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[h3]--One Mad Alchemist--[/h3]

It certainly wouldn't be far-fetched to point out that Anki was acting too formal, too... 'royalty'. She wasn't in one of her fancy balls or ceremonies after all, an adventurer's lot was a risky one and this kind of occupation usually wouldn't foster a prim and proper individual, a hungry basilisk cared not if you were a prince or a pauper, meat is meat. However, exceptions to the rule existed everywhere and Srikandi was one of them. Due to the silver-haired swordswoman's propensity for pride, honor, and decorum, she modeled her conduct after knights and most often took jobs from more reputable patrons, often times without consciously realizing it. And since Srikandi was the only other person in the room, no one called Anki out on her fusty bearing for better or worse.

[color=50c8ff][b]"Well, even though this job is sponsored by the Pataliputran court and the reward is quite handsome, it's still a daunting notion to venture deep into the Dragonspine Mountains so..."[/b][/color] The taller woman shrugged slightly, [color=50c8ff][b]"I don't expect we'll be swarming in applicants, but that's a good thing in hindsight as I don't want any wide-eyed greenhorns to be risking their lives needlessly."[/b][/color] She laid it out all bare, this job was one in which the uninitiated might not return from. It might sound harsh, but nowhere as harsh as what awaited them deep in the wilderness.

[color=50c8ff][b]"Oh? Ahaha, indeed~"[/b][/color] The Dragon Knight smirked proudly as she took her azure longsword by its grip then held it straight forward, showcasing its gleaming surface, [color=50c8ff][b]"It has served me well over the years... and I don't see it changing anytime soon."[/b][/color] After all, what were the odds that it'd be broken beyond repair? Sure a particularly powerful dragon may be able to snap it within its jaws, but what sane dragon would consider doing that at the risk of skewering their mouth? It wasn't just Anki who was fond of the sword, but Srikandi's fondness was specific, unlike the living doll's more general fondness toward well-crafted items. 

[color=50c8ff][b]"Did you know that its name means 'Fang' in Pataliputra-"[/b][/color] Then just before the warrior could finish her little trivia, a loud thud following an angry rant echoed from beyond the room's walls, specifically in the direction from the entrance. Srikandi was alerted for a brief second, but then blinked twice. Was it just her or did that voice sound uncomfortably familiar? It was like the hissing of a venomous snake, something familiar that'd prompt the fight or flight instinct in you. Yet, they were safe within the walls of Cendana, what could possibly elicit such a profound reaction...?

Then the answer revealed itself as soon as the door swung open. 

[color=50c8ff][b]"..."[/b][/color] Oh right, [i]her[/i]... it seemed she'd be coming too, huh? In fact, Srikandi had been informed of this, she [i]should[/i] have known this, but she had no excuse other than her mind subconsciously blocking that information off, like a trauma victim's selective amnesia in their effort to cope with the ugly truth. She guessed there was no more running away from it now, Catherine 'the Mad' Blackwood would be joining them. What? Did you think that "The Walking Disaster" is the only moniker she has? Oh you sweet summer child. 

A far contrast from the petite princess, this latest addition to the group was a statuesque beauty. Srikandi had always considered herself to be quite taller than the average female human, but Catherine towered over her by a whole... few inches, well 'towered' wasn't exactly accurate, but the blonde [i]was[/i] taller than her and that's a notable fact. 

[color=50c8ff][b]"Ms. Blackwood."[/b][/color] The only dark-skinned woman in the room greeted their new arrival, her eyes half-closed, betraying the sheer amount of [i]enthusiasm[/i] she had. Srikandi had the (dis)pleasure of working with her during her travels in the Kingdom of Gremarre, just once though, [i]once[/i], that should be telling enough at how fond the draconic swordswoman was of the unhinged alchemist. 

[color=50c8ff][b]"I assume any collateral damages will be fully compensated by the Gremarrian Academic Society, aye?"[/b][/color] She went straight for the safety net, not sparing any pleasantries. Make no mistake, a significant part of her was doing this out of her loyalty to her homeland, but she was also an adventurer and adventurers get rewards. If she didn't have this insurance, Catherine would make them return home to receive [i]debts[/i] instead. Oh, fifty thousand gold pieces in return for your services... and one million gold piece surcharge for the destruction of property and artifacts, no big deal, no big deal at all!

[@Medili] [@13org]