Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Bethany]

"No, you keep saying you're dumb and slow," Bethany snaps. "And that's a lie. You're just as smart as most folks, you just... Dad and Marian were... gifted, blessed by Alydra. I'm pretty smart, though not as smart as them. It's like... you're calling yourself weak but ignoring the fact that you're comparing yourself to trolls and giants."

[Carver Amell]

"But I'm not as smart! I'm just not!" Carver pants, frustration clearly showing on his face. "I'm going to be an adult soon. I want to quit school. It's not helping me and I don't want to do it anymore."

[Bethany]

"I don't care if you're as smart as me, or anyone! I just don't want you to insult yourself! You're average, not dumb. So stop saying you are!"

[Tethras Clan]

"...umm, what's school?" Merrill asks awkwardly, not really caring about the unfamiliar word so much as wanting to stop them from yelling.

[Carver Amell]

"School is torture," he snarls. "But they make you go so you can know things, only I don't know things, they're hard and I can't do them."

[Tethras Clan]

"I don't know things too," Merrill whispers. "Maybe we can n-not know t-together?"

[Bethany]

"Can you read, do basic maths and have enough background knowledge to live day-to-day? Then I don't have any issues with you not going to school." Bethany frowns, brow furrowing. "Carver... who's been saying you have to?"

[Carver Amell]

"It's just. I don't know. Everyone." Carver sighs. "Dad went and got this special tutor and all and I still hate it. I want to learn how to fight. I want to protect you. Dad wants me to be more than that but I'm still working on that and I just want to do something right and be good at things."

[Bethany]

"I thought he got the tutor because you wanted to be a paladin and was struggling to... whatever, doesn't matter." Beth reaches around Merrill to stroke Carver's face. "Decide what you want, what path you want, and we'll make it work. Okay?"

[Carver Amell]

Carver nods. "I know the Vangal stuff well enough now. I don't want to know about every Bright's in the history of boring shit and all the stupid wars and, and stupid algebra."

[Bethany]

"...yeah, that's fair," Bethany mutters, then glances at Merrill. Reading the question there, she adds, "algebra is a funny kind of math that... it's kind of like a puzzle, where there's parts missing in the problem and you have to figure out what they are to solve it. It's weird. Anyway. Is there other stuff you need to know to be a paladin still? Or whatever role you want to be when you swear vows? I admit I just can't picture you clanking around in heavy armour with a shield or a great big ol'sword."

[Tethras Clan]

Merrill wrinkles her nose. "Metal stinks. Well, lots of metal stinks, a little bit is fine. Besides you walk too nice to wear lots of heavy stuff. All graceful and power... like a wolf stalking," she adds in a soft, slightly off tone that gets an eyeroll from Beth.

[Carver Amell]

"I... I don't know." He looks down at his hands. "There's... whatever weird shit my hands did. And I, I need to learn a specific fighting style. Av-- Lt Vallen says I'm too mixed up with styles right now. And she says I need to, uh, to work on... some... some thinking stuff I guess. So there's that. Those are the things I should be doing I guess."

[Tethras Clan]

"Weird thing?" Merrill asks curiously. "Oh! The doggo claws. Wolf claws," she corrects herself rapidly, flinching.

[Bethany]

"Doggo? I like it," Beth says easily, tightening her hug for a moment. "And yeah... actually, maybe we should fit in a moment to ask Elder Marethari about that. Claws and shape shifting is a druid thing, I think, so..."