"Oh, and the moment that you agree to what is written in that scroll I will know. If you find everything agreeable by tonight, have yourself packed and ready to leave by tomorrow around noon."
Alchemist Vi cut through our celebration with that, a smile still on her lips as she took it all in before she looked specifically at Leo, who was frowning a little at the idea of having so little time to say goodbye before he uprooted himself from this town and went up into the city.
"Is it not possible for me to accompany my brother up to the city by the end of the week? We finally managed to get time together after so long..."
Even though he was currently looking rather adorable and pitiful, the Alchemist just chuckled and shook her head, saying "Sadly I cannot afford to wait that long, especially not now that I finally found myself some decent help. We have things that need to get done soon, my apprentice. Time is of the essence, as they say."
Although I felt a pang in my heart again at the idea of Leo suddenly going away without much fanfare - we could barely celebrate his acceptance as an apprentice if he agreed tonight, since he would be gone tomorrow by noon - I took a breath and gave him a hug as I murmured "It'll be fine. After the Elder accepts me into the Sect we'll all be in the city, so..."
He nodded, though that pitiful pout was still on his face as he looked back towards Alchemist Vi, causing the taller woman to smirk as she added "And it isn't like I am a heartless Master either, Leo. You'll have free time to spend as you please.", which was reassuring to us all.
When she turned those azure eyes to me again I stiffened, unsure of how I should react or if there was more to say as she just stared at me for a few moments, though when she asked "You're looking to get into the Sect, correct?" I just nodded, wondering where this was going to go.
"Give me your hand."
Her tone brooked no argument, and since I was curious I offered my hand to her before blinking a few times as she drew a needle from nowhere, the long, slender silver instrument sliding into my palm to draw out some blood.
There was a tiny sting but nothing else, and when she pulled it back she just stared at the droplet clinging to the needle for a few moments before it plopped back onto my palm, earning a nod from the Alchemist as she watched it closely.
"Well, that's certainly something. I wasn't wrong in my assumptions..."
A low murmur from her made me blink a few more times, waiting for further explanation yet only earning a mysterious smile from her as she stored the needle away and nodded to herself; she didn't give me an answer nor did she tell me much at all with her body language, which...
"What assumptions?"
"Oh, you'll find out eventually. I do have faith in you though, Isabella. Sixth Foundation in a place like this is rare, and from what I can see you are clearly physically gifted..."
Those azure orbs trailed down from my face to my chest as she said that, and the gleam in those eyes of hers was all too familiar as she looked even lower, tracing the curve of my hip before giving me a lazy smile a moment later.
Leo was blushing as he realized what his new Master was looking at, while Giovanni just raised a brow yet said nothing; both of them were quiet, and with me just looking back at her for a few moments nothing really happened until I bowed to the Alchemist and bid her farewell.
My two brothers mimicked me and walked by my side as we made our way home, leaving the Alchemist at the pavilion and mulling over the scroll currently cradled in Leo's arms; they were thinking about the contents whilst I was just fascinated by how it didn't get wet even in this perpetual deluge.
I could also feel her eyes on me as I walked away, and whilst most of me was rather smug that this powerful woman could feel some lust for me I was also somewhat concerned since it would put me in a bit of a situation should she try and leverage Leo against me, but... well...
That was for future me to worry about, and the moment we returned home most of my concerns were assuaged when Leo unfurled that scroll and began to read it, with Giovanni situated right beside him going over it himself as well.
All of the various clauses and whatnot that they listed off were made to ensure that nothing untoward happened to Leo because of Alchemist Vi, and there was further clarification on the kind of work he would be doing beneath her.
Eventually I just sort of tuned out the words and focused on their expressions since I really wasn't understanding much of what was being said, but I was able to understand that it seemed to be good since Giovanni was nodding to everything while Mother asked some questions that were answered rather quickly.
All in all it seemed to be everything that they were looking for in a contract, and although both Mother and Father seemed somewhat reluctant to let him go so early they both urged for him to sign the contract since it was his ticket to a better future.
Good pay, housing and food provided to him, teaching of all kind... the list went on and on, and although Leo was a little reluctant to sign too since he would have to leave tomorrow, but the benefits were all right there, and honestly...
He was going to see Giovanni regularly enough, and in a few weeks hopefully he would be seeing Mother, Father and I regularly too since we would be up in the city with them; that was all the 'convincing' he needed, though before he could go pack he had to help Mother with dinner one more time.