Closed Verena's Rhetorics Lesson

[Valerius Nitrozian]

The 25th of Spring, 516 AV

On the morning of the 24th of Spring a messenger brought a letter to Valerius‘ office. The Ravokian furrowed his brow as he accepted the envelope and immediately went inside to open it and read the message within. It had come from one Zorane Lorak. He wanted him to tutor his sister, Verena and asked him whether he was free the next day. Apparently the girl was bad at socializing and would benefit from his teaching. Valerius immediately penned a reply. He would of course come and was looking forward to meeting Miss Verena.

Valerius’ message was very polite, but his thoughts were a little less so. Zorane Lorak had not specified the nature of Verena’s difficulties. Maybe the girl was just not interested in talking to other people and comporting herself as was befitting of her station. Maybe she was too busy doing drugs, drinking alcohol and partying all night with the Askara who were the most decadent of the dynasties of Kenash. He wasn’t sure if he would be able to teach her anything if that was the case. Some people never learned.

Speculation was not enough for him though. He needed to do some research on the Lorak family before he visited. He needed to know what they were like and what he could and could not do in their presence and what he could possibly gain from associating with them. A few bells and a few enquiries later he had at least found out that they were healers and storytellers and had initially come from Avanthal. If Miss Lorak asked him about his life, he decided, he would talk to her about his work with the poor citizens of Ravok, but leave the darker parts out and casually mention the fact that he had learned a little Vani from a member of the Skyglow Hold.

Valerius Nitrozian was a man who adapted to the surroundings and could play the part of the harmless, humble scholar to perfection if there was something to be gained from it.

This was definitely the right time for a little understatement and an attempt at being nice. These fools were paying him so that he could teach somebody to talk, for Rhysol’s sake!

And thus he was dressed elegantly as he approached the residence of the Lorak family the following day, but he had tried not to make himself look as if he considered himself the Lorak family’s equal or maybe even above them, although he did of course think quite highly of himself. He’d also brought a few writing materials with him in case he needed to take notes on the Lorak case, as he’d already begun to call it. He’d already worked on the Moletta case (the subject had been one Amolina Moletta, a business partner of his), so this was the logical next step.

He knocked on the door, once, twice, three times, and then he stepped back and waited for somebody to open it. He’d then ask them to inform Miss Verena Lorak that her teacher, Valerius Nitrozian was here.

[Verena Lorak]

“Zorane, I have a clinic to take care of, I do not have time for lessons of how to speak,” Verena tried once again as she put down her book. Her brother had appeared a few chimes ago, unannounced. Fortunately enough, she had no patient and so they could speak freely in the waiting room. The Lorak was thrilled at her brother’s visit – at least until he started talking about hiring a tutor. “I can speak well enough.”

He sat down on the plush sofa, running his hand through his blonde hair – a gesture that Zorane had told her was associated with his impatience. “Yes, you speak, but you do it without finesse. Do I need to recount all the times you insulted someone without even meaning to? Or speak out of term? Or sparking Lorana’s anger whenever you can’t word your sentences properly?”

“No,” Verena replied blandly. How could she forget it when she seemed to have offended someone on a daily basis?

“It won’t be useless, I promise,” he tried assuring her. “You’re the one who said you want to change, to serve Rak’keli better.”

Considering his words, Verena let the silence stretch. It was true. Verena never truly dared to delve in the arts of healing the mind, not when there was something wrong with her own. Even since she was young, people had noticed something off about her – how could she expect anyone to want to consult the matters of the mind to her? “You can teach me. I do not need a tutor.”

Zorane smiled, remembering the same thing. “And I have done a splendid job so far, but we are not children anymore, Ver. I simply do not have the time or opportunity to guide you as I used to.” Knowing that his sister was still unconvinced, “His name is Valerius Nitrozian. He’s a newcomer from Ravok and that means he wouldn’t have any prejudice against you.” Of course he was a newcomer, otherwise he probably wouldn’t take up the job. “Besides, this is not my idea. It’s our sister’s.”

Verena started fidgeting with her fingers, recalling her previous tutors. They always watched her closely, noting everything she did wrong. Seeing them leave and tell everyone that it was hopeless to try to groom the young Lorak had always left a sickening feeling in her gut. Her family members were the only people who could stand teaching her anything. It was not her reputation that she worried, but rather the disappointment when another person declared that she would never be normal. “It does not matter who he is, he will not understand.”

The older Lorak understood Verena’s worries honestly. After all, he could still remember that particular night, when she was still twelve, teary-eyed and demanding him to explain why everyone avoided her. But this was not up to him. Lorana had specifically asked him to fix their sister, especially now that her name was becoming better known. As much as he didn’t like it, he knew the precise words he needed to say to convince her. “Lorana will not be happy with me if you refuse, you know.”

Verena sighed. What her brother said was true. When Lorana tasked you with something, you do it or suffer the consequences. They both had experienced the length of their sister’s wrath a few times before and it was not pleasant. Ever since their mother’s exile, Zorane had done everything to make sure neither of them attract any attention, making problems disappear. He had done all that despite his bubbling anger. As stubborn as the young woman was, the last thing she wanted was to cause her brother more grief. “Very well, I will take this lesson.”

Zorane grinned with relief. “You just saved my life, sister.”

-------------------------------

Yesterday, Zorane had promised her that he would accompany her for the first few chimes of the lesson – to help explain things to her new tutor. Unfortunately, a sudden business back in the city came up and he had to leave her to deal with the stranger alone. It would end badly, she could guarantee it.

Reluctantly, the Lorak changed into one of her more intricate dresses. It was not something she would have chosen, but Lorana insisted that everyone would dress appropriately while in Whitesnake to keep up their reputation. Calisha had chosen the gown earlier, knowing that her cousin had little taste in fashion.

Her timing flawless, she reached the last step just as the doors opened and an unfamiliar figure with fiery hair was escorted in. The healer’s first instinct was to hasten her steps, preferring to be unseen by her family’s guests. But then, the house servant addressed her directly. “Lady Verena! Your new tutor is here. Where would you like to have your lessons?”

Pausing, she let herself have a moment to observe the man. Verena was not expecting a handsome young man who could only be a few years older than her. She could not decide if it made things worse or not. Without a word, she walked directly toward the Great Library. It was better to get this over with.

The servant accompanying Valerius would turn to him and gestured at the young woman. “That is the Lady Verena, sir. Your lessons will take place in the library.” He then would accompany the Freeborn to said room.

Once inside, the rhetoric teacher would greeted by the sight of Verena already sitting on one of the plush armchairs, her gaze drifting to the massive window that took up nearly the entire wall.

[Valerius Nitrozian]

Verena Lorak was not what he had expected. He had expected a spoiled teenager that would insult him or try to flirt with him which was even worse in his opinion, but instead he found himself following a woman that was almost his own age to the library. She was quiet, too quiet. There was an almost ghost like quality about her, as if she were disconnected from the world around her. For some reason he found that mildly unsettling, and it was getting on his nerves at the same time, but he did of course not let his thoughts and feelings about her show.

He watched her the same way she was watching him, closely, but quietly. Verena would find that her guest held himself completely straight and was utterly composed. He was not one of those Freeborn that stupidly stared around – although he did of course briefly admire the collection of books the Loraks had gathered. Instead he seemed to have a certain familiarity with such luxurious surroundings, as if he had been a similar place before.

Valerius had decided that he would hold back a little as it would be easier to forge connections with the Lorak Dynasty if they did not know everything about him, but that did not mean that he would coddle Verena. If he decided to play the part of a lickspittle, she would never learn, and Valerius wanted their lessons to be successful, more for his sake than hers. If it turned out that his teaching methods were ineffective, the dynasties would very quickly close their doors to him, and his social rise would come to an end before it had begun, and he would be forced to return to Ravok.

He’d already realized a few things about the young woman in the few minutes he had been in Whitesnake. She did not seem to know how to comport herself in the presence of strangers. She had not introduced herself. She had not greeted him, and she had not offered him a seat either. She had barely even looked at him, but it didn’t seem to him as if she was being rude. The way her gaze had drifted towards the window could suggest that she was disinterested, but it could also mean that she was shy and really didn’t know how to deal with other people. He had suffered from a similar inability to socialize as a little boy, a little milder maybe, but had long gotten over it and learned how to put on a façade as he had not wanted to appear weak anymore. There were few things he was more afraid of than looking weak and being powerless.

“Lady Lorak”, he said. Had she looked at him, he would have bowed as she was a lady and he was, at least for the time being, a Freeborn in a city where his family’s status mattered little, but as it was that gesture seemed pointless. Even if she was not looking at him, she would be able to hear his voice though unless she decided to cover her ears with her hands and act like a child. She could also hear his footsteps as he came closer, slow, measured steps.

“Your brother”, he spoke. The tone of his voice was polite, but cool and firm. That he had once been a weak child did not make him empathize with her. “told me that you have problems, Lady Lorak. He told me that you do no socialize the way other people do, if you socialize at all.” He paused here to let her think about his words and make her wonder if he would tell her more about what Zorane had written, if he would criticize her now. “I am not interested in what you brother told me though. Zorane isn’t sitting here now. You are. I also do not want to tell me what you think your problems are. I want you to simple tell me about yourself, whatever you think will interest me."

[Verena Lorak]

Verena pressed her lips together as he bowed. Her violet eyes were trained at him, but not quite meeting his eyes. “Do not call me Lady Lorak. Verena will do,” she said abruptly, her tone bland. She was never truly fond of the title. Lady Lorak. All the women in her family was a Lady Lorak. What was the point of a name when people would just call you with such a common title? Most of the time she would tolerate it in short conversations, but something told her that her interaction with Valerius would not be quick.

He was going to analyze her, study her, for it was what he came here to do. Perhaps even try to find some sort of useless solution to fix. The thought alone was a disturbing one. Truly, Verena would not be sitting here if her brother wasn’t on the line.

“Your brother told me that you have problems, Lady Lorak. He told me that you do no socialize the way other people do, if you socialize at all.”

She knew quite precisely what her brother had written, even if she had not seen the letter herself. I would be all the things he had chastised about all her life, all the little, insignificant things.You are too blunt. Don’t you notice you have made her upset? He is being sarcastic, Ver. You need to smile and laugh, or at least know when to fake a smile and laugh. The list would be endless, but the Lorak had been long since gotten used to it. It had been difficult at first, but the healer had accepted that she would never be like other people.

Finally, the man continued. “I am not interested in what you brother told me though. Zorane isn’t sitting here now. You are. I also do not want to tell me what you think your problems are. I want you to simple tell me about yourself, whatever you think will interest me.”

“Why?” Verena asked with a tilt of her head, her finger tracing the pattern on her armchair mindlessly. “How does hearing me talk about myself will assist you in dealing with my problems?” Whether or not the man decided to answer her, the Lorak did what he asked. She had learned that arguing would waste more of her time. At least what he asked of her wasn’t too difficult. Talking about herself . . . That she could manage.

“My name is Verena Calaine Lorak. I am the sister of the Head of the Lorak Dynasty, Lorana Lorak. I am a doctor and a healer of Rak’keli.” All this she said firmly and matter-of-factly, an introduction she had uttered hundreds of time. Honestly, Verena did not know what would interest the Freeborn, but there was one thing she wanted him to know. For the first time, the young woman finally looked at Valerius in the eyes, her gaze far too intense. “And I do not think you can help me.”

[Valerius Nitrozian]

„You are Lady Lorak“, he replied. He could see it in the way she pressed her lips together and refused to meet his eyes. She didn’t like who and what she was. At all. Had this been a different situation, had he not been so dependant on this and further lessons going well, he would have told here that there were people in Kenash that would see her refusal to be adressed with her correct title as a sign of weakness – he despised people that disregarded their birthright himself - but as it was, he held back again, as hard as it was.

„But I will adress you by your first name in private if that is what you wish“, he continued. He paused and looked at her, but didn’t quite meet her eyes as she seemed to find eye contact unpleasant for some reason. „Forgive my directness, Verena, but is there anything about being Lady Lorak that you don’t like?“ He tried to sound sympathetic and genuingely interested now. Such emotions did not come easily to him, but he had learned to pretend, to some extent. In Ravok you had to be able to play the game.

„Why?“ he asked. „Your brother told you that I teach rhetorics, I hope? I wish to find out what your strengths and weaknesses are, what kind of words you use and what kind of person you are. A letter from Zorane Lorak could never really tell me all that. Your brother is quite likely biased. Did he ever tell you what he wrote in that letter to me?“

„I am not only a teacher. I also used to be a doctor myself“, he revealed, on purpose, hoping that it would make her more inclined to work with him after she had finally introduced herself, in a manner that was rather lacking. „In Ravok I managed a clinic for the less fortune members of society and was involved in some medical research.“ A lady that did not want to be a lady seemed like the kind of person that would like that. Of course he neglected to mention the more sinister purposes of the clinic, the experiments Inoadar, Amolina and he had conducted in secret, the poisoned Kelvic, his work with those that bore Rhysol’s mark.

„Maybe not“, he admitted. „But even if I cannot help you – even if I cannot change you, and I don’t think you truly need to change - I can teach you to pretend. I can teach you all those little rules that govern human interaction that Lord Zorane seems to care about so much.“ Here he allowed himself a strategically placed smile before he offered her the bait. „Your brother would stop bothering you then, Verena.“

[Verena Lorak]

“Forgive my directness, Verena, but is there anything about being Lady Lorak that you don’t like?”

Is there? Verena had lived a life full of luxury simply because she was born into her family, but it did not come without a cost. Her inability to truly devote herself to the work of Rak’keli for the sake of the Lorak’s reputation. Her own mother being sent away simply to avoid the growing rumors. The way she was forced to be betrothed to a man of Lorana’s choosing, simply to consolidate power. There were quite a few things she did not like about being a high-ranking Lorak. Yet, at the same time, the power of her family name had helped her get away with most things she had done. It had provided her the means and the tools to help the injured better than if she was born as slave or a Freeborn. One cannot come without the other.

“There are a few things, but that is not why you are here,” Verena pointed out. She did not have time for small talks. There were patients she would need to check soon.

At the mention of him being a doctor, Verena tilted her head slightly as she tried to study him. “Then why do you become a teacher now?” She could never imagine herself switching careers. Medicine was her life and it was perhaps the only thing she was truly good at. It had offered her a comfort when nothing else could. It was unfortunate that people could not be analyzed the way a sickness could – at least not for her.

“No,” she replied simply at his question. It did not cross her mind to ask for she saw no point in it, but she had to admit that she was indeed curious on what Zorane had written to this stranger precisely. What did Valerius already know about her? Not knowing just how much the redheaded stranger was aware of her problems made her feel uncomfortably vulnerable.

“I have tried to pretend, but pretending is not enough,” replied the young woman. Verena had tried honestly. After all, she did not want to always be singled out because of her inability to understand others. Forcing herself to look at people in the eyes, to smile, but it always came out wrong. And when the conversation started… “I always say the wrong things and I barely even understand why they were wrong.”

Still, Valerius’s offer intrigued her. If he could truly teach her, perhaps it would make her life so much easier. “What do I need to do?”

Boxcode by Marion Kay

[Valerius Nitrozian]

„No, that’s not why I am here“, he agreed. He was glad that he didn’t have to make small talk after all. It got on his nerves more often than not and seemed fairly pointless to him although most people seemed to love it. Just like Verena he inadvertantly found himself thinking about his family. There were a few things he didn’t like about being Lord Nitrozian either, although he loved being a member of the high society of Ravok of course. With more than twenty siblings, aunt and uncles, some of them marked by Rhysol, even more than once, he had felt rather invisible there, insignificant, a feeling that a man as proud as him had found rather hard to deal with. That he had been just one of many Nitrozians had made his title less special. In Kenash on the other hand he had the chance to stand out.

“My associates left”, he replied as she asked him why he had stopped being a doctor. Inoadar and Amolina had been gone for a while. It seemed a believable enough reason to him. “It was impossible to manage the clinic alone, and there wasn’t anybody else who seemed capable of replacing them and met my high standards, so I had to close the clinic, as much as I regretted it. I was a scholar before I opened the it. I studied at the University of Zeltiva. When I left for Kenash, I decided to make use of those skills instead, although I have of course never stopped being a doctor completely.”

Again, a little bending of the truth, although she was unlikely to notice it as he had filled his words with emotions in all the right places, accompagnied with what he considered an appropriately nostalgic look in his eyes. He had never really cared about helping people, just about his research, and that could be done without the cover of a clinic, although it was of course a little harder.

“That is because you haven’t learned to do it the right way”, he said as she told him that pretending was not enough. “There are so many aspects to human interaction. It took me some time to find out how to do it, how to show empathy and joy and feign interest.” He let that information slip on purpose, although he did not like admitting that he had once had a wekaness. Empathy had been especially hard to fake for him, as he did not know why he should care about people that were not immediate family nor of any use to him. He didn’t feel what they felt, so why should it matter when they suffered?

“People don’t always make sense”, he informed her. “Humanity is, at its heart, chaotic and unpredictable. There are ways that you can hide your inability to understand people though. There’s eye contact for once. People always want to make eye contact when they talk to you and expect you to do the same. When I was a child, I didn’t understand why. I stared and stared, and yet I never saw anything in their eyes. To me, they were nothing but eyes, mere body parts, not windows to the soul. “

“Most people communicate with their eyes as well as words though, I realized. The look in their eyes changes, depending on whether they are lying or telling the truth. There are differences regarding the length of eye contact as well. It tends to last longer the more important your statement is. But staring into somebody’s eyes all the time is considered to be just as impolite as not making eye contact at all. You have to look away every once in a while or at least blink a little.”

That knowledge had been especially useful in his work as an interrogater, as he called it, he thought, although the term was maybe a little too harmless for what he did. He was perhaps better suited for that kind of work than most as body language had never been an automatic thing for him that he barely wasted any thoughts on, but something that had to be analyzed, studied and practiced.

“When you were talking to me, I had the impression that maintaining eye contact made you uncomfortable. If this is indeed the case, I would suggest looking at a point that is slightly above my eyes. There’s more though. I can also teach you what people expect you to say and that what they say is not always what they really mean.”

[Verena Lorak]

OOCSorry it took so long Val!

It must have been interesting, Verena thought as Valerius told his story, to travel across the land. The young healer had never stepped foot out of Kenash and she highly doubted she will have the chance any time soon. She could not even imagine leaving this world she knew for the unknown, even though her curiosity continued to grow.

“There are so many aspects to human interaction. It took me some time to find out how to do it, how to show empathy and joy and feign interest.”

Finally interested, Verena leaned forward, her eyes shining just a bit brighter at the small bit of information. “So you pretend too.” All her life, she had never found anyone who struggled like her. No, reading people and understanding them was an inborn ability and she was a freak for not being able to master them. “I have never find someone similar to me. Or are you just pretending to be like me?” Her tone wasn’t accusatory, but more than a little bit curious. If Valerius was truly like her, then clearly he had found some way to hide it, otherwise he wouldn’t be chosen to fix the very problem they both might share.

When the Freeborn started to talk about eye contact, Verena leaned back against her chair. She had had a similar lecture years ago from her brother, but admittedly it slipped out of her mind most of the time. She also agreed with him as he noted that eyes were merely body parts to him. The Lorak still couldn’t entirely get the idea of communicating without words wrapped around her head. She had experienced it with a handful of people, but it didn’t come to her naturally. “I know the theory, Valerius, but it is a different thing entirely for me to apply it. I need you to show me, not simply tell me.”

Despite her comments, the half-Vantha followed the Ravokian’s suggestion and aimed her gaze to the spot between his strong brows as he continued.

“But how can you predict every single possible thing that people would say and what they meant by it?” asked the young woman, still questioning. “As you have said, humanity is unpredictable.”

Before their conversation could continue too far, the library doors opened abruptly, revealing the familiar figure of Verena’s cousin clad in a beautiful dress. Unlike Verena, Calisha had heard of the handsome Ravokian and was more than a little curious to see him. When she found out that he was appointed to tutor dear Verena, the talented architect simply could not pass up the chance. The stunning young woman swiftly turned to look at the healer and smiled innocently, “Verena, I did not know you had a guest. I had thought of us eating lunch at the city.”

Verena found this to be the perfect opportunity to study. She turned back to her copper-haired tutor. “Show me how you do it.”

Boxcode by Marion Kay

[Valerius Nitrozian]

„Yes, I do“, he replied as she stated that he pretended and shrugged his shoulders slightly as if that was no big issue. He noticed that her eyes suddenly seemed to shimmer brightly. He had finally caught her interest. “In the beginning it was hard, but in time all those little rules that most seem to know automatically will become second nature to you as well. And of course I do not pretend to be like you. Why should I do that? There is nothing to be gained from it.” That was not true of course. There was a lot that could be gained from lying - Verena Lorak’s trust and the gratitude of her family – but the tone of Valerius’ voice was cool and indifferent, and his eyes were looking in the appropriate direction for somebody that told the truth, as always.

“There are others like us out there”, he replied. “The professors at the University of Zeltiva where I received my education, the geniuses that value their research more than human interaction, the scientists, the mages that live only for their art …” And the torturers and murderers that are not burdened by petty feelings such as empathy, pity and regret and are more effective because of it, he thought, but did not say it oud loud as Verena seemed to be a softer kind of person despite her difficulties in relating to other people. He did not want to drive her away, but bind her closer to him. So he simply added, for her sake, “… or doctors. People like us often seem to pursue extraordinary careers.”

“Did you not look at my eyes and observe my body language?” he asked her as she told him that he needed to show her and not only tell her. “I was showing it to you all the time.” He looked directly into her eyes for a moment which she would without a doubt find uncomfortable before he did exactly what he had suggested to her, he moved his gaze slightly up so that he was looking at her eyebrows instead. The difference was hardly noticeable as long as one did not pay close attention.

There were other signs that Valerius might not be lying to her, that he was really like her as well. His posture was perhaps a little stiff, he always sat completely straight, and he used gestures sparingly. He didn’t move his hands left or right and wave them around while he talked to underline this or that statement. He found such things fairly annoying, although he was confident that he could have done a decent job at mimicking a certain kind of body language, after all these years of observing people and trying to understand.

“You do not need to predict every single thing, Verena”, he informed her. “You are overthinking it. I said that humanity is unpredictable, yes. My choice of words might not have been perfect, and I apologize for that. People are to a large degree unpredictable, but there are a few rules that have been established over the course of time and a few bits of knowledge most people seem to be born with. Knowing these will get you through most normal social situations and leave people none the wiser regarding your …” He paused for a moment, looking for the correct expression “… unique traits.”

“I mentioned that people do not always mean what they say. Perhaps I should elaborate. What do you think they want to hear when they ask you, “How are you?” for example? I assume you gave them a detailed summary of your current state of mind and health at one point? People usually want to hear that you are fine, even if you aren’t. That’s just the …” He wanted to say that that was just the tip of the iceberg, but couldn’t finish the sentence as the doors opened and a woman entered.

He turned around and looked at her. In the few ticks she had been in the room he had already spotted a lie. If Verena’s siblings were aware of his visit, it was unlikely that this woman who seemed to be close enough to Verena to invite her for lunch really didn’t know about him. It would be unwise to point that out to Calisha and Verena right now though. Sometimes it was better to play along. He rose from his chair and approached her, putting on an appropriately charming smile as he did so, although he did in truth have little interest in her.

“Madam”, he spoke and bowed to her, not too deeply though. As he was not aware of her exact position in Kenashian society and did not know exactly how to comport himself among the nobles of his new home yet, it would be unwise to use any other kind of greeting. She might not appreciate it if he tried to kiss the back of her hand or even implied a kiss.

After he had made the bow, he looked at her face, but not directly into her eyes. He succeeded in maintaining eye contact most of the time nowadays and doing it properly, although eyes were still just eyes to him, sometimes unremarkable and sometimes beautiful, more beautiful than anything else he had ever seen. It would be too much for Verena right now though. He would act in a way that she would be comfortable imitating.

“My name is Valerius Nitrozian, and I am currently teaching Lady Verena.” He gestured towards Verena who was without a doubt watching them closely before his hand came to rest at his side again. His student had asked him to address her with her first name, but it seemed risky to do so in the presence of a person he did not know yet. She might insist on using the proper titles and think he had stepped beyond his station and was rude if he didn’t.

“May I have the pleasure of your name?” As he waited for Calisha’s answer, Verena would be able to observe his body language. His body was turned to face the other woman. He had thought about crossing his arms over his chest, but decided against it as most people interpreted that as defensive, for a reason he had been unable to figure out so far. To him it just meant that one had no interest in making all those ridiculous little gestures.

Since people tended to make that illogical assumption though, his arms simply hung loosely at his side. He did not stiffen them, as being too tense would not have the desired effect either, but he still kept his body completely straight.