Chapter Text
The room in which the traveler found herself was painfully, oppressively silent.
Where yesterday the wide hall had been filled with laughter and dancing, bright colors and pleasing scents flittering through the air in time with joyous music, today the air seemed still, frozen, as though the world itself held its breath. She paced impatiently in a measured line along the floor, four hurried steps forward, pausing on the heel of her boot before spinning in place and taking four quick steps back. Once more she glanced up at the double doors that led to the room beyond, frowning at their impassive stillness.
A weak, warbling gurgle came from the small basket atop the uneven wooden table - one of its legs was just a hair too short and wobbled terribly - and she rushed over to the pile of blankets within, parting them to reveal an infant girl, her face scrunched up in obvious displeasure as the beginnings of a cry bubbled up in her throat.
“Hush now, little one.” She whispered soothingly, reaching down to pick the baby up and gently rock it in her arms. “All is well, and all will be mended.”
The child calmed somewhat at the gesture, but squirmed away from her, nose wrinkling in confusion. Belatedly, The Traveler realized the source of the infants dissatisfaction, and she quickly removed her hood and mask, tucking the slim black covering, embossed with a gilded circle, into the pocket of her robes. Shining, sapphire blue irises peered down at the girl with warmth pooling in their depths. The peoples beyond Amaurot did not share her home’s preference towards uniformity, and often, she traveled without her face covered in an effort to endear herself to the varied peoples of their star. Today, however, she had opted to hold fast to the trappings of her office, hoping their authority might ease the tension of her difficult work. The child calmed, her own eyes searching The Traveler’s curiously, carefully tracing the lines and shapes of her face.
“There, that’s better, isn’t it?” She cooed, and the infant remained transfixed by her smiling expression, lips curling upwards to mirror her own. “What a lovely smile, little one. How blessed I am for you to share it!” The Traveler’s soft, soothing voice delighted the girl, and she laughed, bright shrieks of delight echoing in the previously silent room.
So charmed was she by the endearing sound that she almost did not hear the doors open at last as an elderly man and woman strode in, their matching mustard yellow robes fluttering with each step. The man eyed The Traveler carefully, eye flicking between her uncovered face and the babe still in her arms as his mouth drew into a tight line. His companion gave no indication that she was troubled, however, and greeted their guest with a wide smile and a low bow.
“Good morning, Lady Azem, I am pleased this day finds you well.” She offered in a smooth, silken voice. “May it please you that we have concluded our examination of the accident.”
Fighting the urge to frown, Azem nodded at the pair, focusing her attention on the more amiable of the two. “It does.” She returned evenly. “Though it would hearten me if I too could examine the area where-”
“Once more, I am afraid that is impossible.” The man interrupted, his expression growing stern. “We have come to our conclusion.”
“Is that so?” Azem replied, a vein in her forehead twitching faintly as she struggled to remain polite.
“It is.” He shot back, and the pair stared expectantly at one other for a moment as displeased silence filled the room.
“My apologies, Lady Azem,” the woman interjected once more, shaking her head as the wide, placating smile never left her lips, “it would seem that the couple in question were conducting research of an unethical nature.” Azem did frown at that, her brow furrowing as she regarded the elders across from her.
“If I may ask-?”
“You may not.” The man scowled, crossing his arms disagreeably. “It was all destroyed, we don’t have a clue about the details.” He shrugged, huffing a short breath through his nose. “Which means our business is concluded here. Have a safe trip back to the city.”
“It most certainly is not.” The Traveler intoned sternly, her frown deepening. “You kept nothing of their records? No indication of what it was they were studying?”
The woman bowed low once more, wringing her hands in front of her. “My sincerest apologies, but we did not; what little survived the accident was disposed of once its inappropriate nature was discovered. I fear I can offer you no more information than that.”
Azem sighed, reaching up to rub her temple when a tug on one of her wavy, white locks drew her attention back to the child in her arms. The girl grasped at an errant string of her long hair, pulling it into her mouth to teeth on.
“What of the child?” She asked, her eyes narrowing at the way both elders stiffened. “Its clear that she is uniquely gifted with creation magicks - to have used them to unconsciously protect herself at such an age? ‘Tis unheard of.” That it was largely unheard of because such accidents did not occur in Amaurot, she did not state, but from the way the man’s scowl deepened she suspected the implication was understood. “Who will care for her?”
The pair glanced at one another, uncertainty finally creeping through their placid facades. The Traveler felt herself grow increasingly irritated as their silence stretched onwards, arching a single eyebrow in silent question. Reluctantly, the woman cleared her throat, wringing her hands as she chewed on the inside of her cheek.
“As far as we know, there are no others here who can take the child in…” She began haltingly, pausing as her eyes flickered to the bundle in Azem’s arms, and The Traveler unconsciously gripped the girl tighter. “… All other remains of Porta and Ataius’ experiments were disposed of.” She finished at last, her eyes rising to meet Azem’s defiantly. “We believe that is the safest way to-”
“She’s an infant!” The white-haired woman shouted, feeling her temper rising past the boiling point and casting all propriety aside. “That I have been forced to endure your uncooperativeness until now I can forgive, but this!?” She scowled fiercely at the defensiveness in the elders’ expressions, baring her teeth in frustration. “This I will not allow.”
The child stirred at the rise in voices, a small, high-pitched wail bubbling up in her throat as she began to fuss and cry. Instantly the anger drained from Azem’s face as she returned her attention to the swaddled infant, gently rocking her and hushing soothingly. She heard an irritated huff from the pair in front of her, and her eyes flicked back to the man in annoyance as he threw his arms up angrily.
“Fine, then.” He sighed in exasperation before gesturing at her with a scowl. “You take it. Bring it back to the grand and mighty Amaurot and let your fellows fuss over the blasted thing.”
“Elrose!” The woman hissed, shooting her companion a fierce glare, but he did not wither under her gaze.
Azem returned her attention to the crying child, her expression softening as the girl reached up for her, tears welling in her tiny eyes. Her heart broke for the babe, and she cooed soothingly as she brought her close, the infant calming slightly as she pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. Still sniffling, the child reached up, grasping at the errant strand of white hair once more, gripping it fiercely with her diminutive fingers as her wide, sky-blue eyes peered up at The Traveler’s own. In an instant, her decision was made, and she clutched the girl tightly to her breast.
“Very well.” She intoned gravely, and the elders ceased their whispered argument, eyebrows raised in surprise. “I will care for the girl.”