In her mind, she always thought of herself as a big flame. With the heat she exuded it didn't come as a surprise; but during her meditation sessions with Nissa, Chandra had learned to rein in her flame. Listening to the elf's gentle voice, Chandra saw her blazing fire lessen into a smaller torch as she was drawn through the earth around them. The deeper they went, the smaller her flame became until it was only a soft, flickering candle. Guiding her down, at the heart of - Chandra could only call it "nature" or "plants" - she could feel the pulse. Nissa. The little seed she imagined Nissa would be during these sessions, mana resonating with the same gentle pulse as her voice.

Then there was the throbbing ache again.

Snapped immediately out of the meditation, Chandra cursed. "Sorry, sitting like this puts a lot of stress on my body." Chandra stretched out her legs and twisted to get the kinks out of her back.

"It gets easier the more you practice," Nissa said calmly. It wasn't the first time she had interrupted their meditation.

"You keep saying that, but I really doubt it," Chandra said with a groan, her knees popping as she flexed the cramps from her legs. They sat in silence for a moment when Chandra perked up. "I've got an idea."

Shifting around, Chandra stretched out and lay down in front of Nissa, her head resting on the elf's slender legs.

"Th-this is counter productive," Nissa stated hesitantly, still uncomfortable with being touched.

"It'll work," Chandra said with a grin, hands clasped on her stomach. "Trust me."

Still rather flustered, Nissa acquiesced. Once more, she guided Chandra in meditation. Chandra's flame shrank much quicker than usual to the little candle. Nissa fully expected the little flame to snuff right out, indicating Chandra had fallen asleep. Surprisingly enough Chandra kept with it, following her every word, falling deeper into the nature around them, until Chandra's candle was with Nissa's kernel.

Again, Nissa was reminded of a sun, lessened though it may be, and allowed herself to bask in its radiating warmth just as Chandra reveled in the calming pulses from Nissa.

An offhand thought crossed Nissa's mind: this is the closest and longest she had been in another "person's" presence and been at peace, besides Emmara and the acolytes of the Selesnya Commune.

Seconds, minutes, it could have even been days that the two women relaxed there, when an aristocratic voice and the strong scent of death cut through the veil of the garden.

"I thought you might be up here," Liliana said from the doorway.

Chandra bolted upright with a curse. She was slightly flushed, and so was Nissa. Intriguing.

"Nissa's been helping me relax and calm down," Chandra recovered quickly, stretching again. "Trying to get away from just lighting things on fire right off the bat."

"Hm, smart," a part of Liliana's mind thought about what else the two women might be doing in their free time. "Why don't I show you one of the ways I relax." Chandra gave her a dubious look. "It has nothing to do with raising the dead."

"Sure," Chandra replied, standing and brushing bits of leaves and grass from her loose clothing. "Which would be?"

A slight smile curled Liliana's lips, "A little shopping."

The dubious look returned to Chandra's face. "If you say so."

Liliana looked past the pyromancer to the elf. "You're welcome to join us."

"I'll have to decline," Nissa replied. After a moment, she added "Thank you for offering."

Chandra was as bored as expected. Despite the little contraptions available, none of them held enough bang – both literal and figurative – to hold her interest. Serene as always, Liliana guided Chandra from shop to shop, musing over dresses, blouses, fabrics, jewels, shoes. Sequins or no; gem-studded or silk and lace; common or ensorcelled. One pair of boots stood out to Chandra and she made a disparaging, pained face when she asked, "You're not going to make me wear these, are you?" They were blue stiletto boots, the heels a good five inches long, the laces and clasps fashioned into clouds so one might seem to walk with a piece of the sky.

"You insult me, dear, to think that I lack the experience to know what would be suitable attire," Liliana intoned as she picked through a rack of blouses. "Before coming into my own, I had to learn the intricacies of many castes and how to dress for each occasion. And I learned even more afterwards."

With a dismissive look, she stepped away from the blouse rack and began inspecting a series dresses. "The key is to understand form, color, and identity; ah, finally." Liliana pulled a long, crimson one-piece dress from the rack. "With a slight alteration or two this would look lovely on you," she said holding it up to Chandra. Under the necromancer's frosty, intelligent stare Chandra straightened her posture.

Satisfied, Liliana let go of the dress, which Chandra caught in a rush. "It's also backless, in case you ever decide to grow your hair out."

She looked at the tag as Liliana moved on. "Wha-I, There's no way I can pay for this!" Chandra sputtered, receiving a patient, wry look in return.

"Don't you think I would have made some investments over the years? How do you think I kept up the lifestyle I so dearly maintain?"

"I thought you just strong-armed people into giving you what you wanted."

That elicited a tinkling laugh. "Yes, Chandra, on occasion I've used my power for comfort. I've also used guile, and trickery, and anything else at my disposal to get what I desire. Ah, these should do," Liliana picked up a pair of dress shoes with no heels. The daffodil yellow complimented the vibrant red of the dress.

After their purchase, Chandra stared into the bag, which held a compact of makeup and other trinkets. "Why are you doing this? Buying me the dress and shoes and stuff?"

Liliana affected an expression of mild surprise. "Why, didn't Jace tell you? He's taking you to a party."

"What the hell is your deal?!" Chandra had tore back to Jace's house to confront him, hair just shy of bursting to flames as the radiating heat caused distortions and a slight breeze.

Jace stared with tired eyes, first at Chandra, then back at Liliana, leaning against the table, that subtle smile of hers that evokes the cat that ate the canary. Damn it, she was going to be the death of him someday. Probably her intention, too.

"The party is still a couple weeks away," Jace sighed, rubbing his overworked eyes. "It's at the Izzet College-"

"And you thought you'd just drag me along-"

"-And it's Guildpact business." Jace interrupted.

"Then take one of your cronies!" Chandra growled.

Jace sighed again. "It is a Red and Blue mage party. None of my "cronies" as you so delicately put it, are fit to join me among those... scientists," the last word was steeped with sarcasm.

"You are the only Red mage I have at my disposal," Jace cut in before Chandra could shout any more, "that I trust can hold your own among the people attending. You also happen to be a Planeswalker of the Gatewatch , so in the off chance you overhear any information sensitive to our mission, I can guarantee you'll keep your mouth shut until we can discuss it away from the regular citizens."

Chandra still stood there, smoldering glare beating down on him. "I fully intended on asking you later on. It seems there are some secrets I have difficulty keeping under wraps," Jace glared at Liliana.

"I'll make sure our young Chandra is presentable for your party," she announced benignly.

"How charitable of you," Jace replied flatly.