[h3][color=00667c]Praeth[/color] & [color=gold]Araxie[/color][/h3]
Praeth appraised the girl before him more closely, as he had Nadia. As Nadia had, the girl before him also pleased his aesthetic sense. Where Nadia's features were soft and tender, this girl's features flowed together like a river, every curve and facet adding to her beauty. As he watched her blue eyes fall towards his shoes, he imagined her a water elementalist before she even spoke.

[color=gold]"My name is Araxie, s-sir! But... Most call me Ara because it's easier. Y-You're free to call me as you like, sir! I... uhhm... I like sitting by the rivers and listening to the water rush by."[/color]

Praeth winced inwardly initially at the large contrast in volume between Nadia and Araxie, but he quickly became used to her voice, and as he had imagined with her appearance, her voice was similar with a silky texture to it. To his surprise she seemed almost confident, although she did call him sir. In every way, it seemed almost like she was in stark contrast to Nadia, and thus, Praeth was pleased with the diversity, his interest piqued by both brides thus far.

[color=00667c]"I see, so your element is water, is it not?"[/color]

Praeth asked, rather than waiting for an answer he already knew, Araxie felt his eyes prying into hers with a sort of analytical intensity, his presence becoming many times more oppressive. As Nadia had been fairly straightforward with her personality, Praeth did not feel the need to pry more closely, but for Araxie, he had sensed a bit of a facade. Without yet understanding Araxie's personality, Praeth's curiosity allotted him to try and buckle any form of barrier that would block a full understanding of his bride, in a way that would only be fitting of Praeth, sudden and arbitrary intimidation via overbearing aura.

Ara felt his eyes gaze at her and her eyes went wide. She could feel it in her bones. Fear. Yet... something else was there too. Admiration? That couldn't be right... Awe? No... Not that either. Whatever it was, he didn't [i]really[/i] scare her so much as amaze her. 

[color=gold]"I... Yes, sir."[/color] She began, a smile forming on her face. [color=gold]"You're so smart."[/color] She spoke, her voice much softer now, like a gentle spring. 

Praeth rose an eyebrow, but offered nothing else forward in his features beyond the ever-present quirk of the lips. His presence relaxed but he continued to stare at Araxie, after a few moments of silence, Praeth finally spoke again,

[color=00667c]"Well then Ara, I will offer you the same oppurtunity I offered Nadia, would you care to show me the extent of your power? As a fellow water elementalist, I'm sure you'll give me the honor?"[/color]

 Each word was enunciated carefully to avoid any misunderstanding, yet his accent was so heavy that 'Ara' rolled off his tongue in something close to a purr. Although those around him understood clearly what he said, it almost sounded like he was speaking a different language entirely.

Ara's body shivered at his words. The way her name rolled off of his tongue made her legs feel like jello. Part of her was excited to be able to show her powers but the other part of her knew he would be disappointed in them. Her face suddenly dropped, the smile gone. She... She didn't want to disappoint him but... She felt the tears welling up in her eyes and blinked to will them away.

[color=gold]"C-Certainly..."[/color] She choked, swallowing hard. She took in a deep breath and tried to calm her fast beating heart. For some reason, she did not want to disappoint this man and not because she thought he would hurt her but because for the brief moment she had known him, she had all but made him her idol. 

[color=gold][i]Praeth... forgive me for being such a failure as a water bride....[/i][/color]

She swallowed as she lifted a hand and produced a small pool of water in the palm of her hand. It wobbled as it lifted from her palm and shook in a messy orb. Seconds later, it burst and splashed Ara in the face. She let out a shaky breath as she turned to look, her eye wide with fear. He was going to hate her now. He was going to punish her!

Praeth released a low chuckle, it was a sympathetic one that almost said outright, 'Nothing more was expected, do not feel shame'. Watching her eyes widen with fear, an extremely faint  ecstatic wrenching feeling formed in the bottom of Praeth's stomach but he only showed a slight nod before rewarding Ara's effort with a more prominent smile, it could be considered a faint smile for most, but it almost seemed like Praeth's facial features had reached their maximum capacity for expression.

[color=00667c]"I am familiar with Gemminite's level of power, comparitively, I am very much pleased with your level of potential. On the other hand, it seems your mastery of your power is...poor, even at this age. Of course, I will take part in aiding your training from now on. To make things clear, I want the three of you to be able to use your elements to protect yourselves. Physically, none of you will be able to match a Drakken, it is a mere truth, but you might just be able to take one by surprise with a certain level of expertise."[/color] 

She could feel her legs turning to jello again at the sound of his voice. His faint smile was enough to cause her to fall to the ground in a heap of weak Gemminite. At first, his words sent her heart skyrocketing but as he continued, she felt her heart drop. Her mastery was... poor? Her eyes went wide as he continued, however. 

[i][color=gold]H-He's going t-to train me?![/color][/i]

She could feel her heart leaping out of her chest. She hadn't been this happy in a very, very long time. Most people just gave up on her the moment they saw her level of mastery...

Praeth began to digress, but it almost seemed like it pained him to be dishonest, pulling his direct attention from Araxie and focusing on the three of them, 

[color=00667c]"I will explain my current position to the three of you as to avoid blindsiding you all later. The attendent that selected you all, he is my one and only subordinate- don't be fooled, I am not lacking in capital wealth- but the entire Drakken country abhorres my very existence as of now. In turn, I have enlisted the tradition of brides to solidify my power, thus you must never forget your position and be cautious in everything you do. As the three of you are the foundation of my current standing, many people will target you all when they realize they cannot target me."[/color]

He had suddenly become extremely straightforward and serious, as if the situation was dire, but he intended to fully imply the danger they were in. Looking back to Araxie, Praeth returned to his earlier face with the slight raising of the lips that seemed more like an apologetic one, 
[color=00667c]"So, I'm afraid even if you have skirted your training in your element until now, I will ask that you work hard to strengthen your elemental technique."[/color]
 Although he had said 'ask' , it was obvious that he left little room for objection or slacking. 

Ara watched him and hung onto every word. This man was going to kill her just by setting her heart ablaze. [color=gold]"Y-You'll really train me?"[/color] She asked, still sitting on the floor with her legs set out on either side. Her eyes sparkled with life and her lips curled into an excited smile. The smile soon faded as she realized something, however. She... She wouldn't be of much use to him... She was a failure as a gem and she'd be a failure to him. 

The happiness in her face melted away to reveal a sad and fearful one which soon melted into a fierce expression of determination. 
[color=gold]"I'll do my best, sir. Please... I'll do my best!"[/color] She shouted, pushing herself up off the floor.

Praeth watched her plethora of expressions, despite all his strength and skills, he envied her wide range of emotions. Perhaps if one could laugh from the stomach, red faced; but also, cry with the most frantic of sobs, one could live a truly fulfilling life. There was a light behind the girl's eyes that had been long absent from Praeth's, perhaps he envied that the most. He felt his stomach swell with something close to admiration, the three girls infront of him were all laughably weak compared to him, small and fragile. Yet, despite their hardship, they never cast aside something that Praeth was desperately missing. Following Araxie's words, Praeth, for a moment, perhaps less than a fraction of a second, flashed an expression of vexation as if he was intensely preplexed, but the moment quickly passed and Praeth collected himself with a low laugh.

[color=00667c]"I like the attitude! I look forward to our training... now... that leaves us.."[/color]

Praeth looked to his final bride, he had neglected her up until now, but she could feel his gaze appraising her as he had done the others.

[color=00667c]"Apologies for the wait, my dear. I suppose it is now your time to shine."[/color]