A mentor

“I think this will work out fine” Hinat said. “I was so nervous that I would be roommates with people that was rude or unsocial. But I think I will enjoy spending the next three years with you two.”

The other two laughed and agreed. The three of them all felt like they had been friends for a long time.

“And Mary has the best rider connections” Firlea giggled. “She knows all the hot riders.”

“I do not!” Mary objected. “I know two riders that are men except for my dad.”

“Well, those two must know others” Hinat said interested.

“Of course,” Mary agreed.

“So can’t you ask them to introduce us?” Hinat smiled.

“I’m not playing matchmaker and asking my friends to find you two dates,” Mary said. Well, actually, she already was playing matchmaker. She would not tell Firlea that. Should she ask Tenac to bring a couple of more friends?

She had already decided to ask Hinat to come along when they were going on the thing with Tenac, Sinhera and Jontak. If everything went as she had planned, Jontak would spend time with Firlea. Would Hinat be okay with hanging out with Mary, Tenac and Sinhera? Or would she also want someone that would pay her attention?

Maybe Tenac would be interested in Hinat? Mary thought. She was a stunning woman. Mary didn’t like the idea, but didn’t know why it bothered her. Tenac was her friend and if he was interested in someone, she would be happy for him, right?

Just like you were happy for Zerden and lady Sarah? A little voice kept nagging her. That was different, she insisted. She had been in love with Zerden; she was not in love with Tenac. Mary frowned as the idea formed in her head. She had been in love with Zerden? When did she use past tense for her feelings towards him?

“Mary?” Firlea called her name and waved a hand in front of her.

“What?” Mary said, looking at her friend.

“Where did you go? I asked you three times if you can tell us more about Dermes. If you don’t want to, that is okay,” Firlea said.

“Sorry, I got caught in my own thoughts,” Mary said. “What do you want to know?”

The three of them sat in the bay window, exchanging stories about their life for the next hours. They found out that although they had lived very different lives and, in some ways, had opposite personalities, they understood each other really well and had similar basic life views.

When the knock for lunch came, they all got up and all three of them were relieved that they had roommates they liked. Three years was a long time to spend with people you didn’t get along with.

During lunch, they got to meet and talk to all the other new trainees. They were a mixed bunch, but they all seemed nice. Some of the younger men had been flirting with the three friends. Mary wasn’t interested, and neither was Firlea nor Hinat from the looks of it.

At the end of lunch, Furnlow came walking in with a group of aari. Mary had a feeling this was the mentors. She was correct. Soon Furlow was calling their names and introducing them to their mentor.

“Mary,” he called, and she stepped forward. “This is your mentor, aari Procecsa,” he introduced them and Procecsa asked Mary to follow her.

Together, they went through the sanctum until they came to a small room. The room was filled with bookshelves, benches littered with vials, cups, and other interesting things. Crammed in a corner was a desk and a visitor’s chair.

“Pleas sit,” Procecsa said, showing the visitor’s chair as she sat behind the desk.

Aari Procecsa was a thin woman with light brown hair and piercing grey eyes. She reminded Mary of Mrs Meata and she therefore felt uncomfortable as she sat down.

“I am to be your mentor for at least the coming year,” Procecsa spoke.

“Yes, aari Procecsa,” Mary said.

“Just call me Sesca. Everyone does. I guess I should tell you a bit about myself. I’m naturally drawn to three types of magic: fire, water, and earth. It’s an unusual combination, but it comes in handy. Most of my work is academic or experimental, as some would call it. I look for new uses of magic and also try to understand it,” she said.

“That sounds interesting,” Mary said.

“I’m glad to hear that. You will assist me from time to time. I have been briefed about your background. I must say that I’m surprised that you are as far as long as you are in your knowledge of the upbringing you have had,” Procecsa said, sounding intrigued.

“Thank you.” Mary wasn’t sure that it had been a compliment, but maybe it had been.

“You’re welcome,” her mentor said, smiling. “Looking at your test results, you have a talent for most magic, but your weak point seems to be water and there seems to be something going on with fire that we can’t seem to pinpoint. What I think we should explore this year is to discover what is up with your fire magic and to explore if your weakness for water is a lack of experience or a general weakness.”

The afternoon was spent with Procecsa, planning and going through things she thought Mary could benefit from. Mary soon discovered that Procecsa was nothing like Mrs Meata. On the contrary, she was nice, patient and a lot of fun. Procecsa followed Mary back to her room and Mary did her best to remember the rout. She would walk it often.

Hinat was already back when Mary walked into the room. They sat on Mary’s bed, talking and comparing mentors. Hinat had a gift for fire and wind magic. Her mentor wanted her to explore life magic as well.

Firlea returned about a half hour after Mary and joined the two others on Mary’s bed. Firlea had already guessed that she would be predominant in air and fire, but to her surprise she also had a knack for earth magic.

They had been talking for over an hour when there was a knock at the door. Mary sat closest to it so she went to open it. Outside stood Kopa with a smile.

“Hi dad,” Mary smiled.

“Hello, little one. Have you settled in?” he asked.

“I have,” she nodded. “Come in and meet my roommates” she then said, taking a step back so that he could walk inside.

“You know Firlea, and this is Hinat Seolo, Hinat this is my father Kopa Teeran,” Mary said.

“Hello, sir Teeran,” Hinat said.

“Hello,” Kopa answered. “You are the ambassador’s daughter?” he then asked.

“Yes,” she answered.

“I’m heading home for today. If you need anything, find a rider and they will let me know,” Kopa told Mary.

“I’ll be fine, dad. Thank you for checking on me,” she smiled at him as she followed him out.

“No problem, Mary. Sleep well and I will see you tomorrow,” he said as he left.

“I’m sorry, but he will come by at least once per day for the next week or two,” Mary said to her roommates. “He has separation anxiety,” she smiled. Her two friends laughed, and they continued to talk until they were collected for dinner.

A couple of hours later, when Mary was in bed, she found she missed being able to look out of her window. But she was still happy. She had made at least one new friend. She had gotten a mentor that seemed nice and willing to help and she had a feeling that this was doable.

She felt like she could actually become an aari. It seemed so real and within her grasp as she lay watching the bookcase in front of her.