Although he was quick to notice Shallan's skepticism for his excuse for vanishing, Mec did not plan to address it until another time. After all, his excuse was meant to provide an alibi to Tanya to eliminate the need for further questions that would need excused away. It would be better to be viewed as strange than to be suspicious, which Mec seemed to succeed in doing. "Oh, that's right. We should hurry back," he agreed, though in the back of his mind he knew he would have to abstain from joining his new peers in the hall blighted with the harmful effects of the Thindesatite.
He considered the possibility of closing off the connection between himself and the Anima in order to return to the hall with his friends. It might even give him a chance to better observe the unique metal up close, unobstructed by the effects of the light shining off of the lamps or the flames that the white knight had used during the failed execution. However, Mec was not even entirely sure he knew how to pull of such a feat to begin with. His connection to the Anima had suddenly come on its own, and no matter what, he was never able to will away its power before he had fully accepted his magehood. Maybe things would be different now that he had better control over his powers, but he had never used them in such a way. It would have to be another experiment to include in his self-training.
It did not take long for the group to return to the inn. Mec scrambled to come up with a reason to excuse himself away from the hall where countless patron's had gathered to witness the night's performance, drink, eat, and revel. "Will this inn really fit all of us?" he eventually wondered aloud. "There's probably going to be quite a few of us sleeping on the floor in some of the rooms up there, huh?" Mec began to wonder if he would be more comfortable if he stole off again and used his powers to make his own shelter to rest in, but he deciding doing so might be ill-advised for the time being. Even still, the idea was enticing.
Upon finally reentering the tavern, Mec glancing towards the hall he had just escaped from not too long ago, holding back a shudder. "I am going to explore the chambers upstairs while I have the chance. Who knows, maybe I can steal myself a bed still." He wished he could come up with a an excuse to bring Shallan along to explain what caused him to hurry away before, and hoped she might choose to tag along herself. She knew Tanya better and would have a better understanding of far they could push things before she grew too suspicious.
Meanwhile, within the main hall of the tavern, the dancing girls had just begun to make their way out to entertain their audience. As Clair had promised, they had the chance to bathe away the dirt and grime they acquired during their trek, and using some power that must have been akin Mec's magic, managed to dry their hair and pretty themselves up before making their appearances. Clair sat casually at one table in the corner of the hall, glancing towards her dancers occasionally as she chatted with the innkeep, who had joined her. If one was mindful, they would notice that a handful of the male members of the troupe were also keeping a watchful eye of the dancers, ready to dissuade anyone that may overstep their boundaries.
Godrich, who oversaw these tasks that the troupe typically assigned to the men, was also keeping a watchful eye, although much more casually. He drank and flirted with any of the girl's nearby, whether they were part of the troupe or not, and primarily watched for Ella, the only other Misfit with flame-kissed red hair. She had joined the dancers that night, her face expertly masked with serums and colorants to exaggerate her features.
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