Her path of flight from doing things her Qat might find deplorable led her toward the noble viewing sections, where she caught sight of a familiar courtly figure observing the matches. Lady Aarengraf and her bearing remained elusively militant beneath her courtly grace. The noblewoman’s calculating gaze shifted to Elua as the brunette approached.
The illusionist had decided to hold off with large applications of her Astralism to prevent mistakes. Due to that choice of visibility, the woman no doubt noted the unhappy edge in her usually perfect facade. The reincarnator wasn’t in the mood to mask her emotional reaction.
’A person of her nature would never let that pass quietly.’
"Young Lady Goltbred. Your timing is impeccable as always."
The tone from the accented voice carried the usual pretense of coincidence common to her archetype. Even though she did not believe for a mont that it could be the case. The ancient cultivator actually hadn’t ant to co directly here... and she still felt the ’ghost’ and her spirit drawing closer in a spiral pattern.
As if fate itself conspired to deny her peace today.
"Impeccable is one word for it. I find myself with limited patience for the usual dance of words today."
Her sugary words ca out more clipped than would be usually intended. The noblewoman’s eyes narrowed slightly at the break from the pattern established in their first conversations.
"Well. I trust your research proceeds well enough to warrant such... directness?"
Their last discussion about the particular venue ’improvents’ had been quite productive for both parties. The inquiry relied on their shared understanding about the privately promised ritual modifications. Ritual units that could disperse heat instead of cooled air.
"As well as can be expected. Given my current work and social demands. I find myself reconsidering our agreed tiline."
The implied threat to their arrangent hung in the air. Elua had not forgotten that the spectre currently plaguing her mood had so sort of connection to this entourage. The noble’s spirit swirled with calculations as she noted how the small cultivator’s presence seed to fill more space than it should.
"Quality work often requires more ti than most expect. And quality intelligence..."
"Requires tily delivery. Speak, but don’t tease."
The noble woman had others flogged for interrupting her back when she was a leading part of her continent’s forces. But it only took a fraction of annoyance to leak out and be t with an ’indifference’ that made her question the wisdom of suggesting that to the girl.
’I thought we were alike. I may have underestimated how much.’
Lady Aarengraf rolled her shoulders.
"The Saltfire Storm Alliance’s recent movents suggest shifting priorities. I’m curious about your thoughts on the matter."
Mint eyes dulled a bit as she sensed her ’old disciple’ moving in this direction. Not at speed, but in a straight line. Stopping at a place that her hunter was likely to visit wasn’t the smartest idea in most scenarios. Elua’s flat smile gained a sharp toothed edge that made the noblewoman’s spirit flicker with fresh wariness.
"You could say I have a few ideas about that. Ones that I’ll be keeping to myself."
The noblewoman could respect that. Betraying the confidences of your business partners could lead to short gains, but often ca back to bite you. It could also get rid of competition if done strategically - with the mindset that all connections must be clipped and burned.
’Which ans she is not ready to end them yet. Or does not trust to.’
"Very well."
"I have to wonder what your interest is in it. But I think both of us are not in the mood to be pried upon, yes?"
Lady Aarengraf maintained her composure, though her spirit betrayed recognition of the power dynamic shift. The question was more of a statent. A refusal to engage... while the heiress did provide a minimum of excuse by blaming the other woman.
’Which itself is a dare to contradict. She is good, even when upset. Is she even upset?’
"One does try to stay well-inford."
Elua’s patience did indeed wear thinner with each spiritual pulse.
"Perhaps we should discuss terms more explicitly. We can et at another ti if it is more convenient."
"I have no problem with that, but before I leave I’d like to ask a question."
The ancient cultivator let more of her true nature leak through. Her spiritual pressure targeted directly on the Fourth Echelon Primalist made the noblewoman’s breath catch. Lady Aarengraf made fresh reassessnts, clearly understanding better their relative positions.
While simultaneously realizing she had never understood anything at all.
"I... see. Then, provide your question then we can set a more imdiate eting to discuss details."
"Tomorrow. Early morning. I’ll have a preliminary blueprint ready for review."
The curt response and ’gift’ of having her concern covered first drew a careful nod from the noblewoman. Both won recognized this departure from the careful maneuvering of aristocratic natures. Though one did not think it was all so different...
"You or one of your compatriots have sponsored a fighter that uses a set of your curved blades. Explain why."
It was just that instead of relative equals she now had to treat it like she was speaking to an Empress.
⟠ ⟠ ⟠
"Until then, Young Lady Goltbred."
Elua barely acknowledged the farewell as she turned to leave. Her entire being sought an exit route that would avoid an unwanted reunion. The woman’s presence had drawn close enough while hearing the story that maintaining her facade at a minimal state felt like holding back a tide.
Lady Aarengraf watched her leave from their viewing area with an altered understanding about exactly what kind of force she had aligned herself with. The young girl had revealed depths that would require careful consideration. How long to use... and when to betray.
’If. This may be the monster whom I finally dare not.’
The Goltbred girl knew exactly what her new ’friend’ was thinking. Plans and contingencies that had already been designed to deal with the foreigner back on their first eting were adjusted. The threat she had shown would hold her aside for a good long while.
"If it doesn’t, what is she going to do? Spread that a nearly fourteen year old scared her and has a much stronger spirit? Only the Yecine would believe her."
Elua hardly expected that anyone would ever be so idiotic as to target a mber of her family to get to her. Cultivators had long mories and often shorter tempers. It would either lead to imdiate reprisal or a systematic plan of grounding those responsible to dust - to at least the third generation.
’Then again, the era is peaceful. Only their plays and other histories clue people in to how savage we can be if pushed.’
Small steps carried her back toward the market district while making sure *that* person wasn’t changing direction. There was work she could be doing if she wanted to. Side projects that needed attention if she wanted to stay holed up... but right now she wanted space to think that didn’t remind her of current responsibilities.
’And what better way to clear my mind than browsing for wares I don’t need? All that wealth from gambling is burning a hole through my bag.’
The thought ca with a hint of self-mockery. Shopping had never particularly interested her in either life, but it was marginally better than brooding over ghosts or nobles. She also had more long term plans for those particular funds. They were all for Qat.
But she had been aning to look into so higher quality leather for her latest projects. There was a chance that so of these rchants dared bring it to peddle! The heiress was not lacking in money apart from what she made the last three days.
Her feet wandered between the stalls while her mind drifted. She sucked in her spiritual sense for a while and just let the physical sense of comrce gather all her attention. The sights, sounds, and slls provided a soothing backdrop - until excited voices caught her attention.
She recognized the timbre and cadence quickly enough and stopped holding back.
’What are those two doing shopping when they should still be...’
The brunette’s thoughts stuttered to a halt as her spirit washed over the figure they were talking to. Her mint eyes locked on that face. Those features she knew... subtly wrong now in a way that made her stomach twist. But still too close for her to look on them favorably.
Orange eyes now instead of pigeon blue. Black hair styled in a way Qat would never choose. He was shorter than her - and he was much less muscular - but the bone structure of the face was unmistakable. She knew exactly who he was... or who he had been made to be at one ti.
"...but I’m not who you think I am. I just look similar to-"
"Mas- Miss Elua!"
Nohre’s overeager voice cut through his protest when she noticed the brunette almost stomping closer. The braided haired teen visually expressed embarrassnt at her own volu and slip, but her excitent remained undimd. She was sure she had just discovered so secret!
"Is this really not your husband? Or a relative? He says he isn’t, but..."
The heiress let her lips curve toward a suggestion of her ’sweet’ smile, the kind that didn’t show in her eyes. A thousand barbed responses danced upon her tongue. The face before her ’belonged’ to soone who had been *crafted* to potentially replace her beloved.
A double to use in public, while her then betrothed was still troubled by the feminine issues that needed to stay unnoticed. Yet also just that once in private... when a wedge was slotted against the father-in-law nad Anper er Yecine. Seeing them again made her fraying ancient instincts scream to eliminate such a ’threat’.
But her Qat would be disappointed in her for that.
"No, he’s not. However, I do know him."
The young man turned at her honey-silk voice and his orange eyes widened with recognition and fear. Her na alone being called had skipped his notice but her face was unforgettable. His spirit coiled tight with mories of their last encounter. The threat of being ’contained’... whatever that ant!
"It’s been a while."
Her mint gaze held onto his steadily after her ’greeting’. She had imagined this mont differently - had treasured thoughts of exactly what she would say if she ever encountered this particular piece of soone else’s failed sche.
It would have been in the middle of destroying whatever ’evil gathering place’ all the people from the Yecine used. But now, seeing him forcibly changed a second ti and with traces of trying so hard to be his own person...
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