Welcome to Gaia! ::

Gemma climbed carefully back through her dormitory window and slid across the top of her desk. She reached over, fumbling through the dark to turn on the lamp, and then looked carefully around her tiny room. It felt like someone had been here while she was out, although she couldn’t quite figure out what felt so off. Stepping carefully off the desk and onto the floor, she scanned the room again, intently, until she zeroed in on the envelope on the floor. Someone had very clearly pushed it through the mail slot on the door.

Her breath caught in her throat. Gemma never got mail. Ever.

Well, except for the occasional birthday or holiday card.

Actually, scratch that. Gemma occasionally got mail, and she wasn’t sure what she was freaking out about. Perhaps it was just the events of the past week that had her jumpy - between her run-in with Kerberos and her promotion, she’d been emotionally all over the map, and coming home to an unexpected letter wasn’t helping any.

Anyway, the anticipation was worse than the letter could possibly be. It was a sort of squat envelope - maybe it was a Thanksgiving card? She was going to be spending the holiday at school, as far as she knew, eating Turkey between Sister Mary Erasmus and Sister Mary Joan.

Gemma turned the envelope over and pursed her lips at the return address.



There was no mistaking where it had come from. She slipped her thumb under the flap to open it and pulled out the card. There was a big cartoon turkey on it, and so far it looked fairly innocuous - but she was never sure whether she could take anything Beatrice did at face value ever again, especially knowing Trixilite the way she did. Her heart in her throat, Gemma opened the card. Both the inside flaps were covered in neat, cursive handwriting.

Of course, she thought, and began to read.

My dearest Astrophyllite,

First of all, congratulations on your promotion. While I know nothing of your branch other than its incredibly poor track record, I’m certain you must have done something to deserve it - unless Destiny City has gotten so out of control that they’re promoting people now simply for the sake of it. For your sake, I’ll assume the former.

I cannot understate how disappointed I was that you declined to have your training transferred to Boston. Perhaps there are sentimental reasons that you wish to remain in Destiny City, but I assure you that they in no way replace the quality of training that you would be receiving under my command. Your General Natron is little more than a child, and I can offer you opportunities that he would never be able to.

There is also the matter of your schooling. While it is a pity that you’ve begun yet another year at the deplorable institution you currently call home, I would like to restate that your father and I would be more than happy to fund your transfer to a more prestigious academy where you will have a better chance of success. I fail to understand your continued insistence on jeopardizing your future.

I am arranging for you to visit for the winter holidays. Perhaps we can put last year’s events behind us and reach a new understanding. The fact of your captaincy does not change the fact that I would prefer to have you under my wing than so far afield. You still have much to learn, little bird.

Think about it.

Beatrice.

Gemma carefully closed the card and slipped it back into the envelope. She stayed seated on the floor for a moment, concentrating on her breathing and little else. Natron - Natron had promised that he’d keep her out of Trixilite’s command. She had to trust him. If she couldn’t trust her General, then who could she?