RFC-Miniarc-An Average Day-17 (Umphrieltalia) (Patreon)

“May I?” Talia asked, hearing they had arrived.

“Hmm. Alright,” Kierra said, a trace of warning in her tone. “Be careful. I would hate to damage one of your petals for being naughty.”

The dorm mother nodded in acquiescence. Beneath her closed lids, her eyes glowed as she worked a spell and activated it. Her mana escaped from her palm as she placed a hand on the elf’s cheek. It shortened the distance her mana needed to travel, which was a great boon when trying to affect someone as powerful as Kierra.

Many of the mental affinity’s most powerful spells required mana intrusion, forcing the caster’s mana into the target’s body. The native mana would resist foreign mana naturally. This alone meant that someone with a large mana core had a natural defense against the mental affinity. For monsters, whose whole body could be suffused with mana, like the legendary dragons, mana intrusion was just short of impossible. The caster would have to be at least three times as strong as their target and even then, the effort would not be quick or easy.

It was one of the main reasons the interrogators were not combatants. They didn’t hunt down criminals, as that would be a poor use of their abilities. They waited until the criminals were beaten, weakened, and brought to them on their last legs. Or threatened into compliance. Wrestling with someone for control of their mind mid-battle was beyond most of the interrogators. Even Talia herself would struggle.

Seeing Lourianne Tome’s thrall do so in the duel against Peter Pottoculli made her theory that the creature could provide guidance a near certainty.

Every time she used her magic, she only became more convinced. Even now, with Kierra’s permission and complacency, pushing through the prodigious amount of mana in her core, agitated by her intrusion, was slow and strenuous. Her teacher had once described it as walking through mud. If she kept to his analogy, trying to use a mental spell on Kierra was like walking through thick mud that came up to her thighs while something lurked below.

If she made one wrong move, Kierra could circulate her mana and disrupt her spell with the ease of a child ripping the wings off an insect. Without her magic, Talia was weak, having never had the constitution for foundation training or martial arts. She’d be at the elf’s mercy and Kierra’s wasn’t a forgiving woman.

But she didn’t need to worry about her lack of combat power as she had no intentions of making an enemy of the elf. Her spell activated and the darkness behind her eyelids transformed as she shared Kierra’s sight.

They slowly walked toward the Foundation Fields, though the large swaths of dirt and manicured grass had been transformed for the festivities. Two large, white tents had been pitched on one of the fields and, because of the elf’s incredible senses, she could see they contained buffet tables with an impressive array of foods and acolytes serving drinks.

Outside the tents, smaller, circular tables were set up. Groups of instructors and older acolytes stood around them, their usual robes replaced with the fineries of the kingdom, though considerations were made for the venue, many replacing heels and polished shoes with heavy soled sandals and boots.

Off to the side, a group of musicians played atop a simple stage likely conjured with earth magic and a small crowd danced before them on a dance floor of smoothly compacted dirt.

Lighting the whole scene were floating lights in every color of the rainbow, drifting back and forth as if pushed by invisible currents. Occasionally, the lights became figures. Prancing horses, swimming fish, flying birds, and aggressive manabeasts. It turned an ordinary event into something magical, befitting the Hall.

As they neared the party, Talia canceled her spell and withdrew her mana. She briefly chanced opening her eyes but the rampant use of magic was overwhelming so she quickly shut them.

“Did you get your fill?”

“Yes, thank you.” Unlike most times she used that phrase through reflexive manners, she genuinely wanted to express gratitude. It was not often someone willing let another cast a mental spell on them. Probably because most were not strong enough to feel assured in their safety. Kierra was one of them. She’d even been the one to suggest the arrangement, Talia far too wary of offending her.

The elf wasn’t the first to do so. That accomplishment belonged to her teacher, who had wished to spark interest for the mental affinity in the talented orphan he’d taken as a student. However, Talia appreciated every glimpse of the world she was given.

“Of course. A party is meant to be enjoyed.” Kierra sighed. “Though I doubt I will find much enjoyment here.”

“You don’t like parties?”

“I love them. The problem is I don’t consider this a party. It is far too quiet, the people are wearing far too much, and I’d be surprised if even a drop of blood is spilled.”

Talia felt a twinge of interest in the elven culture that could produce such a statement, but her attention was grabbed by the intricacies of conversation as she heard several footsteps approaching, followed by their greetings.

“Kierra! I didn’t expect to see you here today!” Talia recognized both the voice and the hurried pace as belonging to Cynthia Oriole, a successful alchemist with her base of operations in Quest. She taught at the Hall to find employees, as even basic alchemy required, if not talent, years of dedicated study. The capital had shown interest in her but the woman’s interest lied in grinding up monsters to enhance beauty, not the crown’s army.

“You truly look fabulous in anything. Can I convince you to work the counter for my store for a week? No, a day! I’d pay you handsomely, in gold or products perhaps? You certainly don’t need any help in the beauty department but they make wonderful gifts.”

“Cynthia, you’re as excitable as ever.”

“Good evening, Lady Oriole,” Talia said softly while the elf exchanged greetings with the others.

“You’re another surprising face. You hardly leave that dorm of yours.”

“Kierra invited me.”

“Is that so?” Talia heard the alchemist move closer to her and felt the faintest touch of her breath as she leaned closer. “I’d love to hear how the two of you became friends. People have been trying to get close to her for forever. More important people than little me who just wants a pretty face to bring in business.”

If she went searching for a deeper meaning behind the words, she’d hear the question of whether she was getting close to Kierra for the crown. She’d also wonder why the alchemist was concerned. However, such things were no longer her concern.

“She has merely taken an interest in me,” Talia said, lowering her voice to match the other woman’s tone. “There is no way to force an interaction with her, as I’m sure those interested parties should know.”

“Yes, yes. I’ve heard a few rumors about those that tried. She breaks arms and legs but heals them right after. And there have been a few reports of people who’ve made plans to visit her at her home disappearing. Ah ah, the woman knows exactly what she means to the kingdom and is unafraid to flaunt her status.”

“Should I be?” Kierra asked, showing she was paying attention to their conversation despite holding several others.

“Not at all! Though I think there’s a little too much chaos around you for my taste. I don’t think my heart could take it. Poor Alyssa. The recent debacle has her in a state. I hope a few weeks mucking about with the guilds will help her calm down. Couldn’t you have been a bit more gentle with a friend?”

“Because I think well of her, I will be the opposite of gentle,” the elf said with a laugh. “Though I didn’t think it was that big of a problem. She got the answers for her investigation and no one was harmed. Permanently.”

“I don’t know if that girl would agree with that statement.”

“She will be better for it. She was a bit too reckless. A small brush with death will teach her some patience.”

“Haha, you’ve really embraced your role as a teacher. Is that why you’re here? Has someone finally convinced you to take on a larger role than making a bunch of boys and girls sweat? I’d be tempted to pretend I’ve gone back in time to my acolyte years if you want to enlighten us into the alchemy of your home. Don’t know where but I’d find the time.”

“My knowledge in any field besides combat is middling, not nearly enough to call myself an instructor. No, I’m content to strengthen your young ones. I’m here on a whim as we’ll be leaving for some time.”

“Leaving?! Has someone tempted you away from us?”

“That’d be a shame,” a new voice said.

Talia jumped, though no one noticed the slightest flinch besides Kierra, who briefly caressed her shoulder. The voice had come suddenly with no footsteps to announce someone was approaching. There was only one person in the Hall who hid their presence that way, but she recognized his voice as well.

“Aurelius,” Kierra said coolly. Once upon a time, she had been cordial to the man, but now she spoke to him with clear disdain. It was something widely discussed amongst the instructors of the Hall, as they wondered what he had done to earn her ire.

“Kierra. You’re as lovely as ever. What is this is I hear about you leaving us?”

“You have an unpleasant habit of listening to things not addressed to you but I make no secret of the answer. My house will be going on a little trip. A delightful romp through the snow.”

“The campaign to the Bleak Peaks?” Cynthia exclaimed. “You’re going there?!”

“Yes~ From the way everyone praises those mountains, I have high expectations.”

“I don’t mean to tell you what to do…” Aurelius said carefully. “However, I do want to warn you. Even for someone of your power, the north is a treacherous place. Should you attend the campaign, the duke will no doubt attempt to put you on the frontlines.”

“Are you suggesting I should be somewhere else?” the elf said, voice lowering with warning. “Careful, lest you insult me.”

“The James family has been trying to conquer the Bleak Peaks for generations. He will not hesitate to use you as a spear to break through the winter lords’ unbreakable defense, with no care for your well-being.”

The elf scoffed. “I will fight because I want to. A little lord is not going to make me into a trained warbeast.”

“I thought you had no intention of dabbling in this kingdom’s politics,” he continued. “Conquering the north, or making any headway at all, will do exactly that.”

“And why is that my concern?”

“Please, I am only concerned for your safety. There will be those who would be unhappy with your actions and would use any method to stop you.”

Through a combination of her ability to sense the mental energy of others and an ability honed through the years, Talia knew without a doubt he was focusing on her. Did he mean to insinuate her connection to the crown? Did he think the elf was ignorant? Or did he perhaps hope she had simply disregarded such things and that enlightening her would lead to her forgiveness?

Either way, he was wrong. For someone with such an all-consuming fascination with Kierra and her kind, he knew little about the woman and made only half-hearted attempts to understand her.

“I welcome the challenge. Lou has still only faced a single assassin.” Kierra sighed heavily. “Your kingdom is a pitiful environment for honing conquerors. If your nobles would like to throw obstacles into our path, I would appreciate the help.”

Talia let out a small huff, the closest she came to chuckling, at the poignant silence left in the comment’s wake. She wondered when her colleagues would stop thinking of the green woman as a human and a noble. Her aunt may be a queen but that single note of commonality in their cultures did not mean anything else was the same or even vaguely similar.

“Ah…” Aurelius cleared his throat. “Well, since this may be my only opportunity for a time, would you give me the pleasure of a dance?”

Kierra hummed. “I’m half tempted, simply because I am curious if you will grace the ground with the presence of your toes. But no. I have a partner for the night.”

Talia’s hand was raised and she felt a softness press against the back of it.

“…I noticed the two of you came together but I didn’t know you were so close.”

“Oh, we are close. And I plan to get even closer.” Talia followed the gentle tug that pulled her against Kierra’s chest. An arm went around her waist and the same softness from before pressed against her cheek. “What do you say, lily? Will you dance with me? I warn you, I have little experience so we may be a little clumsy.”

“I am surprised your…wife didn’t teach you.” Talia was impressed Aurelius managed to keep an even tone. She didn’t need a spell to know how much the statement upset him. “She is a noblewoman.”

“We do all our dancing in the bedroom.” It was easy to imagine the expressions of the others from Kierra’s chuckles.

“I will teach you,” Talia proclaimed.

“Thank you, lily~”

“You two…” Cynthia started hesitatingly. “This may be rude of me to ask…”

“Please,” the elf purred. “I believe I know what you want to say and I eagerly await the chance to respond.”

“No, never mind. It’s not my place.”

Kierra huffed. “Well, I can’t fault you for manners. I suppose I’ll have to take matters into my own hands.”

A strong but gentle hand grabbed Talia’s chin and tilted her face up. She inhaled sharply, nose filling with the smell of exotic flowers, as softness covered her lips.

Talia focused on the movement of her own lips, trying to remember her successes from her previous practice with the elf, as she trailed her hands along Kierra’s sides before letting them rest on her taut stomach.

If pressed to give an answer, she’d say intimacy with the elf was pleasant. She enjoyed the soft growls and purrs of contentment Kierra let out when Talia did something she liked or utilized one of her “lessons”. She had seen the frenzied coupling in the thoughts of most caught in the throes of lust, many of them featuring herself. She wasn’t enthused to engage in such acts and she’d told Kierra as much, afraid she wouldn’t be able to uphold her end of her “contract” with Lou.

In response, the elf had introduced her into a different form of intimacy. One of slow, careful strokes that played more on emotion. Her feelings may be stunted but seeing herself washed in moonlight as she shared Kierra’s mind while feeling the elf’s lips slowly kiss along her body…

It was enough to move even her calm heart. Enough to make her wish they weren’t at a party surrounded by distractions but on their way to her bed for another “lesson”.

All too soon, the elf pulled away, gently biting her lips before stepping back.

“My!” Cynthia breathed. From the excitement in her tone, Talia expected anyone who didn’t know about her relationship with Kierra tonight would know by tomorrow afternoon, at the latest.

“…I’m surprised your wife is fine with this…arrangement,” Aurelius said, bitterness taking hold of his mouth. “She seemed the type to become jealous.”

“Oh, she hates pests hanging around but who could hate this flower?” Talia leaned into the hand that stroked her cheek.

“Why do you call her flower?” Cynthia asked, eager for more gossip to spread.

“Because flowers are the only things allowed to be delicate,” Talia answered. She had asked the same question. Kierra, and elves in general, valued strength above all. However, Lou had declared Kierra would not bend the dorm mother to her ideas of strength.

She had thought that the elf was the head of the household and was surprised when Kierra folded at the request. From then on, the elf’s treatment of her changed. She stopped being a potential soldier of the household and became…a flower.

Kierra liked flowers. They were perhaps the only delicate living things she didn’t despise. Flowers were meant to be cultivated, protected, and admired. A role that suited Talia just fine.

“I hope you don’t plan to spirit away our dorm mother for your journey,” said yet another new voice.