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Two Days Later, the Inner Furnaces.

Olyvia grunts as she picks up another shovelful of coal and with considerable effort, manages to lift it.

'Just when I thought', she thinks as she lifts the contents of the shovel into the chute leading down to the huge furnaces that fuel Fortress Caerhayers, or whatever the name actually is. '...things couldn't get any worse...'

All around the noble-born squirrel, furs of all sizes (though most of them considerably bigger than her) are carrying and shoveling coal. The room is huge, and swelteringly hot, and most of the light comes from the furnaces below, burning away mind-boggling amounts of fuel.

How the frick did she end up down here?

To answer her own question for the hundreth time, she yelled at the wrong person. In hindsight, maybe spouting off her anger at the Yak holding the ropes for who goes where, wasn't the brightest of ideas. Even if she deserved to hear it, as did everyone around her. The end result of that short interaction was the mountain of a Wolverine saying something about 'this one needing more breaking' and next thing Olyvia knew, she's down here at the furnaces...

"Why does Jennet get to have a cozy, paid job in the kitchens, anyway?!" She grunts as she picks up another shovelful of coal.

Devana Varia stalks the halls. Or, to be more accurate, Lady Artemis stalks them. The Barred Owl moves with an eerie precision, as if she knows precisely where she is going with every step.

Her talons emerge from well maintained pants, cinched at the waist with a corset, tail feathers poking out from behind. A white blouse with bracers holding the sleeves tight, and a dark cape is fastened around her neck. Her tall, slim figure seems menacing, making most give her a wide berth as she searches.

...In truth, her precision movements and confident attitude belie her confusion. Without a a doubt, the disturbance has been growing stronger over the past few days, and yet she had been blind to this mysterious force! Frustrating! Still, with the strange surges of strength, her ability to track this most perplexing power provided a profound puzzle has grown.

Olyvia grunts as she lifts the shovel: "Nrrgh...!" She lets out a small yelp, then something in her snaps and she throws the shovel to a nearby wall: "It's not fair!"

The shovel bounces off the wall and to the ground, not having an opinion on this.

Devana's long tufts of feathers set above her ears twitch. Ah. That same volatile force! Oh... and close. Oh! And extremely volatile! A building surge! How fascinating! And terribly dangerous! She leans forward into a run.

Olyvia frowns at the shovel, not that it helps. She the glances over her shoulder at the foreman (an ugly warthog, ugly even by warthog standards) who yelled at her before. Begrudgingly, she picks the shovel back up and fumingly continues lobbing coal down to the chute.

Devana feels the ebb, but the source of the power is still there. The coal room. Her pace slows as she reaches the hall, and into the furnace room.

Olyvia grunts and grumbles as she continues shoveling: "I'm... N-nobility, I shouldn't..." She swallows and sniffles: "I'm... I'm... " She starts tearing up, the anger giving way to despair.

Devana scans the room, the warthog taking a step forward only for her to raise a hand. They stop, blinking at the sudden appearance of the large lanky owl. She tilts her head at him, then back into the room striding forward, looking at each of the workers in turn, until her eyes land on the squirrel shoveling through her tears.

Olyvia continues working, or attempting to work, through her misery and anger. She doesn't notice anyone approaching.

Devana comes up behind the Squirrel, and reaches out to put a taloned hand on her shoulder. "You."

Olyvia jumps up and lets out a very ladylike - if not terribly dignified - shriek that for a brief moment echoes across the big hall of coal and machinery. "GYAaah!"

Devana bends at the waist, leaning down to examine Olyvia more closely. The other workers are all silent, staring as Devana tilts her head to look at the Warthog running things. "I will be taking this one."

The Warthog blinks, preparing to make an argument, but thinks better of it. "Y-yes, Lady Artemis. Ugh, she's all yours?"

Devana: "Very good!" She turns back to Olyvia, then straightens her posture once again, "Now then. If you please, come with me."

Olyvia stares in startled surprise at the tall owl. It takes a few moments for any of the words to sink in as the squirrel is almost stiff from fear for a second or three.

"Ah um wha?" She looks confusedly between the Warthog and the Owl, thoroughly lost.

Devana hums, putting a talon upon her cheek as she tilts her head again, "Hmm. We can talk here if you'd rather. The accommodations here are droll and rather hot, I find. And not a seat to be found."

The Warthog seems equally confused as they look back at Olyvia.

Olyvia blinks, then looks around, uncertainty apparent on her face. She glances at the Warthog, then at Devana: "... Me?"

Devana lowers her talon, "Yes, I think so. Though, I may have misjudged the aether. Perhaps it is someone else..." She begins to turn away from Olyvia to examine the other workers. "I do not often make mistakes, young squirrel, but it is known to happen. And I am not too proud to admit as such when it does."

She takes a few more steps away, and the tufts on her head wiggle a moment before she turns her head back to look at Olyvia. "No. I am certain it is you."

Olyvia hesitates, then slowly opens her mouth: "... Am I in trouble?" She glances at the Warthog: "I mean, yh, more in trouble than before?"

Devana chuckles through her beak, "Oh, most certainly yes. At least, on a cosmic scale. You are a lit match sitting in a room of tinder. This is trouble for everyone." She stares at Olyvia, turning the rest of her body around, "Oh! In trouble with me? No, I think not. We have only just met. I am called Lady Artemis, I am Royal Wizard to the Court of the Empress and a Practicing Magician." She extends her hand back towards Olyvia in greeting.

Olyvia blinks a few times at the explanation, then realizes to offer her hand, being slightly put off by the talons. "Olyvia Ethelinde von Royceston." She gives a curtsy that reveals her noble upbringing at least as much as the name she just said, despite the dusty servant clothes.

The Warthog decides to offer his unasked commentary: "Watch out for this one, she has attitude."

Olyvia gives him a sideways glare.

Devana turns to stare at the Warthog. "That is now my concern. I will have someone do whatever paperwork is necessary to do... whatever it is you need done down here. Probably." She waves her talon somewhat dismissively. She has bigger matters to deal with.

"Now then, come along, Lady Royceston. And bring that attitude with you. You shall need it." And without waiting, she begins to stride back towards the exit of the coal room.

Olyvia stares for a moment or two, then realizes that she can actually go, and hastily gives her shovel to the confused Warthog. She then gives him a sorry little smile and runs after the bird striding away with much longer steps.

"W-wait up! I'm coming!"

She has zero idea what is going on, but anything beats her current fate.

Devana pauses at the first hallway intersection, waiting a moment for the squirrel to catch up. Her tufts twitch, the magical disturbance is most certainly now following her, and the severity is, to some extent, diminished. Enough not to worry about everything exploding. This is always a positive in her line of work.

"We are heading to my quarters, then. I have a great deal I need to learn! And... well, to be honest, we do indeed have time to learn it. We can start with favorite tea and move on from there to discover if you are at all aware of what you have been doing for the past several weeks."

Olyvia blinks several times as she catches up: "Wait um huh... what? Aware of doing what?" She tilts her head in confusion, then parses the rest of it: "Um... tea would be nice, though." The young squirrel, angry and desperate just moments ago, wipes the corners of her eyes, drying them into her fur as the sheer unexpected oddness of the situation has her off-guard.

Devana turns to smile, "It would seem the answer is 'no' then. I suspected as much. The fluctuation and severity of manifestations implied it, and you will forgive my unsubtle attempts to provoke response. ...if you were aware of them. If not, no need to forgive. Ah, yes! Tea! I can imagine a moment respite will do you wonders. Come, this way!" She begins to stride again, idly counting the hallways and doors as they move through the castle, away from the heat of the steam furnaces.

Olyvia blinks again, then follows. None of that made any direct sense to her, but for the first time in days, she feels a spark of hope, that wherever this leads, it might eventually mean her freedom. She continues pacing herself quite rapidly to keep up, the strange tall owl walking pretty darn fast for her. "Um." She attempts to bring up one of the several thoughts that bubble up, but can't seem to formulate a sentence while keeping up and figuring out what the heck is going on at the same time. "Okay."

Devana leads on, humming and mumbling mostly to herself, down a few more dusty hallways into a relatively hidden room. No door handle or lock is present as she raises her hand to the wood. A series of purple discs alight beneath her talons, rotating into place before the door swings open.

Inside is an eclectic array of book shelves, desks, parchment and tools, haphazardly organized around a central sitting area made up of comfy cushions.

But the biggest, most obvious feature is a large arched Window looking out into the clouds. "Make yourself comfortable. Though, do mind your soot. And don't touch my papers. Or my books. Or... Hm. Do not touch anything, in fact. The floor and cushions are okay to touch. Do not touch anything that looks as though it is delicate, dangerous, or dear to my heart."

Olyvia blinks several times at the door opening. She has seen magic before, of course, plenty of it being used, but... still. She follows in, stupefied.

At the warning to not touch anything, she... refrains from touching anything. Be it out of respect, or fear, or just sheer confusion to bring herself to defy such an invitation for mischief, she for the moment does not.

Belatedly, she sits down on a cushion: "Um... what... um, why... err... no, just what." She looks around the room before her gaze settles on the Owl, clearly confused and just a bit overwhelmed.

Devana reaches up to touch one of her bracers, considering taking it off, but thinking better just for the moment, "Hmm... I suppose I have been obtuse, yes? My apologies, Lady Royceston... Olyvia? I do rather dislike titles... but names are powerful things to hold the truth of."

She pauses, "I...I am getting distracted... you are asking why you are here! Well, I shall attempt to be brief in my explanation... for the past two weeks, there has been a growing magical disturbance within the works of the castle. One which I have been vexed in tracking, until two days ago."

Devana paces carefully around the room, picking up a few random knickknacks before discarding them, and it's uncertain if she's looking for something in particular or just unsure what to do with her hands. "But yes! You see, the disturbance is wild magic! And not just any wild magic, but High magic! A great source of it too. A potentially powerful, dangerous source that I sought out immediately!"

Olyvia looks at the pacing Owl... Devana, with curiosity: "But I do not know anything about magic. How can I help with finding this... dangerous source? I suppose I might have some connections back home..."

Devana stops to tilt her head, "Oh... I am... not explaining well again, hm? It's you. You, Olyvia, are the dangerous source of wild magic. And it is dangerous Because you do not know anything about magic."

Olyvia has no option but to blink several times. She lifts a paw to her chest: "M-me? But... but, how does that make any sense?" The squirrel does look somewhat afraid of this revelation, if also thoroughly confused by it.

Devana sighs, "Ahhh, but it so rarely does. Make sense, that is. My life is dedicated to make sense of the senseless, to derive meaning from meaninglessnes... and in so doing, somehow, one makes miracles."

She clasps her claws together and begins to chant quietly. She releases her talons, revealing a flower of purple flame, which she presents to Olyvia. "In you there is potential, untempered, untouched. Were your circumstances normal, it would likely wither and die, wasted, wanting. But instead, dire circumstance has given birth to rare soil, from which we might cultivate something truly beautiful."

She pauses, realizing she's getting carried away again, "Ah... that is to say... you have power that has awakened. Likely due to exhaustion and emotions. I am under obligation now to ensure you are not a threat to the Castle."

Olyvia stares at the flower, transfixed for a moment as she listens to the verbal poetry of describing the situation, which mostly goes past her. "Whoa..." She then blinks herself away from looking at it, and back to Devana: "Wait, what? But I'm not a threat? I can't do anything, that much has been obvious last two weeks..."

Devana chuckles, "You are not. Your power is. In some sense, you are not your power. And yet, you are. So, we must address our options to neutralize the danger, yes?"

The noble-born squirrel nods slowly: "Um... yes. I think. What..." She trails off, thinking: "...should I do? And why haven't I noticed having any power, if I do?"

Devana walks closer, finally lowering herself down to sit on the cushions across from Olyvia. "Magic such as this is a curious thing. It comes to some early in life, others find it late. Some call it chaotic, but I believe there is always a reason for the powers emergence. Always a purpose. So... what is yours?"

She hums, a low sing-songy warble, "What should you do? What should you do... That depends on what you wish. And why you wish it. I have revealed to you that you have Power. I could help you release it to remove the danger. Or..."

She leans forward, and the bias of her preference is obvious, "I... could train you. To use it. But controlling the Higher Magic is no simple task. No parlor trick like the little things you may have seen or perhaps even done."

Olyvia opens her mouth, but then just lets Devana talk. Something about the presence of this Owl actually has her listening. "Um..." She looks at her paw, seeing no indication of this great power, just the kind of calloused roughness she's gotten from doing work she's not used to. "If... um... if you train m-me, does that mean... no more shoveling coal?"

Devana laughs, "I suppose I can arrange that, yes. But I am not offering you easy work. I am showing you a difficult path. There may be times you wish you were shoveling coal instead."

Olyvia hums, then glances at the door behind her, thinking of mopping the floors or shoveling coal. How hard could it be...? She also gives a brief though to Jennet, though arrives at no particular conclusion about her just yet.

She turns back to Devana, swallows and nods: "I... I w-will try. If... if I have power, t-that is dangerous, I... I want to know."

Devana stares at Olyvia a moment longer, then leans forward to take the squirrel's hands. "Here. First lesson. Feel this." A warmth spreads out from Devana's talons. She pulls her hands back leaving a small purple glow between Olyvia's paws. "Focus on that glow. Let yourself be drawn in."

Olyvia stares at the glow at her paws, again quite transfixed. "Um... whoa." Her eyes wide, and more than a bit scared, she stares at the light and focuses on it.

As she does, her tail and the hairs on it stand up, as she feels something course through her.

Devana sits back, "Yes, you already feel it, don't you? My power is there, in your hands, but your own answers its call. Do not be afraid. Do not hold it back. Breath in, and out. Let my power fade, and let yours fill the void it leaves..."

Olyvia's paws tremble as she focuses on the light, and though it flickers and wavers, it does not completely disappear. Belatedly, she remembers to actually breathe as well. Now all the hairs on her body stand up, and her eyes are wide. "Uh... L-like t-this?"

Devana nods, "Yes. This is a good first attempt. You are afraid, but fear is not bad! Though your light is timid, it does not flee. It fears to shine too brightly, lest it be extinguished by things it cannot control. Fear is a strong motivator, but it is not who you are. Understanding this feeling is the key to harnessing it... all in good time, of course. But for now, focus on the feeling of that power within you."

Olyvia swallows, continuing breathing and staring at the light flickering at her paws: "I... I h-have... it's in me... it's..." She gasps as she feels the magic surge through her, she yelps at the feeling, raising her hands to shield herself from the surge even though it inside her-

And in a POOF the flicker of magic blooms brightly at her face, leaving her blinking as stars dance across her vision.

Devana covers her own eyes at the bright light, but lets out an excited 'Hooo!' Her free hand extends to touch the light, as she utters out another spell, dismissing her own to spell, leaving Olyvia holding a ball of her own magical power. "There. This is your potential. Hold it. Feel it. This is raw, unmolded, and free. You now possess a key, Young Olyvia, to a great many things that were once hidden."

Olyvia can't help but swallow and stare: "I... I did that? And, um..." She glances at Devana: "... Key to what?"

Devana puts a hand on Olyvia's back and directs her towards the window, "Anything, dear... Anything."

She pauses, "With some limits of course. We can't have another Cyngar the Cruel. And so, the Great Council does enforce some guidelines. Higher magic cannot be used to harm others, save for instances of self defense. It cannot be used to modify the minds of others. And it cannot be used on the Great Beasts in any respect, ever. There are other rules of course, but those three are the foundation upon which all training must be built."

She sighs wistfully, looking out the window into the clouds. "But I find there are enough mysteries to explore without the need for such petty purposes. Some say 'the sky is the limit, but... Ever am I finding new paths beyond the limits of everything I once perceived."

Olyvia blinks a few times as she listens, nodding along though not fully grasping any of it. She gets up, carefully still cupping the small spell in her hands as though expecting it to spill over, then steps closer to Devana and the window.

"So... Uh. Magic. How come I never noticed, or none of my family or tutors noticed? I thought I couldn't do anything besides basic levitating of tiny stuff?"

Devana looks down at Olyvia, "An alignment of the stars could have come into play within the constellation of your birth signs, or an unknowable patron could have seen fit to grant you power... there's an infinite number of reasons in a grand universe..."

She coos softly, "Ahh... but... I would place my own educated guess on it emerging due to extreme exhaustion and emotional distress."

Olyvia stares at the flicker of magic at her palms, then at Devana: "Well uh... I have maybe have had some of that lately. Due to, er... ending up here. Did not..." She blushes slightly: "...exactly have a ticket, as it were."

Devana puts her talons to her hips and laughs, "It's rare that those who end up shoveling coal in the furnace do so voluntarily."

Olyvia blushes some more, then nods. "Well uh... that wasn't my fault."

Devana retrieves two cups, and pours in some water, passing one to Olyvia. "Well, I did promise tea... I would like to hear your story, if you don't mind. How does a von Royceston arrive here uninvited, and make enough commotion to end up shoveling coal, hm?"

Olyvia hesitates, then takes the offered cup in one hand, then pauses... and looks at her other hand, still 'holding' a glowing flicker of magic: "Um... how do I make it go away?"

Devana blinks slowly, "Oh! Neglectful of me! Forgetting my own lesson!"

She extends her talon, palm up, "Take the light, and direct it back into yourself..." She turns her palm and presses it against her chest. "This power is a part of you, and will not harm you, and restoring it there is a lesson that it is part of you, within you."

Olyvia hesitates as she looks at the flickering magic, then slowly does as instructed, bringing the magic back to her chest. She swallows: "I-it tickles. But..." She looks at Devana: "But, that's... This is my magic, right?"

The owl simply nods, "It is."

The squirrel shivers, then dares a small smile. "So, uh..." She looks at the cup in her hand: "T-tea. Just tea, now. This is... A lot to take in, you know?"

Devana slumps slightly, "Ah, I admit... I do get excited... forgiveness if I have overwhelmed you..." A lot of the passion with which Devana has spoken has been her own for this subject, and in having the chance to share her excitement with someone else.

Olyvia takes a sip of the tea and draws a long breath, attempting to steady herself. For a moment, she closes her eyes. "M-maybe a bit. I... I do not understand much, I think, of what you said."

She pauses, thinking of something else: "... I need to find a way home. If... If I let you teach me, can you help me there?"

Devana settles back on her cushion, "I have less sway in the Court these days... especially in allowing a stowaway passage off." She stares down into her tea cup a little sadly, "And I do not wish for this to seem a blackmail. I admit I had hoped to engender excitement for this opportunity by itself. Is it better to tell the truth, or to offer hope? In all likelihood, yes, a position as my apprentice will carry little glory, but in due time will offer an avenue to the ground. But it will not be quick... it may take many years before such a thing can be offered..." She blinks, realizing she's been talking aloud again. "Ah... um... well, yes. But to answer your question.... I will help you however I can."

Olyvia looks at Devana with curiosity and hope, but hearing the part about 'many years', the hope is dashed. "O-oh."

She considers for a moment, thinking about the fruitlessness of her other attempts of leaving. And she has to admit that she is curious about suddenly having high magic in her, just slightly.

She sighs, but offers Devana a tiny smile: "... I suppose I do not have much options. So..."

She hesitates again, before continuing: "... Yes."

Devana bows her head respectfully, but still somewhat crestfallen from her previously overexcited self, "I am sorry... the circumstances are rather unorthodox. I do hope our partnership will not be too tedious for you, even if the outcome may be a long ways off."

Olyvia nods slowly, forcing a tiny smile: "M-maybe. Best option I have, anyway, and..." She trails off for a second: "I g-guess if I am, er, 'volatile', I should know how to control it, right?"

Devana nods, "That much is not a request nor an invitation, but a requirement for the safety of all aboard this castle. Training beyond that shall be under auspice of being my apprentice."

Olyvia pauses, then nods. "Then, uh..." She trails off again: "... Talk about future prospects my family did not plan for me." She sighs, then offers Devana another smile, slightly more confidently now.

Devana hums, "Oft the wheels of fate move us in directions that we can not perceive. I suppose if you are to be my apprentice... I could trust you with my name, yes?"

Olyvia blinks: "Um. Sure. I guess?"

Devana rises up, "Like this, I am Lady Artemis. The trappings of a Court Wizard. I am sure you appreciate such a life where the illusion of ones self is put up over the reality... But here, in these private quarters, I oft discard those titles and frivolous things to pursue what I deem greater pursuits... here, I am known as Devana Varia. Or... simply Dev, if you prefer."

Olyvia's eyes widen in understanding: "Oh. Like my older Sister Madeleine is just 'Maddy' to us when without our older generation around. Though Grandpa really insists on the full name thing."

She smiles at Devana: "I'm just Olyvia, then. I'm not sure the 'von Royceston' matters up here, anyway... Either no one recognizes the name, or they don't care."

Devana smiles, closing her eyes and puffing out her cheeks. "We are of like mind, it seems, Olyvia. Though... the various noble families on the ground are far from my field of study, I can make it a point to ask around. Perhaps if we cannot get you down in due time, at least we might be able to convey a message? Again, no promises."

Olyvia nods slowly: "Y-yeah... " She looks a bit crestfallen at the thought, but seems to accept it all the same.

"So, um... What does an apprentice do?"

Devana raises her talon, then lowers it again, her smile fading slightly. "Hmm. This is an excellent question."

Olyvia blinks, tilting her head: "What do you mean?"

Devana tilts her head to match Olyvia's, "What do I mean when I say what I said? Simple! I am saying that I have not yet learned what it is that you shall be doing."

She leans back and waves her talon as if dismissing this as an issue, "But we shall find out. You are noble-educated, yes? You know your letters?"

Olyvia parses that for a second, then nods: "Yes. I can read and write. Can't everyone?"

Devana shakes her head, "Ah, the privilege's of status, hm? You might find there are many who cannot, most especially amongst the workers below the castle proper."

She clasps her claws together and hums, "But this is good! I can put you to work writing for me, when I have a need. And you may avail yourself of my library when I have no need. I imagine I will find other things for you as well. I cannot imagine you will have any one 'duty', more likely you will be called to assist me with whatever I am doing."

Olyvia nods slowly: "I guess... that makes sense. High magic it... kind of an art, isn't it? Less... linear, right? So it makes sense there's less direct 'one thing' to be doing, either." The squirrel hums, musing on this.

Devana smiles again, "Ahhh. You are very correct. The beauty of creation and destruction both, the infinite connections behind the world..." She closes her eyes again and hums, "This is the hardest thing for both of us. I cannot teach, nor can you learn, simply from a lesson book and rote memorization."

She snaps her fingers to levitate her tea cup, weakly, before it drops back down to its saucer, "Lower magic is all tricks. It is like sleight of hand. Say the right word and make the right gesture, and it seems as if you are making things happen. The universe does not notice when you move the cup, because it makes no difference. The universe does not care if the cup is here, or there. So that magic is taught to many. It is magic that is beneath the notice of existence."

"But there are no words for High magic. At least, none that I can teach you. I can tell you that I can conjure fire by saying the magic words 'peanut butter sundae.', and perhaps I can! But those words will mean nothing to you, and do nothing for you. The words might have meaning to me. And it is the meaning that gives the words power, not the words themselves."

Olyvia listens, tilting her head by the end. "Err... not certain I understood all that, but uh... g-guess that's what this whole setup is for?" She frowns slightly, never been that fond of being tutored fancy stuff, but... at least magic has tangible uses, unlike court manners and elocution.

Devana hums, "We shall see... I am steeped in theory and questions... I have a need to understand, and explain... I love to learn, Olyvia... I love to see things before me that I do not understand. But I do remember my own training... we shall see how you fare, and how best understanding comes to you."

Olyvia gives an encouraging smile: "...well, if it helps, you had me at 'can't be done with lesson book and rote memorization'. I uh... have had more than a few lessons of that."

Devana laughs, "I am not, myself, noble born, but I was educated in a similar manner. I love learning... but a dry lesson does not inspire."

Olyvia giggles softly: "I am glad we agree, then. Um. Devana." She pauses: "...if you do not mind me saying, it feels weird you not wanting a honorific. All my teachers have been very big on that, too."

Devana stops herself from fully rolling her eyes, the Owl certainly is not good at holding back her opinion, at least not in her own quarters, "What, I wonder, was the intent of their lessons? To teach you how to use math and observe history? Or was it to teach you to respect and obey those who have the right words in front of their name? I have little time for teachers more interested in their own vanity."

Olyvia blinks at the observation, thinking back: "Er... now that you mention it... oh boy, Mrs "Big Thesis" Fields definitely is like that." The squirrel winces at a memory or another about said teacher.

Devana sips her tea, "I will strive to be better. If you are placing yourself into my care, I owe it to you."

Olyvia hesitates, but nods with a smile. "I uh... will try to be... worth it, right? Like, if I am, er... if I have volatile magic in me anyway?"

Devana chuckles, "I have little doubt. Perhaps this will not work out as either of us hope? But as I said... we will both learn in time."

Olyvia considers, then shrugs: "Not like I have a lot more to lose, I guess, as long as I am stuck here."

Devana nods, "It is somewhere to start, I understand. I shall make arrangements, and I will expect you to report here each morning, yes?"

Olyvia considers for a second, then nods. "I will be there. Er. Here." She smiles at the Owl, who scares her a lot less than when she first saw her.

Devana taps a claw as she thinks, "Would you need directions back to the coal room? To... wherever your quarters may be? I suppose I should tell someone what you will be doing for me... should I walk back with you...?"

Olyvia blinks, trying to remember the route they took, but she was in such a daze that her memories of it are foggy at best. "Uh... that may be for the best. I don't... know a lot of this place, yet."

Devana stands up from the cushions and takes a moment to adjust herself, smoothing out her clothing and adjusting the bracers and corset to ensure everything is quite tight and secured.

"Then we should head forth, and back, as it were."

Olyvia finds herself smiling as she gets back up as well. First bit of good news in her life in... A while.

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