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Ikora decides to go visit the athenaeum in the hopes of catching Eris for a moment to speak about the next steps, now that Xivu Arath has been temporarily stayed.
What she didn't expect was to find the Witch Queen waiting, with an air of casualness as if she were a friend dropping by to say hello. Odd times, Ikora thought.
Nonetheless, Ikora stopped at the edge of the structure and tilted her head as Savathun, leaned against one of the pillars like she belonged there as much as anyone else.
Three eyes flicked up from staring at the digits of her claws she held out in front of her to meet Ikora's, gliding closer. "Ikora!" She about purred her name in sickly sweetness. "What a lovely surprise to find you here."
Feeling a sense of stubbornness rise up in her, Ikora refused to back down from Savathun's gaze, crossing her arms. "And an unexpected one to see you. What are you doing here?" She kept her tone neutral but with no room for tolerating any sort of schemes.
"Why, I only wanted to come by and check on our mutual acquaintance! How is our favorite new Hive God of Vengeance?" The chitin plates of her face widened in what Ikora took for a hive smile.
"They're fine now that it's over with." Witnessing the transformation Eris undertook and the way they drank in the guardians tithes was something Ikora didn't like to linger too much on, for a variety of reasons.
"Over with? Oh honey, they may have reverted for now but it will always remain a part of them. I think they understand that much. The real question is, do you accept the truth?" The teeth in her mouth gleamed like dangerous blades as Savathun grinned wider, continuing to hold Ikora's gaze.
She knew this was an attempt to unnerve her and refused to give an inch. "I accept Eris as they always have been or will be." Ikora wasn't sure what she intended to gain, whether it was to mess with her or learn some sort of information for later.
"Good! I believe you, after all-" Savathun leaned in closer in a fluid motion with not a hint of intent to attack. "Make no mistake, I saw the way you looked at them. Are you perhaps desiring power of the same measure? Or maybe... Desire of something else?" She laughed heartily.
Ikora tightened her lips as heat began to build up her neck, and she hoped that it wasn't obvious as she continued to stare back. "What I desire Eris's safety and well-being. Do you have any real reason to be here or is it just to be a nuisance?"
Her mandibles shifted and emitted a sharp, mocking chortle as Savathun backed away, not breaking eye contact once. "I suppose not as I was hoping for someone else. But that will have to wait, after all I'm sure you two need a moment... Alone."
Savathun took flight, the flap of her wings softly fanning air in Ikora's direction. "It was nice having this little talk. I hope in the future we can have more as, enlightening as today's. I would enjoying learning more about you." Another laugh rippled through the acoustics of the room and faded into an echo as she disappeared into particles of light.