[center][h3]Introductions[/h3][/center] Livia was waiting patiently for the two of her more...ambitious staff members to return. It was already late in the evening, and classes had been over with. She sipped quietly on her tea as she did so. Hopefully things would go well, and this Phoenix would be dealt with in a swift manner. She was confident her pupils could handle it. Especially Katherine. She had personally taught the girl after all, so if she of all people couldn't beat it...well. Then she had a problem. Her internal musings were cut short by the return of her two staff members. They looked alright for the most part. That must have meant things went well...if not for the third party with them. That girl hardly looked like the phoenix of legend. Livia narrowed her eyes at both of them, placing the teacup on her desk. [color=a187be]"Do explain."[/color] [color=green]"Hello to you too, Livia."[/color] Katherine said as she carried the girl in her arms. [color=green]"Well, if I must start from the beginning, we made it into the tower, went to the top and found a man beating and about to. . . Ravish. . . This poor girl. Not exactly the good kind either."[/color] All the while, Katherine set the girl down in a chair and continued her hardly abridged version. [color=green]"I took to. . . Restraining the man whilst Aetheria checked on this girl. I urged him to answer a few questions and he did. He said she was his familiar, the Legendary Bird of Fat Burning and Alcohol Combusting! Or Pheonix as most would probably call it."[/color] Katherine felt power re-enter her rings, likely her dolls that stayed behind returning. [color=green]"That said, I decided he should be sentenced to death. For what he did and to more easily negated the familiar pact. I hope I did well."[/color] [color=lightyellow]"I happened to find these while I was there."[/color] Aetheria clicked two of the three vials of tears she found before setting them down on Livia's desk. The white mage approached the red haired girl afterwords, clasping her hands together for a second and placing one on the crimson hair. After a second of her hand glowing, the bruises healed somewhat. [color=lightyellow]"It was ... surprisingly easy. I'm sure Kathrine can explain everything else you need to know."[/color] The blond haired woman took a few steps back towards the door. In truth, she was very excited to be able to study a pancea. While her magic could heal many wounds ... it wasn't all powerful, and she knew it. As for the red head, she countinued to breathe softly, eyes twitching slightly as she saw whatever dream she was seeing. That...girl was the phoenix? It wasn't unexpected for her not to be in the same incarnation she knew of. But this young? She must have recently been reincarnated...she would perhaps need to see how long between reincarnations. Not important for now. The girl looked absolutely worn out, terrified, and...well, in a not so good condition. Livia inspected the vials placed on her desk. Phoenix tears. Exploiting them most likely...well, she couldn't really condemn such an act. She'd have likely done something similar had the phoenix been the same as she had been told about. This entire turn of events was...troublesome, at the least. [color=a187be]"You have done well, my precious little student. I shall be sure to reward you well for your excellent work."[/color] She smiled, a fairly suggestive smile towards Katherine before turning to the vials, picking one up in her hand. [color=a187be]"More importantly...I assume these are tears from the phoenix? This...certainly complicates things a bit....but it could also be a boon."[/color] She walked over to the chair the child had been placed in. It'd be a comfortable enough place for her to rest for now. She liked to think her arm chairs were fairly comfortable. The girl looked fine enough, so nothing to worry about for the moment. Instead, she looked over to Aetheria. [color=a187be]"Aetheria, I do hope you're not going to be hiding anything from me?"[/color] She shot a look over to the white mage. She couldn't be sure of course, but she was awfully eager to get out of there. The white mage revealed a final remaining vial from her robes. [color=lightyellow]"As the medical professional here, I figured you wouldn't mind me studying one of these."[/color] She started turning around and looked over her shoulder. [color=lightyellow]"I didn't want to disturb you two any more than I needed to. You seem to enjoy eachother's company more without specators."[/color] While perhaps Aetheria might not have revealed anything later if Livia hadn't asked, the second statement was true. There were very strong rumors about the Headmistress and her former student, and the white mage intended on avoiding the two of them together. [color=a187be]"Do as you will."[/color] She replied to Aetheria, dismissing her. [color=a187be]"I would very much like to know the results of your research at some point."[/color] Of course, that basically translated to: You will tell me, or I will fire you. Aetheria should have easily picked up on that, however, and she felt no need to keep her here if she was intent on leaving. The white mage gave a quick bow and left the room quietly. Besides, the girl required more attention from her at the moment. [color=a187be]"I will admit, this is not what I was expecting."[/color] She said to Katherine. The Puppeteer shrugged. [color=green]"Yea, me either. I was expecting a fight, not a slaughter. No regrets, though I have a feeling I'm going to have to wipe down the dolls of blood and find someone to magically removed the blood from their outfits."[/color] There was no easy way to wash clothes unless you had the magic to do so. Livia simply gave Katherine a unimpressed look. That's not what she had meant at all, but ah well. [color=green]"That being said, who should we have take care of her for now? Well, after we make sure she heals up a bit."[/color] Katherine asked, more than willing to lend a few dozen hands to assist. [color=green]"I mean, I wouldn't mind taking care of her for a bit. Well, if she isn't afraid of dolls."[/color] A difficult question. The fact the phoenix was just a little girl changed her plans completely. She had expected fiery tyrant, not slave girl. This was just too much out of the realm of possibility that she had prepared herself for, for one of the few times in her life. [color=a187be]"I do not think your dolls would make a good initial impression on the girl, unfortunately."[/color] How could they go about this, then? Causing the girl any more stress was out of the question. She certainly had experience in teaching and taking care of students...but she wasn't entirely sure she was cut out for actually taking care of a child herself. [color=a187be]"I suppose we'll have to see once she wakes."[/color] Livia finally replied after a few moments of thought. [color=a187be]"I believe I am rather qualified for looking after one. I do it every day, after all. Though, help from you and your dolls would likely be much appreciated."[/color] Picking up on their cue, the crimson haired girl's eyes fluttered open. For the first few seconds of that she looked around, the young teenager noticed the two women. A tall one sitting in a chair donned in a purple dress, and the other a shorter robed woman with stunning hair and a robe on each finger. For these few seconds, a look of confusion ran across her face as it was obvious she was trying to register where she was. Then unadulterated terror filled her eyes as she looked down. Looking at the other two women, a moment of realization ran across her face. Amber eyes looked towards the door, accidently left slightly open from when Aetheria had left. Without saying anything the girl in the torn shirt suddenly bolted for the exit, straight past the two women. The crimson hair billowed as she moved with surprising speed, as if she was trying to run for her life. As the Pheonix-girl started to run, Katherine sighed slightly. She really should have expected this. She snapped her fingers and two dolls practically came out of the woodwork and gently closed the door. [color=green]"I'm sorry, doll-face. You should calm down a little before leaving this room. Not that you'll probably believe me, but we're not going to hurt you or anything of the sort."[/color] Personally, Katherine wanted to say something about wanting to pamper this girl, but all things considered, that might be taking it a little far for right now. [color=green]"Plus, you don't have to worry about that old master of yours any more."[/color] The red haired girl didn't notice the door closing slowly, and ran straight into it shoulder first. Of course, the frail girl lost the contest of strength and ended up bouncing off of it, collapsing onto the ground. Looking up at the speaking woman, the crimson haired girl heard the comforting words of reassurance. For a second or two, the girl seemed to calm down. Then the redhead was reminded by ring-fingers about the death of her former master: long, brutal, and painful. Not understanding the entire situation, the terrified girl came to the conclusion that the person in front of her was simply trying to catch her and was EXACT sort of person who would torture another. The girl ran to a corner of the room, and seeing a bookshelf grabbed a volume off the shelf, [i]A Thousand And One Ways to Defend Yourself[/i] and seemed to be prepared to wield it as a weapon. Amber eyes flickered between the two older women. Livia sighed. Understandable that the girl was acting this way, but at least Katherine managed to keep the door shut. This was a problem, though. The girl was obviously terrified of the both of them, judging from the rather adorable way she was attempting to hold that book to defend herself. Likely the girl was a bit afraid of Katherine. If she had saw her...dispose of the previous master in that fashion then there was a good chance that she was more than a little put off by Katherine. Livia slowly stood up from her seat. One had to be gentle with someone in this situation. She couldn't force anything, she had to make sure she the phoenix understood that they were [i]not[/i] there to harm her. "Let me handle this, hm?" She softly said as she passed Katherine, walking over to the redhead. She knelt down, getting on a knee as she offered a small smile to the redhead. One had to be gentle sometimes with someone, to achieve a desired result. [color=a187be]"Hello,"[/color] She softly said. [color=a187be]"You can ignore that mean one over there. She's a scary one, isn't she? I apologize if she startled you. She won't harm you as long as I am here, though little one."[/color] Livia was quiet for a moment, and let the girl process the words. [color=a187be]"Do you have a name? I am Livia Fiore."[/color] The crimson haired girl pressed herself more firmly into the corner as the tallest womam approached, lifting the book up in an initial attempt to defend herself, watching as the woman stopped a distance just short of comfortable and took a knee, introducing herself with a calm voice. Despite her fears, the young teenager felt her emotions even out as the woman spoke softly. The tightly clenched book in the girl's trembling hands lowered down to her hips, the tome pointing downwards at the ground as if it had been sheathed. The woman named Livia's question surprised the girl though, and the youngest one's eyes drifted slightly to the left as the seemed to be attempting to gather her thoughts. After a few moments, the girl finally answered with her master's favorite term for her, in a voice barely above a whisper. [color=salmon]"... worthless ..."[/color] The amber eyes closed for a second as she remembered several unpleasant moments where that named had been involved, then she shook her head. The book fell to the floor out of her hands, as if it was too difficult for her to focus on holding it and the painful memories at the same time. Livia's smile wavered. She could barely hear it, but she could at least tell that it wasn't a name one would want to be called. She was no saint herself, she'd even admit as such. She'd done some pretty terrible things in her life, but labeling someone as worthless? Such people were entire reasons she did the things she did. That scum had better been thankful it was Katherine that ended him. She wouldn't have let him rest so easily. She brushed the thought away though. Now wasn't the time to think of such things. [color=a187be]"That's not a name,"[/color] She continued to smile. [color=a187be]"That, my dear little red is what someone calls something like those who abuse others for their own pleasure."[/color] She didn't entire know if the child would understand that statement, but it didn't matter. [color=a187be]"Surely someone with such beautiful red hair as yours has an equally beautiful name?"[/color] The red head blinked for a few seconds at the compliment, not sure what to make of it. The girl seemed to be confused with the entire thing overall, but she shook her head again after a few seconds. Based on the woman's surprise, was she supposed to have one? It was strange now that she thought about it. In her dreams, she had been called many things, 'Irasacha', 'Iravis', 'Zaliki', but those things seemed strangely distant to her, and didn't seem to apply. The woman's compliments and smile reassured the young girl, who started leaning against the wall rather than pressing into it, the thoughts clearly distracting her. Katherine tried to ignore that fact that this girl had been so defensive earlier against her. To be fair, being comforting was hardly her strong suit. Even when she didn't intend to, she came off as a bit harsh and obnoxious though definitely to no fault of her own. Now they were talking about the girl's name? She seemed to not have one. . . Well, despite something more akin to mental backwash. [color=green]"Back in England there is a lightly used name of Irish descent, 'Flannery'. Could be fitting if she has nothing else. 'Flannery Fireborn' or something of the like?"[/color] The last name was a bit of a joke, but Katherine thought it was fitting nonetheless. A good old sort of English name from a good old sort of English woman. Flannery? Really? Well it wasn't exactly a bad name, but that wasn't entirely a name Livia felt fit the girl. Especially that last part. 'Fire Born'. Well, it was increidbly descriptive she supposed but that was about as much naming merit she was going to give it. Really, if Katherine ever had a child as unlikely as that may be, she feared for the child sometimes. [color=a187be]"Perhaps simply, 'Fia' will work better, Katherine."[/color] Livia replied after a few moments. Short for Fiammetta, but the entire name felt a bit crass and overbearing. [color=a187be]"It's a name from a country to the south, Italy. Quite a pleasant place, really. I've been there on many occasion."[/color] The name meant 'Flickering Flame', and it was quite fitting considering everything. The red haired girl looked between the two of them, listening to their suggestions for naming .. her? The girl seemed to stunned than anything else. The scary woman suggested the name 'Flannery Fireborn' ... but the girl didn't feel like being named by a tourterer ... and it simply didn't roll off the tounge. However ... 'Fia'? It was a bit simple ... but it was from the kneeling woman who had a smile as she spoke. Perhaps she could add to it later. Looking to the kneeling woman she nodded her assent. [color=salmon]"... Fia ..."[/color] The one named Fia's look of fear had finally cleared away, seeming to be replaced largely by curiousity as a very important question popped into her head. [color=salmon]"... so ... what ...?"[/color] The girl still had very little idea what was going on, and the two hadn't exactly said what they wanted from her, or why they were giving her a name. Katherine looked a little downtrodden. Just a little though. [color=green]"But Flannery's a nice name too."[/color] Katherine really had nothing else to say at that though. Not like it was her choice. She just had to go along with it. [color=a187be]"Well now, my little Fia, you are safe."[/color] She replied, ignoring Katherine's small annoyance. [color=a187be]"I am certain you are tired, and I think after everything that has happened you could use a bit of time to yourself."[/color] She didn't have any guest rooms prepared at the moment, and letting her stay in the dorms was a bad idea so soon. The only options would be to let her come home with her, if she wasn't adverse to it...though she supposed she could always rest on the couch. It was comfortable enough... [color=a187be]"We can discuss more details later, after you've had time to rest."[/color] The teenager listened to Livia, and nodded slightly. Truthfully she was tired. The girl felt exhausted from just about everything, and despite Aetheria's healing magic there was only so much the white mage could do. A low rumble from her stomach made her other desires obvious. But something bothered the girl more than anything else. Fia had lived an entire life as a reasource ... and she couldn't where this woman gained. The two had claimed they wouldn't hurt her - but that was how her master had let her 'pay her keep'. The crimson hair girl knew her tears were valued, but she didn't know why. Again, her voice spoke as to be barely audible to the others. [color=salmon]"... what's ... your cut ...?"[/color] The concept of charity didn't really exist for her, and she didn't understand why they had come to make her safe if they didn't get anything for themselves. [color=a187be]"My, quite the perceptive little one, aren't you?"[/color] She replied, a bit surprised that the girl had asked such a thing. [color=a187be]"I will admit, I am not doing this for free. An acquaintence of mine asked shortly before she...went into a long slumber asked for me to find you. Paid me quite well as per our usual agreement."[/color] Not a lie, truthfully. She had been asked to find the phoenix before that old dragon went and slept, to try and preserve as much of her life as she possibly could. [color=a187be]"So you do not have to worry, little Fia. I promise you are safe as long as you remain on this campus, and that I want nothing from you. Not your tears or anything else that you have."[/color] Perhaps that was a bit of a rash promise to make in this scenario. She couldn't very well completely insure the girls saftey. She was still conflicted about how she felt about the girl in general herself. Plus, if Sorcha ever found out...well. That could end badly. The recently named Fia nodded her head nervously, understanding the situation a bit better now. Although she was still a little curious about the circumstances, the red head decided against pushing her luck. Livia just promised that she wouldn't be harvested - which meant that issue had been taken care of. Fia took a nervous step towards Livia, then took a half step back as if the taller woman was a little scary. Another slide forward, another nudge backwards. She repeated this a few times, and when the redhead was seven feet away she stopped her advance, eyes looking towards the carpet and shifting back and fourth as she awaited her new fate. The crimson haired girl felt hungry because she hadn't been fed by her master for the day, thirsty because she'd been harvested earlier, and tired because of the overload in change. For now, Fia concluded that she could at least trust the kneeling one. Livia smiled. Well, that thankfully placated the girl, and judging from that growl from a few moments ago she was hungry. Well, this might be a good moment for the girl to learn to trust Katherine, at least a little. Livia stood slowly as to try and not startle the girl. [color=a187be]"Well, now that that's over with...you may take a seat if you want. The couch is quite comfortable, made of the finest material a woman of my standing can get her hands on."[/color] She laughed softly, indicating the coffee table with two couches sitting on either side of it. [color=a187be]"Katherine, be a dear and have your dolls bring everyone some food if you can."[/color] [color=green]"Very well."[/color] Katherine said, seeming much less sullen than before. She seemed to stare off into nothing for a few seconds as she mentally contacted some of her dolls closer to some of the kitchens than she was. Her abilities have greatly increased since her time as a teenager shown by the number of dolls she could stay connected to at once. [color=green]"Well, I have water on the way as well, but did you want any food in particular? Or should I just have my darlings make something up and bring it?"[/color] Surprisingly, Katherine enjoyed cooking and made sure each and every one of her dolls could do so. The food tended to be simple, but it tasted pretty well overall. [color=a187be]"Something simple will do. No need to make an entire extravagant meal at this hour."[/color] Livia replied to Katherine as she took a seat on one of the couches herself. [color=a187be]"I will settle for some tea myself, I am not particularly hungry at the moment."[/color] Truth be told, she was rather tired herself and would like to retire to a luxurious bubble bath soon. [color=a187be]"Is there anything you want, Fia? The kitchens here can make almost anything you could possibly want."[/color] The girl looked back and forth between the two of them for a few moments, taking Livia's advice and lowering herself into the couch opposing the older woman with as much distance between them as possible. But food? Wasn't there only two options? In her dreams she had experienced other things, but her master had told her those dreams were lies to decieve her. But the way the two women spoke implied far more options existed. The red haired girl knew of gruel and water, and sometimes stale bread on days her master was feeling generous, but that was the extent of her personal experience. The crimson haired girl decided to go with what she recieved as an award. [color=salmon]"... Bread ... and Water ..."[/color] Well that simply wouldn't do. Bread and water? No no. She wouldn't be getting fine dining, but Livia would not let her have something so meager. She doubted she had to tell Katherine this, but she would say it anyways. [color=a187be]"Katherine, make the girl something special would you? I do not care what it is, but I think she needs a good meal for once."[/color] [color=green]"Hmm, I think I can do that."[/color] Katherine said as she plotted the meal plan. As far as something special went, the Puppeteer figured she'd mix meat and bread as the girl asked along with a mix of other random ingredients that sounded good at the time. The mysterious kitchen process of mixed ways produced what the puppeteer desired with the help of her dolls until they made two versions of the meal along with the tea Livia requested. [color=green]"I think I have some nice meals on the way."[/color] Almost immediately after saying that, two dolls entered with a pitcher of water and two glasses. The glass carrier took a glass to Fia and one to Katherine. The Puppeteer accepted with a smile and let the pitcher-carrier to pour her glass full. It then went over to the Pheonix and silently offered to pour her glass. The girl between the two as they suggested that her idea was too frugal ... and nodded a few times, but didn't say anything. Sooner than she expected, a small puppet entered the room and delivered the second of her requests. The abused girl stretched out a nervous hand, accepting the water and drinking the entire thing in a matter of seconds with very little civility. The crimson haired girl placed the glass back into the hands of the doll-servant, hoping they would give her more. If the dolls could smile, they would have. But alas, they were just dolls with a static face. If body language were any indication, they was all too happy to do so and poured the water and returned the glass back to the girl. Katherine found the exchange cute if nothing else. The girl accepted the glass of water again, downing it as well. She returned the now twice used glass to the doll, leaning back into the couch and closing her eyes after examining the room one more time. It wouldn't be too bad to wait until the food arrived ... A bit of time passed as Katherine sat in a chair herself and Livia in hers as the Pheonix lay dormant on the couch. Katherine was glad it was peaceful as opposed to the rough treatment she recieved. [color=green]"Well, we'll wake her up in a bit I guess. She looks peaceful at least."[/color] [color=a187be]"Indeed."[/color] Livia replied with a smile towards Katherine. [color=a187be]"Its a good thing...poor dear is exhausted. Perhaps...while we wait though, you could entertain me, Katherine dear? All the paperwork today was particularly tiring."[/color] [color=green]"As fun as that sounds, I say we save it for later. We don't want screams to be misconstrued as something else."[/color] Katherine mentioned, being cautious to not set the girl off again. [color=green]"Besides, the food should be here soon."[/color] At about those words, the doors opened showing a number of dolls carrying the two meals and the tea for Livia. The doll that had given out water glasses tugged on Fia to wake her up as an order from Katherine. [color=a187be]"Tsk...you're no fun."[/color] Livia replied with a chuckle, taking her tea from one of the dolls. [color=a187be]"I suppose I'll just have to drink this tea and come up with some imaginative things that I can do with you later."[/color] To which Katherine smirked in reply. The red haired girl's eyes fluttered open after the two finished talking, sparing her from the inappropriate conversation, eyeing the food hungrily. As it was set down in front of her, the girl poked the strange food with a finger nervously a few times ... then took a small bite out of it. Her amber eyes widened and for the first time the other two would see a large smile of excitement spread across her face. The third pound burger lasted less than forty five seconds. The girl was licking the remenents off her fingers, having consumed the meal in a way a dog would if it hadn't been fed for a week ... she was incredibly dirty, and not simply because of the way she had eaten. Her skin had dirt practically embedded into it, her fingernails would require several days at the spa. It would probably be a good idea to wash her and everything she sat in as soon as she found a bath. Her amber eyes returned to Livia after she finished eating, waiting for whatever came next. [color=a187be]"Well, someone was hungry."[/color] Now that that was over with...the girl was incredibly dirty. That wouldn't do, either. Thankfully at this late, the bathhouses would mostly be empty save for perhaps a few stragglers. Livia finished her tea swiftly, sitting the cup in her hands down on the table. [color=a187be]"Well, now that you've eaten something other than whatever that filth you had been fed earlier, you need a good wash."[/color] Livia said, sitting the cup in her hands down on the table. [color=a187be]"Care to join us in the bathhouse, Katherine?"[/color] Katherine had finished her own food, though slower than Fia and watched in awe. As Livia asked if she wanted to join in the bathhouse, Katherine did think about feeling somewhat sticky. It was always nice to not feel so and answered. [color=green]"I believe I shall. A bath sounds just wonderful right now."[/color] The Crimson haired girl simply looked between the two of them, seeming confused. [color=green]"A bath. To clean you all up. Your master didn't seem to take good care of you and you look all sorts of filthy."[/color] Katherine said in a nice tone. [color=green]"Personally, I think you're rather pretty as so, I think Livia could agree you'll look much better clean and in a good set of clothes."[/color] The Puppeteer was smiling at the girl, looking at Livia as she brought up the woman's name. [color=green]"Should I have my dolls go fetch something. . . Not so revealing for our guest here?"[/color] [color=a187be]"Please do. I can not have her going around in these rags. She would look lovely in something green, I think."[/color] Livia replied as she turned to Fia. [color=a187be]"Now come along, we'll have you cleaned up in no time."[/color] Livia ushered the girl out of her office, and made her way to the baths followed quickly by Katherine. The girl left the office as ordered, and stepped into the night air, not sure exactly what to expect.