The evening was still far from over, and Jorghan sat near a table, trying the meat. He tried various dishes served to him; the Arumaks were the ones doing it. They were very attentive to all the guests.

Jorghan took his time and enjoyed his meal.

Now he stood to one side of the hall, drinking with Sigora.

That's when an elven woman entered the hall.

She was striking in a way that commanded attention without demanding it. Her skin was a warm brown tone, but light caught faint scales along her arms and neck, subtle enough to miss at first glance but clearly present upon closer inspection. Her ears were distinctly elven, long and pointed, decorated with elaborate gold ornaments that caught the light with every movement.

Her attire was unique, a skirt constructed from countless threads, all dyed in shades of gold and bronze, each thread attached to a central point at her waist and flowing outward, creating patterns that shifted mesmerizingly as she moved. Her upper body was covered by a fitted top that left her midriff bare, revealing more of those subtle scales.

But it was her presence that truly commanded attention.

She moved with the confidence of someone who'd never questioned her right to be anywhere, who expected obedience and received it automatically. Her eyes, pale gold with vertical pupils.

She moved to stand beside Jorghan, like she knew him very well.

"Jorghan Sol'vur, nice to meet you."

She smiled at him, her lips curved deeper, giving off a creepy effect.

"I'm Naikini of the Sarpetaretsu clan."

Sigora watched her with a narrowed gaze, wondering what she wanted with Jorghan, while Jorghan watched with fascination; he was glued to her physique. She was slender but really gave off a mysterious and alluring aura.

She looked like she belonged to Nor'vacks, with the brown skin, and Jorghan was instantly attracted to her. There was something about her face and body that made him want to hold her, but he kept that to himself as he greeted her with a smile. The first good interaction he had had since his arrival in the city.

He wasn't hesitating; even after knowing that she was from the Sarpetaretsu clan, he didn't care.

Their patriarch made it clear that he didn't like Jorghan.

As he was about to talk, he caught another elf woman coming towards him, staring right into his eyes.

The woman who approached carried an entirely different kind of presence, less predatory dominance and more calculated control. Her skin was a striking blue-white, the color of deep ice or winter sky, creating a visual that immediately marked her as non-standard even among the diverse elven population. Her pointed ears were adorned with simple but elegant silver, and her hair was styled in elaborate braids that framed a face showing both beauty and sharp intelligence.

She wore robes that suggested high status, deep blues and silvers that complemented her skin tone, cut in ways that balanced formality with functionality.

But it was her eyes that captured his attention—dark and penetrating, carrying the weight of someone who'd spent their life reading people, understanding motivations, and seeing through deceptions.

She walked directly towards Jorghan and stood right in front of him, ignoring Naikini and Sigora.

She then said, "Matriarch Yasoraga of the Ma'ulankr clan. We've not been formally introduced, though I witnessed your tact from the observation point. Impressive."

"Thank you," Jorghan replied, recognizing that he was now flanked by two powerful clan representatives and equally beautiful people.

Three of them stood together, and Sigora seemed to have moved back, sensing the tension. She wasn't annoyed or angry seeing Jorghan was very interested in them. She understood his appetite and just smiled as she mingled with the others.

Naikini's scaled fingers traced the rim of her glass, her movements deliberate and hypnotic.

"The Arumaks serve excellent wine tonight. Though I suspect most here are too occupied with posturing to actually taste it."

Yasoraga's dark eyes flicked briefly to Naikini before returning to Jorghan.

"The quality of what one consumes often reflects their priorities. Some prefer immediate sensation over lasting value."

"And some mistake caution for wisdom," Naikini countered smoothly, her smile never wavering. "Tell me, Jorghan, do you find the Nor'vack territories to your liking? The climate can be... intense for those unaccustomed to it."

Jorghan took a drink, his red tattoos pulsing faintly beneath his skin. He was acutely aware of what was happening here.

These weren't casual pleasantries.

Both women were probing, testing, and measuring.

And he was far more interested in the curve of Naikini's hips beneath those golden folds of her dress and the way Yasoraga's robes clung to her frame.

"The heat doesn't bother me," he replied, his voice carrying an edge that made both women's attention sharpen.

"I've learned to thrive in uncomfortable conditions."

Yasoraga's lips curved slightly.

"Adaptation is a valuable trait. Though some environments require more than mere survival. They demand understanding of existing structures and alliances that have persisted for centuries."

"Structures can be limiting," Naikini interjected, her vertical pupils contracting slightly. "Sometimes what's needed isn't preservation but transformation. New blood bringing fresh perspectives to stagnant systems."

Jorghan caught the subtext immediately.

Yasoraga represented stability, established power, and the traditional route. Naikini represented disruption, change, and the aggressive path.

Both wanted to use him.

Sigora had been watching the trio from time to time, noticing how Jorghan was smiling at them and how the two women looked like they were ready to take him away.

"The Ma'ulankr clan has considerable influence in resource distribution," Yasoraga continued, her tone conversational but weighted.

"We control several key trade routes and maintain relationships with craftsmen guilds, alchemists, and weapon forgers. Useful connections for someone establishing themselves."

"The Sarpetaretsu clan understands combat," Naikini countered, her scales catching the light as she shifted closer to Jorghan.

"We know how power actually functions in this world. Not through paperwork and trade agreements, but through strength that others respect.

Or fear."

Jorghan's eyes moved between them, noting how Naikini's body language had shifted to be more aggressive and more predatory. Yasoraga remained composed, but her positioning had adjusted to maintain equal access to his attention.

"You're both very confident about what I need," Jorghan observed, his tone neutral but carrying an undercurrent that made both women pause.

Yasoraga's dark eyes studied him with new intensity.

"Confidence comes from experience. I've watched many rise and fall in these halls. The pattern is consistent. Those who build networks survive. Those who stand alone, regardless of their strength, eventually break."

"Or they become legends," Naikini said, her voice dropping lower, more intimate.

"The ones who refuse to bend, who carve their own path through every obstacle. Those are the names that echo through history."

Jorghan let his gaze linger on Naikini's exposed midriff, those subtle scales creating patterns that seemed almost deliberately designed to draw attention. Her smile deepened, recognizing his interest and accepting it as another form of leverage.

Yasoraga noticed the exchange but didn't react overtly. Instead, she adjusted her stance, the movement causing her robes to shift in ways that revealed more of her figure's elegant lines.

"History is written by survivors," Yasoraga said.

"Not corpses who died pursuing glory."

"Spoken like someone who's never truly risked anything," Naikini shot back, her tone sharpening.

"Spoken like someone who confuses recklessness with courage," Yasoraga countered smoothly.

Jorghan felt the tension escalating between them and realized he was the prize they were circling. Two predators competing for the same meal, each using different strategies.

It was what every young elf woman wanted. Jorghan was young and powerful; he was just announced as the official clan leader and recognized by the twelve clans.

His reputation of being desirable was spreading quickly throughout the elven community.

His mind worked through the angles. Naikini wanted a weapon, someone she could point at her clan's enemies and unleash. Yasoraga wanted an asset, someone she could weave into her existing network and control through obligation.

Both thought they could manipulate him.

Both were wrong.

But that didn't mean he couldn't enjoy the attention.

"The Sarpetaretsu patriarch made his position on me quite clear," Jorghan said, watching Naikini's reaction carefully.

"Yet here you are."

Naikini's smile turned predatory. "Patriarch opinions are his own. I form my own judgments about useful alliances."

"Rebellious," Yasoraga observed dryly.

"How unexpected for the Sarpetaretsu clan."

"Says the matriarch whose clan has remained neutral in every significant conflict for three centuries," Naikini countered.

"At what point does neutrality become cowardice?"

Yasoraga's expression didn't change, but something in her eyes hardened.

"At the point where action serves purpose rather than ego. We survive because we understand patience. Something your clan might benefit from learning."

Jorghan's tattoos pulsed stronger now, his blood heating as he watched these two powerful women spar verbally while simultaneously trying to seduce him into their respective games.

The irony wasn't lost on him. They thought they were in control of this interaction.

He was aroused watching two elves fight for him.

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