”The Gods gave you a talent, and it would be a waste if you weren’t using it to its full potential.” Yui said between sips of tea.
”Sometimes skill can out match experience.” She added. She liked to think of herself as a capable swordswoman, able to hold her own against most anyone; but after watching Nanami fight, she was less confident at the thought of a bout between her and the younger woman. She knew she was a bit more of a ‘strength over finesse‘ fighter, and she was pretty sure Nanami would simply run her ragged until an opening presented itself.
Yui found herself intrigued at the thought of an all-out sparring session, and got a bit lost in her own thoughts for a moment, but came back just as Nanami mentioned someone named ‘Riou’.
Damn… From the pursed lips and momentary flicker in her eyes, whatever had happened hadn’t been good. Part of her
was a little bit curious and wanted to ask what’d happened, but she thought better of it.
”Handsome, eh?” She chuckled, raising her right eyebrow in a completely over-dramatic fashion.
”Now, do you mean ‘here’ as is how did I end up selling my service for sovern and Stone, or ‘here’ as in the Irregulars?” She asked with an amused air about her.
”Well the second part is easy…”Setting her cup down, she shifted slightly and in a flash took Nanami’s free hand in hers and clasped it tight.
”Why for you my dear! I heard such tails of you beauty that I just had to come and see for myself!” She spoke with all the over-dramatic earnestness of the ‘Hero’ in a poorly written romance play, and moments later, released Nanami’s hand as she sat back and laughed.
”Sorry, couldn’t resist.” She replied after a moment.
”Your name does have something to do with it though, well your last name at least. Your father, and by extension his Irregulars have a reputation of being a fair and honourable Company, and that was something I wanted to be party to. There’s plenty of Companies out there, but too many of them are little more than bandits and raiders with a veneer of legitimacy.” Closing her eyes for a moment, she sighed; old memories best left forgotten.
”As for the first part? I’ll spare you the dull bits, but a long story short, I wasn’t interested in being married off for the sake family status, so I took matters into my own hands; best decision I’ve made to date.” Despite the light tone of voice, there was a flicker of something dark in her eyes, old pain briefly resurfacing.
”Thank you…both of you.” Stepping into the barn as Alm sat, she approached Ehri.
”To answer your question, yes I did hear what you two were discussing. In fact, that is why I sought you out.”As she spoke, her attention turned to Ehri’s companions.
”Such beautiful creatures,” Part of her
really wanted to try and pet Misha but, given the wary eye the wolf was giving her, she knew
that would not be the best idea.
”Aside from the talents I have offered in service to Master Sanada, I am also something of a scholar; I study forgotten or obscure forms of magic, and Miss Khan, your ‘Skinchanger’ powers are a bit of both.”Turning her focus back to the young huntress, she bowed slightly.
”What I wish is to study both you and your companions. There is very little written on powers like yours, and sadly what is written is mostly full of suppositions, guesses or down right lies. All I would requires is a few minutes of your time, your permission to ‘mark’ you with a few spells to observe your power in use…and a bit of blood.”