[u]Khan[/u]

Despite being lost and withdrawn inside his drained mind, Khan’s ears still picked up the approach of heavy footsteps. Steady and determined, a pace he knew who it belonged to: Tyrael. His eyes shifted open and darted to the corner as he spotted the Fallen Orc’s white, armor like mass take his seat beside him. Khan’s body relaxed to see a familiar, non-diplomatic figure settle beside him, and released the building worry which had cropped up within his attention. He was rather sure his patient might’ve happened if another approached him, namely one aimed to gain favor. Deep inside, Khan knew it was an exaggerated judgment, but an accurate one to what he felt. 

He took a deep breath to press down the tension running up and down him. That’s when Tyrael commented about none of them growing younger and the fact things would’ve been easier if both Djarkel and Eania were allied under banner, the College’s. However, Khan knew this wasn’t possible diplomatically and had a slightly lingering belief so did Tyrael to some extent. His mind still weighed down in his weakness, he decided to give the Fallen Orc his full attention. Even if his heart wasn’t feeling capable of taking on the task. His forearms rested up the table’s firm surface and slowly pushed him upright, his back straightened against the chair’s support when he spoke. His voice started off lighthearted yet took a diplomatic and reasonable tone after the first comment. 

“The funny part, I’m still in my prime but I feel as old as you, Uicle or… even Lucilia!” Khan said, hastily added on the vampire in his slight forgetfulness. Sometimes he had to remind himself from time to time, she was indeed older then she looked. During his mental reminder, his eyes glimpsed to the area behind Tyrael for a fleeting moment causing an odd sensation to sweep over him. The odd colored eyes had spied at the official’s table for any aggressions and a rush of awareness filled him, his eyes slightly widened while his jawline tightened for a moment. It only took seconds to realize the cause of alarm upon spotting the empty chair. His brows knotted into confusion, the vacancy bothered him slightly, but he instead focused on the conversation rather than jump to hasty conclusions. Last thing Khan needed to do was to have his wild imaginations and paranoia cause unneeded actions. 

He forced himself to calm down, his heart still thumping at a higher rate, before he continued to keep “The only error in your comment, Tyrael, is our influence and current power is exactly what they fear the most. Instead of a war between Eania and Djarkel, it would become a three way one adding to the conflict tearing Tiien apart. What is the point in fighting in a war which would leave the victor’s spoilers in ruin when it is won? The College might manage to survive, but there would be nothing left when it was all said and done. That is the nature of war, mainly when replied by with brute force.” 

Khan had relayed his understanding both bluntly, but in the most subtle way possible, a manner which allowed no ignorance on its meaning. Both Tryael and Khan knew Djarkel’s as well as Eania’s reply to such measures of being united under banner. It was a strain Khan wasn’t so sure he wanted to test the College’s power or strength against such odds, not when there was already enough crumbling Tiien apart. His hand raised slowly to grasp the goblet’s narrow neck, his fingers cradled the underside gently. He toyed with the idea of finish what remained within his glass in only a swallow while another thing pestered his attention. Something else seemed off about the scene, his eyes returned to the scene and allowed his mind to gently wash through the list. In his thinking, Khan casually sparked a conversation about Tyrael’s return. He would likely gather the details about the demonomancer’s trip tomorrow and in more privacy, not wanted the officials slight sparks to be increased into violence by the winds of Tyrael’s small task. It won’t have gone over very well and Khan knew it. 

“On to another topic. I assume you’ve found a pleasant surprise when you arrived back?” The headmaster asked, his voice cautioned against revealing too much about the incidents in Tyrael’s absence. Mainly what the Fallen Orc would’ve done upon discovery of Xyden’s attempts to end Mar’s life, so it was ideal to keep it within milder ranges until Xyden was banished.

It was then it clicked who else was missing: Lidda. Not once had he seen the Vitamancer’s odd figure, a new shape, monster or human, within the small crowds inside the Dining Hall. Again the confusion came knocking to his mind until the realization, the recall of Eania’s official gone, clicked into place like a flint spark to kindling. He felt rather the fool for not putting the pieces together earlier as he pushed the worry from his mind, one mystery solved though he did slightly pity Lidda’s currently position. He most certainly didn’t look to be the fly upon that stone wall during the father and daughter chat.