Page 44 of A Whisper of Cinders

“Hi. Maily, right?”

I nod. “And you are Sirelle?” I ask, just to be sure I heard it correctly.

She offers me a bright smile. “Exactly! You can call me Siri if you want to, that’s what most do.”

She too seems so genuine, just like Aramis. The fact that it surprises me says enough about what treatment I’m used to receiving.

Siri claps her hands together, breaking my train of thought. “Now, for today I might just start with the basics, explain the things we do here, and demonstrate it. Or…” I bite the corners of my mouth, my thoughts drifting away. The thought of learning new things excites me, but at the same time it scares the shit out of me. “…maybe we’ll just take it slow for today?”

Relieve washes over me. “That would be great, thank you.”

She gestures for me to follow her and we walk to the other side of the table, passing students who are engaged in various activities. “No worries, I get it. It’s your first day here, right? It can be a bit overwhelming.”

Siri pulls out two stools from underneath the table and sits down on the one to the left, pointing to where I can hang my coat. It is nicely warm in here, especially since the temperature outside is way below zero. I follow her example and sit down, only noticing the tome in front of us once I’m seated. The book seems old, the cover made out of something that resembles the bark of a dark tree with a flowery pattern carved into it. I can barely read the title of the book, the letters touched by many fingers before mine. “The Verdant Grimoire: A Compendium of Healing Flora?”

A soft smile spreads across her elegant features. “Professor Bloomhart wrote it. This is volume one out of ten, if I remember correctly.”

Huh. “It must be nice to have so much knowledge about a topic you can write ten compendiums out of it.”

“I’m sure you have some pretty amazing talents, Maily. Never underestimate yourself.”

It’s very hard not to. I know I used to play the piano, but was I any good or did I play just for fun? I have no idea, but not creating music feels as if I’m having phantom pain. I function without it, but the ache can be unbearable at times.

Siri opens the cover of the very ancient, heavy looking tome. I throw a quick glance in professor Bloomhart’s direction, who is still deep in conversation with Aramis. This book seems very old for someone who looks about halfway forty.

The pages look withered, as if they have been turned at least a thousand times. Yet, the ink is as defined as if it was written earlier today. The first pages go through the basics, Siri explains, the most commonly known flora, their medical uses and where they can be found.

Next to every plant and flower is a picture of what it looks like in the wild. But when I take a closer look, I notice that it is no photo, but a very detailed drawing. “She draws too?” I ask, completely in awe of the professor.

Sirelle laughs at my tone, the sounds as hoarse as her voice. “Professor Bloomhart can draw, yes, but only plants and flowers as far as I know.”

About halfway through chapter one, Siri picks up the book and walks towards a corner in the greenhouse where everything I just read about is currently growing.

I see ginger, which can be used for nausea. The small, white flowers are camomile, most known for relaxation and its use in tea and the pink flowers next to it are called echinacea. They are supposed to boost your immunity.

Deep down the things she talks about ring a bell, but the knowledge feels just out of reach. Siri is an excellent teacher, explaining everything with a professionalism I can only admire, answering every question I have.

It takes a while for me to realise, but I am actually enjoying myself. And as soon as I’m aware of it, the guilt starts to settle in. How can I have fun when my best friend died not even a week ago. And to make it worse, I’m having fun with another girl, have I replaced her that fast? No.

The bond Ami and I had is something that can never be replaced, not in a million years. But now that she is gone…

I look up at Siri, fully focused on the small lavender plant in front of her. Can I let other people in my heart? It feels so wrong, yet… I close my eyes and take a deep breath, inhaling the clean lavender scent. Later. I will worry about it later. When I’m alone in the room they gave me.

I startle when a hand touches my shoulder, heat spreading at the touch, the contact immediately broken as I turn around.

“Pardon me, little sprout,” Professor Bloomhart says, offering me an apologetic smile. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I just wanted to see how you two have been faring. You’ve been at it for hours.”

Hours? My stomach does feel a little empty and the light inside the greenhouse changed, it became brighter. “I’m sorry professor Bloomhart, I hadn’t realised that much time had passed.”

“Nonsense! You are allowed to stay here for as long as you want. I presume you enjoyed it?”

I can’t help but smile a little. “I really did. Your compendium is exquisite and Sirelle is an excellent teacher.”

Siri smiles even brighter. “You’re talented, Maily, I didn’t have to explain much at all.”

“Hmm, I can see that,” professor Bloomhart whispers as her eyes become hazy, as if she is back in her own world for a moment. She slowly shakes her head, and takes us both in, the haze lifted once more. “Now ladies, it might be a good time for you to go eat something. I will clean up after you.”

I look around for Aramis, but notice the greenhouse is nearly empty. I can manage without him, Siri is equally as kind. We both put on our coats and walk towards the exit.