Soot's is smoking in rage. Literal black wisps of smoke rise off his shoulders and head, to disappear leaving the scent of ash behind.
Bav quickly used a mirror to show Soot's that he was smoking, making Soot's leave, running to somewhere.
"Where did he go? If he has a violent fury..." I trail off as Flair waves it off.
"He can't have a violent fury here. One of the binding parts of the contract when this world was created. He can not take his own life, and raging like that would be considered self harm." Flair shrugs, "Don't worry too much. He probably left to go let out some steam." He pats my shoulder, walking off, whistling a tune as he left.
I turn to Bav, wrapping my arms around my husband who returns my request for affection with what I need. I hold him firmly, breathing in his scent from off his chest and neck, letting the safety of his embrace and scent calm me down.
"He's right." I mutter against Bav's neck, "I will return home, only to find my anger and rage rise as I smile and entertain these people who are or their ancestors, at the least, are responsible for so much pain and death. Mr. Thorn being the one element that fuels my bunsen burner into a forge. What will I do if I lose my composure? "
Bav pushes me back to look down at my face, "Are you concerned of experiencing a violent fury?" He raises a hand, caressing my cheek with warm eyes. "Because I don't think you will lose your sanity to do such a thing. You care for too many people back in Lagford. You know that they would be affected if you did and I know your spirit. You are stronger than you realize, my love."
I wish I had the same amount of his confidence in me.
"I certainly hope so, Bav. I hope so." I shake my head and have him comfort me in his arms some more.
....
Training became intense after that, I had no more lessons with Amara, Carthure, Calire and Marco. They had taught me everything that they could. So I was given ancient tomes and parchment rolls to read, occupying me at my meal times. All my focus was now on becoming even stronger, channeling my gift into different ways, whether in combat with Veyr, or enchanting items with Griven. Flair went into great detail and explained to me how the past few centuries have been used by the government to cover their genocide and their twisting of the truth to suit their narrative. Brainwashing society, making sure as time went on, that we forgot how we used to live.
Soot's was relentless in overseeing all my training and sparring with me. I was so tired at the end of each day that I didn't care to think about if I was making any progress. If anything I was merely becoming angry with them taking all my time up, that I could be using to spend with Bav. Finally, I have endured enough.
I approach the tower where Soot's stays, avoiding Flair's next lesson, because I was done. Done with the increasingly redundant proof of how evil the ones in power in our government really were. Done with the pounding of the information of how to, when to, could do, would do, should do's and my muscles are done being built up, straining the seams of my clothes. My clothes have become so tight that I had to let every one of them out at the seams to fit into them. I inquired from Soot's his permission and ended up taking my mother's old clothes for my own, after some slight moderations. I was ready to spend some time with my husband, and I was not going to back down when I told him and the others.
I head upstairs, taking the steps two at a time, making my way up the long spiral. I did notice the difference in my stamina, as I made my way up. This climb no longer affected me the same way it did when we first arrived.
As I reached the top, the door that was slightly ajar coming into view, I could hear some type of music playing from there. I paused to listen to the melody, recognizing it. As I grew closer listening closely as words became clearer.
It's one of the songs momma would sing to me sometimes. It was a song praising the Elements and thanking them for all the beauty and life that surrounds us.
".... far and wide, a vision of beauty from sea to mountain side!..." The music starts to enter the chorus and I join along with it.
"Such beauty as this! What wonderful bliss! It all comes from the blessed Elements." I press the door open farther, still singing as I enter into the sunlit room. The giant ringed machine that resembled an astrolabe was slowly moving up on it's giant pedestal that was ten feet in the air, was making light click sounds as it moved every few seconds. The music was coming from a phonograph by one of the windows that Soot's was standing by, looking out the window.
He didn't turn but still acknowledged my presence. "You have a beautiful voice, like your mother did." His deep voice was soft and melancholic, but still could easily be heard over the music.
I come to stand by his side, looking at the view with him as I inform him, "By the time I was 16, I had forgotten what my momma looked like. Her face had been replaced with my own in my mind, but I could always remember her voice. There are times I have heard her singing clear as day, bringing back the memories of us picking dandelions flowers for tea and the leaves for food. Or when we were allowed to go and pick up fallen fruit from the orchards when I was six. She taught me a few songs as we sat there, cutting out the bad parts of the fruits before making them into preserves to eat. We had a good month after we gathered those. Even papa was nice to us during that time...."
My voice trails off thinking of my momma selling a jar here and there that kept papa happy because he had money for his drinks. When the jars got low though, and momma felt we needed to keep them to eat, I remembered the fight that followed. He had thrown momma against the wall that had those few jars left on the shelves, causing them to fall and the glass jars broke. Papa broke her arm, and I had two blackened eyes from him back handing me when I went to check on momma. My heart clenches and anger bubbles inside me, thinking of how momma wept over the loss of the food for us.
I shake my head, pulling me from my memory, and turn to face Soot's. He's attentively watching me, his eyes pinching at the bridge of his nose as he places an arm around my shoulder, squeezing it gently, before dropping his arm.
Sighing, he looks back out the window, "So what brings you to my tower?"
I gather my thoughts back together, stating simply, "I'm taking a break from my instruction to spend some time with my husband. Neither of us is aware of how long we will be apart once we leave here and I am unable to concentrate due to these facts running through my mind. We'll be exploring and camping wherever our feet may take us."
Soot's turns to me, giving me a light smile before rolling his eyes, "Were you looking for my approval on the matter?"
My jaw tightens slightly, "No. I was merely informing you."
He nods lightly, looking back out the window, "Then what are you still doing here? Go spend some time with your husband."
I stand there confused, not sure of what I was expecting from him.
"Very well, I shall take my leave." I say, stepping away and out the door, leaving him where he was, looking out the window. I'm walking slowly down the stairs when I notice that the music is no longer on, but hear a voice singing along with the songs.
I smirk, knowing now, where my mother got her singing from.