Act 2: Upheaval III - The Master Weaver and the Arena

Szef Zerva is currently debating with Volwind and Saria about which fairy will win the carbuncle race. While she is having fun with that, Konrad is appraising an enchanted ruby ring. When he is finished, he puts it away, glancing over at her and then cracking a smile at the three monks who first mentioned her to him using her Imperial name. Unfortunately for him, he doesn't remember any of their names, but the older woman looks familiar.

"When I left your island, I didn't expect to see you all again, least of all at this momentous occasion. You didn't tell me your friend in Myr was one of the Szefowie!"

Valor, the older woman in her late forties, answers, "She wasn't Szef at the time," she explains. "She became one a few months after your... ‘visit’."

"I see. I didn't ask how long she'd been away." He looks over at Nadzieja again. "Makes sense, after meeting her for the first time."

"She's quite unique," Leon says with his arms crossed. He seems only a few years older than her, and would probably consider her a little sister.

He nods, and the smile on his face recedes from the cheerful front that it is. "You know, I feel a mite embarrassed. I just dropped a letter off at the courier today addressed to Master Avalon. That errand has been rendered supererogatory by your visit."

The monks are surprised. Master Avalon turns to Konrad and asks him, "What was it about?"

The red mage looks over at him. "Besides meeting your former pupil in my homeland, and a humble donation? I wanted to, uhm," he wavers, "make an apology for my behavior when we last met. In hindsight, I ought to have addressed the letter to all of you, so I'm glad that you're all here."

Many times has he approached his apologies with formality, and, when called for and sometimes genuinely, humility. Rarely, as now, has he been somber on the matter. The younger monks exchange skeptical looks. Saria is too absorbed in the carbuncle race to listen to him, but Volwind glances at the red mage for a second, who cringes knowing that their adult conversation hasn't escaped the child's notice. Their master doesn't flinch in the slightest, and waits for him to continue. However, Konrad can definitely feel the gaze of a few of Nadzieja's clansmen on him. Words he had written down and crumpled up come to him, and he speaks with deliberation as he expresses sentiments he didn't realize would have to be spoken so soon.

"All of you, I am sorry for my vicious behavior at the monastery. I had no right to be so rude, to threaten your family, and to put your home in jeopardy. I wish to make amends, and I hope you can forgive me for allowing my vendetta to blind me."

The Zervas stare at Konrad in silence, uncertain on how to respond. Suzy doesn't seem convinced at all. Leon and Valor are more hesitant on what to think of this. Master Avalon appears to be curious and a little surprised by the apology. Thankfully, none of them show any sign of repressed anger. Or, do they owe that to their training?

"Thank you for these words," the old monk says. "Maybe we'll forgive you one day. But not today."

Konrad nods. "Even that is kind." He looks Nadzieja's way for the third time, and back to the master. "You must be very proud," he says, tilting his head in her direction. "Did she tell you about how she dropkicked the monster that was terrorizing the city?"

"No, she hasn't. We haven't had much time to talk, but I'm sure we will once the Tournament is over."

"Of course. Did you have time to browse the souvenirs outside? They're selling dolls in the likeness of prominent warriors. They have one of her, too."

"...No, I didn't know about this."

"What, really?" Suzy says. "We'll have to take a look later."

This is a ruby ring of spell storing, level 4.

Konrad is for now stuck in his time bubble.