Grandma's Tent

"Ah yes, just who I was hoping to see!" The tent flaps were pushed aside abruptly as the looming form of Grandma exited the tent. It seemed as of late, the old crone had shed her robes for what appeared to be a more traditional uniform of old Isra. If Selene had seen any of the Inquisitors walking about Port Argentium, she would have noted Grandma's cloak carried the same crest.

"Care for any tea?" Grandma asked with a smile as she motioned for Selene to follow her into the tent. While finely crafted as tents go, Selene was not amiss in wondering why Grandma was still residing in such a place while numerous houses had already sprung up for residents of significantly lower standing. However, the answer would be revealed as soon as Selene entered the tent. There was an unusual lack of furnishings in the tent, but even more odd was the blatant lack of magical artifacts or signs of rituals. Given the rumors that circulated about Grandma, the idea she wouldn't have such things in her home, well, it simply didn't make sense.

Pouring a cup of tea for herself, as well as one for Selene should she accept, Grandma took a seat in her rocking chair with a heavy sigh. Setting her tea on the small table that was positioned between the two chairs, Grandma regarded Selene with a bemused look before speaking.

"Lady Naoki informed me of your employment, but I also understand you possess arcane talents beyond just what she might... Immediately be interested in." Those who possessed magic and were still able to use it in the mists were a rare commodity. Naoki having such an individual as a simple consort... Well, it was about par for the course. But Grandma thought it a shame to not make use of such individuals.

While not phrased as a question, it was clear Grandma was hoping for Selene to volunteer some information about her "arcane talents" as the old crone had put it. Selene herself was sure to notice she wasn't the only one present hiding how much mana she possessed. While Selene's own method of doing this was subtle and precise, Grandma's method was more akin to drenching oneself in oil to hide the color of your clothes. Attempting to ascertain how much mana Grandma was carrying would prove a futile effort, but one that did raise a question. Why exactly was she going to such lengths to obscure it?

There was a rather lengthy moment of silence as the pair simply sat there, sipping tea. The fact Selene was obviously wary of her didn’t surprise Grandma, but even she hadn’t been expecting the woman to be this tightlipped. Well, perhaps she’d need to be a bit more direct in her questioning. On a positive note, this level of guardedness would serve Selene well should she accept Grandma’s request. Selene’s moment of stiffness was noted by Grandma, the old woman hiding her smirk by taking a well-timed sip of tea.

“It’s a shame how few magic users exist in this new world,” Grandma mused, her tone shifting to something almost entirely too casual. “Those mages who were previously lacking have found their sparks of magic fully extinguished while those skilled in it have been reduced to a shadow of their former self. This is a cruel world we find ourselves in, don't you think?”

Placing her gauntleted hand on the armrest, the chair groaned as Grandma leaned back in it. It was a bit odd, the rumors Grandma had heard of Selene were quite impressive, but now that she was here? The amount of mana the woman possessed, well, it wasn’t much. Would she prove capable of fulfilling Grandma’s request? Grandma felt like she was missing something, but exactly what that was eluded her.

“I’ll get straight to the point, Lady Selene. I’m a bit concerned on the matter of Naoki’s safety.” Setting her teacup down with a clink, Grandma’s gray eyes regarded Selene’s ever-unreadable expression. “Despite never meeting you before, I’ve heard a bit about you from Naoki. And Venus.” Grandma’s lips quirked upwards as she mentioned the demoness’ name.

“And what I’ve heard makes me think you would be the right sort of person to place my trust in, regarding this matter of Lady Naoki’s safety. Loyalty, love, friendship.” Grandma shook her head with a dismissive chuckle. “They all have their place, but when it comes to placing my trust in someone to fulfill an important duty... I’d much rather choose a candidate who is motivated by a far stronger desire. Self-interest.”

Steepling her fingers before her, Grandma began to slowly rock back and forth, clearly ready to hear Selene’s thoughts on this matter  — regardless of how tight-lipped she might be.

"I was hoping you would be of that school of thought," Grandma said, offering a nod of approval at Selene's words. The comment about mages had been to feel out Selene's own position on the matter, and while her answer didn't surprise Grandma, it did please her. "The true tragedy of the mist isn't that it cut off such weaklings from magic, but that it has deprived us of useful tools." In the old world, Grandma had found a number of uses even for those mages lacking in magical ability. And a solid half of them had even consented to her methods!

"Now now... Demoness she may be but in many ways, Venus is still a child. Surely there's no need to be so concerned regarding her little ploys. If you're as adept at maneuvering in social circles as I've heard..." Pausing a moment, Grandma offered a half-shrug. "Then her seeing you as a pet is something you could turn to your advantage. I get the feeling those who underestimate you come to regret it." The crone's eyes flickered strangely as she let her observation hang before continuing.

"Also, please don't misunderstand, Lady Selene. I am simply going off the rumors I've heard. They claim you are capable, and I wish to verify that. If you consider that flattery, well, I'd encourage you to try joining more positive social circles." Grandma's words were accompanied by an almost concerned look, and for a second it wouldn't be hard to imagine the old crone going over to console Selene for her lack of friends. "I understand opening up about oneself to new people can be difficult, so let's table that matter for now."

"As for why I'm concerned about Lady Naoki's safety, it's quite simple really. Alden, Naoki's primary guard has left. I'm sure you've seen him skulking about but it seems he's had a case of the 'feelings' and has wandered off at the worst possible time. Additionally, I have a trip planned and will be departing in a few days. Leaving Naoki alone here without Alden and given the current state of our forces, well, it simply doesn't sit well with me." Taking a sip of her tea, Grandma waited to see if Selene had any reaction to this. Would she be surprised Grandma had so little faith in most of Naoki's attendants that simply her and Alden being absent was a cause for concern?

“I underestimate her, do I?” Stifling a yawn with her gauntleted hand, Grandma rolled her shoulders resulting in several grotesquely loud pops. “Maybe I do. Or perhaps you underestimate me. Who’s to say.” Waggling a finger at Selene with a gleeful chuckle, Grandma realized she was enjoying this scenario entirely too much. It had been many a year since she’d had the opportunity to play this sort of game with someone.

“Perhaps I’ll have to arrange a meeting with some of your colleagues to see if you speak the truth, Lady Selene. I would be most surprised if every single one of them was in as much of a hurry to end a simple chat as you seem to be. Or prattling, as you call it.” Selene seemed intent on cutting the conversation short and Grandma was willing to oblige her. After a bit more prodding, that was. “You just seem so stressed out during our meeting, I wish there was a way to get you to relax, Lady Selene. I know your time with Venus was… Unpleasant. But rest assured, I’m not of Venus’ ilk.” Taking a sip of her tea, Grandma watched closely, curious if Selene had any reaction to such a claim. 

Deciding that was likely enough teasing for the moment, it was time to move on to the reason she had summoned the woman.

“I’ve heard you can potentially mimic the appearance of other people. Your specific methods and manners are unknown to me, so tell me.” Tilting her head to the side slightly, Grandma tapped on her chest with a blackened nail. “Could you impersonate me?” The crone’s eyes narrowed slightly as she asked the question, her voice holding a certain sharpness to it that it had previously been lacking. One would presume this was the task Grandma needed Selene for, and yet… There was almost a threatening connotation to the inquiry. What if Grandma didn’t like the fact someone could impersonate her?

Grandma offered a slow clap at Selene’s display as the old crone stared down a mirror image of herself. Yes, it seemed Selene was the right person to come to for this. Now she simply needed to make sure Selene didn’t get any ideas about doing things while under this appearance. And properly reward her for her efforts. Both were equally important in Grandma’s estimation.

“I assume the toll upon you depends on how much you use it. I’d only need the occasional appearance around town, enough to keep people on their toes.” Tapping a gauntleted finger against the arm of her chair, Grandma smiled widely at Selene. “So now that I’m satisfied with your skills, what do you want in return?” Letting that question hang in the air, Grandma decided it was best to get her little demonstration over with.

“Also, I’ve been sending mixed signals to you, my apologies for that. I suspect with proper information you wouldn’t try and cross me, so allow me to send a clear one.” Raising one arm up, Grandma pointed an index finger upward. While the messy veil around Grandma remained, the sudden surge of magic Grandma was using would be easily measurable by Selene. From the perspective of someone with such precise usage of magic, it was certain to be wasteful, almost painfully so in this new world.

The air warped, groaning in protest at Grandma’s command. It was but a speck of darkness, barely visible to the naked eye. There was a brief flicker as the speck suddenly stretched, too quick for the human eye to follow as it rapidly extended this way and towards the ground. From the table in front of them a number of perfectly cut blocks of various shapes and sizes fell to the tent floor with a clatter. “I hear toddlers are amused by toys such as these and this table really wasn’t getting much use.”