After Lynna left the room, Veran and Elara remained seated, their faces reflecting the shift in the atmosphere.
"What do you think of the girl?" Veran asked, his tone hinting at more than just casual inquiry.
Elara leaned back thoughtfully.. "I'm quite fond of her. She's smart and talented, certainly more so than many I've encountered in these parts."
Veran nodded, gazing into the distance. "She's quite known, actually. The year she graduated, she was one of the three geniuses the Academy hadn't seen in decades. She graduated at the same time as Vance Aldhrin, the Elementalist."
"Ah, the famous Vance… and the academy..." Elara's voice trailed off as she pondered the institution's influence. "It's always been a point of contention between us, hasn't it? The same as the rivalry between the Kingdom's institutions and the Academy's influence."
Elara continued smoothly, "And even so, I'm convinced the kingdom needs her talents. It's a shame she settled in this backwater place. We should try to convince her to aspire higher."
Veran smirked. "I'm impressed how well you can hide your disdain."
Elara chuckled. "You would be surprised. We had classes for that in the Royal Academy, 'Address and Respect.' King Sene himself insisted on it being teach. There were a lot of rumors, supposedly he had some history with commoners... perhaps a mistress or two."
Veran chuckled back. "You think so?", he paused a moment, then added, "I see it quite differently... It's smart, actually. Gaining control of the masses often starts with showing respect. Trouble comes when people don't trust their leaders. Most of the time respect is met with respect. It's actually quite clever of the King."
Elara regarded him with curiosity. "I never thought of it that way. I guess even old graduates like you shouldn't be underestimated."
Veran smiled, his eyes reflecting decades of service. "I've served the Kingdom for more than forty years. You'd be surprised how different the stories in your history books are from what I've lived..."
The conversation drifted off as they both lost themselves in thoughts, each contemplating the intricate web of politics and power they left in the capital.
Later that night, Elara jolted awake, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. The sheets were soaked with her cold sweat, clinging to her trembling body. In the suffocating darkness of her room, she could only remember an echo of a nightmarish voice, chilling and authoritative: "The girl… is… mine." The words reverberated in her mind, heavy and threatening.
She gasped for air, trying to shake off the remnants of the dream. The nightmare had felt so real, so vivid, as if the voice had been right there in the room with her.
Elara sat up, pressing her palms against her eyes, trying to banish the lingering fear. She had never been fond of these remote villages, finding them lacking the sophistication of the capital. Yet here she was, in the heart of one.
In the stillness of the night, Elara tried to focus her thoughts. She needed a straightforward approach to the village situation. Her role was to assess the potential of this village for an upgrade in status, and every interaction, every observation, would be needed in forming her report.
She contemplated her next steps, this talented village mage, Lynna, was a key figure in this evaluation, and Elara knew she needed to build a friendly relationship with her, to glean insights that would be invaluable for her assessment. Also the girl had a lot of potential, she could use her.
With a deep trained breath, Elara forced herself to push aside the remnants of her nightmare. She decided to go back to sleep, she had to be ready and sharp. Her task in this village was simple, but she was determined to complete it perfectly regardless. The capital, with all its courtly intrigues seemed a world away. For now, she will focus her attention on the present and the peculiarities of this Twin-Forest Village.