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Maoin's embarrassment disappeared as she watched Lady Gwynn's obvious discomfort.  Wasn't that the sort of teasing her former mistress had always appreciated?  The black haired girls ears dropped a bit lower as she wondered what went wrong there.  Aside from Lady Gwynn seeming to forget any level of formality as she set her foot on the table, of course.

The fish arrived as a welcome distraction though, and while Maoin found herself eating it with a little enthusiasm she was intrigued by the way Ritsa utterly devoured it.  The girl seemed to watch her with wide eyes rather constantly although Maoin wondered what the dark skinned girl was thinking about.

Towards the end of the meal music started to play and a few couples moved off towards the dance floor.  Lady Gwynn would physically see Maoin fidget a bit in her chair as it was clear she was thinking about something.  [color=darkslateblue][i]Should I ... she's not my mistress anymore but ...[/i][/color]  A deep hurt filled her stomach as she thought about letting the opportunity go to waste.  And besides, she wasn't Lady Gwynn's servant anymore, was she?

The kitten stood from her stool, walked around the table to her former mistress' side, gulped, looked at the ceiling, blushed, then gave herself a quick mental pep talk.  Maoin mentally kicked herself as she imagined this being a lot easier and wondered what was running through Lady Gwynn's brain as she watched what was likely a very obvious and horrendously embarrassing mental process.

Hadn't her teacher said she needed to be more confident though?

Imagining Lady Sorcha being upset with her made it a bit easier as the cat regained her confidence and extended a hand towards the other woman despite the slight blush still running across her cheeks.  [color=darkslateblue]"I'd like to dance with you."[/color]  Maoin's ears stood assertively as she spoke with a steady voice that even surprised herself.

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Fia looked upwards towards Livia as she made her comments towards the old mystic.  The crimson haired girl seemed to agree, but the fortune teller let out a sigh as she looked towards the two of them.  [b]"The student is right, of course.  Just because you are the headmistress of the academy doesn't mean one should ever stop learning ... and in truth, that was simply a performance."[/b]  The mystic didn't seem to need to clarify that as she slapped the crystal ball off the table where it landed on the carpet that acted as the floor to the tent.

She pulled out a small chest and raised her hands upwards, at which point the sounds of locks going off would click in succession.  A half deck of cards were placed face down in front of Fia slowly as the mystic let out a sigh.  [b]"I agree one can certainly change the future however.  That is what these silly cards are claimed to do, at least.  Most of the time they are drawn only by the desperate, but if the fate they declare is so easily changed there is nothing to fear.  So you won't be afraid to draw Megulda's cards, will you?"[/b]  The old lady let a slight smile cross her face - the friendly sort that one gave a child that was explaining something you already understood and it was directed at both of them.

The sudden performance was starting to get to Fia.  It was utterly convincing to the Phoenix who took another step towards Livia's back.  The slightly ruffled head of crimson hair looked up towards the headmistress for assistance, however.  The headmistress would know the truth of such things, right?

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[color=tan]”I work my body every day, so fairly active I suppose.”[/color] Kozue answered, looking the teacher over a bit.  [color=tan]”I’m unsure if you could get her back to a body, but if she agreed and it were possible, I’d spend the rest of my days doing so.”[/color]  She said with confidence.  One thing she had was conviction and she meant what she said.
 
[color=lightyellow]”That’s exactly as I thought.”[/color]  The healer was of course responding to both of the girl’s inquires when she said that however.  [color=lightyellow]”The healing method may fracture the memories of the white fox however - I am not certain how such a spirit would react to my materials - is the risk worth it to you?”[/color]  Aetheria gave the other woman a very serious look.  
 
[color=tan]”She brought my sister back wholly intact.  If I do anything less, then I failed her.”[/color]  Kozue answered.  She wouldn’t even care if she lost herself to give the fox a body at this point.  [color=tan]”Is that not possible?”[/color]
 
[color=lightyellow]”I … I am unsure.  You would have to stay here for what could be a very long time as I perform various experiments on you.  I haven’t dealt with something like this before, but maybe with enough time I can formulate a method so everyone walks out in the best condition possible.”[/color]  The white mage felt a little ashamed that as one of the world’s leading medicine technicians that she wasn’t exactly sure what the outcome would be.  [color=lightyellow]”I’m going to need for you to tell me everything you knew about the white fox however.  Everything is critical to my possibility of success.”[/color]
 
[color=tan]”. . .”[/color]  Kozue was silent.  She wasn’t really going anywhere so it was easy enough to stay.  She didn’t exactly want to be examined like some exotic animal for so long. . . But she had little choice in the matter.  [color=tan]”I don’t understand how that much can help, but I’m not going anywhere for a while. I’ve my duty to keep an eye on the Black Fox, so I suppose I’ll be in your care.  What exactly do you want to know?”[/color]
 
Aetheria chuckled.  [color=lightyellow]”Quite a bit, but I can come by and visit for that while I do a little preliminary research.  As for you - you are staying here in bedrest for the next few days.  I know it’ll be frustrating, but I hope a little excess energy in your system might be enough to make the spirit of the white fox responsive again to make treatment easier for the both of us.”[/color]  The white mage handed the robes back to Kouze and led her out of the surgery room and into one of the private rooms.  [color=lightyellow]”I know it’ll be annoying … if there’s something small I can do to make you relax more, please ask.”[/color]  She wasn’t an endless bounty of money, after all.
 
[color=tan]”No.  This room feels wrong.  Would there be a better place to reside?”[/color]  A stuffy room like this definitely was not the type of place that someone that enjoyed being outside would stand.  [color=tan]”Perhaps I could ‘relax’ at the lake?  Your headmistress mentioned it may have healing properties I desired.”[/color]
 
The white mage rubbed her chin for a moment as she thought.  [color=lightyellow]”She’s possibly correct.  The waters of the Undine would likely help heal you if you laid in them and relaxed for long periods of time.”[/color]  The woman figured out what bothered her.  [color=lightyellow]”My only concern is that Livia is the one who suggested it, then.”[/color]
 
[color=tan]”Concern?  What of it?”[/color]  Kozue asked.  She had suspicions herself, but she wanted the word of mouth from this woman.  [color=tan]”Does she mean to do harm?”[/color]
 
Aetheria shrugged.  [color=lightyellow]”I have no idea, but if that white fox is holy or divine in any way I can be fairly certain the headmistress wouldn’t enjoy its growth on campus - it’s your judgement about where you wish to rest, of course, but that is my only concern.”[/color]  Her own building was largely proof against spirits entering from the outside - due to the healing processes required within - and all of Katherine’s dolls weren’t allowed in either.  She hoped the conversation between them had at least some privacy.
 
[color=tan]”She seemed fairly cryptic about that earlier.”[/color]  Kozue mentioned.  It was a bit late, and she’d rather sleep with a roof over her head.  [color=tan]”I see.  Regardless, this is the only room available then?  If so, I will gratefully take it.”[/color]  The room felt a bit odd, but it wasn’t the worst in the world.  
 
[color=lightyellow]”Well please do make yourself at home.  These rooms are generally intended for longer term patients so they may have some comforts, but I’m sure nothing can match the feeling of home where you come from.”[/color]  Aetheria gave Kozue a small smile.  [color=lightyellow]”Just try and relax.  Also I’m just a little curious … how are you speaking fluent french?”[/color]
 
[color=tan]”How are you sure you do not speak fluent Japanese?”[/color]
 
Aetheria seemed to ponder that for a moment before replying.  [color=lightyellow]”I mean, it’s just that I’ve never left france in my entire life.  I also know Latin, but our current grammatical structure suggests that we are indeed speaking French.”[/color]
 
[color=tan]”It matters not, I imagine.  If you want me to rest, allow me to do so.”[/color]  Kozue said, voicing for the woman to leave now.  
 
The white mage nodded - that was true enough - but perhaps this was a clue to her case in as of itself?  Or maybe it was the spirits allowing the other woman to be lazy and avoid learning more things?  Either way, Aetheria let the door close behind her as she head upstairs to her own bedroom.
 
Kozue laid in the bed provided for her.  She had little else to do for now, she needed to go around tomorrow to get accustomed to the place so it would be best to rest now, regardless of how uncomfortable she felt here.