A whole side of the courtyard had been sanctioned off for the ceremony, and it was a brilliant day for an outdoor event. Wind rustled through the trees in the campus’s heart, notably warm for fall. 

A few scholars and their soon-to-be apprentices mingled with friends and family, come to support them.  Thym noted a couple local press members taking advantage of the open-door event, milling about the meeting spot flanking the entrance to Orion. They caught sight of Rosemary, who attended to a couple in need of assistance.   She looked up and shared a quick smile refocusing on the task.  

They still had a little less than an hour before the event kicked off. 

“A roll call of sorts was expected to start fairly soon,“ Basil began "I wonder if there’s a hold-u-AH!”

A small and dense something plopped down from above, impacting Basil’s shoulders. It cheered loudly as he nearly toppled over with a yelp. 

The attack was followed by an exasperated outburst of "NUTMEG” as a large figure rushed over from a couple of yards away. 

Nutmeg hopped down.

“Yeah, Sumac?” the kid asked, blinking behind her large glasses as if she’d done nothing wrong in the world, ever.  Sumac sighed, his tired eyes falling upon his charge as he spoke. “Basil, apologies. Er… this is Nutmeg. You remember, Saoirse’s daughter." 

  Nutmeg, who couldn’t have been more than 10 years of age, fixed her hair idly, tucking loose strands back into small dense buns. 

"Well.” Basil blinked nervously, straightening his attire. “She must learn not to do that again. For my sake.” He smiled weakly.

“Basil… right! ‘Ah remember.” She leaned forward towards the lanky scientist with a measure of scrutiny, and then swung around to eye Thym. “An who are YOU s'pposed to be? 'Aven’t seen you around." 

Thym mirrored the gesture, crossing their arms and  looking down their nose. "Why I’m your new rival, kid!” They turned off the dramatics with a grin before tagging Nutmeg on the shoulder and bolting for the nearest tree. She laughed a sharp “HA!” and skittered after them. 

  Sumac and Basil watched with stunned silence. Sumac broke it with a sigh. “So much for keeping tidy before the ceremony.”

  Basil furrowed a brow, suddenly sharing the sentiment, watching Thym perch on a branch as Nutmeg dashed towards them. “Right…" 

"Huh…"  Sumac tilted his head, the action accentuated further by his tophat.

"Yes so, actually, who…is that?" 

"I will learn your name, You!” Nutmeg caterwauled as Thym swung to another branch just out of reach to the youth’s advances.  

“With Time, perhaps you shall.” Thym chuckled. 

Basil sighed.  

“That’s Thym.  They’re….well, I suppose they’re about to be my apprentice.” 

Sumac was noticeably shocked.

“An apprentice?  Since when?”  

“It kinda came together last minute.” Basil admitted “But they deserve this.”

“Completely understandable.” Sumac gave a nod and turned his attention back to Nutmeg “She needed a good school situation before the semester started.”

Nutmeg followed Thym higher up the tree, and Basil frowned and walked closer.

“Thym…” called Basil from below. “I think Rosemary’s waiting on us.” 

Thym smiled and dropped to the ground with a casual sturdiness, and then reached up for Nutmeg. “Come on!  Basil says we haven’t got all day.  Maybe we can pick up on this tomorrow?” they winked. 

“I will destroy you at tree climbing!” Nutmeg promised, trying valiantly to refuse Thym’s help as she flopped out of the tree, only to land in the arms of a watchful Sumac.  She giggled.

  “Anyone else joining us today?” Thym asked, smiling expectantly at Basil and Sumac.

  Sumac frowned.  “I think Caraway finally picked her apprentice.”

  Basil stopped in his tracks, but Sumac was too distracted to notice.

  “Finally found someone on that list of proteges she thought was worth her time.  Hope she doesn’t change her mind.” Sumac remarked.

  “I smell…resentment.” Thym said, sing-song “Spill it.  Why don’t we like her?”

  “…well…” Basil bit his tongue.

  “Her views are harmful.” Sumac filled in, matter-of-fact “But she is very stubborn about them, and equally convinced that not only is she right, but she has every right to teach those views to this city’s brightest.”

  “Well, if they’re so bright, she won’t get far.” Thym shrugged.

  “Well said.” Basil nodded.

  “Heads up, there she is.” Sumac said, muted.

  He nodded subtly at an older lady approaching Rosemary, with a young teen at her side, quietly avoiding everyone’s attention.

  “I WILL DESTROY HER!” Nutmeg declared, earning an embarrassed look from Sumac, and a chuckle from Rosemary.

  “How about introductions first?” the captain bargained “We’ll be getting started here soon.”