Glimpses 45
Xera knew her presence and positioning were part of the arrangement in the jade greeting room. She’d redone hundreds of the rooms in her family’s estate to evolve from a decorator to a spatial ornamentalist and understand how items in a room affect the flow of energy and presentation. So she kept her head as low as it could go to the floor, kneeling on the woven mat yet never touching the ground as [Ancestral Armor] projected its energy form to keep her floating above the intricate weaving of phoenixes. She would stay that way until the arrival of her guest.
Inside her, [Two Against the End] was curious about Kevin Azim Tyrell, the sixth prince of the Golden Empire. He would soon be her classmate, so he met the requirements of strength and proximity for the evolved bloodline skill. It ached to find a partner to help her grow into what was needed to defeat the potential ends that wandered the world.
What exactly an " end " was was a topic debated among the Chase family. It gave them something positive to focus on after they’d been upset when she evolved in under a year, even if it gained her the Precocious title. “She is too young. It proves she is immature; that should have been the title name.” It was her third title, too. Delver, defeating ten different dungeons to gain a light dungeon sense, and ring bearer, which pretty much everyone got, because a ring granted the title, then they put it back in the box for the next person who wants slightly increased ambition. Most agreed an “end” was something apocalyptic. Except for Hoshi, who declared “the end” to be butts and how she and her partner would go on a crusade against large asses.
[Two Against the End] contemplated large asses.
No! Xera insisted with no effect on the skill’s exploration.
When the skill decided they were useful as a practical source of force, a positive thing it couldn’t lie about, and not “the end” it was meant to be against, Xera relaxed some. This was why meeting Kevin was so important. If this link was meant to be, the skills’ instability and unsure nature would be satisfied.
The door creaked open, followed by shuffling footsteps, while Xera kept her body low and gaze downcast, ready to use [Two Against] at first sight if needed. The literature had been clear, and this room was prepped for a strong link. Maybe, with luck, she could get three skills entwined with his, and then they would build more pairings as they advanced together.
“Xera Chase, I got your letter. Your family is well respected. Patriarch Chase is a storied hero. Once we arrive at The Academy and I am the primus and you are the secondus I will accept your linking. To do any such thing with any doubt of our strengths would be improper.” He draped his words with thin authority, as if it meant something.
The skill didn’t like that at all. It wasn’t a no, but it wasn’t even as close to an enthusiastic yes as it had been about the butts. Should she convince him and convince [Two Against]? What should she say? There had been talk of a potential engagement, but that was a strategic marriage, less important than a linking-for-life. It would also waste this opportunity. Taking a deep breath, Xera rose from her kneeling position, but Kevin had already turned and was walking out of the room.
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