[h1][u]Ciara Ventura[/u][/h1]
[i][color=gray]Wingram Academy, Main Building[/color][/i]
[@Nanaya]
[hr]

Ciara looked with mild satisfaction at the directory. She had to assume it was Gulliver's fault they had been torn down in the first place, and now his sabotage was slowly being undone. Her chin jutted out, feeling a bit cross. The shallow-hearted noble deserved his fall from grace yesterday, and having as many of his shreds of evidence removed. It was good to see justice returning to Wingram.

[i][b]"You didn't back down, did'ja? You had all 'o last night after ya took off, and yet, here you are with a look that betrays intent. Makin' enemies ain't gonna get you anywhere good 'n proper, y'hear? Heh."[/b][/i]

She looked up at him, feeling a bit squeamish under his mischievous gaze. She had to remind herself that the janitor wasn't what he appeared to be, especially with how his aura had behaved yesterday, in their first encounter. He likely picked up on all sorts of things, things she would rather keep private. [i]Betrays intent, huh?[/i]

Did she intend to make enemies with Iraleth? Is that what she was doing, what her end goal was? With how she admired the inherent light in the paladin, how could she even approach the thought of making enemies with her fr-

[i]"Food, not [/i]friend[i]. It will end up on your plate, just as intended."[/i]

The Voice was cold, lacking patience as it whispered in her ear.

She swallowed, her lips pressing in a tight line. [i]"I won't hurt it."[/i]

[i]"You're right. You're not going to hurt it. You're going to [/i]kill[i] it."[/i]

A look of sickness passed over Ciara's face as she lost focus on Michael's words, her stomach flipping uncomfortably. She tried to mask it as she looked back up at Michael.

[b]"I'd... do anything to keep myself safe... even if it meant making enemies."[/b] Her tone had a note of finality to it. She couldn't tell Michael the whole story, didn't dare to. But he might be one of the few who would understand why she would be fighting so voraciously later that day.

The janitor affirmed he'd be there to watch the match if his work was finished. [i][b]"I'm not gonna be able to sleep right if I know that kids're killin' each other without me around to see the drama. Oh, and uh, I guess to make sure ya don't kill each other too. Guess that's important, eh?"[/b][/i]

She stiffened a bit at that. Was he a mind reader? No. No, not possible. He wouldn't be so calm and collected if he could read the chaos going on in her mind. No one would. She had to take a breath to steady herself, trying to convince her guilty mind that Michael was unaware of the Voices intents with Iraleth. It went without saying that Michael had to be unaware of how far she was willing to go to ensure her safety, especially with how she wanted Iraleth's correspondence. He didn't know. Couldn't know...

Right?

She stared hesitantly at the hand outstretched to her. He would be there to ensure Iraleth didn't die. 

[i]"No one can stop us. We will have what we want, one way or another."[/i] The Voice was demanding and absolute in her mind.

A pause. Then, she reached out and shook his hand, strength in her grip. Michael was on her side, she had to believe that. 

[b]"I think so."[/b] She said, a slight smile on her face.

With her free hand, she offered him one of the two pastries she had. [b]"Here, I have extra."[/b]

She would wait for the janitor's reply before giving him a slight bow, dismissing herself. She'd follow the directories now in the school, navigating the hallways until she found herself in front of room 103. And, with a breath to steady herself, she'd narrow her eyes and step inside.