[right]Collaboration between [@Gowi] and [@rextremendum][/right]

It was then that her thoughts outpaced actual time as a man approached her—the academic? She assumed so based on what he had been reading as it was hardly one for the idle mind. She turned with awareness, a little out of surprise as she had not expected to get approached so soon. He spoke well, and she felt he had a nice “feel” to him as words left his mouth, introducing himself as one Thomas Milliner as he requested to make her acquaintance. Pythia’s response was admittedly a bit programmed as she did a courtesy bow with a gentle smile.

[color=aba000]“You may, ser—mine would be Pythia, of house Heartspire.” [/color]

It had been long since she needed to introduce herself, and perhaps that was a bit too regal and inauthentic? She found herself doubting the introduction given Thomas had introduced himself so matter of factly without care for purple etiquette. 

Thomas was not surprised; she had the bearing and manners of a noble, though he had never heard of Heartspire. Genealogies were never Thomas' specialty, the various trysts and marriages of the noble classes at best not interesting him in the slightest, and at worst tacitly mocking his lack of romantic success.

[color=0072bc]“You do your house credit, Pythia of Heartspire. You wear nobility like a glove. Though, that does not quite explain why one so young is setting out on our shared venture. What are your impressions so far? Is it living up to your expectations?”[/color]

Pythia herself wasn’t quite sure how to respond to the inquiry—to explain her position would be a tricky affair considering the circumstances. It was then she remembered that the best way to answer this question was to engage it in half-truths. Her hesitation was probably an easy sign to observe, however, and Thomas would likely know the story was more complex than what her reply would state.

[color=aba000]“My private instructor told me that the best teacher is not one that can be hired or bought, but experienced outside the towering walls we lock ourselves away within. So I suppose the short answer is I want to experience and learn from that experience?” [/color]

Thomas' expression did not change. He was used to being lied to, and wondered the odds of this little girl having an ulterior motive that would directly involve him. It was too early to say, but it seemed unlikely. Her explanation was fair, and if she were older and more likely to be experienced Thomas might have bought it, despite the poor delivery. He did not, however. Her bearing spoke of fear, fear unfit for a volunteer adventurer on such a quest. He wondered if her earlier formality was an attempt to maintain normalcy in her trepidation, and remembered to himself to compare her behavior now to that in the future to resolve the quandary. 

He thought of what he knew: a nervous young female possibly-inexperienced mage with no to little history in adventuring lied to a stranger about why she was here. Family politics were the best explanation, obviously: perhaps she is a black sheep, sent to find death or glory. Perhaps she is some bargaining tool or hostage of the Empress. Thomas would guess with moderate certainty that her desire to learn is real, which when coupled with the magic made him wonder why she was not at an academy, or under instruction competent enough not to let her be sent into a very dangerous situation. Thomas' initial guess is economical concerns on the part of her family: he had no good way of guessing her family's wealth without assistance, but no matter the case such things were pointless to speculate on. He filed away his thoughts for later pondering.

[color=0072bc]“You're a woman after my own heart; I have always respected those that seek to learn, and those willing to risk person or property to do so. However, your teacher must have more confidence in his surely excellent abilities: a great teacher can make the theoretical fantastical, and can guide a student's learning through the annals of time and through the minds of great men, from which we spectating minds can learn a great deal more from than our own flawed perception of experiences.”[/color]

Thomas caught himself for a second, cursing internally. He was rambling. Hastily, he added to his point. [color=0072bc]“Though, do not let me discourage you— my enjoyment of our adventure would be severely hampered by your departure or loss of enthusiasm. I can tell already you are both a formidable mind and a sound conversationalist.”[/color]

Thomas wondered if he was layering the praise on too heavily: there was no way for him to know either of those things, and he doubted she would not realize such. Thomas had to content himself that he would do better next time, and rely on that ever-present flaw of nobility, "weakness to flattery".

[color=aba000]“My instructor was a woman, actually.”[/color] 

Pythia began her reply with, as if she meant to interject before; but such interjection would’ve been rude in polite conversation as if to correct and undermine. She did find herself surprised by Thomas’ dialogue as she had not had spoken to anyone intellectual sans her teacher in such subjects for some time. Her parents had always distanced her away from it as it might have collided with the fact of her magical nature. It was weird growing up as she did—mages in Caradia were not feared or hated, yet they were treated with such subtly that it felt like they were still controversial. She never questioned mother or father though, and her instructor had only given answers that drove her spirit into the ground.

She shook herself of this thought pattern though, as it was counterproductive towards their conversation.

[color=aba000]“I thank you for that… though, I would be lying if I claimed it was simple as I said, but I do not know if it is appropriate to say. But there is truth in that I seek to experience and explore the world before me. Had this urgent mission not came to be I might be in Lumoise inquiring about studying abroad.”[/color]

Thomas was honestly surprised by her admission. Nobility were taught to guard secrets as well as they would guard currency, and only trade them for favors of equivalent value. This Pythia just told him not only that she had lied, or at least hidden the truth from him [he made a mental note to highly prefer the 'shame of the family' hypothesis], but she also confirmed that she was here against her will, with a preference towards study in establishments of learning. He wondered if she was trying to manipulate him, preface a new lie with an admittance of truth to reinforce its credibility [seems unlikely]. He wondered if she was trying to ingratiate herself with him towards some unknown goal, trying to make him trust her or care for her enough to do her favors, or worse for him, trick him to letting his guard down around her. Neither of these possibilities seemed likely, and he dismissed them and many others as too unlikely to be considered presently. He would have to believe her to be genuine.

Thomas did not believe that she was motivated by the urgency of the mission: it would be evident to anyone that their cause was less important than claimed, simply due to the volunteer recruitment system replacing what should have been a company of hard men and learned scholars. The fact she mentioned Lumiose as her desired point of education seemed odd - the nobility would have instilled in themselves at least, if not in her, the distrust of a nation of magi, and would likely not send a daughter there, when there was education options here, with the added possibility of using her as a piece in politics. There were too many variables again to consider, and Thomas had to halt himself before he carried on into listing the dozens of possibilities passing through his head. This mystery would have to be solved slowly, and there is no time like now to start.

[color=0072bc]“I have never been one for holding to decorum; feel free to speak to me as candidly as you desire, and I will only think better of you for it. I wonder though, why would you go to Lumiose? It seems odd for a woman of intellect and magical means to not want to attend our own Academy. Do you have friends or connections in Lumiose? I have never been myself, but it seems a rather interesting place, worth of inquiry at the very least.”[/color]

That should get him somewhere. He was finding himself more and more interested in this girl's predicament, and could feel his unconscious need to solve the puzzle before him. He did not like the feeling, and wanted to be done with it before it cloud his decision making.

Pythia had never really had the chance to speak candidly, so the opportunity was an awkward one but a relief nonetheless. A wider smile came to the girl’s face as he spoke those words which was a reflection of said relief. Her response was not obtuse at all, certainly.

[color=aba000]“Thank the Goddesses.”[/color] She continued to add on to the statement as she took a light breath, [color=aba000]“The politics of speech are ones that only make conversation difficult. As for why I would go to Lumiose—my instructor is from there and has connections to the academia present. I wanted to study under our mundane and magical theorists here in Caradia, of course, but politics has barred my application from procession.”[/color]

What was she doing?! She was admitting something deeply political (without naming names, sure, but still) that could have a cost if the wrong person overheard her. If it got back to her parents that she had become privy to relenting gossip what would they do? Even with the candid option of conversation it still seemed dangerous even if she was possibly daring to throw her life to the winds on this adventure of theirs. Her smile didn’t drop as she thought these things, but she did take a physical step back in consideration. She had never been in a room alone, she had always had guidance from her parents or her betters or her instructor who served as her mentor. Perhaps it showed her inexperience in social situations with others on her own, but it was easy to manipulate the flow of her conversation as well.

[color=aba000]“…which is again, why, I am considering my options. I do care about this quest of our liege’s, though.”[/color]

However, before more conversation could be made—Adralyn, the daughter of Caradia and the Princess of all of the realm, decided to take notice of Pythia’s failing composure and approached the two with a question. 

[i]Were they frightened?[/i]

Of course Pythia was indeed frightened, but she had thought she had composed herself well enough where her dread or internal fears of going beyond the safe walls of this great city she had lived in for many years—the dangers and fringe terrors out in the frontier always put her in a state of duality within fear and curiosity. How could she not? As a noble’s daughter, adopted or not, she wasn’t to be expected to need to leave this city in her lifetime but… here she was. But what could be an honest, but proper answer?

Pythia bit her lip before she looked at Adralyn with contemplation before she set out an answer.

[color=aba000]“I am not sure. I am wary and anxious for certain, but frightened?” She paused for a second, “Your highness, it may sound strange but I feel like I cannot be afraid of which I do not know.”[/color]

It was kind of the opposite of what many people would think about the ‘unknown’, but Pythia thought fear should only be a product of experience. This was of course due to her former instructors teachings of the witch hunts in foreign lands that were based on swaths of ignorance-bought fear. People died because other people feared what they did not know or understand—good people and bad people alike, and to change that from happening here or anywhere she had to be not afraid of what she did not know or understand; perhaps a reason why she was driven to self-experience. It was kind of the opposite of what many people would think about the ‘unknown’, but Pythia thought fear should only be a product of experience. This was of course due to her former instructors teachings of the witch hunts in foreign lands that were based on swaths of ignorance-bought fear. People [i]died[/i] because other people [i]feared[/i] what they did not know or understand—good people and bad people alike, and to change that from happening here or anywhere she had to be not afraid of what she did not know or understand; perhaps a reason why she was driven to self-experience. Pythia dreaded the “what if” more than anything right now but in a sense of good composure and thought decided she needed to quell that dread and think optimistically.   

A somewhat confident smile ended her reply to the Princess.