[center][color=#FF0040]"Go ahead, Surris."[/color] Vagorrez gave a toothy grin and crossed his massive arms, a small rumble rolling through his form; something Beatrix could only guess was a half-hidden chuckle. [color=#FF0040]"I'm sure the girl-"[/color] He shook his head, lifting a clawed digit, [color=#FF0040]"[i]Beatrix of Ashworth[/i]- will bear well your interrogation."[/color] She couldn't help but smile, though she pressed her palm to her mouth to cover it; turning and doing her best not to look back. Caretaker Nirvu was at her back, but Beatrix still thought she could feel its slight amusement. [color=#FF0040]"I will await my turn."[/color]

  [color=FFB6C1][i]Beatrix of Ashworth sounds...kind of cool! M-Maybe I should....maybe...[/i][/color]

 [color=#8040BF]"Jest as you will, King of Obsidian Fangs. Her answers will prove valuable,"[/color] Surris had her hands on her hips, her eyes narrowed and an intensity in her words Beatrix hadn't expected. [color=FFB6C1][i]He...might not have been joking. Is she going to really interrogate me?! N-No way![/i][/color] [color=#8040BF]"Where is it you hail from, Beatrix?"[/color] [color=FFB6C1][i]O-Oh. Well, that's not so bad![/i][/color] Without thinking, she brought her hand up; rubbing it along her cheek until extended digits brushed the blue Remembrance Leaf.

 [color=FFB6C1]"I'm from Lightbridge. It's an island, and...and!"[/color] Thinking about her home was bittersweet, but still brought a smile to her face. Beatrix's heart started to kick with more vigor. Anxious, yet without the usual tightening of her throat. [color=FFB6C1][i]I wonder what I should tell her, first! Maybe Vagorrez, er, [b]King Vagorrez[/b] will be interested, too! They would probably love-![/i][/color]

 [color=#8040BF]"Understood. How is it you came to Irriss?"[/color] The Saint-Knight of Searing Light brought Beatrix's quickening thoughts an abrupt shift. She wasn't sure how to handle that, so she stared. Her expression shifted; eyes seeking the distance with a draining enthusiasm. Her fingers curled around the leaf and gave it a gentle tug. 

 [color=FFB6C1]"I don't know..."[/color]

 [color=FFB6C1][i]How did I end up here?[/i][/color] It was a question asked a hundred times. [color=FFB6C1][i]I remember walking home...and then...then...[/i][/color] Then there was nothing. A yawning gap in her memory, beginning and ending with her taking steps; even the details, as she brought the scene to mind, were shaded in uncertainty. [color=FFB6C1][i]It was really quiet, that night.[/i][/color] Beatrix remembered that much, along with a sense of urgency; though its source was another anomaly of vacancy. [color=FFB6C1][i]I wasn't far from Dayglow...[/i][/color]

 [color=#8040BF]"Understood. Vagorrez, King of Obsidian Fangs, you may put forward the next question,"[/color] Surris' lambent gaze softened, and her stance shifted, hands finally leaving her hips. Exposed joints slid and rolled silently as Surris moved; flowing with an uncanny grace for three long strides. Bringing her arms up, one to cradle the elbow of the other as she rested a hand on her shoulder, she too seemed to seek something in the distance. Beatrix looked away, slowly.
 
[color=FFB6C1][i]Do they already know about Lightbridge...?[/i][/color]

 [color=#FF0040]"Very well!"[/color] Beatrix yelped, her body tensing immediately after. [color=FFB6C1][i]Wh-Why did he yell?![/i][/color] Vagorrez considered her for a moment, something she didn't shrink from; to her own surprise. A smirk tugged at the strange beast's lips, and Beatrix felt the warmth from it. Slowly, the King of Obsidian Fangs lowered himself to be at eye level with the Mortal girl. His knee touching against the ground was quiet. [color=#FF0040]"My apologies, Beatrix of Ashworth. Startling you was not my intent."[/color] The laugh that followed was loud, genuine in its mirth. She watched the armor on his shoulders scrape against his mottled scales; watched as sparks were grated out. [color=#FF0040]"I'm not sure [i]what[/i] to ask of you. You've come to Irriss completely unprepared. It's strange that you're here at all, let alone your own strangeness."[/color]

[color=FFB6C1] "Wh-what do you mean?"[/color] He wasn't nearly as scary as Beatrix had imagined. [color=FFB6C1][i]I think Surris scares me, more...[/i][/color] She lowered her gaze, staring down at dirtied sneakers. [color=FFB6C1]"I don't understand what's going on! I-I heard you say I smell like an Unfettered!"[/color] Beatrix pointed to Surris' back, with her free hand. [color=FFB6C1]"She said I have the aura of an Enlightened! I'm not, I'm not-"[/color]

 Vagorrez reached forward, gently placing his hand on Beatrix's head. Lightly, he mussed her hair. [color=#FF0040]"Calm yourself. There's no need to panic."[/color] She looked up as his hand was withdrawn, her face flushing from embarassment. Beatrix drew in a deep breath, nodding slowly. [color=#FF0040]"Prime Caretaker Nirvu,"[/color] The King looked over her shoulder, and she turned to follow his gaze, [color=#FF0040]"I've made my decision."[/color] The words carried weight, that much was evident in their delivery, but Beatrix wasn't sure as to [i]why[/i]. [color=#FF0040]"The Unfettered Lords will not be given word about Beatrix of Ashworth. She is no threat."[/color]

 [color=FFB6C1][i]Well, yeah! Of course I'm not![/i][/color]

 [color=#BFFF00]"Thank you, Vagorrez,"[/color] Caretaker Nirvu offered a small bow and what Beatrix thought was a beaming smile, [color=#BFFF00]"Your discretion is, as always, appreciated."[/color] Behind her, Vagorrez rose; taking up his usual intimidating stance. [color=#BFFF00]"Surris of the Searing Light, may I place my trust in your judgment as well?"[/color] Beatrix stiffened, feeling a shift in the atmosphere. Tension, though muted, washed over her. Caretaker Nirvu and Vagorrez both looked to the Saint-Knight; her back still turned. Her wings dimmed and spread slightly, their tendrils dancing slowly in the air. 

 [color=FFB6C1][i]What's going on?[/i][/color] Her heart began thundering, again. The air felt heavy, like her entire existence depended on the words spoken by the shimmering angel; that judgment was, indeed, at hand.

 [color=#8040BF]"Yes, of course,"[/color] Surris sounded almost playful, a tinge of laughter hidden deep within the words, [color=#8040BF]"there is no cause to alarm the Veiled Council. I trust that Beatrix Ashworth will be of no concern to them, if she remains in your care, Prime Caretaker."[/color] She turned to them, offering a bow of her own. [color=#8040BF]"I will return to the Demense."[/color] Surris trained her indigo gaze on Beatrix and bowed, again. [color=#8040BF]"It has been a pleasure to meet you, Beatrix."[/color]

 [color=FFB6C1]"Y-you too!"[/color] She didn't know what else to say, but relief washed over her. The Saint-Knight turned and began walking away, without pause; fading from view altogether after silver flared from her form and twisted the space around her. Beatrix's mouth fell open, as she stared at the spot where Surris had been. 

[color=FFB6C1][i]Wow! She can do that?! I...shouldn't be surprised![/i][/color]

 [color=#FF0040]"I'll linger for a moment. I believe I've found my question,"[/color] Vagorrez looked down on Caretaker Nirvu, giving a slight inclination of his head before kneeling again. [color=#FF0040]"Tell me, Beatrix of Ashworth...what does [i]power[/i] mean to you?"[/color] Her gaze slowly shifted from the empty patch of Golden Path. The King of Obsidian Fangs was smiling at her, showing rows of black blades. It didn't scare or startle her; instead, she felt calm. There was no malice, there, but there was expectation.

 [color=FFB6C1][i]I guess I've never thought about it before. I'm not out of shape or anything...but that isn't [b]power[/b] is it? Is being strong being powerful?[/i][/color] Despite how little clarity she had, her heart knew the answer. [color=FFB6C1][i]N-No! That's not it at all![/i][/color]

 [color=FFB6C1]"Power...power isn't s-something I have. Power,"[/color] Her face felt hot, the words rushing from a place she didn't know existed, [color=FFB6C1]"is being able to stop the people you care about from suffering! It's a...it's a shield, a-against...evil...it's doing the right thing for the r-right reason..."[/color] Beatrix's eyes fled from Vagorrez and back to her feet. [color=FFB6C1]"Th-that's what I think. I'm sorry! If that doesn't-!"[/color] A hand fell gently on her shoulder. Not that of the Unfettered, but Caretaker Nirvu's. Again, she felt a smile from it; perhaps something akin to pride.

 Before her, the King of Obsidian Fangs also smiled.

 [color=#FF0040]"Then, Beatrix of Ashworth, you've got your heart in the right place,"[/color] He stood, again, stretching to his full height. [color=#FF0040]"I've got a gift for you."[/color] With speed she didn't think such a frame capable of, Vagorrez tore away a section of his tattered crimson cloak. It fluttered in his grasp, a bit above her head, dancing with a light breeze she hardly felt. Slowly, he lowered it to her; offering it out in the palm of his hand. [color=#FF0040]"You'll get what you consider power. No doubt about that in my mind. Keep that [i]close[/i], it'll help you on the way."[/color] Beatrix took it, slowly, feeling its weight as it slid from his hand. It was coarse and worn, but pulsed with an energy she couldn't be sure she felt. [color=#FF0040]"Train her well, Caretaker Nirvu."[/color]

 [color=FFB6C1][i]I'm sure Caretaker Nirvu will do what it can to trai-

...What?![/i][/color]

Beatrix had frozen, the cloak in her hands almost falling free.

[color=#BFFF00]"If she is willing, I will do what I am able."[/color][/center]