The Matriarch guided Prelinsa back out of the room, shutting the door behind her.

“Although I will teach you, I believe you have some matters to discuss first with your guardian, Missus Brunswick. I will wait for you to do so.”

Prelinsa nodded, and headed back into the thinning crowd to find Missus B. She found the ailuran woman sat on a pew, her eyes closed and her arms crossed as she thought to herself.

“Missus B,” Prelinsa said.

Missus B.’s ears perked up. She looked at Prelinsa, and stood.

“…Ya really went and punched him, huh? Even after I told ya not to.”

“Sorry.” Prelinsa looked down. She felt like she’d been apologizing to the older woman a lot lately.

Missus B. sighed, putting her hands on her hips. “Listen. I know I’ve talked about punching your father, and I meant it every time. But we’re not in the slums anymore, ya know?” She gestured with a fist. “Back there, there was no one ta deliver good old justice, so we had ta do it ourselves.” The ailuran woman opened her hand. “But things’re different here. Ya can’t just go around punching people just ‘cause you’re mad at ‘em. You’re lucky ya didn’t get arrested by the police!”

“Right. I guess I am.”

Missus B. crossed her arms again. “You’ve been getting in ta fights a lot lately. Sure, at the diner, ya had good reason to get involved. Even if ya went about it in a really stupid way. But this time, you’ve got no one to blame but yourself. I dunno where ta really begin disciplining ya, though. Kinda rusty at the whole parenting thing.” She thought about it for a bit. “Let’s just say the next time ya step outta line, you’ll really have it coming for ya, alright?”

“Alright.” Prelinsa nodded.

“Good.” Missus B. slapped Prelinsa on the shoulder. “What’s done is done. And I get where you were coming from. I really do. Marianne was like a sister to me, ya know? So between you and me, I do think Vincent had it coming his way. That kid needs to learn some sense, and it’s definitely not coming from his mother. She’s even worse than he is.”

She paused for a bit.

“…Ya wanna know what happened with ‘em after ya left?”

Prelinsa nodded again, curiously this time.

“Well, Gladys was mad. Like, real mad. She got all violent with the guards and nearly took out someone’s eye!” Missus B. did a mock claw swipe. “Had to be taken away in handcuffs. What a real piece of work, huh? Makes ya feel kinda sorry for Vincent, having a mother like that.”

Prelinsa frowned. “Why would I feel sorry for him about that?”

“Well, the way things’re going, he might not have his mother for much longer,” Missus B. observed. “A person as rotten as Gladys can only get by in the slums, where there’s no laws and people respect ya just for being strong. But ya heard Missus Matriarch – the slums are gonna be restored to a place of decency. If Gladys doesn’t get herself killed in a standoff, she’s gonna end up in jail for a long time, guaranteed. And when that happens, who knows what’ll happen to Vincent?”

Prelinsa was about to speak and say something rather nasty, but thought better of it. Part of her really did feel like Vincent deserved to lose his mother. But that wasn’t the answer Missus B. was looking for. No – it wasn’t the right answer, regardless of what Missus B. thought. Even if she hated Vincent and felt jealous that he still had his mother, it wasn’t right to wish bad things upon him.

Missus B. allowed Prelinsa to dwell on her thoughts for some time. “…Vincent’s a bad kid, for sure. But it’s no wonder he turned out that way,” she continued. “Kids grow up learning from what’s around ‘em. Ya had Marianne to set ya straight, and ya turned out alright. But Vincent’s never had anyone like that in his life. He doesn’t know it, but he’s sick. Not sick like you are, but sick up here.” She tapped her forehead a few times. “Now that he’s escaped from the slums, he can start ta properly heal. What he needs now is people who can fill that parental role for him – people with some proper sense.”

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She bent down to Prelinsa’s eye level, putting a hand on the half-pokkit’s shoulder. “Now, I’m not saying ya have to be friends with him, or even like him as a person. Maybe you’ll decide to hate him for the rest of your life! But as far as this old cat lady is concerned, both you and him are still just kids, with plenty of room ta grow. I say give him some fair chances ta get better.”

She pulled back, thought for a moment, then added, “…Of course, if he’s still rotten after all that, then punch him all ya want! No need to hold back!”

Prelinsa snorted at that. Missus B. had a way with her words that clicked with her.

“Anyway, enough about that,” Missus B. said, standing and changing the topic. “I’ve gone on long enough about second chances and punching people. So, what did the Matriarch have to say to ya?”

“Well, about that…”

Prelinsa frowned, struggling for the words, but Missus B. caught on quickly.

“She offered to teach ya, huh? Gonna be learning the Path of the Phoenix?”

Prelinsa nodded. “Yeah.”

“I had a hunch.”

Prelinsa scratched her fox ear. “I’m not really sure why she chose me, though.”

Missus B. smiled, and gave Prelinsa a tight hug. “Doesn’t matter right now! Congrats! You’ve been given a real rare opportunity. I’m happy for ya.” She released Prelinsa, still grinning. “So, when do ya start? And where?”

“I can answer that for you,” Matriarch Kirith Silvermoon said, approaching them.

“Well, then. Do tell, Missus Matriarch.”

“Before I do so, I wish to discuss Prelinsa’s outburst earlier.”

Prelinsa looked down at the floor again.

“Prelinsa,” the Matriarch said, kneeling down to her height. “As I have said previously, I understand that you are going through a difficult time. As long as your heart needs healing, I am willing to be tolerant of some misdemeanors. But I also expect to see effort on your part to improve your behavior. Otherwise, it will be too dangerous for you to pursue the Path of the Phoenix. I will work closely with you, and provide you with guidance.” She stood again. “As her guardian, Missus Brunswick, I ask for your cooperation on this front.”

Missus B. nodded. “Right, of course. Ya got all that, right Prelinsa?”

“I did.” Prelinsa nodded.

“Good. Don’t need me saying it again now!”

“Now that we have addressed this matter, I will provide both of you with an outline of what is to come,” the Matriarch said. “In three days’ time, you will travel with me to Pyrus, the capital of the East Realm. I will have train tickets booked for you. When you arrive, there will be accommodations prepared for you there in the old city, White Blossom Fortress. It is a mixed civilian and military complex where people pursue the learning of combat arts – whether they be magical, martial, or both.”

She looked at Prelinsa in particular.

“Prelinsa, I must warn you now that some people will be deeply envious of you, and may act with hostility towards you. They may attempt to bully or harass you, or even begin fights. Please report these incidents to supervisors, rather than trying to deal with them yourself. They will see to it that any offenders are punished for their behavior.”

“Okay,” said Prelinsa.

“Experiencing harassment is stressful for anyone. Should you wish to use it as a means of destressing, we have formal procedures for duels, both with and without magic. We also have training areas where it is safe to practice magic and martial arts. But I must emphasize the importance of not beginning a fight outside of a duel. Only fight in situations of self-defense, or in defense of others. This will also act as a test of your temper and discipline.”

“Alright. No fights outside of duels or defense. Got it.”

“Thank you for your understanding.” She turned to look at Missus B. “Missus Brunswick.”

“Ya called?”

“If you would like, I can arrange for you to formally teach martial arts again. I believe you won several championships in your youth as well.”

Prelinsa’s ear perked up. This was news to her.

Missus B. laughed. “Hahaha! Ya looked into me, didn’t ya? Not gonna lie, I’m tempted. But I’m too old for that. Now that I’m no longer fighting in the slums, it’s time I found something else ta do. Something peaceful like painting or sewing, who knows?”

“As you wish.” The Matriarch put her mask back over her face. “Now, I must leave to make the necessary preparations. You may head back to your apartment.”

She turned away, and headed off. Prelinsa was still jealous of that silky tail.