"As the lady requests," you reply graciously. Pausing in mid-stride, you shift your hold to let Altria's feet swing lightly to the floor.
"Thank you," she says.
You nod, but do not remove your arm from Altria's shoulders. "You know, though," you add thoughtfully, "I was thinking of bringing something home for my sister..."
"Why, Alex," Altria replies with a sweet smile that gains sharp shadows from another burst of magical energy on the balcony. "Are you comparing me to a plushie?"
Oh, yeah. Altria was present for that little lunchtime debate about what souvenir you ought to get for Zelda, wasn't she?
"I was thinking more of how much Zelda would like to get a new big sister," you say, dodging the question and biting down on an impulse to mention how small, cute, and huggable Altria is. Not that it isn't true, but you doubt she'd appreciate hearing it, and her current position would let her punch you in any number of sensitive places far too easily to merit the risk of further teasing.
"Ah. Well, as honored as I am by the implied offer of adoption, I do not know you well enough to accept something like that. Besides," she adds, slipping out from under your arm, "I think my parents would object."
Any additional repartee is put on hold, as you reach the front desk. Speaking briefly with what appears to be the leader of the security squad, Lu-sensei proceeds around the desk and into an office beyond, giving you and Altria a silent glance and duck of the head to indicate that you are to follow him. You do so, stepping cautiously around the men in robes, and when you reach the office, you find that your teacher has set Cordelia down on a sitting couch - though he has not let go of her hand.
"Alex, come here, will you?"
You do so, and Lu-sensei passes off Cordelia's hand. She glances at you, sighs, and accepts your hand, squeezing tightly. You do your best to project a sense of reassurance and safety. Briar dismounts from your shoulder and drifts down to Cordelia, murmuring comfortingly.
"I need to speak with the officials about what happened," your master says calmly, looking from you to Cordelia and back again. "Since I am your teacher, I can speak on your behalf, if you want me to, but I will need to know what led to - all of that," he finishes, gesturing towards the balcony, where the dark entity has just bellowed again. "I suspect I could also convince them to let the questions slide for a time, if you would prefer that."