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Flame's Shadow	In one of Great Fork's many shops, there is the Quiet Blossom, a teahouse famous for it's matcha tea and you can borrow their many books while enjoying their assortment of beverages for it is also a library. It is owned by a godblood whose mother is the deity of poets and novelists. However the flapping of wings can be heard from outside, as a man can be seen riding what seems to be a winged simhata with majestic vermillion feathers. What's even strange is it's rider for he is a horned man with red hair, his veins glow with the light of magma and dressed in a formal attire. Oddly however, his shadow doesn't fit his form, for it appears as the shadows of a raging fire "Uhh sir, we may allow pets here as long as they do not disturb our other customers.....but certainly not one that big" The teahouse's guard is baffled to see the man's steed. The devilish man responded. "Of course he won't go inside silly! If there is a fee for horses and other steeds to stay outside the teahouse, I'll pay for it... handsome" He winks and says with a promiscuous tone, for he finds the guard attractive to his standards. The guard simply sighs as he has enough of his annoyance, as he let's him tie his simhata to a nearby stable and the prince of the earth goes inside the teahouse. He orders matcha tea with a side of croissant with guava jam inside. Of course, he sits by the table near the mystery and detective fiction books. "I wonder how they write magistrate novels these days. I only read the old ones my mother got for me when I was a kid" He says as he picks a novel titled "Fall Of The House Of Akiyo" by Ledaal Teseres.
Amilar Ereyo	Even though the Fire aspect was just speaking to himself and not really expecting an answer, he receives one from a solitary woman in a dark blue kimono sitting at a table close to his: "They haven't changed much. A horrible crime happens among the common people, and a brave magistrate - who will always be the protagonist, most often working alone, sometimes with a helpful, but ultimatively far less heroic sidekick - is called upon to investigate. In the process, they discover some kind of grand intrigue, get tangled up in a web of schemes, lies, and romance, and single-handledly dismantle it to solve the crime and set things right." Before her, a steaming cup of tea sits next to a small plate with very thin round cookies. There's also a book, of course, but it lies open in front of her, so there's no telling what it might be about without taking a closer look at the writing. The woman looks tired, but her violet eyes are bright and currently busy studying the horned man's features with curiosity. Her long, raven-black hair looks disheveled, probably because of the light breeze constantly stirring it. "That said, I think you might find some very new ones written after the disappearance of the Empress. They feature plots where magistrates often have to content with assassins from the Great Houses, or pursue a criminal far away from the Blessed Isle, only to find that they cannot return." She smiles sheepishly at the stranger, suddenly embarrassed. "Wait... you weren't really asking, were you?"
Flame's Shadow	"Uhm no I wasn't" The fire aspect was surprised by the woman in the kimono describing some parts of the genre to him. He then looks at her with an inquisitive stare for his eyes are lanterns to darkness. "But interesting nonetheless, I see you are well acquainted with such books. I read them when I was a child but I stopped, since I solve actual mysteries and crimes now" It seems that the horned dragon is an investigator himself. "I wanted to write a novel myself, but I'm bad at it to the point one of my friends laughed at how badly written it is." He cringes just by remembering such an embarrassing memory. Strangely he feels a breeze near her and wonder what it is about. "If there were stories about my own exploits, I prefer other writers making it rather than myself. I'm Flame's Shadow whose veins flow with Hesiesh's blood, not famous in these parts of the Scavenger Lands but I'm a detective in the Hundred Kingdoms" He then sees the symbol of gens Amilar in her kimono "I see you are from Lookshy and I guess that the breeze from earlier is thanks to you being an air aspect"
Amilar Ereyo	"A keen observation, Flame's Shadow", responds the woman, now beaming at him, her earlier embarrassment quickly forgotten. Despite her tired face, she seems to be in a light mood. "I'm Amilar Ereyo, sorcerer-engineer of the Seventh Legion, Chosen of the Elemental Dragon of Air, and currently a guest teacher at the Violet Meadow university here in Great Forks." By way of acknowledgement, she bows her head towards the other Dragon-Blooded, then continues in a less formal tone: "As for the writing, I've never dabbled in prose myself. My written works are all about facts - strictly scholaric publications. I can imagine writing fiction, and writing it well, isn't easy." She points at her table, then at his. "Oh, I'm... I think... maybe we could share a table, if you want to continue the conversation? Uhm... Unless you want to read in peace. Then I won't distrub you any more." Again, an awkward smile briefly appears on her face.
Flame's Shadow	"Writing fiction is just as hard as solving an unbreakable cold case after all" He acknowledges that writing stories is not as easy as it seems. "Sure I'll share a table with you, I haven't meet other dragonblooded that much especially since I'm an outcaste from a long lost gens" The horned dragon says while carrying his beverage and platter into the table. "I was originally here to meet a godblooded but he was preoccupied with other matters so we had to continue it next time." "Ah you're a teacher, wish I went to secondary schools but I was home taught by my mother and had to rely on books she has. It's also the reason why I wanted to be a detective." Flame's Shadow sips his tea as his continues conversing with the Lookshyan
Amilar Ereyo	Ereyo places the cookie plate within easy reach of them both, just in case he wants some. (They have a sweet, caramelized taste to them, but are also spicy on the tongue, thanks to generous amounts of chile powder baked into the dough). She also closes her book and moves it aside to give them both more space. It's written in Riverspeak and seems to be a retelling of the history of Great Forks and the three peoples who founded it. When the Air aspect leans forward a bit and places her elbows on the table, she looks at Flame's Shadow again with keen interest. "In case you ever feel like you need to brush up your education in more advanced topics, I offer frequent lectures." She smiles briefly once again, then latches onto the topic of investigation: "So you're a freelancer of sorts? Running private detective business? May I ask about the kind of work you usually take contracts for?" While waiting for his reply, she gingerly picks up one of the cookies and eats it in small bites. He can also hear a soft whirring from somewhere below the table as she begins fidgeting with one of her legs.
Flame's Shadow	"Mostly the authorities or leaders in the Hundred Kingdoms, also some merchants if I remember. Usually cases regarding crimes that a mortal detective may find difficult to solve, such as those involving crime lords that know sorcery and involvement of spirits. They usually pay me a hefty amount of money and I managed to be sufficiently wealthy for a dragonblood. Although I would have simply lavished in luxuries since I admit I do enjoy it, I like my job and after all, the princes of the earth have a duty to protect creation no matter the means. In my job, I saw horrid evil thanks to my investigations especially since my first investigation before my second breath almost had me sold into slavery all because of my...exotic heritage" He shudders as smoke briefly comes out of his veins. "Since you are a teacher, I'll try to see if I have the time to attend lectures. Even if I'm sufficiently educated despite my upbringing, that doesn't mean you can't learn new things after all" The horned detective takes a sip from his cup once more
Amilar Ereyo	While he elaborates on his job, Ereyo sips tea and listens attentively. Her gaze doesn't remain locked on him, flickering to and fro, examining other newly arriving guests or those who are putting down their books and preparing to leave. But she never seems distracted in such a way that she doesn't pay attention to her tablemate's words. On the subject of slavery, she blinks and looks at him again - at his horns in particular. Despite the brief flash of compassion on her face, she doesn't appear to be disturbed by his tale. Slavery is a sad, albeit unavoidable part of life almost anywhere in the world, after all. The topic of teaching coaxes forth a pleasant smile once more. "Exactly! Never believe that there's nothing left for you to learn." Her excitement lets stirs constant breeze close to her, tossling her hair and causing a long strand to fall in front of her eyes. Irritated, the Lookshyan brushes it aside and tucks it behind her ear before continuing. "I can even give private lectures tailored to the specific learning needs and schedule of a single student. Of course, these don't come cheap. It sounds like you would be able to afford me, though. And I assure you, my tutelage will shorten the time spent on learning and perfecting your knowledge considerably." After she has finished her sales pitch, she takes a quick breath and blinks at him, lowering her voice. "Maybe I could use an investigator, too. But it would be a particularly difficult and dangerous job."
Flame's Shadow	"ah interesting, able to learn more efficently." He considers the choice as he ponders on it whether to accept it or not but as he reaches his decision, he gives his answer. "I think I'll accept even with the price. I may try to study more on languages, especially since some of my cases involve deciphering ciphers. It's admittedly one of the things I find annoying when solving cases, so learning more about it may come in handly" He accepts the offer from his fellow prince of the earth. However it seems that she wants his services as well. "Investigating something that may involve dangers huh, I am not deterred for I have encountered worse and when I exalted, my mother taught me the ways of the flaming lance for I now hold one of the last heirlooms of my gens which is Fjalhar, a direlance I inherited from her"
Amilar Ereyo	"A heirloom from one of the old Shogunate gentes? And it even has a name... Oh! It must be at least a few centuries old. Fascinating." Ereyo regards the man with renewed curiosity. "Maybe I could have a look at it sometime. Not to wield it, of course, just to study and learn from artifice much older than myself." At the thought, she beams happily, but that smile is soon replaced by a more serious expression. "As for the investigation: If you're interested in tackling an investigation for me, we could trade: My tutelage in exchange for your skills." After a quick look around, as if she was afraid someone could eavesdrop on them, she continues in a soft voice: "We shouldn't discuss the details here. Find me in my study in the Violet Meadow when you want to hear more about why I would want to hire you." She takes a long gulp, finishing her tea, and stands up. "Bring Fjalhar too, if you like. I'll warn the staff that you will carry a weapon for... educational purposes, so they will allow you to enter the building without too much fuss."
Flame's Shadow	"My gentes known as Laevatein was from the Northwest, but according to my mother, a terrible disaster happened to them during the Fair Folk invasions but I don't know the details. I hear there are scattered survivors who went on to sire minor thinblooded lineages but I can't confirm their existence" He is not even sure if there are even descendants like his mother but then turns to the Amilar regarding it. "you can study it as well since I am curious about the history of my gens" He then is composed when Ereyo told him where to meet as the information is too sensitive to know for eavesdroppers. "Sure I will bring my direlance. I don't know what this is about but I bet it's serious you want me to bring my weapon to a university"