Legend of Ransera

"Oh, yes," she assured her, "quite interested."

Kala didn't push for a date and time. This meeting was meant to be brief; she had only come to say hello while dropping off a modest gift. No doubt watching the projections and then discussing them would take up a fair amount of time, more than it was polite to expect having come without warning.

"There is something magical about flying," she admitted. "You know, the way things were magical when we were small, before we learned how magic worked and some of the mystery receded." She smiled. "At least at first. Eventually, one finds new mysteries in it, I think. Not only do I need things cut to work with wings, but if I am going to be flying any great distance or through any rough weather, my attire must be adjusted."

Thankfully, the recent leap in her power—and responsibilities—allowed her more control over her mortal seeming. She wasn't ready to test it in the Imperium, but she could return to her merely human form or recall her wings to her at will. She supposed she could even seem Hytori without the need of the Animus rune, though that seemed as though it would be pandering rather than good diplomacy.

She found she was able to compartmentalize herself more now, which would make the remainder of her mortal life more comfortable, she supposed. In the tower she had claimed, she could allow herself to simply be. Everywhere else, she had to keep control of her nimbus, and the abilities she was gaining that set her forever apart from mortals.

Perhaps, though, that compartmentalization was not always a good thing. Case in point: Phocion.

"Ah." She nodded. "Prince Phocion has been courting me." She didn't place undue emphasis on who was courting whom, but well, she was still a young woman and would rather her friend think she was worthy of a prince's attention rather than that she was some sort of international social climber. "It started not long after my first visit to Silfanore and I wasn't certain whether it would last. I suppose I should have informed your father, at least. He is aware of my work there, but this is another matter. I didn't intend to dissemble; I have been trying to decide how I feel about it, let alone anyone else.

"He is charming. I don't espouse Varærynism, nor would I should I agree to espouse him."

As Akantha was, she thought, a friend, she did offer more of herself than she would have to a trade minister.

"I was surprised. If anything, he has an Avialae half-brother who knew nothing of Synnekar or Kathar culture. And a duke seems more... well, I don't want to speak to my worth, but the courtship of a duke would be less surprising to me than that of a prince." She paused, blue eyes full to brimming with sincerity.

"I did not intend to deceive your or your father. He is my first suitor and I... have kept it almost entirely to myself because I am unsure how to proceed." In fact, she wanted to ask Akantha if she had advice, but wasn't sure she ought to, unsure also how upset Akantha was. Even if it was highly unlikely Akantha had ever been courted by one of Varvara's Tethered, she was certain courting could be rocky terrain even for her.

As Akantha spoke, Kala relaxed incrementally, blue eyes going gloriously wide. She kept her aura well-guarded from deep intrusion, but she didn't hide her surface feelings, and she was both surprised and grateful, as well as a touch rueful that she hadn't expected Akantha to be rational and forgiving if she had made some misstep and apologized sincerely.

And so, "Thank you, Akantha."

Perhaps she ought to have been more formal, but while Akantha could live for hundreds of years, she was hardly old enough for the proper 'ma'am.' Perhaps this too was a misstep, but they were in private and she thought perhaps they could be informal with each other when in an informal setting.

She paused, waiting for some signal that the informality was welcome. Then, when she smiled, her eyes gleamed with unshed tears. She wanted to laugh at herself—she was becoming a goddess, after all. But Kala was also navigating the passage from young woman to young deity, and she had little experience in romance.

With so little experience, she was courted by a foreign prince. Did anyone have it as complicated as she did? Perhaps Akantha would.

From what Kala understood, most people gave even odds between Akantha and her siblings becoming the next to sit the Phoenix Throne. Were she to become a queen regnant, she would have similar concerns as Kala. Her consort would have to be trusted to set their personal loyalties aside to focus upon Akantha, Tronóridan, and Sol'Valen. Kala's would have to prioritize her divinity. And now she was Sovereignty; the fear of Varvara's chains hiding in Phocion like a fisherman's hook in a shiny lure were real.

Perhaps Akantha would be fortunate. Kala hoped so.

'Kantha and Kala get 10 xp and perhaps soon we will find out if Kala is the drama of the season.