Amethyst could finally fulfill her mission. Though her mentor Onyx died over thirty years previous, she knew her job well – to protect and train her liege. With other Guardian Stones, the ones to inherit the title of Vessel would be prepared before they came of age. A member of the Order would follow them from the time they were chosen and teach them about the history of their Guardian. Encante was the only exception as he extended Calosa’s life for far longer than any should live. The ones in the Order that followed them were given different tasks that she prepared herself for – mainly becoming an ambassador or spy of the Unclaimed Isle.

When Encante and his Chosen disappeared sixty years ago, Amethyst knew there was little chance she would find Calosa again. She prepared to search the ends of the earth to find a discarded Guardian and bring him back to the isle. If she found him attached to anyone again, she would serve her liege diligently. She did not expect the daughter of the satyr, nor for a daughter to be that young. It surprised her to see the woman as she was.

Amethyst followed Mira for a few days to see her routine. After facing the royal guards, she seemed relaxed. That was the plan when she invited them, so it pleased her that it worked. The other was to see how she interacted with those around her. Her last concern was something only she and any other blood mage could possibly have.

Mages held mana in limited places depending on their abilities. Enhancers and healers used their emotions to flow mana from their hearts. Fighters pulled from their core to boost their battle abilities. Diviners and illusionists stored their mana in their minds to manipulate sight. Conjurers or elementalists were an odd exception and filtered mana from their surroundings. It technically wasn’t stored this way but siphoned from their surroundings or their own body.

Amethyst herself was an enhancer and used the mana stored in her heart. Though, she was a blood mage and could blur the lines with her abilities. The primary emotions she focused on during battle could help with different abilities. She could harden her skin when she forced sadness. She boosted her muscles for strength with anger and had no need for armor with that. She could withstand most magic attacks with a resistant shield when she was happy. These were typical fighter traits, but through decades of training she could force it on herself. Constantly shifting emotions put a strain on her body so she didn’t switch often, but she could focus on what she needed in the moment.

When she enhanced her sight to see where someone’s mana was stored, she could grasp the type of mage they were. Amethyst had no idea what type of mage Mira was. Most mages she could feel the magic from. Her own special ability was seeing where a buildup of mana occurs. She could use that to connect particles of mana and use the friction to make a static shock – her special lightening attack. Most mana appeared as small dots of light.

Any time she looked at Mira with enhanced eyes, she saw no hint mana. It was as if the woman was not a mage at all. That terrified her more than she cared to admit. She knew Mira could give off mana, but her natural state was completely void. Amethyst had only ever seen it one other time – on the physical conjuration of the Guardian she carried with her. The more Amethyst thought about it, she realized the two were similar.

Amethyst remembered the satyr fondly. Her auburn hair, soft features, and honey eyes seemed motherly to everyone she met. She couldn’t help but compare the woman in front of her to her mother. Though the little human looked exactly like her mother in physical appearance, her personality was as rigid as the dragon. All of Calosa’s warmth was gone from her daughter.

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She knew Mira grew under the express tutelage that an elven assassin would. From what she gathered; it seemed the woman’s life as a thrall was only a few steps below what she knew one of the Blesséd Three experienced. She also knew that that particular triplet was not mentally stable either.

From there, Amethyst formed her role as Encante’s member of the Order of Stone. It would not be easy, but she didn’t chose the stern dragon to serve because it would be.

Her first objective was to get Mira to trust her. Her liege seemed to like childish things and Amethyst was a childish woman. She knew her personality would bother the stern child, but she would get on her good side eventually. All she had to do besides that was support Mira as needed.

Her second objective was to improve her standing amongst others. To do that, she would have to soften the rigid woman to make her more human. Her study of Mira began then.

They spent most of their days helping rebuild barns and houses of Vimgraunt. Amethyst felt uncomfortable with the constant stares they received. No matter how much the orc laughed or helped the villagers, she felt their judgement and fear. She wondered if Mira did as well. If she did, she didn’t show it.

As she watched Mira interact with those around her, she understood why they felt uncomfortable. They might not be able to see the lack of mana from the blood mage, but they could feel the absence of something. It felt as if she practiced being a person and that wasn’t enough to become one.

Mira may smile to them and speak politely but those niceties did not reach her eyes. It eerily reminded her of the dragon’s conjured form once again. Amethyst wondered if the two were bonded so deeply that it would be impossible to separate their personalities. Encante would only soften around Calosa and those she treated dearly. Besides that, he would be a statue of a person.

Amethyst realized that is what she needed to fix. Mira would soften around the young girl and the half orc healer. She became more human around them. It was almost drastic how the villagers would sigh in relief when they appeared to speak to her. Besides that, her predatory coldness makes those around her uneasy. The dragon’s influence seemed to keep those around her wary to protect her.

Amethyst had to help fix that aspect of her personality so she could welcome others in her life. She just needed to figure out how.

“Here,” Amethyst tossed her a wrapped sandwich.

Mira caught it without looking and unwrapped it. She pulled it up to her nose and sniffed.

“Worried I poisoned it?” She grinned.

Her eyes narrowed at the orc without a word. She took a small bite as she quickly sat on the ground. Amethyst watched her daintily eat.

“Do you usually eat so little?”

Mira glanced up at her.

“What? Aren’t we friends yet?” She grinned, “I could almost call you my daughter with how nicely you treat me.”

“I pity your wife if that’s how you feel,” She took another bite.

“Is that a joke, my lady?” Amethyst tried to pat her head, but Mira summoned a dagger and held it against her palm.

“Don’t touch me,” She growled.

“Ah!” She clapped her hands, “I know what you remind me of now.”

“What?”

“You’re a cat.”

Amethyst grinned when she heard a few people around them chuckle. That was enough to get the villagers to agree with her or start to see her a bit differently.

Mira furrowed her brow, “That does not make any sense. I am not a cat.”

“I know how to deal with you now,” She smiled so proudly that her carved tusks poked out of her mouth, “My little kitten.”

“I did not know this is how you wanted to die,” She snorted.

“Put the little claws away,” Amethyst chuckled and sat on the ground next to her, “Let’s eat another sandwich and call it a day.”

Mira narrowed her eyes suspiciously at the orc. After a silent moment, she looked towards the sunset and gave a small nod. With that, Amethyst learned how to adapt to her new liege’s personality completely.

Now all she had left was her last objective: guide Mira to complete the prophecy.