"The guilds have been quiet," Altair confirmed reflectively. "I suppose now that these disasters have become old hat, the Fighters and the Mages feel no need to make a public statement after each one. As for our own guild, we've suffered such staggering losses that I believe everyone is still scrambling to recoup what they can. Lea's simply asked us to do what we can to turn our fortune and to keep a low profile with the EKP."
He was quiet for a long moment after that, refilling Ari's teacup and then his own, eating a piece of his forgotten scone.
"I see she's told you, then," he said eventually. He saw the sadness in her smile, and he couldn't help but look away. He knew exactly what he was doing: teaching Audrey how to hide the very best parts of herself in order to conform to the rules of a group of people who would never entirely accept her. Most nobles grew into that sort of lifestyle slowly, so that eventually, when their entire personality had been covered by that thick layer of brick and mortar, they barely noticed it was gone. With Audrey, it had to be done all at once, and it so obvious to them both that Altair couldn't quite shake the feeling he was doing something terrible, like crushing a flower or extinguishing a star.
Still, he saw no other way to help Audrey achieve what she felt she must. He couldn't afford to let himself get emotional or wistful. Things were the way they were, particularly in the Nobles District, and there was no changing it.
He took another sip of tea and said calmly, "She's been a remarkably diligent student, in fact; and I've not been getting into the 'why' of things. I quite agree that standing until someone else has pulled out your chair is stupid, and I do not know why it is necessary to use a daintier spoon to eat sorbet than one uses to eat custard. I am willing to concede her all such points as long as she attempts to learn it nonetheless."