Jarod
Lei Linas | The Keep Sempiternal

"Yes, of course." He smiled at the man cheerfully. He was a little nervous about this so called exam since he has never experienced such a thing coming from a noble house. 
"May I please know what I must do?"
Ronald
**Jeaques Renart L' hivert 🕐 The Keep Sepiternal**

"Simply answer to my questions. You have been chosed for the young lady's patronage, but we must first know who you are, and for that... We must know who you claim to be."

The seschal sat a small table, then he drew paper and quill.

"You said that your name was Lei Linas, is that correct? What is your status in the Blood Caste?"
Jarod
Lei Linas | The Keep Spiternal 

"Yes, that's right. I am just a commoner. " He smiled and hoped that he would be able to hide his fire from them. It might become a problem if he ended up living here in their castle for a while.
Ronald
Jeaques Renart L' hivert 🕑 The Keep Sempiternal

The seneshal's hand darted from one side of the paper to the other. He was writing a lot. Surely he was adding his own thoughts to Lei's answer.

"Where were you born, Lei Linas?"
Jarod
Lei Linas | The Keep Spiternal 

"My home land is Azarya. I began my travels and passed through Taemar before reaching here. " He answered promptly and sat down across him on the table. 

He was a little curious of what he was writing but he did not stare. Other than a few occasional glances Lei kept his focus on the gentleman in front of him.
Ronald
**Jeaques Renart L' hivert 🕒 The Keep Sempiternal**

The hand of the Seneschal froze as soon as he heard "Azarya". He frowned in silence at Linas.

"Are you a witch?" He asked, piercing the young man with a deathly stare.
Jarod
Lei Linas | The Keep Spiternal 

Lei was taken back by the sudden Icey glare. He was certain that he felt his blood run cold in his veins. The young man was clearly intimidated but he managed to push himself to answer in an honest tone.

"No, I am simply an inventor." 

He was again reminded of how important it was for him to hide his flashy talents.
Ronald
**Jeaques Renart L' hivert 🕓 The Keep Sempiternal**

"Good."

The seneschal went back to the paper, and to his questions.

"You said you are an inventor, have you made any famous invention?"
Jarod
Lei Linas | The Keep Spiternal 

"I have improved carriage wheels to maintain movement on leveled plains and aid the horses on inclines plains. It's what most of my folks in Azarya use on their own carriages now. As of now it is just famous there. I do plan to share this invention with everyone I can.
Ronald
**Jeaques Renart L' hivert 🕔 The Keep Sempiternal**

"I see, I see... What about your religious obligations? Which aspects of Saris do you worship? Or do you worship the Azaryan god?"
Jarod
Lei Linas | The Keep Spiternal

" I find myself following the teachings of Saris. I do my best to be kind and just with everyone I meet."
Ronald
**Jeaques Renart L' hivert 🕕 The Keep Sempiternal**

The seschal smirked.

"What can you tell me about your ambitions? We both know what the lady expects from you, but what do you wish to obtain from her?"
Jarod
Lei Linas | The Keep Spiternal

Lei was a little intimidated by that smirk. Several questions ran through his head and he was obviously worried. 

Hearing the next question Lei calmed down a little. 

"I want to help how ever I can and share my findings with her. Anything I can do to make the lives of others easier." He smiled. Lei truly was just a young innocent soul. He meant every word he spoke and hoped to live up to them.
Ronald
**Jeaques Renart L' hivert 🕖 The Keep Sempiternal**

"So... Do you truly expect nothing from House de Lysse other than food and shelter so you can perfect your craft?"
Jarod
Lei Linas | The Keep Spiternal 

"I do wish to gain more knowledge to improve my work. It would be lovely If I could learn more about the technological advancements other inventors in the area have discovered. I would gladly share what I have learned with them too." He spoke as cheerily as ever.
Ronald
**The Keep Sempiternal and it's seneschal**

"In that case, that councludes everything I need to know," Announced the senschal. "You are free to go. The lady and her friends await you in the waterfall sanctum at the end of the corridor, but you are not obliged to go. If you wish to visit your new room, simply follow the staircaise behind that door all the way up the penultimate floor."
Jarod
Lei Linas | The Keep Spiternal 

"Thank you." Lei got up , " I best not keep Lady De Lysse waiting. Have a nice day." 
He smiled at him and gave him a wave goodbye before heading down the hall to meet the Noble in the respective meeting location mentioned. He fixed his coat and tidied up his hair a tad before entering the room. 

"Good morning, I hope I did not keep you all waiting for too long. " He bowed to her and her friends respectfully.
Ronald
**Jeanne de Lysse | The Keep Semiternal**

A dozen heads turned towards Linas, then chuckled. Just past the antechamber, the young man found himself into what looked like a small temple that had been transformed into a bath house.

Steamy water had flooded the stairs and the base of the columns. Statues of the southern gods held the vaulted ceilling aloft, oblivious to the young men and women swimming below them. At the core of the room, an androgynous angel clasped a golden ring near its chest, symbolizing Saris. Jeanne was resting at the angel's feet: submerged all the way to the tip of her nose, with her amethyst eyes shining above the dancing waters.

Her retinue of friends was far more impudent. The sensual maidens and muscular boys that played around the bathouse had no sense of modesty, they flashed their bodies before Lei and took a perverse glee in making him uncomfortable.

Jeanne raised her chin over the water. "Come on... Lei Linas. Join us. Don't be shy."
Jarod
Lei Lainas | The Keep Semiternal 

As soon as Lei entered he first noticed the tempered steam that fogged his vision he could distinguish a few blurry shapes in the room. While his eyes were adjusting to his new surroundings he soon realized he the bare figures of those leisurely wading in the waters of the bath house. He gasped deeply in shock and slapped his hands over his face to obscure his vision. He then turned away to face the door quickly to avoid accidentally seeing anyone else. "Oh! I'm sorry! Excuse me, I should have-" 

JOIN THEM?! 

Lei was deeply flustered and was very panicked by the situation. He had no clue what he should do. 
"A-are you sure? I- um- Okay?" He spoke witlessly thanks to how startled his mind was with all he had just seen. Was he making a mistake? 

Even after accepting her invitation Lei was still standing stiffly by the door. What was he doing? Move away from the door. Move AWAY. 

He finally urged himself to walk towards the side of the bath house, slipping his hands away from his face so he could see where he was going. He found what looked like the designated place to undress himself and he began tracing his fingers over the fur coat of his jacket. He hesitated and thought for a moment about what he was doing. Was this really happening?
Ronald
**Jeanne de Lysse | The Keep Sempiternal**

"Linas, are you still there?" Jeanne's voice echoed from beyond the antechamber. A chorus of laughs followed immediately after.

"I'm surprised to see you run! I was under the impression that any serf would hardly pass the opportunity to bathe with these beautiful maidens. Unless it's boys you prefer, in which case... I can't see why you would run away either."

More laughs resounded from the depths of the bathouse.
Jarod
Lei Lainas | The Keep Semiternal 

Hearing her call him, he looked over at her general direction and fought his instincts to look away. "My apologies, I am very new to this. I come from a very conservative neighborhood so we rarely share such occasions." He smiled at her meekly. 

His young and bright features were now gently dusted with a pink tint as he discarded his clothing. Of course he hid himself as he entered the shallower pools of the bath, leaving no room for anyone to see anything personal. He made sure to keep note of where the deep ends of the steaming waters were. The last thing he wanted was to end up drowning and making more of a fool of himself in front of Lady de Lysse and her companions. "Thank you very much for inviting me here, my Lady. This is definitely an experience I will remember." He chuckled lightly and found a comfortable spot to sit in. 

He did choose to keep a respectful distance from everyone, as he did not want to intrude into their personal space.
Ronald
**Jeanne de Lysse | The Keep Sempiternal**

It was always good to put guests out of their element. It made easier for Jeanne to negotiate favorable terms. Noticing how Linas kept his distance, Jeanne subtly ordered her retinue to get closer. The bath house offered many luxuries, but personal space wasn't one of them.

"You better get used to it, Lei Linas. If you are to work with us, you better get comfortable," Said the young lady. Her sight went from one statue to the next. "This chapel used to be the core of the old holdfast. When my grandfather expanded the castle to make the Keep Sempiternal what it is today, the old rooms could no longer compare to the new ones, and were slowly forgotten. My brother and I made them our personal domain. This chapel in particular, has become mine...

Do you like what I have done with it?"

Jeanne lifted her arms over the water, mimicking the wings of the angel.
Jarod
Lei Linas | The Keep Spiternal 

Lei glanced towards the men and women who were moving closer to him. He kept his hands over his lap as he tried his best to keep himself calm. All of this was very uncomfortable for him but he tried not to Express this. 

"Of course. " He nodded respectfully. 

His eyes soon wandered around to admire the grand designs of the vast room. After she introduced its history he responded,

"This place is absolutely beautiful. " Lei smiled and looked back to catch her grand gesture, smiling in amusement. 

"I have never seen a place so grand before. " He looked back up towards the graceful statues in awe.
Ronald
**Jeanne de Lysse | The Keep Sempiternal**

"I know, right? So simple, yet so enrapturing. I like to believe it's my artistic sensibilty which has elevated this place it into a work of art, not the dead stone of it's original construction. I may not have built this temple, but I remade it into what it is _now_." Jeanne slid a finger over the water. "Which brings me to you... Lei Linas."

Jeanne stood up, making the water reach her hips, and extended her arm towards Linas.

"Listen up, friends!" She said, pointing her index finger at the young craftsman. "This is the man that will make us rule the Keep Sempiternal. The final piece in our plan. You have put your trust in me, and soon, that trust shall be rewarded. As for you Linas, you may call me 'your grace' in private. To you, as to my friends, I'm your Marquess."
Jarod
Lei Linas | The Keep Spiternal 

The young innovator raised his eyebrows curiously when she pointed towards him. He was eager to hear what she had to say. Perhaps this was where he was going to learn what she needed of him? He realized now that in his excitement he completely missed the important chance to find out what she needed of him before he agreed to a contract with her. The young inventor was certain she planned to use his technology for the betterment of society. At least that's what he hoped she would do. 

Hearing her words did worry him but he hid his worry with an encouraging smile. 'A plan to Rule the Keep Sempiternal?'

He sure did not like the sound of that... 
Perhaps he was over thinking. Maybe she wanted to use it to improve trades and commerce between the neighboring settlements? 

"Thank you my Lady, I'm looking forward to working with you." 
He hoped that he would get a chance to discuss the details of her commission may be. As of now he had to await the proper time to discuss such private matters.
Ronald
**Jeanne de Lysse | The Keep Sempiternal**

"You see, Lei Linas..." Jeanne waded towards him. "My parents are incompetent. My father, lord Cyprien, is more concerned about knightly honor and tradition that with common sense. My mother, the Silverwrought, lives with her eyes glued to the heavens, trying to decipher the senseless will of a primordial and heathen god."

Jeanne's coterie of pretty faces had gotten close enough to the point they could caress Linas, but the young lady ordered them to sweep aside with the flick of her wrist. Jeanne grabbed Lei's face with her hands.

"And our homeland is in danger, Linas. To the north, a savage warlord by the name of John de Burgh gathers his armies, seeking to slaughter the inhabitants of our fertile countryside. Sol is blind to our pleas, no armies have come to reinforce us since winter began, and yet... With your designs... We shall be able to build war machines. Better, more numerous, and easier to transport. We will improve the fortifications of our cities, banish De Burgh from our borders... And who knows? Perhaps in not-so-distant future, and for your contributions... You might become a noble someday."

The young lady backed down, her back fell flat into the water with a loud splash. When she resurfaced, she added:

"But for that, you'll need to stop calling me 'my lady'. After all, I told you to call me 'your grace'."