Daughter's Addiction

"Visiting Daughter again?" Grace smiled. "Alright then, let's go!"

Dasha was taken from the front entrance of the Les Murmures to the room of Daughter. Not trusted as a true member, a Whisper escort walked with him at all times, no exceptions. The hieroglyphics to her door glowed red. With a dramatic bow and flourish of her summer dress, Grace granted him entry.

No guards, no real protection. Only Daughter. She sat there, arms and legs crossed, looking like she was thinking. When Dasha entered, she remained in that same thinking pose.

Dasha's gaze drifted to the floor. "A carpet?"

"A Mamluk carpet," Daughter elaborated, "made by al-Sharif, a legendary Egyptian carpenter. But the placing is off, don't you think?"

An octagonal piece lay in the center and surrounded with star and rosette patterns, which were symmetrically placed throughout the carpet. The border of the carpet included more geometric and floral motifs, typical of Mamluk designs. Dasha had never studied carpets in any capacity. Other than a basic idea of how they were made, he wasn't sure whether to be impressed, so he sat down and brought out his tea set.

"You have something to tell me?"

Dasha nodded and retold the events at the Moon Club. Daughter's eyes initially darkened, then lightened upon receiving the tea. 

"That crazy bitch left her cave, huh?" Daughter cackled lightly, a cup of tea sipping into her lips. She cackled again as soon as it left. To her, the Imperial Noble Consort was something of a joke or an old friend. "Remember when I was talking about certain people that take advantage of us? That Imperial bitch is one of them. She thinks she can kill whoever she wants whenever she wants. We've lost enough people to her; when you're strong enough, kill her."

'Kill her, hm? Just like that?' 

That wasn't logic, that was animosity. Something happened between them. Interesting. 

Regardless, the Imperial Consort of the Kangxi Emperor was an enemy. Dasha was glad for that. He sipped on his tea, calm. "Understood."

"She's not a regular customer but she always kills our people when she does want something. Seriously, I think only Xavier has lived to give her information." Daughter emptied her tea cup and refilled it by telekinetically bringing the teapot over. She laid herself on the hammock, opening her mouth to get a small taste of the oolong tea. She made a face, let the cup tilt over again for another test. She decided it was suitable for her taste buds.

"Is that why he warned me?"

"Indeed. She probably has the highest kill count in the Heavenly Games. Well, second to the Kingslayer, of course."

"Of course," Dasha concurred.

"Ah, by the way, I heard you're having Grace get her Sorcery Degree." Daughter beckoned a finger and magically opened up the jar of sugar cubes. One, two, three, four, five; she took six sugar cubes and dropped them into her cup. "Do you intend to have her teach you?"

"Yes."

"You were a swordsman in life. Sword spells are entirely different from magic spells, so I'm glad you're taking your second life seriously. However, shouldn't you personally attend?"

"Why?" More than her question, he was concerned by her drinking position. Lying down and having tea pour into your mouth and then gulping seemed inefficient and unhealthy.

"I'm suggesting that you attend the accelerated player program. Obviously, those that are naturally born in the White Abyss will take the long four-year program but players like you don't have that time. The shorter one-year program will teach you up to penta-circles. That will be sufficient for our needs, no? To be a cultivator and a sorcerer is next to impossible. You already spend three hours meditating every morning."

"I would be mediating regardless of whether I was a cultivator. It was a part of my daily routine in my old life," Dasha said. "More importantly, there's the mask."

"Ah, right, I forgot." She paused in her drinking and side-eyed him. "How did you previously take off that mask?"

Dasha didn't so much as blink. "I didn't. As a Templar, I merely needed to switch helmets."

"I see, I see." Abruptly, Daughter got up and rolled her shoulders, yawning. "But still, I suggest you go."

"A futile suggestion as long as this mask stays on my face."

Daughter swung her legs over, her bare feet touching the floor. "No need to worry. I possess Kundalini and can heal you as you desire. So? How about it?"

'Kundalini?' From his understanding, that was a kind of divine feminine energy located in the base of the spine. The word itself meant "coiled snake" and was attributed to Hindu goddesses and those that served them.

"Your education is my investment," Daughter said with a smile. "I can heal that scarred face of yours no issue." And with no extra favours, she implied. In other words, she was willing to help him for no other reason than because of their deal.

Dasha considered it. "No thank you," he said. "I would rather achieve Tu Na Breathing and do it myself."

"Is this a matter of pride? It makes no difference if it's you or me, it is going to happen."

"It's a matter of experimentation. I am a scientist at heart. Your power would simply be intruding on my theories."

"A scientist, eh? Fine. As long as it isn't a huge deterrent."

"You suggested I keep a low profile. Enrolling into the academy would be doing just that," Dasha said. He began collecting his tea set, with Daughter cooperating and telepathically bringing her cup over to him. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to meditate for the day. Some impurifications have built up."

"Fair, fair." Daughter nodded along with a smile. "One more thing." Dasha continued to put everything back into his inventory one-by-one. "No need to pretend that you don't know the password. Come in any time you like, Dasha."

"...I will then."