Chapter Text
When he, Olruggio, and the rest of the girls sent Coco off to challenge the librarian’s trial at the Tower of Tomes, Qifrey had already prepared himself for the worst.
Not because he lacked faith in the girl—certainly not—if anything, he was confident Coco would prevail over the trial with her own wit and ingenuity. That wasn’t the issue. The problem came afterward, when the young witch, having completed the test, would inevitably face the magic book she’d sought out.
He’d known as well as one could how harsh the truth can be. Should she come back to the atelier with her hopes shattered and left with the grief of futility…
It was worrying. Yet perhaps complacency was never something he'd been afforded. Not with the Silverwood seed nestled beneath his skin.
Worry, at least, was a blessing.
However, he now found himself lacking any outlet for his anxieties. In his impatience, he had already prepared Coco's favorite dishes hours before anyone could reasonably expect her to return.
Then bathed brushbuddy.
Then, organized Agott’s scattered books.
And swept the atelier.
“You’ve gone over that corner fo’r times now.”
…He had been sweeping the atelier again.
“Easy. The girl's tougher than tha'. Could feel your worryin’ with my eyes closed.” Olruggio blinked up at him, seemingly roused from his slumber on the couch. “Or maybe I smelled it?” He closed his eyes. The earthy sweetness of roasted carapace yams still lingers in the air.
Qifrey laughed awkwardly, pausing his movements. “Right on the mark as always… I just can’t help myself.” He shook his head, leaning on the broomstick.
As he spoke, Olruggio had stretched, getting up from the couch and making his way over to Qifrey. He took the broom from Qifrey’s hands. “Mhm, that’s enough o’ that. Take a break, Qifrey. I’ll take over sweeping… well, whatever else you’re cleaning up ‘ere.”
“But-” Qifrey attempted, “No.” Olruggio simply nudges him toward the hallway. “Is all under control, Qif,” Olruggio affirmed, only stopping once Qifrey was out of the living room.
…
Maybe lying in wait truly was the best he could do.
On his way to his room, Qifrey glanced at the atelier’s windowway.
Four clockmarks had passed. Longer than he’d hoped. Longer than he’d liked.
Furrowing his brows, the afternoon sky in the windowway had faded into the dreary sea of the Tower of Tomes. Then, a figure broke across the dark waters wearing a white pointed cap, bright green hair, and—“Coco?!”
“Master!” Coco called, eyes shining with relief at seeing her mentor as she flew across the boundary between the tower and their atelier. Right behind her, the tower's guardian lunged after the fleeing apprentice.
Bending his knees and reaching out his arms, he braced for impact. Once Coco was safely cradled in his hold, Qifrey quickly made the move to shut the windowway’s passage faster than he could rationalize his actions.
“You gave me quite the fright there!” Despite his surprise, Qifrey’s shoulders fell, relieved to see her back.
“I’m sorry, master Qifrey,” She realized she was still clutching the front of his robe and hastily let go. “But I-I found it! The spell–the one for mom, and-” She inhaled, catching her breath. “There’s something else!”
𖡼.𖤣𖥧↟𖠰˚☀︎ᨒ↟𖠰𖡼.𖤣𖥧
Now that she was safely back on the floor, Coco was frantically moving her arms around, trying to translate her thoughts into something Qifrey would be able to understand. Watching her bounce from thought to thought made his own head spin. “Coco, you should sit-”
“Ah! I know!” She suddenly exclaimed, snapping out of her trance. “Wait!” Coco shouted, running out of the room in a hurry. Just as Qifrey stepped into the hallway after her, she came back, a piece of chalk in her hand.
“It was like this!” Coco kneeled on the wooden floor, tracing a spell onto the wood using her chalk. Her hand didn’t waver, now able to draw precisely from memory. As she worked, Qifrey watched over her shoulder, chin resting on his hand.
“The book was written like a fairytale. In the story, the princess was frozen in time using this spell… the same one I copied the day we met.” Focused, Coco drew the last few signs, completing the forbidden spell’s symmetry.
“Incredible…” Qifrey mumbled, observing the sigil and the spell’s composition. The ring remained unclosed in order not to activate it. “I have to say, Coco, you’re growing to be a promising witch. You’ve not been under my tutelage for very long, and yet you were able to memorize such an intricate spell.” He offered her a soft smile.
“You’ve done enough. I promise, we’ll do our best to save your Mother.” He took her hand in his, giving it a soft squeeze, though his gaze lingered on the unfinished circle.
If they were able to create such a spell, then maybe…
Coco’s eyes seemed to gloss over as she glanced down at her hand in Qifrey’s palm, a shaky smile on her face. But she quickly shook it off, a determined glint replacing it as she looked Qifrey in the eye. “That wasn’t all, master! The book had another spell, and it said something about the silverwood seed!”
At that, Qifrey froze, his gaze contorting into something more serious. “Coco, what did you find?” He asked sharply. Had there been a clue alluding to the parasite that he himself had missed? It’d been a while since he challenged the librarian’s trial, but still…
Shuffling beneath her coat, Coco reached for the palm quire clipped to her witch’s belt. Flipping the pages, she read out an excerpt from the forbidden magic book.
“To take root is the nature of the silverwood seed. As such, its dormancy stems from creation, not destruction. The silverwood seed cannot be removed. Only given another place to take root.”
She frowned. "I don't really understand this part…” Coco admits weakly, but continues reading anyway.
“Thus is the burden shared, never hidden. Where one bears life, there shall the seed take root. For the span of creation, the bearer shall be made fertile ground. Creation reshapes the vessel to accommodate another–Master?” Coco looked up, but Qifrey had already turned away.
“I see.” He stood up promptly, before Coco could see his expression.
“We ought to get started on that spell to save your mother, hm?” Qifrey smiled once more, though something about it made Coco's stomach twist.
“Oh! Back, are ‘ya? Thought I heard something.” A low voice called from behind, observing the scene dropped in on.
Coco’s wrist was held close to her chest, a troubled look painted on her face. There was a spell inscribed on the wood, clearly forbidden magic, and Qifrey…
Qifrey stood beside Coco. Yet somehow...
He seemed impossibly far away.
Olruggio stepped in. “Right then, Coco. You ought’a get cleaned up now, hm?” Softly, he bent down to Coco’s level, giving her a soft smile.
“Must’ve had a long day, huh? Well, Qifrey’s made quite the meal for ‘ya.” He dusted off her soiled coat and straightened her cap. “It’s only right we celebrate you conquering the tower, right? Bet tha’ girls are just dying to hear your stories!” That somehow managed to wring out a smile from Coco’s face. Good.
“Okay!” She nodded, determined as she ran out of the room to get herself sorted. Once she left, Olruggio stood up, facing Qifrey. He looked at the spell once again.
“We'll figure summat out.” He assured, lips curling with that same benevolence he always offered QIfrey. Even if he didn’t deserve it.
He'd mistaken Qifrey's expression for unease. Fear that they might not be able to find a way to free the shackles that bound Coco’s mother.
He didn’t know Qifrey feared the possibility of salvation.
A beat passed.
“Of course.” Qifrey smiled in the same way Olruggio had taught him all those years ago.
Olruggio patted his shoulder then, glancing over his own shoulder as he made his way out of the room. “Come on then, let’s set the table for tha’ girls. I’m starving.”
Once again, you… Qifrey thought, shaking his head.
“Yes, let's.” He followed from behind. He drew in a quiet breath. Coco had done an incredible thing, and she’d earned her celebratory meal.
The sounds reached them before they entered the room.
Tetia had already spotted Coco.
“COCOOO!!! YOU’RE BACK!!” Tetia’s voice echoed from across the hall, and once they reached the living area, Qifrey and Olruggio watched the girls welcome Coco back to the atelier.
The young witch was cushioned in Tetia’s trademark cloud magic, captured in the pink-haired girl’s tight embrace. Meanwhile, Richeh was pouting despite her comfortable position on the cloud-bed. “You were gone for too long.”
“It was four clockmarks!” Coco laughed, unable to contain herself. “Well, I did miss you guys…” She admitted, closing her eyes as Richeh joined in on the hug as well.
Meanwhile, a certain dark-haired witch stood stubbornly far away from the comforting scene. “Congratulations.” She started, arms crossed. “And welcome back.” She whispered, eyes peeking open when she was faced with silence. Only to be ambushed by the three other girls–
“Ack!” Agott exclaimed in surprise as she pulled into a group hug.
“No need to act so serious, Agott. We all know you want in on this!” Tetia teased, bouncing up and down in excitement. Even brushbuddy had joined in on the fun, having found its rightful place on Coco’s shoulder.
Seeing all four of his apprentices together reminded him.
These girls had always been his reason.
“Always so rowdy, that bunch.” Olruggio chuckled, scooping the mash Qifrey had made earlier into a serving bowl while Qifrey reheated the chrysanthonion carapace yam gratin he had baked. “Truly, not a day goes by in silence.” Qifrey agreed, the corners of his lips curling up despite himself. “Seeing them smile makes me want to do better by them.”
Olruggio hummed. “You’ve not been lacking thare’. You’re the reason they can laugh so freely.” He said casually, bringing the bowl of mash over to their dining table. Loud voices greeted him as they gawked at the dish he’d brought out.
All the while, Qifrey blinked at Olruggio’s back, stunned for a moment.
Tightening his grip on the serving dish, Qifrey drew in a slow breath before making his way toward the liveliness.
“Master Qifrey!” The girls exclaimed, eyes sparkling as the dish was placed onto the table. “More carapace yams?!” Coco gasped. “Master Qifrey, today's dinner is all my favorites!” Coco clasped her hands together, excited to dig in.
“Why of course, you’ve passed the librarian’s trial after all!” Qifrey scooped up a hefty plate of gratin and mash, handing her the spread. “Congratulations, Coco. You’re a fantastic witch.”
“Thank you, master Qifrey!”
Over dinner, Coco recounted all of the events that occurred during the test. As usual, Tetia’s reactions were big and bright, Richeh listened intently and offered those one-off quips that would make the table burst out laughing, and Agott would hold back a smile.
Olruggio laughed so heartily, so wholly, that Qifrey couldn't help but smile back.
…
I can't ask this of you.
How could I?