Her steps made sound today, and Asteria made no effort to put a stop to that. There was no need for it, because this particular moment, the second champion of Ios found it too leisurely to put up appearances.
She turned a particular corner, heading deeper into the maze of hallways as she hummed a simple tune.
The palace was incredibly lavish in its decoration even for Asteria's astronomical standards. The former king had been a really enthusiastic collector of art, so whichever corner one turned in this grand palace, you could expect to see at least one painting done by a master artist. There were also other luxuries such as statues, and on the curtains, embroidery so pretty that one couldn't help but take a moment to appreciate it's intricacy. Just the marble that had been set for the floor had been sourced from the literal other end of the continent.
It was truly a place fit to be a champion's home.
Before she knew it, she had reached a large set of doors, guarded by two men donned in ornate armour.
They bowed deeply as soon as she came into view.
Asteria gave them a nod in acknowledgement, then opened her mouth.
"Is the first champion present?"
The guard on the left spoke, his deep, gravelly voice echoing through the silent halls.
"Yes your highness. Do you wish to meet him?"
Asteria simply nodded, at which the guards straightened, and still maintaining utmost discipline, opened the door for her.
The doors closed right behind her as she stepped inside.
The office chamber was similar to that of what Asteria herself had, omitting the fact that there were twice as many books lining the walls in this particular room.
She stopped right before the desk in the center of the room, looking down at the man who was furiously scribbling something with the quill in his hand.
Asteria couldn't help but let out a sympathetic sigh.
"You're still doing this?" She asked, her flat voice laced a little with pity.
"What do you want." The man replied without looking at her.
Asteria smiled, then took a seat on the chair in-front of the desk, resting her chin on her hand as she studied the contents of what the man was writing.
"I finished my mission. Thought i could i check up with you before going on my break."
That finally caught his attention, and he finally looked up.
Ion Dawnscar had the kind of face that made it hard for one to look away, and Asteria wasn't exempt from that fact. His lifeless, amber eyes—lined with dark circles from the sheer amount of overwork he was put through, looked into hers. Considering something for a short moment before he finally spoke.
"What do you mean break?"
Asteria didn't speak, instead flashed him a mischievous smile.
Ion looked at her a long moment. His eyes widening as something finally dawned on him.
"You're going on a break!?" He asked, his a voice a little too loud for his disheveled appearance.
Asteria chuckled. "Yes."
The man looked like he had just been shot with a curse.
"Why are you going on a break!? There's work to be done!"
"Unlike you," Asteria leaned back on her seat. "I have a child at home to take care off."
"That doesn't mean you get to take time off from war." He shot back, his eyebrows lightly twitching.
"Are you telling me to neglect my daughter?" She let out a playful gasp.
"Thats—" Ion inhaled, hesitating for a moment.
Then he promptly let out a sigh as he realized there was no way that he was winning this exchange.
"For how long?" He defeatedly turned back to his papers, continuing to work his quill with furious elegance.
"Maybe around a week, It's been a long while since i went back home. I've also got other business to attend to."
Ion didn't respond, instead just nodded along.
"I've also got to deal with family business. Things have just been piling up since I've been away hunting stragglers."
A beat of silence.
"Those things that you call stragglers could wipe out entire battalions" Ion pointed out.
Asteria let out a weary exhale, sinking further into her seat.
"Yes, but it gets tiring after a while to hunt vermin."
"It's what's best for the country."
Ion looked up from his papers for a brief moment,
"Is that all? I've got work to do."
Asteria carefully considered her next words, speaking only after a long moment.
"There is something else."
Ion's blond eyebrows raised lightly, his expression turning curious.
"The rift in the eastern end shifted again."
A moment of silence.
"What?"
Asteria nodded, the air around them turning tense.
Ion exhaled, his eyes locking on to the desk as he furiously calculated something.
"But that can't be..." He mumbled to himself. "It's only been fifty years since she reached Integration."
"That's what i thought too, but the evidence say otherwise."
Ion looked at Asteria.
"She's already attempting Ascension, why?""
She shrugged lightly. "I'm as lost as you are."
The tension in the room deepened, both of them maintaining silence for a long while.
Then, Ion slowly nodded.
"Understood, I'll check it out soon."
Asteria nodded back, then got out of her seat.
"That will be all."
Ion gave her a curt nod, and Asteria turned around, promptly stepping out of the room.