Private Tales Infections of a Different Kind

[Alouette]

Snow muffled the small footsteps belonging to Alouette. In the crook of her elbow was an old wicker basket that Squire Ulrika had been kind enough to lend her for today, filled with nothing but a chunk of bread and a much smaller chunk a hard cheese. Alouette had to make sure that even when she had the free time to go off and collect what she needed for her dyes that she always carried a snack or two.

The blue sky was without a cloud as it had snowed the day before. The sunlight was weak, unable to melt the snow fast enough to keep it from piling up. How many inches were there beneath her boots now? Alouette tried to look at the trees as a way to measure, thinking back to the spring she spent ditching training with Roki. She couldn’t tell much of a difference from the trees in her faded memories and the trees of now.

“Thank you for coming with me, Nacht.” Alouette said finally, having been quiet since they strode out of the Monastery’s gates. “I know it’s eating into your afternoon but Syr Noa was adamant that someone had to be with me.” She didn’t think bringing Nacht with her was better than her going off on her own, it’s not like he was Gruki and Arbok who made even the most primordial creatures hesitant due to their sheer size and strength. Then again, perhaps his company would be welcome not because of his abilities but because of his amiable personality.

“I could make you a hearth scarf if we find the Sunset Cicada nest. You like the color red, right?” Or was it someone else that liked the color red? Lou almost felt bad for not remembering now.

Nacht

 

[Nacht]

The snow beneath Nacht's feet crunched as his foot sank into it, a biting cold waking him up a bit more as he followed his companion. He'd had snow back in Astenvale, but the town always made it feel nice and cozy. Here was much cooler, much more wild, the snow falling and turning into glistening spots of white against the early afternoon blue of the sky. His eyes wandered around the landscape, just admiring the Valen Wilds that sheltered the knights from the rest of the world.

Even better, the sun was weak and Nacht had to focus less on his aura and got to look more at the world around him. Secretly, he had been dying to get out and go explore this new and interesting landscape, so when Alouette had asked to leave as well, he jumped to fulfill Syr Noa's request to accompany her. Plus, recently, he had decided to dress a bit warmer, putting his discomfort to the side a little bit for the sake of not getting hypothermia from interacting with the cold.

Dipping his gloved hand into the snow not being crushed underfoot, he'd pack it into a ball and throw it at a tree for no reason before picking up on Alouette beginning to speak. She had been mostly quiet up until this point, so it was refreshing to hear. "Oh, no problem. If anything, I was a bit too scared to ask to go out myself, so it's a win-win situation." He'd say, stretching his arms above his head. Yes, it was taking some time and would take some more, but he wouldn't necessarily call it a waste or himself a chaperone.

"I didn't have anything to do with my afternoon besides numb my arms and legs with some extra training." He'd laugh, giving a small grin. He wasn't sure why he had been picked instead of some of the stronger squires, like Arbok or Gruki, but his effort had paid off, so it was whatever. He continued to walk until Alouette offered him a scarf. A scarf? That was a bit random, he'd think with a slightly amused look, before deciding free was free and he should graciously accept the kindness.

"I think red is a pretty color! Thank you for the consideration." He'd say, immediately convincing himself his ratty black one needed a good replacement. "Hey, how long have you been doing this dyeing stuff? Is it like a hobby or...?" He'd ask curiously, wondering how such a specific skill had been acquired. With that, he would pet Shade from where she trembled on his head, chuckling a bit and wondering whether there was anyone who could make clothes for animals within the ranks of the Knights. "Sorry about this, friend. We'll take a nap back at the dorms, promise."

 

[Alouette]

It was easy to smile when in good weather, easier yet when one was with good company. Alouette’s nerves settled upon hearing Nacht’s assurance and she proffered a small smile of appreciation in return. It might have gone unnoticed, not lingering long on her face that was quick to focus once more. Sunset Cicada nests were hard to find, even in winter. But if Nacht wanted a red scarf, the insects were crucial for a pure, vibrant crimson. She hadn’t even realized that Nacht’s current scarf was black, that he even liked the color black, and that she had everything she needed for black dye at the Monastery.

“It’s only a hobby,” Lou said, suddenly sheepish at Nacht’s interest in a thing she felt to be rather silly for a knight. Not that any of the Knights had told her such a thing, that it was useless or silly, but when she looked at the Squires like Gruki, Arbok, and even Nacht for that matter, she could only think how silly she was. She didn’t much like the physical training, or rather, she didn’t like how sore she felt afterwards. It seemed every day she ended up pushing herself more and more, even if during the exercise she only thought about giving up. “I’m not very good, but, it’s fun and the colors help me channel magic.” She mumbled the last few words, looking down to her boots.

“You… can keep a pet in the dorms?” Alouette asked, if only to bring the attention back to Nacht and feel relieved of the pressure of saying too little or too much.

Nacht

 

[Nacht]

Nacht smiled back, having barely noticed Alouette doing so thanks to his eyes which had been forced to get stronger due to the darkness in which he chose to operate. Still, something about smiling might seem weird, so his expression was similarly short-lived. He realized just then that the tense atmosphere from before had so suddenly evaporated into a quaint feeling of...friendship, maybe. Nacht was still surprised every time he felt that feeling, given the concept of friends was such....such a new one.

"Well, it's an impressive hobby," He'd say with a grin, once again petting Shade as if to draw attention to her. "My only hobby as of late besides following orders seems to be playing with me' cat." He'd say humorously. He knew the statement was a bit odd, but he didn't care. When it came to Shade, he was more than willing to acknowledge her. Nacht frowned when Alouette tried to minimize herself, unable to understand why she'd include such an obvious self-deprecation. "They help you channel...magic? That's so cool. In that case, could I have a black one, in case it might help me control my darkness?"

Nacht listened to her voice fluctuate at the end as her attention fell to her footwear. "Why-" No, that was far too pressing a question to ask. He abruptly stopped talking and just waited, inwardly breathing a sigh of relief as the conversation restarted. "I've never been told I couldn't. Besides, me and her have history, given I created her when I was a child. She's been with me since then, and I've had a fast friend since then as well. I dunno what I would do If I couldn't keep her, really." He'd say, realizing he was rambling.

"Hey, when we find these bugs and get back to the monastery, can I help you create the dye and stuff like that? I think it'd be an interesting experience if you'd have me." He'd say with slight embarrassment, not really knowing if it was pathetic that dyeing a scarf sounded "interesting" and then deciding he didn't care. Evidently, Alouette found her hobby a bit of a problem to talk about, but the boy appreciated the offer and would not let that remain as such.

Just then, he realized that though his intention was to do something akin to helping despite his inexperience with such things, his newness got in the way nevertheless, namely that he had no idea what exactly they were looking for. "Uh, maybe this is stupid, but what do these bugs look like? That's probably the first question I should have asked," he'd say, slight embarrassment tinging his face a bit red.

Alouette

 

[Alouette]

The small squire perked up immediately as Nacht carried the conversation— a welcome change. Lou got along well with Ulrika because she babbled more than a brook, oversharing on everything and anything that happened to her that day. Alouette hadn’t spent much time with Nacht, very rarely was it that they were alone as they were now, and so she was nervous that the conversation would start to then only stall. Grateful for Nacht’s inquisitive mind, Alouette felt the anxiety slowly drip away.

“I’ve yet to try channeling darkness,” she admitted, spring greens glimmering at the challenge. Channeling the four elements wasn’t easy but it also wasn’t difficult. The more she practiced them, the easier they got. Channeling elements that were more elusive in comprehension, like light or darkness or spirit, would require a new pattern, a new recipe. It was why she struggled from deciding in whether to delve fully into the pursuit of the Wyld when faced with these challenges that the Pursuit of Flame often aided her in.

“Maybe Shade could help with it,” Lou offered, pausing to glance at Nacht. “I could match the fabric to the softness of her fur, might help with focusing this… darkness. You’d need to be present for the dying process so I could make sure it suits you.” As for the color, that would be easy. But how to separate the darkness from the night sky from shadows? A problem for another time. They needed to focus on finding Sunset Cicadas.

“They’re a burgundy color, but in the sunlight their shell shines red and orange.” She explained, still marching along the untrodden path. “At least before they mature into adults. In the summer, they’re just brown.” Alouette didn’t share that they were the color of most human excrement. “That’s why you have to find them in winter, when they’re the most red-orange. In spring, the cicada nymphs have more of a rust color.” She took a breath, a puff of warm air exiting her pale lips.

“I’m not looking forward to digging them out but they’re usually no more than a foot underground.” Lou could already picture the icy chill settling into her fingers, sometimes so cold it burned— much like her red nose. “And they can be found, usually, underneath wild onions which usually don’t sprout until spring but the casing of the sunset cicadas helps wild plants grow before the snow even thaw and….” Trailing off, Alouette glanced to Nacht. “This is probably… boring you, isn’t it?”

Nacht

 

[Nacht]

“I think I’d like the fabric to feel a bit off from that particular texture, but soft is definitely good!” He said excitedly, politely not mentioning that he only made such a distinction because wearing his cat seemed really sad. “It’s good to hear I have an excuse to watch,” he joked, quickly quieting down as the conversation shifted from leisure to business.

Nacht simply listened to Lou’s description of the cicada and felt sort of proud of her. The explanation was thorough and detailed, meaning the lady squire evidently had experience to back up her claims. A shiny red bug appeared in his mind, glowing like the setting sun. He kept pace and without realizing it smiled a bit, trying to figure some way to add to their chat.

“Thanks for the heads-up. They must be beautiful to be compared to the sunset,” He finally managed to put together, feeling equal parts happy and slightly dumb. “For the record, I think your enthusiasm for this type of thing is equally amazing,” He blurted out with nary a thought, intending the words as a compliment. Once again in a sound state of mind, he would look a bit stricken, as though he wished he could have changed his wording. “Change of topic!”

“So. They burrow into the snow, that’s neat. Maybe they’re sleeping like bears do? That word, what is it? H…darn it, tip of the tongue…Hibernation. That’s it.” He replied, trying to engage with the conversation so he would remember such knowledge for the future. He wasn’t distracted at all, simply unsure about whether he could reliably keep track of everything.

What Alouette brought up next about where to find them particularly interested the boy, about how they could be found thanks to plants that sprouted earlier than usual. He was about to continue the conversation when she trailed off and asked him if he found what she spoke of boring. It wasn’t even something he considered dignifying with an answer, so to prove instead that he was very much not bored and fully paying attention, he asked a question of his own:

“Hmm, has anyone ever tried breeding them to grow vegetables? If they help plants grow strong in this cold, that means extra food for the winter if someone were to make a garden or something.”

Alouette

 

[Alouette]

She stood up straighter, fingers no longer fidgeting with her basket or hearth scarf. Most people found cicadas to be gross or annoying-- maybe even both. Even Sunset Cicadas got a bad reputation for their summer activities. But sunsets are beautiful, and if a cicada was named after something that brought awe to Lou every day... Nacht was right; sunset cicadas were beautiful, too. A warmth from her heart spread across her chest. While everyone at the Monastery was kind, polite, helpful, and sound, it felt better when she found another like her.

Her village had created the saying, birds of a feather, but it had been misconstrued over time. Birds of a feather could fly together, but the original saying had been far more romantic. Every spring, their village would experience a month of feather fall, and it was tradition for couples or young lovers to try and find the feather of the same bird. To have matching feathers was a declaration of two pieces becoming one. They would put the feather in resin and fashion it into jewelry; a bracelet, ring, or necklace was the most popular.

"They breed like rabbits without a fox," Lou said regarding Nacht's idea. "And while they don't feed much on garlic, onions, leeks, and chives, they go through grains and fruit orchard leaves awfully fast. But they can't help it. They're just hungry after hibernating for so long." Alouette stopped walking, a strange shape on the horizon.

"Nacht." Her voice wavered despite being so soft and quiet. "Is that a giant dandelion flying towards us or am I just seeing things?"

Nacht

 

[Nacht]

“Oh, so perhaps not the easiest thing to control. Well, I suppose bug farms was a little bit of a loony idea any-” He pushed his machinations to the side, however, when Alouette‘s voice became even quieter than it usually was. "A what? A dandelion?" He parroted, momentarily confused. That question was far too specific to be a joke, nor was it intoned like one.

He refocused and looked in the direction Alouette was facing, spotting what could only be called a giant dandelion floating towards them the way a hot air balloon might, drifting lazily in the air currents like it had no other worries in the world. That made sense, though, because it was indeed a plant. However, there was a more pressing issue.

The dandelion bulb was fairly ginormous, as dandelions go, about four feet across. The stem was maybe about as tall as he was, making the whole flower cut a rather monstrous figure. However, all that meant was that the dandelion was big. Huge deal, just move aside. However, the very bottom was jagged as though… Suddenly, Nacht startled.

“L-Lou, I think…well, that it was ripped from the ground. The end looks torn, but how? It’s huge!” He rambled, looking around. Doing the math, a nine and some foot tall flower could only be plausibly picked in such a way by something even taller than it. “There aren’t many species that could pick a flower like this one.” He asserted, looking slightly curious but also nervous. It could be a very bad idea to stick around, but how else would they get their bugs?

Alouette

 

[Alouette]

The dandelion continued wafting towards them, carried by the breeze. Sometimes it floated up and looked as if it might rise up straight into the clouds, but it always managed to come back down to the ground. Lou squinted her green eyes, standing her ground despite her initial fear. Suddenly, her eyes widened and when Lou turned toward Nacht, she reached for his hand.

"I've heard about this!" Lou said, beaming with excitement. "It's not a dandelion! It's a druid umbrella! It'll take us to somewhere special, c'mon, let's go." She began dragging Nacht with her, her trot turning into a run. "We just have to hang onto the stem-- you can't let go, no matter what you see or hear or feel." She didn't add that letting go would amount to death.

Nacht

 

[Nacht]

Nacht froze up for a moment, taken aback by the suggestion to jump onto the monstrous plant but managed to quickly break his friend’s grip and match her pace, afraid his extra weight would cause problems on the coming leap. “Sorry. I’m right behind you, Lou. I trust that we won’t die.” He said in a tone shaky enough that it was clear he was trying to rationalize a clearly fantastical situation and failing miserably.

“So, just to…review.” He said under his breath, eyes intently focused upon his Druid umbrella target. “My friend wants me to jump on that. Where do I hold?” He said futilely before realizing he was so close it was now or never. Drawing one of his daggers from its sheath, he would leap at the plant’s stalk and succeed in hitting the umbrella as well as knocking the wind out of himself.

Before he could fall, he stabbed the plant as hard as he could with his weapon and it dug in as though to flesh, the stalk very graciously saving him from a fall that at this point might have been mildly embarrassing. “Uh, you’re SURE this can hold the both of us?” He asked one more time, anxiously digging with his hands until what could barely be called a handhold supported him.

Alouette

 

[Alouette]

Luckily, where Lou was short, Nacht was tall. Their hands were parallel, with Nacht's much higher above Lou's small stained hands. Once the squires wrapped their hands around the fragile-looking Druid Umbrella's stem, their hands would stick to the soft fuzz. Their palms would be able to register a spot of coolness that was reminiscent of chilled air from a large body of water.

Sparkling green eyes found the dark orbs belonging to Nacht, and they squinted in glee, even as loose tendrils of brown hair twisted and fluttered over their gaze.

"It's magic," Lou said as if magic was the answer to all things made of whimsy and novelty. They flew through the air, the icy chill creeping past their layers of clothes. Lou felt a burning sensation along the ridge of her ears and nose, and while it was impolite and rather gross in general, she wiped the snot off against her sleeve. There was a whoosh and roar of wind-- the dandelion spun high into the air, dizzying the squire as they reached the skyscape of white and gray clouds.

"Druid umbrellas are as rare as being struck by lightning," Lou said, not needing to shout as they slowly wafted through the air. It was much colder up here. She gazed up and grinned, the seedlings shivering as much as her. "Those seeds will create more but take about a century to grow. As each one falls off, we'll slowly go down until we land in a place we may have never been able to reach on foot."

Nacht

 

[Nacht]

Doing stupid stuff like jumping on a giant plant was not smart, and the boy knew such a thing. In fact, there were many things that were less stupid but still slightly unsafe that he had known not to do, such as play on big rocks and risk falling and breaking a bone of some sort. Yes, indeed, he would likely had never done this... had Alouette not been along. It was not as though he was trying to prove himself somehow worthy, for the squire viewed his friend as more of a sister than anything else, but the idea of being a disappointment and chickening out when he had gone all this way to do expressly the opposite brought about in his mind a significant and surprising sort of defiance.

"Magic, magic. Always the answer, isn't it?" He said with a laugh, deciding that it would be best for his psyche to accept such an explanation or else he might start getting scared. Having confined his logical mind to the shadows, ironically, he instead set out to appreciate what few amazing views he could see while spinning like a rolling pin. Just then he felt a burning on his face and tried to use the dark to block it out but the wind proved no merciful foe and continued to batter him. He turned away to sneeze and turned back just in time to catch Lou's explanation.

"Well, then, I'm glad we're the ones to get to experience this." he responded, having reacted to the lack of oxygen by slowing his tone and trying to measure his breaths to better keep the situation under control. Ever so carefully sliding down just a little to be slightly closer, he would take a deep breath and curse how cold he felt, even through all his gear. "Your knowledge is pretty interesting! Were you studying somewhere before coming over to the knights? I've certainly not heard of this."

Alouette

 

[Alouette]

Lout chuckled. “I guess sometimes magic seems like it is.” She agreed. “When things get hard to explain, why not just blame it on magic?” She wondered how many things she had been told that was truly because of magic, and how many things that weren’t from magic but explained otherwise. She shook her head and with a downward glance, answered, “I wouldn’t say study, exactly.”

“Though, I guess you can say… books have no meaning to me because I cannot read, but I know every bird by looking at it or hearing its song. I can tell what each and every tree is, what animal track is in the mud. So, in a way, I studied things… more naturally? By experiencing them. Sure, you could read about the stars, but can’t you learn just as much by staring at them and memorizing their sparkle and shine?” She tilted her head, noticing Nacht was cold. They began to descend, slowly, nearly unnoticeable.

“Oh. I should’ve brought a hearth scarf for you. Do you… want mine?”

Nacht