𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕕𝕦𝕥𝕪 𝕚𝕤 𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕖.

Specs of dust glittered in the sunlight streaming through the large windows of the pavilion. Eli took a sip of his tea, head tilted and one foot resting on his thigh as he sat on one of the cushions. His brow furrowed slightly as the steam of light thinned before altogether vanishing into gray gloom. It was going to be a stormy day.

“I heard quite curious tales at the docks yesterday,” he said, the corner of his mouth quirking up, “Of quite a curious little man with a collection of rare items and an apparent talent for attracting customers with tales spun straight out of legends,” perhaps someone he should like to exchange a word with, “The merchants I spoke to were quite enchanted”. He met the gaze of his companion with an amused smile, “And where they met this curious tradesman?” he lifted his cup back to his lips, “It seems a lot of curious things hail from Isfrahan.”

She was still clad in black, and the scent of rose water still clung to her skin as she enjoyed this moment of peace from her duties. Empress. A word she did not feel belonged to her. Shantia had always been, would always be.

But she wasn’t. She had ceased to be. Her legacy, her plans, her goals... all fell to Ekaterina now.

The clouds over Antiva warned of tumultuous weather to come, not unlike the ever-swirling thoughts in her mind when she set herself to work. A storm hanging over the capital, however, with rain beating down on the windows, the crackle of lightning and the clap of thunder was something Ekaterina had always enjoyed. It was the calm before the heavens opened up that stirred up feelings of worry within her.

There was no doubt that she was just as skilled with words as with a blade, but a tactile weapon had always felt much more... comforting. She was confident in her abilities with a blade in hand, but her speech-- Ekaterina wished they would leave more of an impression upon those she spoke with. One that she could truly see.

To spend time with Eli was not uncommon; it granted her reprieve from the constant worries that plagued her mind, And to share a conversation with one such as her companion had always been refreshing, breaking up the wearisome meetings and talks she was to sit through as the days dragged on. She was thankful for it, his curious tales and enlightening remarks inspiring an appreciation for the smaller joys life could bring.

They had shared many meetings with one another over tea, before. What seemed like a very long And now... now. Her garments had become more ornate, hidden blades covered by beautiful fabrics, a crown sat atop her head and a guard stood at attention nearby, alert and ever-watchful over their new leader. It had taken an unforgivable mistake for those who were sworn to protect their Empress to learn their lesson; Ekaterina had ensured it taught.

She was laid along a lounge lined with cushions, her arm gracefully draped over the top of the raised wave of the piece with her gaze cast out to the expanse of Antiva, listening to Eli’s story. Her brow had quirked in interest upon hearing of this silver-tongued merchant and a light chuckle passed her lips at the thought, only to be repeated soon after upon learning of this stranger’s origin. It was rare, now, that she would laugh with sincerity.

“Isfrahan has always housed the curious and strange,” Ekaterina commented thoughtfully. “Though, I do not think a single person among us is not curious and strange in their own way. Even you and I, I would dare to say. Perhaps we are some of the most curious and strange of all, to sit here and look upon others with such intrigue.” Twisting her upper half and breaking her gaze with the cityscape to look to Eli, and then down to her tea which she lifted from the table on which it sat to take a careful sip.