#surprise bird parent arc courtesy of sakura ahaha

[ulircursed]

A small letter could be find at the threshold of his rooms, accompanied on the side with a very small wicker basket and a egg inside: the letter was cutely decorated with dried flowers and cherry petals; on the right corner of the paper, a small drawing of a pidgeon and at the center of the paper, a brief text written with a very clear and big calligraphy. The text was the following:

《 I'm sure you'll be a great caretaker and a lovely anf affectionate dad 》

On the back of the letter, a signature

❀ the petite priestess ❀

The basket exchanges hands between inhabitants of Garreg Mach, some of whom had heard of the blond-haired man, most whom had not, until it is finally given to him by one of the healers. The infirmary and the training range are the only two places Andrei had reliably been found, the ‘student’ seemingly barely ever showing up for any classes, and the contents of the basket were deemed safer in the company of the injured and resting, rather than zealous, healthy individuals wielding weapons.

It takes him no time to register who could’ve sent the gift. There had only been one person with whom he’d exchanged words regarding the topic, and it’s clear Sakura had taken his attempt at upholding the conversation to heart. Too much, he registers with a note of belated alarm, reaching for the small egg inside the basket.

Off-white dotted with splotches of deeper grey and tiny enough to fit in the center of his palm, the shell of the egg is smooth and cool to the touch, and only when he’d come into contact with it did Andrei become aware of how cold his own fingers are in the moment. An egg is supposed to be warmed, isn’t it?

You’ll kill it.

The Heal spell bursts from his fingertips with that thought, the glow encompassing the egg briefly before fading away, leaving Andrei with nothing but an odd sense of déjà vu.

(There had been someone something else important, warm within his grasp, once before.)

He stares down at the small egg. It doesn't look any different, and he had no way of knowing whether it is still alive. Whether his efforts are meant to end in vain again, or if there is still something to be saved.

At least his hand is warm, now.