------------- Tales of the Silver Gryphon - Nova

The girl stepped out into the bailey, her nerves twittering slightly. She tried to focus, but the excitement had taken over and she was little more than another nervous novitiate. After training and living at the monastery for more than fifteen years, one would think she would have grown out of such things. In the end though, she was not human, not entirely anyway, and she did not age like one, if she aged at all. Her mind and her maturity certainly proved that. Her best scientific guess, adjusting for planar tidal effects, was around thirty two years old. But outwardly and inwardly, she was barely past half that. To an elf that might not seem so bizarre. But to the daughter of a human priestess, it was a bit odd.

"Nicole, Nicole,… " the name echoed out across the courtyard.

She stood there, lost in her musings, the curse of a brilliant mind that never stops burning.

"NOVA!"

She snapped to the here and now, "Yes, Master Rand."

Her master was standing there with his customary scowl. She never managed to please him, no matter how hard she worked, how strong she became, how powerful her magius or her psyche had become.

"You're glowing again."

She noticed the increased light in the courtyard since her mind had wandered and her control had slipped.

"Sorry, master."

She concentrated and the light dimmed.

"Nova. You're going to have to be careful. If your true identity is ever discovered, it could lead to disastrous consequences. Your 'Uncle' should have taught you that before he sent you here."

"I understand master. Uncle Martek tried. I guess I didn't listen very well."

He twisted his mouth and raised an eyebrow, "About as well as you've listened to anything we've tried to teach you."

Nova had a sudden sadness overcome her, "I'm really sorry, Master. I didn't mean to fail you or The Hidden. I really can do better."

"Where did ever get the impression you've failed?"

She stood there with her mouth open, not sure she'd heard him right, "But,…"

"We've been hard on you dear, because you will face the toughest opponents known to Arrallon. But have no delusions, young one, all your masters here, we all believe you will be the one to defeat them."

She wasn't sure, but she thought she saw a glimmer of a smile on the old master's face. She suddenly felt the uncontrolled need to cry like a baby, but choked back the tears.

"Thank you, Master. I,… uh,…"

This time he did smile, "Amazing. I didn't think there was anything that could steal the words from your mouth. Go now. Your mother is waiting to take you south. Don't worry, you'll like Syvasgaard. Just one more thing."

"Yes, Master?"

"Your hair. You keep forgetting to suppress the light. Blonde would probably work better for you. And lose the halo."

------------- Credits

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