"Are you sure you're ready for your trip?" Vale asked, her hands occupied filling a bottle of Carmine's medicine, leaving her mind free to fuss over every detail. "The mountains can be pretty cold, and you know how your scars can ache when it's too chilly-"

"Believe me, I know," Carmine huffed, avoiding Vale's half-distracted glances. She tried staring at the anatomy charts lining the infirmary walls, but really she wanted to bury her face in her hands, anything to avoid the stares from her fellow students waiting their turns. As Vale's patient, Carmine made regular trips to visit, usually for nothing more than to restock her medicine and pain relievers, but if she so much as sniffled, Vale hovered right over her. Are you getting a cold? Are you sleeping enough? What are you eating? How are your scars? She worried over everything. Buried under the embarrassment and frustration, Carmine knew she should appreciate the care, but she just wished Vale could hold her doting away from the public.

"Be careful in the mountains." Vale warned again. "Walk with a staff for support, and avoid slipping hazards, even when you're inside-"

"I know, Vale, please," Carmine stuck her hand out for her meds, face red as she tried to ignore Almyra's cackling from the door. "Hurry, please?"

"Sorry, sorry," Vale placed the vial in Carmine's hands. "I've just been so busy lately we hardly have time to catch up."

"Don't worry about it," Carmine tried smoothing things over with a shrug. "I'm busy with classes and circle projects anyway. Neither of us have much time."

"We have to make time," Vale insisted as she squeezed the young elf's shoulders. "After your trip we should sit down and you can tell me all about the friends you've made…especially the one laughing at us from the door." Vale turned her steely glare on Almyra. The younger faun fled out of sight with a curse. "She seems like a troublemaker…"

"This place could use a bit more trouble," Carmine countered. The head mistress in particular, she wanted to add, but held her tongue. No doubt that bat had ears in every wall.

“Maybe,” Vale agreed with a chuckle. “But don’t do anything that would get you expelled, alright? At least not in your first year.”

“So I can start the really crazy stuff when the year’s up? Got it.” Carmine nodded, an obedient angel.

“Wrong message to pick up there, Red.” Vale wagged her finger. "I do have something for you though," she continued, opening the drawers of her desk. She pulled out a thin arcanite crystal as long as Carmine's finger. Within glowed a faint prismatic light trapped in its center. "This," Vale started as she tied a cord around the crystal's tip, "is me just being an anxious and paranoid nanny, but I'd like you to take this along."

A snapper, Carmine recognized. Sure, they had a long fancy name some instructors used, but most students just called them snappers. It was easier. A mage stores a spell within, and breaks the crystal to cast it. Carmine knew they were common, but hadn't used one outside of class before. That cost money.

"What's inside?" Carmine asked, staring at her through the transparent crystal.

"You'll ruin your eyes," Vale pushed the crystal down. "That is a little portal attuned to my infirmary. If you get in trouble," Vale tilted Carmine's chin to meet their eyes, "any trouble, break that and you'll be back here in seconds."

"Oh." Vale worried too much, but, to be fair, even she admitted it. "That's a bit excessive don't you think? It's just a little field trip."

"Humor me, please?" Vale smiled patiently.

"Alright." Carmine tucked the snapper away, a mischievous grin playing across her face. "Maybe it'll sell for a bit of silver over there. I could get a souvenir!"

"Do. Not-"

"Just joking." Carmine gave Vale a hug as the faun nearly popped a blood vessel. "I know you're just looking out."

"You…" Vale calmed down, returning the hug as she flipped between calm and embarrassed. "You little devil. This city's a bad influence on you. You never asked for silver before coming here."

"Rolderston didn't have anything worth buying," Carmine countered. "But here, there's books, components, and food. Much better food."

"You're not wrong there," Vale eased back, straightening Carmine's auburn hair before Carmine tussled it back to normal. "Have a safe trip, Red."

"I didn't plan to have otherwise." Carmine stepped back with a wave and walked to the exit. Even before she passed the doorway, she heard Almyra's snickering.

"Alright," Carmine turned the corner, rolling her eyes at the giggler. "Get it out of your system."

“You are so cute with her,” Almyra nudged Carmine with an elbow as she slung her bag over her shoulder. “I know you’re just looking out for me.” she mimicked Carmine’s voice, putting her arm around the elf’s shoulders to imitate her. “And the way she dotes over you. Walk with a staff, take your medicine.”

“Do you know you’re really bad at impressions?” Carmine started walking forward, forcing Almyra to let go or tumble.

“That’s just your personal bias.” Almyra retorted as she strutted beside. “I’m obviously amazing.”

“And you say I’m biased.” Carmine shook her head, smiling as she tucked the tonic away.

“That stuff looks rank.” Almyra flinched at the sight of the grizzly vial. “What do you need that for anyway?”

“You heard, it’s medicine. It helps keep me from getting sick. That and dulling aches.”

“Oh.” Almyra faced forward, staring down the plain tower corridor, punctuated only by wall drapes every few steps. The portraits of past sorcerers stared at them, turning an abrupt silence oppressively awkward.

Almyra's gait lagged just for a moment as she stole a glance at Carmine’s scar. One, then another. Nothing new. Almyra did it. They all did it, but they always thought they were subtle about it. As if Carmine couldn’t see their expressions fall, or hear the sudden silence. She sighed, continuing forward, frustrated with the barrier burned into her skin so deep it-

“Does…” Almyra sped up to match her. “Does it…hurt…much?”

Carmine blinked, trailing a half-step back to Almyra. “Well, it, um…hmm” She hummed, words scattering around her head. No one besides Vale and Nicholos ever asked her that. “A-a little, yeah.” Carmine rested her hand on her left sleeve, keeping her grip loose. “It's like a bad itch that I can't scratch. It stings, but I can ignore it with Vale's medicine.” She flexed her hand open and closed, wincing as her bandages shifted against the raw skin beneath. She showed her wrapped arm. “Except when we have to change these. That sucks, medicine or not.”

“Sorry,” Almyra shook her head, staring down the hall with a smirk that didn’t reach her eyes. “I shouldn’t have asked, should I?”

“No, it’s fine.” Carmine offered a slight smile. “It's almost refreshing, really. No one else ever does. They just stare, then realize they're staring and try to pretend nothing happened.”

"Sorry if I do that. It's not intentional, just…"

"It's just different." Carmine finished for her. Almyra shrugged, making no rebuttal. "Part of me understands. I'm sure I'd be staring too." A smile crept across Carmine's face. "Actually, when I first met Vale I kept staring at her horns, hooves, eyes- I don't need to list, you know." Carmine motioned to Almyra. "She was the first faun I'd ever met."

"Yeah, I know that feeling." Almyra agreed. "I’ve heard kids ask their parents why I'm half-goat."

"One actually did something similar to me at a carnival once."

"Nosy little shits aren't they?"

"Feels like it." Both smirked. Carmine thought of that boy's face from a few years back, tugging on his mother's skirt. She frowned, surprised it didn't bother her as much. "But, that's not a bad thing really."

"And how do you figure that?" Almyra raised a brow. "One actually asked me if I eat grass."

"But that's it; they ask questions. If anyone would ask enough they'd learn that we're not that different. Instead, their parents drag them away, and feed the same superstitious crap they've been fed until their kids believe the same lies. They don't realize how wrong it is." Carmine grumbled, her grip tightened against the bandages. Her skin ached beneath, each sting evidence.

"Eh, fuck them," Almyra shrugged and pulled Carmine forward. "Good thing we don't need them, yeah? Why waste time worrying about small-minded assholes?" She smiled, so self-assured of their success. "We've got higher goals in mind."

"Yeah," Carmine sighed, letting go of her own arm. "You do, anyway."

"Damn right! And when I'm the imperial sorcerer, I'll make you head witch."

"I don't think witches are organized like that."

"Then I guess that will be your job to do."

"Do not make work for me as your first decree. Please?"

"Best stay in my good books then. Come on, the others are probably at the portal waiting for us by now."

"Yeah, right." Carmine scoffed. "Emmet's mum would probably dock us marks if we're late."

"I almost feel bad for him sometimes…and then I remember that he probably has it made, and his mom will make sure he passes no matter what."

Carmine hummed in thought, not that she disagreed, but…"Don't say that to his face, he'd get upset. He works hard too."

"Yeah..." Almyra frowned. "It's not his fault…and he's alright. Not like his mom at least."

"She's crazy."

"Oh yeah. It will be good to get out of her sight for a while."

"Is everyone ready to go?"

"Yup. They were all doing their final checks at the waygate when I came to find you."

"Sorry about that, Vale really wanted to make sure I was ready."

"I saw. You don't have to explain."

"Thanks- wait. You won't tell anyone, right?"

"About your a-dorable chat with your auntie? What gave you that-?"

"Rephrasing; you will not tell anyone." Carmine threatened with a pointed look, but Almyra just laughed.

"You got it. Wouldn't want to make an enemy of the future witch of the woods. Oooooooh!" Almyra wiggled her fingers, making ghostly noises.

Carmine rolled her eyes, trying not to grin as she stepped into a tower lift. The pair rode down for a few minutes, descending into the multi-biomed undercroft beneath Reefcliff. At the tower's base, opposite of where Carmine and Adelaide completed their entrance exam, they found the rest of the circle, and Aaron, gathered near a silver arch. Complex engravings covered the artifact, so minute and plentiful Carmine felt the urge to stop and read them for hours, but alas, she had somewhere to be.

"There you both are," Adelaide called. She tapped her foot, her expression tight lipped as she turned on Aaron. "I told you they would arrive. We can leave today, as planned."

"Are you sure?" Aaron sighed, struggling to pull his pack over his shoulder. "The Riven mountains are a few hours ahead of us. If we go now it will be evening."

"Exactly." Adelaide pointed. "Why start with a half-day? We'll go there now, make our introduction and spend the night. Our work can start in the morning when theirs does. It's Perfect!"

"Perfect wouldn't throw off our sleep schedules." Emmet complained.

"Hush." Adelaide waved his comment away, looking to Carmine. "Are you fully prepared? We won't return for anything once we depart."

"Why?" Almyra tilted her head. "We're using waygate portal, Addy, we can just-"

"Adelaide," she resisted her nickname. "And It's the principle. We have to make a good impression."

"Whatever." Almyra rolled her eyes and joined Kay. Kay and Carmine exchange signs of greeting before the latter faced Adelaide.

"We have everything," Carmine confirmed, her grin enduring Addy's micromanagement. "I'm actually looking forward to this."

"That's the spirit!" Adelaide returned a surprised grin before turning to the nearby girthy instructor managing the waygate. "Professor Castadio, we're ready."

"Excellent," Castadio boomed, strolling around to the front of the arch. "Now, all of you, stand a safe distance back. Portal accidents are quite serious. Come now, good." Once he did a head count of all students, Castadio spoke to the silver arch in the ancient's tongue, similar to opening a portal, though the professor more-so described the place he wanted and asked the gate to reveal a path. A cloudy white lodestone embedded at the arches' apex pulsed with brightening light. Its glow spilled into the carvings, flowing down the arch and flooding the dias on which it stood. With a loud thrum, a black rift cut through the center of the gap, widening to each edge as an image slowly focused in its abyssal hollow. Unlike a normal portal, fraying at the edges, the waygate filled its arch with a perfect image of their destination as if it were another room in the tower, not the other side of the continent.

Carmine saw a few people standing on the other end of the portal, waiting for them. Just as her text described, the Riven were a species of rodent humanoids, covered in a layer of fur with pure black or red eyes and large set of incisors teeth. The only thing Carmine hadn't expected was their height. Most of them stood about as tall as Emmet, and he was a little short for a teenager. For a moment, Carmine couldn't help but think they were a little…cute.

"Come on," Adelaide strode forward. "Lets not keep them waiting."

One by one, the circle filed through the waygate, the temperature dropping the moment they crossed the threshold. Carmine pulled her coat tighter, a shudder running down her spine as she caught sight of the lamps bolted to the walls burning with a strange white, smokeless fire.

"Welcome to Dwerra, young sorcerers," one Riven said as she stepped in front of the others. "My name is Tarvi, you could say I'm the speaker for this part of our network. We're honored students from the esteemed Leval institute would take an interest in our ways."

"And we are honored to be your guests." Adelaide replied with a curtsy. The entire circle agreed beforehand she'd be the talker. As she dealt with the pleasantries, Carmine looked around this new land she stepped into.

Unsurprisingly, this underground, mountain dwelling culture didn't bother with any windows. Only artificial light from those lamps brightened the stone cut interior. Perfect triangular tunnels led out from the chamber, so neat Carmine inferred the Riven had to have a machine of some kind either excavate the path or smooth it down for them. Metal pipes ran across the walls, more than she’d ever seen before nearly completely covering the stone behind them. As she surveyed her surroundings a mechanical tick echoed through the mountain, its clicking rhythm showing no signs of stopping. She followed the pipes upward, trying to see where they would go when what she saw left her breathless. High above the waygate the light faded away leaving the stone roof as black as night, and yet dozens of peculiar tiny lights dotted the darkened canvas unlike anything Carmine had ever seen. She couldn’t tear her eyes away, didn’t want to as the beauty stirred something in her, something she couldn’t explain in words or thought.

“Hey, they’re all staring at you,” Almyra nudged her shoulder. “Maybe say something, introduce yourself. You know, greetings.” Carmine simply pointed up. “Why, what’s the- holy shit.” Almyra followed her gaze, and one by one each member of the circle followed suit, equally speechless to what hung over their heads.

“What is that?” Carmine asked the Riven speaker, tearing her attention away.

The speaker chuckled without a hint of surprise. “It’s one of the oldest art pieces in Riven history, even prior to our union with Vembris. Everyone that visits Dwerra has the same reaction.”

“No wonder why,” Adelaide said, regaining her composure quickest of all. “As…enthralling as your art is, I would be very grateful if you would explain the procedure you’ve decided upon for our visit.”

“Not at all.” Tarvi took a step to the side and waved to the Riven accompanying her. "These are the experts I've chosen to mentor you while you're here. I'll give you all a moment to meet each other before I show you to the quarters we've reserved. We can all get a good start in the morning." Tarvi continued, going down the line of Riven one by one. She introduced Carmine and Emmet to a quiet looking man named Grik. As the other members of her circle started chatting with their hosts, Carmine and Grik both looked at each other quietly before averting their eyes from the awkwardness, right into Emmet

“Hi, I’m Emmet.” He introduced himself, outgoing as ever.

“Yes- H-hello,” Grik replied. Carmine watched sympathetic. “I’m Grik…nice to meet you.” He shook Emmet’s hand before turning to Carmine, eyes wide hoping she could improve the situation…somehow.

"Hello-"

"Hi-"

They both started at the same time-

"Oh, sorry-"

"Oh, sorry-"

They did it again. Carmine winced. As first impressions went, she knew hers sucked, but Grik's faced curled in amusement.

"I think you and I will get along," he said with a smile, and held out his hand. Carmine composed herself as best she could and shook it.

"T-thank you for hosting us." She said, suppressing her usual anxiety. "I look forward to learning from you."

"You're a polite young woman." Grik lifted his head, a hint of surprise in his voice.

"Were you expecting otherwise?" Carmine furrowed her brow.

"No, no. Well, not exactly. I didn't know what a witch actually was until Tarvi showed me your report. For a moment I thought you wanted to learn curses or something." His awkward laugh was as convincing as his confidence.

"So you read it." Carmine looked down. The thought of someone reading her work unnerved her.

“Yup. I’ll be glad to show you how it's done, but part of me can’t help but think of the evil witches from storybooks.” Grik chuckled.

“You’re not the only one.” Carmine thought back to the circle gathering.

“Did you read mine too?” Emmet chimed in. “Are you going to be teaching both of us?

"Y-yes, uh, to both questions." Grik confirmed, voice shaky. "I agreed to take you on…admittedly before I knew there were two of you, b-but that’s a good thing, right? I think the world could use more teachers.”

“Hear that, Carmine? We’re going to be partners for our time here!

"I guess our goals were pretty similar.” Carmine smiled a little before looking her host in the eye. "So…uh, sorry if this is rude, but what do you do here?"

"Yeah, I should be explaining." Grik winced like he’d just remembered his role. "I'm a teacher for fledgeling mages. the young'uns are just starting out." Carmine started to worry. "I teach classes to a handful of kids that are learning their first spells, and I’m hoping during your time here you can be my assistants. Show them what it's like once you get going, so to speak."

"H-how?" Carmine stammered. She could barely sit in a class, let alone teach one. She preferred to do what Nico did with her, working one-on-one with an apprentice.

"It won’t be so hard. I’ll start you off easy, just sitting in to watch how I teach, then you’ll assist me in teaching the class and maybe do an entire lesson on your own by the end."

"Ah." Carmine nodded, holding her face neutral as she hid the abject terror behind it. “And th-that would involve…standing in front of all your students and- and talking…to them.”

"Exactly. It wouldn’t be much of a lesson if you didn’t."

“That sounds fun,” Emmet said, ever undaunted.

“Okay…okay.” Carmine looked at her circle. Each one looked right at home with their mentors and Carmine didn’t want to be an outlier. Besides…stepping out of her comfort zone might be good. Maybe. There could be a slim chance. “I suppose…I’ll do it?”

“Good.” Grik brightened, though his chest fell as though he'd been holding his breath. "I, uh, really didn't know what I'd teach you if you weren't interested."

"Well…I am."

We both are!” Emmet beamed. “Tell me whatever you want me to teach and I'll get it done.

"Good…Good…I won’t lie, I didn’t expect to be teaching a Leval of all people."

“Hey, don’t fuss about the name,” Emmet chirped, his grin wavering for less than a second. “I’m a pretty good student in my own right.”

“That’s…good to know.”

Silence descended between them again. Background conversations pressured Carmine to speak. Adelaide’s insistence about first impressions rang in her head, down to the demanding glare. She didn’t need to look over her shoulder to sense Addy’s eyes on her.

Carmine summoned her voice, grabbing whatever words came to mind.

"You can count on me. I'll do my best to learn everything you teach."