Jessica Anaxia, Govenor

-Alexis Lycan, 18 years old-

Jessica Anaxia is the only daughter of Duke Anaxia. She is his pride and joy, and the apple of his eye. She is lauded all throughout the Empire as a magical genius who appears only once a century. She is proficient in four elements of magic, whereas most mages could only use one. She kept what four she could use as a closely guarded secret, only the Empire's officials know her elements.

In regard to magic, there are seven main elements which are Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Light, Dark, and Void. This doesn't include the many sub-elements that can branch out such as nature and lightning.

Now, that same woman is standing before Alexis. She has a proud look in her eyes. She knows how others regard her, and it is well deserved.

Alexis stands up smoothly when his thoughts finally catch up to him. "Lady Anaxia, now this is a surprise." he says while shooting a quick glare at Ryan, who is still kneeling before him.

"Come now, don't blame your man. I insisted on this sudden meeting." Jessica replies with a giggle, noting the look Alexis gave Ryan.

Alexis shakes his head before gesturing to an empty chair in front his desk. Jessica smiles before stepping towards the chair, which Sabrina had expertly pulled out, and sits down. She silently studies the man before her, observing his mannerisms.

"If I may ask, how did you meet Ryan?" Alexis finally asks in a neutral tone. "You must have encountered him on the road." He is guarded and suspicious. Which is quite understandable given the circumstances.

Jessica giggles again, putting Alexis slightly more on edge. "Why, we met in the city of Riven of course." She explains, enjoying the look of confusion on the man's face.

"What do you mean... Riven City?" Alexis says slowly. His mind working in overdrive. "There's no way Ryan could have made the trip there and back in only two weeks."

"Your correct. He arrived in Riven City just this morning and immediately sought me out." Jessica replies as she pulls out the letter Ryan was carrying and sets it on the table.

These words confuse him further. He thinks of all the ways that could be possible, if her words were true.

Alexis sits in silence for only a few seconds before he finally whispers. "Teleportation magic?" He looks her in the eyes, confident in his guess.

"Correct again. Why Duke Lycan, you are awfully sharp." Jessica answers, her eyes opened slightly in surprise. "Not many know about teleportation magic, or that it even exists for that matter. How fascinating."

Alexis smiles coyly, not answering her implied question.

"Well, I'm glad that clears that up." He says before turning to Ryan. "It seems you were successful in your mission after all. Well done." Alexis nods his head in acknowledgement.

Ryan, who is still kneeling, looks up to his lord and bows. "Your words are wasted on me, my Lord, I only carried out your will."

Alexis chuckles at his words. "Yes of course. Now please make yourself comfortable." He looks at Jessica again. "For we have much to discuss."

-

The three individuals sit around a dilapidated desk in the small bedroom. Alexis would have opted to move the meeting to the larger dining room, but Vanessa was using it to strategize with the village lumberjacks. Alexis looks behind him at the maid standing there, Sabrina.

"Please fetch some tea for our guest." Alexis says with a smile.

Sabrina bows her head before silently leaving the room.

"Now, I must ask." Alexis starts, looking at Jessica once again. "Why the haste? There was no need to come here yourself, or so suddenly."

Jessica looks the Duke in the eyes before deflating a bit in her chair. She lets out a dramatic sigh.

"Honestly? It's because of the merchants. All of them we have talked to have demanded astronomical amounts of money for their lumber." She says, pouting the whole time. "They all want to take advantage of the Anaxia Dukedom, since they control the vast majority of lumber in the region."

The Anaxia family was famous for their wealth and influence. But also, surprisingly, their kindness and compassion as well. They had amassed their considerable fortune through cooperation and smart investments. This seemed to have made various unscrupulous characters look at the Dukedom as a cash cow, ripe for the picking. In other words, the Anaxia's had been too kind. They do not have a history of retaliation against enemies and threats.

Alexis screws his face up in disgust. Years of living under his father's cruel shadow has long made him intolerant of such vultures.

"I see, so you are hoping for a better deal." He says, nodding in understanding.

Jessica smiles in embarrassment and self-derision. "Precisely. After seeing the contents of your letter, I decided that the Lycan Dukedom was the much-preferred option. That is why I came straight here."

"I understand." Alexis says simply. "Let's get straight to it then. Both of our lands will benefit if we can come to an agreement after all."

The Duke then lays two stacks of papers in front of Jessica and Ryan, both detailing the lay of the land and projected numbers.

-

-Jessica Anaxia, 19 years old-

Jessica steps through the portal conjured by herself and appears in the Anaxian townhome in the city of Riven. She walks briskly towards the study, to where her father awaits. Her thoughts are of the newly appointed Duke of the disgraced Lycan family. He was a fascinating man, able to rouse a downtrodden people and negotiate on equal footing with her. He also has something mysterious about him that she wants to get to the bottom of. She bites her lip and grins. He had caught her attention.

She stops walking and stands in front of a pair of doors. White and engraved with gold accents, it was grand yet tasteful, a hard balance to achieve. She gathers her thoughts before knocking on the massive door.

"Father, I have returned." She says, her voice echoing through the quiet hall.

"Enter, my dear." A firm and deep voice replies from inside the room. A smile spreads across her face.

She pushes on the door, which swings open effortlessly, and steps inside. She is greeted by the sight of her father sitting behind a massive oak desk. Duke Tabias Anaxia had long brown hair gathered up in a ponytail. He shares the same beautiful green eyes as herself which sparkle with intelligence. Perched upon his face are a pair of thin, silver glasses. All in all, he is a deeply handsome man.

"Welcome back dear, how did it go?" Duke Tabias asks gently, smiling softly as his beloved daughter.

"Oh, it went splendidly, Father." Jessica says joyfully as she prances towards her father, clearly in a good mood. "Take a look." She sets the recently penned agreement between the houses Anaxia and Lycan before her father. He quickly reads through the documents looking satisfied throughout.

"This is an excellent proposition for the both of us, did you propose this?" Duke Tabias asks his daughter in an impressed tone. He is shocked when she shakes her head in denial.

"Nope, it was Duke Lycan's suggestion." She giggles. "He basically penned the whole thing."

"Really? Now that is a surprise." her father says as he rests his head on his hand, propped up on the desk. Duke Alexis Lycan by all accounts should be a backwater noble with no knowledge of politics or ruling. The young duke had intrigued him. "What is your opinion of him?"

Jessica's demeanor changes slightly, barely noticeable to her father. She thinks a few moments before replying.

"To put it bluntly, he is a brilliant man and quite knowledgeable. He was able to easily sway the desperate and ravaged villagers of Starfall to his side. He also conducts himself like he has experience leading a domain. Shockingly enough, he even had knowledge of teleportation magic before I even arrived." Jessica says to her father. Though she seems to be withholding something further.

"And what else, dear?" Duke Tabias probes gently.

"He... also seems to have an unknown element of magic. Something dark and cold." She replies hesitantly.

What!?" Her father shouts at her words. This is unheard of in this day and age.

She had been barely able to perceive it whilst they conversed at the table. It was cloaked tightly around him, almost completely undetectable. It was almost like a shadow was draped over him.