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G’raha liked to think that he knew most of the people who resided within the Crystarium, if not by name then at least by face. It was a little harder for the ones that came and went, for sometimes, unfortunately, they never returned.
Lue-Reeq was one such individual that he was not familiar with before but was quickly becoming well aware of, for he had an interest in the Warrior of Darkness, and G’raha had taken it upon himself to keep an eye out for such individuals lest something untoward should come of it. At least, that was what Glynard told him of Lue-Reeq on one of his visits to the Wandering Stairs.
“Aye, Lusi’s starting to become a regular ‘round here, though not so much for the drinks than the company,” Glynard said while towelling dry the mugs in preparation of the evening rush. “Ever since I got her wrapped up in that Virtue business she’s taken to helping some of the hunters who frequent here. They’re not a bad lot—quirky, aye, but not unscrupulous—though I’ve found myself watching her interactions with Lue-Reeq more than the others.”
G’raha’s ears twitched, and he was glad for his hood to have kept it hidden lest it would give away how very interested he was in this Lue-Reeq despite how nonchalant he was when he responded, “Oh? And why is that?”
“At first it was because I was a tad worried about the two of them—word was that Lue-Reeq had just lost a partner, so he must have been involved in some particularly dangerous situation. Add to that whatever internal going-ons that come with losing someone, as we all know, and Lusi was walking slap dab in the middle of all that. Just wanted to make sure they would be okay.”
“I trust they were?”
“Lusi’s tougher than my strongest drink, but I bet you’re well aware of that fact coming from the same homeland, my lord. And Lue-Reeq couldn’t have gotten this far without having some mettle himself, though he seems a bit wet behind the ears besides.”
One of things G’raha quite liked about bar establishments was that it didn’t take much to keep them talking if you only prompted them, which was benefitting him quite well in this impromptu reconnaissance. “Would I be correct in suggesting this is the reason behind your continued vigilance on the two of them?”
Glynard let out a hearty laugh. “Aye you would, my lord. You didn’t hear it from me but Lue-Reeq seems to be more well off than most of my patrons here; he used to always shower his previous partners with huge rounds of drinks and a banquet of food upon their return here. But women like Lusi aren’t the type to be swayed by such acts, try as hard as Lue-Reeq might to impress her more than the others. He knows naught what else to do though, so he keeps doing it. I have half a mind to pull him aside and give him some tips.”
The last word caused G’raha to choke on his drink, and he waved off Glynard’s concern as he wiped his mouth. “Tips for what, pray tell?” G’raha asked, though he feared he already knew.
“To woo her, of course! They’re both young, spritely Mystels, after all, and there is much to celebrate with the night returning. And you know what they say about bards.”
As a bard once upon a time himself, G’raha may have heard a thing or two about how predisposed bards were to courting and the frequent…bed mates. Not that it was something G’raha had actively pursued, busy as he was with the studies as a Student of Baldesion and then the Crystal Tower business.
Though Lusi was quite taken with my voice and the deftness of my fingers upon the strings of my bow… G’raha shook his head as if it would banish those thoughts from popping up while he was in public and could not properly handle it, as it were. Still, he felt himself heating up and he groaned, raising a hand to cover his face in embarrassment.
Glynard let out another loud laugh, thinking the Crystal Exarch had finally realized what he was insinuating about bards. “Ah, to be young again, eh, my lord?”
Days later, alone in the Ocular, G’raha was still bothered about learning of Lue-Reeq, and, unluckily or not, had managed to catch them in the mirror. He watched as they returned to the Crystarium, made their way to the Wandering Stairs, and true to Glynard’s word, Lue-Reeq made a grand showing of what he could offer her materially. He watched as Lusi smiled politely at the gesture though only touched a fraction of what was bought, but all the same seemed to be engaged in the conversation they were having.
Gods, was that the reason Lusi was humouring this Lue-Reeq so? Was it simply because they were both Mystels, and he a bard, and they were ‘young and spritely’? Or did Lue-Reeq remind her of him, deep down, and she clung to what little she had left of him? Or is that my hubris speaking? Sighing, G’raha waved his staff, returning the mirror back to a portal to the Source and leaving Lue-Reeq and Lusi to their privacy.
Even if it were true, there was nothing he could do about it. Not when he had no plans of surviving the slaying of the last Lightwarden. It wouldn’t have been fair to him or to her to reveal himself for a fleeting moment of superiority. If this was what Lusi needed, he would give her that.
So that was why, when G’raha spied Lusi alone looking dejected at the table that was, for all intents and purposes, hers and Lue-Reeq’s, G’raha swallowed his pride and approached the Warrior of Darkness.
“A gil for your thoughts?” G’raha offered, holding a hand up to stop Lusi mid-motion as she made to stand in a form of etiquette towards his unasked for rank as he sat down next to her.
“My lord,” Lusi greeted, and gods, that might have been the next best thing she could say besides his true name.
Focus, G’raha chastised himself.
Lusi seemed to hesitate as if not wanting to burden him with what surely must seem mundane in comparison of their main objective, but G’raha felt relieved when she began to speak, like they had a deeper connection than merely ‘business’.
“I think a misunderstanding happened between a friend and I and he’s rather upset at me over it. If only I wasn’t so disoriented after…” Lusi trailed off, rubbing her temple as if she was still affected by whatever ailed her. “He wants nothing to do with me anymore. An old friend of his says I should give him some time and then return but I’m not sure that’s not going against his wishes.”
G’raha might very well come to regret his but mayhap it was his turn to give some ‘tips’. “I apologize if they seems presumptuous of me but you don’t come across as someone who gives up on someone after one fight. This friend may have a point, with their advantage of knowing him for longer; information to tuck away for the future, mayhap. At the very least, it cannot hurt to try just once more.” G’raha paused before adding wistfully, “If I were in his place, I would not squander one more chance.”
Lusi looked at him for a moment, shocked, before she smiled warmly at him. “Thank you, Exarch. I appreciate your candour. I think I will go visit him a few days, but…” her tone became teasing now, “were you giving me relationship advice just now?”
“I—well—” G’raha sputtered.
Lusi covered her mouth as she laughed. “I may care for Lue-Reeq, yes, but only as a friend.”
In what very well become his signature move, G’raha covered his face with a hand as it felt it become red in mortification. Unable to resist the contagiousness of her giggling, though, he soon was laughing with her. “I suppose the rumours about bards being irresistible are a fallacy, then,” he said in jest.
Lusi hummed as she seriously considered his comment. “Not entirely.”
G’raha tilted his head curiously. “Oh?” His heart hammered in his head.
“G’raha…the one I mentioned to you when we first met…he was a bard. And quite special…” Lusi trailed off, lost in memories before she shook her head. “But you don’t want to hear about that.”
He did, he so desperately wished to hear what she thought of him, but it wouldn’t do to push so suspiciously. So G’raha relented, and despite his waving of etiquette earlier he couldn’t help but rise as Lusi got to her feet.
Smiling at the irony, Lusi curtsied to make a point. “Thank you again for lending me your ear and your thoughts, my lord. We should do it again sometime.”
“I would like that.”
With a wave, Lusi left, and as relieved as he had to admit he was at hearing Lusi say that she was not pursuing Lue-Reeq romantically or otherwise, G’raha hoped that nothing, especially not him, was holding her back from finding happiness.
You must not only survive this, Lusi, you must also live.