"Are you sure that will work? That they are just going to listen now?" Aurana's enthusiasm had suddenly dived and it showed.

Janius remained encouraging. "If it's done correctly, I believe it will." He leaned forward onto his elbows where he sat. "Look, I can't say it'll be a magical solution that's going to be as easy as clicking your fingers. It'll be tricky. The reason we want you to be the one that convinces mother and father is because they will then be more likely to listen to you once we've left if they try to go back to stabling you away." Janius stopped and gestured with a rolling wrist, trying to find a way to articulate his point. His last line was awkward to speak. "Besides, if there are other things that you want to convince mother and father on, like, say...visiting a friend or learning something new, then you might have an easier time with this practice."

Aurana averted her eyes. She fidgeted in place. "I don't know if I'm even capable of doing that. Or succeeding, at least."

At this, Janius stopped, snorted, and broke into a quiet laughter.

"What's so funny?" Aurana eyes narrowed, offended.

"Julan," Janius faced his son. "Could you please describe to your aunt how it came to be that you, Rhazii, and her were together at the canal last night?" He raised a hand. "I promise this isn't a thing to punish you with."

[hr]
Pircalmo went right back to his previous tone in response to Meesei. "If the experience of my last visit to Black Marsh was anything, it is that quality maps are an indispensable item. I can only imagine that cartography would be a necessity if you would travel in the region for long enough."

Reaching forward, Pircalmo took the tea pot and poured three cups in turn.

Lunise tilted her head. "You know, father, I don't ever recall asking why you became a scholar in the first place."

"Well, the same as any other, I suppose," he said with a shrug. "I found botany interesting. I found myself talented at the theory and systems that connect them. I began finding out more, and that knowledge was also fulfilling." He handed out the filled mugs on their saucers, one by one. "After a few decades, I branched out to study fauna, then a spot of geology, now here I am, still finding fulfilment in it all. Even if it is mostly reading and writing."

Lunise brought the tea to her lips. She was overcome with a visible relaxation over her body; she took a long blink and lowered her shoulders, gently breathing out after swallowing.

The tea itself was surprisingly sweet. It was not unlike an Elsweyr brew, though any amount of moon sugar it had, if there was any at all, would not cause the current effect on Lunise on its own. At least not in a sip's worth.

Pircalmo raised his brow to Meesei. "What about you, Meesei? What drove your decision to become a diplomat?"

Lunise's eyes shot open. "I don't care if you've kept my favourite tea all this time, father. I do not want you interrogating my friend. I can see the lines of questions already in your eyes before you have even asked them." She turned her head to Meesei. "You don't have to answer if you don't want to."

After an almost silent laugh, Pircalmo raised his hands. "It is not my intention to be rude. Please, tell me if I am probing too far and I will not take it as a slight."