The next few days went by without incident. With their orientation behind them, Rowan and Seres were able to relax. Besides training and continuing their exploration of the campus and the Eversong Mansion, there was hardly anything they could do independent of outside factors, They couldn’t realistically proceed with their investigation of the Good Lords as they were still waiting for Maia and Varik to contact them in regards to the taskforce King Dralik mentioned. There also wasn’t much point in them going to lectures when they were barely registered as the chances of them learning anything besides humility were slim to none.

They did, however, learn that Reia would be joining them in their studies. Her orientation happened while she waited for Rowan and Seres to arrive. In truth, had the pair not been delayed by the storm, Reia would have joined them instead of going separately.

Like Rowan, she was registered with the College of Harmonies, though she also went with the Lyceum of Tongues. Alas, despite sharing a faculty with Rowan, they were unlikely to have that many lectures together as Reia’s focus was on acting and oration, while Rowan was there for song and dance. That being said, without any schedules to say otherwise, there was still the possibility of significant overlap, at least for the first few months.

Either way, it was still only half a painting, and there was little the three of them could do until they saw the full picture. Until then, it was just another waiting game; they were starting to get out of hand. As such, the week came to a close, and Rowan was immediately reminded of why quiet days should be treasured.

*****

Rowan woke up to the sound of her door opening and Reia calling out to her.

“It's time for you to wake up, Rowan. Alena is here with her grandmother.”

Rowan yawned and rolled over in her bed.

“Already? I barely slept.”

“Are you sure about that?”

Reia punctuated her point by throwing open the curtains on the morning wall. The sun was shining brightly. If Rowan’s bed was positioned elsewhere in the room, it might have been blinding. That being said, Rowan was expecting the sable darkness of night, so any amount of light felt unreasonable.

Rowan covered her face with her blanket, groaning in protest. “You're enjoying this, aren't you?”

“Perish the thought,” Reia gasped.

“Then why didn't you send Alena to wake me up instead?”

“Oh, I don't know. I'm sure Alena would have woken you up in the blink of an eye. Whether or not you would actually make it out of your room is another matter entirely. Now hurry up. Matriarch Kaleia is waiting and you need to have something to eat before your sparring match with her.”

“Ugh! Point taken. I'll be down in five.”

*****

Rowan’s estimate of five minutes was perhaps a tad naive. It should have been easy enough. She already had her sparring outfit ready and waiting, and it wasn't like she needed to be looking her best. As long as she was presentable, there was nothing to worry about.

Alas, as she made her way to her dresser, she felt the call of her rousing metabolism. While it only took her a moment or two to relieve herself, she found herself face to face with a mirror as she washed her hands.

“So much for being presentable,” Rowan muttered. The gunk around her eyes was simple enough to remove even as she washed her hands. Her hair, on the other hand, was another matter entirely. If her hair was brown instead of red, one would be forgiven for thinking she was wearing a bird nest. It was going to take at least ten minutes for Rowan to brush out the kinks in her hair without washing it first.

“I guess I'll have a shower now rather than later,” Rowan sighed. If she hadn't given Reia a number, none of this would have happened. That was the excuse she gave herself, at least. She knew it wasn't true. Retroactive causality was, after all, a complete fantasy. No amount of Resonance could change the past, let alone a single word.

Tiny lies aside, Rowan could only hope Reia had more foresight than her. Even if her hair remained free of tangles, Rowan would have found an excuse for showering.

*****

There was a small platter filled with pastries, fruit, and preserves waiting for Rowan in her room following her shower. She gave her hair a quick detangling before breakfast, but she delayed brushing it dry until after she finished eating.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

All in all, it took Rowan forty-five minutes to be in a state where she felt comfortable saying good morning to Alena and Kaleia. They were waiting for her in the same room Reia had them waiting in when they first arrived. Rowan entered the room fully expecting Alena to tackle her to the ground. When nothing happened, she found herself pleasantly surprised. In truth, the atmosphere in the room was fairly sedate.

Rowan turned to face Alena and Kaleia. There was a pot of tea between them, though neither one was drinking from it. They were merely sitting there, waiting. Rowan greeted them with a curtsy. It wasn’t necessary, but a little formality went a long way, especially when dealing with potential in laws.

Alena went for a warm embrace instead and Kaleia simply smiled.

“You must be well rested,” Kaleia asserted. “Good. I would hate for you to be sluggish when we spar.”

“I might have slept a bit too well,” Rowan admitted.

Alena offered her a tender smile in return. “From what Reia said when she went to wake you up, I'm inclined to believe you. She tried waking you up before we arrived, but you were too busy humming Ferran lullabies to notice.”

Rowan furrowed her brows. She was a little puzzled by Alena’ comment.

“Why has no one told me I hum in my sleep?”

“Because you don't? You'd have to ask Seres for a second opinion, but I've never heard you humming in your sleep. At the same time, why would Reia lie about something so inconsequential?”

“Point taken. If she were Lochlan, I wouldnae believe her, but I trust you and you're the one saying it, so it is, at the very least, somewhat plausible. As for why I might have been humming, I havenae a clue worth sharing.”

Rowan expressed her dismay with a moody sigh. She was fixating on why she might have been humming, and the lack of a satisfying answer was getting to her. The flames of frustration were lit and they were spreading, only for Kaleia to douse them with laughter and a verbal slap.

“Simmer down, Rowan. Can't you see how you're making Alena blush.”

“Nana Kaleia!” Alena protested. Whether or not she was blushing previously, her cheeks were now crimson.

Kaleia smiled impishly as she turned to face Alena. “Was I mistaken, dear? My sincerest apologies.”

Alena stumbled over her response. The crimson of her cheeks was spreading. “I wasn’t. You're wrong. I'm not blushing. You're the one who's blushing!”

“Silly girl. Take the teapot and ask Reia for a refill. The air will ease your simmering heart.”

Alena grabbed the teapot and ran outside. Kaleia watched as Alena made her way through the garden towards the training hall. When Alena went inside, Kaleia shifted her focus back to Rowan.

"Can you explain what happened there?”

Rowan lowered her gaze. “I was getting frustrated. I know it's silly, but I hated not having an explanation for why I was humming?”

Kaleia shuffled out of her chair and made her way to Rowan. Once there, she took hold of Rowan’s gaze and smiled.

“Reia said you were humming lullabies. Do you think your subconscious might have been helping you sleep? It would explain why you're feeling refreshed.”

“Possibly?” Rowan said pensively. “More often than not, my subconscious is doing the opposite.”

“Which tells me your subconscious is rooting for you, at least in part. Are you satisfied with this explanation?”

Rowan nodded.

“I am, thank you.”

“You're welcome. I'd rather not spar with you while you're distracted. Alas, you weren't the only person to feel your angst. You have to be careful when you flare your emotions. Alena was blushing because you flared your frustration.”

“You've lost me,” Rowan interjected. Her mind was racing ahead in search of an answer.

“Such is the agitation of youth,” Kaleia sighed. “Take a seat and listen closely. While you were frustrated by the lack of a satisfying answer to why you were humming, Alena was clearly thinking about something else. By flaring, you amplified her frustration which made her blush. Now imagine being surrounded by strangers as you flare different emotions.”

Rowan closed her eyes. Her mind was racing again and she needed focus. With enough people, even serenity had the potential to be devastating. There were simply too many variables.

“I'll be careful,” Rowan promised.

“Good,” Kaleia remarked. “Now stop being so serious.’

She was getting closer. Rowan opened her eyes to Kaleia ruffling her hair.

Alena returned with Reia and Seres in tow a few minutes later. The training hall was ready.

*****

On the surface, Kaleia was little more than a weak and venerable lady with a penchant for familial traditions. There was nothing to suggest her supposed strength. If anything, she exemplified her age. In the time it took her to reach the training hall, Rowan could have circled the entire estate seven times. She was also completely covered from the neck down, and while her robes appeared to exceptionally well made, they were designed for comfort.

Rowan was stretching when Kaleia arrived. Even with Alena assuring her, she was having doubts about fighting Kaleia. What would Alena’s family think if she injured their matriarch?

Kaleia chuckled. Any pretences of her being weak were crushed when she removed her robes. Where Rowan was toned, Kaleia was a cacophony of sinew and iron flesh. She started stretching with the discipline of a warrior and the flexibility of a dancer. Her thick hide was riddled with superficial scars from countless weapons.

Rowan was flabbergasted. How was it that the only Ferrans she had ever met who were over a hundred were also some of the strongest?

When Kaleia finished her warm up, she issued her challenge. “Pray you are ready, Rowan, because a Gladiator never backs down without a fight.”