A/N: The song used in this chapter is going to be "I can fly" by Lana del Rey.
Also things are starting to get serious.
And no beta was used in this FF up till now. So I apologize for any mistakes.
unusualities
Chapter 07 - steps
"Heavy is the crown and yet she wears it as if it were a feather. There is strength in her heart, determination in her eyes and the will to survive resides within her soul." – R. H. Sin
Jurata looked at the reflection in the mirror. Her brown hair is brushed until it's shiny and put into a complicated organized mess of curls at the top of her head as she sits in front of a boudoir. Her arms are slender, soft curves that is her body, still growing, the changes now obvious that every girl has to go through in her young life. She has breasts now. She had bled for the first time two weeks ago. The two moles on her face are a little more prominent than they were when she had been younger. One on the left side of her chin, another on the left side of her face on her cheek, slightly off under her eye. Her lips are painted a pretty rosy color and her face seems to glow in the light of the room. She is much prettier than in her previous life. Jura squints her eyes softly. Confidence. She needs to be confident and act with no hesitation. Tonight she is going to take the next step in achieving her goal. Confidently, without fear.
She is wearing a beautiful icy white gown, her hair more complicated styled than usual. Diamonds and Saphires are twinkling at her ears, her neck and and the crown of her head, but not her fingers. Her hands needed to be free of any accessories. There is a tiara on her head, and her skin is softer than ever. There is a blush on her cheeks from some rouge, her lips shiny and she smells like roses. She had been prepared as thoroughly as possible for todays' event. Taking a deep breath she tries to calm herself. Today is her sixteenth birthday. Today is her coming of age ceremony. Today she will receive the title of Caliph.
"M'lady."
Not turning around she looks at the man behind her through the reflection in the mirror. The man, the agent, her bodyguard, who had followed her to Sabaody to protect her, bowed in his white suit, the mask on his face showing that he belonged to Cypher Pol. Im had not allowed her to go to Sabaody without a guard, despite her request of going alone.
Behind him are her slaves and maids who had helped her to prepare for the evening.
"It's time."
Again she's taking a deep breath: "Yes. I'm ready." She isn't, but it doesn't matter.
She can't buy more time and she was already fashionably late enough. So she gets up and takes his offered arm and lets him lead her through the building, leaving her slaves behind. She feels nervous and out of place and her heart beats so hard in her chest, she feels like dying. But she doesn't show it. Jurata had learned early on to hide her feelings behind a mask of indifference if she wanted to survive in this place. The World Aristocrats all fought for a position as a successor for the chance of having someone become Caliph in their families, going as far as trying to assassinate each other – and her. If not for the assigned slaves to protect her by tasting her food she would have already died by poisoning. This was a cruel place. A place she intended to leave in the foreseeable future.
It is when her agent lets go of her that she is brought back to the here and now. It is time for her grand entrance. The guards on each side of the huge double doors take hold of the handles and they open them, revealing the party, the ball, held especially for her. All music and conversation has stopped. She is the center attention.
It is her sixteenth birthday. And the ceremony of her officially is becoming a successor. Her coming of age ceremony. Her receiving the title of Caliph.
Taking a deep breath she steps forward and a voice is announcing her entrance. Every single person in the room turns around to look at her and not faltering once she steps forward, smiling a small smile, regal and elegant. She holds herself like a leader, a queen, an ethereal being. She has to if she wants to be taken seriously.
All the World Aristocrats are attending, together with the most prominent figures of the Navy. She steps forward and before her is a path laid out in the form of a red carpet leading forward to the Great Five, already waiting for her. When she stops before them she bows and looks down on the floor. Her eyes focus on a little speck of dirt on the carpet that must have been overlooked while cleaning.
"I greet you, Great Five.", she tells them, her voice clear and without tremble.
"We greet you, Jurata Gerrlamhach.", one of them says. She doesn't know which one it is, but she doesn't care, because she is too nervous, not showing any of the feelings she is currently going through, to know which one it is that speaks. Probably the oldest.
"Lift your head.", she hears and she does as told, holding on to the skirts of her gown. She feels overwhelmed by all of it. Her heart is beating painfully against her ribcage, but she's glad her hands are not shaking. Her face betrays nothing.
The ceremony begins with a speech she doesn't really listen to and she answers with what she had been rehearsed to say, the only sound in her ears the rush of her blood and the racing of her heart. And then she can finally step forward and on a ceremonial cushion there it is, the ring, a heavy thing, with a seal that shows the identity of the bearer. Having such a ring is something of enormous importance. Losing such a ring is worse than death.
"Do you accept?", they ask her and she answers: "I accept."
"Hereby it is declared: Jurata Gerrlamhach is a successor to the Empty Throne, bearing the title of Caliph!" Not the successor, but one of them. One of five. The Great Five share the Empty Throne, the position of a leader. Well, that is what everyone else believes. She is one of few people who knows the truth.
The ring is slipped on to her finger and it feels heavy and unfamiliar, but it fits perfectly. It is hers now. A symbol of her status. Now she can move freely in Mary Geoise as much as she wants to even to restricted sections of the archives and library. No secret is save anymore. However, there are also secrets Im is hiding from everyone else. To those she will never have access, but it doesn't matter. The things she can learn now are enough.
"And happy birthday my dear.", she is being smiled at and she returns it, seeing the sincerity in their eyes. She is well liked by the Great Five, is favored by the Empty Throne and Im, and they all believe in her and the future she can bring.
Then slowly she turns towards the gathered crowd, the opulence nearly blinding her if she weren't used to it.
"Happy birthday!"s and "Congratulations!"s are being cheered towards her and she smiles, and then the festivities can finally begin. People are swarming her, possible suitors try to approach her for a dance, but she dodges them skillfully, already used to such events, when she finally reaches the person she had been looking for.
Garp is talking to Sengoku, not really caring about the World Aristocrats, loud and boisterous as always.
"Congratulations, Jura!", Garp laughs and slaps her shoulder and she grins at him when she stops beside him.
"Garp!", Sengoku is shocked at Garps casual treatment of her person and she only grins wider, knowing the Fleed Admiral will never get used to Garp treating her so casually: "Thank you! And it's fine, Fleet Admiral. Garp and I are on friendly terms. He was my first dancing partner after all."
She remembers the first time she had met him fondly. How small she had been at that time, how nervous and blushing, fangirling all the way. The memory makes her giggle.
"You were as small as a bean, back then.", Garp laughs, his smile wide, and she would love to hug him, but she doesn't because she has to keep up appearances. She would love to see him more often, and they sometimes meet for tea and cookies, but nearly not often enough.
"You look even more beautiful than the last time I saw you!", he exclaims after taking her in a little more and he laughs and Sengoku beside him sighs, because she is a World Aristocrat and Garp really shouldn't talk like that to someone who has such a high standing. Jura doesn't mind.
"It's just the make-up and the dress!", she laughs, and she takes hold of his hand, squeezing his fingers, and she lets the hold of his hand linger for a moment longer than necessary, and if Garp realizes this he doesn't say anything. For which she is grateful.
"Nah, it's not the make-up. You are just naturally beautiful.", he grins at her, wide and full of pride and she giggles.
"Charmer.", the fond tone in her voice makes his smile soften, before turning towards the Fleet Admiral.
"M'Lady.", he bows to her and she smiles at him, "Happy birthday."
"Thank you. I hope you enjoy the celebrations.", she tells him and he nods, but then one of the Great Five calls for him and he apologizes to her before he leaves.
Finally alone, she puts her hand in the crook of his arm: "Want to go outside? The flowers this year are more beautiful than ever!" She seems excited and a looks happy and he nods, grinning at her, wondering if she really is as happy as she looks. Garp isn't blind and has seen the longing look in her eyes when she doesn't think anyone is watching. He has a feeling there is a lot more she is hiding but he doesn't pry. So he accompanies her outside, as being in the banquet hall feels suffocating. The air is stiff and hot, and he takes her offer gladly. The air outside is much cooler and there aren't many people roaming around. There are no slaves either, slaves attending for the amusement of their masters, making them be the main attraction by playing with them as if they were in a circus. Garp and her, both, hate it, hate how they have to watch this every year at banquets and parties, so they flee the chatter and dancing and cruelty to be alone in the gardens. Jurata could have declared to leave any slave out of the celebrations but in doing so she would only expose herself in ways that would gain her the type of attention she didn't need.
Taking a deep breath she looks up at him as he retells a story about one of his missions. He makes her laugh and she giggles until they sit down on a bench. They talk excitedly about the world and his work and her lessons, and he feels like family. Time passes and then she decides to confront him. They are relatively alone and never had she been more grateful about the technology in this world. There are no cameras, no face recognition, nothing like that, only those snails and smaller devices, but nothing quite as drastic as the technology in her previous life.
"I want to contact Dragon.", the admission come out of nowhere and her heart skips a beat and she looks down at her lap. Garp doesn't say anything, seconds pass, and when she finally looks at him, there is a shocked expression on his face, his mouth wide and his eyes big and round. She had shocked the old man.
"Wha- I… what?!"
"I… want to contact Dragon. Or… I did.", she confesses a little quieter this time, and then she shrugs with one shoulder, before straightening her shoulders refusing to feel sorry for wanting to do the right thing: "Well… not directly. I just asked someone to contact him for me."
Garp still doesn't say anything.
"I don't know if the message will reach him.", she squints her eyes and looks forward, her eyes focusing on a bush of rare blue roses, the thorns a ghostly white color. Her hands rest comfortably in her lap. She doesn't clench them, there is only a slight tension in the line of her spine when Garp suddenly grabs both her shoulders. There is something akin to panic in his eyes.
"What have you done?!", he shout-whispers and his hands are shaking.
"The right thing.", she answers and puts her hands on his to calm him down, "It's alright Garp. I trust my messenger. And I'm careful."
"Do you have any idea what is going to happen to you if anyone finds out?", he asks tensing and anxiously, ignoring her answer while doing so.
The serious look in her face hardens: "I know. I know it is dangerous. But I am not stupid. I'm going to get Elira out of here. And you too. I am going to break us free."
The stunned expression on his face would have made her laugh if not for the seriousness of the moment.
"How… How-"
"How I know about you and Elira? It's all in the archives.", she explains, "And I'm not blind. I'm not stupid either. I know where to look and… I also sometimes meet with Elira. I know everything. I know that Dragon is your son. I know that Elira is your daughter in law. And I know that there is a child. And that the only reason you stay in the marines is to protect both the child and Elira."
Slowly he lets go of her shoulders and the resignation in his body language tells her enough. He folds his hands and his elbows rest on his knees, his back hunched over. Jura only observes him and doesn't say anything, instead she then leans against the back of the bench and leans her head back to look at the stars. He has to work through this knowledge. Betraying the World Government in such a way is suicidal.
After a while he sighs deeply and leans back: "So, what now?" He scratches the back of his head. As it seems he has accepted everything she had told him.
"Nothing.", she answers, blinking in surprise at how quickly he has come to terms with the information she had revealed to him, "We… wait."
Garp looks at her from the corner of his eyes and suddenly he's grinning. His hand lands on her head and he ruffles her hair before he laughs: "I always knew you were different! You're definitely not like the others!"
She laughs relieved and confirms: "No, I'm not."
Garp lets go of her and stands up: "Right. So… care for a dance?" She takes his out stretched hand and like that he leads her back into the banquet hall were they dance like they do every year, as there are many events throughout the year. The music is happy and everyone is smiling (not the slaves, they never smile). There is nothing to worry about. Everything will be fine.
One dance later she spots the Admirals and she points towards them.
"Troublesome kids, I tell you.", he huffs and she laughs before he decides to introduce her to them. He would never betray her, never go to Sengoku and reveal her intentions to him. Garps sense of justice wasn't as warped, not after the things that had been done to his family. Not after having watched the Marines murder innocent children because of the possibility of them being the Pirate Kings son. No, the Marines had never served justice; it was only a disguise as they served the Empty Throne. And no one knew the truth. Or at least not many. She was an exception. The servants to Im were exceptions, too, but they would never betray her.
"Brats!", he calls for them and all three look at him, Sakazuki not happy at being called a brat when he was already a grown man, "I want to introduce you. This is Jura."
Akainu squints his eyes at her and she smiles her fingers grabbing her skirts softly before dropping a curtsy: "It is a pleasure to meet you, Admirals."
"The pleasure is all mine.", it is Aokiji, slightly bowing down, while Kizaru couldn't care less. The Red Dog, or Akainu, still looks rather suspicious because she's a World Noble, and those usually didn't interact with the Marines much. The three of them had often attended but she had never talked to them. This is the first time, and maybe Garp knows that she needs to figure them out for whatever she has planned.
Her smile remains painted on her face, a smile that would fit well on a painted portrait.
"I do hope you enjoy the celebration."
"Ohh, well…", Kizaru scratches his cheek and looks lazily around, not really caring much about ceremonies or World Nobles. Akainu is different. He believes in Ultimate Justice, and his views are as black and white as they can be.
"At least there's booze.", Kizaru finishes and leaves the small group to get some of the alcohol he has spotted. For a moment she looks after him, but then she looks back at the two remaining Admirals. The smile never leaves her rose colored lips.
"Care for a dance?", she turns towards Akainu, who is genuinely surprised at her offer and Garp laughs amused beside them. He won't say no. Of course he wouldn't dare to say no. So he offers her his hand and she takes it. His skin is warm, warmer than the norm of human skin. It does make sense. He is made out of magma after all.
Together they walk on to the dance floor and his large hand finds her waist. Slowly they start to dance, his moves a little awkward and stiff. But he is more of a fighter than a dancer. It is surprising for her to realize that Garp is a better dancer than the man before her. She can't surpress the little giggle and the large man glances down to her.
"Garp is a better dancer.", she looks up at him and the lines of his mouth tighten. Does he see it as a challenge? Probably. Or not. Maybe she's just reading too much into his expression.
"You can relax you know.", she tells him after one, two steps, and they twirl together to the music, "I won't bite."
"Well… then I apologize for not being a better dancer.", there is contempt in his voice. For a moment she just stares at him. And then she snorts, and starts laughing. She can't help herself. It is much more amusing to talk to him than she initially thought.
"Please don't.", she tells him through her laughing, but then the dance is over, and they leave the dance floor. He probably wants to get rid of her as soon as possible. But really, somehow she feels highly amused by all of this, even if there is this nagging feeling in the back of her mind. Acting as if everything was alright, as if she wasn't betraying the Empty Throne and the World Government, was a difficult task. And she was already working towards her betrayal since… well, since the day she had found out in what kind of world she had been reincarnated in.
The Red Dog leads her back and lets go of her hand and without a second glance in her direction he walks away. Garp is alone, eating cookies: "See? Brats. All three of them." Jura giggles: "Please don't tease them too much. You might get into trouble."
"Nah.", he just shrugs, "I've done worse."
And somehow she believes him. Or, rather, she knows he's done worse.
"Lady Jurata?", she turns around to look at one of the servants, "It is ready. Everything has been set up for your performance."
"Performance?", Garps looks confused and she nods: "Yeah, I have something prepared. I want to show off a little. I hope you enjoy it!"
Quickly she follows the servants to the musicians, waving one last time at Garp, on the way to the stage that had been set up for the celebration. As soon as she enters the stage the music stops.
Now standing on it is a microphone for her use. It is the first time she is performing. From the corner of her eyes she sees her music teacher, tearing up a little. She smiles fondly and waves at her, who waves back.
"Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen.", Jurata lets her eyes wander as she greets all the guests who are attending, seeing Marines, and Nobles, and reporters too, who are making photographs of her, all together in one place, and she asks herself what they would do if they would know of her plans. Of course she doesn't ask. That would be dumb.
She also sees Clarissa whom she hadn't talked to since she arrived, but she decides to remedy that after her performance.
"Today is my sixteenth birthday, my coming of age and… I am now holding the title of Caliph.", she smiles into the microphone, "And as I have enjoyed music since a young age I decided to give a performance to celebrate this happy occasion."
The reporters probably took many photos of her and Garp, of her and Akainu too, and a lot more. She was always a quite popular image, as she was one of the World Nobles who enjoyed Garps company without wearing this ridiculous suit, who was not afraid to touch others bare skinned. Her face had appeared many times in the newspapers of this world, and as of now, she was used to it. And this event, her singing, a World Aristocrat singing, is going to be at the front page. Probably. Maybe.
Behind her the musicians are starting to play the song and softly she begins to sing.
And while she sings, she remembers what she has done days before, this week prior.
"I, can fly
You had me caged up like a bird in mid-summer
You saw me waiting, I was crazy, on fire, waiting to fly
I, can fly"
Betraying Im is quiet easy to do. She had never actively done anything against her, never had disobeyed an order or acted against the king. Now that she was actively betraying the Empty Throne she could be considered a traitor. Good thing no one suspected a thing. She had been born and raised as a tenryuubito, she had learned to play their little games and knew exactly how she needed to act to not be considered suspicious. It's also the first time she, in all honesty, opens up to Rayleigh about her parentage.
"I had bright wishes in the summer, I was bathing in sunlight
Painting in the garden like a ghost in Mid-July
Running fast from something with my eyes wide like
Saucers spinning in the sun
I had a dream that I was fine
I wasn't crazy, I was divine."
"Rayleigh?", most times it's her approaching the older man and she knows she can rely on him. She also knows who he is, and she can tell him that she has found the information in the archives. Also, she isn't blind. Sometimes people meet in Shakkys Bar that act and look not like they belong to the Marines and neither to pirates. And they act too suspicious to be considered civilians. So, she's not blind and not stupid either. They are alone now, Shakky having gone into the backroom to check the inventory, which is why she chose this exact moment to address him.
"Rayleigh, I… I need you to… to message someone for me."
That gains her his attention. He looks at her from the newspaper he has spread out in front of him, together with his booze, the two of them sitting at a table and not at the bar. It's more comfortable for her to write in her journals than sitting at a stool.
"I, can fly
You had me caged up like a bird in mid-summer
You saw me waiting, I was crazy, on fire, waiting to fly
I, can fly"
"A message?", he asks, intrigued by her sudden request.
The fifteen year old girl nods in all seriousness and seeing the expression in her face and the determination in her stormy eyes he let's go of the newspaper and slowly leans back.
"To the Revolutionary Army.", she tells him and he doesn't even twitch. He only looks at her and she can't read him, not at all. He has a better poker face than Im. She alawys knows what Im is thinking or rather in which direction Ims thought process is headed. Because she knows what Ims goal is. Rayleigh doesn't really have a goal. He lives his life happily in retirement together with his wife, helping young pirates by coating their ships. And helping the Revolutionary Army with coating their ships in secret, too.
"Your lies were hard kisses in the summer
I was dreaming of a lake
Dreaming of the water where I'd rise like a phoenix
Or an iron from the fire
I've got things to tell you like I know that you're a liar"
Taking a deep breath Jura tries to relax, feeling how tense her shoulders are. She drops the pen she's holding in her hand and hides her folded hands between her legs.
"To Dragon.", she continues her request, "Just tell him that… Just relay the message that Elira is safe. And that I'll take care of her to the best of my abilities. And… that I can help. In freeing her."
It is again silence that greets her after her words and there is tension in the air that hadn't been there before. She knows Rayleigh has contacts all over the world, being the man that he is and the reputation he holds. The tension lasts and the moment drags along making his silence even worse. She feels her heart beating painfully against her ribcage and she presses her nails into her palms, the pain grounding her. All she wants to do is the right thing and she had felt that this was it; contacting the Revolutionary Army that is.
"I had a dream that I was fine
I wasn't crazy, I was divine
I, can fly
You had me caged up like a bird in mid-summer
You saw me waiting, I was crazy, on fire, waiting to fly
I, can fly"
Rayleigh finally opens his mouth to say something, to tell her how stupid she's being or maybe a question as to ask what has gotten into her, or maybe he doesn't suspect anything about her, and she only had made her hopes up, and he probably thinks she's playing a prank. But then the door opens and the moment is over. Shakky is back behind the bar, rubbing her bag: "Alright, I'm nearly finished. Ray, could you go and pick up the delivery from the docks? It has the booze you like so much, too." Shakky grins at the end and Rayleigh laughs before he gets up. However, he stops by her side and ruffles her perfectly made up-do before he says something to Shakky. Jura doesn't hear them anymore, her heart nearly falling out of her chest and she doesn't know- Is he going to contact the Revolutionary Army? Does he believe her?
They don't talk about it after that.
"Your words cut like a knife in butter
I was fighting for my art
Fighting with my lover, you had me so tied up
Thinking there's no other
Yeah, right
Yeah, right"
And then she wonders about how she must have looked like to him. Unsure and small, not meeting his eyes and refusing to look up, barely any confidence in a single bone of her body. She starts to wonder about herself. How can she save anyone when she's so unsure of herself? She is still anxious and the fears she holds close to her heart won't ever leave her, but it doesn't mean she has to act on that fear. If she wants to do the saving then she needs to be more confident. She had a goal she wants- no, has to achieve. A goal she will achieve. She should start and act like it.
"I, can fly,
You had me caged up like a bird in mid-summer
You saw me waiting, I was crazy, on fire, waiting to fly
I, can fly"
As the last chords of her song are played she thinks about how she'll be able to fly freely once she had achieved her goals. She knows she won't stay forever in this place, knows the sweet nothings and promises Im whispers into her ears are nothing but lies. Her family in her old life had been manipulative, and she was experienced enough to detect someone who is trying to manipulate her. Im was trying it too. And she would do everything in her powers to make Im believe that her manipulations worked on her.
Jurata opens her eyes and watches the crowd before her fall into applause and cheers. She smiles at them and feels the need to lick her lips, but she doesn't, because it would ruin her lipstick and she needs to look perfect, elegant, divine. Upholding a certain image is important if she wants to succeed. She needs to make all of them believe in a version she carefully constructed. There are reporters with cameras, and they are making photographs of her, blinding her with the lights of photographing. She keeps her regal smile: "This song was a show of gratitude to all of you. To those who have accompanied me throughout my journey, who have been teachers and comrades and friends. I thank you for coming to my birthday celebrations and I am grateful for anyone attending the festivities. Thank you."
A slight bow, more applause from the crowd, more cheers. She keeps her smile, even as she leaves the stage.
"Jura!", it is Clarisse who greets her as she steps down, huge smile, blonde hair shiny and pretty, and she is so cute Jura wants to hug her. But she refrains from such notions: "That. Was. Amazing!" Behind them on the stage the musicians return to their work and soon music is playing again as the girls start to walk, keeping on the sidelines. They want to be by themselves for a little while, knowing soon people are going to fight for her attention.
"Thank you! I'm glad you liked it."
"Liked it? I loved it! You are so pretty, too, and your voice… I mean, I knew you could sing, but still!"
"Oh my god, Clari…", blushing furiously she hides her face behind her hands, but the smile she is wearing is genuine and she can't but feel happy at the praise, "Stop it!"
"Are you blushing?", Clarisse grins while leaning towards her, her hands crossed behind her back.
"…No?"
"You so are.", a breathless giggle leaves the blonde girls mouth, and just for a moment Jurata lives the moment and feels like a normal girl celebrating her sweet sixteen.
"And even if I am pretty… you are so much prettier.", Jura tells her through her fingers and Clarisse laughs before linking their arms, making her drop her hands in the process.
"Alright, alright. Still, you are pretty. Also, how does it feel?"
"What?"
Clarisse looks at her hand were the heavy ring is sitting on her finger: "Oh… yeah, the ring… feels heavy. And weird, to be honest." She lifts her hand looking directly at the golden ring: "And it fits perfectly."
Clarisse is hanging on her free arm: "You know… there are going to be a lot of guys chasing after you. Now that you're a Caliph. And of age."
"Yeah, I know.", she sighs at the knowledge of being a desirable target for young bachelors. By tomorrow there'll be going to be a lot of letters waiting for her at her desk, she's sure of it.
After a few moments she looks at Clarisse and a grin blossoms on her painted lips: "Maybe I should just marry you?"
Now it's Clarisses turn to blush: "Jura! Don't say that! If someone would have heard you you'd b in a lot of trouble!"
"Oh really? I thought as a Caliph I could do whatever I want.", Jura laughs quietly at that when they came to a halt, ignoring the sounds that come from the center of the hall; sounds of slaves being beaten and tortured. But then they have to stop as a servant come to a halt in front of them. He bows, his face nearly touching the ground: "Caliph Jurata. Lady Clarisse. I am here to accompany you to the ceremony of gifts."
"Ah, yes. There was something like that, wasn't there?", she smiles, but a sigh nearly escapes her. The man nods: "Yes."
"Alright. I'll see you later Clari.", the girls hug each other while Clarisse nods: "Yes, see you later. And maybe you'll get a gift from me, too."
"Well… you can give it to me privately.", the girls share another moment with each other before they part. The servant starts to lead her towards the place were the Great Five had given her the ring of a Caliph. There is now a throne like chair and she is led towards it.
When she's seated the music doesn't stop but it turns quiet and more ambient. The chatter has stopped and the crowd in front of her slowly turns their attention towards her. It doesn't take long for the first gift bringer to step forward. It is a World Noble bearing a rare gem, probably an attempt to marry into their family. She thanks them and a servant takes the gift, shows it to her and she nods and smiling she proclaims her gratitude before it is place beside her on a table decorated with her favorite flowers, the rare blue and green roses she had seen in the gardens.
It is when the Fleet Admiral steps forward and kneels down, behind him the Admirals doing the same that things take an interesting turn, the table already filled with rare items and gifts.
"We, the Fleet Admiral and Admirals greet you Caliph Jurata.", he begins and she smiles: "I greet you, Fleet Admiral. And you, Admirals." She looks at single one of them while her gaze wanders over them. The gift must be something special. She starts to grow curious and impatient, wondering what the gift is she is going to receive from the Navy.