Eden hummed under her breath, holding the letter in her hands as she landed lightly on the cobblestone street, her worn boots making clicking noises as she walked. She knocked on the door three times, folding the letter in half and then in half again. The academy was busy today, and as she was musing thoughtfully, she felt a harsh tug on her right wing, sending a sharp jolt of pain up her spine. She cried out and turned around immediately, her eyes narrowed as they searched for the instigator through the passing crowd. Whoever it was, however, had melted back in and she frowned, feeling smaller than before as she turned back to the door and waited.
There was a moment before Sam opened the door, his bright eyes wide with interest. "Hi, Eden! Come on in."
She gave him a half-hearted smile, following after him. There was a strange feeling in the center of her chest, as if someone had fused a rock to her sternum. Normally, she appreciated a good prank, but that one just felt... malicious. "What's on the agenda today?"
He didn't seem to notice her attitude quiet yet, his back turned to her as he lifted a finger, his demeanor confident. "Well, I was hoping I could do some inspections of anatomy. Not much of course. Just the basics. And only of you'd like."
She seemed taken aback, blinking slightly as she folded her wings tightly against her back nervously. "What, uh... what kind of inspections?"
"Hands, eyes, hair.." He paused looking sheepish. "I know some are touchy with wings, but we dont have to do that."
She hesitated, seeming a little uneasy before she nodded slowly, stepping towards him tentatively. Her shoulder still throbbed from the pull. "I suppose that would be alright..."
He brightened, going around to inspect her wings. "Really? Lovely!" his voice was warm, and she would feel him very gently lift her wing. His hands were soft and gentle as he looked closely. "Wow.."
She tensed instinctively, seeming surprised that he went for it as directly as he did. She looked down uncomfortably as he worked, not used to such proximity. The wings were cool to touch and very fragile. They shimmered gently and the tiny lines that ran through them reacted to his touch, filling with something that looked almost like liquid sunlight. A fine white dust covered the wings, although the bottom of the right one seemed to be rumpled, as if stuffed into a hand.
His eyes widened in amazement. "They're much better than in the books," he said adoringly, his voice bright, before it paused and he seemed curious. "This one seems a bit messed up. Did something happen?"
"It does?" she asked, craning her neck over her shoulder to try and get a peek at it with a frown. "Gah. While I was waiting at the door just now, some kid grabbed it and pulled on it and then ran away before I could see them." She took the crumpled part in her hand, holding it gently. "They're... very sensitive."
He frowned, standing straight for a moment as he went to a cabinet and pulled out a pale green vial. "So I've read.. Honestly, who would do something like that? Do you mind if I try to help it?"
She hesitated, holding them protectively as she backed away, looking around almost as if for an escape. "Oh, I don't know..."
He raised his hands in surrender, a reassuring smile on his face. "Hey, hey. It's okay. I don't have to." He held up the vial. "It's supposed to help with damaged wings. You can put it on yourself if you'd like. I have a woke cabinet full of stuff like." He scratched his temple in embarrassment. "I made them myself, looking off the recipe, of course.."
A strange expression came over her face as she studied him and she pursed her lips, eyeing the vial with a thoughtful gaze. "Have you tested it before?" she asked hesitantly, stepping towards him again, her frame still tense.
She hesitated again before nodding slowly, extending her wings again as an invitation. "Uh... alright, then. Sure." She didn't meet his gaze, looking down at the ground nervously as she waited patiently.
