Chương 72: Chapter 9

Realization dawned on Shaya that she had the potential to make a powerful ally. A much-needed political ally that could help her during her tenure at the Academy, given the amount of heat she had drawn to herself because of Azreon's persistent hostility toward her. Maybe she could even make a new friend.

"Fair enough," Shaya replied, her own lips quirking into a smile.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Theame." Shaya extended one of her scarred, calloused hands across the table. Theame looked at it with a glitter of amusement and shook Shaya's hand, her own slender hand dwarfed by the giant-blooded woman's. As Shaya expected, however, the princess possessed greater strength than the smaller woman's size suggested. Also as expected, Theame seemed to enjoy the more personal, less formal introduction.

"I believe the pleasure is mine, Shaya," Theame replied, voice still a low whisper.

"I see my books have piqued your curiosity. You wouldn't happen to disapprove of my choice of studies?" Shaya saw the machinations spinning in the princess' eyes with each interaction, suspecting that the constant queries and little tests were part and parcel of who she was as a woman. Her own wit needed honing anyway, so she was happy to engage in the verbal sparring and see how she made out. It was also likely the quickest way to earn the princess' respect.

That said, she couldn't exactly say anything as heretical, given that at least one Inquisitor was likely spying on the avant-garde princess.

"A few of your texts were written by people from my homeland," Shaya said, tapping the texts on alchemy and pre-Imperial spirits, "and I'm rather partial to the advancements my people have made for the Empire—and for their own survival, given the adversity we face."

"Indeed." Theame nodded.

"As one of the last kingdoms to submit to the Empire, Kelahk has a unique perspective to its past that is more… unclouded than the rest of our kingdoms." Imperial redaction and absorption of local cultures and cults was well-known, if not oft-spoken of. There was a reason the Imperial pantheon numbered in the hundreds of minor deities, though only the Seven and their children were immediately spoken of. Shaya decided to ignore that easy point and go for another.

"Careful, Theame," she chided lightly.

"There is still the kingdom of Saijal on our continent as well as numerous minor clans that claim independence from the Empire, let alone the hundreds of kingdoms beyond our shores." Theame rolled her eyes.

"Saijal is hardly a kingdom, though I'm pleased we have an alliance with the ascetics who call those mountains their home. I've heard their esoteric ways allow them to cultivate great power that rivals that of the gods." Shaya nodded.

"That would explain why they don't revere any themselves, and how they maintain their independence. Do you find yourself revering Astoria amongst the Seven for… obvious, biased reasons?"

"They say to never meet your heroes," Theame chuckled.

"Meeting your gods is no different, I'm afraid. Astoria will simply be 'Mother' to me, it is difficult for me to divorce the woman from the object of worship." She leaned forward conspiratorially.

"Though if I'm being honest, I feel we can find more justice in Vynderwynd's wisdom and desire for knowledge than martial might and skill."

"You said it, not me," Shaya agreed with a quiet snort.

"But wisdom and knowledge without action also don't achieve any justice in this world. That's why I find it's important to view the Seven as one, rather than leave large gaps in my beliefs."

"A fair point," Theame acknowledged with a nod.

"You're not nearly as brash or barbaric as the picture my cousin painted of you."

"Azreon?" Shaya's nose wrinkled in disgust.

"I hope you mean that painting was metaphorical, otherwise I may vomit in my mouth." Theame's burst of laughter caught everyone in the library by surprise. Those leaning in to eavesdrop on her conversation with the barbarian were caught unsure of what to do: acknowledge that their attention was already on her or pretend they didn't hear anything. This seemed to amuse the princess further, though she brought her laughter under control after a moment.

"Fear not, Shaya," Theame said, still chuckling.

"I don't think Azreon has any such desires for you, those are directed to one who got away from him."

"I don't envy them," Shaya said with a shake of her head.

"I thought I had it bad with his attentions, but I'll take his hostility over… whatever his 'affections' would look like." She shuddered at the thought.

"I suspect they wouldn't be so different," Theame said, voice quiet and humour drained.

"But I understand you acquitted yourself very well against him already, given his suspension and pending discharge." Shaya quirked an eyebrow at her new friend and let the silence speak volumes. They both knew that he wouldn't be discharged or left suspended for long.

"Well," Theame continued, "you at least secured yourself a temporary reprieve."

"I hope he gets the hint and backs off." Shaya sighed.

"He's just a nuisance and I have more important matters to attend to than his bruised ego." Her eyes fell to her own notebook and texts. This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

"Such as our mid-terms?" Theame said.

"I'm afraid so."

"Fair enough," the princess replied with a smile.

"I do hope we have the opportunity to chat again though, this has been quite refreshing."

"Well," Shaya said, leaning back with a smile, "this seat does appear to be available more often than not. I'm happy to fill it, as long as you're happy to sacrifice some of your table space." Theame's nose scrunched up in mock contemplation.

"I suppose that's a worthwhile trade."

"So magnanimous," Shaya replied.

"Best of luck on your studies, I'm sure you'll ace Heresy-101." There was a moment of tension at the table, but it didn't come from the women seated at it. Shaya glanced up behind Theame's shoulder, where she herself would stand were she protecting the princess. The source of the oiled metal and leather she had smelled earlier. Theame was smiling when Shaya returned her attention to her companion.

"Well played," Theame said.

"Curiosity satisfied," Shaya replied with a shrug.

"Isn't there a saying," Theame mused, "along the lines of 'curiosity killed the cat'?"

"But satisfaction brought them back," Shaya retorted, staring at Theame with her unamused, feline eyes. +++++ With Azreon gone for the time being and her own reputation improved by taking down the necromancer and their undead Titan, only Galo and a few others continued to bully Shaya. Their abuse was so minimal she wouldn't even count it as good practice for controlling her emotions. She continued to take notes, however, for Azreon's inevitable return and in case she needed to take matters into her own hands again.

Shaya found that the notes came in handy elsewhere too: Game Theory. While the game played each week changed and grew more and more complex, the players didn't. At first, Shaya only played mind games against Azreon's supporters, but the strategy proved so successful she expanded it to record information about others in the class and leverage it against them as well.

To avoid tipping her hand too much and spiking her reputation off a cliff, she saved the mind games for graded activities and tried to keep them as civil as possible.

"Impressive," Chancellor Zaal said after asking her to remain after class that week, "you've displayed quite the skill at people and have adapted it as readily as any politician." Shaya nodded at the compliment, taking it in stride instead of feeling slimy about it.

"It's the only constant in the environment and I've had good reason to pay close attention to those around me."

"Indeed." The tall, gangly chancellor nodded with approval, the orikalkite amulet that marked him as a Ninth Circle mage bobbing from the motion, "and you've limited its usage to when it matters most, which conceals the strategy so others cannot adopt it or adapt to it. Very clever, for an Amber mage."

"Am I that transparent?" Shaya asked, baiting out his next response.

"No," Zaal replied, "I'm just that good at reading people."

"Is that why you changed topics so quickly at the debrief?" she asked, referring to how the chancellor had noticed that some enchantment on her had prevented her from speaking her mind. His eyes narrowed.

"You shouldn't speak of it further. The effect on you was a brief twitch of your face, no one else would have noticed." She nodded but continued pushing to find out the limits on the enchantment placed on her.

"I thought as much, but I get the sense you're familiar with what happened to me."

"I've been around for centuries, girl," Zaal replied.

"I'm familiar with many spell effects."

"Of course," Shaya granted.

"Is there anything else you can tell me about apostates in general? Like how one could come to work so closely with Titan-spawn and perhaps how to counter this forbidden magic of theirs?"

"There is nothing else I will tell you on this topic," he stated.

"Stop prying into matters beyond you and leave it to the professionals."

"Like planning our last deployment?"

"The last deployment accomplished everything it needed to," Zaal replied levelly. Shaya's eyes narrowed as she thought the statement over, but before she could speak again Zaal continued.

"The reason I asked you to stay," he said, "is because you're wasted as an Amber mage. I want you to consider abandoning your current esper in favour of bonding to a Sapphire—your mind and cunning can shine under the influence of such a being, rather than dull into a rusted lump like Basillo's. The cool rationality brought on by Sapphire's influence could also help you control your temper better, which I suspect you wish to do."

She blinked in surprise, taken aback by the statement and flailing for a sassy response.

"You make it sound so easy," she managed, cursing herself inwardly for a lame riposte.

"It is," Zaal assured her.

"You're no longer an urchin, Shaya. I could conjure a number of spirits which I believe might be compatible with you. It is quite common amongst the aristocracy, though some 'traditional' families insist on torturing their children to trigger an Awakening.

"Beyond that," he waved dismissively, "breaking your current bond is simple. Most hedge mages break their bond within a year or two of forging it by accident. Doing so with purpose is easier."

"Are you…serious?" she muttered, wondering how he knew so much about her past.

"No, Shaya," he said, voice flat, "I've carefully nurtured an image of being a cold, serious professor only to unveil at this very moment my sense of humour." Stunned by the comment, she could only blink again.

"Okay," she said, shaking her head to clear it.

"This sounds crazy to me. You're telling me another esper would bond with me willingly, even though I'd be breaking an existing bond to do so? Doesn't that tip my hand as an awful invoker?"

"An Amber esper might hold such a thing against you," Zaal conceded, "but a Sapphire one would be unlikely to do so."

"Why don't I just bond a second esper?" she asked.

"Bonding multiple espers is difficult," Zaal explained, "and often not worth the trouble of balancing all their desires since you can only invoke one esper at a time. Were circumstances different, I might even suggest binding your current esper, but…" he gestured at her, "records show binding ancestral spirits can cause severe psychological issues, which you can't afford any more of. And it would only strengthen the Amber influence on your mind, which is the opposite of what I'm suggesting." Ouch, she thought.

"I… I don't know what to say," Shaya stuttered, mind overwhelmed by the possibilities.

"I do not require an answer tonight, obviously," Zaal said, frowning at her.

"Think on the possibilities. You can be more than just a meat shield, Shaya."

"Thank you," she mumbled, meaning it despite the dizzying thoughts whirling through her.

"I will."