Kyril leaned closer to get a better look at the small creature inside of the cage. “So this is an averin?” She questioned as she studied the strange looking winged creature who clicked its beak at her almost happily. I suppose it is kind of cute. She admitted to herself as she passed a dried fruit through the smaller door of the cage. The averin made a cooing noise as it took the fruit from her hands and nibbled at the treat. “Why did they send you only one though? I thought that they were sociable creatures?” If they were like the songbirds that her mother had when she was growing back up in Matori then they should have at least been two other ones if not three to keep the little one company. The thought made Kyril frown slightly as she reached through the cage doors to take the averin in her hands. When it made a loud noise at her in surprise the hybrid laughed. “Seems like you’re better at squawking than at singing like my mother’s birds.” If she could even call the creature a bird truly. It reminded her almost of a rodent or something mixed with one. The feathers were creamy with golden tips and the averin’s eyes were a gentle blue which Kyril found pretty but it was definitely something to get accustomed to seeing. As she glanced away from the averin, the artisan sought out her mentor who had been watching her this whole time. “You’re awfully quiet.”

“Just letting you see him.” Replied the Oban with a small grin. “Honestly I was not expecting my client from overseas to want to send such a gift and I don’t know if I have the time to keep such a creature company. What do you think?”

Another laugh left Kyril’s lips. “So you’re trying to see if I’ll take care of it for you? I really wish your client had sent some sort of notice or at least asked before sending the averin. I suppose I can help keep it company until they send another or two? That way they can at least keep each other occupied while we’re working.”

“That or I could just send you overseas.”

Kyril was playing with the averin and it took a moment for her mentor’s words to register. “Send me?” She repeated glancing back towards the Oban woman who was staring at her intently. “Why?” Why would she leave Oba? She hadn’t been in any other country save for Matori since she was a youngling and even those travel memories were fuzzy now that she was a young adult. Koril was the one who constantly traveled, not her.

“It wouldn’t be for long but there’s an artisan that wanted to meet you. He’s older and not quite up to air travel yet.” Her mentor gave a slight shrug of her shoulders. “Heard about my apprentice and wanted to see if he could share some knowledge. I’m a bit too old to go and learn new things with how busy I am in Oba alone.”

“I don’t know what to say.” Kyril found herself moving towards a bench in the workroom and sitting down with the averin nestled on her lap, her silk skirts a perfect place for it to curl up and rest. “Are you sure you want me to go? I don’t even know the first thing about traveling overseas….I mean I wanted to go once but then I realized that I was just running away from some personal problems instead.” She flushed lightly at the confession as she ran a finger lightly across the averin’s back. “Belrea sounds amazing but I never thought I would travel there.”

“Well start thinking. You’re young and should be expanding your horizons. I feel that you’ve learned quite enough from me already.” Her mentor gestured towards the shelves lined with Kyril’s own glassworks. “I want you to grow so that you can surpass me one day. Who would have imagined my own apprentice getting to learn from a new country like Belrea?”

“You truly think I won’t disgrace you by going overseas? I’m so afraid that I won’t show them how truly amazing your style of art is.” Admitted Kyril softly as she kept her gaze on the averin, almost as if too afraid to face her mentor’s expression. Still it was only a moment later that the older woman crossed the workshop and placed a gentle hand on Kyril’s shoulder.

“I believe in you Kyril. So think about it?”

Kyril bit her bottom lip thoughtfully before giving a slow nod. “I’ll think about it.” She replied slowly before glancing up with a small smile. “I should give the averin a name first though. What about Jewel? It’s eyes are almost like pure crystals after all.” Her smile grew as her mentor smiled in return and they stayed there in thoughtful silence for the rest of the afternoon working in the shop while Jewel grew accustomed to her new home.

[842]