Welcome to Gaia! ::

Matilda, having finished up the last of her classes, stuck her earbuds into her ears and began playing some of her favorite music. Tilly sang along as she made her way through the halls. Caught up in the tunes and lyrics, the demon really wasn’t paying attention to where she was headed. So when a fellow student crashed into her, she yelped in surprise and fell backwards and onto her butt. Huffing, cheeks reddening at the accident, Tilly glanced up as the other freshling held out a hand to help her up. She watched as his lips moved, but with her earbuds still in, she couldn’t hear a word they were saying. Frowning, she took hold of his hand and reached up to pull her earbuds out with her free one. “I’m sorry, I didn’t hear what you said.” She ran a hand over her wild curls and blushed even more. “I’m also sorry I wasn’t paying attention.” Matilda glanced down at the druid’s books and frowned. “Oh, your books. I’m so sorry. Here, let me help you…” She trailed off as she bent to help pick up the freshlings books and noticed a book on illusion. “Oh wow, I’ve read this book before. It was great,” she said as she straightened up and held it out for the druid to take.

“I love it,” Matilda said enthusiastically. “It’s so fascinating. It was really hard to put that book down and focus on my other studies. It really is a shame that us freshlings can’t take any classes on the subject.” She reached up, tugging on a curl and wrapping it around her finger — a habit she’d picked up when she was nervous. Though she tried mostly not to show it, new people made Matilda nervous to no end. It helped, a little, that the subject of illusion had popped up so early between the two of them. Otherwise she might have scurried away already. “I actually have another book I’m reading at the moment — a library book. If you’re interested, I’ll probably be done with it in a couple of more weeks and have it back at the library.” She paused for a moment, cheeks reddening when she realized she hadn’t even introduced herself yet. “My name’s Matilda, by the way.”

“Darrah…” She glanced down at his extended hand, blinking a bit before realizing that he wanted her to shake it. “I like that name,” Matilda said as she took his hand and shook it — much like the adults around them did when they were doing certain things. “How long have you been into illusion? Have you actually practiced anything? I’ve done a few things, here and there, but nothing too serious or out there. Mostly just small things in my dorm room.”