Winter 4986, 09 Ginmoth 

Lily fumed as she stomped down the balconied hall, maintaining her irritation all the way to the sixth residential floor, to a door identical to her own except with a plack labeled "Mage Vevi."

She hammered the wood and ground her teeth, waiting. No matter how annoyed she was, Lily wasn't about to go barging into someone else's room without permission. What if they did that to her? She would roast them... It was rude. And though she was confident that Vevi wouldn't do such a thing to her, Lily wouldn't treat the kindly woman in a way she wouldn't accept herself. 

"Come in!" the muffled call came, and Lily swung the door open with enough force that it hit the wall with a slam. She was still very annoyed after all. 

As a ranking Mage, Vevi's room was twice as large as Lily's and had been fully customized to her taste and personality. The woman herself lounged on a fainting couch by one of two large windows with a well-worn book resting open on the cushions beside her. She wasn't alone.

Both Vevi and Han jumped in surprise as Lily stormed into the room, "They won't let me leave!" 

Vevi tried to explain, "You just need an-"

"An escort, I know, but how in the name of Ryuugen-"

"Who?" Han tried to ask, but Lily continued to rant over him.

"-am I supposed to get one? Everyone I asked on the way up here just lectured that I should be in class." Vevi looked like she wanted to comment, probably to repeat the others' insistence that she should be wasting her time taking notes on an element that wasn't her's in an art she didn't want to practice. Lily threw her hands in the air to forestall the pointless argument, "It's already the ninth of Ginmoth, I have to send my letter by tomorrow, or the boys won't get it until next month!" 

Vevi blinked, saying, "You've only been here a week, Lily. You-" 

"I've already been here a week." Lily huffed, emphasizing the change, "and I still haven't seen the city or left the tower. You told me I would get to explore. You said-"

Han stood from the foot of Vevi's couch and spoke loudly over Lily's tirade, "I can escort you, Lily." 

Lily sputtered to a stop, her annoyance draining as quickly as it had surged. Her smile made her cheeks ache, and she ran forward to hug Han around the waist. The Battlemage only flinched a little, patting Lily's head gingerly until she let him go and bounced in excitement, "I'm sorry I yelled. I was so mad. I was scared it was going to be just like my old tower. They only let me out once a month or so." 

"Oh, Lily..." Vevi sighed sympathetically.

But Lily didn't want her pity and just beamed at the Mage, "At least here I can explore the tower, but still," she shrugged. She didn't feel the need to explain further and instead continued on to happier thoughts of what she would do outside, "I want to go to all the shops! I only have a week's worth of money, but I want to start making a list of prices, so I know how much to save. I want some clothes, and my own staff, and maybe some jewelry someday, and... I don't even know! But I want it. And I want to tell the boys all about it."

Han laughed, patting her on the head again before moving for the door, "I'll go get my papers. Do you have yours already?" 

"Why do I need those?" Lily asked, turning to tilt her head at him. 

Vevi answered, "You'll need them to get back in the Guild." Lily turned her tilted head Vevi's way, and the woman reached for a glass of some golden liquid with green leaves shoved at the bottom. She caught sight of Lily's questioning look before she could take a sip and explained, "The kingdom keeps close track of everyone who comes and goes from the Guild. It houses some of the most expensive and dangerous magical goods as well as portals to leave and go anywhere."

"Oh..." It seemed like a bit of a waste of effort to Lily, but she could sort of understand. She was still contemplating the kingdom's overabundance of caution when she caught sight of Han with his hand on the door handle and remembered something far more important. Turning back to Vevi, she asked, "What does it mean when a man says something is 'a grower, not a shower'?"

Vevi spluttered her drink all down her front and over her book. With a curse, the Mage sat up and tried to save the book but glared at the Battlemage, "Han! She's sixteen!" 

Han blushed but tried to argue anyway, "She didn't say it was me! It could have been-"

"Of course it was you! Seriously, you could have almost any woman here, or man for that matter, and all you ever do is joke and flirt." Vevi dabbed the pages of her book gently with the end of her robe, her cheeks bright red under her bronze skin. 

"In my defense," Han started, and Vevi huffed, "I didn't actually say that until she asked. After I stopped myself." 

Lily looked back and forth between the two and finally chimed in, "He said I should leave sex questions to other women, and you're the only one I know." 

Chuckling to himself, Han whispered, "It was worth it just for your reaction..." then opened the door quickly as Vevi's lifted her book as if to throw it at him, "Well, I'm off. I'll meet you downstairs, Lily..."

The door clicked behind him, and Lily turned back to Vevi, still waiting for her answer. The Mage sighed, laying out her book to dry. She seemed to be trying to delay the inevitable but eventually looked up and said, "Most children learn about sex and anatomy around twelve or thirteen. We have books-"

"I know about sex," Lily interrupted with a shrug, "Well, I thought I did, but apparently there are jokes that involve it, and I don't get those." 

"Oh... well..." Vevi cleared her throat, and Lily rolled her eyes. 

"And that! Everyone gets so embarrassed whenever I try to talk about it." She went to Vevi's desk and, taking the chair, straddled it and rested her chin on her arms, "I mean, I know it's not only for making babies but why should that make it embarrassing? If people do it for fun, then why isn't dancing, or... whatever, just as embarrassing?"

"It's usually very private, Lily... Something special between two people." Vevi sighed, shaking her head, "I'm sorry, you weren't brought up to understand the social nuances of such things..." she took a deep breath, and when she spoke again, it was with the expression and tone of a teacher giving a lecture, "As to your specific question. A man's phallus is usually much smaller when it's flaccid than it is when erect. It appears to grow in length when it hardens. That is what they mean when they say 'grower.'  However, there are some men, particularly those in the southern provinces, whose phallus is nearly as long flaccid as it is erect. They are what someone would call a 'shower' because it's like they are showing off their size before it's hard." She closed her eyes and sighed, more relaxed than before, "Men like to compare anything even remotely phallic to a penis. I have no idea why, to be honest with you, but it's common among each other and in sexual humor."

"And why is that funny?" Lily asked, laying her cheek on her arms and feeling stupid. All her reading did nothing to prepare her for dealing with society and other people, which was only being made more and more apparent as she had to ask this very kind -very embarrassed- woman to explain jokes to her.

To her surprise, Vevi finally grinned, "Because it's inappropriate. Telling such jokes marks someone as being 'crude' or outside of society's polite expectations. People like to tell them to make the person listening laugh or blush as they picture what they are referring to. Imagine for a moment a man, preferably one your own age and not Mage Han, trying to reassure you before intercourse that it really does get bigger and that you aren't wasting your time trying to find pleasure with him." She actually snickered, and Lily's head came up in curiosity, "It's hard to explain, and the real humor is in the banter. If someone tells a dirty joke, it's usually followed by an equally or more inappropriate response, often to see who gets embarrassed first. And even if those joking don't ever get embarrassed, people listening in might and that can be very funny. I hope you find someone to joke with you so you can see first hand, though I would rather it not be someone over twice your age." 

"He already explained the age thing to me," Lily assured Vevi, taking a moment to hum and think. Resting her chin on her arms again she tried to remember other jokes and conversations she'd witnessed. She imagined the Squires all sitting around the table in the library holding cards and making fun of each other, "I suppose it's kind of self-deprecating but in a way meant to be fun and not mean..." though nothing the Squires said ever sounded sexual... Not that she would've noticed at the time.

Vevi shook her head, "In this case it tends more towards boastful." She looked down at her book with a hum of thought, running her fingers over the pages. Then -humming again- she stood and moved to her bookshelf, taking out another small well-worn book. She presented it to Lily, "Try reading this," Lily took the book, and Vevi continued to explain, "It's fiction, but instead of being about adventure or something like that, it's about the interactions between people. Romantic interactions..." She cleared her throat, blushing again, "The genre is called romance, and it's about relationships, usually sexual relationships..." Lily flipped through the pages as Vevi continued, "The reactions are sometimes exaggerated but not completely untrue. It might give you at least a slightly better idea of how people behave, and why, when it comes to sex. If nothing else, it will give you more specific questions. You can ask me any you might have after you read it."

Holding the book close to her chest Lily stood, "Thank you, Vevi, I'm sorry I embarrassed you."

Vevi shook her head, "It really is silly to be embarrassed over biological functions nearly everyone does eventually." She smiled warmly at Lily and gestured for the door, "Now, you should probably get going. The city is big, and you definitely won't be able to see all of it today."

***

After stopping at her room to drop off Vevi's book, and pick up her papers; notebook; pencil; and the small handful of five silver, Lily finally made it down to the atrium.

Han was leaning against the receptionist's desk, speaking quietly to the young man there. Lily heard the receptionist snicker as she approached, but the two men stopped their conversation as soon as she came in range.

"Are you sure this is alright, Han?" the receptionist asked, "She's supposed to be in lessons."

Han shrugged, "Nothing wrong with playing hooky on occasion. It's not like she can make a habit of it." Because she couldn't leave without an escort... Lily was finding it harder and harder to justify waiting to take the mysterious test. If nothing else, attempting it would give her an idea of what it entailed. 

She walked past Han towards the door, more than ready to get out of the tower and into the open air again. "Lily?" Han called, still by the desk. When she turned, he pointed at her hands, "You're just going to carry all that?"

Lily held up her books and clinking coins, answering, "I don't have any pockets." 

"You..." Han started, then stopped, "Oh... right..." he started towards her but then made an about-face even the Squires could've been proud of, turning around and walking back into the Guild. 

Lily hissed, making the receptionist gasp. She ran past Han to block his path, "You said you would take me outside." 

Without stopping, the Battlemage pivoted gracefully around her -patting her head as he passed- and continued on his way, calling over his shoulder, "And I will, but first I need to get something." 

Lily followed with a groan of impatience, but he didn't go to the stairs, instead, he entered the shop on the ground floor, "Good morning, Rose!" he called cheerfully to the clerk, "Working hard as ever I see."

"Harder than you, Battlemage. What do you want?" the pretty Mage behind the counter answered. 

Han brought his hand to his chest with a gasp, "As thorny a flower as ever my Rosebud. I'm actually here on business..."

"If you need an excuse to get out of another date, why don't you use one of your old go-to's?" the woman sneered. 

Han leaned on the counter and spoke much more softly, his smile small but still present despite the woman's obvious disdain, "Don't be like that, Rose. You knew before you met me that it was only ever meant to be playful talk and hollow flirting. I'm interested in friends who can take a joke, not a dick."

To Lily's surprise, Rose's stoney disposition cracked. She seemed to deflate as she sighed, "What can I help you with today, Mage Han." 

"I need a bag of holding, medium. You can put it on my tab." 

Rose laughed, "You fill up your old one somehow?"

"Not even close. This one's a gift." Han answered. Rose glanced at Lily but held her hand out to Han, who presented his papers. She copied something into a ledger then turned it for Han to sign before reaching under the counter and bringing up a simple, and small, belt pouch.

Scooping up the bag and his papers, Han shot Rose one last smile then turned back to the door and Lily. He led her back into the atrium before holding out the bag to her. Lily looked from the bag to him, "But why?" she asked, shifting her belongings all to one hand so she could take the bag with the other. 

"Consider it sixteen years' worth of birthday presents," Han said with a shrug.

Lily's breath caught. A gift. Something of her very own. And a hint of guilt crept in with the joy. How could she have ever thought this place was like her tower? Already Vevi had lent her a personal -obviously well-loved- book, and now Han was giving her a present for no reason. She wanted to hug him again, but with both her hands full, she had to settle for just trying not to cry until she got the chance.

Lily shook the bag open and furrowed her brow at it then at her belongings. "There's no way both the books will fit in there..." the bag was only large enough to hold one at most and maybe her coins. 

Han actually laughed at her, "Try it." he said, crossing his arms and gesturing at the bag with a twist of his wrist and a crooked grin. 

Lily narrowed her eyes at him but dropped her notebook into the bag, expecting it to stick out a little. It fell in and disappeared completely. Lily dropped her papers and pencil with a clatter but managed to hold onto her coins.

Han snickered again, "It's a bag of holding. This size contains an interdimensional space about five feet cubed. No matter what you put in it, it won't get any larger or heavier. They aren't cheap, but anyone middle class or higher usually has one, though often second hand. There are only two things you need to remember. One," he held up a finger, "any magical item you put in it won't work while it's inside. So say I have an item that radiates warmth. If I put it in a normal bag, it will still keep me warm, but if I put it in a bag of holding, it won't.

"Two, and this is very, very important, look at me, Lily," his voice turned grave, and Lily looked up from putting the rest of her belongings in the bag. He held up a second finger, "You must never ever put a bag of holding into another bag of holding." Lily tilted her head in question, and he continued, "If you do, it will rip a hole between dimensions. And everything and everyone in a five-foot radius will be sucked in and left to float in the outer planes." 

Lily swallowed, her mouth dry. She'd heard plenty about the outer planes from Brom and Ran, but -not realizing- Han continued, "You won't die in the outer planes. You'll get hungry and thirsty but never starve. Your only hope, if you end up there, is to be killed by one of the denizens. Because we have no way to get you back." Worse was how time behaved in the outer planes. A person there could live for hundreds or thousands of years without aging, feeling only pain and hunger but never death as they floated in an abyss of darkness and stars. But either Han didn't know that part, or didn't feel the need to include it.

Lily just nodded her understanding. Tying the bag to one of her empty belt loops, she managed a nervous chuckle, "So they won't let me into the city by myself, but they'll sell these to anyone with money?"

Han snickered but shook his head, wagging a finger at her, "These have been in circulation for centuries, and it's easy to teach even young children how to use them and not use them. People don't just accidentally put a bag into another bag. Sorcerers, on the other hand, are governed by emotion and can't just be told 'don't get mad' and have that actually work."

Lily had no argument for that, so she just shrugged and nodded to cede the point to him, "Can we go now?" Han bowed with a sweeping gesture to the door, and Lily was finally allowed outside. She started for the door with Han right behind but stopped at the threshold and spun to wrap her arms around him, "Thank you." She let him go quickly, but he patted her head again without flinching.

"It's my pleasure, Lily. I know your life wasn't exactly ideal before," he sighed, and Lily painted on as wide a smile as she could to try and banish the sympathy in his eyes, "but it really will be different here, I promise." Lily nodded emphatically, then turned and ran out of the Guild, taking the entrance steps two at a time.

*** 

From her window on the fifth floor, Lily thought she'd seen how huge the city was, sprawling out in all directions. But now that she was out on the street, she could tell it was not only built out but also up. Most of the nearby buildings were three stories tall, with huge windows or open stalls at street level. "Are all those stores?!"

Han chuckled, "No, above the shops are homes. This is only one of the shopping districts in the city, catering primarily to a higher-end clientele. Jewelry, ball gowns and suits, fine furniture, that kind of thing. It's all grossly overpriced to be honest." he held up his arm as if waving to someone, and Lily tilted her head at him. 

A moment later, she fell back, ducking behind him as a horse pulling a sled neighed loudly and reared. "Woh!" the driver called, pulling on the reins and looking confused at his horse, "My apologies, good Mage, she is quite docile, I assure you..." He addressed Han nervously, jumping down from his sled to inspect and comfort the snorting horse. 

"Horses don't like me..." Lily whispered to Han from behind, eyeing the shaggy beast longingly. She had always wanted to ride a horse, they were common in her books, but she couldn't even get near them apparently. 

Han furrowed his brow at her but spoke to the driver, "It's not a problem. It's a lovely day; we can walk." He shielded Lily from the horse's view, walking near the shops and away from the road. When they were out of earshot from the driver, he asked, "Do you know why?"

"The Squires thought they could sense my fire magic and said horses don't like fire." 

Han's brow furrowed still further, making his eyes look scrunched, "Perhaps..."

It didn't take long for concern over horses to be driven cleanly from Lily's mind, replaced by wonder at all the items on display. She leaned in close to the windows, but none of the fine goods were labeled with prices. It was all very elaborate, the dresses huge and highly embroidered with metallic thread and sparkling gems, cloaks lined in fur, and jewelry of every shape and color. 

Spotting a golden necklace fitted tightly around the neck of a faceless manikin, Lily shuddered. Turning away to hide her sudden discomfort, she asked, "Is there anywhere selling stuff that's more practical?" 

"In the commoner's district," Han answered, "This way. We'll pass through the Temple and Church districts so you can see those too."

Han pointed out the landmarks as they walked. They passed the parks and fine restaurants of the nobles' shopping district and entered the Temple district, where towering fortresses like Hamerfoss blocked the sun. There were three, though the one built of white stone with banners displaying the seal of Hengist was the largest. The next was gray, and the one beyond that dark enough to be nearly black—the Temples of Saint Giorgos and Horsa. 

"The Temple of Hengist had a fit when the Temple of Horsa insisted on relocating to this district, but the Temple of Saint Giorgos overruled them," Han explained.

Lily picked up her pace as they passed by the Saint Giorgos fortress. Though it was no larger than the darker Horsa fortress, it seemed to bear down on her, its shadow threatening to smother her as she walked. She was grateful when Han didn't continue speaking about any of the gods or their organizations. He merely pointed each one out as they passed into the Church district. The golden Church of Soleil, a majestic structure with tall pointed pinnacles and kind-looking gargoyles, stood across from the much smaller silver Church of Lune and the Garden of Cathbad, which had living trees woven together to make up its walls. 

By the time they made it to the commoners' shopping district Lily's stomach was growling. Han laughed as one particularly loud grumble shook her belly, "We should get some lunch. You'll want plenty of energy if we're going to explore."

Lily hummed, fingering her bag nervously. She'd wanted to save her money. It seemed silly to waste what little she had on something as temporary as food when she had free meals available at the Guild.

"This one will be on me," Han assured her and led the way to a warm and bustling pub. The patrons stared openly at Lily and Han, though the Mage continued to smile as he held up two fingers to a passing waitress. He leaned over to whisper to Lily as she looked around at all the staring faces, "They don't see many Mages down here, don't worry. Let them look. They'll get bored soon." 

As the waitress led them to their table, Lily could hear people whisper behind her,

"Slummin' it with the common folk..."

"I don't think those are tattoos..."

"What's with her hair? It looks like metal..."

She did her best to ignore them. It became easier after she saw the menu. Nothing was over three silver and the cheapest was only five copper. Ignoring the whispers became even easier still after the food came, a meat pie.

"This is amazing!" Lily announced loudly around a full mouth, "Even better than the Paladins had! And way, way better than the Guild!" She could clearly see why Vevi said so many spent their allowance on food now.

The waitress blushed, "It's nothin' fancy..." 

Lily struggled to swallow, already piling more on her fork, "It's delicious!" the patrons around her laughed, and the waitress smiled warmly down at her, all the worried whispers gone.

"I'll let the cook know you like it."

Han snickered, leaning over the table to whisper, "I think you've won them over." Lily continued to chew, tilting her head at him and making him laugh again, though he didn't explain further. 

After lunch, he took her around to a few of the shops, focusing on clothing first. Seeing Han's robes, the clerks always rushed to serve them quickly, their smiles big but not often genuine. They also tried to get Lily to try on their finest dresses first before she could insist that she wanted pants and tunics, and was on a budget. 

"All I ever had before were dresses," Lily tried to explain to Han as they approached their fifth shop, "I want to wear pants. I can move easier in them, and all the Squires wore them." Han just shrugged. His robes might as well be a dress.

Lily didn't wait for the woman at this shop to address them, stating loudly as she approached, "Pants. I want pants and shirts," then, realizing how rude she sounded, added a quiet "... Please." at the end. 

The woman slowed but smiled one of the first genuine smiles Lily had seen since the pub, "Pants it is then, this way, miss." that alone was enough to convince Lily that -if she could afford it- she would definitely purchase something from here today. 

She could afford it, but just barely. A set of loose-fitting pants and simple red tunic cost her entire five silver, "Well..." Lily said to Han as she handed over all her money, "at this rate, I can get a new outfit every week, right? And now I finally have something besides that uniform to wear!" 

The woman took Lily's coins without looking at them. Instead, she studied the girl more carefully. Her eyes trailed over Lily's too-big tunic and down to her ill-fitting pants, lacking a belt, all the way to her soaked slippers. She pursed her lips and walked to the counter with Lily's purchases, grabbing a belt off a rack as she passed. "A complimentary gift for a new customer..." she explained, adding the belt to Lily's small pile and wrapping them all in brown paper. "And I can offer you a discount on boots if you go to the cobblers three doors down. Ask for Quibly, my brother, tell him Jana sent you." 

"I don't have-" Lily started, but the woman shoved her purchase into her arms, three silver coins balanced on top.

"Just make sure you get some boots, young lady. No one should be walking around in the snow with slippers," she shot a glare at Han for some reason, "And I hope you find your way back to Rainbow Rainments in the coming weeks. A beautiful girl deserves a beautiful wardrobe. And..." she added with a sly whisper, "you look just as lovely in pants as a dress, so don't let any foolish boys insist you wear a skirt. They just want easy access." 

Lily was still in shock over the woman's kindness but asked, "Easy access?" which made Han cough. It had to be something sexual. Lily looked to Han, who was pointedly not looking at either of them, then to the shopkeep. She was a woman, so safe to ask, right? "I'm sorry, I don't understand..." 

The woman looked at Han, who walked away and pretended to examine the rack of belts. Pursing her lips again, the shopkeep whispered to Lily without blushing, "Your greatest asset is your mind, my dear. Never forget that. But some men are only interested in what's between your legs. Make sure you only give that to someone who appreciates you for who you are and not for the pleasure you can give them." She grinned, dropping her voice further, so Lily had to lean in to hear, "And if you do decide to give access, make sure you take as much as you give," she winked then pat Lily on the butt, shooing her towards the door, "Now go get some boots. It's only going to get colder for another four months at least." 

Han followed her out, and as they walked to the cobblers, Lily asked, "Is sex really that fun?" 

He didn't blush this time and just shrugged, "To most it is. Young men, in particular, can hardly think of anything else most of the time, though it's never been my thing."

"You don't like sex?" Lily asked. 

"I am an oddity, it seems. I prefer the conversation and banter." 

All this talk about sex had Lily torn between continuing her shopping trip and rushing back to the Guild to read Vevi's book. 

They followed Jana's instructions and asked for Quibly, handing over Lily's last three silvers and explaining that that was all she had. The man scowled down at the silver but then looked over at Lily's feet and nodded, "Complementary discount for a new customer..." he muttered, gesturing for Lily to take a seat so he could take her measurements. 

He reached for her ankle, but Han grabbed the man's shoulder, then slipped a ruby ring off his finger that Lily hadn't noticed before, "Wear this. She's a Sorcerer and hot to the touch." he explained. 

Lily pointed, shouting, "That's why you didn't flinch!"

"Anti-fire items and spells are required for anyone escorting a fire Sorcerer without clearance," Han explained.

Lily wanted to growl at the Guild's lack of faith, but at the same time, she appreciated being able to touch him without burning him. "If someone has something like that, they can touch me? Like a normal person?"

The cobbler resumed measuring her foot, grunting at her warmth but not pulling away or flinching in the slightest. Han talked as the man worked, "They are very expensive, but yes. Most fire Sorcerers will save for years to buy at least one. Their only alternative is to seek out other Sorcerers. Other fire Sorcerers are the obvious choice, but if you have enough control and they have enough power, then water, air, and earth Sorcerers can usually handle the average fire Sorcerer's heat. Though you... Well, you're hotter than any fire Sorcerer I've met before." 

"Really?" Lily asked as the cobbler switched feet. Han nodded, and Lily noticed the missing element, "But what about ice?" 

"Ice is exceedingly rare, Lily..." 

"But Shon said he could touch me easily!" Lily exclaimed. Was he really just being nice? Did she burn even him eventually?

"Shon?" Han asked. 

"He's an ice Sorcerer at Hamerfoss," Lily explained, "He said it didn't hurt to touch me. Is there a limit? Would I burn him if I held on too long? Some people can hold on longer than others. Does he just have a larger tolerance?"

Han pat the air to calm her, "Ice is the most tolerant of fire and vice versa. His magic will surface anywhere that's too hot and keep him cool, just like I'm sure you noticed an increase in heat where he touched you. Water's power dissipates the heat just like mixing boiling water with cold water, too much and even they will overheat. Earth's power does similar, and they have extra pain tolerance to boot. Air's power can keep them cool to an extent, like a breeze on a summer day. Ice and fire cancel each other out completely. It's basic elemental theory, Lily, and one of the reasons you are required to take lessons." 

Lily sagged in relief, and the cobbler let her foot down. He slipped off the magic ring and passed it back to Han before going to find some boots for Lily to try on. 

"I'll try to take the lessons more seriously..." Lily mumbled, then exclaimed, "They're just so boring!"

Han laughed, "I'll check the syllabus and make sure we don't skip any you really need. We should be able to slip out at least once a week until you get your clearance. Deal?"

"Deal!"

***

They made it back to the Guild just as seventh bell began to ring. Lily went straight to the dining hall to order another meat pie and regretted it instantly. It was so very bland compared to the real thing. She ate it anyway, shoveling it down as quickly as possible before rushing off to her room to finish her letter. 

'9Gin86,'

She'd moved from labeling the parts of her letter with days to writing the actual date. It made the whole thing look unorganized and schizophrenic, but she would be more consistent next time,

'I got to go shopping today and finally have some clothes of my very own! I can't wait to show you. The shop was called Rainbow Rainments, and they specialize in simple cuts but with a variety of dyes...'

She took a moment to lay her new clothes out on the bed, running her left hand over the red fabric -the shade matched her scales- before going back to her desk. Like she was trying to show them to the boy miles and miles away. 

'I could only afford one this time and got a red tunic. Next time I'll ask for blue. Maybe they'll even have a shade close to your eyes...'