Seeing herself when she was eighteen now, younger Athyn was receiving a dragon's scale from a boy. Her jaw had dropped as she took it and the boy actually let go of it to let her have it. This particular magical implement cost more than Athyn ever thought she would have or see in her whole life.
"Ah, Thank you," she said.
"It's just an excuse to engage with you," said the boy. "I wanted to know if you'd like to go out sometime."
Younger Athyn smiled, wondering what other excuses the boy would be willing to offer to spend time with her. She'd noticed his desperate look and liked the power her beauty imbued her with.
As she looked on, older Athyn wondered why the self-assurance that always came with that memory didn't raise her head or straighten her back now.