She grinned, her nail tapping the table twice to signify her victory. “I was beyond ecstatic. Of course it was frustrating that he couldn’t verbalize the differences, but he tried his best.” She fell silent then, her gaze finding the figure who stood quietly inside the doorway. “You always try your best. Even when I tell you to do the stupidest, most frivolous things I can think of.”

Terutetsu tilted his head at her statement, a soft smile on his lips. He waved his hands in a few complicated gestures and she pouted her lips, rolling her eyes. “You can take your barely there gratitude and go clean the barrels from earlier, you brat.”

Terutetsu made a sound as if to laugh, coming to stand by Aya even though she made no gesture for him to draw closer. She rested three fingers on his cheek and he leaned into the comforting motion. Sayfile watched, a smile on his own lips. He recognized that closeness between them, and knew what Terutetsu felt towards the strange and quirky Icchorian. She was his family in this cruel world, and nothing would ever change that. He felt a pang of yearning for his own mother then. Layrion had been more open with him since the attack, but she was still very busy that their time together was rare. But the time they did get was wonderful and Sayifle cherished every moment of it.

He was brought out of his thoughts by a hand resting on his shoulder, and found Teru smiling down at him with a questioning look. Sayifle stared up at him blankly before looking to Aya who simply stared.

Her tone was bored when she answered his questioning gaze. “I told him you wanted to learn how to talk to him. He’s happy.”

Sayifle flushed, nodding up at Terutetsu and smiling broadly. “I would like that very much.”

Aya sighed, standing up. “Just what he needs, someone else to understand when he undermines me.”

Sayifle found his grin matching that of Terutetsu’s own as the two followed her out of the room and to the library, where she began to teach Sayifle what he would need and allowed him to record it for future reference. It was while they were in the library that a messenger came, searching for Layrion. Sayifle inquired into the message and the Icchorian suggested he come with him to find Layrion. This probed his curiosity and he could tell the man was nervous. Sayifle followed him until they arrived at the meeting chambers where Layrion and Ammy were meeting with other various Clan members about issues around the mountain. His mother smiled to see him, and beckoned him over to her side as the message was delivered.

“Lord Rune notes that he declines the order to return and will resume his campaign in the west for the time being. His exact words...and you must excuse me my Lady...were: ‘And do not come here with your overbearing attitude and tell me I am wrong, I will do as I please just as you seem to always do. Only contact me if it’s an emergency. And not an emergency that Yggdrasil thinks is important because it is the least important thing in the world and I could care less.’ Again not my phrasing my Lady.”

Sayifle had never had to try so hard to maintain his composure, and he glanced at his mother to see that she too seemed to be amused, even as Ammy frowned deeply. The messenger was dismissed, sighing in relief as he gratefully backed out of the hall with several deep bows.

“I did not think that idiot would go out that far. And his sheer lack of tact sending something so mundane as that through a message…” Ammy murmured under her breath as she rolled her eyes and resumed rummaging the paperwork spread before the two sisters. There was a general murmur of agreement through those present as they resumed their individual discussions about the room. No one seemed worried about the news that Rune was not immediately returning.

Layrion chuckled, glancing at her son and reaching over to flick at the braid that hung beside his face. “As amusing as he is, what has such a big smile on your face?”

Sayifle flushed, and looked down as he felt Ammy’s gaze join her sisters to rest on him. He always found it intimidating when he was the center of both their intense attention. “It’s nothing… I had an exam with Lady Aya today. She has agreed to teach me the hand language she uses with Sir Terutetsu.”

“Ah.” Was the short reply from his mother as she sat back in her chair and considered him. She then glanced at Ammy who only sniffed and resumed her paperwork.

“I told you so, Layrion.”

The Elder shifted and sighed. “Yeah yeah. Tell me something new. I suppose I will have to talk to that boy then.”

Sayifle merely looked between the two in confusion. “Talk to who?”

Layrion smiled and waved him off. “Nothing now. Head out and let me finish here.” He nodded, kissing her cheek and leaving the room with a bow. Things had certainly changed the last few years since the attack...but honestly he could say now that he was happier than he had ever been before.

Sayifle was brought out of his thoughts when he ran into the firm wall of a chest, not having noticed that he nearly crashed into the other Seer present in Carpathia, the lady Meili. Her company, the man called Yin had stopped him, his arm held out in front of her protectively as he gave Sayifle a scolding look. The first time Sayifle had seen the protector of the visiting Seer - Sayifle has certainly been captivated by their looks and style choice in clothing. Yin’s hair was cropped short and styled to the side, a deep shimmering black in color - similar to the Seer Meili’s. It wasn’t a color found this far north, and Sayifle had longed to ask if it was common back in their homeland. The armor Yin wore was made of striking white gold, and Yggdrasil had told him that in their distant homeland, this was their version of gold that helped to maintain their beast form. Yin’s most deadly piece was the impressive claw that he carried like a second skin on his right hand, and even now his fingers seemed to itch to flex the claw at Sayifle in warning. His gaze was sharp and bore no warmth that Sayifle was accustomed to from his Mother.

“I’m very sorry, I was lost in my thoughts. I should have watched where I was going.” He bowed low, and Yin glanced to his lady who only nodded slightly.

She was delicate and small - but was not someone that was easily overlooked. The soft pink and white dress she wore was cinched by an impressive corset made of black and purple silk. And atop her head sat a headdress made of unusual shimmering green feathers that Sayifle speculated came from her beast form. He had sketched them once, and scoured the vast library to identify the type of beast it could be, but found nothing. The most striking feature of the foreign Seer was that her eyes were large and seemed to pierce right through all that she gazed upon. Light purple and pink face paint swirled about most her face- and her lips were painted full and bright. Yggdrasil had explained once, that a Seer must never allow their face to be fully seen in its naked state by any other, as a sign of dedication to the Originator. He would be the only one to know them as they are.

In short - she was a very intimidating woman. Not counting the brash knight at her side that acted as her voice.

“It is fine, Sir Sayifle. We actually have a question for you.” Yin’s monotone nearly startled the Scholar.

Sayifle straightened, offering them a genuine - if nervous smile. He was not the one that normally dealt with any issues or questions that those who were relatively new to the mountains had, but he would not turn them away. “Of course, how may I help?”

Yin kept his eyes on him as his bare left hand extended to lay out in front of Meili, palm facing the ceiling of the hall they stood in. Her delicate hand came up, and Sayifle could see they were well cared for and would be soft to the touch. Her finger traced out several things on his palm, and Sayifle watched in fascination until at last her hand folded back in front of her neatly and Yin dropped his once more.

“I would like to know where the most suitable place to find books on Carpathian philosophy and history, as we are unused to the...customs of this land. Also a place in which I may meditate would be appreciated, as the quarters we have are...unsuitable.”

Sayifle tore his eyes away from her penetrating gaze. Her eyes were like beacons that begged his complete attention and adoration, and he was overcome with a chill at how similar of a feeling it was when Yggdrasil took his position seriously and channeled his inner abilities. She however, wore that presence with a grace and overbearing power that it took Sayifle a moment to concentrate on what her assistant had relayed.

He cleared his throat thickly, at last looking at Yin. “Ah yes...I am in charge of the library here..I can get you any books you wish to study. And I believe Am- that is to say Lady Ammy has a suitable place set aside for any who wish to commune with the Originator. I can take you there after we visit the library if you wish.”

Yin nodded, stepping once more behind Meili as the scholar led them deeper into the heart of the mountain, to what he considered his territory. He lost himself as he described the various changes and expansions he had been working on, his pride shining through as he pulled out any books he felt they would find helpful, and promising to translate more into the common tongue for them as soon as he were able. The two looked very pleased, and Yin offered their gratitude after a brief moment of the palm writing Sayifle had seen before. He bit back his curiosity, knowing that it had to do with her status as a Seer but was not bold enough to ask why she did not address him directly. In any case, he had felt a shift from the Seer, and somehow was able to tell that she was not as uncomfortable with him as before and that made the boy smile. He invited them back to the library at any time, and proceeded to lead them to where he knew the dome was. Ammy had commissioned a room at the very peak of one of the highest mountains in the range be made, and it had been hollowed out to let in the view of the sky that shone brightly in the mountain air. He explained that for obvious reasons, they should only come at night, but that they could reserve the room by speaking with certain couriers within the mountain.

Every so often Yin held his hand out to Meili who would ask questions through him, and Sayifle tried every time to see what prompt she gave the other man. But each time it seemed that Yin was able to sense when she had something to say and no matter what direction he was facing or if he was mid sentence, his hand would be before her and she’d be writing in his palm naturally and confidently. Once done he would relay what she desired without fail, and occasionally slid to her side to whisper comments or replies to her, which would seem to take the two into their own world. Sayifle was fascinated to say the least. It seemed that those from other Clans certainly had different ways of bonding in their various relationships. He would definitely need to research more and see if he could get a proper interview with them once they opened up more.

He bowed lowly and excused himself, the two nodding at him as he left. It seemed he had his work cut out for him, but he would not allow any bit of information to escape his exceptional libraries. A smile curled his lips and for once he was filled with ambition and excitement to see what the future held.