The morning’s sepulchral silence in the corridors unsettled Balalaika; Even with the company of two rising stars like Naylyn, and Vurckair.
This is one of the two reasons she prefers to sleep past-sunrise. The second reason is to avoid bullying.
Fortunately, she is unaware of the passages in the walls, and the hidden rooms.
Otherwise; Balalaika would live in constant fear; Terrified even of her own shadow.
Which is accurate. Every obscure place can be an entrance to the Dark Realm.
{Stalking others without being noticed, it’s a Vecturion’s trademark. Perhaps My Good Mommy knows about the passages}
He observed Naylyn walking faster to the office’s door, and sighed.
{They are quiet again. It’s almost as if Yesterday was just a dream, or rather a delusion}
"Don’t knock, Nalune. The Instructor gave me the accreditation."
Vurckair entered unannounced; More than a private office, it looked closer to a living room.
To the newcomers surprise, Vallad’Yanna is arguing with Mädriänä.
Mirä and Miellessa don’t intervene, and the last person is an athletic, brown haired damsel that is flabbergasted by the young man’s sudden presence.
"Vu-Vurckair?!."
{How is she here?!}
"Correct, Amanda." He said casually to conceal his confusion, swapping his attention to Vallad’Yanna. "Did we interrupt?."
"No." She stated sharply. Then her stern gaze turned warm, and her voice inviting. "Come in and make yourselves comfortable. Have you had breakfast yet?. Would you like tea, or coffee?..."
A glance to the table is enough to realize Vallad’Yanna’s courtesy was not extended to Mädriänä, and her companions.
Naylyn stood between Vurckair and Instructor Valkysh; Emphasizing her magnificent, mature physique, and the choker she wears.
"Miss Berezovskaya has already sent her personal maid for our rations. We’ve only come to retrieve Vuick’s Variable Essence."
"What a coincidence, Miss Nephron. My Half-sister wants the same. And she’s not taking no for an answer. Perhaps you can make her see reason."
Naylyn’s True-Indigo Halo increased the office’s gravity; Crushing all biological organisms with omnidirectional pressure.
Mirä jumped to her feet, and erected a square barrier above her relatives.
What lasted for an instant.
The immaterial film turned into a flyswatter, slammed against the caster; Her Nimbar rippled and popped up like a soap bubble, knocking her unconscious.
Miellessa fought the enhanced gravity, and rushed to Mirä, sharing her Nimbar.
Mädriänä and Amanda got immobilized, but resisted on their own.
Differently. Vallad’Yanna’s and Vurckair’s Halos ablazed, ignoring the pressure; While Abraxza flew over Balalaika to protect her.
"Instructor. The law is clear. Whoever obtains the Nucleus decides the distribution of the Variable Essence. Regardless of who helped in the refinement process."
Naylyn’s suppressive attitude crumbled with Vurckair landing a single spank on the lady’s rear.
She yelped modestly, losing her Halo after sighting Vurckair’s menacing two slit pupils on each eye.
"Behave, Nalune." He embraced Balalaika by the waist. "My Little Lamb cannot resist your fury."
"Sorry, Vuick. I can’t tolerate they tried to take credit for your achievements. Especially for their status within the Gadrigoth House."
Vurckair’s attitude darkened. "What?. Didn’t they intended to clean up their Stats?."
"That was an extraordinary, but unknown event, Vurckair." Vallad’Yanna confessed as she showed the special container.
"My Half-sister don’t want this Variable Essence for them. It’s for the upper members of the Gadrigoth House. Similar to what you as a Vecturion got for vanquishing me."
{What did i win?... Balalaika?. Is that why i got sent to her room?}
Mirä groaned in pain, helped by Miellessa to stand up.
The latter dared to speak up. "There is no need to be so aggressive, Miss Nephron. We wanted to exchange the Variable Essence–"
"Do you think i’m that stupid?." Growled Naylyn with her saber in hand. "What could any of you possibly offer to a Vecturion?."
Miellessa sealed her lips, clenching her fists in helplessness, unable to retort back at Naylyn’s angered scold.
"Exactly!. Nothing!. So keep your mouth close!. Not even I, as a Lunniares, would dare to say i have anything to offer to a Vecturion, unless it involves me as a per–"
{Lunaries?. Larissa... Wait what did Naylyn...}
Her own words led to an obvious conclusion, contorting the neutral fury into a disgusted, maniacal grimace, worthy of a serial killer as she accused Mirä.
"It’s because of what Vuick asked last night, isn’t it?. You cunning little Virniya. It doesn’t matter how Mäwller you may look. You are a Thyfall in the end, and one that imitates the Gydllurn too!."
Naylyn didn’t spit on Mirä, but anyone would have preferred if she had.
In a way, it’s more degrading that Naylyn didn’t even gave Mirä the chance to receive such demeaning gesture.
Her assessment hit the nail. Reshaping Vurckair’s perception; His knowledge related to the Houses, it’s reevaluated without forgetting the stereotypes, as they are more intrinsic of what any member of a Family would dare to openly admit.
"Don’t get angry, Nalune." His index gently touched the tip of Naylyn’s nose, sliding up to the bridge between the eyes. "You’ll get wrinkles." He remarked massaging the frown on the lady’s forehead.
Naylyn calmed down as if she were listening to a beautiful lullaby, dematerializing her saber; While Vurckair spoke to Instructor Valkysh. "Is there more to discuss?. Our schedule is busy."
"I Know..." Vallad’Yanna passed Naylyn, going directly to kiss Vurckair. "Yesterday, i got informed. The administration has no clue how deal with you and Miss Nephron..."
{Do they know we are not from Ell’Thane?. That can’t be...}
"They’ve assigned you to a Supervisor, and she will put you three to the test. Considering that summit with the Conglomerate were fruitful. You may be the pioneers of a new kind of «Personal Assessment», replacing the seemingly unreliable «Battle Rating» we employed until now."
{Wait. Summit?. Don’t tell me accepting the Nydrikoff House made this possible?. There is no way that is the case, right?}
"Thanks for the telling me." Vurckair kissed Vallad’Yanna, massaging, and slapping the woman’s buttocks. "I’ll see you later."
He left the office with Naylyn and Balalaika.
Both ladies are shaken up for different reasons.
Naylyn is still furious about the Variable Essence incident, and she’s jealous of Vallad’Yanna. ’How does she have the nerve to do that in front of us?!.’
Balalaika, for her part, is shocked about her incapacity to defend herself.
Vurckair’s Summon protected her. What made clear a harsh truth.
She is the Trinity’s weak link.
And if Balalaika can’t portray a significant progress by the end of their trial; She’ll most likely be reassigned, and will never be able to interact with Vurckair again.
{And silence prevails again...}
He sighed, aware of how futile it is to compare people’s behavior.
{Women in general were more talkative in Azthea. Understandable because of how developed is my Homeworld}
{But even in Loutharn women said what they thought. And that’s a lot, considering how much appearances, and facades mattered on that planet}
{Why they don’t do it. Something happened between them. A family argument. Am I the problem?}
"Argh!. I can’t stand it." Complained the young man. "What in Fettiyio is wrong with both of you?!. I understand if you don’t want to talk much. But i saw how you interact with others..."
He placed one arm around the lady’s waist and pulled them towards him. "Nalune is distant. I get that. But you’re different, Little Lamb; It may be a small comment, but you always give your opinion. Why are you quiet when we are alone?."
Balalaika responded immediately. "I’m sorry, Vurckair. I don’t know how to act towards the person who rescued me, and Almendra."
Naylyn had a different thought. "I didn’t arrive in time to save her brother. The weight of my failure is constantly reminded with how alike they smell."
{The Scent?}
"Oh!. You meant her Stats!. Yes, we need to correct that." Vurckair faced Balalaika. "I understand if you want to honor the Breasted Femboy. But to do that, you must be alive, Little Lamb."
"But..."
"No excuses. Once i give the order; You’ll stop imitating Brenna’s Attunement and return to your own. You can’t grasp how detrimental it is to go against what you are..."
He leaned closer. "I’m not saying this to be nice. It’s to preserve your life. You know i’m not from Ell’Thane. But I made a deal with «It»: «Behave or Begone». It goes for Foreigners and Quartzals. And i don’t want to obliterate anyone i care for, if i can prevent the outcome. Be My Good Little Lamb, and follow every command to the letter. No questions asked. Understood?."
"Ye-Yes."
Naylyn brushed Vurckair’s abs. "So when you told me to behave?..."
"It was to call you out. Nothing more." He said calmly, pecking Naylyn’s nose.
"I don’t like seeing my Mates angry. It makes me overreact. So if you’re going to get too crazy again. Tell me, or do a hint first. So i look aside and don’t watch. Or i could intervene and go beyond overboard of what you planned. Unless that’s exactly what you want."
"No. I don’t want to see you angry. Much less mad at me." She pecked him back. "Let me apologize. I was out of line. My emotions overflow when you are involved."
"The solution is simple, Nalune. Use Internal and External Magic..."