<div class="floatleft">(https://yt3.ggpht.com/a-/AAuE7mBViEXufNE3sOcr1sfm2PL7B4vFb6ocvHP9Cg=s240-mo-c-c0xffffffff-rj-k-no)</div>The young elf maiden listened to Erin's tale attentively.  "I would very much like to see these stones myself," she said, then added wistfully, "although that will need to wait.  Master Soveliss isn't about to let me go far."  Indeed, the very foundations of the style of magic he had determined to instruct her in would require three years of rigorous training in lore, dance and song in addition to martial and magical training.  And that was merely for the foundation; learning even the first choreographed routine of the Elvish Bladedancers was still a year away, if not two.  The terms of taking her as an apprentice was a promise of diligent daily study and practice.<br/><br/>Vanessë would continue to content her imagination with books, and now she had a circle of friends with whom she could imagine together, both those she was reconnecting with, as well as new friends.  She had marveled at how Mella had grown; she had begun teaching that girl her letters when she had first left Yelmed, and now the 15 year old was not only an avid reader, but creatively spinning her own stories.  She had known Allia and Onette from before; Allia was closest to her in age, even if their family backgrounds were about as different as you could get in a village of this size.  She was impressed to discover the clever halfling working at the magic shop, had within a year, taught herself a cantrip to create small dancing lights; a feat that she herself could not accomplish, despite her own mastery in creating minor illusions.  The goblin, Nephie, was a new face to her, however, and a bit of a surprise, but she quickly overcame any prejudice when she found the mischievous girl to be a fast and loyal friend.<br/><br/>She smiled when asked about Arashalu, "I suppose if there's anything that I miss there next to my family, it would be the cuisine.  If the conventional wisdom that you know who your people are by your taste in food, then I am most definitely a high elf."<br/><br/>She pondered for a moment about what she could say about the elven courts that might be interesting, "It is a beautiful place for sure.  The white and gold buildings fit organically within our hallowed forests, with lively streams fed by pure springs, flowing into our clear, crystal lakes.  I suppose our society is one of fascinating contrasts:  a people priding itself in free spontaneous enjoyment of nature and her gifts, ruled by a rigid hierarchy of nobility who jealously guard our secrets and culture.  And for all the praise we give to the virtue of creativity in all manner or arts and sciences, it can be ironic in how regimented our pedagogy is, or how how singular our outlook on the wider world tends to be."  She tapped her lip thoughtfully, "With no disrespect to Master Soveliss, in a way, he very much represents the discipline in education expected among our people, even if the way he organizes and presents his curriculum is unusual."