Looking up at his expression, Philomena found no spark or sign of someone looking to take advantage of the revelation. Only what she perceived to be genuine curiosity, and she felt her anxious hold on her pet familiar loosen. His question took her even further aback, so much that she dropped Tchai from her arms (an action that the fox welcomed and went off to prance in front of them, tail low as he peered through the bushes along the path).

It was also with this question that Philomena had to remain silent as they walked through the greenhouse to think of her answer. It almost overwhelmed her in a way; she hadn’t fully had time to let the shifting nature of her abilities sink in. In a way, it felt like a moving target that she constantly had to aim for. “I’ve always used them to help my family.” She mused quietly, her eyes trailing along the path in front of them. “And they depended upon them. Not so much anymore, but they were always reliable. And now that they’re changing both in subject and frequency…” Philomena paused again, worrying her bottom lip as she pondered her answer.

“I suppose...I feel a bit of a failure to my family. Like I’ve let them down in their expectations.” To her mortification she felt her eyes sting, and she turned slightly as she walked, her hand brushing up to preemptively wipe any tears away before they fell.

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