Petra Kraus:
Petra stood in line, shopping list in one hand and her wand in the other. She was excited to go back to school, excited to see her friends again, and honestly just relieved to be leaving home. Her mother, shoulders tense, stood beside the young blonde. She was brooding, as usual. Petra tapped her wand against her thigh, debating. The spell was not precisely one that was exactly encouraged at school, but it was useful in a home like hers provided her mom didn't figure out what she was doing.
She turned her head away from her mother's view, directed the wand (discreetly!) toward her mother and whispered "animus dico." For a moment she heard nothing, but then it was there, faint in the back of her mind. Her mother's voice--well, thoughts--whispering in Petra's mind.
'... year it's the same damn thing. Running around at the last minute to spend our hard earned money on all these supplies. Then there's that look in her eyes when I suggest that she use her money--she's the one who is going to be using these things, not me. Ungrateful, that's what she is.' Her mother shook her head slightly, disapprovingly. Petra was familiar with that look.
'At least she'll be gone for an entire year. Maybe she'll spend the holidays at school as well. Wouldn't that be nice? Nico would be disappointed, but he would live.' Nico, her non-magically gifted brother, was the only one in her family who didn't look down on her because of her gifts. "Are we nearly done?" Her mother asked, out loud, causing Petra to jump. She lost concentration and her mother's thoughts were gone.
"Nearly," she replied, chewing at her bottom lip. She faced her eyes forward, scolding herself. There's some proverb about eavesdropping that implied this sort of thing would happen. Ever since she found out she had magic in her blood, Petra had suspected that her parents were slightly afraid of the unknown and maybe a little put off by it all, but she'd thought that their love for her would win out over that uncertainty. She'd just proved herself wrong, finally realizing just how deep her mother's loathing went.
The day that Petra left for school was not bittersweet but a relief for all involved. They stuck her on a plane to Banff where, from there, she'd catch an Orniormabichus acting as a bus. Once seated on the bus, her eyes scanned for a familiar face, but she had arrived early with mostly grade nines on the bus. Leaning back into the seat, she stared out the window for the remainder of the ride.
Once they passed into the wards, though, Petra kept an eye out for a familiar face, or even a friendly one. It was found in Professor Kenneth who was herding the children off the bus and feeding the creature treats as she did so. "Miss Kraus," the professor greeted with a kind smile and Petra returned the greeting with a smile of her own; it felt like coming home.
----
Natalia Bebnev
The Bebnev family drove up to the school to deliver their daughter, personally. "Remember what we discuss," Natalia's mother instructed in her broken English.
"I'm almost out of school. College and opportunities will follow," Natalia recited back, obediently. "I have to stay serious about school and my future."
Her mother smiled, reached back and cupped her daughter's cheek in her hand. "That is correct, l'vitsa." The student smiled at the endearment: lioness. There were common Russian terms of endearment meant for boys, a baby lion, but Natalia's mother had believed and bestowed that belief on her daughter, that she would be stronger than any man and deserved a nickname that described strength and grace. 'The lioness is the one who truly cares for the family,' her mother had always told her, 'they are stronger than the lion and you will be just as the lioness.'
"I have much faith in you," her mother continued. "You are on the right path already."
"What if I don't get invited?" Natalia asked, the worry seizing her. This year could alter her future and though usually self-assured, losing her invite terrified the young redhead.
"Then you will invite yourself, l'vitsa. If an opportunity is not offered to you, you must take it. You are smart; you will figure out the right person to speak to. They will respect you for it."
Natalia considered this information and nodded. She'd end up in the right place, no matter what.
Once they arrived at the school, her parents did not hug or cry as they said goodbye. Her mother cupped her cheek once more and reminded her to be a lioness. Her father kissed the top of her head and told her to stand tall. So, she did. Back straight and head high, Natalia entered Altsoba as if all the things she'd been discussing with her parents for years, had already come true. Of course, once inside it was about blending in. She smiled, looking for those that she called friends, and mentally prepared for the year that was to come.
Petra stood in line, shopping list in one hand and her wand in the other. She was excited to go back to school, excited to see her friends again, and honestly just relieved to be leaving home. Her mother, shoulders tense, stood beside the young blonde. She was brooding, as usual. Petra tapped her wand against her thigh, debating. The spell was not precisely one that was exactly encouraged at school, but it was useful in a home like hers provided her mom didn't figure out what she was doing.
She turned her head away from her mother's view, directed the wand (discreetly!) toward her mother and whispered "animus dico." For a moment she heard nothing, but then it was there, faint in the back of her mind. Her mother's voice--well, thoughts--whispering in Petra's mind.
'... year it's the same damn thing. Running around at the last minute to spend our hard earned money on all these supplies. Then there's that look in her eyes when I suggest that she use her money--she's the one who is going to be using these things, not me. Ungrateful, that's what she is.' Her mother shook her head slightly, disapprovingly. Petra was familiar with that look.
'At least she'll be gone for an entire year. Maybe she'll spend the holidays at school as well. Wouldn't that be nice? Nico would be disappointed, but he would live.' Nico, her non-magically gifted brother, was the only one in her family who didn't look down on her because of her gifts. "Are we nearly done?" Her mother asked, out loud, causing Petra to jump. She lost concentration and her mother's thoughts were gone.
"Nearly," she replied, chewing at her bottom lip. She faced her eyes forward, scolding herself. There's some proverb about eavesdropping that implied this sort of thing would happen. Ever since she found out she had magic in her blood, Petra had suspected that her parents were slightly afraid of the unknown and maybe a little put off by it all, but she'd thought that their love for her would win out over that uncertainty. She'd just proved herself wrong, finally realizing just how deep her mother's loathing went.
The day that Petra left for school was not bittersweet but a relief for all involved. They stuck her on a plane to Banff where, from there, she'd catch an Orniormabichus acting as a bus. Once seated on the bus, her eyes scanned for a familiar face, but she had arrived early with mostly grade nines on the bus. Leaning back into the seat, she stared out the window for the remainder of the ride.
Once they passed into the wards, though, Petra kept an eye out for a familiar face, or even a friendly one. It was found in Professor Kenneth who was herding the children off the bus and feeding the creature treats as she did so. "Miss Kraus," the professor greeted with a kind smile and Petra returned the greeting with a smile of her own; it felt like coming home.
----
Natalia Bebnev
The Bebnev family drove up to the school to deliver their daughter, personally. "Remember what we discuss," Natalia's mother instructed in her broken English.
"I'm almost out of school. College and opportunities will follow," Natalia recited back, obediently. "I have to stay serious about school and my future."
Her mother smiled, reached back and cupped her daughter's cheek in her hand. "That is correct, l'vitsa." The student smiled at the endearment: lioness. There were common Russian terms of endearment meant for boys, a baby lion, but Natalia's mother had believed and bestowed that belief on her daughter, that she would be stronger than any man and deserved a nickname that described strength and grace. 'The lioness is the one who truly cares for the family,' her mother had always told her, 'they are stronger than the lion and you will be just as the lioness.'
"I have much faith in you," her mother continued. "You are on the right path already."
"What if I don't get invited?" Natalia asked, the worry seizing her. This year could alter her future and though usually self-assured, losing her invite terrified the young redhead.
"Then you will invite yourself, l'vitsa. If an opportunity is not offered to you, you must take it. You are smart; you will figure out the right person to speak to. They will respect you for it."
Natalia considered this information and nodded. She'd end up in the right place, no matter what.
Once they arrived at the school, her parents did not hug or cry as they said goodbye. Her mother cupped her cheek once more and reminded her to be a lioness. Her father kissed the top of her head and told her to stand tall. So, she did. Back straight and head high, Natalia entered Altsoba as if all the things she'd been discussing with her parents for years, had already come true. Of course, once inside it was about blending in. She smiled, looking for those that she called friends, and mentally prepared for the year that was to come.
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