Nyxara
Before Nimra left, I requested that in the future she portal into my living room or in front of my suite when she visits. For a moment it appeared she would argue with me until her eyes glazed over for a moment before they cleared. Then with a contrite sigh, "I will respect your boundaries, little one. I just want us to have a close relationship again. Our current one has become somewhat frayed. I've been reminded that respecting your boundaries is a good way to build trust."
Pulling me into a tight hug, reminiscent of her earlier hug in the garden, she whispered softly, "I love you, little one. I will never stop loving or believing in you. Things are fragile between us now, but I believe we will find our way forward from this stronger than ever. Believe in us."
She wiped away first her tears and then mine. "Go freshen up. Your Azrail will be here soon if he isn't already here somewhere waiting for the perfect moment to just appear." She looked around as if she expected him to just slide into reality like some fey creature. When he did not, she huffed, then peered deep into my eyes with an expression that told me she was about to impart some advice.
"Enjoy your time with him. He especially requested one-on-one time with you since you seem to remember him the least in our immediate family circle. I give you my promise in case you need it: he will never be a danger to you. Especially you. I say this with no narcissism. After me, you are the most important person to him. He would destroy the world and everyone on it for the two of us." I honestly didn't know what to do with this information.
I mean I was already getting the strong impression Azrail was obsessed with Nimra and loved me fiercely, but I didn't know he had boss villain level love for us. It did make me feel deeply loved regardless. Maybe this is a sign that I am indeed his daughter. Him being willing to go psycho for us is definitely a lovable quality. Hooking arms with Nimra, I walked her to my suite doors. "Like, is that a metaphor or a legit scenario that could happen?"
Nimra's expression tried not to look amused by the question, but her neutral expression was cracking. "Very real scenario. We learned this when someone kidnapped me. The ransom note was sent to Ny, which was their second mistake. The first was kidnapping me. I was told Ny read the letter, handed it to Mal, told him that he would be going out to pick me up, and that there would be a massacre he would have to clean up soon.
Then he was just gone. 12 hours later, he had obliterated a mountain, drove a whole minor clan to madness, only to massacre them when they wouldn't tell him who was the real mastermind of the operation.
I had been stuck in an illusion the whole time, so I was told these things afterwards. Cor was honestly scared of Ny for a while despite knowing him the longest out of all of us. He swore Ny was definitely a trickster, but he had never seen him so serious like he was when he left and when he came back. Cor actually was the one to take care of me for the first two days of my recovery because Mal and Ny were secluded, helping Ny put what he calls his chaos demon side away. So yeah, your Azrail has no limit; he won't cross for us."
I absorbed this lovely, slightly alarming piece of information. My dad is dangerous and he loves me a lot. Not that I think Korran isn't dangerous or doesn't love me, but he would think before he acts, and Azrail would just get rid of the problem and ask for forgiveness later.
Both viable responses and should be used when appropriate. Based on Nimra's obvious amusement, I guess my happiness at having a psycho dad is clearly apparent to her. "I said all that to say we all love and want to protect you."
"Until tomorrow, little one." Then she opened my suite double doors into a room I didn't recognize, but I could hear music being played around a corner. With a wink, she closed the doors.
Standing transfixed for a second, I then tried to push the doors like she did, but they didn't swing that way. So I tried pulling instead and found the residence hallway, as would be expected if I hadn't just seen Nimra enter what I assume was her own private suite. "That was a portal?" I asked Lima, who was observing me stoically.
Now that she had my attention, her expression warmed, radiating amused big sister vibes. "Not exactly. You could call it that, but what she really did was cast a short-distance transportation spell. A portal is typically considered a portal, which is defined as a spell construct when it connects a location that is a further distance than you can walk in 30 minutes. Otherwise, it is defined as just a spell. Also, that 30-minute limitation is based on the individual, not a universal measurement."
I stopped examining the hallway for clues to how Nimra did it when her words clicked. "So if one person is physically faster than another, the faster person can just use a short-distance spell, which I'm guessing is lower essence cost, instead of creating a portal?" Lima closed the doors when I walked past her, then followed me down the hallway to my bedroom. "That is correct. You strengthen your body, and it can more effectively manage your essence network, which ripples into being able to essence-craft more efficiently."
My mind imagined how else this principle could be applied while I allowed Lima to physically freshen me up. When she sat me at my vanity, then began braiding my hair into a bun, I gave her a questioning look. "The Crown Consort has messaged that you will have a mixed sort of lesson with him, so it would be best if you were attired flexibly. I figured based on the Crown Consort's typical methods, your hair being out of the way would be to your advantage." Lima's words did not comfort me, if that was her intention.
"That is concerning reasoning, but you have me even more curious now. Where will I be having my lesson?" Lima had dressed me in a form-fitting temple robe that would give me plenty of room to move or fight in if necessary. "We will start with dinner in this living room that needs more decorations. We need to go shopping this weekend or, better yet, search through everyone's storage closets." Azrail's hypnotic voice sounded cheerfully and unexpectedly.
"We are a terrible family of hoarders. Lux and Aspen will deny it, but the truth shall be set free this weekend." There was a suspenseful pause before we heard his voice further away. We followed the sound of his mutterings to find him in my storage closet. "You have barely begun going through this closet. I will forego working this weekend and help you keep what you want, auction or sell what you don't, and burn what must never see the light of day." He held up some photos taken of Grey that, on the surface, look fine, but those with discernment would be able to tell she was not fine.
Without question or comment, he incinerated them. "Yes, I will take this project off your hands. Intrust this matter to me. So let us get started with our review lesson by having dinner. We will review dinner etiquette as we eat. May I escort you to the table, my daughter?" He offers me his arm. I gave him a curtsy, then take his arm. "This will be both your easiest and hardest lesson of the day. Prepare yourself, little queen."
I don't know about easiest or hardest, but I'm sure this will be the most unique lesson of the day. How could it not be?