"Can you draw the symbol of the sorority?" Walker asks Astrid.
"Yes, I can but I don't need to. It's three simple letters drawn in the same spot." She says with a shrug of her shoulders as she takes a pen and paper and draws the letters to show what she means. She holds up the paper with the finished drawing and shows it to them.
"Ring any bells?" She asks and Victor looks at the symbol with a spark of recognition in his eyes.
"It looks vaguely familiar." Victor says but Ralph looks as pale as a ghost as he looks at the symbol.
"Astrid that's for...." Ralph says trailing off.
"Yup. Power absorption ritual." Astrid says as she places the paperback on the table.
"Aren't those sorts of spells forbidden?" Sean asks and Astrid nods at him.
"Yes but there are those who secretly kept those spells and passed them down through the generations." Astrid says in response.
"Well.....Ralph, Victor, and Astrid head to the community colleges and see what information you can dig up. The rest of you'll stay here and help me ask around." Walker says and everyone nods in agreement.
"Good thing today's overcast." Astrid says as she follows Victor and Ralph out into the street. She takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly then begins walking in the direction of the community collages district.
"We can use my car." Victor says and Astrid visibly tenses at the suggestion and Victor notices.
"I prefer to walk." Astrid says avoiding Victor's gaze and he lets out a sigh for it's the first time he's seen her so uncomfortable.
"Ok. I could use the exercise." Victor says as he falls in step beside Astrid on her left and Ralph on her right. At some point during the walk, she starts to hum to herself as she gets lost in her thoughts. Ralph doesn't disturb her instead watches her inner child appear as an innocent smile appears on her face as she adjusts her glasses.
Victor stares at her not hiding his surprise as she continues to hum oblivious to the gaze of the men on her.
"Dewdrop?" Ralph calls getting her attention.
"Hmm?" She responds still humming to herself.
"How about some ice cream?" He asks her just as they stop in front of an ice-cream parlor. A smile lights up her face as she nods her head in agreement. Taking her by the hand, Ralph leads her inside and Victor follows in shock as he watches Astrid act like a kid as she chooses her ice cream along with her toppings.
She pauses in taking her first bite of ice cream when she sees that Victor hasn't ordered anything.
"No ice cream?" She asks him looking at him in the eyes and he lets out a sigh as he looks to Ralph for help.
"She's going to keep asking you that question until you buy the ice cream." He says laughing. Victor sighs as he approaches the counter and orders his favorite flavor of rum and raisin then joins Ralph and Astrid at their table.
Still humming Astrid eats her ice cream occasionally stealing bits from Ralph who doesn't try to stop her but she looks at Victor's ice cream curiously debating in her head if she should steal a bite until she gives up on the debate and steals a bite while Victor watches in amusement at her childish antics.
"How often is she like this?" Victor asks Ralph as Astrid dutifully ignores them as she finishes off her ice cream.
"It's not often she lets out her inner child but when she does I tend to spoil her besides she deserves it after all she's been through." Ralph says with a sigh just as Astrid takes his cup of ice cream making him laugh.
"Astrid." He says and she sticks her tongue at him in response.
"Hmm." Victor says as he finishes his ice cream while staring at Astrid.
"I'm going to get her some water." Ralph says and leaves the table. Astrid continues to hum while still lost in her thoughts until she raises her gaze and meets Victor's own as he stares at her with a gentle smile on his face.
"What?' She asks him.
"Join me for dinner." He says to her and she simply stares at him for a few beats before answering.
"You want me to join you for dinner?" She asks making sure she heard correctly.
"Yes." Victor says just as Ralph returns with two-three bottles of water handing Astrid and Victor one.
"I don't date." She responds her inner child disappearing.
"I don't expect you to. Just join me for dinner." Victor says to her and the corner of her mouth lifts in a brief smile.
"Ok. I'll join you for dinner but that's it." She says as she takes a swing of water, drinking half the bottle.
"Sure." Victor says keeping eye contact with her as she finishes her water.
Once the trio has finished they resume their journey towards the community colleges with a slight pep in their steps thanks to the sugar from the ice cream. They arrive at the community college district to see it crowded as new students rush to join sororities for the next semester.
"Great." Astrid says and Ralph lets out a laugh.
"Still hate crowds?" He asks her.
"Now hate is a very strong word. More like can't stand it." She mutters.
"Let's get this over with." She says with a sigh and the guys follow her as they nod in agreement.