Asrael impatiently tapped his fingers atop the smooth, obsidian-glass table. He leaned on his right fist while biting on his lower lip- pondering Thomas’ report. Across from him- at the other end of the polychromatic lines of light, Neda toyed her steak around the platinum platter, displeased with the coldness of her companion on this momentous occasion. Seated a good two lengths of a man apart, this was not how Maribelle had spoken of this activity- they were supposed to be seated directly next to one-another and enjoy the dancing light of the candles. Perhaps, if he were to feel particularly playful, he might cut her food up and put pieces into her mouth while staring lovingly into her eyes. The thought of the looming romance made her giddy, but it also reminded her that what could have been was a far cry from what it was. Instead, her chosen mate sat far away from her and hadn’t touched his food nor his wine at all.

A mumble momentarily brought him out from his musings to glance over at his colleague whose attention was firmly affixed on her plate of food. It was clear that she had taken steps to organize her hair- or rather- Eleanor had. Combed and brought to order in a bun with some locks hanging off to the sides, she appeared more attractive than ever. Paired with the black dress she wore for the occasion, Asrael was surprised, himself, that he could so easily resist gazing at her.

“What?” He spoke, before impatiently tapping the table again. She looked up- glaring at her supposed Master.

“Maybe you could hear me if you sat closer!?” She shouted. He was not prepared for the shout- nor was he prepared to be scolded. He could not fathom why he felt inclined to do as she said, but he rose from the chair and silently wandered across the darkness to take the seat next to her and continue to stare out into the calming atmosphere. This brought a smile to her lips and although he could only see it in his peripheral view, he found it inspiring enough to break from his lengthy silence.

“That bastard claims he is ecstatic to see that I am alive, yet he intends to leave immediately. It suits me well, however... we have a study to perform- west of Skum. Master Yurgen-” Neda startled Asrael again by dropping her cutlery neatly onto the side of her dish with a loud, metallic clang. He calmed himself with a pair of blinks, while Neda looked up to state:

“Oh... silly me... I still can’t use these things...” He raised an eyebrow and met her pleading stare.

“What do you mean? If there is one thing you have learned since we met, you have learned to eat. Curiously, the normalization of your weight seems to be entirely dedicated to your thorax and posterior-” With the full extent of her showmanship, she took the cutlery back into her hands, only to drop them again a moment later and sigh.

“I guess I’m not eating, then. And I’m so hungry... you know how I get when I get hungry, Assie- I can already feel myself getting grumpier-”

“I am not feeding you. That will only feed into this delusion that we are, somehow, romantically entangled-” She looked back up from her plate with a face transformed. Her red eyes glistened with tears- her lips trembled with emotions far beyond what the situation called for... naturally, he assumed her emotional vulnerability a sign that she was in a sensitive period in her reproductive cycle. Grunting, he pushed her sideways and scooted his chair over with screeches against the floor, before grabbing the cutlery from her hands.

She liked the way he cut- so precisely, so determined, yet gentle. The blightlander could not help but smile as he raised the meat to her lips and opened her mouth to let the tender meat melt away on her tongue- all the while maintaining a fierce concentration of his own.

“I should have chosen to surround myself with men. You women are confusing.” Asrael muttered as he continued cutting- making note of how Neda could still easily service a cup of wine and smile as she swallowed down a greedy gulp.

“Yeah, right. Men don’t have these things and you love staring at them.” She pointed down towards her cleavage and watched him turn away briefly with a shameful frown. She corrected herself with: “I don’t mind it, though. I like it.” His momentary distance almost broke the hold she had on him- a hold she regained by attaining his attention again by questioning: “S-so you said something about going west?”

He looked back down at the meat and nodded. “Yes. I’ve a clue about the monsters of the vision... we should leave as soon as we can. It will take some time locating the Rift, but I’ve my methods.” She had heard him talk about the ‘Rifts’ before, but the concept was still somewhat alien to her. She cocked her head, signaling her lack of understanding. Sighing, he informed: “There is a Rift in this region- to the west. If memory serves me right, it is beyond the roads- in some ancient ruins. We will need to travel by horseback, but our group should be smaller. Besides, we’ve work to do in Skum, as well. I suggest we leave Kester and Barrel to embed themselves in the local environment and establish contacts... If Thomas has been free to set this installation up, then I assume there must be other magi. With any fortune, they may be of assistance in finding a solution to my problem.”

When next he looked up from the plate, Neda’s eyes were teary once more, but across her lips, she displayed a wide, white grin.

“Y-you really want me with you instead of Kessie and Barrel? Y-you really do!?” Her excitement was as frightening as most his moods. It was then it struck him how his words contrasted his previous statement and he had to make a note never to monologue aloud again. He paused mid-feeding before thrusting the meat into her grin. He regained his composure and stuttered:

“N-naturally... your magical expression will be useful in finding the Rift in this damnable mist. That, and you being my apprentice-” She brought her hands up and rubbed them excitedly next to her cheek. She yelped and stretched her arms out, but before she could wrap her appendages around him, he brought the fork to her mouth once more.

“Having the small, fat one with us would be useful... he is the only one of you who has managed to carry his weight. But I can handle horses and I believe he would do better watching over Kester, as I can trust neither of you not to feed his bloodlust.” Neda nodded excitedly and chewed swiftly- hoping to clear her mouth in case Asrael were to finally defeat his demons of shyness and kiss her. She could imagine it then and there- the two of them... and Ellie... out there in the mist, where none could see them- searching for something beyond her understanding. Was this his way of approaching her? Was it finally going to happen- after all this time?

Naturally, Asrael could see that Neda’s mind had gone somewhere else- it was obvious in the way she would always shift her legs and smile that infuriating, sheepish smile whenever he spoke. For once, he did not mind her perversions- his mind was elsewhere, as well. If he could somehow grasp that power he had seen in his vision, he could topple Capita in hours and put the detestable Sargerrei on a spike. The thought of it made him mirror Neda’s sheepish grin, to the great bemusement of the woman peering down at them through a narrow gap in the bricks.

Marlena waved her hand and at her command, the bricks clicked together. Turning over her shoulder, she looked to the thoughtful Thomas who sat behind his ancient, unique desk- a desk he had been gifted from the Tower’s smoldering corpse... his own desk.

Along the walls, brightly lit display cases of impenetrable glass held priceless artifacts of legendary accord- a hoard worthy of historical mention. Armors, staves, blades and magical apparatuses- all of which had been little more than decorations in the tower. But in this new world... not a one of them did not hum with magical power, yet they paled in comparison to the treasure beneath the magic-infused bricks of the floor. Marlena folded her arms and looked up at her Master- brandishing her commonplace smile as she brushed her lengthy, black hair over her right shoulder.

He sat, rubbing his chin while staring at his desk- considering his next move. This fortunate turn of events had soured with the irking summon from Capita, but he had little choice but to obey the command.

“Copper for your thoughts?” Marlena asked her thoughtful Master. Thomas looked up from his desk to meet her gaze and spoke: “I need to study him. I would prefer to do it voluntarily, but Asrael has never been one to cooperate.” Marlena raised a surprised eyebrow and pointed down on the floor.

“Is he really all that impressive? He seems clueless as to how to handle that woman and I am yet to see him express his magic.” Thomas chuckled and stood from his seat to stretch his arms in turn.

“No one has ever found his elemental affinity. He is truly unique, which makes it all the more vital I study him.” He strode over towards the window and lifted the curtains to verify that his men were still loading his carriage for the journey ahead. Marlena continued to be confused.

“It is hard to believe that he is all you’ve made him out to be. He strikes me as a simpleton.” Thomas hummed a laugh and shook his head. Still facing the darkness outside, he spoke clearly: “He is without a doubt the most talented magus in recorded history. His mind has no rival- not even mine. As much as it pains me to admit it, he deserves his arrogance and his many quirks.”

Marlena had to chew on her Master’s words. That man- the one who seemed clueless in regards to his infatuated apprentice- was supposedly... a genius? As much as the idea intrigued her, the displeasure of her Master and his interest in the man piqued her curiosity more than the ugly creature, itself.

“We can separate him from the others. Nota can tranquilize him and we can put him in a study-chamber.” Thomas scratched his smooth chin and looked up at the fog’s swirls over their dome, nodding approvingly.

“Do it. Use whatever Artifacts you need- his capture is of the highest priority, but not here... I do not want his companions to suspect us. There is no telling what exterior allies he has backing him and we cannot risk falling even further out with Her.” Marlena’s grin returned. She enjoyed the thought of it- capturing another interesting subject for study... especially one that had so completely enraptured her Master.

“Thy will be done, Master. He will be ours by the time you’ve returned.” She swore her dark promise with a foreboding glint to her bright eyes.