Theresa set out for the Collegium with Wobbly perched confidently on her shoulder.
She navigated the bustling morning streets of the capital with a quiet, assured strength, as if she truly understood the nature of power and how to command it. Wobbly's steady, glowing blue presence on her shoulder occasionally wobbled, as if to remind her it was still there.
Lady Vex welcomed them into a secluded research salon, a sanctuary filled with ancient texts and intricate magical instruments. Her silver hair was neatly pulled back, and her cold, calculating pale eyes missed nothing, revealing the sharp mind behind her calm façade.
"Theresa," Vex said. "You come to me with secrets and ask for trust. That is not how the Collegium operates."
"I'm not asking for trust," Theresa said, settling into a chair across from Vex. "I'm offering an exchange. Information for resources. And I believe the information I carry is worth far more than the resources I need."
