Sitting down, the air was chilly between the participants, and not just because the whole room was barely above freezing point. At first, it was just pleasant to talk; they listened as the council introduced themselves, serving up tea that was surprisingly hot and noticed, while they listened to Solren in return, introducing his side.
“We were already informed of why you have come to us,” Ayashi spoke up after half an hour of superficial talks, driving their conversation to the topic at hand.
“I am glad to hear it.” Solren said, nodding at her respectfully, “Our House is willing to compensate the Kingdom of Fedra in exchange for enlisting Sion into our army.”
The face of Fedra XIV twitched a little, but he managed to rein in his muscles to maintain a calm look. No matter how much they paid or what they shared, it would never live up to the potential they could gain if he sires multiple successful bloodlines to them. It was the first person from their kingdom to ever attend the Institute of Eight Elements, and now it was to be scooped up by someone else? They never expected something like this… not when the House of Berison passed on him.
“I read the letter from your mother,” Ayashi spoke up, her voice even and cold. "We also use his talents in our own army. We don’t see why he should move so far from here to fight against our common enemy.”
Lia was about to say something, opening her mouth, but then she closed it as Solren, under the table, put his hand on hers, pinching it slightly before speaking up.
“We know that. But we have our own reasons. His element is highly compatible with some of our techniques, and we developed a great interest in his special set of skills that we could utilize in our operations.”
“Are you trying to say you could train him better than us?” Ayashi asked, her voice turning a tinge colder.
“Yes,” Solren answered bluntly without looking away. His simple comment made the other council members murmur and speak amongst themselves with not-so-friendly voices. Those who did not know him many times found his honest nature offensive, and it was clear that the other party was not amused by what he said.
“If I may…” King Fedra XIV stood up respectfully, bowing towards the Berisons first and then towards Solren, “Our Kingdom has already invested a lot into the Lavarentian family, and we trained him while young before he was admitted into the Institute. This is already something that would easily bankrupt a small city-state or minor kingdom. We respect and admire your House, Master Solren… but we are subordinates of the House of Berison, and we are not willing to relinquish our investment, not until Hosue Berison orders us to do so.”
“We agree and stand in support.” King Kayrinev echoed him, also standing up and bowing, introducing himself, “My daughter told me a lot about what was happening in the Institute.” He continued, glancing at Lia for a brief moment before moving on to Sion and Aurora. “We dare not to say that our meager techniques could rival one of the Houses’ reservoirs… but if we are robbed of our talents, how are we going to uphold our part and obligations to House Berison?”
“Being robbed is a strong statement.” Solren said, unperturbed, holding down Lia’s hand, who wanted to speak and ask questions… especially because she already forgot who that ‘daughter’ was, Kayrinev mentioned. After Heliett’s defeat, she never even once appeared before them, completely vanishing from their sight, afraid of retaliation but still holding a grudge, finding the perfect opportunity to try and strike back at Lia.
“With all our respects,” Fedra cupped his hands, “No compensation could amount to the prospects of a strong bloodline. It would not just elevate our forces but the Lavarentian family too.” He explained, watching Sion, who was especially white in the face, holding the armrest of his chair, feeling horrible inside. “His family is barely considered a noble line, but with this, they could rise to one of the most important families under the Kingdom of Fedra. We are talking about centuries of well-being and wealth!”
“To the families who birth his offspring, not to the family of Lavarentian,” Lia interjected as soon as Solren lifted his hand, letting her speak.
Everyone was surprised by her sharp and bell-like voice, even Sion. Lia was not hesitating, but already standing, her hands on the table, leaning forward with a serious look, scanning everyone.
“I don’t think you are in the know-how our kingdoms work-” King Kayrinev said, his voice mild as if he was talking to an ignorant child.
“I don’t need to know.” Lia shook her head, “I am Lia Amarin, daughter of Reyra Amarin. Sion is not going back to your kingdom, and that is that!” He snorted, not even looking at him but directly at Ayashi, who had her silver eyebrows raised.
“Even if you are,” Ayashi countered, as it was now impossible for the kings to argue, not with someone who brought Reyra’s name into the fold. “We are supporting King Fedra’s notion.”
“So,” Solren asked, leaning back in his chair, his fingers interlocked with each other, looking unbothered by what was happening. “Then you are refusing our compensation for Sion’s services?”
“As King Fedra XIV said,” Ayashi responded, looking into his blue eyes, “no compensation can match up to the prospects of a strong bloodline.”
“I see.” Solren nodded, standing up, fixing his white and gold robes, his aura turning regal and imposing, surprising everyone at the table as a golden hue surrounded him. King Fedra and Kayrinev turned a shade paler, thinking something bad would happen just now, and even Ayashi’s face became gloomy as she surrounded herself in a silvery-blue aura. “My name is Solren Amarin, third son of Reyra Amarin, Major in the armed forces of House Amarin, Magi Speciali. Hereby I announce that my sister, Aurora Amarin, daughter of Reyra Amarin, and Sion, son of Ceres Lavarentian, are officially engaged to each other. We are taking him to our 4th Branch for training to make sure he is an adequate future husband of my sister.”
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His aura receded when he finished his announcement, his strong, echoing voice still reverberating in the room. The many faces at the opposite end of the table looked on, confused, stunned, and horrified at the same time, remaining silent until Lia’s sudden, happy chuckle and her thumbs up at her brother jerked them back into reality. As soon as that happened, a cacophony of shouting and arguments broke out from the Berisons’ council members, saying this was outrageous while the two subordinate kings sat back down, faces deathly white and pale. They no longer had a say in this, and with an announcement like this, King Fedra could forget any type of compensation.
“Hey…” Sion whispered, turning towards Aurora, who was sitting next to him, looking a bit bored.
“Hm?” She looked back at him questioningly.
“Are you sure this…” He whispered, but Aurora just smiled, patting his hand, writing onto it with her index finger that looked like affectionate flirting to the others.
“Relax. It is not a big deal. Plus… it is kinda fun; just look at their faces!”
“Heh…” He smiled, feeling a bit more relaxed by now, making it look like they were truly flirting.
“We are also going to have a say in that!” Ayashi said, finally outshouting the rest of her council members, standing, her hands touching the wooden table, freezing it solid at her side.
“You?” Solren asked, tilting his head with a surprised look while Lia just sat back down, knowing it was not her place to butt in this time. Being young and yet to come to age, she wouldn’t be taken seriously. “No, you wouldn’t have any say in it.” He said bluntly, picking out a parchment that was rolled up and sealed in a glowing energy seal, radiating the aura of Reyra’s strength at the 8th Tier. It was as if they were in the presence of one of the two Legendri mages in the Realm.
“...” Ayashi wanted to say something, but her 6th Tier, Extremi strength, was failing her, and she couldn’t calm down her mind. The moment the parchment appeared, overwhelming her, it was as if Reyra was present. All that Solren said was backed up by her strength, and this was now an announcement and not asking to work it out. This was plain bullying; Sion is leaving. No arguments.
While she was racking her brain as fast as possible, trying to come up with something to grasp at, a loud, rhythmic clapping echoed in the room, grabbing everyone’s attention. It was Rinzen who was coming in, her face looking calm and emotionless as she clapped, looking at Sion and Aurora.
“It is an honor to meet you, Lady Rinzen,” Solren said, bowing respectfully towards the head of House Berison.
“Mhm.” She nodded while Lia was leaning back with her chair to see her, looking questioningly up and down at Rinzen’s body, trying to get a feeling if she was sarcastic or not… but she just couldn’t read her. “Congratulations.” She said, making Ayashi tremble and flare up again.
“Rinzen! This-”
“Thank you,” Solren answered quickly, giving no chance to Ayashi to continue. “It is a boon for the two to receive the blessings of the Head of House Berison.”
“Yes.” She said it plainly, and finally, Ayashi found her voice once more.
“No, it is not!” She interrupted loudly, but Solren was not backing down.
“I didn’t know the Council of Berison could override one of the Six's decisions.”
“Our House always makes a decision after conversing with all of our branches! We are not like the Amarins!”
“Meaning?” Solren asked again, his aura resurfacing.
“I have a request in return.” Rinzen walked closer to the edge of the table, now watching Lia, who was like a kid in the theater, her head swooshing back and forth between Solren and Ayashi, her mismatched eyes twinkling, enjoying the show.
“Please!” Solren smiled, knowing the appearance of the Head of the House sealed everything. It would be a moot point, even if they come up with something later. Not even if they ask for a favor with one of the other Houses. It did not matter if Ayashi was Rinzen’s mother. The moment she put her daughter atop of herself, she lost all authority over Rinzen’s decisions. Even parents had to obey the orders of one of the Six's. Their rule was absolute.
“I want to accompany you to your territory and meet with Lady Reyra.” She said bluntly, but her eyes were fixated on Lia, who was curiously returning her gaze, pursing her lips.
“...”
Her simple request silenced everyone. Solren was thinking about what that could mean while Ayashi was horror-struck. Her daughter was always simple with few spoken words. Her talent lay in bettering herself and not in leading the House or making important decisions. Even after stepping down, it was she who did most things while Rinzen only focused on growing. She was a breath away from reaching the next, 6th Tier… no… She felt it. Just now, she felt it. Rinzen had already stepped into the 6th Tier. When? A few days ago, she was still at the 5th… Oh no! She was always told that she had to rival Reyra Amarin to reach the same height and that she could do it easily and could show the Amarins that the Berisons were not weaker at all. In the past years, Rinzen was showing signs of being a bit more rebellious, ignoring Ayashi’s orders, and starting to do things her own way… was this another tantrum by her daughter? Was she foolishly thinking she could challenge Reyra after stepping into the 6th Tier? This could turn out in a very ugly way…
“Sure,” Solren answered before Ayashi could think about something to say. “We would be honored to welcome one of the Sixes into our home.”
“Um.” Rinzen nodded, grabbing one chair, loudly dragging it over, and then simply sitting down next to Lia, who was watching her with renewed curiosity and excitement, finding her pretty interesting. And funny. “Hi. I am Rinzen.” She said, ignoring everybody else, directly looking at Lia, stretching her pale, white hand forward.
“Ahaha… Hi! I am Lia!” She laughed, grabbing onto it, feeling intense, extreme cold radiating from it. Ayashi was already shouting, trying to reach over from the other side as her daughter was not someone anyone should touch just like that. Without proper strength, they could easily turn into a block of ice. “Ooooh!” Lia flinched, getting goosebumps, but her hand quickly regained its colors. “Want to fight?” She asked, turning everyone deathly nervous and worried except Lia’s side.
“Um.” Rinzen nodded, still holding her hand, making Lia grin and Ayashi tear at her hair with panic.
Only Solren, Aurora, and Sion knew; Lia did not mean it that way… her grin was that of excitement, and the same when she found someone she wanted to make into a close friend. Still… to the Berisons, it was the same dangerous, wild grin of Reyra Amarin that was the prelude to many outrageous, bloody confrontations.