School is back in session and Cecelia is glad for it. She hasn't been in this world long enough to have established a routine yet and school gives structure to her life beyond rising when the sun goes up and heading to sleep when it sets, something that is itself significantly more difficult with the overabundance of electric lighting.
More than that she actually enjoys the learning itself. Her education in Waldia was sub par, partially due to her far flung location and partially due to the wishes of her parents. Though she's hardly settled into it the routine of waking up, going to school, attending choir and then doing her homework before undertaking free evening activities has been calming. It's very different from what she was previously used to, which these days she counts as a very good thing.
It's time to head home after school, no choir after school today, and she makes her way out of the building and towards the school entrance, slowing when she sees a familiar face waiting nearby. It's not exactly a surprise, though she isn't sure what to expect. She approaches, coming to a stop several feet away while looking impassive, her face not betraying her feelings. "Good afternoon, Runealy."
Rune had hurried ahead to the entrance once classes were out, wanting to get here before Cecelia could. It worked, and now the elder princess is facing one of her most harsh critics... and a potential assassin, as their first battle proved.
Rune looks a little rattled, in light of that. Not panicking, but clearly worried. "I... thought you'd come this way." She keeps her distance from Cecelia, barely moving. "I wish to speak with you."
Rune's tone is a little shaken, but calm enough.
Cecelia watches Rune coolly, noting the worry on her demeanor. It makes her more on guard as well, which in this case means she gets even harder to read, folding her hands in front of herself.
"Very well. What is it that you wish to speak to me about?" Simple. Calm. Hard to read into.
Rune blinks a few times, taken by surprise that Cecelia has apparently agreed with little resistance and no sharp remarks. "You, mostly. One of my friends pointed out something very interesting about you, and I noticed something else when I listened to the heralds on television as they discussed what happened at the park."
She holds up an open hand to stall for a moment, adding: "They are separate topics, and I am not specifically here to seek battle with you."
Cecelia's eyelids lower a little when the topic of conversation is stated, though she holds back the sharp words that might normally be expected from her. "I would hope we can both agree that fighting on or near school grounds will do no good for either of us. If it pleases you I would label it neutral territory. I will not seek to harm you, your friends or anyone on school grounds if you will extend the same courtesy to me."
She lets out a small sigh, but doesn't allow herself to relax just yet. "What has Mistral said that has you interested in speaking with me," she asks in a slightly more casual tone.
A few blinks meet Cecelia's proposal, and a moment of silence. "...I was about to point out that very thing, as the reason why I would not start a battle here." A tiny nod, "I accept; we will not fight here unless an immediate circumstance forces me to do so."
Cecelia's question essentially reverses the order of topics Rune wanted to discuss, but the princess goes with it, and begins to walk a little closer. "You know her name, then? That will make this a lot more convenient. Yes... it was Mistral. She told me that you have some talent and understanding for music. More of one than I first realized, that is."
Rune's approach will stop at the first sign of any discomfort from Cecelia, or if she manages to get within just a few steps away; whichever happens first. Rune speaks along the way, regardless. "I wanted to ask just how far that talent extends, and who you learned from? It's a personal curiosity, not an investigation."
The nod is returned, "Good." Now Cecelia will allow herself to lower her guard somewhat.
Which might have been a mistake. She blinks a little at the comment and then the question, appearing slightly shocked. "I didn't think you had it in you. I'm wounded." She turns a little to the side, averting her gaze slightly from Runealy. It figures she would agree to an armistice before saying such a thing, the blonde thinks.
"You've heard my singing. Mistral has not; I've told her of my interest, nothing more. If you did not 'realize' my talent it is because my singing is surely crude and unrefined to your ears." She turns her head to look towards the princess once more, keeping her body at an angle. "Nobody has taught me. It was merely something I'd heard others doing and came to enjoy myself. The only training I have has been from this school since I've come to Tokyo. Does that sate your curiosity?"
Rune lets the little verbal barbs go unchallenged; they're met with little flickers of irritation in her eyes, but she knows they're distractions. "I admit, your singing style is one I only barely recognized for what it is. However... hearing that you are self-taught at it does not satisfy my curiosity."
She keeps her gaze on Cecelia, despite the avoidance from her critic. "This reinforces it. You're pursuing lessons here, you say? I believe Tokyo has quite an interest in singers." Rune's tone remains fairly calm, with no edge of accusation or judgement.
Now there is visible annoyance showing on Cecelia's face, "If you are about to try to tell me how to live my life by suggesting I pursue becoming one of these 'Idol's I suggest you change the subject. Your friend has already broached the topic with me."
She shakes her head a little, reaching a hand back to run her fingers through her hair to try and calm herself. "If I didn't know better I'd think you were trying to intentionally provoke me. A word of advice, Runealy. Don't try to control me, it will not get you into my good graces."
"Far from it," Rune says even as her back arches away from Cecelia's ire. "You've made quite clear you do not view yourself as one of my subjects, do not accept my authority, and are willing to kill me. I was making idle commentary, not commands. However, there is another matter."
She settles back into a normal posture, mood souring and turning unhappy. "Specifically, our battle. The heralds and town criers on the television shared something very interesting about it. While they remain unaware of the battle itself, they said those who suddenly fell ill at the park all recovered with only minor injuries or symptoms, with all of them returning to their families within hours or mere days at the absolute worst."
"That, obviously, cannot be a coincidence given you could have done far worse to them."
"Mistral's pressing of this very topic was the reason our first conversation ended. But perhaps she didn't tell you that part," Cecelia notes, again fighting to calm back down. "It is a sore point. Singing is my one hobby and I will pursue it on my own terms."
Then the fight at the amusement park is brought up, and she nods slightly, now returning her gaze to Rune. "That is one thing that went as planned. I was very careful not to take more than would have been easily recovered. It would have been much quicker if I had drained them dry and killed them all of course, but then I hardly imagine we could be having so civil a conversation as we are now. I even lulled them to sleep so they wouldn't feel pain, wasn't that kind of me?"
Of course that is more so they couldn't retreat. Not that her tone is especially genuine; there's plenty of snark in it.
She frowns a little, "Your wand is vexing to me. I am curious, what would have happened if you fired at me when I was next to a civilian? Would the explosions have harmed them? I was hard pressed to keep them out of the line of your fire."
"I'll keep that in mind, about your singing." Rune is content to let the topic go as-is since there's a more urgent matter at hand instead. "And you are right; had any of them perished, this conversation would not be happening. I would be doing everything I could to subdue you and drag you home to face trial, then determine what you could possibly do to make restoration to the citizens of Earth you harmed."
"As for my staff?" Rune considers refusing to tell Cecelia about her capabilities. It would be, in the moment, a smart thing to do. However, information on how the Guardian Princess fights is not hard to come by; Cecelia would get it eventually if she's really determined to find out.
So, after a moment's silent deliberation, Rune answers with a lowered gaze, eyes lidding unhappily: "It would have hurt or killed them. There is a reason why I switch to smaller, weaker ones if I need to be more precise."
"Then you'll be glad to know I have no intention of killing any bystanders that cannot reasonably defend themselves against me." She reaches up and runs her hand through her hair again, though this time it's in a more casual way, "Truth be told I had no intention on killing anyone at all until I thought you were defenseless. Your Guardian Knight earned her title."
Runealy's reply to the question about how her staff works gets another small frown and a nod, "That will make things difficult, but I suppose there's no getting around it. I will endeavor to keep bystanders out of the line of fire as well. In any case it's clear to me that my plan was severely flawed if it was able to be interrupted so quickly and easily."
"So you will not slay them, but I am an acceptable target... I still have no idea what I did to deserve such hatred." Rune's gaze remains lidded, tone low. She nonetheless latches on to the new topics presented, glad for the distraction. "Mistral has made very clear she wishes to be one of my most special, treasured friends. Her Oath was genuine, even if I did not expect her to insist on taking it. Regardless..."
Rune backs away a few steps, giving Cecelia more room. "...You've de-escalated things today. I understand that you still intend to kill me, but not others. Know that if I see an opportunity to strike you down and bring you home to face trial, I will take it unless trying to do so will get people," an open palm sweeps in a circle around herself, indicating Tokyo in general, "harmed or even worse. You need to be stopped... but not 'at all costs'. I find that distinction very important."
"It isn't what you did, it's what you didn't do," Cecelia replies cryptically. Many of the pieces are there if Runealy wanted to understand the meaning of her words, but difficult to put together. That many are missing and others have been shrouded from her intentionally by others wouldn't make it easy.
On the topic of Mistral she nods in agreement, "She seems honest and well intended. She wishes to atone for some past deeds; I hope she can find peace with herself." The topic changes again and the blonde nods, "Then we have come to another understanding. On that note I will take my leave."
She pauses for a moment before adding, "Oh. One more thing. I will try to show you the common courtesy this city of Tokyo demands of its students on school grounds as well." With that she offers Runealy a short bow and walks past her, making it a short ways before looking back over her shoulder, "Keep yourself Safe, Princess."
Rune blinks a few times at Cecelia's explanation, but fails to manage much more than a quiet gasp; attempts to research this by letters to home have so far turned up nothing useful, leaving her baffled.
In fact, Rune fails to find any useful reply to Cecelia at all; she simply lets Cecelia leave.
The princess waits a few minutes to ensure they won't run into one another again, then moves to meet her driver and go home. Home, where it's Safe.