Roleplay

[columns][center]. [nextcol] [emoji=ice rune size=1][emoji=light rune size=1] [size=4] Hi everyone!! This is a series of posts intended to recount the story of my clan, intertwined with those of @illiithin and @crazyplate. Feel free to check out their threads too, and happy reading! ;) [emoji=light rune size=1] [emoji=ice rune size=1][/size] @illiithin : [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/cc/3294213/1#post_3294213] The Winter of Solitude [/url] @crazyplate : [Url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/cc/3321242#post_3321242] The Travelling Breeze Section IV [/url] [Nextcol] [/center][/columns]

[Center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/88209491][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/882095/88209491.png[/img][/url][/center] In the tundra in West of the Southern Icefield, a faint glow barely shimmered through the blizzard. If one focused for a few minutes, they could make out in the distance a building half-buried under the snow. Then, the outlines of other buildings emerged; what could have been mistaken for several snowdrifts were actually all houses, partly buried in the ground, as if they had been bearing the weight of nature's whims for ages. " [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/88209491] faedr[/url], darling, could you go check the meat stock in the warehouse?" A turquoise Pearlcatcher, streaked with darker hues, interrupted in the main hall of the most noticeable building from afar, with its large windows covered in frost. The light from a few candles flickered and drew strange patterns through the glass distortions. "The last time Potts brought us game was 4 days ago... We'll have to use up what's left of the last delivery quickly." "Ah, don't worry about that, [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/90999790]Koraa[/url], [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/93645227]Somari[/url] will do just fine," reassured the other Pearlcatcher, with shades of green turning to amber on his mane and the fine skin of his wings. "He always boasts about finishing off my last stocks of game... And he's not wrong." He laughed heartily, recalling the gluttonous snapper who regularly squatted in the inn. With that, he left and closed the door behind him, leaving a thin layer of frost to gently settle on the old floorboards. Outside, the weather had suddenly calmed. It was often like that in their region; the mountains to the west of the village blocked some of the gusts from the Plateau, but with the rest of the terrain being flat to the East and North, their community was regularly besieged by blizzards or even storms that could calm in the span of a few minutes, or last for days or weeks. Faedr skirted around the entrance of his inn, nostalgically admiring the somewhat weathered sign labeled "The Yeti's Lair" before stopping in the backyard where meager plants grew, sheltered from the cold by a pine fence. He saw a brown streak pass between bags of fertilizer and the water tank, and smiled wryly before focusing his attention on a sturdy rectangular box large enough for him to lie down in with folded wings. Opening it, he skillfully manipulated the pieces of prey and various livestock before putting everything back and closing the chest, satisfied. Distracted, he recognized with bitterness the voice of the dragon discussing with Eron about ten meters away, and grumbled while staring fiercely at him; the aberration with dark blue fur had both its heads turned towards their interlocutors. Suddenly, the right head intercepted Faedr's gaze with an unparalleled neutral look. The Pearlcatcher couldn't help but emit an irritated growl, which prompted Koraa to come out through the back door. Anticipating her question, Faedr turned around to no longer have to endure the gaze of the dark dragon and cursed angrily. "We had a deal, we give them the percentage they want once every week, and now they send their bodyguard to watch over us? What's next?!" "Faedr..." Koraa sighed, her gaze filled with sorrow tinted with the same anger as his. "We've been living like this for at least 8 years, their original 'compromise' was already exaggerated, but now that they're cozy in their quarter, they're pushing it further?!" The innkeeper had already made several trips back and forth without thinking. Suddenly realizing, he sat down on the chest he had inventoried a little earlier. "Yeah, I know. Me too..." Koraa covered him with her right wing and sat down next to him. "But if a change is to happen... I don't think it's time yet. We have to hold on a little longer." "We have to hold on... But no one here asked for such parasites... We wouldn't even be able to keep the inn going if this continues..." His voice had softened and mellowed, something that rarely happened to him... Except for this occasion.

[Center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/73896916][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/738970/73896916.png[/img][/url][/center] The conversation noises were already fading as [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/73896916]Stach[/url] moved away from the inn of the two Pearlcatchers. He really didn't like hearing the villagers brooding over their fate; it reminded him too much of the harsh realities, while what suited him best was to act as if nothing was amiss. Lost in his thoughts, he stumbled over a branch that was a bit too bluish to be natural, then a cry of surprise and pain confirmed the presence of a dragon in front of him. "Tahw eht.. ?? Ho, chats!! Od uoy tnaw ot emoc ees eht wohs??" The Mirror, with attire as eccentric as his speech, was literally hopping in place. From a distance, one could mistake [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/88023491]Zopa[/url] for a child rather than a young adult. " [Url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/90315665]Charl[/url] ! Are you preparing another scene ?" Asked Stach to a tall coatl with intense blue plumage, his face radiant. "Not really, it's the same lines as last time; we need to rehearse to make it sound natural," replied Charl as he climbed onto an improvised platform using old planks and beams. The wood creaked under his feet as he tuned his ukulele and donned his brightly colored hat with a satisfied air. The trio of troubadours' performance was one of the only entertaining things around. Charl began to sing a tune, accompanying it with his instrument. His voice was almost on key, but his natural charm covered for any lack of precision. [Url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/90163103]Glitter[/url] his accomplice, checked the placement of the props with a mischievous glance, then disappeared behind the row of wooden cutouts. "In the land of an old solitary Guardian, two skinny fae stopped... They claimed to have crossed the plains of the desert to seek the purest water on the continent." A sound of rolling and clinking mechanisms accompanied the last phrase as the prop suddenly moved in a clumsy manner due to the rusty mechanism. "The Guardian looked at them, grumbling with discontent. Preserving the source of pure water was his duty, and nobody had the right to touch it." The wooden pieces mimicking the guardian's wings raised from the ground "The two fae looked at each other, embarrassed, and explained to the Guardian that they were tasked with digging a land route so that the source could reform, thus allowing others to benefit from it." "The Guardian refused again, and when the older fae tried to argue, the Guardian threatened him with his breath, which made them leave for good." Glitter moved the jaws of the wooden guardian from behind the stage. "Three months passed after the encounter between the three dragons, and Rudon, the Guardian, began to mock the warnings of the two fae. He was sure now that their explanations were just a ploy to try to steal his pure water." "But as he lay peacefully next to his beloved charge, a slight crackling was heard... Then a second... Then a third..." Glitter gripped the prop behind which she was hidden with frustration, staring into space as if locking onto prey. "Alerted, the Guardian barely had time to get up to discover a breach in the rocky wall, and-" A muffled explosion filled the air with a purplish cloud, and a shower of sparks fell onto the stage. Stach clumsily tried to catch some with a cry of joy. "BOOM HAHAHA, GOTCHA, KID!!" Glitter collapsed on the floor laughing, knocking over a few props in the process. Charl put them back in place and sighed in exasperation. Fixing Glitter with a bored but benevolent look, he seemed accustomed to this kind of surprise. "Glitter, how many times do I have to tell you to wait until the end of my sentence before you throw the bomb? And it was supposed to be blue!!" He pointed accusingly at the Mirror. "Have you ever seen purple water?? The audience won't understand the main story." The Mirror had regained his footing and lacked the motivation to retort, but he looked at Charl with a tenacious air. Zopa, who had sat next to Stach, tapped the Spiral's back with his tail. He questioned him, tilting his head to the side. "Did ouy etnivite deah-elbuod ot eht ytrap ?" Charl and Glitter looked at him with a bored and confused look, but Stach, understanding the information, panicked and ran to hide behind the structure of the stage. Zopa fixed his gaze in the opposite direction of the stage as Charl and Glitter continued their argument. The Mirror with iridescent wings opened his mouth, but a mocking voice cut short his speech. "Well, well... Hello there." The silhouette with two heads who had spoken emerged from the shadows, a mischievous smile on the right, while the left face displayed an impassive look. "Wouldn't you have a little song to improvise for me, right now?" Glitter was about to retort to the provocation, but her accomplice silenced her with his right wing. The two troubadours remained silent as Zopa looked around in confusion, not understanding where the young Spiral had gone. "The silent treatment, huh? I see..." It was the head with the inclined horns that spoke again, still wearing a slight smile. He approached, examining them with his gaze while his partner looked over the stage. He paused, and finally turned on his right toward the left side of the village

[Center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/90528248][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/905283/90528248.png[/img][/url][/center] The soft footsteps of the night-colored aberration faded away as Stach stealthily emerged from his hiding spot, following the two-headed dragon before Charl called out to him. By the time the young spiral caught up discreetly, the aberration had already stopped in front of The Yeti's Lair, and Faedr opened the door with a welcoming gesture. Intrigued, Stach listened intently. "Hello, Fader!" Started the left-headed one with the unkempt mane, a perpetual smirk on his face. "It's Faedr," grumbled the pearlcatcher, swaying his tail from side to side with an annoyed air, while Koraa, alarmed by the aberration's arrival, lent him a hand by positioning herself next to him. "Yeah, whatever," dismissed the leading head absentmindedly. The right head, which had remained still until then, brandished a notebook from his satchel and began to flip through it. "So... We're all set for the usual transfer, but these gentlemen from the Lighthouse have brought some new things..." He looked up thoughtfully and scratched his chin. "How much was it again? [Url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/90528248]Kalem[/url]?" The presumed Kalem promptly responded without taking his eyes off the notebook. "30% of the individual's income will be withheld to meet the Dome's needs and for provisioning. The withheld amount will be returned after one year, in the form of goods of equal value-" "30%?! And it'll be returned in a year as trinkets?!" Faedr interjected, his tone a mix of indignation and helplessness. "Is this some kind of joke??" "No," replied Kalem coldly. The other head sighed, bringing his right hand to his face, then corrected himself and vaguely explained the situation. "Apparently, it's a supply problem or something. The convoys from the capital are having trouble withstanding the cold, and they're taking longer, I suppose." As he explained, he made tired gestures with his free hand. Faedr was no more reassured, and Koraa had instinctively wrapped her tail around her husband's. She posed a question in turn, with a falsely calm tone, looking at the head with the raised horns with a determined air. "How long will this increase last? If I understand correctly, it's supposed to be temporary." "I don't know, ma'am, I'm just here to pass on the info. Speaking of which..." He narrowed his eyes slightly with a serious air. "Have you seen a kid pass by? A pretty young spiral, with a cap and a silly look?" It was Faedr who replied this time, having returned to reality. "If you're talking about Stach, I don't know what you want with him, but he's just a kid. He has trouble understanding things; you should leave him alone." The pearlcatcher held the disdainful gaze of the leading head, then realized too late that his gaze instinctively shifted to where Stach was hidden, surprised to see him there. The two heads of the aberration turned to spot Stach, who let out a cry of surprise and dashed behind the building where he had concealed himself.

Reyf was the first to leap forward, while Kalem kept pace without showing any signs of exhaustion.

"You know I hate it when we have to chase them one by one. Don't play into his game, it's a waste of time," Kalem warned.

"What are you talking about?" Reyf replied, seeming to come alive at the idea of a chase. "I haven't had this kind of exercise in at least 2 months, let me have some fu-"

The head with the horns tilted paused abruptly, and their entire bodies were halted: Stach was perched on the edge of a roof of a house to their right, and had just poured a barrel of cold water over them.

"Okay..." Reyf responded, breathless from the temperature change, eyeing the spiraled in laughter with disdain. "This isn't funny at all anymore."

With dangerous speed and agility, he beat his wings to reach the roof and grabbed the spiral with one hand, pinning him to the ground with care not to knock him out.

The brutality of the impact elicited a panicked cry of pain from Stach, who took a few seconds before regaining consciousness, panicked.

"I'm not doing this for fun, kid," Reyf began as he settled into a more comfortable position without releasing his grip. "You know what you risked when you stole that jewel. And it's not the first time I've seen you pulling your tricks."

As he continued his speech, he applied slight pressure to Stach's neck, causing the spiral to panic. Breathing in short, plaintive gasps, Stach struggled against Reyf's hold, to no avail.

"Now you'll have to come with me to settle this matter; the duchess will complain all week if she doesn't get her jewel back," Reyf's last words were filled with disgust and disinterest.

"N-no...!!" Stach instinctively responded, but instantly regretted it upon seeing the aberration's five eyes fixed on him impatiently. Reyf tightened his grip, and Stach screamed at the top of his lungs, more out of fear than pain.

"Stach??" The high-pitched, trembling voice came from a spiral even younger than him, leaning against the wall of the building where he was hiding and watching the scene with wide, frightened eyes.

Reyf stopped and looked up at the spiral, looking embarrassed.

"D-don't come closer, Fahnon !! We're just playing!" Stach tried to reassure her, though his voice and entire body were trembling.

"Tss..." Reyf released his grip, and Fahnon clumsily ran to join his brother, still shaken by what had just happened. The aberration turned his back and swayed his tail from side to side, while the one on the right remained still.

"You got lucky this time, kid. Take this as my final warning..." He turned his head slightly in Stach's direction, while Kalem remained impassive, looking elsewhere. "You can keep the jewel, but if I see you lurking suspiciously near the noble quarters again, there will be no turning back."

With that, he disappeared as quickly as he had come, leaving the two spirals alone.

Luckily enough, Fahnon didn't ask any question, and seemed to have completly forgotten the scene after seeing their house in the distance, running towards the door.

[Center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/73896916][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/738970/73896916.png[/img][/url][/center] Fahnon ran to hug his mother, [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/73700532]Honee[/url], while Stach returned home, the warmth and presence of others not changing his dazed expression. That aberration... It could have killed him. Just thinking about it and feeling the adult dragon's grip on his neck again made him shudder. Coming back to reality, he faced his sister [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/72491858]Moka[/url]'s questioning gaze, seated on the table in the center of the living room, which she occupied about a third of. The young spiral lowered his head and waited for his mother to go accompany his little sister who was frolicking in the orchard outside before sitting next to Mako. It was she who spoke first in a stern tone. "What were you doing outside again?! And why do you look so... panicked..." A shadow of worry passed through the older sister's eyes, softening them. She pulled him closer with her right wing. "You know you can tell me anything." Stach, still with lowered eyes and a defeated look, hesitated before speaking slowly. "The two-headed dragon went to see Faedr and Koraa... He had been mean to Charl, so I wanted to make sure he wasn't doing anything, but he saw me and started chasing me." His last words were punctuated by tremors in his voice. " Mille ? You saw mille ? But he wasn't supposed to come until the day after tomorrow..." The older sister seemed confused and increasingly alarmed. "What did he do to you?" Stach fell into silence, tears welling up in his eyes with the aftermath. Mako didn't dare repeat her question and embraced him tenderly, looking into space with a worried expression. "I- I just... I just wanted to... get a g-gift for mom...! " Stach finally replied, overcome with convulsions. Mako's gaze eventually settled on a high shelf, where the stolen jewel was installed modestly.

[Center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/90528248][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/905283/90528248.png[/img][/url][/center] Mille retraced his steps towards the immense structure illuminated by a translucent dome. With each measured step, he gradually picked up the faint vibrations emitted by the dome, its light casting dancing shadows around. They traversed the bustling surface without hesitation, although their bodies involuntarily relaxed due to the sudden temperature changes. The intense heat dried the last droplets of water clinging to their fur. Taking a moment, they concealed themselves from the wintry landscape behind the entrance wall to clear their minds. "We could have caught the kid, why did you let him go?" Rief remained silent, focusing his gaze on the lush green garden surrounding them. Kalem made the effort to turn his head in Rief's direction and continued his interrogation, his eyes narrowed. "I don't understand you anymore. You insisted on chasing the kid, and I trusted you, but not only did we waste time, you also didn't finish what you set out to do?" Rief grunted and rose towards the outer corridor along the wall. If they had to talk about it, it was better to remain discreet. "I agreed to join you on this journey out of consideration for you, but if you continue—" "I understand, Kalem, let me explain," Rief cut in. Apparently, the few times they were allowed a discussion always turned into an argument. Rief observed the totem trees and bushes attentively, tired of enduring Kalem's empty stare. He chose his words carefully. "You know as well as I do that the baroness has about thirty similar jewels, and she doesn't even use all of them," he began disdainfully. "And these little ones... They didn't ask for anything. What the baroness can obtain by the dozen, these people might not even be able to afford in their lifetime." "Ah, so now we're playing the saviors of the people?" Kalem's humor was difficult to gauge, given the grave and monotone tone he used. He motioned with his tail for Rief to get up and join him inside the palace, while warning him. "Too bad for you, get ready for another sleepless night. Tonight, we've been positioned to surveil the corridors." Rief grimaced, recalling the coatl who had already thrown a fit when he accidentally knocked over a vase. Kalem was right about that, he would have a hard time avoiding the baroness once they returned.

[Center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/91820458][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/918205/91820458.png[/img][/url][/center] In the corridors of the palace tinted by the glow of the dome through exterior openings, [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/91820458]Orinn[/url] strode with confident yet delicate steps. Leaving the outer corridors and veering left, he passed by a series of sculptures veined with ocher and quartz before stopping in front of the last statues made of jade, his penetrating gaze fixed on the statue of a nocturne preparing to take flight. He held his gaze on the motionless [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/22538336]statue[/url], then turned to pass through the grand marble door that opened as he approached, with a succession of clicks. He entered a large room, also riddled with geometrically patterned cavities allowing the exterior light to filter into the room. The complex shapes carved into the rock above the Pearlcatcher's head directed all the external light to a single point in the center of the room, where an unusual contraption with multiple glass lenses stood, emitting a shifting glow into the space. The iron and glass structure was encircled by a table made of marble veined with the same ocher component as the statues. Around this table were several figures, each more imposing than the next. They comprised two Obelisks, a Snapper, two Guardians, and an Imperial. Compared to them, Orinn looked like an insect, although his appearance and demeanor seemed to counterbalance his small stature. "Orinn, you're late. I hope you have a good reason for making us wait," [Url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/90013678]Orpa[/url] spoke first, staring at Orinn with severity. "I had things to attend to. And besides, it's not like I'm the only one who arrived late this week," he explained coldly, turning his gaze towards [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/90295845]Finch[/url], the Guardian now eyeing him back with suspicion. The muscles of the crimson Guardian tensed. He was about to retort when a bluish veil covered his vision: the Imperial to his left had stopped him with a flap of his wing. With a calm gaze directed at the Assembly, [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/61870068]Shuí[/url] spread his arms in a gesture of calm. "Come now, my friends, there's no reason to quarrel. Let's start by listening to what Krom has to tell us." The atmosphere relaxed, and most regained a composed attitude, although Orinn kept an eye on Shuí. "Huhum..." [Url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/92313045]Krom's[/url] intervention interrupted all discussion, and all turned towards the host. The Obelisk spoke with a slow and deliberate voice, the golden adornments on his wings flickering in the light of the magnifying glass at the center of the Council. "Very well... Before we begin, let's review the past month's progress." His head crowned with a mane as white as the exterior light turned slowly towards Orpa. "How about the management of the residents' apartments and belongings, Orpa?" She took out glasses from her bag and examined the files she had spread out on the marble table. Without lifting her eyes from the papers, she listed the numbers. "60% of the residents' belongings that requested retrieval have been successfully transported here since last month. However, the remaining 40% is still unaccounted for." She turned a page of her notes. "They were supposed to arrive at the entrance of the village six days ago. The hypothesis of sabotage, ambush, or piracy remains the most probable, excluding the problems caused by the climate of the Southern Icefields." "What is the estimated loss?" Krom inquired gravely. Orpa looked up at him, giving the values she had gathered. "The loss is estimated to be around 1 million per family. The Count of Creyna left last week escorted by his family and his cousin. With the departure of the high notaries and the Gladekeeper's envoy..." She glanced down at her notes again. "Only the last two resident families remain, Baroness Sereda, Baron Miraï, Duke Nero, Duchess Daerna. Not to mention Shuí's daughter, Sangha, Pogo, the Count of Crénan's daughter, and..." She paused, hesitating. "Celestia, missing." "Isn't her name supposed to be Kaïda?" Verna whispered, the Guardian to Shuí's left, to which he replied in a low tone, "Celestia was the name her mother gave her. I like to think that this name change allowed her to breathe and flourish in a world different from that of her tutor." The imposing Imperial's response seemed to make Verna ponder, and she fell silent once more. "Humm..." Krom let out a tired sigh. "Our priority will be to promote and secure our trade routes... [Url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/72487139]King[/url] ? How much could you contribute to this project?" The Snapper, who had not spoken yet, took a moment before speaking, examining the countless ornaments on his limbs. "Mhmm... I could probably cover most of the expenses, but not all of them... As you know, most of my stocks are still kept safe with my associates." "Excellent, I will cover the remaining expenses," concluded the Obelisk, whose Lightseeker mark shimmered prominently on the back of his forehead. "Let me contribute as well, Krom. I don't see why those who are capable of paying shouldn't lend a hand," added Shuí with a light smile, raising his arm. Finch looked at him with a mixture of astonishment and frustration, while Orpa, between Krom and King, spoke up. "I too can meet the needs of the plan. There is no shortage of resources. As for administration, I will take care of the paperwork." Orinn rose abruptly and began to slowly pace around the circular room. "All this sounds good... But what about the real problem?" Orpa and Finch stared at the obsidian-colored Pearlcatcher as he passed between the Council members. The still-smoking violet traces of his footsteps encircled the Council and momentarily obscured the light from the ceiling. The magnifying glass in the center of the room began to flicker and click in all directions, deprived of its power source. "Simply clearing the trade routes will not be enough to keep kidnappers and thieves at bay, nor the gusts and squalls that are common in the area." "What do you propose, then?" Orpa growled, prompting him to defend his statement wisely. "A solar ray emitter perhaps?" she mocked with a derisive chuckle. "Not quite, but close," Orinn replied confidently, a smile spreading across his muzzle distorted by the wisps of smoke emanating from his mouth. All the Council members were taken aback, and no one interrupted him as he continued, his claws tapping playfully. "Maybe if my successive delays are excused from today, I could make progress on this project and provide you with a means to fortify your routes?" He looked at Krom mischievously as the latter pondered his proposal, his expression serious. "Permission for delayed arrival granted. What does this project entail, Orinn?"

[Center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/89730558][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/897306/89730558.png[/img][/url][/center] Rief briefly glanced through one of the cavities serving as a natural window, pulling aside the veil with obsidian reflections that shielded them from the constant activity of the dome's light. "Orinn better find a solution for the dome's radiation at night," Kalem complained detachedly. "These curtains are hideous." Rief ignored him, lifting his gaze to the sky. With concentration, he could discern the moon above his head, soon to disappear behind the elegant silhouette of their typical architecture. He observed the shapes, sometimes circular, sometimes geometric, adorning the palace's roof and angles in a moment of distraction before readjusting the magic-infused veil and continuing his patrol. Just over twenty minutes left... Just a little longer, and he could sleep peacefully. "Mille?" A melodic voice resonated lightly through the double corridor, drawing dangerously closer to where Mille stood. "Argh !" Rief displayed a nervous expression as Kalem led them both in the opposite direction of the speaker, hurrying along. "Mille? Where are you?" Kalem chuckled lightly as Rief suppressed his curses, noticing his partner's mocking expression and slowing down, distracted. "So, the only times you allow yourself a bit of sensitivity is to mock me?" Rief expected his companion to retort, but he remained silent, turning his attention to what lay ahead, where a plump coatl with meticulously groomed plumage blocked their path, looking determined. "Uh... Good evening, milady Baroness! Almost passed right by without noticing you there," Rief said with a forced smile. "Me? Not see me? Baroness [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/89730558]Sereda[/url] ?" The coatl adjusted her wings and puffed out her already prominent chest in offense. Rief tried to salvage the situation with reassuring gestures, while Kalem remained silent once more, observing the scene with a low profile. "No, milady Sereda, how could one not... notice you?" Rief's voice rose in pitch and became more hesitant as he attempted to smooth things over. Baroness Sereda didn't seem convinced. She raised an eyebrow disinterestedly and dragged him down the opposite corridor, gripping his arm firmly, continuing to scold him along the way as Rief let her lead, feeling powerless and uncomfortable. "How could it be possible not to have crossed paths with you earlier? I've been searching tirelessly for you for the past two days. The gardener clearly informed me that it was your duty period." She continued her monologue, her eyes fixed on the path ahead, while Rief took advantage of being in her blind spot to exhale and squint. "Don't give me that look! You know because of your foolishness, I've fallen behind on my projects??" Sereda headed towards a beautifully decorated door and disappeared inside, locking it to Rief's dismay. "You have plenty of prototypes to try, and don't you dare back out, or I'll lodge a complaint against you before the Council!" Mille remained where he had been deposited, resigned. He observed the room littered with patterns and unrolled fabrics scattered across the floor. Each time, the room seemed narrower to him, and the numerous sketches on notebook pages adorned the walls with colorful stains. "Another sleepless night?" Rief attempted to divert her attention. "Your husband will be furious when he sees this... colorful festival." The coatl didn't respond and entered another room, emerging with a finely decorated lace top in one hand and a suitcase filled with various jewels in the other. Rief grimaced at the thought of what he would have to wear, while Kalem, unable to contain himself any longer, chuckled mockingly. Sereda eyed Kalem mischievously and waited for him to calm down and look at her apprehensively before announcing his participation. "Oh, but don't worry, Kalem. You will also be part of the show." She abandoned her mischievous air to display a sparkling gaze of joy and excitement, extending her arm to place her artisanal creation at Mille's waist level, giggling to herself. "With this, you'll be absolutely stunning, my dear!"

[Center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/92481337][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/924814/92481337.png[/img][/url][/center] The sun had barely risen as [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/92481337]Ephissus[/url] sharpened the iron tools on the grindstone installed in Somari's Workshop. The room, with walls scorched by heat, had been cleaned and tidied with care. His Psywurm familiar resting on his leg, his eyes focused on the ridgeback as to help him " See " clearly his surrounding with psychic noises and patterns. Hours passed, and he sharpened dozens of pliers and tools of all shapes and sizes when a movement caught the ridgeback's attention. As he set down the now pristine curved tool, he looked through the tinted window that allowed a view of the workshop from the living room without risking setting the entire building on fire. Somari got up and wandered through the living room, looking dazed, his eyes squinting, not yet accustomed to the flickering light of the oil lamps. Ephissus had time to sharpen his last two pieces of metal before Somari joined him in the workshop, seeming more awake than earlier. The ridgeback's familiar yawned and tilted his head in Somari's direction "Long night, I imagine?" Ephissus began mockingly. Somari didn't disagree and grumbled in response, groping with his calloused paws on one of the boards serving as a workbench to retrieve a poker and put it away. Ephissus remembered seeing him head back to the "Yeti's Den" the previous evening, and usually when Faedr and Somari got together to talk, the pearlcatcher innkeeper took the opportunity to give him his share of meat from the cash drawer, along with some wine for accompaniment. In exchange, the ridgeback and Somari checked the condition of the inn and renovated the building as needed. "You beat me to the cleaning... as always," Somari admitted, in a good mood. "I should visit Faedr and Koraa more often," he joked mischievously. "Oh, I'd rather you didn't," Ephissus replied with a slight chuckle. "A bit more, and I won't see you until next month." His comment made the snapper laugh heartily, sending a force that made the dust gathered near the broom vibrate towards the door. Somari looked into the distance with a more serious expression, still smiling. "I should give you more privileges, considering all that you do," he said. The ridgeback modestly smiled at the compliment, as extracting thanks from the snapper's mouth was often a difficult task. "No, seriously." Somari's thoughtful gaze turned towards the ridgeback, his neck semi-bent now that he had stood up. His dorsal spines brushed against the ceiling, which was streaked with layers of reddish plaster, evidence of numerous attempts to raise it. "What do you say about overseeing the revision of [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/11287037]Eron[/url]'s house today? Usually, it's me who does it... But you're getting the hang of it quite well!" the snapper proposed as he moved towards the living room. Ephissus blinked in surprise and nodded in satisfaction. He had very few opportunities to handle the revision without Somari's comments. "Alright... So it's settled. We're supposed to meet the elder in an hour," the snapper turned to the strange mechanism Keena had given him upon arrival, its numerous needles clicking in harmony on the same tone. He hated enchanted objects, but the gift from the female aberration had helped him on many occasions. He couldn't bring himself to throw the object away. An hour later, the two comrades left Somari's house, followed by Ephissus's Psywurm. The snapper's house was the largest structure in the village after Faedr's inn and Eron's manor. The snapper glanced distractedly at the well-kept grounds to the right of his house, where a finely decorated stele lay half-buried in the roots of a blue pine, then resumed their journey under Ephissus's concerned gaze.