[Seidaku's Cottage] A Learning Experience (Vhanet)

[Seidaku]

Timestamp: 2nd Day of Fall, 511 A.V.

Seidaku paced outside his house, drumming his fingers on his thighs nervously. Every few passes, it appeared to be a different house, with different color paint, or a newer door, or a conspicuous lack of windows, but still his home. Normally, the changes would have interested him, at least peripherally, but not today.

Today, he had a favor to ask of Vhanet, and no idea how to ask her. Even more, knowing what his favor entailed, he was not entirely sure he wanted her to agree to help.

He should just go in and ask. Get it over with. The worst she could say was 'no'. He told himself all of these things, trying to work up the courage to pass through the door and into his own home. He must look like a crazy person, pacing in a short line, back and forth in front of his house, four quick steps in either direction.

'No' was not the worst Vhanet could say, though. She could laugh at him, or be disgusted that he would even ask, or offended that he would ask her to use her power so trivially, or any of a dozen other, even worse things that he could not even imagine, but was sure were horrible.

He had tried over a dozen times since he had learned her secret in the House of Broken Mirrors to broach the topic, and every time he lost his nerve just before he could go through with it. It would be hilarious if it were not so humiliating.

Seidaku stopped his pacing abruptly, holding and releasing deep breaths as he worked up the resolve to simply step forward, push the door open, and ask Vhanet. He stood there for fully half a bell, feeling his will to continue trickling away like sand in an hourglass. Before long, he would be empty, again. Waiting outside his own home for over two full bells to no effect... again.

No. This time, he was going to go through with it. This time he was going to walk right through that door and talk to Vhanet.

Even so, he was shocked that he had actually gone through with it. Entering the house, at least. While the rest of his body tried to make up its mind, his feet had propelled him through the doorway, and he stood blinking in the relative dimness of the inside of his house, spotting Vhanet lounging easily on his - no, on their - bed.

He could still feel his commitment to go through with the request dimming steadily. It would be so much easier to simply join Vhanet on the bed and forget about favors, or requests, or tests and powers for a bell or two.

Instead, he steeled himself, licked his lips nervously, and said, "Vhanet, I, umm, I have a favor... Umm, that is... I mean, can you, ah, can you help me with something?"