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Aetheria nodded as she listened to the other woman's explanation.  So she was willingly possessed, then?  That was ... odd, at a minimum.  And probably not likely to turn out perfectly in the long term as well.  The white mage motioned for the other woman to remain there as she headed up to her study where she grabbed a book and returned downstairs to the foreign woman.  [color=lightyellow]"I'm going to have to do my own little checkup here."[/color]  The mage placed the book on a nearby table before pulling a small pillow from one of the cabinets and setting it down on the examination table.  [color=lightyellow]"Take your robes off and lay down here.  I'm going to ask you a few questions and it is for your own good if you answer them honestly.  Legally, I cannot disclose anything you tell me to another."[/color]

As if impatient the mage waited for the other woman to lay down and picked up a pad as she was clearly in thought.  Normally she would have asked about payment up front, but Aetheria was granted a small stipend per case dealt with from the school that would barely cover expenses.  However, there were several interesting research opportunities here as well.

A few seconds after a cursory look over her patient - there were some bruises that indicated that there had recently been a fight, possibly the one they had been discussing - Aetheria lifted her quill and asked her first question.  [color=lightyellow]"Do you have a name?"[/color]  It was almost a joke for the mage at this point to never be told the name of her patients as if it didn't matter.

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Maoin's ears stood attentively as Lady Gwynn let loose her own tale, a small but somewhat pained smile crossing her face as the other woman spoke.  It was a good thing to see that her former mistress was doing at least decently for herself ... but the cat was concerned that Livia was taking advantage of her.  There was also a small pain in her chest that she didn't want to admit to that seemed to well up that the kitten forced herself to push down and ignore.

Of course, the cat wanted to hear more details.  But she would understand if after their previous confrontation the other woman didn't want to trust her with any details that would make her upset.  Still, Maoin wished that after a year Lady Gwynn would be willing to share a bit more.  [color=darkslateblue]"I'm glad you were able to find companions for your trip."[/color]  A bit formal even for herself, but the cat did wonder what this 'crew' was like exactly.  Ritsa seemed nice enough, although if the girl was angered it was entirely possible that she would only injure her Lady in the long run.

And for herself?  Lady Gwynn hadn't exactly given out the longest description, so maybe a more serious discussion would take place later?  [color=darkslateblue]"When Livia sh-"[/color]  Maoin shook her head.  It was probably best to skip over the bad parts.  [color=darkslateblue]"After a couple of days, the dragon Lady Sorcha nearly broke my body in something she called [i]training.[/I]"[/color]  The cat remembered the first day of utter brutality and spoke with an almost wistful smile at the memory and fingers delivering quote marks for the final word.  [color=darkslateblue]"We decided to pursue this silly noble who insisted on being a pirate ... and as we headed towards Gibraltar she let me learn under her in exchange for some servitude."[/color]  Perhaps it wasn't best to let Lady Gwynn know what they had been after during that trip.  Still though ... [color=darkslateblue]"As we stopped in Toulouse she asked if I wanted to serve under her ..."[/color]  

The cat shook her head.  That was a lie.  She returned to speaking as if a little embarrassed.  [color=darkslateblue]"... really, I broke down in a clothing store and after she found me in an alley she sort of just claimed me as she locked this collar around my neck.  There wasn't any asking involved."[/color]  For a second the black haired girl tugged on the collar as if to draw attention to it as a story prop.  [color=darkslateblue]"Well, I guess I'm Lady Sorcha's property now."[/color]  For a second Maoin's eyes drifted over Lady Gwynn somewhat wistfully, but the cat forced herself to look away.  Why was she doing that?

Either way, it was quite clear she was willing to elaborate but Maoin cut herself off and instead forced herself to give out a small laugh as she looked at Lady Gwynn as she took a swig of her drink and spoke in a more genuine jovial tone that hopefully the noble would appreciate.  [color=darkslateblue]"I'm officially part of dragon's hoard, I guess?  Some day a brave hero will loot me as treasure according to all the stories!"[/color]

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[b]"Ah, I see the doubt in your eyes!  But I, the Mystic Megulda, have true power!"[/b]  The woman reached forward and grabbed Livia's hand, closing her eyes and moving her head as if focusing in something in the distance.  A frown creased her face as she ran her palms over Livia's middle finger.  [b]"You are quite the hardworking employee ... no, a student of magic!"[/b]  It wasn't exactly false.  [b]"One day you will head out to Western France as ... a court mage!  Yes, and the lord who hires you will eventually fall deeply in love with you!  After a long struggle with a nefarious power that seeks to bring the court to ruin, he will propose marriage to you and you will live a long and happy life!  You will have three hardworking sons, and two studious and most blessed daughters."[/b]

The fortune teller's eyes opened.  [b]"See?  Megulda knows all!  But the fates of the young are so much more interesting, are they not?  Perhaps you would be willing to pay for her fortune to be told, so she may be warned of the trials she may face?"[/b]  Fia just stared on in utter disbelief.