-Pemir-
[An Alten name that used to be common amongst nobles, it currently is most commonly used to refer to a type of somber music. Its specific meaning is difficult to pin down, but most agree it evokes feelings of reverence.]
Kuro left before Oroske, heading to the fifth layer, looking for places where he could easily spot Ari and Xeron. He’d hoped to find a clear view of the Grand Stone Guild’s headquarters. That left Oroske to help Ensaru make his preparations. He hadn’t left Ensaru’s home quite yet, and was making some preparations to the owner’s specifications - on the off chance Ari or Xeron came there. Mostly setting up protections for sensitive documents and the structure of the house.
His work at the J’alyr itself was very similar, but much more intensive. Not only were the protections he set up much more complex and difficult to put together, he needed to make a lot more of them. It was a fairly simple spell Ensaru taught him, utilizing Enfer and Anur primarily, forming specific shapes with additional commands to set up passwords to open the seals. Each one he set up here in the offices had a second layer, and a second password.
After he finished setting those up, he assisted in creating the evacuation plan for the rest of the staff. Oroske didn’t want anyone out of the loop, and wanted to ensure that communications were kept active so everyone could get out. Too many times he hadn’t taken enough precautions, and innocents ended up getting involved. The people working here don’t deserve to die in the name of Ensaru and Yenva’s silly feud. Frankly, Oroske struggled to understand why Ensaru went along with it in the first place. He didn’t always understand the inner workings of these businesses, nor the people at their heads.
He finished with his part an hour before midday. Good pace, all things considered. He half expected he’d be late for his next appointment. He bid farewell to Ensaru, and began his journey upward. The agreed upon location was on the Second Layer, in roughly an hour. He strolled about casually, allowing himself to take in the sights of Quarry. This city always brought fond memories, and… not so fond memories.
He shook his head clear of the negative memories, instead remembering the wonder and amazement he felt the first time he’d come here. Oroske always enjoyed looking at the different architecture found across Spire. It’s why he always looked forward to every new city he visited as an apprentice. Out of all the cities he’d been to, Quarry was second only to the Royal City. The City of Towers was impressive, sure, but it didn’t have the legacy, the history, that the Royal City did. Countless battles had been fought where that city stands, and many buildings still bore the scars of the Grand War. The Lords’ manors, for example, all showed signs of being rebuilt multiple times, with different colored layers of brick and stone showing each new iteration.
But Quarry was something else entirely. The engineering required to ensure the previous layers would still stand, while still allowing space for houses and buildings on the new layer, was incredible. Not to mention the different styles of construction for all of the buildings. Buildings on the same layer generally had the same feeling, color palette, and most often the same method of construction. Each layer was also different. A typical building on the third layer that blends in with its neighbors would stick out like a sore thumb on the fourth layer.
Oroske took in these sights, admiring the arches and pillars covering the underground landscape. He found himself at the lift before long, catching it just as it came up from the lower layer. There, he met the first of the people he was meeting with. Pemir Ensaru, the director’s adopted daughter. She was a pretty lady, a year older than Oroske. He always suspected she found him attractive by the way they interacted in their youth. Unfortunately, he’d always had other priorities. Dating and getting married just didn’t seem to be in the cards for him, especially after his Second Soul got married.
She and Ensaru had a very different relationship and the director did with his assistants. Jisei and Guir tended to see Ensaru as a father figure, but being as pragmatic as always, Ensaru never claimed to see them as anything but his most loyal assistants. He had considered officially adopting them at one point, but more for the potential legal benefits the three of them would receive from it. Despite not being terribly involved with the operation of the J’alyr, Pemir was still the heir, and should Ensaru retire or meet an untimely end, she would be put into his position. She accepted that would be her fate, and had been doing her best in recent years to settle down and marry someone who would be more interested in running the business. Of course, if it came to it, Oroske expected she’d take on the role herself - she was, afterall, raised to take over eventually.
“Oroske,” She said, keeping a professional tone as they boarded the lift, “It is good to see you, it has been too long.” She offered her hand as they came to a stop, and Oroske shook it. Her ginger hair was naturally straight, but she had it loosely curled, framing a dark face with hard yellow eyes. She wore a black suit with a golden tie, the unofficial uniform of the J’alyr’s legal department.
“Agreed, Pemir. Far too long.” They stood in silence for a moment. “Are you anxious about today’s meeting?”
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“Not at all. I’ve not met our friends, but I have reason to believe they are kind, amicable people.”
Oroske smiled and nodded, and they remained silent for the remainder of the trip.
They eventually arrived at their destination: an upclass restaurant just off of the main road. Yil and Cera were there waiting for them, seated at an outdoor table. Cera waved them over with a friendly smile.
“Thank you for coming, Pemir,” Yil greeted them as they sat, “And thank you, Oroske for arranging this meeting.”
“I thought you wanted this meeting, Oroske?” Pemir asked.
“I did. Yil simply asked me to arrange it before I could ask him myself about it.” Oroske explained.
“No matter,” Yil took control of the conversation, handing out menus for them to look at while discussing. He was awkwardly silent for a moment. “Oroske, you’re probably better at these kinds of topics, and I imagine you wanted to say the same thing as me.”
“Alright.” Oroske leaned back, folding his arms, a serious expression on his face. “I will be honest with the three of you. The fight between your parents has reached a boiling point, and a battle is about to break out. I cannot say how this battle will turn out, and it is entirely possible that either of you may suddenly be without your parent. I wanted to tell you all that you should start considering your futures with this in mind. Think about what you’d like to do going forward, especially the two of you heirs.” Oroske exhaled, his expression softening slightly. “I also hope that your families are able to get along in the future. There is no reason you need to continue the previous generation’s silly feud.”
The three stewed in silence, only broken by the waiter taking their orders.
Yil finally spoke again, “I must say, I agree. I’ve met Ensaru but once, and the people of the J’alyr were all very kind to me. I have no reason to hate them.
“That said, I may be the heir of the Muwal family, but I’m pretty much entirely removed from the Guild, and I would not likely inherit anything but financial stake in the company. The Guild is heavily merit based. My mother only became their leader after several years of dedicating herself to the company, and fighting her way up the ladder. That said, as much as it would upset Aunt Recen, should the worst happen, I will likely pull our family’s funding and financial support from the Guild. I would likely divert the funds towards smaller, research-oriented companies, in hopes of helping secure us a better future overall.”
“Well said,” Pemir said, “My own inheritance situation is different, but I would also like to change things with the J’alyr. I also agree, I would like our families to have better relations in the future. Watching my father fight Yenva for so long has tired me of their conflict.”
The group continued to chat. Oroske was happy to see the conversation move to happier topics, each side earnestly interested in getting to know the other. He didn’t speak much for the rest of the meeting, simply acting almost as a chaperone.
Kuro found the vantage point he wanted faster than he expected. It was perfect, he could not only see directly into the Guild’s front courtyard, he was positive he could make the jump down there to begin his confrontation easily. The height still daunted him, and frankly he was terrified that he’d mistime his wind magic and end up splattered on the floor. He chose not to think about that possibility.
He’d moved away from the spot, going to a street vendor he’d seen while walking around, picking up a kebab with various grilled meats. He was snacking on them, sitting on a rail where he could see the street in front of the Guild, when a person approached him. They wore a black robe that covered their entire body, with the hood up and their face shrouded. Kuro raised an eyebrow as the person looked up at him. He couldn’t tell the person’s gender, even seeing the outline of their face. Kuro met the figure’s topaz eyes, which seemed kindly and tired, yet betrayed an immense depth to the person’s soul.
“Ah, here’s an interesting specimen,” they spoke. Even their voice sounded like it could belong to either a man or a woman. Kuro was beginning to wonder if they were either. “It seems to me you have a lot you do not know, even about yourself. Am I correct?”
Kuro swallowed the bite he’d taken just before they showed up, shrugging with one arm. His other arm was still numb. “Sure, I lost my memory several months ago. It doesn’t bother me much, though.”
Their topaz eyes narrowed, and Kuro could have sworn a light blue ring appeared around the edge of Their pupils. “Wouldn’t you like to know who you were before? Wouldn’t you like to know what fate has in store for you?”
Kuro didn’t need to think about his answer, it welled up inside him quickly as the person spoke. “Well, of course I do. I don’t even know where to begin looking. Nothing we’ve tried has sparked any of my memories to come back yet.”
The person smiled softly, “You’re already on the right path. Continue on your current path, and all of the answers will come eventually.”
“Who are you, anyway?” Kuro asked, the first of several questions he would like to ask this mystery figure.
“Perhaps that too, shall be answered in time.” The figure’s eyes returned to normal, and they began to walk away.
“Hey, wait,” Kuro jumped down from his seat on the railing, trying to follow the person. Despite seeming fairly old, they were quick, disappearing into the crowd with ease. “What was up with them? Some people really are strange.” He leaned up against the railing, taking another bite of his food.
He barely swallowed that piece when another figure approached him. While they also were wearing a black coat, this figure was at least familiar.
“Yo, Kuro.” Xeron stood in front of him, “I was hoping we could talk.”