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Rebekah was excited she was practically skipping down the halls between Donovan and Cion on the way to the practice fields. She was going to get to see actual Jade in action! Sure, it wasn't in her hands, but if she played it right, it might be right in front of her anyway! "So, I know...almost nothing about the Brands, but I'll figure it out! Donovan, what did you decide on bringing to the display? Do you think that it can hold up to a material like that?"
Cion tried his best to keep up with the questions but it was clear that beyond an intimate knowledge of swordplay he knew very little about how they had been crafted. He did his best not to allow too much of their Immaculate origin leak, as it was he was a bit worried his training from his father would show through in the demonstration. It was hard not to catch the enthusiasm of the red haired woman and he couldn’t help by beam as they made their way down the hallway. ”Yes, I do believe you are correct. There is more to these swords than just red jade and once we get outside you will see that they are not exactly identical, one is very much dedicated to the right hand and the other to the left. They are interchangeable but there is something about the harmony of the essence they create that seems to work better when properly held.”
Callista excused herself for a moment from her guests as they got up to move to the training arena. She felt a bit guilty not staying to properly host them but they seemed to be doing just fine on their own for entertainment at the moment. There was just something she needed to check on and then she could rejoin them and watch the demonstration, which she was rather interested in seeing.

”He is not in his room or the library,” she sighed ignoring the strange looks people were giving her as she passed by talking to the serpent. ”You wouldn’t happen to know where Eida is and not be telling me would you?” He was upset and part of her felt like she was more of nuisance than a help constantly worrying about him but she couldn’t help it nor could she explain it. Right now she wanted to make sure he wasn’t alone because she knew he must still be hurting from his loss.
"Hmm?" Jaeda tore itself away from memorizing the halls, which would probably be useful sometime. "Sorry, yes. If I had known your ambition, I would have spoken up. But you have been rather...in your own head." She was adorable, but so simple. It thought about making her say what she wanted, just to have her say it out loud, but there would be a better time for something like that.

"Make the next right. He's where you and I first met."
Callista sighed a little but kept her patience. Jaeda was so light it was easy to forget he was there at all and she had been in too much of a hurry to think about asking him right away. The princess turned down the hall and found herself heading towards the gardens. Instantly she knew where they were heading but she was puzzled as to why Eida would go into the Orchard on his own. It wasn’t forbidden or anything, so long as Persica didn’t mind him there but on its own it seemed like an odd choice of destination and only proved that his excuse had been a pretense.
Eida was more or less himself again. He did not want to leave, but the others were probably deciding on what path to take at this moment. He walked out of the orchard, under the archway and nearly collided with Callista...the Princess.

"Pardon me, Princess, I have been distracted of late. Were you looking for me?" He gave Jaeda a look as the serpent slunk back onto her arm.
The princess smiled, still glad to see him despite herself. ”We all have much on our minds lately. Your presence was missed at tea and it left me lacking for someone to converse with while the rest were talking about about weapons and fighting styles,” she said slightly teasingly. The conversation hadn’t been all that bad and it was interesting to hear Ruby, Cion and Donovan go back and forth about the pros and cons of certain armaments. He had been missed but for other reasons.

”The group has moved to the practice field so Cion can do a demonstration with his Jade swords. I thought if you had dealt with whatever pressing business you had that you might be interested in joining us. Being a tactician I thought you may want to assess our newest potential ally,” she said with a little bit of hope that would catch his interest. Eida needed to be around other people right now, at least that was what she was going to tell herself.
Eida perked up at that. He had a chance to do something that she thought he would be good at, which meant that she understood the role he served under the Khal. That made him happy, small details like that meant that she was good potential for her eventual role as Queen of Terenuthis.

"Apologies, of course. I realized that I had arrangements to meet Persica of Every Pome. It has been long since my recovery, and I had yet to offer my thanks." So the details were not in the right order, but the heart of that meeting had taken place, and he did do as he said. "I hope that I did not put you out too much, the Goddess had informed me of the boon served. I did not deserve that, thank you." If they were alone he would have taken her hands during his short speech, but his words would have to be enough for now.
”I had no idea she was still seeing people this close to Calibration,” she said although the truth was that no one really saw the Goddess but her unless it was during one of the festivals. This was odd but she couldn’t possibly assume anything about Persica and perhaps it had something to do with their Exaltation. ”I did not want to see you remain in pain so please do not say that you didn’t deserve it. I wish she had not mentioned her task but the promise was worth seeing you healed.” Callista was a touch embarrassed that Persica had said anything and she wondered just how much he knew. ”You are welcome though.” She turned to walk out to the training grounds a little distracted in her thoughts, still wishing she could offer her more comfort until he healed from the wounds Awilix had left on his heart. He couldn't take a lover and with his family dead the Lunar was all he had. She couldn't imagine what it was like for him but she wondered if perhaps the newly exalted Solars could become a different kind of family for all of them.
Oh, I will be brining only mine own arms and armor, dented and worn as they are. He clasped Cion on the shoulder I bring nothing to put on display, I am merely serving as the object for Cion here to show off the prowess of his blades. I would normally be more conservative with my equipment, but with the new arms promised by the Khal’s smith I see little worth in having them repaired. I think risking them for this display is worth it he smiled.
He stopped a passing palace servant. Fetch my squire, I shall have need of her in the training yard shortly. he knew whatever reservations his sister had about their new status, she knew if she missed any call to the training yard, she could stop all ambitions of being a knight
”Alright, but I warn you that these blades do get rather hot. I will try not to scorch the man behind them either. Although a few battle scars will give you some stories to impress the women with,” he grinned. The knight was a bit stiff but he reminded Cion a lot of his eldest brother. Except Padric would likely attempt to snuff this man for merely existing as an Anathema which was a pity because he was sure they would get along fantastically. ”Would you like to inspect them my lady while we wait on the Princess’s return and Donovan’s squire?”
"Please, don't call me that, it makes me sound all stuffy. But yes, I would love to. Donovan, why don't you let me take a look at your armor too while I'm at it, Mercy has to help you put it on anyway. You manage them like actual Jade then? How hot is hot?" Mercy can take her sweet time. If Ruby got to handle these to look at their craftsmanship, the longer the better.
Sure, I'll bring it over to you and don the undercoat while we wait.
Cion chuckled ”I will call you whatever you would like.” He appreciated the woman’s more relaxed attitude quite a bit. If there was one thing he did not miss at home was the courts, not that they had been too formal but at least here no one was telling him to mind his manners. Holding out one of the blades it with both hands, Cion not surprised that when it passed between them it seemed as if it suddenly weighed many stones more. “That one is the right hand blade. You can tell by the curve in the grip and the way the guard is formed. As for heat, you can feel the warmth but it gets much hotter when I wield it.”
Ruby struggled to keep hold of the sword shaped boulder in her hands, it was nothing like her Kaleidoscope at all, a true testament to his strength if he could wield both of those at once. She was impressed. "Gods, but these are massive! I might have to set it on a table so I can look at it, but I can feel the grip and the way it molds to my hand. That would callous quick in the wrong hand." Handing the beast back, Ruby took the knight's armor with her to an observation bench. even the articulated plate he wore weighed less than that blade.

It was worn, scarred, and battered, but all of the best armors were. Ruby's hands glimmered white hot as she felt her way across the metal, pressing it like wrinkled silk. The armor grew soft in her hands and flowed into the chinks and dents, making one whole piece. Firm pressure from her palm on the inside pressed out each blemish like it never existed, and it was as if it was freshly assembled in mere moments.

With a breath, the plate cooled, returning to a newly polished state. A proud smile was plastered on Ruby's face as she gestured back to it for the An-Tir.
”Now that is a neat trick,” he said looking onto Ruby working the armor as if it she were smoothing out sheets. Cion put his blade back into the sheath on his back and folded his arms while he watched her work.
Callista arrived at the practice fields in a much lighter mood than she had left the tea in. Once again the group was all together and there was a faint feeling of familiarity about it that she couldn’t quite put her finger on. ”Let’s go sit over by Rebekah,” she said, resisting the urge to touch Eida’s arm as she spoke. There would always be the heavy veil of decorum when they were in the palace she supposed but then again that was how things always had been.

Cion waved them over exuberantly and she wondered if he was always so forthright and friendly. Fireborn indeed. The man was intense like flame and she considered for a moment if this demonstration would prove he was as dangerous as it too or worse, as unpredictable.
"Please, I'm sure you have your own talents. This is nothing for me, I like to work with my hands." Ruby flushed at the attention, but it was true enough, she got restless easy.

Cion waved over the last two of the group. Now they just needed Mercy to show up to help her knight into his 'brand new' armor. Eida seemed to be almost smiling. So, a step above his usual nature. His arrangements must have gone well, whatever they were.
He was on another tour with Callista, too bad there were people around, her hand was so soft in his while they were alone. She had her place though, and he had his. "What are going to see here, Cion? Do wards need to be in place for your equipment?" Fireborn. Between him and if Rebekah got involved, stone might be the only thing that survives today.
”Well, I can swing a blade and sing several drinking songs in my native tongue. What other talents does a man need? Nimble fingers are always a bonus,” he smirked but her manipulation of the metal was very impressive.

”Wards? If you can protect things from melting then yes,” he said turning to Eida and Callista as they approached and grinning at the princess. ”Well, anything but lady’s hearts should be prevented from melting. The flames are mostly contained to the blades, at least as far as I have learned to use them so there is no need to stay too far back.”

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