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Anki turned her attention away from Taring back to Srikandi, listening intently as Srikandi talked, mentioning how the task at hand was an especially dangerous one. In truth, while Anki had read enough regarding the Dragonspine Mountains through many writings from story books to hands-on account by various adventurers to know that it was a dangerous place, she doesn't yet have a clear vision of how dangerous it truly was. Her father and mentor had of course also gave her warnings and advice, telling her to be as careful as can be and that was indeed what she was intending to do, but regardless one can argue that she was a part of those that are "uninitiated" for the dangers ahead.

One can only wonder whether her capabilities will be able to make up for her lack of experience, and whether she will be more of an asset or a burden for Srikandi and the others that might join them on the task.

Then, just as Srikandi was explaining about the meaning of Taring's name to Anki, the conversation was interrupted by a noise from the outside. Anki didn't show much reactions to it; only that her eyes had strayed from Srikandi to the direction from where the noise came from. She wondered briefly about what the noise were all about and who had caused it when said cause then revealed itself soon enough as the door to the room was swung open.

In entered Catherine Blackwood, the "Walking Disaster" and apparent bane of the academics of Gremarre. Of the three now in the room, the alchemist were the tallest; slightly more than Srikandi and significantly more than Anki. The woman muttered something about the staff being nervous about her arrival before regarding Srikandi, and Srikandi's own response to her appearance revealed that they already knew each other. Anki observed the two quietly, completely missing the enmity Srikandi displayed towards Catherine. That is, she had noticed the peculiar expression on Srikandi's face due to her being naturally very observant, but she failed to realize what the expression itself represented. Regardless, the alchemist's attention then switched towards Anki herself. She returned the alchemist's gaze directly, her eyes following the alchemist as she muttered about how intriguing Anki was. Even as Catherine walked around her to observe her, Anki's head and gaze followed her the whole time.

Followed her very literally, that is. Her body didn't shift a millimeter. Instead, as Catherine walked around to her back, Anki's head rotated around a full 180 degrees. She kept her gaze entirely toward the alchemist, observing her in return as she observed Anki, taking in everything from her physical characteristics to what she wore to the flasks of liquid on her coat.

The rotation of Anki's head was almost completely silent, just like her joints when she curtsied to Srikandi earlier. The typical person would probably be freaked out as the doll princess' rotating head reminded them that she was indeed a living sentient doll. By the end of it, Anki's head had rotated a full 360 degree and then some as Catherine finally took a seat.

And even after all that, Anki had no idea who this woman was. She only introduced herself as "Catherine, an alchemist", and while Srikandi had called her "Ms. Blackwood", Anki had no further information than that. To be fair, even if Anki had somehow recognized Catherine from hearsay or rumors, she still wouldn't have had much reactions aside from defaulting to a polite response; she still never met Catherine in person in the end.

So defaulted she did indeed. She bowed her head politely toward Catherine after the alchemist introduced herself and returned Catherine's smile with a polite smile of her own. [color=DEB887]"I am Khaltesh Anki du Oberia. A pleasant to make your acquaintance, Ms. Blackwood."[/color] And that was all she said, a simple response to a simple introduction.

[@Izurich][@13org]