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Urianger had gone over a short review of aether and had left it open enough that she could ask questions or make any inquiries if she had any.
She had asked about summoning. She knew of it courtesy of her childhood friend but had never asked about the logistics behind it.
Part of it out of curiosity. And part of it because she had wanted a brief respite before they started aetherial training again.
And Urianger was nothing if not a well of information and knowledge.
He'd even gone as far as to give a demonstration.
Its colors were a bit different from the variety she was used to seeing around in the city states.
An amber carbuncle.
Of course she had asked questions.
She had paid attention as long as she could but when he mentioned that summons involved equations and aether, she'd gotten lost.
Some math she could do but the concept of summoning requiring both the ability to channel and utilize aether with the combination of math had quite quickly turned her brain into mush.
And well she'd turned her sights onto other things.
It's impolite to stare ya know , an inner voice says that sounds an awful lot like a Sunseeker she knew.
And it most certainly wasn't her fault that he had a soothing voice.
Even if he had a tendency to be long winded sometimes.
Nor was it her fault she'd found his mouth so interesting suddenly, even at the down turning of the corners of it.
"...Lady Ballad?"
Oh shite, right.
She blinks up at him, bites whatever sharp remark threatens to leave her mouth.
He tilts his head curiously to the side with what she's sure is a stare.
She's positive the carbuncle behind her snickers at her. She didn't even know they could do that.
"I uh.."
"How much of what I've spoken hast thou heard?"
"Uh I..may have stopped understanding when you mentioned calculations."
The noise that escapes him surprises her.
He laughs, small and quiet as it is amongst the night.
She feels her face flush, "I didn't want to interrupt you! That would have been rude."
He shakes his head, makes a sweeping arm gesture that's familiar.
She moves away from the barrels and steps in front of him.
He nods.
It seemed, as he lifted a hand and she felt the thrum of aether settling between her palms, it was back to training.
Somehow, despite him having a small chuckle at her expense, she finds she doesn't mind.
Not this time, at least.