When Amber had decided to adopt Eriu, she'd felt she wasn't ready for imbuing a stone and raising a child from their first days. That was why she had chosen the orphanage, as she still desired company and the feeling of being a parent. As she and her Litch daughter had settled into their new lives, she had grown to love parenthood. As Eriu began to attend the Academy, the two now had to spend more time apart, but Amber made sure to bring the girl back home on weekends and holidays, and visited Asphodel whenever her lectures ended early. Other than that, they kept in touch via letters and calls, and Amber made sure her little girl had an allowance and always felt like her mom wasn't too far.
Then, recently, during visits and their usual phonecalls, both had casually begun joking about adding to the family. At first Amber didn't pay the comments much thought - it was just in passing, after all. But over time, she noticed how frequent they had become. Eriu really seemed to like the idea of a younger sibling, even if they weren't related by blood. She'd spent her first years surrounded by numerous other kids, after all, and while being an only child was a luxury to her, she must have somewhat missed the feeling of being a part of a big 'family'.
And Amber, herself, while still single, didn't find the thought of her own child so alien anymore. In fact, she sometimes would wonder about what her own baby would look like. Whether she would imbue a stone purely on her own, or choose to use one partially imbued. And the more she thought of it, the more appealing the whole prospect would grow in her mind.
Yes, she was ready now, she finally concluded. While she was still in the middle of her university studies, she was financially stable enough to support both Eriu and an additional child. Plus the Academy was free of tuition, and offered excellent education. She could focus on providing for the children's other needs, and finishing her studies in order to make their lives as good as she could.
Smiling to herself, she decided to tell Eriu the news in a slightly different manner. Beckoning Plague, her biggest Nezubat to her side, she stroked its fur and strapped a little harness onto the creature. There was a small pouch attached to it, in which she slipped a letter and a few of her daughter's favorite candies. Sure, Plague would be a little slower at delivering the message, but at least Eriu would be able to have the bat around to hug and coddle for a while, as she made all the preparations on her end.
As she released the bat outside, she decided to head to town to look for supplies for the new family member. There was plenty to do, but at least she was going to be well prepared now, both emotionally and otherwise. Their family would soon be three instead of just two. And three's a charm, right?
