(2022-09-29) Peace Blooming

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Author:	OzmaAsimov
Summary:	Paluuva receives Icaros's flower delivery.
Rating:	T for Teen

Chain: Exes and Woes

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Unhealthy relationships

A fog lingered in Paluuva’s apartment. It had been there for several days, muddling her thoughts, stealing her attention whenever she tried to focus on her work. The only place clear of the fog was at the corner of the desk in her study, where a letter remained untouched since she had first read it.

Any distraction from the monotony of the days was welcome, sometimes too enthusiastically. Paluuva may have frightened away a courier she invited in for tea. So she was more careful about the next one that arrived; this one had flowers. Flowers? Most curious of all, they were peacebloom — native to Azeroth, not found at all on Outland. These flowers had traveled a long way to reach her…from Tirisfal, in fact, if the tag on the bundle was to be believed. The first bundle, at least. There were eight in total, each from a different region of Azeroth: Durotar, Eversong Woods, Teldrassil, Elwynn Forest…someone had traveled all over the continents collecting these.

The courier handed over a thick envelope addressed to Paluuva as the final piece of the delivery. Paluuva thanked her and gave her several coins in gratuity before she scurried away…maybe a little too quickly. Perhaps the other courier had told stories.

Paluuva hurried to her study, setting the flower bundles on her desk and tearing over the envelope to find a nineteen-page letter within. Rather, a two-page letter accompanied by seventeen pages of data. She recognized the handwriting immediately.

Icaros.

Of course. The first interesting distraction from her miasma in days, and it is from the very man who triggered it in the first place. As the fog began to creep in closer, Paluuva read the letter. Icaros detailed his study of varieties of peacebloom throughout Azeroth to determine if any would prove more viable than others for the production of inks for arcane inscription.

He really is taking this new endeavor seriously. And of all the plants to choose, he selected peacebloom. Does he know why Azerothian’s call it that? No…he was never that sentimental. Still, could it be that Icaros is actually committing to something? The thought was bittersweet. It would be remarkable growth for him, and yet it stung that it should be this he chose to commit to, rather than….

Paluuva pushed the thoughts aside. There was nothing to be gained by dwelling on the past. She read on about Icaros’s findings. His experiments with Teldrassil peacebloom seemed to support her own impression that it was an inferior variety. Indeed, the bundle from Teldrassil was brown and wilted, barely resembling flowers at all compared to the other vibrant blooms. Meanwhile, his discoveries about the samples from the Eversong Woods were quite exciting. Perhaps those elves’ rampant use of the arcane has had a positive side effect at least.

The remaining seventeen pages were pure, raw data. The deeper Paluuva sank into the sea of observations, analysis, and calculations, the more the fog lifted and faded away. Her heart beat a bit faster, a little smile forming on her lips as she devoured the study. This could be the beginning of a much more exhaustive project. There are so many other varieties of peacebloom alone, and that is before even looking at the endless other species of flora. Her mind immediately turned to An Azerothian Herbalist’s Compendium, the wonderful guide penned and compiled by Cobalt Company’s own Niris Hazan Ference. It would be an invaluable resource in such a project.

Paluuva sat back in her chair. Her breaths came heavy, as if having just come in from a run. How long had she been reading? The position of the light through her window suggested well over an hour. Possibly two. She had gone over the data several times, checking for errors — not to be spiteful, but simply to be scientifically thorough. But Icaros had a keen mind and seldom made mistakes. Not academic mistakes, anyhow.

Her gaze slowly shifted to the first letter, loitering at the corner of her desk. That simple piece of paper had been like a knife cutting open an old wound she had thought long since healed. How had she let these feelings fester for so long? She had believed she was long past this. Yet, all it took was written words from him to imbalance her like this.

Still, Icaros was showing an initiative and sense of purpose he had never shown when they were together. Perhaps something had changed. Perhaps he truly was a different person now. It had been ten thousand years. Surely even Icaros could mature in that time.

Paluuva took a piece of fresh parchment from her drawer and removed the stopper from her inkwell. Dipping her quill, she began to write…

—-

Icaros,

I confess, I was surprised by your first letter. It has been so long since we have communicated and in our last interaction I was less than cordial.

I have reviewed your study. I find the data to be sound and your records impeccable. I am writing to you before I have performed any studies of my own, but rest assured I will do so and share my findings with you.

Regarding your original request: I have not yet decided whether I will instruct you in arcane inscription. I believe it would be prudent for us to meet in person before I make that decision.

I am still with the Aldor. You can arrange a meeting through them and I will attend.

Respectfully,
Paluuva