The weather outside was nice this time of year, and Eira could tell that many of her fellow cohorts wished to be outside enjoying it rather than indoors studying about it. Eira couldn’t blame them, because her mind was also wandering. But not to the loveliness outdoors, but rather the loneliness inside of her. Normally content to simply listen and learn, as secrets were her passion, Eira found that she was wanting more and more to engage, to connect, and to share, as opposed to isolate with her plants as per usual. This was odd, this sensation within, hence why she was caught daydreaming in class. Silence had fallen and in the stillness the teacher cleared their throat. Moving slowly Eira’s eyes lowered to meet those of the teacher. A deep flush crept across her cheeks to be found thusly- but she swallowed hard and found her voice. “I… I am sorry, I was lost in thought….. can you repeat the question please?” The teacher sighed and shook their head.

“It wasn’t a single question Ms, Rune, it was several. Including calling your name twice. Are you quite alright. You do know that it is your choice to be here, in Uni, studying and gaining knowledge. And that especially with atmospheric magic the utmost clarity of mind is required. So what is this getting lost in thought of which you speak?” Eira could tell that the teacher was just warming to the subject, she was in for a lecture. She tried her best to take it with grace. “As such I expect more from my pupils. They are to be diligent, studious, and yet adventurous and curious. This world if full of choices my dear, everything. Right down to your very creation- in fact. None of us would be here if not for choice. I expect that if you chose to be here, you will at least give me the time of day…”

But Eira’s mind seized on one facet of what her teacher said about creation being a choice. Of course she was old enough to know the magics of fertility- and in fact that she had an excess of such magics. But the thought to want a child of her own, to make the choice to choose to create another life, to discover that particular secret of parenthood, to imbue.

Now she knew that imbuing a stone just to create a child to love her was not the greatest choice. But it was more than that. She wanted the bond that came with parenthood. To raise a child, not just imbue- for those were two very different things. She wanted to be the change for someone, to give them that choice, that chance, that adventure that life could become. It all made sense. People often related the aspect of “nature” to “motherhood” and “nurturing”. And of course she had her plants- which she loved, but they couldn’t exactly fill this void for a bond.

With an effort of will she tore her mind back to the teacher just in time for the bells to signal the end of class for the day. With a soft smile on her face Eira left the classroom, moving with purpose.