OW: SHD 203, January

Moomin-headed chibis ftw Trying to chase my art block away. Doesn't work.

A poor excuse to draw these two together.

Pun so very intended.

So... His Shadowmancy assignment was essentially to play a prank on someone.

In spite of the general picture of Kaine, painted across the years he spent in Otherworlde, Nóriel still had quite a lot of good to say about him. Rose trusted her opinions about people because she always looked for all the best they can offer. And he believed this time, too, even if her crystal positive judgement was heavily affected by her friendship with Cosmar's brother. He just never was offered a reason to doubt... Still, he wouldn't accuse the professor of such a sense of humour, either!

The task was to hide someone's treasured possession and replace it with a shadow illusion. 'And it should be obvious; don't try to pull an illusion on another shadowmancer', warned them professor at the end. Well, to Rose, it was obvious indeed... And actually, made his choice too easy to make.

Although each room was supposed to be magically protected from unwanted guests, somehow, Sitka and Nóriel's room was always open for him – as if it knew how welcomed its owners make him feel. Now, it turned out to be a very helpful thing to occur; as helpful as the knowledge that the little tri-headed beast of Sitka's, Luc, Sam and Meph, was just being walked around the campus.

There were three things that Sitka really treasured: the sword, currently hung on a wall, the guitar, left on the table as usual, and the side-blown flute, kept carefully in a wooden box on a shelf. The first two were probably too big for Rose to make a good illusion of. The flute seemed perfect... And it bore a threat that made the whole action even more thrilling: it was made of silver.

Opening the box, Rose let out a silent groan of disgust. There had been times when he liked silver. Now it only reminded him of how fragile his so-called eternal life was. But he had his gloves on and took a piece of cloth – no wait, two pieces – to hold the flute through and hopefully, it was enough. He couldn't help but smile. If Sitka caught him now, voluntarily exposing skin to burning, he would probably overcome all the physical advantages of an upir Rose had and kill him.

Rose held the flute carefully, its surface feeling dangerously hot through the layers of cloth, and as he examined it, the illusion slowly started forming in his other hand. It was just a visual illusion, so he felt no stinging or even weight, but it was good enough. Now, to just let the real flute disappear in his shadow...

'What the hell you think you're doing?'

Rose turned around, careful enough to keep the half-hidden instrument behind his back. Sitka came back, the cerberus puppy peacefully slept in his arms, which was the reason Rose didn't hear them coming.

'Don't touch my flute, idiot. You know you shouldn't,' Sitka complained and extended his hand demandingly. Rose smiled.

'As you please, friend. As you please.'

*

<sub>Word count: 508 and as usual, Me is Polish, me no English.

Rose, Sitka (c) Meh

Others mentioned:
Nóriel and the cerberus pup (c) Meh
Kaine (c) BlueBlueFox</sub>