Baby, it's cold outside. (Miana)

[Phoenix]

Timestamp: 48th of Winter, 511 Where: Wind Reach Who: Miana There was a strange kind of quiet that settled over the Wind Reach, the kind of silence that was so still, it was loud. It was not yet dawn, yet there wasn't even the stars to light the late-wanderers way; A storm had swept in from Thunderbay as the sun was setting. Dark clouds heavy with snow obscured the night sky. Though it was bitterly cold, the crisp winter morning lacked it's usual fierceness. The wind hadn't yet come, it's sharp fingers slicing through every layer of clothing, no matter how many furs had been strapped on. The bone-chilling temperatures were one of the reasons that winters in Wind Reach were absolutely miserable. The extremely bad mood that settled heavily on everyones shoulders early this season was another. But probably the worst was the lack of food. There had been multiple starvations this season, mostly Dek and one Avora, and they were barely halfway through the winter months. It was going to be rough, to say the least. By the time the sun managed to peek over the distant mountain ranges, the snow had started to fall. The thick, wet flakes would only add to the heavy silence, muffling everything further. Cries of dismay as the city woke could still be heard, but they seemed miles away and small. The wetness of the snow was not a good sign, neither was the vast landscape of clouds above. It all spelled for a very bad storm. The city would stay sleeping this day, locked in their rooms and curled in their beds as they tried to ignore the hateful white stuff that continued to blanket their city. Only having just recovered from the last snow fall, the old packed-down stuff just barely cleared to allow for everyday activities, this only made more work. Luckily for the upper Caste's, they could afford to stay a-bed. The Dek, however, were not so lucky. Skinny and on their very last leg, the lowest Caste awoke to white mountains of work. Crippled, dumb, and with barely any protection from the elements they were none the less destined to shuffle out into the snow and begin to clear the hallways and corridors and hoped they survived.

[Miana]

There was a storm coming, Miana had thought as she looked up the growing darkness in the sky. Forced out of her 'room' near the beginning of the deeper warrens, Miana still had the flush of sleep in her eyes, still hesitant to be rid of it. A brief reprieve of the work ahead of her. Forcing herself away from the mouth of the warrens, and into the exposed areas where the new snow touched and mingled with their old wintry family, she shivered as some mistakenly landed on her pallid skin. Already, there was a growing number of the Dek's on the site, armed with a shovel in their hands and a grimness in their expression that she knew well. Winter was upon them, and Wind Reach took form of battlefield for survival. A desperate struggle against nature itself. And all the Deks could do was try to see another day, and while they were at it, shovel away more snow.

Tomorrow, when the sun clears and the snow in the pavement would vanish, Miana wondered if the upper castes would appreciate their work. With a bitter smile etched to her lips, Miana shovelled harder. What a thought! More likely, they would complain about our carelessness. Because it's so easy working in the snow while wearing the thinnest clothes in all of Mizahar. The thought surprised her- so much that she actually had paused from her work and frowned. It was strange, hadn't she abandoned that mind process? Hasn't she grown out of those bitter old thoughts that only poisoned her brain? Miana shook herself and continued her work, her frozen fingers and legs already numb from the snow that surrounded her. Don't think, she commanded herself, just shovel.

Snow kept falling steadily, showing no signs of letting up. And like the snow, her thoughts ceaselessly plunged into the mind of her fifteen year old self; stupidly angry and stupidly frustrated. Blowing away her hair away from her vision, Miana stretched her back and observed her surroundings with a wary eye. It was barely afternoon and the cold had long ago woven into their bodies, their frostbitten skin almost glowing from the mix of perspiration and fallen snow. Looking around her area, Miana didn't even try to disguise her exhaustion, mental and physical, and plunged the shovel into the pile of snow and leaned on it. Watching. Disguised by the work around her, no one noticed the little halfling in the corner stopping her work. No one saw her emotions dance plainly across her face, no one saw her choke back words that she wanted to say to them as they passed by. No one saw her.

Closing her eyes, she felt the snow seeping into her skin, their delicate touch almost barely noticeable. For a moment, she was back in the arms of her mother, her frail arms circling around Miana's scraggly frame. It was her last day that Miana would be regarded as a child and also her last day of living at home. Completely oblivious of the many stares that fell upon them, her mother clung to her and cried her eyes out. Even then, Miana mused with a touch of melancholia, I was such a conscious child. She had been embarrassed then of the sudden display of affection- no doubt, it would've been used as the fodder of her peer's taunts and teasing. Inartan's were individuals- free from the bonds of family and focused in their survival.

Easily prying herself away from her mother's arms, she had brushed away her sudden surprise at her lack of strength. "Sorry," she had said, a beautiful smile painted on her tired face. Never did it occur to Miana that she had been apologising for something else. And never did she think it would be her last memory of her mother.

Wiping her stray tears, Miana couldn't help but wonder what would've happen if she had hugged her mother back a little longer, a little tighter.

But as she noticed a surge of strange looks centered around her, Miana sniffed and banished the memory back into the depths of her mind. After all, what good would reliving past memories bring when it couldn't shelter you from the cold, couldn't fill up a stomach? Surrounded by both the drudges and the endless snow, Miana could only give herself one advice;
Don't think, she commanded herself, just keep shoveling.

[Phoenix]

The first one fell a couple bells after dawn broke. Slight as can be and severely under fed, the little girl hardly made a dent in the pile of snow she collapsed into. She had been shoveling out a path towards the center of the Courtyard when the cold took her. Only moments after, a large shadow blotted out what little light there was, clouding the white perfection of the snow, most of which was still untouched by humans; the snow was wet and heavy, slowing the Deks' progress to a painful crawl. The Wind Eagle hovered for a moment, indecisive as it tried to find a decent place to land it's massive form. The snow would surely rise above it's head if it chose to land in the untouched drifts, and realizing this, it let out a frustrated screech. Many of the Dek scattered at the sound, fleeing to the protective embrace of the shadows that still lingered in the enclosed halls. With it's riders urging, the massive, chocolate-feathered form dropped from the sky, angling towards the tiny path the fallen Dek child had just cleared. Hopping from the back of the bird, the Endal landed with one leg thigh-deep in snow, his other skidding on the slick surface. His Eagle hopped from foot to foot, wings held high above it's back as it tried to keep them from contact with the snow; there was simply no room for him to settle his wings comfortably and tuck them at his sides. Seeing his companions agetation, the Endal glanced around with a scowl darkening his features. "You there!" Yanking his leg free from the snow drift he regained his footing and aimed a kick at the fallen child. There was no response, nor movement. "Lazy little... get up! How is anyone expected to walk here?!" The boot flew towards the fallen body again, the sound of the shoe connecting to emaciated flesh muffled by the surrounding snow. All the while, the remaining Dek's looked the other way. They were all chilled to the bone and starving themselves. Some looked on the verge of collapsing as well. None said a word as the Endal yelled and threw his fit, the nearby drudges cowering out of the way as he stormed through their ranks, looking for someone responsive to abuse. The Dek to her left turned face and ran as the Endal rounded on Miana, his fist raised. "Are you as useless as the other?" He indicated the child again, though the chance that she was still alive was slim. "What do you have to say?!"

[Miana]

It wasn't long until she heard the commotion that the Endal started to cause. It wasn't that long either that she felt the familiar rise of bile in her mouth, and the blood pumping vigorously in her body, making her feel lightheaded. Her hands wasn't shaking and pale solely for the cold anymore.

The kid fell into the smudged snow, neither moving or responding. Metal filled her mouth as she bit harder and harder into her chapped lips. The moment that scum's boot made contact with the child's body, she knew that whatever she was feeling was beyond fury.

None of her other drudges bothered to stop another injustice happening. But she didn't bother investing any feeling into this; the result was obvious. While they were bonechilled and starving, the man had muscles and bloodlust on his side.

It wasn't long until he zeroed in on Miana. "Are you as useless as the other?" He had shouted at her, waving his arms at the child. "What do you have to say?!"

She went rigid as the shadow of the man casted over her small frame. Her eyes dilated, memories of her childhood surging in her mind. Of the humiliation. Of her mother. Of him. Looking up at the Endal, Miana knew they looked nothing alike. Not even a resemblance could trick her eyes. Yet, the familiar coiling of her stomach settled in as fear took hold of her once again. She took a sharp breath and shivered, knowing that whatever she had to say to him was already unwilling to leave her tongue.

No, they didn't look the same at all, but looking at his eyes, the way his distorted face pinched over, the sound of his voice was enough for her to realise that both men were the same.

'But he is not him,' her mind whispered comfortingly, almost drowned out by her morbid memories.

Trying to fight for her last chance of calm, her eyes slid over to the crumpled body, half buried in the snow. Ignoring his domineering presence, she focused on her. The small thin structure of her body. The paleness in her skin. The way her tangled hair lay around her, the same way Miana's own hair did in fall when she pretended. Her eyes found another set of eyes among the drudges, a silent pleading. She wondered if the girl had anyone that cared for her.

"She deserves better than this," she murmured, lost in the mysteries of the child's brief and fleeting life.

[Phoenix]

Impatience got the best of the Endal, who stood glaring, his hands on his hips as Miana quailed under his glare. The young girl had provided him no answer, made no move to help him or offer him her sincerest apologies. How rude. He saw her lips move, the words ripped away by the wind before they ever reached his ears. "I'm sorry?" He spat, scorn heavily lacing his words, making it clear that he wasn't sorry at all. "Are you speaking to me, you little shit?" A menacing step forward brought the Endal's shadow to completely cover the girl, the broad line of his shoulders blocking out the pale, wintery rays of sun. The Endal was insulted by the girls complete lack of reverence. Not only did he think that she should be shaking in her boots at the sight of him, but that she should also practically prostrate herself before him in submission. "The correct answer is 'No, Endal Rove" or 'Yes, Endal Rove'." His tone was rather petulant as he said this, lips curling into a disgusted sneer. "Not that you understand. Idiot." Raising his whine a few octaves so that the Dek that surrounded the scene pretending not to listen could clearly hear. Rove's cold gaze swept the scene, looking for gestures and expressions of agreement to his statement, taking in the bent forms that half heartedly shoveled at the snow, ignoring both Rove and Miana. For some odd reason, known only to the man himself, this only infuriated him more. Whether or not Miana had a chance to move or respond, Rove reached out and took a handful of the girls bare-threaded shirt, yanking her to his side. "We'll see about this!" He sounded, as if in defiance to the cowering Dek that surrounded him, enraged by the smell of fear that hung heavy in the air around him. "You're coming with me!" Yanking the girl along, Rove pushed through the snow that hadn't been fully shoveled away, drenching poor Miana in his wake. Setting a pace that had the Endal practically dragging the poor Dek behind him, her little legs unable to keep up with his ground eating stride, Rove headed straight for the Valintars office. Pushing through the heavy doors and striding purposefully though the waiting area, Rove didn't even bat an eye at those that openly stared at him or the woman that stood to ask what his business was with the Valintar. Instead, he bustled straight through to Kaden's office, Miana still in tow. The Valintar sat at his desk, quill posed over the parchment he had been scribbling on before the intrusion. He didn't look up as they entered, though a crease that appeared between his brows was his only outward display of disapproval. Continuing to write whatever it was he was writing, Kaden left Rove and Miana standing there for almost half a bell before he even looked up. His gaze cool, his face unreadable, the Valintar's voice was soft when he spoke. "What can I help you with today?" There was the barest hint of disapproval in his tone. "I want this girl whipped! Beaten for disobedience and blatant desregard for her superiors!" If possible, Rove's voice sounded even more petulant than before. The coller of her shirt was still curled in his fist, so Miana was forced to stumble forward when the Endal flung his hand away from him. Pursing his lips as he studied Rove for the barest of moments, Kaden then turned to Miana, his face still completely blank, and asked quietly. "And what do you have to say?"

[Miana]

He wanted her to surrender to him, like the stupid little Dek she was supposed to be. By the way he spoke to her, he practically wanted her to kiss the ground he walked on and praise all the glory in the world for his presence. The man was a walking half delusional idiot. Half only, because he really did have the power to make her do so.

He stood over her, a slight shadow against her body and spaced a gap enough for her to bow to him. She only stared neutrally at him, in an effort to look unscathed by his glares, belying her growing distress.

Impatience clearly got the better of him, and he turned to the other Deks as if to confirm his power over them. They all cringed and his face contorted nastily. It didn't take him long to decide on her as an easier target to prey on and roughly manhandled her to his side. She didn't have the chance to even move away, not that she would've anyway.

It wasn't long before he decided to hauling her skinny frame through the un-shoveled snow, violently dragging her while she fought for her breathing and her feet to match with his speed. So far, she was losing. Surprise, surprise.

Finally, after crossing the warrens, they had reached the glass atrium that slapped back a dose of reality in Miana; the man was taking her to the Valintar. And looking at his frowning face, the cost of the trip would not be an easy one. He took no notice of anyone in his way or the odd looks thrown at them, continuing the same arrogant gait he had approached the Dek's with a mere chimes ago. In the midst of his body-napping, Miana took several chances at glaring venomously at his back, willing a thousand and one fires to set him ablaze.

Much to a receptionist dismay and Miana's embarrassment, he blew right through the doors of the Valintar, appallingly graceless.

In the brief and distant sightings of the Valintar, it had always been on city wide events with him behind a set of drums. And his performances was nothing short of excellent. If she was brazen enough to pretend that their meeting was a mere social call, she would've had the gall to squirm in nervousness instead of looking paler and sicker than she usually did.

And sure enough, in the confines of the grandeur of the Atrium, the top of their caste sat behind his desk, scribbling away on a parchment that was, no doubt in Miana's naive part of mind, a very important document. To both her relief and trepidiation, he barely cast them a look save for a brief frown and steadily continued his task.

After a chime, he finally saved them from their growing awkwardness and addressed them with coolness, hinting at his annoyance. But like a spoilt child, Rove seemed more than ever to have his way, demanding for her whipping and practically threw her to his desk. Catching herself before she broke anything, she stumbled briefly and stood awkwardly before the Valintar, feeling rather exposed.

"And what do you have to say?"

If she could muster up an answer, what would it be, she wondered. She bit her lip, restraining herself from smiling as her mind begun to answer, 'So this Endal walks into the Courtyard...'

The small amusement was quickly extinguished. There was absolutely no humour in this situation. A child was dead. A man desecrated a child's corpse. A woman was about to get whipped.

It was a simple question. Like a greeting to a stranger, or a passing comment on the weather. But like them, so full of nuances.
Unexpectedly, the answer formed at her mind, 'Isn't it enough, Valintar?' Miana sighed softly, feeling weariness settle in.

She had been whipped before. Unpleasant, sure, but more preferable than an exchange of words between two high castes that probably ate their own self-importance for breakfast. Peeking hesitantly at the Valintar's blank expression, she only confirmed her suspicions. Talented drummer or not, he was still one of their kind. Yes, a series of whip lashings was fine. Anything was better than to talk to them. As if to emphasise her point of silence, she set her lips into a grim line.

[Phoenix]

Kaden kept his eyes firmly locked on the stoutly silent little Dek. Long fingers that steeped under his chin pattered against each other, moving in a flowing action from index to pinky finger and back again. The light pat pat pat of his finger pad against one another was the only sound, besides the Endal's agitated huffing, in the room. Just when it seemed like the staring match would go on forever, the Valintar and Miana facing off, waiting for the other to break the silence first, Kaden sighed and leaned back in his chair. A weariness crept over his features, visible only for a moment before he set the heels of his hands against his eyes, rubbing vigorously. "Rove, I believe your Eagle needs tending too. I am sure he is not happy being left out in the cold. Talk to the secretary for any compensation you feel necessary. I'm sure walking through the snow practically destroyed some of your clothes. You are dismissed." With his voice cool and calm, Kaden left no room for argument, delivering the insult in an even tone so that it took the man a moment to even realize what had been said. By then, the Valintar had pinned the Endal with his calm gaze, a brow raising as Rove opened his mouth to respond. Seeing the look on the Valintar's face, Rove quickly pressed his lips together in a line, an expression to mimic Miana's. Turning to leave, a flush rising high in his cheeks, Rove stooped to whisper vhenematly towards the little girl. "This is not done, you-" "That will be all, Rove." With a distinct crispness to his voice now, Kaden started to rise from his chair. Knowing that his luck had run out, Rove was only able to shoot Miana a dirty look before storming from the room. "Well... what could a little girl like you do to make him so angry?" Kaden had returned to his seat, his fingers re-steepled and his gaze settling once more on the still silent Dek. "Will you talk to me now that he is gone?" A kindness had entered his voice, a quiet insistence that hadn't been there before. Kaden was a kind man and it usually shocked those of the lower Caste. An enforcer of a system where those on top benefited from the hard work of those on the bottom, the Valintar was hardly a popular fellow among the Dek community. Aware of this, Miana's offstandish response to his questions did not surprise him. "You're not in trouble, child." The silence stretched again as Miana was given a chance to respond, give any indication that she was willing to talk to him. Whether she responded or not, Kaden was hardly one to give up. It was his job to see that everyone had their place in the city. This little girl had fire, a backbone that said more than she knew. Most of the Dek who walked into his office rolled over within moments, surrendering their will. Had this girls mother been a Dek? Her father? The dark hair told of mixed heritage, that was for sure, but that alone didn't subject a person to the lowest of Castes. "I can't help you if you don't talk, Child. At least tell me your name?"

[Miana]

They watched each other carefully, locked into a seemingly endless match that had no words for it, only gazes and stares. Static filled the room. Electrifying static that made Miana's hair prickle in defence, tiny beads of sweat at her brow. Pat pat pat, said his fingers. Huff huff huff, said the Endal. Patience was the key for them, a key which she held no doors for them.

He broke away first, and leaned to his chair and rubbed his eyes wearily. Miana steeled herself. It was coming- the whips. She could feel it already; the harsh touch of the leather against her back, the crack in the air as it met with her skin, the smell of raw blood forming with each succession. He opened his mouth, and she held him in her most ferocious stare that she could muster up.

So cold he was, so insulting and calm when he delivered such words for the Endal. It took her by surprise, but surprise quickly turned into glee as she watched the retreating back of the Endal- only to have his hot breath against her ear, his form once again hovering above her like a monster that he was. Even his voice was unpleasant when he spoke, low and seething, "This is not done, you-"

But he was cut short, dismissed, like the impudent brat that he was. Rove's dirty glare was only met with detachment. The door closed, and suddenly, she found herself incorrigibly alone with the prestige Valintar in his office, awaiting a whipping that she set her heart into in exchange for a silence that she knew would be neigh impossible to attain.

It was obvious why the man had sent the brute away; he wanted a reason. A thread of logic to make sense of such a crazy situation- Why wasn't this girl blubbering? Why isn't she speaking? why why why. 'I'd answer all these stupid questions after I'm dead and whipped, Valintar.'

"You're not in trouble, child." He had said. Miana couldn't help it- she let out a short and harsh bark of laughter, full of cynical disbelief and open pessimism. How many men and women had told her something akin to this? Such a lie was too common and boring, why resort to this? Why can't he just get it done and over with? Why does he have to bait her with pretty statements? It was unneeded, stupid and just plain insulting.

Fury began pumping at her veins, thoroughly indignant at such treatment. 'Does he think of me as a child?' Her mind screeched, 'does he think of me as such a weakling that can't even take on a simple whipping? Do I not pull my weight in Wind Reach as a simple Dek?!'

"I can't help you if you don't talk, Child. At least tell me your name?"

The question became the last straw that released her rage. Deep in her mind, she knew his questions were meant to be kind, consoling. But in her fit of Inartan rage, all she saw was red and painted everything in her sight as an enemy to be lashed out.

"Do you think, by knowing my name, everything could be changed?" She was trembling badly, her small body unable to contain such an outburst, "do you think, that by knowing why that sadistic son-of-a-bitch wanted to see me bleed would solve the problem? My name is nothing! I am nothing compared to that dead child in the snow! I am worthless in comparison to the lives being lost outside your pretty office! My existence is trifling under the eyes of anyone who would cast their eyes on her body. But you know what?" She didn't wait for his answer, "I serve everyone here not just because it's the only thing I'm capable of right now, but because though I am worthless, damaged and stupid in the eyes of the Inarta, I would gladly waste this life just to serve them. Do you understand Valintar? In the very least, we deserve some affirmation that our existence is needed- let them come at any adult Dek with an agenda in their minds, but a child?" Tears were streaming out her eyes, hot angry tears that turned her cheeks pink. "They have yet to even understand why they are being beaten."

She pushed away her tears rashly, the coarse fabric swiping harshly against her pale skin. "Please, don't ask me such questions. I beg of you. Just do what you must and I won't even protest. Please."
ooc notetoo much?

[Phoenix]

Kaden listened with calm impassiveness as Miana's word storm swept over him, his calm gaze never leaving her face, his expression never changing despite the bitter bite of the girls words. That was, until.. "A child? Dead?" Eyes widening slightly before his composure was regained, Kaden unfolded from his chair and stepped from behind his desk. A few long steps brought him to the door, where he hesitated with his hand on the knob. "I'm going to ask you to wait here....Girl." There was a note of authority, tinged with a bit of rebuke, that even Miana shouldn't dare disobey. She hadn't given him her name, her speech proving only that she possessed the fire that he suspected, and most of all that she was not a child. Half a bell later found Miana still alone in the office, no noise outside the Valintar's door to give any kind of hint as to what was going on. When Kaden finally did return, the door was shut quietly behind him before he strode to his desk and lowered himself back into his chair. "So, you wish to remain nameless?" No mention of the dead child or what had been done about it was given, the brisk and efficient way that the Valintar moved on with business speaking for itself: What had transpired was not of Miana's concern. Nor did he show any kind of remorse for the unfair balance of the castes. The Caste system, as horrible as it could be, was in place for a reason and the little dek child that stood in this office now was not of enough importance to be bothered with such information. It was, in reality, for her own good, but it was hard for those who felt slighted to recognize such things. "That's fine. I won't force it out of you." There was no stress on "won't", but the word was chosen purposefully in place of 'can't'. "But it has become clear to me that you possess the clear headedness and ability to react and respond to your surroundings that those usually in your Caste do not. It would then not be a far leap to assume that you possess skills that are not being put to good use." Not a question was asked, just as she had asked, though Kaden did pause long enough for Miana to insert a comment or two should the mood strike her. Picking up a quill, Kaden scribbled on a small piece of scrap parchment for a moment before holding it out to the side of his desk. "I would like you to go see Mya. She is usually in the Crafts Gallery at this time of day." The parchment was held out until Miana took it, though her dismissal was clear. It was bustling in the Gallery at midday, though it was the ordered kind of bustle that had everyone doing exactly what they were supposed to, quickly and efficiently. It was no easy task keeping so many Chiet, Avora and even a smattering of Yasi from getting into trouble but Mya was more than capable. Older in years, red hair long having since gone gray, Mya was short and stout with a voice that made up for what she lacked in height, loud and strong as it carried over the scuffle of feet, clanks, bangs and idle chatter. Wrinkled and kindly looking nonetheless, Mya carried an aura of respect around her; everyone listened to every word she said, every order she gave without second thought. She was one of those people that you just can't help but like. When Miana showed up with her parchment and handed it over, Mya read it over quickly before peering down her pudgy little nose at the girl. "You don't look much like a Dek. Too pretty." That was all by way of introduction, a wrinkled hand waving the girl forward as Mya lead them to a small room in the far back corner of the gallery.

[Miana]

She was tired. Bone tired. It wasn't just the physical weariness that settled in the very fibres of her being- no, it was much worse. It felt like her soul had drained itself and left ravaged marks as it hollowed itself out.

Miana could barely hear the words of the man, too consumed and fascinated by her deep breathing. Was it normal to breath as heavily as she did? Was it normal to feel the earth move under her feet? Was it normal to feel herself being ripped apart?

"...It would then not be a far leap to assume you possess skills that are not being put to good use."

A lump travelled painfully down her trachea. She had absolutely no idea what the man was saying. His words were completely lost to her. Skills? Use? Why should they matter? Miana really hoped that the Valintar wouldn't ask her a question; in her state, she wouldn't be prepared of it at all.

Her brows furrowed even more as he dabbled on about the Crafts Gallery and held out a parchment for her. She blinked slowly and carefully, utterly bewildered of her situation. Should she take it? What did it lead to? What would such a parchment lead her into?

She hesitated, about to refuse, but his dismissal was clear and loud and she couldn't bear to explain the reason of her refusal. With a shaky sigh and shakier hands, she took it from him and promptly walked back the exit of the atrium, completely at lost of the meaning behind the parchment.

---

The Craft Gallery was no reprieve of her confusion, instead adding to it by the amount of bustle of activity inside the corridors and the hundred noises that boomed from the inside.

No one paid any attention to the girl. And no one should- for who would want to spare their second on a thin-stick Dek with gaunt eyes and strange hair when they could be making art with their hands? More than ever, she felt inadequate.

Then she spotted the woman. Blazing red hair and booming voice, she commanded over the Inarta that scattered about her, doing every bidding she could think of. Yet, although she was clearly the one who held the control, there was no malice in her tone. It simply told her that the woman was both practical and handy.

Without a second thought, she approached the woman, both intrigued and shy. Miana didn't know her name, and neither could she read from the parchment, but it felt right to give the woman the item. Surely she could make sense of the confusion.

After a moment, the redhead peered at the Miana, startling her with a comment of her looks. She didn't even give her anytime to recover, merely rounding her up to some room at the back.

What was going on here?