Unfamiliar Faces (Seyena)

[Mirian Jade]

Seyena smiled. Mirian smiled right back at her. She hoped that meant she would teach her more. “Of course I can teach you more,” the Symenestra said. “Opalgloam is a difficult word to start with. We should start with more simple words.” Mirian’s smile turned into a beam, one that she tried to stifle as soon as she noticed it. Seyena paused, apparently collecting herself, and Mirian leaned against the table that the woman had so ferociously been cleaning. Here eyes were locked on the Symenestra’s face, all attention focused on what she would say. Seyena put forth another unfamiliar word that was too delicate to be Common. “That is ‘hello’.” And then another. “Means goodbye.” Mirian nodded, moving her mouth in the same way. Seyena repeated the words, slowly and clearly, and Mirian tried them again. She was fairly certain she’d gotten at least somewhat close by the third try. “Hello,” Mirian said. No, wait, that was too loud; Seyena had said to be gentle with the words. Mirian let her voice become softer, trying to mimic the carefulness that Seyena had used with her own voice. “Hello,” she said again. “Hello, Seyena. When I leave I will said goodbye.” Mirian paused and bit her lip nervously. “How was that?”

[Seyena]

Seyena noticed Mirian’s hidden smile with quiet amusement. Each time the woman spoke in Symenos, she improved further and further, growing accustomed to keeping her voice softer than before. When she looked to Seyena anxiously, Seyena smiled. “How was that?”

“It was very good,” she said. “You speak well. Remember that the words must flow.” She paused. “Now for introductions. ‘Name’ means your name. To tell you my name, I will say ‘my name is Seyena’. You will say ‘my name is Mirian’. Try it. I will say my name and ask you for your name.”

It was an interesting lesson for Seyena as well as Mirian, having to think of her first language as a new one. She thought through the different phrases and sayings in Symenos that had once seemed to make unquestionable sense. Simple things like irregular verbs suddenly seemed more complicated, odd proverbs now nonsensical. The analysis of the language made her consider it in a whole new light. She had to stay a few steps ahead mentally, planning out the next lesson.

She cleared her throat, readying herself. “Hello. My name is Seyena Belladonna. What is your name?” The final sentence was spoken slowly with emphasis on the word ‘name’ so that the meaning was clear even with the language barrier.

OOCSorry for the delay.

[Mirian Jade]

Mirian let out a sigh of relief at the Widow’s approval.

The words needed to flow. Stay gentle. Symenos was a difficult language to get right, but the sound it made was well worth it. Opalgloam. It sounded pleasant, even in her head.

They were moving on now, going to more complicated words. Name.

“Name,” Mirian repeated.

My name is Seyena. My name is Mirian. My name is. My name is.

Hello. The halfbreed felt a thrill go through her when she recognized the word. Hello. The words that followed were more immediately familiar, and Mirian nodded and took a deep breath to respond.

“Hello, Seyena,” she said. “My name is Mirian.”

But again, the words felt too loud on her tongue. She closed her eyes and tried again, softening her voice. She took her time, too, saying the words slowly enough to control every syllable and make it as gentle as she possibly could.

“Hello, Seyena,” she repeated. “My name is Mirian. Seyena is your name. My name is Mirian. My name is Mirian.”

She let out a breath. She didn’t know why she was so nervous. The words… they felt like delicate glass on her tongue, as if the slightest mishandling would shatter them and send the shards falling to the ground. It was almost exhilarating, in its own way. A challenge.

Mirian loved challenges.

Looking back at her teacher, the halfbreed bit her lip. “How about that?”