Social Anxiety

It's been a couple weeks since Geralt and Ciri had left, everything had become relatively calm every since the Kaedweni massacre, not even bandits daring to try and raid them. Not that they could with that giant wall in the way...

Nilfgaard had been almost completely stagnant, not even moving when Radovid finally took Novigrad, the country and religion holding a giant ceremony to celebrate... Of course this included burning most non-humans who lived within its walls to death. This action alone caused almost everyone non-human aware of it to move out of Northern Cities inhabited by the Eternal Fire, creating huge vacancies and problems for the people who remained.

The refugee's moved to various places, most not being able to travel huge distances due to lack of funds and skills. The stories of Ichor had obviously spread to most of the north by now, some travellers from Cintra even hearing tales about the "City of Gold, Gods, and Dragons.", obviously there were many other names too, "City of Monsters", "Land of Magic", "Eldorado", "Indomitable Valley", and most favourably among non-humans, "Sanctuary".

No refugee's had reached Ichor or it's walls yet, but Kaedwen had received a massive influx of people, replacing those who had been killed recently as well as the non-human's that'd been burned by the Eternal Fire. It was well known that Ichor was allied with Kaedwen, the terms for the agreement were rather public as well as the Eternal Fire didn't leave Kaedwen peacefully.

The refugee's only options were really Kovir and Poviss, Kaedwen, or Ichor. Some attempted to get help from the Nilfgaardians, but as soon as they tried to travel through Velen they were killed by either Monsters, Bandits, or Soldiers from either side of the war.

Whether or not Radovid planned the Ceremony was irrelevant, Novigrad, Redania, and most of the north saw a sharp decrease in trade, most large businesses dealing with or are being run by non-humans. Perhaps gaining Novigrad was worth the other losses though, Redania's fleet now eclipsing any other known country.

Reima sighs into a cup of tea, feeling the desire to toss the pen in his hand at the wall or to crush it in his grasp. Even with Asgore's help it felt like the work never ended, this combined with the social obligations he had made him feel like he was being pulled in two separate directions.

Despite everything though he continued, even now thinking of what needed to be done... One thing that crossed his mind was education, not for the monsters, but for Nerissa. The schools in Ichor were fine, but it was a struggle getting her to stay in a class with people she considered "Immature", something he could understand as she'd been through much and didn't act her own age most of the time.

He could move her up a few years as she was smart enough to learn all the material quickly, but he felt something else was needed. She wasn't making any new friends, aside from Sieglinde she'd not actually gotten friendly with anyone else, making him worry for her social life.

She clearly already found it difficult to speak her mind, her quiet demeanor and unique way of speaking a testament to that... He could remember his mother?... No, his father talking about a topic similar to this when concerning himself, or was it his sister? Reima shakes his head, the memories fuzzy from dying previously.

A couple minutes of trying to recall the conversation finally gave him some much-needed suggestions, a boarding school? Reima himself had never entered one but if his Father's words were right, "It's a great way of coming out of your shell and making friends."...

Reima nods to himself, a boarding school would allow him some more free time without her holding his hand constantly, as well as pushing her to become more extroverted. "Hinky, could you go grab Rissa for me?" he asks gently.

*Pop!*

Hinky reappears with Snuffles in her arms, looking at him with bored eyes.

Reima takes Snuffles and thanks Hinky, waving her off and sitting down at his desk that was currently cluttered with paperwork. "Yo Snuffles, you alright?" he asks, putting her on the desk.

Snuffles transforms back into Nerissa, her legs dangling from the table as she sits facing him, her usual sundress replaced with one made from Golden Scales. She gives him a curious look, and he returns it to annoy her.

...

They keep staring at each other until the vampiress gets annoyed and pushes a stack of papers over, making Reima gape and quickly telekinetically put them back, though a few were probably mixed up by the movement.

Reima sighs and tosses her a blood-pop, "You win."

Nerissa gives him a fanged smile, unwraps the candy, and sticks it in her mouth.

Reima gives a gentle look to her, still pondering whether it was the right call. "Are you happy?" he asks simply, receiving a confused nod from Nerissa.

Reima "And how do you feel about school?"

Nerissa frowns, "Boring."

Reima gives her a grin, "Then, if I could find you a more exciting School to go to... Would you wanna go?"

The fourteen yearold crosses her arms and leans her head to the side with a thoughtful look, the blood-pop still sticking from her mouth. Eventually, she gives a nod, causing Reima to stand.

Reima "Well then, I'm sure Asgore wouldn't mind me taking the day off... Let's go find somewhere fun." he says, taking Nerissa's hand and thinking of a place suitable for her education. Asgore had just walked in with a booklet of papers he needed Reima to sign as the duo flashes away, causing the former king's knees to almost buckle in despair.

The only thing that keeps him determined to keep working was the happy expression he saw on the young girls face as the two disappeared, it looking remarkably similar to how his own children had smiled...