braille's shoulder were sucked in, her blades hitting each other with a silent clonk. "Yes," she answered, albeit very reservedly. "It's an original copy, that way it feels more authentic. The tru intent of the author comes through to me."

"How do you mean?" Cter was very close to having her question sound as if the was confronting pompousness.

"When...when I read my books, I don't read like you do, or anyone else, for the matter." Her hand pushed further up the page, with a gentle brown glow leaving an almost invisible haze on the letters. Had Cter not known it was magic she'd assumed that the letters were just weathered a bit. "When I read, I use my aura. I feel with my fingers on the letters. It lets me feel the full emotion the author intended. When the action ramps up the strokes are quicker, thinner. I can sense the quick gasps as they wanted to convey, both from the characters in their story, and from the author themselves. During heavier, slower scenes, the strokes become thicker and more methodical, as if the weight of the scene pushes down on the author's hand as they write it."

That was...not what Cter expected at all.

Fascinating.

"It's something that my magic isn't supposed to do though. Like having a human's dominant hand changed to their non-dominant one. It feels wrong using my magic to read, but it's the only way I want to read. When I read like that the emotions from the book replaces the uncomfortable feeling." Braille glanced down at the gifted bookmark she put down. "I don't w-want to s-sound ung-grateful f-for y-your gift, M-Monster Mage, b-but..."

"But you'd rather save and savor the emotions from your reading?"

Braille nodded her chiseled, oval-shaped head.

"Do you detach your emotions and save them in your finger? Temporarily, I'm guessing," Cter asked to get a better understanding. "Is it still a part of you or does it become like magic when you do that? It lingers? Like the magical heat after a fireball?" She was quite interested in that.

"I guess you could say that my finger becomes the fireball," Braille answered after some thought that created furrows in her solid forehead. "And the emotions from the author like the magical heat, but to me instead of everyone else."

So her finger was the projection of her soul, her magic, and the emotions from her reading were the lingering afterwards, the dust. In a way that could have been like her having made a Cooperative Connection spiritually, in a way. No physical human recipient, but more the ideas of a human, from the human author having penned the book. Was the human soul powerful enough to establish itself through written text if the author's intentions were personal enough? Could a monster trained in this deduce the identity of the human? How about a mage? How about a Monster Mage?

Curious indeed. Cter was very glad that she chose to stay and hear the skeleton monster out. Her spiraling lines began to glow too.

Cter scooted forwards with her chair to get closer to the table. Not close enough to read what was on the page that Braille caressed so carefully though. Although Cter didn't really need to read to get a feeling for what was depicted in the page's prose. She could feel it in Braille's aura plenty enough.

Almost to the point of blushing herself.

Oh boy!

No wonder the book was considered lewd and crass back when it released.

"Why I asked if that you were the representation of human and monster cooperation, Monster Mage," Braille brought back with her fingers scraping at the page to form a fist. "The warmth I feel in these pages. The warmth of the romance between the human and the monster." The salmon color became like watching the fish itself as the eyes were filled with water. A lake of hope, pouring out in a narrow stream down the chiseled cheek. "It describes a heat I don't...understand. A heat that I don't have. When the book talks about the soft strokes over the human's cheek, or the tickling breath on the monster's fur, I can't..." The fist hardened. "I read and I read and I read again, but I can't..." Drops colored a faintly pink fizzled against the conjured bookmark laid across the bottom of the page. "Why can't the next read be the one? If I just read one more time then perhaps that one will be one that has me understanding?"

Poor girl…

"Did you come to Soul's School before or after finding that book?" Cter wondered as gently as she could. Touching the skeleton monster with her soft body after Braille had just cried out that she couldn't understand the soft touch would've been pouring salt into the wound. If that had worked then she wouldn't have been in the state she was. Cter had a hunch how she could help, but first she had to ask a bit more. "Was the reason you came here the book, to be direct?"

Braille swiveled her swimming fishes to Cter. Tears had pooled in the dents underneath her eye sockets, like two small, white bowls. "No," she answered after a snivel. "I came here to learn more about the history of humans and monsters. I've helped out my professor throughout the years so he was willing to give me the grade I wanted before this exam week. Since I didn't have anything else to do I figured I might as well volunteer one more time." Braille scoffed, spilling her full bowls of tears to come raining down onto the pages she felt so conflicted about. "And now I'm crying in front of a Monster Mage..."

A Monster Mage that wanted to help.

The drops of tears hovered in stasis just above the brown-hinted letters, caught by the simple whim of Cter's magic. "That's strange," she said a curious tone to her voice. "I've seen crying from humans and monsters with fur, scales, slime, feathers, and now bones." It was a lie that it was the first time Cter had seen a skeleton monster crying, but for the purpose of her point the lie was as white as Braille's bones. "Yet the tears all look the same."

More splattered out of the deep eye sockets as the pink glows flickered like rapid blinking. "They do?" Braille replied. "All tears?"

"Yes," Cter nodded as she brought up the stasis-held drops between Braille and her. "Look at them yourself. How are they different from any other tears you've seen before?" With unbothered patience Cter waited for Braille to take as much time as she wanted. "They're not, aren't they?"

The double negative had Braille pausing for a brief thought so that she answered correctly. "No, they're the same, yes." Another pause. "Yes."

Whether it was correct or not didn't really matter. "The reason for that is that despite all of our differences, we're the same in our emotions. Different when it comes to magic, but not in its physical manifestation. These tears everyone else cries, Braille. Your emotions are what everyone else feel too. They are the same ones. That's what I have found during my time as a Monster Mage." Cter let the tears drop onto her sleeved hand where they collected into a small puddle. She widened it for the purpose she wanted it to serve. "Look at your reflection."

Braille leaned over the sleeved hand that Cter moved over the table. "It's...me?" She looked closer as if trying to find out if one drop were different from the rest. "Isn't it?"

"And do you think he would have you any other way?"

The disjointed aura from the skeleton monster imploded with haste, sucked back with bashful hurry.

Just like how Kurant's did when pressured about her and Barbeqa.

Because the emotions are all the same.

Be it a Monster Mage or a monster.

"H-H-H-H-H-H-H-o-o-o-o-w-w-w-w-w–"

Cter had to interrupt the nervous clattering before it became too loud. "I can tell," she said as she clutched her sleeved hand and morphed the tears to a soul-shaped piece of pink ice. "The cold you're feeling is not because you can't feel warmth or be able to give the warmth depicted in your novel. It's because you're afraid that it'll be colder if he doesn't reply with his warmth." Her naked hand touched her cheek. "You feel this?"

Braille did on her own blushing cheek red as a rose.

"Burns, doesn't it? No wonder you feel cold in comparison." Cter turned her head towards the stairs leading down towards the main hall of Soul's School. "You should talk to him. Maybe not directly after the exams, but perhaps tomorrow during the post-exam celebrations?"

"B-But w-what-t if-f h-h-e s-says n-no?"

"What if he says yes?" Cter retorted. "And why shouldn't he?" She motioned towards the book. "A Soul's Search hasn't been a big deal for centuries now. I have a friend back in Jarasevo that's in love with a fire monster. My grandmother is a monster too. It's not anything special." Wrong phrasing. "It's not anything meaningful." And again. "Look, it's..." Oh for… "It'll be fine, Braille." Cter finally ran out of good words to say. "Your dress looks wonderful on you and if he's at Soul's School too you're both bound to find something in common. You said you wanted to learn about the history of humans and monsters, didn't you?"

A meek nod angled the eye sockets, but with the salmon colors not moving at all.

"So go write some of your own."

And with that Cter turned down the hallway.

Because she was out of good words to say.

Plus with her dramatic entrance figured out…

She needed a dramatic exit too.