Nalini smiled encouragingly as she herded the First years towards the boats. There, on the glassy water of the lake, darkened by the looming shadow of the great castle, the children shifted and glanced back at her, whispering in a mix of apprehension and awe. Nalini was stalwart as ever, and it was hard for most of them to remain frightened when she looked so collected, when her blue eyes shone like galleons. However as they loaded into those boats and their approached to the castle hastened, in the twinkling light of dusk, Nalini knew what was coming, and knew that she must make herself into something sturdier than gold. Time for the mask.
She rarely took it off any more. Almost never. Or was it never, now? It was long past the point where it chafed. There was only numbness where it rubbed against her skin. Nalini fancied it had grown into her face, that she couldn't remove it even if she wanted to. The mask was always smiling, always pleasant. She chose it for that very reason. People believed what their eyes told them, and a serene confidence mocked those who feared, reassured those who did not.