A Journey Unwanted

Chapter 537 - 525: Report

[Realm: Uhorus]

[Location: Verdantis]

[Capital City]

[Later]

"Two whole failures, hm?" Lyra let out the smallest sigh as she sat comfortably within her office chair, fingers lightly resting against one armrest while her eyes remained fixed upon Aerinon. There was no anger in her expression, only the familiar look of someone who had expected better long before the report had even begun. "Now then, would you care to explain why there were only two attempts? I was rather expecting more progress than that."

"The two of them were unnerved by my power," Aerinon answered evenly, his expression remaining as unreadable as ever. "You specifically instructed me not to unsettle Alyssia. Continuing after that point seemed unnecessary."

Lyra studied him for a long moment before another quiet breath escaped her.

"You know," she began, leaning farther back into her chair, "if I heard anyone else say those words, I would probably think they were being thoughtful. Considerate, even. I’d imagine they were paying attention to Alyssia’s emotional state."

A small smile tugged at her lips.

"But seeing as those words came from you, Aerinon... I can only conclude you stopped because it happened to be the least troublesome option available."

"Maybe," Aerinon replied simply; there was no attempt to deny it.

Lyra closed her eyes for the briefest moment before rubbing lightly at her temple.

"You really do make it difficult to defend you sometimes," she murmured. "At the very least, try not to admit your laziness quite so readily, Lacroix."

The use of his family name did not escape Aerinon.

His lone eye shifted ever so slightly.

("Family name. That usually means she’s dissatisfied with something. Or she’s about to lecture me.") Neither prospect particularly interested him.

Lyra continued before he could say anything.

"Tell me one thing, at least." She folded one leg over the other, watching him carefully. "Surely you treated Alyssia as any proper lady ought to be treated?"

She began counting upon her fingers.

"You addressed her respectfully. Called her ’my lady.’ Greeted her warmly. Perhaps kissed the back of her hand. Smiled. Offered assistance whenever it was appropriate." Her gaze narrowed just a fraction. "You did at least manage some of those... didn’t you?"

Aerinon blinked once.

"I was supposed to do all of that?" There was no sarcasm detected, though there was genuine matter-of-fact curiosity.

Lyra stared at him.

"Yes." Another sigh threatened to escape her; she resisted it for almost three whole seconds before ultimately giving in. "Yes, Lacroix. That is generally how one behaves around a young, dignified lady."

She already knew there was little point elaborating.

Over the years she had attempted more etiquette lessons than she cared to remember. Every single one had ended much the same way. He would listen politely enough, appear to understand everything perfectly, and then continue behaving exactly as he always had.

It was almost impressive.

"Honestly," Lyra continued with a small shake of her head, "you’re somehow duller than the rest of the Inheritors, yet considerably more difficult to manage."

She paused.

"I genuinely don’t know how you’ve accomplished both."

Aerinon accepted the remark without reaction, neither offended nor amused.

Seeing no further purpose dwelling on the matter, Lyra allowed the topic to fall away.

"But enough about your rather tragic social abilities." Her expression became noticeably more thoughtful. "What did you actually learn from Alyssia’s training?"

Aerinon’s eye rested on her for a moment.

"Wouldn’t that question be better directed toward Lucinda?" he asked. "She’s considerably more qualified regarding magic than I am."

"Perhaps," Lyra admitted with an easy nod. "Lucinda undoubtedly notices details regarding spell structure, mana refinement, and practical application." A small smile returned. "But you notice entirely different things." She tapped one finger lightly against the armrest. "You’ve always had... rather unique insight. You see patterns other people often overlook. You have an eye for that."

Silence.

("I’ll ignore the eye pun.") Aerinon slipped both hands into his pockets. ("Unique insight? I’m not particularly sure what she means by that. I notice what everyone else notices. People seem fond of insisting personalities somehow alter perspective. Perhaps they do. Or perhaps this is simply one of Lyra’s vague observations that’s supposed to carry a deeper meaning. She has a habit of speaking like that.")

His thoughts ended there; he looked back toward the Court Mage.

"Despite the outcome," he finally began, choosing his words carefully, "her mana control appeared fairly competent." He paused for a brief moment. "To my untrained eyes."

"Eye," Lyra corrected automatically.

Aerinon continued as though she had never spoken.

"It doesn’t appear to be a technical limitation." His gaze remained steady. "It seemed personal; she was tense and uneasy. As though she were anticipating failure before she had even begun. There was hesitation beneath everything she attempted. I don’t think the problem is her ability. I think the problem is her."

The office fell quiet.

Lyra’s expression slowly softened; her fingers, which had absentmindedly been tapping against the chair, finally stopped.

"It’s as I suspected..." she murmured almost to herself; there was no satisfaction in reaching that conclusion.

"You have an inkling as to what her problem might be?" Aerinon asked after a brief silence. His tone remained the same as ever, absent of urgency or curiosity to most ears, though Lyra knew him well enough to recognise that the question itself was curiosity.

"I do," Lyra answered with a small nod. She rested her elbow upon the armrest, lightly supporting the side of her face. "Or at the very least, I believe I do. From everything you’ve told me... I’d say your presence amplified the uneasiness she was already carrying."

"I see."

The answer came without disappointment or offence and without even the slightest hint of self-consciousness.

He accepted the conclusion as though it were merely another fact.

"If that’s the case," Aerinon continued after a moment, "then I’m surprised you still sent me with them. Lilith or Rowena would have been considerably better choices, depending on what the root of her problem actually is."

"They would have been," Lyra admitted without hesitation. "In fact, I’d wager either of them would’ve handled the situation far more smoothly."

A small, almost amused smile crossed her lips.

"They’re certainly not as socially inept as you are."

The remark landed, and predictably, it failed to provoke even the smallest reaction.

Aerinon simply accepted it.

"I assumed as much."

Lyra shook her head with a quiet sigh.

"You really do make it difficult to tell whether you’re taking offence or simply agreeing."

"I was agreeing."

"I know." For a brief moment, silence settled between them before Lyra continued. "Even so, I chose you intentionally."

Aerinon’s lone eye settled on her.

"Another test, then?" he asked.

"In a sense." Lyra folded her hands together upon the desk. "You present a challenge that very few others could."

She spoke thoughtfully, choosing her words with care.

"I’ve known Alyssia for a very long time. Long enough to understand how she reacts to different kinds of people." Her red eyes remained fixed upon him. "I know the sort of personalities she naturally gravitates towards. And I know the sort she instinctively pushes away."

Aerinon listened quietly.

"That being me?" he asked with no bitterness.

Lyra nodded once.

"At present, yes." She paused briefly before continuing. "Though that’s only a recent development. It also isn’t the entire reason. It’s merely one of two factors influencing her attitude."

Aerinon’s head tilted ever so slightly; for anyone else, the movement would’ve been insignificant.

For Lyra, it was practically an open display of curiosity.

She noticed it immediately, just as he noticed the subtle shift in her own expression.

Her brows lowered, her eyes lost some of their usual softness, narrowing ever so slightly. There was something grave about her expression.

Aerinon recognised the emotion almost instantly.

Disgust.

Not directed at him, directed elsewhere.

"That’s..." Lyra exhaled quietly before gently shaking her head. For the first time since their conversation had begun, she seemed reluctant to continue. "No." Her voice softened. "That isn’t my story to tell. And it certainly isn’t something for you to pry into."

The room fell quiet again.

Aerinon regarded her for another moment before giving the smallest nod.

"Alright." Nothing more followed.

Lyra found herself quietly appreciating that much; there were advantages to Aerinon’s detached nature. When someone established a boundary, he rarely questioned it. He simply accepted it and moved on.

Unfortunately...

That same quality was often responsible for half the headaches he caused.

"Still," Lyra continued, allowing some of the tension to fade from her shoulders, "there is something you ought to work on."

Her gaze returned squarely to him.

"You could stand to change your attitude a little, Lacroix. You don’t have to become overly cheerful. I doubt the world could survive such a miracle." Another smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "But a little warmth wouldn’t hurt." She leant back once more. "Your sister is proof enough; she’s every bit as reserved as you are. and a little dull at times, admittedly, but she possesses tact."

Lyra’s tone seemed filled with amusement once more.

"She understands how to read people; she knows when honesty is appropriate and when kindness serves better. There’s a difference."

Aerinon remained silent for several seconds.

"But why?"

The question was completely genuine.

Lyra stared at him.

Then, slowly, she let out another long sigh.

Of course that would be the question he asked.