The Ingenue

Author’s Note: This short is written in response to the Simhaven November 2011 Challenge over at El Jay.

March 7, 1997-- Rawling Hills Ladies' Academy; Rawling Hills, Pleasantview



The clock above the door hummed as it ticked. But for that, the room was eerily still. Though Adriana had a purpose and an appointment, she could not have felt more intrusive. Prof. Tricou did not look up from his book as Adriana approached the desk at the rear of the classroom, hyperconscious of the sound of her shoes against the floorboards.

This was the middle of her first term in Prof. Tricou’s Theology course. Her parents had her registered because the topic was essential to the education of a proper young lady and the man teaching it was a family friend. It also did not hurt that the majority of the students were fae girls from prominent families. They had been sent to Pleasantview for the sole purpose of studying under Prof. Kvornan Tricou, a man who was revered by their people as a living, breathing god. In any case, the course provided a liaising opportunity, and if there was one thing that Adriana Fiorello’s mother appreciated, it was liaising.

Knowing Prof. Tricou outside of a school setting, the prospect of sitting in his class had not been so daunting initially. He had always seemed rather meek and aloof to her when they met. Adriana was soon to learn that behind that oak desk, he was a different creature altogether. Maybe it was the result of his monastic upbringing but Kvornan Tricou was a strict, demanding, nearly abusive teacher. How the other girls were keeping up with the course-load, Adriana could not begin to imagine. None of them paid attention to his lectures. Every day, she watched them moon over him like love-struck geese. For Adriana’s part, she would have preferred to be anywhere other than in a classroom with that man but she needed these additional sessions. Unlike the other girls, she did not have a temple education and was lost when Prof. Tricou breezed over concepts that the rest of the class would think rudimentary.



Prof. Tricou laid the book that he was reading aside, atop another book and open upon its belly to mark the page. He then counter-balanced it by perching a third book on the cover. Adriana scowled. He would ruin the spine that way. She was not sure about what reverence she held for her religion or even for the incarnate deity that sat before her but a book-- A book was a sacred object. Prof. Tricou cleared his throat. Adriana curtseyed. She was determined to seem bright and enthusiastic just to prove that he did not scare her.

"Deus eshil mit dyne tad-hymera sita, Mahadeva," she said. At least she spoke his language. That she could do fluently, elegantly--

"You’ll want to leave that open." The professor gestured towards the door. Adriana had momentarily forgotten about the social mores of his culture. It was an impropriety for them to be alone together with the door closed. She scurried to correct her error.

“Ken-urness ir--”

“If I am speaking English, then why am I being addressed in Ashkay?” The professor picked up a pen and held it at both ends like a finger trap. Adriana clasped her hands behind her back.

“My apologies, Maha—professor. And thank you for agreeing to meet with me.”

“Not at all. Please have a seat, Miss Fiorello.” Stay up-beat. Stay jolly. Be casual. Be charming. Adriana took her seat on top of the desk closest to him. She would not quietly fade into the wall just because he said ‘boo’. She was Adriana Fiorello and he did not scare her.



Prof. Tricou looked from her down to the desk that she sat on and furrowed his brow. Then he laughed airily and only once.

“I don’t buy it,” he said.

“Pardon?”

“The act, I don’t buy it. Nauseating little ingenue that you like to appear, I know you and I know your type. You’re too smart to think that you can keep batting your eyelashes at me, and that I’ll say to myself, ‘She is as innocent as a babe and I should not treat her so harshly’.” Adriana blinked at him.

“That isn’t at all what I think.”

“Oh? Then what do you think, Miss Fiorello?” Adriana crossed her legs at the ankle.



“I think that you feel in control only when you’re intimidating.” The words just tumbled forth. Adriana regretted them immediately. Prof. Tricou nodded his head, not in agreement but in a perfunctory, directional way.

“You will need the notebook beneath your posterior if you intend to take notes,” he said. She was sitting on her notebook? Flustered, Adriana pulled the book out from underneath her. The more lady-like thing to do would have been to stand up rather than yanking something from beneath her arse but as the good professor had only just informed her, he did not buy the act. There was a fountain pen strapped to the cover of the book. Adriana untied it. Prof. Tricou did not ask her what had been confusing about his earlier lecture as he usually did. Instead, he plowed right into an explanation as if to tell her just how predictable she truly was.



"There are two basic classifications of daemon. The first is the Primordial Set. These are the daemons that originate from the First Enumeration, the first splintering of the Ren. The daemons that fall into this class include Lexis, who is known as The One Word or The Mouth of God. She is, as you know, the author of our primary holy texts. Chronos, the daemon of time, falls into this classification. Turan, the daemon of love is one. Daemons come to embody a concept by virtue of their actions or their function within the pantheon. Lotan, for example, earned the title ‘He Who Twists’ for his ability to morph a perfect truth into utter garbage. Most basic human concepts are represented by a primordial daemon. And it is from this set that the second set springs. These are the Balthezarian or Messenger Set. Balthezarian daemons have very specific areas of expertise. They are less powerful than the Primordial Set and their domains are thus limited. There is a definite hierarchy amongst these daemons, unlike the Primordials. With the Primordials, the power structure is more nebulous. But amongst the Balthezarians, everyone answers to someone else. For instance, Klutotechnes who is the daemon of engineering would preside over Carrum, the daemon of motoring.” Adriana snorted. Prof. Tricou smiled awkwardly.

“What? You don't believe that there is a daemon of motoring?” Adriana gave him an incredulous look. “To see my wife behind the wheel is to know the wrath of Carrum.” Adriana sucked her teeth.

“What a thing to say,” she chastised.

“My wife would think that it was funny, were she here. Incidentally, Carrum is a good example of my next point because here we have an invention that was first conceived within the lifetimes of our parents, both mine and yours, but the daemon Carrum predates the automobile possibly by millennia. We do not know about a Balthezarian daemon until it manifests. There are literally billions of Balthezarians that are imperceptible because they have had no impetus to manifest within the mortal world. Carrum first manifested in response to the automobile about thirty years ago at the site of a terrible accident in Belladonna Cove. He is said to be a bat-like creature with eyes like electric lanterns.”

Adriana raised her hand. She knew that they were alone. She knew that it would make her look like the giggling chowderhead that he accused her of pretending to be. But the fact of the matter was that the two of them had entered into a subtle battle of wills and damn it, she was Adriana Fiorello!

“Yes, Miss Fiorello?” He did appear amused. She cursed his amusement.

“Sir, is it true that there is a type of fae that originated between a human and a Balthezarian daemon?” She could not remember where she read that. It was probably a detail from some junk novel.

“Well yes and no. You are thinking of the story of Marietta Henderson, who was born in 1460. She was what is known as a proto-fae-- That is a mortal child of heaven whose own children would typically display the characteristics of a fae. Occasionally a partling might be considered a proto-fae. Or a child of Proximus Deus, also. Marietta's mother was beloved of Bhasmasura, the daemon of ashes. Marietta is thought to have come about from this union. She married a human man. They had one son and that son was effectively fae. His descendants by now are so numerous that there is really only one type of fae and that is a fae of his bloodline.” Adriana raised her hand again. Prof. Tricou shook his head at her but she had the sense that she had permission to speak.

“Could a primordial daemon have children with a human or a fae?” It was a strange question. Prof. Tricou’s facial expression told her so.

“I suppose it is not outside of the realm of possibility but I would hate to meet something like that in a dark alley. I imagine that it would have the potential to be rather formidable. Less than Proximus Deus but much more than a fae. We would need an entirely different term for it than 'proto-fae'. Yes, Miss Fiorello?”

“Is it possible to invoke a daemon manifestation like in novels?” Prof. Tricou seemed to be struggling not to laugh. She would break him if it was that last thing she ever did.

“Ah... No, I don't think so. You would need a spiritual bond with that daemon first of all. Secondly, you would need to have enough mastery over the daemon that it would come when you beckoned it.” The bell sounded in the hallway. Adriana closed her notebook. Study hall was over. “Tonight your reading comes from Davenport, chapters 31-34. Be prepared for a possible examination,” Prof. Tricou said. Adriana groaned. He was so full of unpleasant surprises.

“Unfortunate as it may seem, exams are a necessary condition of studenthood,” he said. Adriana hopped down from the desk.

“Is studenthood a word, sir?”

“Don’t you have some place else to be?” Adriana rolled her eyes and began to walk away. She did not want a reputation for being saucy with this man but she was done trying to be adorable. “Taolen, Miss Fiorello. Your accent is very good, by the way.”

“I think you’re dreadful,” she called over her shoulder.

“I know,” he said. “And you have no idea how in control that makes me feel.” Adriana stopped walking. Blast, he had won.