Solomon. Braavos.
The conversation with Orys was, for lack of a better word, empty and short. I didn't press him, and he wasn't eager to share his story. Of course, he realized the conversation was Velano-related, so we just had a few words, and then Oris went back to training.
Honestly, I wouldn't even try to question him. It was his own business, and that of his family, which meant there was no point in my interference, even given Velano's request. It was clear to me, however, that Oris was not comfortable with his brother's hyper-parenting, and that was no surprise to me.
Now I was standing in front of Kirana's mansion when the appointed time came. The setting sun illuminated the clean and soft-green-patterned walls of the three-story building, the glass windows, the stone fence, and the metal gate, which bore a gemstone symbol of the same color as the patterns.
The mansion was southeast of the Sea Lord's palace, and the Moon Pond and Iron Bank were within walking distance of here, no more than three hundred meters, I'd say, indicating Kirana's importance and wealth as a person to this city as a whole.
What caught my attention, however, was not the mansion itself or the surrounding area, but the presence of the enclosed field around it. It was extremely subtle and almost imperceptible, yet very skillfully crafted for this world. I guess my assumption that Kirana belonged to a rather ancient family of mages was confirmed.
Two guards stood at the gate, and upon seeing me they bowed respectfully and let me inside without further ado. And right behind them in two rows stood four women, dressed in clean and well-groomed servants' outfits, consisting of an apron, a cloth corset and bonnet, as well as a simple long dress with lacing on the back.
They repeated the actions of the guards, and then one of them stepped forward and approached me. This woman was distinguished by the different color of the bonnet, corresponding to the emblem on the gate, and by her age, for she looked to be somewhere around forty-five years old, than at least a dozen more than the others.
- It is a pleasure to welcome you, Master Solomon," she began in a polite and professional tone, "I am Sele, the head maid and manager of this house. Mistress Kirana is already waiting for you. Please follow me.
I nodded briefly and thought for a moment as Sele led me inside.
Honestly, this reception is very... pompous and showy. It's almost as if this is Kirana's way of trying to show how powerful she is and what she owns. It's like she's trying to impress me. I suppose her method is quite effective if it were someone else and not me.
The interior decoration also matched the exterior. Every detail of the interior had been scrubbed to a shine. The rich furniture, paintings, wall decorations, floor and ceiling directly sparkled with cleanliness and harmoniously complemented each other. There was an air of... perfection inside, to put it in one word, and I found it unusual rather than anything attractive or impressive.
After a short time, Sele led me into a very spacious room, as the ceiling height was two full stories high. Inside, there were supporting wooden columns, a decent amount of comfortable furniture, and large windows that let in a huge amount of natural light. But the most remarkable thing was the number of shelves with various books, which occupied two walls of four to the ceiling.
When I looked away from my surroundings, I found Kirana in one of the chairs, reading a book in a refined pose, with a bottle and two glasses on the table in front of her, one of which was empty. She looked engrossed, but I knew Kirana had noticed me and was just pretending not to notice me. After-all, the mana in the enclosed field matched hers. I guess she paid too much attention to first impressions.
- Mistress, Master Solomon has arrived. - in a low voice, but so that Kirana could hear her, Sele said.
- Already? Thank you Sele, you may go," Kirana said in a surprised tone, to which the maid bowed silently and left the room, "I apologize Master Solomon, this book has taken all my attention. Have a seat. Wine?
- It's okay, you don't need to apologize," I said calmly and sat down across from her, "And I won't say no.
- You won't regret it. I brought this bottle from Dorne. Their wines are famous for their sharp aftertaste," she smiled and, putting the book away, filled the empty glass. "How was your day?
- Not bad, Lina is an unusual but pleasant conversationalist - I said, to which Kirana didn't react much - And yours, Mistress Kirana?
- Not as lively as yours, Master Solomon - she replied and then handed the glass to me - So, how do you like my daughter?
I raised an eyebrow at how bluntly she started, but decided to back her up.
- She is interesting. Mistress Lavena is very gifted in magic and has impressive control over it. I suppose someone like her is born once a century, maybe less often. - I said calmly, to which Kirana nodded in agreement.
- And what do you think of our quarrel with her?
- Before I answer your question, I'd like to ask mine. How long has your family been practicing magic?
- It's a pleasure to have a conversation with an educated man. The answer to your question is a long time ago," Kirana said with a touch of pride, 'A thousand years before the fall of Valyria, a great ancestor of Martenor Sathrion created a special kind of magic he called 'Gem Magic'. It was he who discovered that gemstones could hold magical power that could later be used for various rituals or even combat. For this reason, the Satrion family was always in good standing no matter who ruled Valyria.
She slipped her hand into the pocket of her green dress and pulled out a small emerald filled with mana, then showed it to me.
It was an impressive piece of work. The gem was completely stable, showing no signs of conflict with the mana infused into it. To achieve such a result would have taken years of experimentation, an understanding of the workings of magic, the natural resistance to it that all living and non-living objects possess, and at least a basic understanding of mineralogy.
The closest analogy would be a situation where pathogenic microbes enter the human body, and the immune system begins to fight them. If there is no immunity, i.e., natural resistance to magic, the germs, i.e., the mana of another being, take over the body, worsening its condition, and subsequently killing the person, i.e., the object.
For this reason, Mystic Codes, that is, magical items, are created from materials that have been influenced by external mana in one way or another, thereby increasing their resistance. Gemstones are an excellent example of this, as they are formed by temperatures, seismic activity, the density of various gases, the amount of moisture, its composition, the earth's mana itself, and other factors.
- Our family and others of those who practice magic have instituted among themselves the tradition of arranged marriages, so that the process of exploration and use does not cease. The most suitable candidates with at least an acceptable number of "Lines of Magic" and a "Seal of Magic" where all the accumulated knowledge was placed. But you already know about that, right?
As expected, her family's practices were no different from those of the Clock Tower families. Same rules and same goals, except for minor details.
- Yes, although, the names are slightly different. - I nodded, to which Kirana smiled contentedly and moved over to my couch.
- I am now the only living member of the Satrion family, save for my daughter, with the Seal of Magic. And so I would like to offer myself to you as your consort and the mother of your children," Kirana said in a seductive tone, resting her arms on the couch and giving me a view of her cleavage, "Just imagine how strong and skillful they will be in the field of magic. And if you agree, I will be willing to make a magical oath of my loyalty to you. You will have me, all that I have now and all that I will have in the future, Master Solomon.
- A very bold offer, Mistress Kirana," I said with a raised eyebrow, 'But you don't even know if I have the so-called 'Seal of Magic' as well as the number of 'Lines of Magic'. Your words seem hasty and suspicious to me.
- Don't be. We both know how great your magic is," she waved it away, "Are you embarrassed by my age? Or the fact that I'm no longer pure?
- I didn't mention that," I shook my head, "What about your daughter? What will happen to her?
- You have plans for her, don't you? - I've given up trying to get rid of her for a long time now, especially now that you're here. If she stays out of my business, I'll stay out of hers.
Then she changed her posture to normal and took her glass and took a couple of sips. I, on the other hand, wondered.
I wonder... She wasn't lying.
- Don't misunderstand me, Master Solomon. I realize perfectly well that I cannot offer you anything worthwhile, nor can I pressure you in any way. Not by force or influence. However, my offer was sincere. I am willing to do anything if the Satrion clan will face the future with your blood in its veins.
- Anything? - I raised an eyebrow.
- Yes, everything. I'm even willing to leave the city and never show my face to you again if you want me to, and give what I have now to you or Lavena, as you wish. Your child is my duty and obligation to my family and my ancestors themselves.
I frowned.
The situation was more complicated now. Kirana could be called... a victim of circumstance, I suppose. Yes, from an ordinary person's point of view, she did wrong and unworthy things to her daughter, that's a fact, but if you dig deeper, the whole problem lies in the mage family she belongs to.
Such families are taught to be pragmatic, and elevate the importance of family over any other goals in life. Cold calculation aimed at the success of the lineage and research, whatever the losses and moral values.
Looking at the Artist's situation from a different angle, it's a rather bleak picture. If her father had been a mage, or if Kirana had accepted her, then another "Kirana" would have grown up, with the same goal, the same principles, and the same moral compass. Emotions would fade into the background, leaving only... the mage. In essence, two different cultures with different moral principles, family backgrounds, and visions of the world collided.
To summarize, Kirana unknowingly saved her daughter's life from being a mage in the usual sense of both worlds. Her attempts to get rid of the Artist had hardened the girl, made her think with her own head, not as Kirana herself did. There was no emotion, affection or love in her offer, only the fulfillment of duty to her family.
- I will give you the answer to your first question, Mistress Kirana," I said, to which she nodded, "My point is that neither you nor she tried to understand each other's point of view.
- I apologize, Master Solomon, but I don't consider that to be of any importance.
- I'm sure you were raised that way, after all. However, I have my own interest in resolving your conflict with her, and how it happens will depend on both of you personally," I began and raised my right hand, "I don't want to kill you, much less your daughter. After all, the scales are on her side. But there's only one thing that can make the most out of all this.
- What do you mean? - Kirana didn't understand, and the next moment a snap of fingers resounded through the room.
The next moment, a transparent but visible ripple formed in the air in front of us, from which the Artist fell out a second later, surprising Kirana, but no more.
The girl landed on her feet and looked around. She saw me first, which made her face look annoyed, but when her eyes caught Kirana's, it immediately changed to angry and hateful.
- So you lied to me, Solomon... You took this woman's side and decided to sell me out," she hissed through gritted teeth.
- Hello Lavena," Kirana said in a calm tone, "It's been a long time, hasn't it?
The artist instantly pulled out her paintbrush from under her dress, and then, using an analog of Fortification, swung it at Kirana, aiming straight for her heart. However, her attempt was unsuccessful as the green vines braided around her in the same instant and fell to the ground.
The Artist's eyes instantly shifted to mine, burning with fury and the promise of death. She wriggled, trying to get free and reach me, and the brush in her hand was clenched so tightly that blood flowed from her palms. The artist was burning with eagerness and defiance, unwilling to give up while Kirana watched it all calmly and didn't move.
- I knew you couldn't be trusted! Let me go, you damned liar! You bastard!
- I didn't bring you here to sell you. Far from it. I brought you here to give you a chance to settle this once and for all. Isn't that what you wanted, Mistress Lavena?
- What are you talking about?! - she asked in a voice like an angry beast, and my rings shone brightly, catching the attention of both women.
- The Time of Coronation has come...
Particles of light began to surround us, creating the outline of a golden sphere.
- He is the One Who Begins It All...
The sphere completely covered us, erasing everything but the three people inside.
- What are you-" Painter wanted to ask, but didn't have time to finish her sentence.
- Ars Paulina.
And at that moment, a glow of golden light blinded the world itself, transporting us to my Soul Mirror. It was there that the conflict between them would be resolved. With both words and force, for that is the only way I will be able to get what I want and more. Indeed.
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