Chapter 298: Unstable tension
Irwin and Tiscian both sipped from their drinks as they looked at each other. The Ignitzian Blademother had taken a chair opposite of him, and with him sitting almost on the ground, their eyes were almost level with each other.
Irwin sighed as the powerful, almost gaseous drink made its way down his throat. It was, like most things he'd experienced on Igniz so far, hot and spicy, and he very much enjoyed it.
"It's called Cam," Tiscian said as she lowered her glass. "Officially, it has another, much longer name, but nobody really uses that."
"It's really great," Irwin said. "I'm going to have to see if I get a supply for the ship."
"I'll arrange for a few bottles to be brought," Tiscian said, putting the glass on the table and looking at him. "What happened to you is called Sire Resonance. It… only happens if heat is shared between two Ignitzians or with a Fire Elemental."
It took Irwin a moment to realize she didn't mean fire, and then he frowned. His soulcard had increased his fire affinity greatly, but it wasn't the only one he had. So why would it work like this for him? Was it due to his control or because he was a smith?
A soft giggle came from the hallway behind them, and Tiscian's eyebrows lowered as she turned around. The two young Ignitzians stood there, one with her hands over her mouth and the other frowning and shaking her head.
"But Elder Tisci, those are just stories, right?!" she said.
Tiscian's eyebrows lowered even more, but neither of the girls seemed to take the implied threat at heart.
"Didn't I tell you two to stay in your room while the adults spoke?" she said, tapping her finger on her armrest.
The girls shared a look, after which the mouthy one shrugged. She looked at Irwin, her eyes glistening.
"You are Aunty Scintilla's heat-partner?" she asked, looking him over.