"Okay! Watch this!" she immediately got to it, a fierce determined expression furrowing her brow. The little girl reached into the front pocket of her dress and pulled out a deck of cards. She closed her eyes mumbling an incantation to herself. In slow but sure motion the cards each began to singularly file out of the box, stacking themselves on top of each other. In front of her she held her hands in a triangular shape, then in one swooping motion she looked as if she were chopping the air. The cards matched the movement instantaneously, all spread out neatly all the while levitating a foot off the ground. Marië through gritted teeth spoke. The whole ordeal was obviously taking a lot out of her.

"Okay.. . pick.. . a card.. ,"

After Eru would pick a card Marië would clench both her hands, and the spread array of cards would move into a neat stack. She then placed both hands face down, on on the other, and slid the top one forward. As she did a single card separated from the pile, moving out and flipping to face the elf. Whether or not it was the right one was irrelevant since in just a few seconds the card would burst into flames, Marië letting out a little squeak and plopping back to the floor on her butt. The deck of cards fell, scattering. She sighed and tilted her head, shrugging.

"They don't let me do magic at the art academy, but I practice when I can," she grinned.

Whatever the case, the spectacle was impressive especially for a ten year old. Marië stood, wiping off the hem of her dress. After a cleaning up a bit she jumped forward, placing her hands on Eru's knees and staring intensely at her, shooting off a barrage of questions.

[center]✱ ✲ ✳ ✴ ✵[/center]

Lanik sat in the kitchen with Darian both sipping on some foreign blood import. Darian had brought a leatherskin of the stuff over, and it was considered wholeheartedly rude in Imperial culture to refuse an offer of the drink. Darian's composure had changed since the last time he had saw him, which Lanik supposed was a good thing. He had brought over Marië who was as they were speaking unpacking things in her room. That made Lanik happy. Marië always did. Darian and Lanik resorted to idle chit chat before delving into deeper conversation.

"So, why'd you buy her brother?" Darian asked, grinning. He had mixed his bloody drink with several types of wine, so to say he wasn't a little drunk would be a fallacy.

"Buy who? The elf?" Lanik feigned innocence.

Darian let out a chortle of a snort that resonated throughout the whole house. He laughed afterwards too, tearing up. 

"Obviously the elf, dear brother. Don't play dumb with me,"

Lanik rapped on the table with his fingers, thinking about what to say next. To hell he would tell Darian of her involvement with saving one of his rangers. That would complicate things. He scratched his chin, supposing he would play the part.

"I've never been with an elf before, and you said yourself before I should try one," he almost cringed saying that, but he shrugged instead.

Darian raised both eyebrows, "Well I didn't think you'd take me seriously," Darian stood up, wavering but eventually doing so, "But don't you worry I won't tell Serani. I own over a hundred slaves brother, one isn't going to hurt you," he raised a finger, suddenly remembering something, "Ah, don't let me forget,"

Darian reached under the table pulling out a branding iron with the Convenant Rangers Fox sigil on it's end and a Limiter collar. Darian looked at Lanik.

"A few presents for your purchase," he stumbled towards the door, Lanik stood up and immediately jumped to his side, slinging his arm over his shoulder and aiding him to the door.

"You'll be okay getting home, Darian?" Lanik asked, holding the door open for him.

"HAH!" Darian walked down the path leading to the front door, near the middle he opened his arms, spinning around, "Lanik! I am home! This [i]is[/i] the Imperium, right!?" he laughed and stumbled to his horse. Lanik watched him ride off.

The captain just shook his head with a cheeky grin on his face, remembering Lanik dancing in the bloody moonlight not long before. Night had fallen, and having had a long day he was ready to hit the sack. But before doing such he went back to the kitchen, inspecting the gifts Darian had left for him. He picked up the branding iron, running a hand over the end. It was skillfully made, the blindfolded fox with barred teeth more menacing than ever. He sighed, and while he wished he wouldn't have to use it if he were to continue this guise as a slave owner he would have to act the part in some ways. Branding was one of them. He cringed, imagining the tip soldering hot in cherry red.

He turned his attention to the collar, looking at its design. [i]Interesting[/i] he thought.

That's when he heard voices in the main bedroom. Lanik frowned, had Marië finished packing already? And [i]wait.. . she's not alone with that elf is she?[/i] Lanik hurried over quietly to the main bedroom, cracking the door open just a little to see what was happening inside.

There was his daughter, hands on the elves knees and spouting questions in her face. It didn't surprise him, she had always had a curious demeanor not unlike himself. He grinned listening to her shoot them off like a machine gun.

[i]Why are your ears pointy?
Why is your hair silver?
Can you do magic?
HOW OLD ARE YOU?[/i]