The Enclave

As the sun begins its downward slope of the mid-afternoon, Madame Naoki arrives at the doors of The Conjunction for a second time. Thinking back to the first visit, she takes a moment to reflect on how things have progressed since then. A Minister, now, in charge of the Treasury Department. All here are her indirect subordinates. Part of her hopes that she might run into those two cranky mages from before, simply so that she can pull rank and flash her identification at them, but the rational part says that meeting with those two would be completely unproductive, and wishes to avoid an encounter.

Regardless, finished with her ruminations, Naoki proceeds to the doors. Assuming them to still be unlocked, she proceeds inside, and takes stock of the interior of The Conjunction. It seems to be mostly unchanged since her last visit, as nearly as she can tell.

After taking a moment to acquaint herself with the layout of the lobby, Naoki proceeds to whatever sort of reception desk or reasonably knowledgeable looking offical happens to be near to the door, and displays her identification.

“Madame Naoki, with the Treasury Department. I’d like to speak with the acting director of The Conjunction, could you direct me?”

“Alright, fair enough, thank you. Have a good day.”

With a little wave to the scholar, Madame Naoki proceeds in the direction indicated, up the stairs. Along the way up, she keeps her eyes open for any doors that might be the one indicated. Perhaps with a label. Upon reaching any such door that might distinguish itself as being a plausible candidate for the Minister’s office, she knocks, three short raps.

One of the young sorceresses approached Millianna with a shake of her head. "Minister Ruana is not here, unfortunately. She has not been seen in some time and we are still not certain what has happened to her. Perhaps I can help you in her place?" She suggested, a thick book held under her arm.

The sorceress placed her book down upon a nearby table and gave Millianna a sigh. "You are correct in both things. She is indeed powerful, but it is also true that she is gone and we do not know when she will be returning... Or if she will ever return at all," the woman said, looking slightly concerned herself.

"Still, there is a chance we can offer you training here as a magician if you are interested in such an endeavour. Though it is true that we are rather selective of who we allow to join us in The Conjunction, rather unlike most other academies of magic, I would not rule yourself out just yet. Normally, Minister Ruana would need to personally screen and then invite you to study here with us, but since she isn't here the only person with that authority is Lord Ildesias himself. I would recommend you try to meet him and your request there; Ildesias is also a powerful mage and is certainly in the most prime position to make a decision on Minister Ruana's behalf."

The sorceress snapped her fingers, a small blue light flashing out and then pulsing around her hand. After a second, she lightly reached out to touch Millianna with her fingertip and soon the blue orb travelled along the length of her arm and began to follow the novice like a familiar. "Take her to Lord Ildesias' office in the Keep," she told the orb, before turning back to Millianna and giving her a smile.

"Just follow it. It will take you to where you need to go."

The orb began to float towards the exit, but would not proceed unless Millianna followed it.

"Do not worry. He is not known for unkindness, so go and meet with him and see what he decides," the Sorceress told her, before taking up her book again. "I must leave now, however. Much work needs to be done around here! Goodbye and good luck."
With that, the Sorceress left the room.

The orb, meanwhile, would lead Millianna out of The Conjunction and into The Keep Hall.

<Exit to The Keep Hall.>

[Enter from The Keep Hall]

"I'm baaaaaaaack!" she exclaimed as she got back from the Keep. "Ooops." she said and covered her mouth, as she heard her own voice echoing through the room.

"Sorry." she said to no one specific. Then she proceeded to look for someone she could show her recommendation to. She had never been this excited before.

A few long months had passed since anyone had last seen Minister of Magic Andraste Ruana. Then, suddenly, word reached the Conjunction of the Minister's return. She had just breached the outer gates, and was moving to enter The Citadel once again! While the sorcerers and sorceresses of The Enclave are not prone to excitement, a palpable air of relief can be felt among the acolytes and archmagi alike. Many had begun to think that their esteemed leader had left forever, or perished on the road.

Finally, Andraste enters The Enclave, looking much more gaunt than usual, her resplendent crimson robes stained and tattered, her hair matted and disheveled. Yet still she carries herself with an air of elegance and command.
"Please prepare a bath for me," she requests of the first servant she sees, giving them one of her signature enigmatic smiles. Reports could wait; it has been far too long since she had any sort of comfort...besides which, she thinks, she probably smells like an unwashed chamber pot.

Hours later she emerges from her private quarters, rested and revitalised, her hair shining with its usual Lustrous silkiness, her robes well-cleaned and repaired. She almost looks -- and smells -- like her old self again. She could definitely still use some food, though. However, just as she's about to set off to find some, an acolyte approaches her, informing her of a new arrival who had requested to be trained as a student of The Enclave. Andraste sighs. Business as usual. She tells the acolyte to send her into Andraste's personal study, and retreats back into it herself, sitting at her mahogany desk and crossing her slender legs as she waits.