Commander Flora fixed her gaze on him, scrutinizing his features intently. Nym tensed, swallowing hard.
Why am I nervous? he thought. This isn't the first time I've seen Lady Flora… though, never this close.
"Sit."
Her voice, calm yet commanding, echoed in his ears, cutting through his thoughts like a blade.
Nym took a hesitant step back before lowering himself onto the chair, just as she had instructed.
Darkness seemed to gather around her, almost as if obeying her will, shaping itself into a comfortable seat upon which she now sat, radiating quiet authority.
"My lady," Nym began, his voice laced with curiosity and unease, "may I ask—what is so special about me, that I've been granted the honor of meeting you?"
Commander Flora smiled softly, a gesture that held both amusement and mystery.
"Would you like something warm to drink?" she asked. "And please, just call me my lady."
"Thank you, my lady. I… I like mint tea."
Without a word, a metal teapot floated toward her. Nym watched the scene unfold, his eyes wide with wonder, a strange mixture of awe and apprehension bubbling within him.
Then, with a graceful motion, she extended a metal cup toward him. He accepted it absentmindedly, taking a sip. The warmth washed through him, calming his nerves—though only for a fleeting moment.
Before he could collect his thoughts again, Lady Flora spoke.
"Your hair is quite unique," she said, her tone contemplative. "As is your skin—it has changed."
"Ahem… my lady," Nym stammered, cheeks burning, "that doesn't seem proper to say to a boy like me."
Lady Flora laughed, a musical sound, light and unrestrained.
"Oh, but I mean it. You see, most people don't undergo any physical or spiritual changes before becoming Bound. But a rare few do. Sometimes it's something small—hair color, or a shift in skin tone."
She paused, her eyes softening. "I changed too. My behavior shifted a little—I became colder, less emotional. That was the extent of it. But you…"
Her words trailed off, leaving a silence that made Nym's stomach twist. Then, she continued.
"We call them Exalted. The Bound who have transcended the limits of their kind, those who have become stronger than their peers. But even then, there is still a vast chasm between the Exalted and the Lords—except in rare cases, where one might rival them… or come just beneath."
"I'm one of them," she said simply. "And so are you—though you are a seedling with deeper roots and greater strength. Not yet… but one day."
Nym froze, stunned by what he had just heard. A cold sweat formed on his skin as fear curled in his chest. Was something terrible about to happen to him?
Sensing his unease, Lady Flora gave him a warm, motherly smile—one that held both reassurance and hope.
"Don't worry. No one else knows this. Only I and the Elders are aware—it's classified knowledge, kept solely for their eyes. You, Nym, are a spark of hope for this city's liberation from the curse that binds it."
"From this day forward, I will support your growth. You'll be my student—though not in any official capacity. I only hope your abilities align with the Forcer's path… that would be truly wonderful."
Nym sat there in stunned silence, eyes wide, mouth agape, still trying to grasp the weight of everything that had just been revealed.