R'sath, Tower of Starlight - Part 3 - A Working Lunch

Ahsch wasn't alone in desperately trying to put together a nice outfit for luncheon, given Ariin's panicked exclamations over the Daydreamweave. He wasn't sure, but he may have been alone in cursing in his head about his luck with meeting people who just so happened to be high-ranking members of the Kingdom's government. At least, he may have been alone in the act of cursing - he wasn't alone in his head, given that Mahat cackled every once in a while at his distress.

Doing his best to ignore his bratty familiar, Ahsch consulted with Dorin about the handful of different garments he had brought with him on this trip. None were truly appropriate for a meeting with nobility - which, as a knight of some variety, Michlas counted as a member of the nobility - let alone in a royal setting. He had expected some lower-ranking official would handle giving him the reward, and that he would be on his way afterwards, but even had he planned on this sort of meeting, nothing he owned would really match up to what he should wear.

"Mister Ahsch, I don't think you need to worry so much," Dorin tried to calm the Dominant Mage for the umpteenth time. "Master Michlas is not known for standing on ceremony - in fact, he tends towards the opposite, much to the chagrin of many in R'sath. I don't believe that he would be offended if you appeared before him dressed as you usually would."

The hrafthi sighed, then decided to give something closer to truthful for his reasoning, rather than merely brush off the reassurance. "It's not that I don't believe you, Dorin. It's just that I have... a little bit of history with Lady Celes from when she was in Sarvas, and I'd rather try to keep on as many people's good side as I can."

The servant peered at Ahsch for a moment, before sighing. "If you insist... then I'd recommend the blue shirt with those pants. If you tuck..."

Less than thirty minutes later, the trio of hrafthi plus beast-form Mahat stood outside a relatively un-ostentatious (given the overall opulance of R'sath in general) door as Dorin knocked. Michlas' familiar voice called out, and the servant opened the way for the guests.

Michlas' office matched the man. It was a straightforward, simple affair, with an air of far more thought and planning than one might expect from a warrior. The heavy wooden desk in the corner was almost buried in papers and scrolls and books, while the trio of large bookshelves that flanked it held a number of tomes and reports, enough that one shelf was visibly sagging under the weight of its contents. The mess of paper aside, the office was orderly and understated, the only bits of glamour being a ceremonial suit of armor in the corner opposite the desk, several awards and souvenirs on free-standing shelves, and a fine set of coffee cups. A table protruded halfway onto a balcony which overlooked the eye-watering vista 117 floors below, and some magic was clearly involved in the lack of wind, cold, or thinness of the air.

Michlas himself was at the desk, quill in hand as he scribbled on a piece of parchment. He glanced up, gave a small smile, and gestured his guests towards the table, which was laden with a selection of dishes. "Please, have a seat, I'll join you in just a moment."

They did as instructed, Ahsch sitting between his mother and sister whilst Mahat curled up just behind his chair. Less than fifteen seconds later, the Armsmaster stopped writing and joined them, taking the seat across from the Dominant Mage, rather than one of the ends of the table. "Firstly, I apologize for the wait," he began as he sat. "The situation in R'sath was... delicate, to put it simply, and I had many tasks awaiting our return. More than I expected..." his voice and expression darkened for a moment, the man's gaze darting up to glare somewhere above them before he heaved a breath and returned his attention to the hrafthi. "Suffice to say, I was kept much busier than I anticipated, and I'm afraid that a working luncheon is the best I can do for the moment."

The whole apology was delivered directly to Ahsch, and the boy felt his family's attention shift to him as Michlas went quiet. "Th-that's alright," he replied, "I'm sure there are more important things than my... er... 'reward.'"

The man suppressed a chuckle. "Don't take this the wrong way, but you are too humble for your own good." The hrafthi blinked, then gave a small, unsure smile. "Now, let's begin, before someone drops some new task in my lap."

A few minutes later, everyone had food on their plate, and Michlas began to speak again between servings. "As far as your 'reward' goes, Lady Celes has authorized... well, pretty much anything."

The eating stopped for a moment. "When you say 'anything...?' Ariin asked, before anyone else could.

"What I suggested back in Sarvas and more. Enough wealth to live comfortably in the Capitol for a lifetime, a minor noble title, a parcel of land within the Kingdom, admittance to the Royal Academy, the hand of a minor noble lady - or nobleman, should you prefer - in marriage. Essentially anything you wish that is within House Celes' capacity to provide."

After a stunned moment of silence, Ahsch slowly put his knife and fork down - Mage Sight had confirmed the presence of heating enchantments on all the dishes, so his food wouldn't get cold. He swallowed, then swallowed again. "Is... does Kira...siel... Lady Celes... have the authority to...?" He trailed off, his mind still struggling to take in just what was being offered.

The Armsmaster's expression fell. "She does... as the Head of House Celes."

The silence following that statement was profound enough one could've heard a pin drop. "H-Head of..."Ariin started to repeat.

"I was under the impression that Kirasiel Celes was third in line for the position," Dahil stated.

"Several weeks ago, you were correct," Michlas replied.

Either three royals just so happened to meet untimely deaths all but simultaneously, Mahat mused.

Or someone killed the Head of House Celes and the next two heirs, Ahsch finished the thought.

After several more moments of silence, Michlas wordlessly returned to his food, Dahil following his example moments later, while Ahsch and Ariin took a bit longer before they numbly continued to eat. A few minutes later, Ahsch spoke up. "Do you... have you... found out why Ki... Lady Celes wanted to bring me here?"

The man grimaced in apology. "From what little she's told me, I can only speculate, but I'd guess it either has something to do with your run-in with Phashak," Ahsch **** down his sigh at how monumentally unhelpful that was in narrowing down what was going on, "or... she may be hoping to get your help."

The Dominant Mage blinked. "My help? With what?"

Michlas' eyes turned back towards the ceiling, a slight glower crossing his face. "I don't think the situation in R'sath - specifically, within House Celes - sits well with Her Ladyship. She may be hoping that someone of your natural talent might be a valuable asset to her."

"So she wants me close to... what, try an ally with me?" Ahsch snorted. "Why do I feel like bribing me with a reward is not her way?"

A huff of amusement came in response. "Because it's not. You spent a day with Her Ladyship, and while it's true that she's been slightly... nicer since the Canyon incident, Lady Celes has never been known for her generosity. Still," he sighed. "I think whatever all happened in the Canyon, with Phashak, changed her, and... not in a bad way. Though I wouldn't expect it to last long, not with..." He trailed off, once again glaring above them. "Not with the way things are here," he finished.

"But that's besides the point," the Armsmaster continued, "Once you've claimed your reward and - assuming you decide to return to Sarvas - left, there's not much Lady Celes can do to try and keep you here. With the situation within House Celes as it is, she wouldn't be able to devote the time or resources to trying to 'convince' you to remain or return here, not without causing complications. So, if you're of a mind to take what you can and leave, I'd recommend accepting your family's weight in gold and leaving to return home within the next couple of days."

Quiet descended once again around the table, and everyone resumed eating. Even Ahsch, mind spinning as it was, managed to find his appetite and dig in while he puzzled through the suggestion. Nobody spoke for the next while, everyone finishing their meal and then sat silently with their own thoughts afterwards.

Ahsch was the last to finish, and when he had pushed aside his plate, he drummed his fingers on the table for a long moment, then held one fist in the other hand, and leaned in. "You recommend I take the wealth and leave... if I don't want to stay." The boy keenly felt his mother and sister's gaze from either side. "I'd like to think that I'm not the type to cut and run... so I'd instead ask you...