[B2] Chapter 73 — Aura Training (Part I)

“Before we get to today’s efforts, there is a small matter that needs to be addressed if you intend to have your familiar be presented together with you.” Lady Asara paused and gave Ria an inquiring eyebrow raise.

“I do,” Ria affirmed, and Ranger sat up straighter, trying to look more formal.

Lady Asara nodded. “It’s not uncommon to have a familiar participate at a debut, but there are grooming expectations. The expectations go beyond not smelling like a beast. You will want to seek advice from someone skilled in such matters.”

Ria’s mouth dropped open in surprise, and Ranger tilted his head, sending a question through the bond. She hadn’t even thought about Ranger smelling of ‘dog’ (when wet or otherwise) of late—even with her newly enhanced sense of smell.

The odor had been somewhat unpleasant when he had shared their tent during the trek over the mountains, but now… did he have a smell? Discreetly flaring her nostrils to take in the air, she decided that he did. Oddly, it was like rock and gemstones… had his smell changed since becoming a magic beast?

By ‘grooming’, Ria suspected what Lady Asara meant was a bit different than simply combing burrs and knots out of his fur. In her picture books as a child, the noble girl’s fluffy cat was drawn with pretty bows and bells tied into its fur.

“Much, much work to do, I see,” Lady Asara commented with a sigh, and the older man beside her chuckled.

Ria snapped her mouth closed and felt her cheeks warming at the careless lapse in her expression.

Lady Asara’s eyes went to a boy similarly attired to Loscio standing next to a young man robed in the colors and motifs of the carriage waiting outside. The pair were waiting near one of the ballroom’s entry arches, and a brief smirk played across Lady Asara’s lips before she motioned for the pair to approach. “Ria, pay attention. This will be your first lesson.”

Something about Faris’ mom changed, and she towered in Ria’s senses like a wall of water threatening to crash down at the slightest provocation.

Ria blinked and resisted the urge to step back. Lady Asara’s expression was gentle and welcoming, but that lie felt sinister against the certainty that doom lay only an offense away.

“Ah, if it isn’t Sir Mage Uoceth!” Lady Asara pleasantly greeted the man. “For you to have come all the way to my estate, the matter must surely be important. How can I be of assistance?”

“Your Ladyship, I am glad you were able to see me on such short notice,” the mage offered with a surprisingly smooth and deep voice even if his manner showed trepidation. The man’s eyes flicked in Ria’s direction for a moment before returning to Lady Asara. “My visit is in regard to the disposition of property contracts that Lord Heston obtained and resold—particularly along Hammergold Street, which my father has made significant investment into developing…”

Ria’s eyes widened. Lord Heston of House Redglave was Charlotte’s father! He was the noble involved in the bribery and lending scheme that Desi uncovered on her behalf! That was why the heraldry on the carriage seemed familiar. She’d seen the same design on Charlotte’s robe and mantle!

Had Lady Asara arranged for her to witness this exchange? To be seen witnessing this exchange?

Lady Asara performed a mildly dismissive gesture with her hand. “With the troubles that have come upon House Redglave, doubtlessly, your honorable father understands that all involved contracts will need to be reviewed—even if it’s just a formality. I’m sure you have nothing to worry about.”

The light tone from Lady Asara made Ria feel certain that the mage’s father did indeed have plenty to worry about.

Uoceth grimaced. “An unfortunate matter, what Lord Heston was involved in. My father is concerned about the already expended cost of materials and the ongoing costs of the mages and workers whose services have already been retained for the renovations and new construction.”

An understanding half-smile briefly graced Lady Asara’s lips. “I can sympathize. Inefficient resource expenditure is a bane to progressing the prosperity of our beautiful city, particularly when due to corruption and incompetence.

“As your family is an innocent victim of House Redglave’s improprieties, I have confidence we can expedite the disposition of your properties and permits. My nephew is regrettably engaged in other matters at the moment, but I’m sure there are others in the Hall of Bindings and Inquiry that would be willing to perform an investigation and provide truth-finding services to confirm the propriety of the contracts in question. I could make arrangements if your father so desires?”

Ria couldn’t help cringing a little at the casually implied threat. If her guess was right, the mentioned ‘nephew’ was probably Inquisitor Duelleres.

The young noble’s face paled and his gaze fell. “Unfortunately, though it is painful to admit… there may be inconveniences with the propriety of some of the contracts… and the permits.”

“I see.” A tense silence hung in the air before Lady Asara offered, “That does sound like it would be troublesome. Magistrate Cardithe took considerable offense at the plight of the people harmed by Lord Heston’s actions.”

“Maybe if those harmed by the actions related to our contracts were compensated for their troubles?” Uoceth meekly tried.

Lady Asara considered the young man for an uncomfortable amount of time then sighed with resignation. “Such a show of goodwill could assuage the good magistrate’s well-justified ill temper... When I hear of it, I could put in a good word with him.”

“I will engage in the utmost effort to convince my father,” the man declared and bowed his head low. “You will have my father’s and my gratitude.”

“I am glad that we could come to an understanding.” Lady Asara raised her chin slightly. “I expect that House Kaldstone will be more mindful of the responsibilities of wealth and influence in the future.”

Sir Mage Uoceth‘s head remained bowed. “I will gratefully convey your advice to my father. If I may take my leave?”

“Of course,” Lady Asara allowed with a slight nod and instructed the boy, “Irwin, please show the good mage back to his carriage.”

“You have my thanks for your consideration,” the man replied, his shoulders almost imperceptibly sagging in relief as he stood upright again and turned to follow the boy.

While the young man was being led away, Lady Asara brightly bid him farewell, “May Anasari shine his light upon your House.”

Somehow, Ria doubted Lady Asara or House Novidus were followers of the god of light… more likely House Novidus worshiped the cold and standoffish beauty, Nierel, the goddess of ice and solitude, and being from Vorshan’s Hills, Lady Asara might still worship Hemse.

Once Sir Mage Uoceth was gone from the busy dance hall, Lady Asara turned her attention back to Ria. “Tell me what you noticed.”

Ria was hesitant that the truth (or her impression of it) could be seen as rude but also didn’t want to disappoint. “Your Ladyship used your aura to… intimidate Sir Mage Uoceth while maintaining the appearance of politeness as consequences were threatened for his family’s misdeeds.”

“Indeed,” Lady Asara almost purred out as she looked down appraisingly at Ria. “And this is what I will have you learn for your debut.”

Ria’s eyes again widened in surprise.

A laugh escaped Lady Asara at Ria’s reaction. “Of course, we won’t have you boorishly threatening guests at your debut, but encouraging would-be malicious actors to be mindful of potential risks should assist you in navigating the dangers of the night.

“You see, it is common that a mage will develop an aura when he or she reaches a certain level of attunement and power. It’s polite to restrain one’s aura to some extent, but excessively powerful young mages can be excused for lacking the control to do so. Even for adults, strong emotions can cause that control to slip some.”

Lady Asara paused in her explanation and gave Ria a meaningful smile.

“That said, oppressing others with your aura is certainly uncultured and rude. The true art here lies in subtlety. Showing hints of hidden power can give you advantages during conversations with your peers and be quite effective at discouraging them from unwise behaviors.”

Ria nodded her understanding. The sensation of barely constrained power was completely different from the overtly heavy aura Ria produced using a domain spell. “You didn’t use a spell construct—because it would be too obvious?”

The observation brought a chuckle of amusement from Lady Asara. “Indeed. It would hardly be one’s ‘natural aura’ leaking out if there was a spell construct visible. For all but wild talents, this technique requires the sort of control uncommon at your age, and thus it also makes for an excellent ploy to cloak your true affinities.”

Ah-!

With her growing concern about her orichalcum affinity revealing her royal connections, Ria was relieved that such a method was possible—especially if attendees to Lady Asara’s event might include important nobles aware of the true nature of House Revant’s bloodline.

“How do I do it?” Ria asked, wondering if Lady Asara would give her a manual to study like Soulkeeper Renard and the Beast Arts master had.

“To make it look like you are restraining your energy, you gather the energy you want to show close to your skin while strongly concentrating on the desired property so the energy will express it as purely as possible.” Lady Asara surrounded herself with flowing water energy and drew it tight around her in a way that felt like it was collecting atop a mountain ready to descend in a roaring torrent at a moment’s whim.

The resulting spiritual pressure reminded Ria of her recent fight with Orlisi, and she couldn’t help reflexively cloaking herself with orichalcum energy to meet the pressure with her own. When a twinge of soreness helped Ria realize what she was doing, she sheepishly grimaced and drew back the energy.

“A warrior’s instincts honed from battle,” Lady Asara commented, looking amused. “I see projecting your natural aura comes easily. I’ll leave refinement of that as a task for you to practice on your own. Instead, let's focus on finding an alternate element and property for you to express.”

A faint glow caught Lady Asara’s eyes as the noble woman stared at Ria for a score of heartbeats before speaking again, “You have a strong sense of fire in your aura already and it is an element known to be difficult to control. It also has properties that are easily refined to be intimidating. Go ahead.”

“Um, you want me to try it now? Here?” Ria asked in surprise, glancing around at the activity going on all around the dance hall.

“Of course. Where else would we have this much room?” Lady Asara laughed. “And you’re supposed to be compressing the energy tight against your body. Don’t worry about causing any damage. Go on.”

The way Lady Asara was so free about encouraging magical experimentation was refreshing compared to the admonitions incurred at the academy, and Ria eagerly turned her effort to learning the technique.

Fire did sound like a good choice, and she did have some ideas worth attempting. It was the element that she had the most attunement with, so she was confident. She even had an example to draw from. The way Rialle had felt like a banked inferno, smoldering beneath the surface and ready to flare up when exposed to a breath of air, Ria remembered the feeling well and attempted to duplicate it as she wrapped herself in fire energy.

Though, for all her optimism and confidence, after what must have been several passings of the sand spent trying while Lady Asara patiently observed, her mood had quickly soured.

The result felt frustratingly lackluster. Not wrong, but a pale imitation.

Ria frowned. Was her understanding of fire inferior to Rialle’s?

The experience of forming her orichalcum glyph still burned brightly in her mind. Her fire was primal fire from the forging of the world! How could it be inferior to Rialle’s?

Ria felt her pride flare at the thought. Why was she imitating Rialle’s fire rather than expressing her own?!

Her fire was powerful enough to sear ground and sky alike! Her fire was an indefatigable and enduring flame that would still be burning long after the greatest nations of mortal and monster crumbled to dust!

Nothing existed in all creation that could withstand her fire, her wrath, her judgment!

Ranger gave a warning bark, and a slight smoldering smell from the non-magical clothes under her robe brought her back to her senses.

Ria quickly drew the energy back in and sucked in a breath as she pulled too much through her injured energy pathways too quickly in her haste.

“Not a terrible first effort,” Lady Asara evaluated. “What do you think, Albarth?”

Tucking the write-board against his body, the fancy-dressed man used his free hand to rub his chin as he carefully worded his answer, “I think such an approach could be risky. Possibly drawing unwelcome attention rather than warding against it.”

“A fiery pride ruffling hot-heads with similar temperaments and encouraging schemers to probe whether she can be provoked?” Lady Asara mused.

“Indeed,” the old man confirmed.

“Hmm… I think with further refining fire does seem a viable choice, at least, but let’s explore alternatives before committing to that path.” Lady Asara’s eyes went to Ranger and her expression turned thoughtful. “Earth energy does have the advantage of being less volatile and easier to control. Drawing on aspects shared with your familiar would also have advantages, particularly in retaining the feel of the projected properties.”

And earth energy wouldn’t set her very expensive debut dress on fire, Ria silently added as she calmed her mind and mulled over what had gone wrong with her first attempt.

Why had she suddenly become so riled up? Had she become more sensitive to the aggressive nature of fire? Had she always been so affected by fire energy?

Lady Asara was waiting for her next effort. Ria set aside the troubling way she had been influenced during the attempt to refine a usable concept of fire and refocused on how she could make earth energy feel intimidating.