There was a cold air of festivity when Fiera was finally let go, on account of the Crown visiting the Institute.

Mr Blake was unable to comprehend the speed of her recovery. The wound had closed up, and it wasn't even leaving a scar. People worked in quiet whispers as they exited out the Institute. According to her deductions, it was at least a couple of decades since the colour of the curtains were changed.

"Why is there so much hype about your monarch?" Fiera asked when she caught up with Kai who was shifting down a bunch of vases from what she assumed was the attic.

"She is exactly a monarch," Kai said. "She never visits the Institutes."

"That she herself established?"

"She didn't establish them," Kai passed on the vases to the two people huddled over a bunch of vases and other ceramic beauties. "It was a few revolutions back."

"Revolutions?"

"So," Kai dusted his hands, preparing to give her a brief history lesson, "To maintain peace amongst ourselves, we needed a monarch. But to be equal in treating us all, because our powers are derived from the four corners of the Earth, we needed to have a monarch who understood the powers intimately."

"So, your monarch has all the four elemental powers?"

"Not exactly." Kai said, "But why don't you know this? I thought you researched about Inima and Polis before you came here."

"I did." Fiera said, "But I didn't read up extensively on your rulers, because, I didn't have access to much, except the views of - well other people. And that wasn't exactly technical in its explanations."

"Ah, we do guard our knowledge very carefully." Kai sighed, "Well, each Elemental House gets the chance to offer one of theirs to be the monarch after the previous one passes away, and the choice is also dependent on who the previous monarch chooses."

"Oh so for a particular period of time, that specific House feels validated?" Fiera said, "Whose turn is it now?"

"Well, yes. The Crown is currently held by Wyn Halohouse, she is from the House of Winds." The vases were done. People were still hustling about holding bed sheets and potted plants. She hadn't known that there were so many people living in the Institute, she had been a little lost in her own little world.

"Well, and I have another question." Fiera said following Kai as he went upstairs to do another burdensome task, "I know as much that the Institute is a place of refuge. But what exactly is the function of it? Like do you learn something here? Or is it a place for research or what?"

"Well, that is exactly what an Institute is. It's a place of refuge. And often researchers use it as their laboratory conduct research. I think that's also where we get funds from. The Crown has two such Institutes in Polis."

"And the Crown pays for it?"

"I think so. If Aaron gets money in any other way, I don't know about it."

"That's terrifying." Fiera muttered, "Is there a library around here? I think I need some reading to do."

"You like reading?" Kai's eyes lit up.

"Not really. I remember better if people tell me stuff." Fiera smiled, "But I can read."

"Well then, that is good enough," he said getting handed a bunch of drapes from a very pretty middle-aged woman, "I will show you the Institute's library."

"Do I need permission?" Fiera asked. She was tempted to offer to carry those for him but didn't, she wasn't sure how the men reacted to a woman offering help around here.

"Nope. It's open for all."

He first went to a downstairs room to deposit the drapes. She didn't quite get why the Wind-Practitioners didn't just move things up and down, instead of making poor people carry the stuff, but she didn't ask. He led her by Aaron's room detailing her a way to remember how to get there on her own, and soon they were standing before a normal wooden door.

"It looks pretty small," Fiera commented.

"It's not actually though." Kai said, "Right now, since people are helping out around the Institute, you will find it empty, I guess."

He opened the door with a flourish and it was as he said.

The 'library' was bigger than it seemed, Fiera wondered briefly if her spacing sense was wrong, as she stepped in, in a half-interested daze glancing at the long-lined bookshelves, Kai pointed at, listing out subjects and genres. The lighting was low, giving off a very Vampire-Library vibe, somewhat gloomy, somewhat dark, overall a gorgeous aesthetic.

"This is a pretty place," Fiera said.

"That it is. So I'll go back to helping the others. You'll be fine?"

"Yes, I will be fine. Just, just let me know when the Crown or your monarch arrives, will you?" Fiera said, "I don't think I can keep track of time in this place."

"I will pick you up one hour before the scheduled arrival," Kai promised.

He had barely shut the door behind him when she felt the presence behind her.

She knew who it was, so she didn't turn right away.

"Not going to greet me?" a low voice drawled.

Kai must have been right in that, that the library was empty as of then, but he was sure as certain wrong if he thought she would be quietly reading in a corner.

"What do you want?" she hissed.

A large cold hand clasped her neck and swivelled her around, forcing her to come face to face with the Master of Shadows.

"You do not," the man drawled in his extremely pleasant voice, "You do not speak to me like that, mortal."

He clamped her cheeks. As if that was meant to infuriate her. She glared back at him. He didn't appear to be much older than her, probably touching his twenties, but his real age was far, far older than that. He was dressed very formally in a three-piece tuxedo, complete with a lapel - was that what it's called? - and very shiny shoes.

"I will speak to you as I wish." Fiera said, at least that's what it sounded like in her head, but because he was holding her it came out more like, "I veel shpeek tch yu ash I weesch." And he let her go, choosing perhaps not to settle for an argument testing their wills against each other.

"Well, well, well, today is the day the Crown visits is it?" he leisurely walked down the aisle, "They made a whore out of the Crown." He snarled.

"What do you mean?" Fiera said, "It is a pretty stable system, in my opinion. One person to rule per House. Everyone is happy."

"And no one is loyal." he hissed.

"You're one to talk about loyalty." she hissed right back at him.

"Do not test me, mortal." he drawled.

"Or what?" she slid her hand into the air, drawing out her sword, "Are you scared?"

"Of course I am." He rolled his eyes, "Put away that Divine Sword of Banishment. Let's talk."

She had often thought that the sword's name was rather apt, and knowing that someone other than her said it, she felt it was very, very apt. She sheathed it away and turned to him, his long hair pulled into a ponytail and his green eyes latched onto her. In another world, she thought, he looked exactly like the human version of Howl from Miyazaki's Howl's Moving Castle, perhaps in a more toned-down version.

"I am flattered. But this isn't another world." he drawled.

"Let's talk." she rolled her eyes, cursing herself silently.