Chapter 297: Resonance
Irwin followed Tiscian through a door that looked like obsidian rock. It was smooth and slick, except for a beautiful sword engraving that decorated the entire length of the front.
One step in, he looked around in surprise and slight shock.
Smooth dark-red pavers covered a hallway that ended at a low staircase that led into a room with pale white walls. Dark-golden, red-inlaid furniture stood everywhere. A bench and some chairs surrounded a low table. A few cabinets were placed against the walls, and to the right was a small library-esque area with three waist-high bookcases and some shelves along the wall. Everything looked clean and well-maintained but oozed age.
Two doorless entrances, one on the left and one on the right, led away, deeper into the building, while a double staircase curved up the walls and towards the next floor.
A fresh but spicy scent made Irwin's mouth water, and he followed it to a table laden with two types of fruit he'd never seen before- a purplish red oval-shaped-one the size of his fist, and a pale golden flat and curved fruit attached to a red stalk which somewhat reminded him of grapes.
"Welcome to my home," Tiscian said as she watched him with a slight glitter in her eyes. "I don't like false modesty, so yes, I did my best to fill it with all the luxury I could find. My grandmother always said: fight hard, live well. Many of my people think luxury makes you weak, but if that's the case, they are welcome to a spar."
Irwin couldn't tell if she was showing off or just happy with his reactions. He tried to recall if Scintilla had ever said anything about her mother, but all he could remember was that she was powerful and that she preferred talking with one of her aunts- the name of whom eluded him. Though, as he thought about that, a thought came bubbling up in his mind.
I wonder if Numilli ever came back...
The last time he'd seen the odd… crazy? Ignitzian cousin of Scintilla, she had been absorbing the crystalized soulskill of an earth-titan as it was dissipating.
I'll ask Tiscian later, he decided.
Tiscian beckoned him, walking past the table and picking up one of the big, purple-reddish fruit. She looked at him, seeming to weigh something, then held it out.
Feeling anxious about meeting his children, Irwin accepted the fruit, deciding that something in his stomach wouldn't hurt. Besides, he was a bit hungry.