restoration

[marrinikari]

Vivian has always been a rabid environmentalist. Learning about magic didn't change a thing; it just gave her another tool. She's had so many plans. Some of them worked. Some of them didn't. The failures, she learns from and moves on. Today is by far her most ambitious project. Today, she's trying a spell of her own invention: restoring extinct species to the world. And not just any species. She wants to bring back the powerful magic of ages past. She wants dragons and sphinxes.

She did her research. She's cobbled the spell together from six or seven different places, and joined it together with hypotheses and crossed fingers. She tested out the individual pieces as much as she can- there's a few newly-not-extinct beetles running around her hometown now- but finally it comes down to it. The spell has some weird preconditions and a hell of a lot of setup, but she's done. It's time. Reversing the damage done in the Great War. All in a day's work, right? That's the goal, anyway.

The spell goes flawlessly. The runes and the chanting and the various pieces take her three days, but if she can do it it's worth it. When she's finally done, she has to take a moment to collect herself, and then she looks at the circles she's drawn.

The circle to her right now holds a tiny sphinx. All paws and fluff and sprawl, it's utterly adorable and Vivian can't restrain an "Awwwww." She walks over and cuddles the new arrival. "You're just the cutest little sphinx, aren't you? Yes, you are, you are the cutest." She turns to the other circle. "And your sibling is-"

-not there.

Vivian blinks at the empty space. "...huh." She looks down at the fuzzball in her arms. "Well, you worked," she tells the girl. "Nothing's wrong with my spell. So the only other thing that could have gone wrong is..." She pauses to sort out her thoughts, not quite trusting herself, but she's double checked it twice. "...I guess there's dragons somewhere after all."

---

Ultimately, she decides that the dragons will have to wait. Given the whole medallion system- which she's mostly impressed by, but has some really glaring, obvious flaws with perfect hindsight- the dragons might not even know they exist. She could try to tweak the spell to create a new dragon even though they're not extinct, she could try to find existing dragons, she could-

-she has a baby to raise. An extraordinarily cute little girl who just so happens to come with paws, wings and a tail. And she will raise her without all the ridiculous cultural baggage that led to the first war, and teach her magic, and they'll help save the world from itself.

She finds them a house with a backyard and wards it so the mundanes will overlook it. She arranges to sell spells and charms to the local Avalon for an easy source of income. And she focuses on raising her daughter.

She names her Isabella.

Comments

[marrinikari]

The Bay Avalon is, as Avalons go, pretty extensive. There's a shopping district, rather than just a street or a square, and a few visually distinct neighborhoods. There's even a tiny Chinatown. The other end of the island, rather than containing a marina, has a park that eventually blends into the beach; if they get close enough Isabella will be able to spot some of the water critters enjoying a dip.

Non-water creatures such as tiny sphinxes are not recommended to participate in the swimming. The bay is cold.

[shesepankh]

Isabella does not attempt to swim. She inspects the lay of the land, then espies something that looks like a library and lands on it and from there glides to the ground in front of the entrance.

[revivian]

Vivian meets her in front. "Would you like to stay in the library for a bit?" she asks. "I can come with you if you want."

[shesepankh]

Nod, nod.

[revivian]

In they go.

[marrinikari]

The front desk is currently staffed by an obviously bored teenager reading a comic book, in his gryphon midform. He doesn't look up when they walk in. "Children's books are around the corner in the back," he says automatically.

[shesepankh]

Bella squints at him, then decides he may be safely ignored. She wants magic books.

(Also, she whispers to her mommy, "Can I get sphinx books?")

[revivian]

("As long as that's not the only thing you get," Vivian whispers back.)

[shesepankh]

That won't be hard.

Bella goes from stack to stack and gets many many things.

[marrinikari]

"Swipe yer library card," the gryphon boy tells her disinterestedly.

[revivian]

Vivian swipes hers instead and picks up one of the forms on the desk to apply for a library card. She has a suspicion Isabella will want it later. It goes into her bag next to the box full of charms.

"Ready to go sell some charms, love?"

[shesepankh]

"Mm-hm."

[revivian]

The magic shop is old and dimly lit, but carries with it an air of imposed atmosphere, as though it's trying a bit too hard to seem authentic. The owner, a wiry old man who looks as though he should break in a strong breeze but whom everyone is giving a somewhat wary berth to, makes pleased noises over the contents of Vivian's boxes and counts her out a stack of cash. Haggling is unnecessary; they've been doing this a while.

Vivian tucks it away safely, but once they're home she sorts it out and gives Isabella her share. It's not quite what the charms sold for, but it's a pretty large chunk. Not a bad day's work for a six year old.

[shesepankh]

Isabella is willing to assume that her mommy is handling her finances appropriately at this time. Yay, spending money!