On the way to the workshop, numerous times Xenia caught herself glancing at Velora, who walked silently beside her. She opened her mouth to say something but then closed it again, unable to find the right words or even understand what her sister was thinking.
Had she cried during the night, like Xenia had? Or had she forgotten all about it already?
Finally, she sighed and continued leading the way in silence. When they reached their father's workshop, Xenia set the crate of Soulfuel down. Velora stood in the center of the room, her gaze wandering over the machinery and tools as though she didn't already know the contents of the space by heart.
She was definitely waiting for Xenia to say something. Now, she felt a pang of guilt.
"Uh," she began awkwardly, and before she could even finish forming her thought, Velora turned expectantly toward her. "Are you… is everything okay? You know, about yesterday and all?"
Velora was quiet for a few moments before turning her attention back to the many machines in the room.
"Mhm," was all she said.
"Well then…" Xenia muttered, her voice trailing off into an uncomfortable silence. The same silence lingered for another ten minutes, though it felt like an eternity to Xenia. No matter how hard she tried in that moment, she couldn't summon the courage to apologize to her sister.
At last, footsteps echoed in the hall, and their father entered. Lord Askar paused briefly, his gaze flitting between his distracted and hurt daughter, and his uneasy other one. One with the same golden blond hair as he had, the other's wavy and long crown of hair black as the night.
As for him, heavy was the crown of his own, but being a father of two daughters sometimes seemed to occupy his mind more than ruling over the southern capital of mankind.
He seemed to ponder something, sighed, and then said, "Come here, both of you."
Xenia hesitated, glancing at Velora, but her sister immediately obeyed. Left with no choice, Xenia followed. They stood before their father, looking up at his face, his expression calm yet commanding.
"I have something to tell you," he began casually, his voice not betraying a hint of trouble. "Xenia, from today onward, you will no longer live in the fortress. I have arranged a place for you at the Sluice Guard."
Xenia's eyes widened in shock, and Velora looked equally stunned.
"What?! What do you mean-"
"And you, Velora," he interrupted, "will be married to the youngest son of the Bellet family."
Their minds were blank. A second after, Velora's composure shattered.
"What? No! I mean… to him? He's awful!"
Xenia's jaw nearly dropped, but her father remained as nonchalant as if he'd merely commented on the weather.
"I have made my decision."
Almost in unison, the sisters burst out. But neither of the two had expected the target of the other's concern, for it was not for themselves they protested.
"You can't do this! She's way too good for that moron!"
"Father, she belongs here! You can't just take her away!"
Xenia turned, surprised to hear Velora echoing her sentiment.
Velora turned to her sister, uncertainty flickering in her eyes.
"You… care?"
Xenia hesitated, fumbling for words until uttering, "I… I told you this might happen!"
Lord Askar looked down at his daughters, his expression shifting to one of faint amusement. Velora's jaw tightened, her brows knitting in frustration, while Xenia's mouth opened slightly in disbelief before snapping shut.
"So, you're both opposed to this?"
"Yes!" This time, their answer was perfectly synchronized.
He nodded and walked between them, a satisfied smile briefly gracing his lips before vanishing.
"Very well. Then it won't happen. Now come, we have work to do."
Xenia's mind struggled to process his words. When she glanced at Velora, she saw the same confusion mirrored in her sister's face. Their eyes met briefly before they both turned away, slightly embarrassed.
"I'm sorry about yesterday," Xenia murmured.
It seemed that Velora's resentment had dissolved as well. Her voice was gentle as she replied, "Shall we get started?"
Xenia nodded, offering her sister a small, sidelong smile. Velora returned it faintly.
"That was… cruel of him," Velora muttered.
"More like sadistic," Xenia replied, and both sisters chuckled softly.
"What's keeping you?" their father's voice called, carrying a hint of satisfaction. Still smiling, the two sisters joined him, standing on either side as he examined one of the vials of Soulfuel from the crate.
But now that his daughters had made peace, it seemed his focus shifted again to more important matters... at least, Xenia thought, they were important to him. For her, it was just spending time with her father.
"How much more do you need?" Xenia asked curiously, trying to get a feel just how much longer they'd spend together in the workshop.
Their father had been collecting liquid Soulfuel for three months now, though he had yet to reveal the exact purpose of the project. Still, he often involved them to some degree.
"A lot," he replied, his gaze fixed on the pulsating green liquid that shimmered in his eyes. The way the liquid glowed seemed to hold his attention for a moment longer than necessary, as if he were contemplating something far beyond the room.
Sometimes Xenia asked herself, if he ever looked at anything or anyone else that way.
"What do you think of it?" he asked after some time.
Velora spoke first.
"It is, as always, of excellent quality. Nothing less would be expected from Professor Hornback."
Lord Askar glanced briefly at Velora.
"He doesn't make it. His alchemists do. Especially Julius, his vials are always of great quality. And yet, it still isn't enough."
"He makes that?" Xenia sounded incredulous.
"He may be impulsive and overeager, particularly about his position, but he is a talented alchemist. That's why the professor tolerates his presence despite being fully aware of his apprentice's envy."
Xenia rolled her eyes.
"But what kind of future professor gets robbed in a tavern?"
"It was an ambush," Velora said in his defense.
"Sure. He probably kept it for himself. No one's dumb enough to take the green gold out in public."
"And if they are?" their father interjected.
"Then it's their fault," Xenia replied.
Lord Askar set the vial down and took another from the crate, examining it carefully.
"No. It's our fault."
Xenia frowned.
"Why would their mistake be our responsibility?"
"Because these are our streets," he replied simply.
Xenia hesitated, considering his words. House Jarakan ruled Crownblossom as stewards. If bands of Oilrats roamed unchecked from the lower city into the middle levels, wasn't it their duty to maintain order and safety for the citizens? Probably.
But I'm not a Jarakan.
Still, it was Lord Askar who had loosened the regulations on traveling between city levels some years ago.
Velora seemed to share the same thought.
"Attacking an alchemist in service to our house is a grave crime. The culprits must be punished accordingly."
Xenia noticed a distinct air of Jarakan authority in her sister's voice. Lord Askar nodded slowly.
"That is expected of us. And how would you achieve it?"
Velora looked thoughtful.
"I would post more guards."
"Did you not say the criminals must be punished? More guards won't bring Julius justice."
"But it would reduce future crimes," Velora argued.
"Perhaps. But greater security by blades comes at a cost that not only has to do with coin. And you, Xenia? What would you do?"
Xenia shrugged.
"If they came from the lower city, I'd search their homes for them. I'd also arrest the innkeeper for questioning."
Her father raised an eyebrow.
"A few men from the Undercity commit a crime, and you would throw the entire district into chaos?"
"It would just be a search," Xenia retorted.
"Exactly. Chaos," he replied firmly. "No, you are both right and wrong. But I cannot blame you; you are still young."
With that, he set the vial down and walked over to one of the machines in the workshop.
"Let's begin. I trust you know the process by now."
Xenia and Velora exchanged a brief glance before moving to different stations. Xenia found herself asking, "What would you do?"
She wasn't sure why she cared about the answer, but her father replied anyway.
"I'd ask myself, why a so called Oilrat would ever listen to the Lord they never even see? Why do they steal and commit crime against the ones who rule over them?"
His gaze became distant for just a moment. "Why do people do anything that goes against basic human principle?"
Her father put on some working gloves over each hand.
"The answer is always simpler than you think."
What's that supposed to mean? Am I expected to be a mind reader?
Lord Askar pulled a lever, and the machines roared to life.
"Enough talk."
***
Xenia collapsed, sweat-soaked, onto one of the workbenches. The air in the workshop hung thick with heat and the acrid scent of burning metal, while the rhythmic clinking of cooling machinery slowly faded into silence around her. Once again, the entire processing and mixing procedure had taken several hours. The workshop was stiflingly hot, and Velora looked just as exhausted.
Still, Xenia had enjoyed it. It was one of the rare activities she could share with her father, and it also showed that he trusted them to some degree – even if he refused to reveal the purpose of this peculiar project. Finally finished, Xenia took several large gulps from a water pouch lying nearby.
Velora sat down beside her. Xenia gave her a smile.
"Do you think if Father had a son, we would still be here in the workshop?"
Velora shrugged. "I don't know. And I'm glad I don't."
Their father approached them. He nodded and said, "Well done."
"If this keeps up for as long as you say it will, we should start getting paid. Don't you agree, sis?"
Velora said nothing, and their father regarded Xenia with calm amusement.
"Don't worry. Something far more efficient is on its way to us than these... machines. We won't have to solely rely on the Professor anymore soon, too."
Now Xenia raised a curious eyebrow. "And what might that be? Please tell me it won't lose Soulfuel while drinking as that idiot did."
Lord Askar pulled off his gloves and tossed them onto the table beside them. His movements carried a sense of anticipation, his gaze firm and resolute, as if the weight of the future bore a significance only he fully understood.
"Next week, the Ariana will dock at the Skyport."
"Oh?"
Xenia knew the Ariana all too well. She had been there as a little girl when the mighty Red Ship first took flight seven years ago. It was House Jarakan's first airship and a monumental success for the engineers of Crownblossom... and it also went against the laws the Sky King had put up. Back then, Lady Hilla had feared for repercussion, but it seemed Lord Askar knew how important he and his city were.
The triumph had marked a pivotal moment, as it meant that not only the Sky King and House Bellet had fleets, but House Jarakan might soon follow, carving their place among the dominant powers of the skies.
Unfortunately, Xenia never had the chance to fly aboard it herself.
"And I suppose it's bringing something with it?" she asked her father.
Lord Askar's gaze grew suddenly intense.
"Yes. No one else, not even Madame Corvin knows about it, so you are strictly forbidden to mention it to anyone. Do you understand?"
Xenia swallowed, a bit taken away by the sudden intensity her father displayed. If he wouldn't even tell their guest, Madame Corvin, it meant that the Sky King knew nothing about this mysterious shipment either. In the end, she and her sister could only nod.
Lord Askar regarded them a few moments, as if to make sure his intent was clear and received.
"Good. It might just be the final part that's missing… You will both accompany me when it arrives. We will make sure everything is in order. It must be in order."
Velora blurted out, "You would take us there, even if it's that important?"
Lord Askar stepped closer to his daughters, placing a hand on each of their shoulders. Xenia couldn't help but feel a flicker of surprise at this display of trust, while Velora sat a little straighter, as though savoring their father's unspoken affirmation.
His dark eyes bore into them.
"No one else can be part of the operation. You are my daughters, and the only ones I trust with this."