At Odds [DREYSIR]

[SERAPHINA HERODOR]

Seraphina, HATED, these meetings. Without exception. Each one was as fruitless and infuriating as the first, no headway was made, and each time, both sides left the table empty-handed and furious. So why, she asked herself, did this ignorant fop Dreysir, STILL insist on calling her up on EVERY little thing she did. Oh this time, he had a better reason, she had just carved a sizable chunk out of Death Mountain to make room for her foundries and laboratories. But this was an exception, not the norm. The loathesome idiot...

She cast the doors that were the link to main passageway of his inner sanctum. The look in her eye, her gait, posture, and the fact that her head blazed like the mid-day sun, led all, including the guards to step back away from her as she walked towards the curiously white-haired man, who knelt in prayer at the altar at the front. Her impetuousness led her to stand barely five feet from him, locking her eyes with the back of his head. She coughed sharply, announcing her arrival, and her impatience.

[red]Chancellor, if I am to be dragged out here for yet another of your damnable lectures, the least you can do is be ready to receive me, when I ARRIVE![/red]

The last word was forced out, louder, blazing with her irritation, her hair flaring up as she spoke it, her eyes incandescent with annoyance, her stance aggressive in its formality. This man, this stubborn, flamboyant and arrogant piece of work, was the epitome of everything she hated. From his ridiculously overt 'I am death incarnate' dress sense, to his superiority complex concerning certain 'matters', which, she added mentally, was ten leagues wide, everything about him ground her gears, and to boot, he was the ever-present spanner in the works. Him and his 'infidel' this, and 'heretical' that...

[red]Now that I have your undivided attention, I presume, that the ridiculous pretense for this meeting is my opening of foundries in Death Mountain, but in actual fact, all you wish to do is lecture me on the 'evils of technology' and how the 'one true path of the goddesses' is the only path to follow. Correct me if I'm wrong, Draysir.[/red]

She spat his name, as though it were something filthy. Of all the people favoured by Zelda as her advisors, she hated this one more than any other could possibly dream of inciting.

[Dreysir Arkos]

[/i][/color]

Thus ended his prayer, as it always did, and only then would Dreysir rise and turn to see Seraphina. Calmly, he gave a half-bow, a nod of the head and the gracious extension of his hand, before walking to one of his old tables, set with two silver goblets and a bottle of fine wine. Just wine. The rumours that Dreysir needed blood were exaggerated. He could make use of it, but was not slave to it.

"Forgive the oversight," Dreysir said calmly, indicating she take a seat as he poured two cups of wine. He raised his own. "The rigour of my daily prayer shall not be interrupted because of ... the impetuousness of some girl," he said dismissively, raising his cup and an eyebrow. He drank a bit of the wine; it was quite hot. He hoped she would appreciate the gesture, though the truth was he preferred his drink hot. He laughed, his long, deep, cruel laugh coming from his chest.

"Pardon me, dear Champion, but as I recall Death Mountain is currently inhabited by an inordinate number of Goron, is it not? Many of whom value their metal forges and mines? I hope that had not escaped your notice, though I understand your goggles sometimes restrict your vision, and begin to fear they restrict bloodflow to your brain. Let me be abundantly clear." The look on his face was unchanged, as though amused, but the darkness in his eyes spoke of his genuine deadliness. "You have just come dangerously close to violating several land agreements with the Goron, and if any of them care to get particularly specific about it, close does not even begin to cover it. What, may I ask, were you thinking, as you rent a hole in one of Hyrule's oldest landmarks, a mountain which many Goron consider sacred? While, I might add, you--and this was rather brilliantly idiotic--installed a series of forges and laboratories near one of the only major metalworking races in Hyrule. Did it not occur to you that the Goron might take this breach on their homeland, and on their trade, as just the slightest offense? Or were you too excited at the thought of making things go 'boom'?"

He paused briefly to drink more wine.

"I know, I know. Big thoughts are hard for you, little Seraphina, but I implore you to remember: the Goron go 'boom' better than you do."[/color][/ul][/ul]

[SERAPHINA HERODOR]

She stared at the loathesome man for a moment, before sitting down. Such opulence in this room... She could appreciate most of it, but even so, the sheer weight of it was oppressive. Such was the downfall of the Hylian people. More focus on aesthetics than functionality. This man, he was an exemplary representation of this troublesome quality. Still, she picked up the goblet, the liquid within hot by others standard. By hers, the exact temperature of the coldest of the Goron springs. She smiled inwardly at this notion, before sipping lightly. Strange. She'd half expected blood, not the finest of wines.

As she listened though, her own blood began to warm, become hot, and then boil. Hair and eyes incandescent in their fury, her incredulously low tolerance fuse blowing almost immediately, the liquid within her hand bubbling as uncontrolled heat radiated through the goblet. Quickly, it began to brim the surface, before disappearing entirely, the goblet beginning to char around her grip, becoming molten, before liquifying. She was renowned for her ferocious and near-spontaneous temper, he knew that, she knew that he knew that, and worse still, he knew, that she knew that he knew that. And still, she responded to it, hair ablaze, she stood up, the chair behind her clattering to the ground, the molten silver dribbling down the leather gauntlet.

[red]You, DARE, to insult my intelligence! You DARE to presume I simply, waltzed into Death Mountain, a place where should I cause offence, I face an entire race of creatures resistant to the very thing I wield, that know the workings of the place far better than any other, and simply hacked out my own, PERSONAL space, in an area presumed inaccessible, even to them, without first checking with them! You are as much a fool as you seem to think I am![/red]

Each word was laced with venom, punctuated by her hair flaring, her eyes burning ever brighter, the silver beginning to bubble, unable to find purchase upon the magically reinforced leather of her prized gauntlet. The air surrounding her bent, distorted, a reaction to the volume of heat she now gave off. She closed her eyes, tilting her head to the side, struggling to fight the urge to simply turn him into a charred pile of bones upon the floor.

[red]No Dreysir, I consulted with the Elders of the Goron. I promised them that all ore I find will go to them, anything of value, would go to them, making sure they understood that my sanctum would be far from the nearest Goron dwellings. That they were free to come and go as they pleased, provided they do not disturb the laboratories, more for their own safety than my privacy. And yet still, you take the minority complaint, and make it out as the majority view. How narrow-minded, how singly ignorant you truly are, that you think all I aim to do is put myself in competition with a people who will forever outshine me in metalwork. How small you think, as always, Chancellor.[/red]

She sat down again, her temper once again (almost) under control, as she wiped the last of the silver from her gauntlet, before locking eyes with him, sheer hatred boiling under her still flickering eyes, the danger within both of the two entities opposing each other very real, if completely opposite to the other.

[Dreysir Arkos]

[/color]

"I would think that abundantly clear, yes," Dreysir said, smiling calmly as he endured her tirade. It was deeply, personally depressing, to watch the purported leader and representative of one of Hyrule's most populous races lose her head at the slightest goading. He pitied the humans should they ever find themselves at war without the Hylians to save them from their leader's buffoonery. He watched as Seraphina melted the silver goblet, which she could not, of course, realise was one that Princess Zelda had given him as a gift, long ago. He was not angry--a goblet was just a goblet--and was not surprised, either. Seraphina's temper often destroyed what she held dear.

"Yes, consult you did, how terribly wise of you. Did you think I was unaware? Do you take me for a fool? Do you imagine I have somehow endured as Chancellor longer than your lifetime and the Princess' combined by way of luck? I was joking, earlier, when I suggested your goggles are inhibiting your higher brain functions but perhaps I was incorrect. Idiot girl," he said, shaking his head in disgust. "What did you think the Goron Elders would say? You represent the Human alliance with the Hylian Royalty which, I pray you have noticed, is far and away the ruling power in all Hyrule. Saying 'no' to you is akin to suicide, and do not think that the Goron did not consider that. They may be rocks but their leaders are old and wise, and would not refuse you such a request. But the common Goron, he will begrudge you. He will resent your presence in his home and who will he direct that hatred towards? Your race, and mine by connection. However small my thoughts may be, they are at least focused on what they should be. My people, and yours as well if you insist on endangering them so brashly." Dreysir's eyes had narrowed into pure contempt, surveying Seraphina above the rim of his goblet as he took another drink.[/color][/ul][/ul]

[SERAPHINA HERODOR]

For the moment at least, Seraphina's temper was under her heel. The fact that he was simply goading her did little to allay her earlier annoyance, nor did it make any difference to the now. It simply, in her eyes, revealed further his arrogance, his superiority issues, and his pathetic holier-than-thou attitude. She scoffed at his proclamation of the 'common Goron's hatred' of her. What a novelty, hating a being granting them further resources, sharing their love of technology, granting them the boons of her developments, all the while not impinging upon their actual lands. Hence the choice of lands.

[red]What hatred is there to be directed? Of the two of us, you are more likely to be hated, and even that, despite ample reason to, the Goron will not hate you, for they are not a race, as you seem to make them out to be, given over to hatred of others, a sentiment, I for one admire, but do not share. The very fact that the Hylian's as you put it are, 'far and away the ruling power' is precisely the reason why I deplore your condemnation of that which I, and the Goron, pursue. Progress. Development. The Hylians as a people have grown complacent, lax, content to sit and sneer at the worlds efforts, seeing themselves as above all others. You, for example, do just that. And for this, when someone so closely linked to the Hylians such as I offers a chance of a venue outside of old customs and trade links, naturally, they will jump at the chance, as you say, they are wise and despite their age, open to the change you try so hard to stifle.[/red]

She smirked at Dreysir. His argument hinged on, as always, the spiritual. Homelands exploited. She proceeded onwards, laying a very crucial point.

[red]In any case, the area I have claimed as mine is not part of the Goron's ancestral home. Not a single Goron, so I am told, has ventured into such depths as I have. Why? Because it is dangerous, and of little profit. The ore is higher up, for the most part, and the natural caverns down there barely enough for one woman, let alone a family of Goron. The only things down there are lava and barren rock. Not even monsters lurk there, for nothing to prey on dwells there, nor can most withstand the pressure and temperature of inner core magma. Because of my designs, I have created a safe haven for them to begin to explore down into this area, as a possible route to newer discoveries. As for my people, and yours, the development there has bridged the gap that people like you have created by damning their developments in a field that is not only beneficial, but also progressive.[/red]

She leant back in her chair, smirk returning to her face, her temper once again back in line. Much like a flash-fire, her temper flared, burned, destroyed, and then retreated. Her intelligence however, was like Death Mountain itself. Inexorable. Unstoppable. Powerful. And always to be feared. What she lacked in experience, she made up for in her logical dissemination of arguments and ideas. Precisely a skill that would take some politicians her lifespan twice over to learn properly.

[Dreysir Arkos]

[/i], you are such a perilous fool that it is indeed a concern for the whole of Hyrule. You forget the importance of ideas. The importance of sovereignty. The Goron are a proud, independant people, and if you think your presence in their mountain will not bother them, you are a fool. So your little cave has not been used! So your ores are poor and you allow the Goron to come and go as they please! There will always be Goron--and this is true of any race and their homeland--who see the Mountain as theirs, and whether or not it makes sense to your vapid mind has no bearing on how they feel. I tire of your childishness, and your simpleton's logic,"[/color] Dreysir muttered, laying his goblet on the table. He looked at the piece of molten scrap that had fell to the floor and raised a hand, a single orb of blood forming in the air before his hands, snaking through the air towards the metal. When the blood came in contact, there was a hissing sound as the metal cooled. He snapped his fingers and beckoned to a guard.

"See if you can't find a metalworker who can match this silver to its counterpart once more," Dreysir ordered, holding up his own goblet for the man to take. "I would hate to have Zelda discover her gifts have been so ... misused."

He turned back to Seraphina, laying his hands back on his table and getting to his feet.

"I would remind you that the world is not a machine, no matter how appealing you find the idea. You will find the disparate peoples of Hyrule are not ruled by cold logic, but by belief, by fervor, and by flame. That, I think, you can understand. Think whatever blasphemy of the Goddesses that you will, but never forget, little girl, that the world is made up of people who believe. You are just a blip in the time I have spent in this city. You are not the challenge you fancy yourself. Nor are you the first to presume such."[/color][/ul][/ul]

[SERAPHINA HERODOR]

Mentally she rolled her eyes. Physically she sighed. As always, he spoke of spirituality. As always he was right. And as always, he was so narrow minded. Of course there were people driven by fervour and devotion. For the love of Din, there was one sat in front of her. The worst kind. One who, grudgingly she admitted, was both ancient and intelligent. And with a belief in his own superiority to match it. She shook her head, solemnly, condescendingly.

[red]For one who preaches about ideas, you blatantly overlook the idea of change. Of progress. No, I do not deny the common folk are often driven by heart over head, but this is simply, in many respects, because they have no other option. Because you, by culling people such as I and their ideas, repress their ability to learn and grow. You and your kind are stagnating, and alienating an ever-growing group of free thinkers. Nor do I deny that I am not doing the same thing for those in the opposite direction. But therein lies the great divide between us. I evince progress. You deny it.[/red]

She sat for a moment, watching the exchange, amused faintly, though a little perturbed that she had destroyed something gifted by Zelda herself. Despite this, she found her retort.

[red]Indeed. It would be a shame for her to find out that it was being used by someone so distant as to not even know a smithy to start from. Try Damure's smithy. He specialises in restorations, and works wonders with precious metals. Tell him Seraphina referred you, you'll get faster service.[/red]

She looked at Dreysir, amusement in her eyes. Probably not something that he contemplating, getting to know his people. She on the other hand knew several of the blacksmiths, artisans, watchmakers and other professions by name and speciality. Such was her dedication to furthering her craft, she could reel off a list of about ten different artisans to a particular craft, as well as who best to procure the materials from.

[red]Perhaps you need a reminder that the world does not need to be a machine to think as I do. Perhaps it is you who needs reminding that the world of today outside of Hyrule Castle is not as it was fifty years ago. You will find that many temper their belief with enlightened thought now. Many seek solutions to problems thought to be caused by the Goddesses ill favour. Farmers irrigate. Blacksmiths use bellows. Artisans use refined versions of tools thought perfect. Slow though it may be, the world is moving. And it is catalysed by a desire to do more than accept their lot in life. Though I may be a mere blink of an eye to you, my star burns brightly. Perhaps it is you who under-estimates I, not I who over-estimates myself. I may not be the first, but by all I hold dear, I pray I am not the last. All progress needs to halt is for people to stop thinking. I intend no such thing.[/red]