Phoenicia couldn't stop smiling as she skipped down the corridor.
"Come on, Grant."
She said in a singsong voice to her gagging companion.
Grant was leaning against a wall for support, his face was a sickly hue. He was covering his mouth with a hand. She could even see some spittle oozing through his fingers.
"That was..."
His retching cut him off mid-sentence. He took a second to swallow the bile before continuing.
"Lovecraftian."
Even Grant's nonsense couldn't ruin her mood.
They had changed out of their wet clothes and were heading towards the sparring grounds. Grant leaned against the wall as he hobbled along slowly.
"How can anyone stomach that carp?"
"You had the salmon."
"You know what I meant."
Grant said with irritation as he walked.
She turned around and looked at Grant.
"Actually, why are you doing that? You didn't censor anything before."
"I grew a conscience. Why are we heading over the training grounds anyway? I don't have a foundation."
He asked as they turned a corner.
"You may not have a foundation, but you can still fight. You need to, at least, be a competent fighter."
She tossed at small flame at him after saying that.
Grant yelped as he hugged the wall and stasmped it out.
A melodic laughter drifted through the air. He turned and saw Phoenicia bent over as she laughed.
He walked past her, frowning as he went.
'And they wonder why I never came back.'
He eventually came across a large steel double door with semicircle rings instead of handles.
He reached out to grab them when he heard the sound of a crisp slap behind him.
He turned to see that Phoenicia was rubbing her face in embarrassment. The red handprint was quite eye-catching. A familiar butler was standing behind her.
"What the heck, Sevak?"
She complained while rubbing the handprint.
"I heard you were cursing. Good afternoon, Sir Grant."
"Hi, Sev. How's the wife?"
Grant asked with a smile on his face.
Sevak also gave a knowing smile.
"Oh, Sir Grant, you know that I'm married to my work."
"I know. How is she?"
He said, eyeing Phoenicia.
Sevak noticed this look and went along.
"Oh, you know. *sigh She's a real piece of work alright. Been causing more trouble than she's worth, lately."
"Really?"
Grant tilted his head inquisitive.
"She's just not the same anymore. People are arguing, no one respects the patriarch, and morale is at an all-time low. There's even someone who made a large explosion outside of the designated area."
Grant shook with head in mock disappointment.
"It's truly sad how the amberston family has fallen."
"Indeed sir."
"Alright, I get it! Why are you even here, Sevak?"
Phoenicia said in irritation.
"I'm here because the patriarch wants to ask why you are blowing holes in the track, rather than train."
He said this with an ominous aura surrounding him.
She couldn't help but shiver when faced with someone out of her league.
Grant gave him a thumbs up.
"Nice aura of menace!"
"Thank you, Grant. Now if you will excuse me..."
He suddenly grabbed Phoenicia's ear and started twisting.
She bent in an odd shape as she winced in pain.
"Ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow!"
"Shut up."
Instantly, she quieted down. Her expression was a combination of worry and indignant rage.
Sevak gave a slight bow towards Grant who returned the gesture in kind.
"If you will excuse me Sir, I must be going. But first..."
He went over to the door with Phoenicia being dragged behind by the ear.
With one arm, he grabbed a handle and held open the door for Grant.
"This door was made so that someone who has actually made a foundation could open it. To... discourage those that may get hurt. Don't worry about being locked in, either. The door was also made so that people that were tired from fighting could exit easily without meeting the requirement."
"Wow, that must have been a hassle to make."
"You have no idea, have a pleasant day sir Grant."
Grant walked through the door and waved goodbye.
"And to you as well Sevak."
And as Grant stepped through the threshold, the door slowly ground to a close.
He stood within the training room.