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@sorensplorin.bsky.social Oct 1, 2026, 6:08 AM

Alphinaud allows himself a brief smile, his gaze rising from the papers in hand to the Warrior of Light's eyes. Her narrowed, feline, very angry eyes. Soren gently takes his arm and pulls him to a darker corner for an ilm of privacy.

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"Our first wave of recruitment is over, the documents signed, and the finances secure. There is naught to prevent me from taking the next step."

Alphinaud allows himself a brief smile, his gaze rising from the papers in hand to the Warrior of Light's eyes. Her narrowed, feline, very angry eyes. Soren gently takes his arm and pulls him to a darker corner for an ilm of privacy.

Far be it from her to divulge her past, Soren had always remained pointedly quiet on topics of Ul'dah - or any city state for that matter, feigning ignorance wherever she could. The Immortal Flames she could tolerate - they'd never really been a major bone to pick - but the Brass Blades and the bloody Syndicate was another story. Twelve above, the reason she was even having this conversation with Alphinaud to BEGIN with is because of people like them.

"What. Are. You. Thinking, Alphinaud?" she seethes through gritted teeth. "I think I need not expound on the reasons that, of all places, Ul'dah money is a bad idea! Even Raubahn has a distaste for his own government!"

It's much easier to hide behind someone else.

Alphinaud sighs, patting her hand in return. "You are concerned by the Syndicate's involvement? As was I. Thus was the origin of every coin of their contribution carefully scrutinized and recorded."

He glowers, turning his gaze back towards the guards' quarters. His voice is ice when he finishes, "This organization will not be built on corruption. Naturally, I would prefer not to rely upon outside sources at all, but even my family's substantial coffers could not sustain a venture of this magnitude."

Soren deflates and retreats into her clamshell of secrets, the fire in her expression quickly hidden behind placid, neutral features. The hallmark of the Warrior, she had apparently decided along the way.

Alphinaud was as headstrong as he was genius at manipulating political situations, and he did have a huge advantage over Soren - the Sultana herself in his good graces. She could not reasonably stop his juggernaut now, least of all without putting her own hide in danger of retribution from within the city. She may be a hero now, but she still felt ever so small.

She desperately hoped they would find a way to change course of their funds soon, and in the meantime, offer her help to Tataru with any of the paper trails -- even if just to be an errand girl -- and to see for herself that naught would come to pass.

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