The Lady of Fua

"T-Thank you for all your help" the leader of the party bowed low to Iris, her eyes trembling in fear. She let out a startled yelp as Iris extended her hand toward the other but then stopped short of touching the other.

"Think nothing of it. Just follow my instructions and you all shall be alright" the other bowed in fear once again. 

Iris did not stop them when they left in a hurry as soon as she had gotten off in front of the city gates. 

"What did you do to them? Kill someone in front of them" the city guard asked as he saw the others flee away from Iris. She looked amusingly at Iris and her thin body.

"Not a person, just some demons. People just fear those who are stronger than them" Iris commented without judgment. She omitted away a lot of facts from the story and the other winched at her words.

"Ouch, that's cold. You don't seem like a warrior to me since you're too pretty but what do I know" the guard tried to flirt, her tone slipping into sensual.

Iris felt her face heat but it was expressed in glare and she saw the other side freeze as soon as her eyes met Iris.

"O-Of course I am not judging you or anything. You seem strong and capable and I'm sorry. Please proceed inside" the other gave up and Iris felt lost.

She was sure she had not made such a disgusting expression for the other to turn away from her. She had tried to keep her face as neutral as she could have.

She passed through the gate, not sparing another look to the guard since she seemed nervous enough. There were no other words called between them and Iris felt the magic of the holy jade fall over her.

It felt comfortable once again and she found herself missing this feeling.

She had a holy jade of her own but it was inactive for now and could not be felt by her or anyone. 

The city was a sight to see, not a building in sight. All one could see were nodes and veins intertwined into a small cubicle that acted as shelters. They were expanded inside with magic and created gigantic spaces.

The whole place was green and the top surface was covered by a green canopy from above. Only a few spots of light made their way inside through it.

This was the Elvian capital - A utopia-like place one could envision in their minds.

"Hey, move it or else" Iris felt someone shove her and she moved with the motion. The pushed was a silver-haired elf who only gave Iris a half look before she left.

Her clothes had the commission logo on them which indicated that she was a member and a low-ranking and a new member at that. The only ones who wanted the security of the commission's symbol had been those who felt worthless themselves.

Thankfully, the other did not pay enough attention and Iris was able to pass comfortably.

"Room for two days please" Iris entered an establishment and ordered. She had learned from her past mistake and changed her profession.

"An adventurer? You're not with the commission? Luckily, you made it here" the girl on the front desk replied as she looked over Iris's paperwork.

Iris had it forged with the help of the sultan and others in Oreta and it was as good as any original one. They had taught her a lot about lying and getting away with things.

While most of the occupations were covered by the commission, there were many individual parties in play as well. The most abundant class that was not affiliated with the commission were the adventurers.

Commission adventurers were regarded as superior but to see independent adventurers was not rare as well.

"The pretty young miss is an adventurer? Why not join us and we shall show you the joy of life" something heavy fell on Iris's shoulder.

She looked around to see a rowdy group of adventurers. They seemed slightly drunk and their eyes looked glazed over which indicated danger and irritation.

"Not interested" Iris controlled herself not to snap but it was difficult. The other was had not yet lifted her hand off of Iris's shoulder and she did not seem to be keen to do so either.

It made Iris want to take that hand off herself. 

Violently.

And the other was unaware of all this, still trying to flirt with Iris.

"Come on. I will show you a good time and you are so pretty. And wow, so cold I feel like I will freeze if I look long enough" the girl, likely younger than Iris, leaned heavier on Iris's back.

It only took a second for things to pass.

Iris moved fast and the other let her go instantly. Iris twisted her body to face the other, her hand about to snatch the other's wrist but the other was faster.

"Nice try sweets but not today.  My time is, unfortunately up so I need to go. Though you are awfully beautiful inside-out and I won't mind meeting you again" the other somehow got away even drunk.

Iris felt her senses tingle with alertness. She knew something important had just happened but she could not place what had.

"I'm sorry about that. Lady Fua means well but sometimes she gets drunk and does things she does not mean to. However, I have to say that this is the first time I've seen her act like this toward someone" the innkeeper reapplied, her tone a little lost.

She looked at Iris eagerly and Iris used those precious seconds to gather herself.

"I'll like to extend my stay two more days now. I will make an early deposit as well" the innkeeper forgot whatever she had been about to say.

Iris could see the greed of money in the other's eyes and paid the fee in full. 

As soon as she reached her room she collapsed.

Not even a few hours in and she already seemed to have found her target. But even so, what should she do now?

She was not used to this. The open interest in her made her uncomfortable and also a little blown away. But she knew she had to swallow it all and present a cool and collective front.

Tomorrow she would face Lady Fua, the descendent of the architecture house of Isis's court. She had recognized the energy in the other as soon as her hand had been dodged.

The other had used magic to get away from her and it had been an uncontrolled usage. The magic tingled across Iris's body as it searched for something familiar to itself inside her.

And there was another fact that bothered Iris as well.

'Weird! Did she even see my face? Why did she call me beautiful?' and it had not been the first time being called like this as well.

When the old seer had called Iris beautiful she had thought the other meant about her face or body but maybe it was more than that.

Maybe the beauty was not the body but something that way hidden beyond it. 

Iris had no idea what it could be and it was clear to her that there was only one person who could answer her questions for her.