"I'd like to see it as well," they agreed. "But I'm not sure we could do more than see it. They may not let us in. But I guess you never know until you try!" Never let it be said that Quanil turned down an adventure, after all.
"Oh, a puddle!" They headed towards it. "Lots of rain yesterday, maybe earlier this morning, too." They bent over, expecting to see their usual raggedy hair - maybe more raggedy than usual, actually; when was the last time they had a haircut? - and boring face.
And they did see themselves, but they were... older. Hair long, white, gathered back at the nape of the neck. Their brown eyes full of wisdom and knowledge, both gained from experience as much as from reading books. A strong - possibly magical?! - staff at their side. Sturdy, attractive clothes that had obviously seen much use but were still in good shape - and none of them brown.
Quanil saw themselves the way they'd always dreamed of being: an elder who had survived the world through learning of it, had seen much of it, and loved it still. They saw this long-held wish of theirs and their heart swelled as they stepped back. Oh please, please let that be true some day. Their eyes were wide and tear-bright with the desperate hope and the... the sheer joy of even seeing it somewhere other than in their mind.
"Oh, a puddle!" They headed towards it. "Lots of rain yesterday, maybe earlier this morning, too." They bent over, expecting to see their usual raggedy hair - maybe more raggedy than usual, actually; when was the last time they had a haircut? - and boring face.
And they did see themselves, but they were... older. Hair long, white, gathered back at the nape of the neck. Their brown eyes full of wisdom and knowledge, both gained from experience as much as from reading books. A strong - possibly magical?! - staff at their side. Sturdy, attractive clothes that had obviously seen much use but were still in good shape - and none of them brown.
Quanil saw themselves the way they'd always dreamed of being: an elder who had survived the world through learning of it, had seen much of it, and loved it still. They saw this long-held wish of theirs and their heart swelled as they stepped back. Oh please, please let that be true some day. Their eyes were wide and tear-bright with the desperate hope and the... the sheer joy of even seeing it somewhere other than in their mind.
