"Who is she?" Evie asked Felix as he watched Cal and Rory drift farther away into the crowd. She leaned against Pit's haunches and ate some sort of beige fruit noisily. "Another crafter?"
"Alchemist, Rory says." Felix shrugged. "None of my concern, really."
"Alchemist? As in, maker of Essence Draughts?" Evie spat out chunks of her fruit. It was a bright orange inside apparently. "Noctis wept, but that'd be a boon."
"You're not wrong," said another voice. Felix turned to find two female Dwarves walking their way, one fair and the other dark. "I'd be excited to see what she could do for my forge, were she willing."
"Rafny, Elle," Evie said, hacking up a small piece of orange fruit meat. "Figures you'd come rushin'."
"Like a harnoq to a fresh kill," Rafny grinned with too much teeth. She looked up at Felix. "'Lo there, Fiend. Mind coming down to mortal level?"
Felix raised an eyebrow and hopped off Pit's back. He landed a few feet from the smiths and sketched a small bow. "Better?"
"Much. Now show me all the ore you brought us." Rafny rubbed her hands together, but her wife put her fingers on her bicep.
"Raf, don't be rude. We still owe this man a fitting for armor, do we not?" Elle's expression was one of warmth, despite the wear that was starting to show. Based on the amount of simple arms and armor he'd seen worn by the new Tin Ranks, they had been hard at work the past two days. "We had told you to wait for better materials, I do believe. Yes?"
Felix nodded. "You did. That was...well everything spiraled since then."
"That it did," Elle said, a little sadly Felix thought. "You've brought us some excellent ore, though. Simple and common, but the quality is outstanding. Enough to make plenty of Apprentice Tier weapons and armor for our new guards."
"Couldn't find some orichalcum in that mine, huh?" Rafny asked, now peering into the back of one of the wagons. "Or some mithral or veridian?"
"Quiet you," Elle said. "This iron will go a long way to helping everyone. But I think i have something we could make work for you, Felix Nevarre, if you'll let us."
"Oh, yeah, absolutely," Felix smiled. "I've been making do with, uh, nothing up until now."
"What about a weapon?" Rafny prodded, having obtained a chunk of ore and measuring it with her hand and eye. "I've never seen you with more than a belt dagger. Is that because you're Fiend powers?"
"My-my what? No. I never really learned how to use one," Felix managed, flustered. "Had to make due with my fists."
"Uh-hm, uh-hm, and what happens if your enemy is outside your range?"
"Magic?"
Rafny fixed him with a glare. "Mana runs out eventually, yeah? Come see us tomorrow."
"He shall be busy tomorrow," another voice smoothly interrupted. Zara, wrapped in layered robes of orange and cream, appeared as if out of thin air. "If you'll forgive my intrusion, Rafny. Elle."
"Zara, of course. Send him to us when he's done, if it would please you." Elle flashed Felix and Zara a wide smile before leading her wife toward the wagons, where two dozen women were now swarming and cataloguing the ore.
"I'll make it a priority, Adeptsmith."
"Wow, just everyone's interrupting everyone else, huh?" Evie said, crunching into her fruit again. "Kinda rude."
"What is rude?" Vess asked, groaning as she stretched her arms above her head. The finely made armor she wore was showing some strain, but it still moved with her form as if it was made of cloth, rather than metal. "I assume it was Evie."
"Hey!"
"Children," Zara admonished before giving them each a once over. She tutted her tongue. "I had planned to try and teach you some of what you desperately need to know before you turned in, but I can see the day has been...difficult."
"All of us?" Evie asked. "You teachin' me to sing?"
"If you wish, yes. You've touched on the Harmonics, you will be able to learn," Zara said. "Tomorrow. For now, all of you, go rest."
"What? I can go for days yet," Felix said with no little confusion. He hadn't felt properly tired since he woke up early that morning, and Pit echoed that sentiment.
"Did you fight?" Zara asked, looking him in the eyes. Hers were a bright blue, more electric than anything natural.
"Yeah, we just--"
"Did you kill?" She pressed.
Felix hesitated, though he wasn't entirely sure why. "Yes."
Zara nodded as if everything made sense. "Then go rest. I don't want to see any of you for at least six hours."
Felix looked around for some support but Cal just shrugged and continued issuing orders to the Tin Ranks around her. Evie slapped him on the back. "C'mon tough guy. I'll show you to your room. We're all near each other."
Felix threw a confused glance at the Chorister, but Zara's expression was steel.
"Fine. Sleep, then."