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Growing up at the Arklaum estate was easy. Well, studying under her mother’s tutelage and overbearing expectations was far from ideal, but Agott had lived a comfortable life. Everything was done for her, either by use of magic or maids and butlers around her family’s ancient house that would appear the moment she needed something. Since living in Professor Qifrey’s Atelier, she’s learned that living in a home meant having to contribute to it. At first, it was just her, helping the professor and Master Olruggio to keep the atelier clean, stock the kitchen, and maintain the garden. As the years went by, Professor Qifrey took more apprentices, it made taking care of the atelier easier and sometimes more fun.
This morning, she was tasked to dust off the shelves and check around them. Making sure there was no damage by papermites, little creatures that just loved getting at unattended books and paper. Professor Qifrey had a particular fondness of well crafted books, intricately detailed cloth or leather hard-bound covers, and sometimes they even had paintings on the edges of the pages. Agott remembered her first few months at the atelier, when Master Olruggio worked for days refurbishing this old extra store room into a library for the professor’s growing collection. It now held shelves with books that covered a wide variety of topics, Master Olruggio even took care of building a round table at the center for everyone to use. She remembered how proud he was, smugly showing off his woodworking skills to the professor (who was, indeed, very impressed, but that was a story for another time).
Amongst the detailed and lovely books in the library, one caught the witchling’s attention.
Agott never noticed it before, but why would she? It was the most unassuming book in the room, small, thin, made of plain leather with the title and border embossed on it– the spine and cover didn’t even use the common script. Perhaps its unassuming nature is what led her to notice it now. It was a ways up high, but nothing a stool and careful effort couldn’t reach. She scanned the small library, and found the wooden step tucked away in the corner. She takes it with a bit of dusting off before carrying it over to the shelf and unfolding it. She climbs up, and even then, the book was ever so slightly out of her reach. With her strong hand, she supports herself on the bookshelf before standing on the tips of her toes to finally reach the tiny novel.
She strained for a moment that felt too long, before finally, she slid the book off the shelf and into her hands.
“...A Witch’s Guide to Unknowings,” Agott read the title. It was written in the sorcerer’s cipher, a system of writing devised to keep the unknowings from being able to easily read texts and messages, particularly those concerning magic. Many– if not all –witches learn this writing system, it was foundational to their early education. She remembered most of Coco’s early studies were mostly focused on giving her the hands-on approach to the fundamentals of magic rather than textbook and theory in her learning, to compensate for this missing foundation in her education and teaching her the writing system as they went along. In fact, Professor Qifrey’s approach to teaching was mostly hands-on learning, incredibly different to the Arklaum matriarch's way of teaching, which heavily involved learning the theories and the methods before she even got to draw her spells.
Carefully, Agott went down the foldable steps, putting the small book on the nearby table before putting the stool back where she found it. Now that she has a closer look at the book, the cover was worn and the leather cracked in some places, and she even noticed that the novel was from over ten years ago. Is this even old enough to call vintage? She thinks to herself as she opens the first page, seeing the cover page detailing an illustration of a common scene, of unknowings calling to witches for help. After flicking through a few more, she finds the table of contents. She skimmed it before quickly flipping through the pages to look for the chapter that interested her.
How to interact with Unknowings.
“First and foremost, always maintain a some level of distance between yourself and the unknowings,” Agott read out loud, “Unknowings are very physical people, showing gratitude and thanks by means of gestures such as ‘handshakes’...” She trailed off as she recalled a particular memory as she looked at the illustration of two capless figures shaking hands.
****
Professor Qifrey was teaching them how to balance their spells, making sure there was a consistent output of magic. Today, Tetia had pulled off recreating Master Olruggio's snugstone, making it at just the right warmth that made it neither too hot nor too cold.
“Well done, Tetia,” Professor Qifrey praised.
“Alright!” Coco grinned, “Tetia, high-five!”
Coco held up her hand, her open palm facing the other witchling, who tilted her head and scrunched her brows in confusion. Richeh glanced at Agott, wondering if the young Arklaum knew what to make of the gesture as the Atelier’s brightest witch. The new apprentice’s smile began to wane, as she continued holding up the pose for a few more awkward moments. Professor Qifrey chuckled warmly, but before he got the chance to explain, he was cut off.
“Um, what’s a ‘high-five’?” Tetia finally asked, breaking the air of silence and noticing Coco’s faltering reaction.
“Oh,” Coco said, finally putting down her hand. “You… don’t know what a high-five is?”
“Evidently, no,” Agott’s harsh tone cut through the friendly air as she crossed her arms.
“Now, now,” Professor’s voice was calm, but carried a light warning.
“Well,” Coco paused, her lips pursed slightly, deep in thought as she wondered how to articulate something that seemed to be as obvious as the sky is blue, “It’s a way of saying ‘I’m happy for you!’ without saying it out loud.”
“Isn't just saying that easier than doing a gesture?” Richeh asked, equally curious and intrigued.
“It’s like this,” Coco explains, “It’s like another way of telling a friend that you’re celebrating with them, or that you’re proud of them, or you’re sharing their happiness and joy.”
Coco gently held Tetia's hand up in the same pose before giving her a high-five, “It can say all the things you’re too shy to say but still letting your friend know what you think!”
****
“From birth, witches are taught to never show their hand and keep it in their cloaks unless necessary. Unknowings, meanwhile, use their hands as an extension of their thoughts and feelings, often gesturing or interacting with each other through their hands.” Agott stopped, her eyes widening slightly at the following passage.
“In fact, unknowings born mute directly communicate by means of gestures, a language that was soon adopted by witches born mute who previously communicated through writing…” Agott let her mind wander. Agott had to concede that even without magic, unknowings were clever in how they navigated the world.
Below the text, Agott saw drawings, detailing simple words and phrases in ‘hand-speak’ as unknowings called it. She placed the book on the table and followed the gesture for ‘thank you’, a part of her wondered if Coco knew the language as well. At the bottom, she notices little notes scribbled in pencil, it looked like Professor Qifrey’s handwriting, it was small, and faded with time, but she was able to make it out, “Remember to be expressive when using hand-speak, it helps communicate tone better.”
“It might be dated, but this book does have some decent advice,” Agott says to herself, skimming through a few more she finds that its datedness shone through in how it talked about unknowings. It talked as if… they were not human. Like they were lesser because they didn’t know magic, because they were forced to be reliant on witches. But that wasn’t true, before she might have believed it, most of witch society carried this sentiment. She shuddered remembering her mother’s words, “It’s not enough for an Arklaum to be a good witch,” Her mother’s voice echoed through the forgotten corners of her mind, “An Arklaum must be great.”
“A great Arklaum must know that hungry dogs are obedient dogs.”
She shook her head and continued reading the book. The book continued to talk about all the little ways unknowings were different from witches, and all Agott could think about was Coco. “Maintaining some level of distance is paramount,” The book said, “Outside of physical contact, unknowings are all too likely to keep their eyes on you. Discretion is your best tool when you are around unknowings.”
****
Agott had finished with her studies for the day, and had taken the time to read her novel, something about time-travelling lovers on opposing sides of a war, a copy Tetia had lent her and practically begged her to read over and over. On the other side of the study, Coco was scratching her head, her lips pursed in deep thought as she scratched her head with the back of her pen.
“Hey, Agott,” Coco said, finally speaking up.
Agott lifted her head from her novel, turning around to find Coco’s bright eyes already looking at her. “Can you help me with something?” Coco asks, patting down the side of her hair that had been messed up from all the scratching she did before quickly tucking one side behind her ear, “I’m a little lost.”
The young Arklaum scoffed softly, placing a bookmark to pause her reading as she stood up, leaving the novel on the desk. She walks over to Coco’s side of the study and settles next to her, “Let me see,” she says, “Which part are you working on?”
Agott knew to keep her distance when anyone was working on a spell, not wanting to disturb Coco’s space as she worked. The leaf-blonde girl inched closer, ever so slightly, as she showed the other apprentice her work. It seemed Coco was at least a bit more aware that distance is important to witches.
“I wanted to create a light spell that had light focused as a beam rather than a glowing orb,” Coco explained, pointing to the drafts of a spell she was creating.
“A beam of light?” Agott paused and wondered, “Would that not limit your scope of vision?”
“True,” Coco agrees, “The beam of light will only be able to shine wherever you point it towards,” She takes another paper and draws a light spell, the most basic one that all witches know. When the glyph was finished, an orb of soft light appeared, lighting up Coco’s desk.
“You know, it’s rather difficult to reinvent the wheel,” Agott reminds her, “This spell already does what it’s meant for.”
“Also true,” Coco conceded with a small grin, “But I’ve noticed that it’s only as bright as the spell is large, not to mention, look,” she gestured to the glowing orb in front of them. “While it does light up the area, you still can’t see very far.” She let the small orb fade away before continuing, “So I had an idea, why not have a beam of light, a very bright one, that could let you see further in the dark?”
Agott could see why Coco wanted this idea to work; it was so very simple. Someone else might have already come up with it, but it’s also so simple that no one else but Coco would think of it. Besides, how could Agott say no? Not when Coco looked as enthusiastic as she does, her bright and eager eyes looking at her expectantly with a smile.
“So, what do you think?” Coco asks, her eyes gazing up to meet Agott’s. By the gods, Coco must know what she’s doing, right? Looking into those evergold eyes, Agott felt her heart beat faster and faster, as if Coco’s gaze stilled the air in her lungs. Even the loose strands in her leaf-blonde hair somehow looked perfect as they fell between those damned eyes.
“I believe it’s worth a shot,” Agott flushed, finally realizing she’s stared too long and how close Coco was to her. Coco was close enough that Agott was afraid that Coco might see right through her. Immediately, Agott created a larger distance between them as she began drawing out some adjustments to the spell Coco was working on. As Agott explained the adjustments, she didn’t know how much she was rambling until she noticed Coco was only paying attention to her, not the explanation.
“Hey,” Agott says, lightly tapping Coco’s head with her pen, “Are you even listening?”
“I am,” Coco grins before pointing at something on Agott’s revision, “But this line isn’t long enough.”
Then, it dawned on Agott. That grin, that stupid, stupid grin. Coco already knew what she was doing; she just wanted to bother Agott. Ever since they’ve warmed up to each other, there’s a side to Coco that still remains irritating, and now Agott believes she does it on purpose. Every single time. “You…!” Agott was flustered and pushed Coco away, declaring, “I am never helping you again!”
“No, no…!” Coco was quick to play repentant despite her laughing and tumbling over from the push, “I did need your help, I wanted to see what you thought!”
Agott stood up and began storming off to her side of the study, her cheeks puffed and flustered, with Coco still laughing, “Agott, wait, I’m sorry!”
“Whatever!”
Coco easily won her back with cookies she baked and a cup of halfone tea, but Agott knew anything from Coco was more than enough.
****
“I guess that’s just what normal is to Coco,” Agott muttered to herself, feeling her ears redden, “That’s why she’s always so close. To everyone.”
Oh, it struck her little heart when she remembers that Coco is indeed just that friendly to everyone around, not just to her. Of course everyone would love Coco, who wouldn’t? She's sweet, she’s charming, always so eager to help, always looking at the world with bright and curious eyes. The way she carries hope, even when she’s lost everything. After everything… How can Agott even begin getting Coco’s attention? It doesn’t feel fair, knowing that Coco always has hers.
It’s a feeling she’s yet to understand, it’s the same way she felt back when Coco first came to the atelier, but now it was… warmer? Something she couldn’t name, or rather, something she’s terrified of naming, for fear that she won’t be able to handle it once she does. A part of her knew that once she acknowledged whatever it was that pricked her heart like the thorns of a flower, emptied her lungs like a vacuum, and drowned her mind like deep blue water— she knew there would be no going back.
Still, against the better judgement of her mind, she carried on reading. Whatever she had planned after tidying up the library was long forgotten as the book held something she always wanted. Something that helped her understand Coco a little more.
“Unknowings, especially in times of distress, always seek comfort in proximity,” The book’s harsh language continued, “Be sure not to let them close to you as they might disrupt your spell-casting, or worse, realize exactly how magic is cast. Never let any unknowings touch or be close to you.”
****
They were on an early morning hike to watch the sunrise on a nearby mountain. Professor Qifrey said that sometimes, after working really hard, everyone just needs a moment in nature to collect themselves. As it was, it was still quite dark. Qifrey paired up the four girls with their roommates, while staying behind the group to make sure all four girls were within his sight. Agott and Coco were leading the group, Agott holding the map in her hand and Coco with the light torch she had recently created. Everyone else had their light orbs, but Coco wanted to make use of her new magic tool.
Still, even with a beam of light illuminating her path, Coco was frightened and stuck close to Agott. Way too close. She practically became Agott’s shadow as they walked along the worn path.
“Coco, you’re breathing down my neck, stand back, will you?” Agott stopped, tearing her gaze from the map and back to Coco.
“Sorry!” Coco says, stepping back as the rest of the group came to a halt. “Just something about the forest at night is really scary…”
“We can change the formation if you’d like, Coco,” Professor Qifrey said, “Let Tetia take the lead with Agott while you stay back with me and Richeh.”
At the offer, Coco eased ever so slightly, the tension in her shoulders disappearing, “That’d be nice, thank you, Profess—”
Something dashed across their path and in front of Coco’s feet, causing the poor witchling to cry out in fear and jump to the nearest person who could catch her. Of course, Agott readily dropped the map just to catch Coco, who nearly tackled her down in her panic.
“Ah, the map,” Richeh stated and picked it up, before announcing, “It’s dry.”
“Something’s there!” Coco cried, burying her face against Agott’s shoulder.
At this, everyone else tensed, while Coco was hiding against Agott, the other witchling was using all her strength to not drop the former on the ground. Tetia looked around with her lantern, quickly picking up a stick. Cautiously, she and the professor inched closer, the older witch having his palm squire ready for anything that would jump out at him and his apprentices. Those few moments felt like forever for Agott when Tetia finally used the stick to take a peek in the shrubbery. Agott could practically feel the fibers in her arms straining, like a rope pulled to a taut before Tetia laughed with joyful glee, “Coco, it’s okay!”
Qifrey sighed in relief before explaining, “It’s a bunny, Coco, you can come down now.”
The professor tried to hold back his laugh, watching Agott use all her might in her body to hold Coco up. He could swear Agott was about to pop a vein with all the blood flowing to keep her strength.
“Are you sure it’s a bunny?” Coco asked, still not looking up, her face still buried against Agott’s shoulder. “People always mistake hares for bunnies!”
“Coco, I can’t hold you for much longer,” Agott strained with gritted teeth before warning, “If you don’t go down, I will drop you…!”
At that, Coco finally went down. Agott knew she’d feel the soreness in her arms later as Richeh handed her back the map. “Nice catch,” Richeh said with a small smirk, giving Agott a high-five as she took the map from her. The young Akrlaum mutters a quick thanks while trying to hide the blush in her ears.
“Look,” Professor Qifrey said, showing the teary-eyed Coco the bunny that was now chewing at the shrubbery.
Coco heaved a big sigh of relief and said, “I’m sorry for panicking, everyone…”
The professor’s gaze softened as he said, “It’s okay, being scared is normal,” he squatted down and adjusted Coco’s hat, “In fact, knowing to be scared is usually what keeps clever witches alive.” He took out his handkerchief and wiped the tears that were forming in Coco’s eyes. “But letting that fear control you is when things go awry. Don’t forget that you’re not alone, we’re here with you, okay, Coco?”
Coco nodded, “Yes, Professor Qifrey.”
Qifrey smiled and asked, “Do you still want to take the lead with Agott, or stay behind with me and Richeh?”
Coco looked back at Agott, who seemed to be watching her intently before turning to the professor and saying, “I think I can still take the lead with Agott…”
“Very good,” Qifrey said, standing up and dusting off his cloak, “Let’s run along now, else we might miss the sunrise.”
“Bye, Miss bunny!” Tetia waved at the bunny before continuing the hike.
Richeh fell back with Tetia and the professor before asking, “How do you know it’s a girl?”
“Yeah, well, how do you know it’s a boy?” Tetia replied, “Everything’s a girl to me until stated otherwise.”
“Fair,” Richeh shrugged as they both watched Coco take the lead again with Agott before exchanging knowing smiles.
As the hike continued, Agott could see that Coco’s hands were shaking slightly, the light in front of them jittering from the movement. The young Arklaum remembered the other witchling’s words from before. Shifting the map to one hand, she gently takes Coco’s hand in her own, squeezing it lightly.
Coco seemed to have gotten Agott’s message, although no words were exchanged; her hand settled in Agott’s grasp as they continued to travel down the path, together.
****
“Agott?” Professor Qifrey’s voice rang out as he entered the small library, finding the library tidy with the aforementioned apprentice pouring all her attention to his old book, “There you are.”
“Professor,” Agott said, finally looking up from the book, “You were looking for me?”
“I thought you’d still be here,” Qifrey said, his gaze turning to the leather book in her hands, “I see you found my old guide.”
“It’s a very useful book, Professor,” Agott asked, “Why isn’t there a new edition of this?” She held up the book, pointing to the date it was published. “Look, this was from over ten years ago!”
“The thing about books like these, Agott,” Qifrey said, gently taking the book, “Is that some people don’t see the need to improve their perspective.” He puts back the book, back to where Agott had first found it before finishing, “Thinking theirs is enough.”
“Oh,” Agott said, disappointed, “It helped me understand Coco a little more, even if the way they talk about her people is well…”
She paused, taking her time to articulate the words before letting them spill from her lips, “...Not very kind.”
“That’s one way to put it,” Qifrey said, walking over to a different shelf across the room. He scanned the bookshelf before picking out another book, larger than the last one and a little less worn, “Here, I think you will find this interesting.”
He steps back towards Agott, waiting for her to hold out her hands before carefully placing the book in her grasp. If there was one thing she knew about Professor Qifrey, is that he puts reverence in even the smallest of tasks, treating each with care as if it’s the last thing he’ll do.
“The Anthropology of Zozah,” Agott read out loud. The book was heavy, and the cover was ornate. A deep green, etched with golden borders, the crevices of the cover gilded with a golden sheen that curved like leaves and vines of a tree, and a golden silhouette of the Zozah peninsula decorating the cover. It was one of the simplest, yet elegant books she’d ever laid her eyes on, as if she was holding the majesty of Zozah’s people in her hands. The pages were yellowed with time, but it added to the charm of the book. She could tell this book was well-loved by the professor, seeing the parts where the spine had been bent and opened.
“The last book you read was about how we understand unknowings,” Qifrey explained, “This one is about how they understand themselves, it goes into deeper detail, and in a far more respectful manner than that old book, especially since the authors of this book are unknowings.” The older witch smiled and continued, “You want to be a librarian, don’t you? Every great librarian knows that knowledge can come from all places, from all walks of life, and is not less than because of the people who write them.”
“A great librarian…” Agott repeated, indeed, it was her main goal to prove she could be a librarian in the Tower of Tomes by her own merit. She sucked in her breath, clutching the book in her hands. It would still be a long way coming, but the idea of being a great librarian rather than a great Arklaum sounded like the best idea she’s heard yet. “Yes, Professor,” she says.
“Come,” The professor smiled, then turned around, the length of his robes flowing with him as he began leading her out of the small library, “Today’s weather is wonderful, better to read out there than be cooped up in here.”
Agott takes one more look at the book in her arms, etching her professor’s words to the nooks and crannies of her mind before following his lead.