Just as rare as his smile was Mezolene brooding. She stared at the pond, her fingers hovering across the surface. The headmaster had told her a story once. It was common enough and well known, but there was something in his voice that she knew meant it was a story for her. It was a tale of a swordsmith who was charged with fashioning the greatest sword the world had ever known for his lord. It was to be a blade that could fell an army with a single strike.<br/><br/>He prayed to the gods to give him the wisdom and skill, and they took mercy upon him. Into the steel he blended things which never existed. When he had finished, he cooled the blade in the blood of a dragon. The great blade hissed and split into two.<br/><br/>And so it was he tested the blades, dipping them in the rushing river. The first blade, serrated and sharp, cut the water, and the river screamed, so deadly was the weapon. The second was dipped into the river, parting the way without rippling the surface, the river flowing freely past as if it weren't there. He presented the lord with the two blades, each the greatest blade to be forged by man. Each could fell an army with a single strike. And of course, the lord chose the deadliest.<br/><br/>Mezolene murmured at the time, "Why didn't he chose both?"<br/>"No man can wield two such blades for long. Eventually, a choice must ber made."<br/><br/>She jabbed her finger into the pond, sighing as the surface parted without rippling. As Nik complimented the meal, her smile returned and she shook off her finger, giggling, "You just don't want to eat at the mess hall." Watching him gorge, she politely made no comment, waiting until her had finished before turning her back on the pond. Leaning against the stone, she smiled softly, patting her lap, "Lay down. I wanted to talk." She was quick to add for clarity, "About Jakkalin. Our last year is coming up, Nik. What do you... plan to do afterwards?"