* You were poisoned
* You were poisoned
* You died
* You were poisoned
* You died
* …
* ..
* .
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Name: Korra Grey
Race: Human
Gender: Female
Age: 27
1st Array: Slave
Master: None
Sigils: 97 - ○○○○○○
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WEAVES: 1ST ARRAY (6/6)
Eleaden Standard Language (General): .... 20 → 22 glyphs - ⦿⦿
Indomitable Will (Slave): ....................................... 111 glyphs - ⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿
Spatial Domain (General): .......................................13 glyphs - ⦿⦿
Equilibrium (General): .............................................. 7 glyphs - ⦿
Never-Dying (General): ..................................... 4 → 6 glyphs - ⦿
Tail of Poison Empress (General): ................. 7 → 11 glyphs - ⦿
─◇────────────────────────────────────────
The second night in my new attic room above Scoresby's Goods & Wares went like the first one. I was dead to the world. To my disappointment, though, it didn't have that much of an impact on my weaves like on my first night. Instead of reading what new things the second circle of [Tail of Poison Empress] had brought me, I chewed down on my lower lip in frustration. Yesterday, I promised Sage that I would find another way to take care of the poison release issue, yet now I was shy of one glyph doing just that.
Of course, the second circle of the weave did not guarantee that I would learn something that would help me with the problem. In fact, there was a good chance that it might make things worse. For all I knew, the poison might have become more lethal, or my tail might have started creating more of it.
'A girl could hope though, couldn't she?'
The only other option I had was to not hold back the poison and instead focus the hell on my domain, making sure no one accidentally sniffed my tail. In fact, the more I thought about it, the more it seemed like a good idea. Sure, it would mean no tail hugs for Ria. That way, though, I would be forced to train [Spatial Domain] - unfortunately, something sorely needed. Despite my best efforts to make looking at the world through it my second nature, my focus kept slipping away.
Much to my frustration, [Equilibrium] was even harder to get another glyph in. In the forest, where the ground was a tangle of roots covered in slippery moss, it was a challenge to traverse, but here in the city where the streets were paved with cobblestones the only challenge was to avoid the occasional dung left there by scalehoofs. The weave seemed almost useless to have in the city.
Getting rid of it, however, might be rash. With all those extra limbs, it gave me the coordination I wouldn't have had otherwise.
'Fucking Dungreen!'
If only that deranged asshole had let me move around more instead of keeping me locked in a cell, I could have gotten a better grip on my body and the coordination of my arms, legs, tail, and wings long ago.
'Coordination! Dancing, perhaps? Was that even a thing here?'
"Are there any dance schools here?" I asked without thinking at breakfast with the Scoresbys, my mouth full.
"Where did that come from, girl?" wondered the old man.
"Hush, fool. If she wants to learn to dance, let her."
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"What did I say wrong? We were talking about yesterday and..."
"Yes, there are dancing schools, dear," Mrs. Scoreby did not let her husband finish. Mouthing a silent "Sorry" to the old man, I took another bite, my ears pricked up to hear what his wife had to say. "It comes down to what kind of dancing you're interested in and how much you're willing to pay for it."
'Yeah, right, the money. As always, it was all about the money.'
"Is this such a deal for you?" The old man asked as my ears drooped. "You didn't strike me as the dancing type."
"Huh? Oh, no. I - there's this weave I have. A movement weave, and I was thinking how to… how to get better at it."
"I see, dear. Good thinking, but maybe you should think about whether you need that weave. There are only so many weaves you can have. One can learn to dance without one, you know."
Mrs. Scoresby meant it well, in a way, reminding me that this wasn't a game. To the people here, weaves were something extremely important, not something to be wasted on your hobbies. With her 63 sigils, she only had access to five as opposed to my six. And I saw a lot of people in their later years with fewer sigils than her.
"True," her husband agreed. "I'm not saying you should choose weaves to help you in the stables. But you might want to give some thought to what you'd like to do in the future, Korra."
'Yeah, what did I want to do?'
Becoming stronger, not having to look over my shoulder, or find my way back, wasn't exactly the most telling of the path I should take.
"I should, shouldn't I?" I said a bit absentmindedly, shoving a spoonful of scrambled eggs into my mouth. "But I have no idea - except for those Seeker Companies and..."
"Don't be too hasty about that," Mr. Scoresby cut me off. "I don't mean to be rude, but you're not the youngest Korra. You don't have years to waste."
'Damn, the old man really didn't beat around the bush.'
"I know - I was just wondering if one can become a seeker without signing up with one of those companies?"
"You can do that, dear. But I don't think it's any better."
"Why? I wouldn't be bound by a contract, would I?"
"Marlen's right, Korra. Working your ass off isn't the only reason for the tight, even slavish contracts. The companies want to make sure you don't run away after they've invested in you."
"The Labyrinth is not a place you can just go unprepared, and untrained, dear. Most of those who do die."
'If only they knew,' I thought to myself and back to my nightly deaths. Nevertheless, I would have to be stupid not to see the difference between dying in the safety of a warm bed and somewhere in the depths beneath the city full of monsters and beasts.
"Sure, it's a business where you can make a lot of money," Scoresby went on, finishing his breakfast. "But to see the coins, you have to stay alive, girl. I don't doubt your bravery. Not many people would have the guts to spend the night in Esulmor. Down there, though, if you want to make money, you have to fight the beasts, not just avoid them."
"I could talk to them," I suggested in a bit of a jest, but the old man gave me a sad, understanding look.
"Many have tried, Korra."
"They did?"
'Of course they did. The question was, where the “but” was.'
"Yes, those beasts down there, though, they aren't like the ones up here, girl. From what I hear, there's no talking with them."
'Huh?'
"Then why are the Seeker Companies interested in me?"
"Well, certainly not because you're a natural beast talker, if that's what you're asking."
"Oh, shit! My beast might! S-sorry, I didn't mean to say that out loud."
Mrs. Scoresby chuckled, taking the empty plates from the table. "It's good that you know such language doesn't belong at the table, dear. Not something to worry about now, though. Look at the time, you should better go so you're not late."
'Huh? Time? Shi...Oh no! I have so many questions.'
Mrs. Scoresby was right, though. I didn't need her magic diaglyph watch to see that dawn was breaking, meaning I had a place to be. So, thanking her for breakfast and promising to pay them back, I got up from the table, ready to go to work.
"I hope you don't mind if I join you this morning, girl?" the old man spoke, getting up from his chair.
"You're going to the Stables?" Stupid question. That was where his mares were.
"Yes. I'd like to be in Mitta before dark."
'Damn, how could I forget his business trips?' That was how I met him in the first place.
"Mitta?" No matter how hard I racked my brain, the name didn't ring a bell.
"A Sahal town on the border to the Kingdom of Arid. If you want, I'll tell you more about it on the way."
"Sure, I'd love to..." I said, trailing off as my thoughts took me in a completely different direction. Rayden had promised me that she would put someone to watch over their safety, but did that apply to Scoresby's business travels? What if they get to him when he's out of the city?