𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞

𝐅 𝐈 𝐕 𝐄

𝐇𝐞𝐢𝐫𝐬

The library is nothing but dust and near stifling silence. Briéa couldn't be any less bothered to do the work she knew was beginning to pile up. But both Aesira and Reihan, two overwhelmingly dignified students, who are bothered to do their work dragged her along with them. Not the most ideal way she would prefer to spend her afternoon.

Assignments from Telfor are the last thing on her mind as she flicks another ball of crumpled paper towards Reihan. It gets lost in the thick of her dark curls and Briéa smiles to herself. If Reihan notices Briéa's antics, she doesn't show it. She's nose deep in a weathered, ancient volume with a peeling spine, written by an equally weathered and ancient mystic. Briéa rips off the corner of a book page and aims the new paper ball at Aesira. It bounces off her sister's cheek, landing by the blue crystal she's studying. Aesira ignores her. Briéa bites down on her lip, both in concentration and to keep her giggles from echoing through the library. She flicks another piece of paper. This one hits her earlobe, exposed from her hair pulled up into a knot atop her head. Aesira continues to ignore her.

And what kind of little sister would Briéa be if she stopped now?

Two more paper balls hit Aesira, one at the tip of her nose, the other on her forehead. Briéa expects Aesira to chastise her or at least flare. But her resolve is as strong as iron and Briéa's only getting more determined. Only when Briéa aims for Aesira's eye and hits her mark does Aesira look up, eyes blazing with pale blue flame. There's no hope to stop the laughter now. Even Reihan's shoulder start to shake with silent hysterics.

In her own act of retaliation, Aesira chucks the crystal she was studying, aiming to give Briéa a red mark on her forehead-to hopefully last her the rest of the day. But Briéa blocks it, hitting it aside with the back of her hand. The crystal goes right for a glass case protecting another ancient volume of text. As the glass shatters, it shatters the silence in the library. Mystics from neighboring tables look over at them as the three girls exchange panicked glances. They take no hesitation in grabbing their books and running away from the scene. Briéa reaches down and grabs Aesira's crystal, following the two into the protective shadows of the rows of shelves, filled floor to ceiling with books.

Master Ungu's cries of shock can be heard throughout the entire library. Aesira leads them through the maze of shelves and by the time Master Ungu would realize the culprit, they're long gone from the library. When it's safe enough, Briéa hollers out a laugh.

"That was entirely your fault!" Aesira scolds, trying to get the bag on her shoulder situated.

"Yeah, yeah, they'll figure it out and I'll have a week's detention." She looks over to see her older sister's flustered face and laughs again. "So worth it." Aesira hits Briéa's shoulder with a book. She still doesn't feel regret.

"One day, you ought to try growing up." A scowl settles on Aesira's face as Reihan's laughs match with Briéa's.

"Only when I have to." The eldest rolls her eyes.

Ahead, a head of bright red hair rounds the corner. Daskel strides over to them, lanky legs closing the distance relatively fast, limbs swinging at his sides. A smile, that Briéa can't stop, spreads across her face as she sees him. With a giddy bounce in her step, she greets Daskel with a hug and a kiss.

"Dask, you missed it! Aesira wrecked a display in-"

"I did not!"

"Master Ungu is throwing an impressive fit, best not to head in there for a bit and-"

Now it's Daskel who stops her, "As much as I want to hear the story, you'll have to tell me later today. Zaarin's looking for you, he's out in the courtyard." Briéa pouts at that. She hasn't seen Daskel all day and now she has to leave?