"Ohhhh." Penny pouted slightly in thought. It was interesting, but she'd never heard of such a thing.
"I wouldn't know," she admitted with a shrug. "We'll have to see if she wants it. And if she even wants to trade."
It was not very much longer until she heard approaching footsteps, though. Her eyes brightened with excitement as she leaped up from her seat, hurrying to the door to let the aging mage in. "Welcome home!" she practically chirped, her eagerness earning her a gentle pat on the shoulder as Kura shuffled inside and set her basket down. She'd been to the markets but she hadn't come back with all that much.
"Kura, this is Mal," she introduced, gesturing at him as the dark-haired woman regarded him curiously. "He's a phoenix," she whispered at her ear, the elder woman's eyes lighting with interest and recognition.
"Mal, this is Kura Salyan," she continued in a normal tone.
"Pleasure," Kura greeted him, slumping tiredly despite their guest. She assumed he had been invited in by her student and thought nothing odd about his being there. "Forgive me, I'm going up for a rest."
"What?"
"A rest, girl, didn't you hear me?" she chuckled, giving Penny an affectionate pat to the head.
"Oh, but... We had something to ask you," the younger woman insisted, her eyes openly revealing her disappointment after waiting for her return.
"Well ask me quickly," Kura sighed, glancing between them expectantly, having no idea what sort of business she could possibly have with a phoenix.
