Gaining Tempo
Nefron sighed as she looked over the parchment, her eyes then gazing about the elegant but empty foyer before returning to her husband. “Darling, are you sure about this? It’s so expensive…â€
Cartius smiled warmly at the well dressed priestess. “Money is no object when it comes to my family. You know that, love. Are you having second thoughts about moving to Ul’dah…?â€
The woman gently tucked a strand of her black hair behind her ear and smiled warmly at Cartius. “Not at all. We’ve already discussed this. Ul’dah is your home, and Kylin’s. It’s best for both of you and for the family that House Felstar build itself anew here. And with the troubles in Ishgard, it’s only logical. Besides, it’ll be easier to manage the museum from here and I’m actually looking forward to working with the church here. It’ll be a wonderful new experience.â€
Cartius moved to the nearly empty table where the parchment rested, glancing over it for likely the hundredth time. “I’m sorry if you’re disappointed in me, love.â€
“You know I’m not,†Nefron stated with a firm expression on her face. “You are a businessman. The priesthood was something you were always uncomfortable with. Far be it from me or Islude to force something down your throat you don’t enjoy. I’m looking forward to this move.â€
Cartius smiled as he picked up a quill sitting next to the parchment and signed the bottom of the page. “Then it’s done. This mansion is now our new home. House Felstar will build its new foundation here and become a force to be reckoned with.â€
Elza sat on the edge of her sofa within her Gridania cabin, legs crossed. Her indigo hair flowed freely behind her in slight curls. She wore a tight fitting leather jerkin with matching leather pants, watching quietly as an elezen man carried a crate full of paper boats out of the cabin. The duskwight set the crate onto the porch before returning to the noblewoman. “That’s the last of ‘em. Lloyd said all the locks are changed and reinforced too. So all should be good as new, m’lady!â€
Elza tilted her head, gazing toward the kitchen as the hyur known as Lloyd eyed a fresh apple in a fruit basket on the table. “Good. Let’s hope your locks work better than the last ones, for your sake. And if that Deirdre woman Kylin mentioned has the gall to return to my home and pollute it again, I’ll personally see to it that the harlot leaves in a body bag.â€
The indigo-haired beauty glanced again to the kitchen, where Lloyd had finally conjured the courage to pick up the apple he was eyeing. Elza sighed quietly before reaching behind her for a small but elegantly crafted crossbow, knocking an arrow and letting it fly with deadly accuracy and speed. The arrow pierced the apple while it was still in Lloyd’s hand, attaching it to the opposite wall just as the hungry hyur went to take a bite. The man looked dazed, his eyes slowly moving to notice the arrow that could have easily pierced his skull.
“It’s not polite to help yourself to someone else’s belongings without permission,†Elza stated with an icy gaze at the gulping hyur. “Especially considering my current state of emotions over the elezen bitch my brother told me all about. Now be a doll and clean up the mess you forced me to make.â€
Lloyd nodded with a faint sigh and carefully took the arrow out of the wall as a couple of burly roegadyn entered the cabin, one of them chuckling as he watched Elza put her bow away. “Well, all is set madame. What now?â€
Elza smiled sweetly at the men in her living room. “Now we setup base and gather intel. A lot has happened since we’ve been gone it seems. It’s going to take time to get situated again. I think charity work will suit Sanctum well. There are plenty of orphans and war veterans who no doubt still need assistance following the damage from Dalamud. And House Felstar will certainly benefit from the positive publicity as an added boon.â€
“Charity work,†the duskwight elezen said with a slight grunt.
Elza glared hard at the man. “There’s nothing wrong with helping those who need help. It will certainly not sway us from our main objective either way if that’s what you’re concerned about. Now then…I have a meeting with my father soon and he prefers to not see any of you as much as you all prefer to not see him.â€
The men took the cue and scurried out of the cabin, one of the roegadyn bowing properly to Elza before exiting. Lloyd scurried out last, biting his lower lip and muttering something about not having eaten since morning.
“Good to be home again,†Elza said with a faint smirk as she twirled a single strand of her hair around her index finger. “Now to make the best of it on all fronts.â€
Kylin panted heavily, wiping sweat from his brow as he hunched over in slight pain. The outdoor La Noscea breeze was the only thing keeping him from passing out. His muscles felt like they were ready to tear apart. The tight fitting leather armor wasn’t helping matters any. After taking a moment to recuperate, he charged with blade in hand toward the masked miqo’te standing across from him. The woman easily evaded the attack and then followed up by sweeping her feet under the hyur’s legs and sending him to the ground with a loud thud. Without hesitating, she pinned him to the ground and placed her dagger close to his throat.
“You’re not being nearly aggressive enough,†she stated with a sigh. “Were I a real enemy, you’d be dead by now Kylin.â€
Vertigo put her dagger away and helped the clearly exhausted hyur back up. Kylin continued to pant, gazing up at the miqo’te. “How the hell are you not at all worn out yet?â€
“I’ve been doing this for a long time,†Vertigo said in a soft tone. “All you need is more practice. You’re improving slow and steady.â€
The blond hyur plopped his back up against a tree in order to keep himself propped up, his panting gradually slowing. “You and Elza both make it look so easy.â€
A faint chuckle was audible under Vertigo’s mask. “Well you’re certainly more accomplished in the magical realm in comparison to either of us. So no need to beat yourself up. Your focus was merely on another area of expertise all this time. I applaud you for wanting to learn more physical combat.â€
Kylin reached down for a cup of water sitting beneath the tree and took a sip. “After awhile, one gets tired of feeling helpless all the time…â€
“Oh Kylin,†Vertigo said with a motherly sigh. “There are always going to be times when one is completely helpless, regardless of how strong one is. All you can do is prepare yourself in every possible way that your mind, body, and soul can take and then hope the preparations are enough. Now then…come at me again but mean it this time.â€
Kylin nodded and readied his sword once more before rushing toward the masked miqo’te with fire in his eyes.
Nefron sighed as she looked over the parchment, her eyes then gazing about the elegant but empty foyer before returning to her husband. “Darling, are you sure about this? It’s so expensive…â€
Cartius smiled warmly at the well dressed priestess. “Money is no object when it comes to my family. You know that, love. Are you having second thoughts about moving to Ul’dah…?â€
The woman gently tucked a strand of her black hair behind her ear and smiled warmly at Cartius. “Not at all. We’ve already discussed this. Ul’dah is your home, and Kylin’s. It’s best for both of you and for the family that House Felstar build itself anew here. And with the troubles in Ishgard, it’s only logical. Besides, it’ll be easier to manage the museum from here and I’m actually looking forward to working with the church here. It’ll be a wonderful new experience.â€
Cartius moved to the nearly empty table where the parchment rested, glancing over it for likely the hundredth time. “I’m sorry if you’re disappointed in me, love.â€
“You know I’m not,†Nefron stated with a firm expression on her face. “You are a businessman. The priesthood was something you were always uncomfortable with. Far be it from me or Islude to force something down your throat you don’t enjoy. I’m looking forward to this move.â€
Cartius smiled as he picked up a quill sitting next to the parchment and signed the bottom of the page. “Then it’s done. This mansion is now our new home. House Felstar will build its new foundation here and become a force to be reckoned with.â€
Elza sat on the edge of her sofa within her Gridania cabin, legs crossed. Her indigo hair flowed freely behind her in slight curls. She wore a tight fitting leather jerkin with matching leather pants, watching quietly as an elezen man carried a crate full of paper boats out of the cabin. The duskwight set the crate onto the porch before returning to the noblewoman. “That’s the last of ‘em. Lloyd said all the locks are changed and reinforced too. So all should be good as new, m’lady!â€
Elza tilted her head, gazing toward the kitchen as the hyur known as Lloyd eyed a fresh apple in a fruit basket on the table. “Good. Let’s hope your locks work better than the last ones, for your sake. And if that Deirdre woman Kylin mentioned has the gall to return to my home and pollute it again, I’ll personally see to it that the harlot leaves in a body bag.â€
The indigo-haired beauty glanced again to the kitchen, where Lloyd had finally conjured the courage to pick up the apple he was eyeing. Elza sighed quietly before reaching behind her for a small but elegantly crafted crossbow, knocking an arrow and letting it fly with deadly accuracy and speed. The arrow pierced the apple while it was still in Lloyd’s hand, attaching it to the opposite wall just as the hungry hyur went to take a bite. The man looked dazed, his eyes slowly moving to notice the arrow that could have easily pierced his skull.
“It’s not polite to help yourself to someone else’s belongings without permission,†Elza stated with an icy gaze at the gulping hyur. “Especially considering my current state of emotions over the elezen bitch my brother told me all about. Now be a doll and clean up the mess you forced me to make.â€
Lloyd nodded with a faint sigh and carefully took the arrow out of the wall as a couple of burly roegadyn entered the cabin, one of them chuckling as he watched Elza put her bow away. “Well, all is set madame. What now?â€
Elza smiled sweetly at the men in her living room. “Now we setup base and gather intel. A lot has happened since we’ve been gone it seems. It’s going to take time to get situated again. I think charity work will suit Sanctum well. There are plenty of orphans and war veterans who no doubt still need assistance following the damage from Dalamud. And House Felstar will certainly benefit from the positive publicity as an added boon.â€
“Charity work,†the duskwight elezen said with a slight grunt.
Elza glared hard at the man. “There’s nothing wrong with helping those who need help. It will certainly not sway us from our main objective either way if that’s what you’re concerned about. Now then…I have a meeting with my father soon and he prefers to not see any of you as much as you all prefer to not see him.â€
The men took the cue and scurried out of the cabin, one of the roegadyn bowing properly to Elza before exiting. Lloyd scurried out last, biting his lower lip and muttering something about not having eaten since morning.
“Good to be home again,†Elza said with a faint smirk as she twirled a single strand of her hair around her index finger. “Now to make the best of it on all fronts.â€
Kylin panted heavily, wiping sweat from his brow as he hunched over in slight pain. The outdoor La Noscea breeze was the only thing keeping him from passing out. His muscles felt like they were ready to tear apart. The tight fitting leather armor wasn’t helping matters any. After taking a moment to recuperate, he charged with blade in hand toward the masked miqo’te standing across from him. The woman easily evaded the attack and then followed up by sweeping her feet under the hyur’s legs and sending him to the ground with a loud thud. Without hesitating, she pinned him to the ground and placed her dagger close to his throat.
“You’re not being nearly aggressive enough,†she stated with a sigh. “Were I a real enemy, you’d be dead by now Kylin.â€
Vertigo put her dagger away and helped the clearly exhausted hyur back up. Kylin continued to pant, gazing up at the miqo’te. “How the hell are you not at all worn out yet?â€
“I’ve been doing this for a long time,†Vertigo said in a soft tone. “All you need is more practice. You’re improving slow and steady.â€
The blond hyur plopped his back up against a tree in order to keep himself propped up, his panting gradually slowing. “You and Elza both make it look so easy.â€
A faint chuckle was audible under Vertigo’s mask. “Well you’re certainly more accomplished in the magical realm in comparison to either of us. So no need to beat yourself up. Your focus was merely on another area of expertise all this time. I applaud you for wanting to learn more physical combat.â€
Kylin reached down for a cup of water sitting beneath the tree and took a sip. “After awhile, one gets tired of feeling helpless all the time…â€
“Oh Kylin,†Vertigo said with a motherly sigh. “There are always going to be times when one is completely helpless, regardless of how strong one is. All you can do is prepare yourself in every possible way that your mind, body, and soul can take and then hope the preparations are enough. Now then…come at me again but mean it this time.â€
Kylin nodded and readied his sword once more before rushing toward the masked miqo’te with fire in his eyes.