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themselves. I simply picked it up, and discovered I had a knack for it. My connection to fire has always been less than my connection to plants and animals-"
"We do not acknowledge fauna as an element, here. So, it was simply that you were made to use flora, no natural elemental skill involved. Your hair color is the purest sign of your natural master element. We have courses in fireweaving and pyromancy-"
"Excuse me, your honor… I disagree."
This time, all five Parapheums leaned over the parapet.
"You… 'disagree'?"
"Yes. My parents did not ask me- let alone urge me- to pursue the use of floral elemental skill. I simply realized at a young age that my parents weren't cultivating correctly. As a very young child, I could make plants grow to their full potential, simply by handling the soil or seeds. Other tactics and remedies for proper growing came naturally to me. I do not think it is my main element… I know this for a fact. I would like to pursue a future in herbology, alchemy and herbiculture."
The Parapheums were stricken silent by this for a moment. Then one leaned to whisper in another's ear, and the two on the far right huddled closer to add statements of their own. Saure looked from one to another, slightly confused.

The center (and, apparently head) Parapheum replaced his spectacles and shuffled the scrolls before him. Then he leaned over, peering at the girl.
"Please place your gunna and bags at your feet, and your beast as well. He knows how to sit still on command, does he not?"
Both Saure and Fred were offended by this, but neither made remark. "Yes, your honor." She did as she was commanded.

The head Parapheum produced a green brass bell from his robes and rang it thrice. A courier boy came through a door Saure had not noticed until that moment, to the left of the parapet. The boy couldn't have been older than fourteen springs, and his hair was an icy pale aquamarine. Saure guessed that he must be an iceblood. He quickly strode up

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an unseen flight of stairs behind the parapet. The old Parapheum passed a scroll down the line of his fellows, and the last handed it to the courier. His thunderous footsteps were heard as he descended the unseen steps, and he quickly exited the way he had come.

"We will be conducting some simple tests to verify your skills as a greenhand. When you fail- for fail you shall… we've never had a fireblood prove his worth as a greenhand- we will conduct some simple tests to measure your skills as a fireweaver." The Parapheums all nodded in agreement to this, and started tucking away what parchments or scrolls they had out. They each produced from unseen depths behind the high panel, a piece of clean parchment and identical green quills.

"I shall relish the looks on their faces when they are proven wrong." Fred remarked quietly from his seat at the foot of the podium. This Gave Saure a small surge of confidence, and she straightened up a little with the ghost of an indomitable smirk gracing her pale face.

The courier returned pushing a long metal tray-cart. On this tray were arranged seven piles of seeds, three potted herbs, and two long strips of bark. There was a tray two hands below this, on which were placed two large glass flasks of water and one bulging sack stained with earth. The courier boy bowed low first to the Parapheums, then to Saure. His cold eyes spoke of apathy. He exited with as much ceremony as he had entered.

"Before you, Saure 'Fira'," the head Parapheum put emphasis on her last name as he spoke it, "are some basic materials for beginner's floramancy. This is the same test we conduct for all greenhands who hope to graduate from our basic floramancy courses in their first year. You should recognize each material and be fluent in its many uses. You should also be prepared to demonstrate your skills with each given plant utilizing the materials provided. You may begin."