The next week returned to a depressing side of normal. With Orion unconscious and Marcus in captivity; with Br1n only partially able to keep all the motors running and Honey dragged into an endless project, the only person who Needed her was Verdan.
Verdan who had promptly shuffled her into a team working on improving the arboretum circuits to deal with the extra light they were draining from their solar cells. It wasn't even circuitry or artefacts - her specialisations. They weren't even working with a mage-biologist, most of the effects trial and error on grown flowers so they would not damage the arboretum as is. Every suggestion she had given had been thrown against her previous accolades in a 'that would be a waste of time'.
It still stung, but the relic she has back at her flat, and the discovery of more rooms in the tower dulls that academic ache inside her and she is almost content with what she has here. Almost.
By the middle of the week she had gone through half her stash of the headache potions, and a end of week journey down to Agava is looking likely. At least she, of all the witches she has met, likes her - well means her well. She cannot work out if Wren liked her before the slap. Thalia doubts she likes her after she put her whole arm into that slap.
At least the walk down to the lower district was nice, especially with the world all soft and the pressures of the burned tower and the barred gates of the academy so far away. Cause that was another thing the attack had done; there were magic gates across the entrance to the Academy and guards who were Br1n guardians were now stationed to check passes as city council guards. So Thalia getting out of the top end was remarkably enjoyable. She had even kicked the ball with some of the children, teaching the younger ones how to use the side of their feet to guide the kick.
"The city heals as slowly as your human. My city, was barely touched by the chaos across the river." Agava had teased her lightly over the trade. Thalia had traded for a cooled drink sold just across the river from an old ice circuit that had been repurposed. Some sort of nut flavoured fruit, a couple of Starberry gems, and some spices from Saburra, mixed and frosted - and then gifted to Agava so they could talk longer.
She takes a sip, as she watches the witch carefully. "And what makes your city and my city so different, if they are truly two cities?"
"Your mages are so stuffy. Show me some life and vigour and maybe I might believe that there is something to the people we work to keep well."
Thalia had paused a moment to ask the question - "How many of the people of this area were caught up in the fire, or are now working to get it all back together?"
"A few, dear. It is not that we are sequestered down here, but you know yourself, you trade until you find community - and the farther from the mages we get, the more like minded souls we get. I'm surprised you never crossed the bridge the more I know you." Agava had said, sucking on her teeth.
"It's been a few weeks, I've always wanted to be a mage, circuits adorning my body, ancient relics under my fingers. It is all I've wanted since my mothers showed me their work. They were cave divers for the academy, and sourced all over the north of Levis, until they drowned in a sea cave that the city had sent them to explore. I was hooked on being important to the academy ever since, it is just of late that some of the friction I've held in check has bubbled to the surface."
"I still think getting out and doing practical magic would suit you more than whatever soul crushing assignment they have you on now, dear."
Thalia had been forced to pause on that, not that it was soul crushing yet, just that not all the information had filtered down to the witch before her. Valuing her council over her own secrecy, she had decided to educate Agava. "I've applied to work for Orion Valtor and VRPI."
"Oh you poor thing, you've chosen yet another yolk around your neck instead of walking your own path? Did the journey to Brambleberry really scramble your mind and path just enough to take you that direction. No mind, I will still be here to set you right."
"I appreciate the sentiment, but this was a choice I made, rather than the paths people keep insisting upon me. Even if your insistence sounds like a very nice freedom." Thalia chuckles, the laughter not quite reaching her eyes as she grips the cooled gourd tighter and taking a long sip.
The rest of the meeting had been tense, even if they did leave on good terms, even though Agava had mentioned again that she should check out the grove, and bring back the proof that had been asked for Mrs Vesperine.
Thalia was just about to give up the rest of the week, reading something fictional on her apartment's rooftop garden, when she gets the message - Syn was here.
