He chuckles at "literally underground Golds," visibly holding himself back from barking out a laugh.

"You know, it wouldn't surprise me that much if there were a Gold in hiding somewhere. They'd have to keep their core veiled at all times lest a passing Jade happen to notice they had far more power than they should, but who's to say a Gold can't do such a thing?"

Meresankh finishes off the last of her fish and nods to Terem, conceding the point. "Or they could simply live somewhere where Jades don't go. In unclanned lands, or something like that. Like I said, I'd never spoken to a Jade before I met you."

"For all we know my dad could be one."

She barely manages to conceal her smile at that. Her father is really, really not the type.

"Well, now that I've valiantly defeated my food, we should likely go to talk with your family. Hearing from you that I plan to join you without discussing it with them myself- it'd rather be like inviting myself into your house. Something nobody would dare to begrudge a Jade, but frankly I desire to keep a stronger hold of my manners than that."

"My mother wouldn't say it within earshot of you, but she'd tell me to be careful around strange charming men and respectful to strange Jades. You are, unfortunately, both." 

And I think I love you for it already. 

"Or should I say all three of strange, charming and Jade? We've certainly covered some odd topics in the last few minutes."

"But I'll be honest, I don't think she's got anything to worry about from the way you comport yourself around me."

Other than the fact I'm head over heels for you, I mean. But that's not your comportment. 

"My father will probably be hugely in favour. He's always been like that. Very... direct. I guess you could say I learned how to be honest from him."

She stands up from her place. "Shall we be off?"

"Certainly."

And off he follows her. He's a bit too old to be nervous about meeting her parents, and in fact he's talked with the two of them a few times before, once even back when he was just a very promising Iron. He thinks he may have actually exchanged a few words with Meresankh back then, but he doesn't remember them. He does know he would have tested her, he tests everyone he meets, not that any of them can tell.

Okay, talking to her parents shouldn't be too hard, they should be supportive if maybe a bit confused. She's got this. Probably. Probably maybe. 

It's a short walk over to where her family's ice cart stands, tight-packed in the shadow of one of the village's taller buildings to keep the sun off. Her mother is standing guard and chilling the whole cart, while her father is taking orders from villagers and writing them up on his lap desk. Occasionally her mother cuts in with an addition to what her father's saying to a customer, but mostly she's focusing on keeping the perishables cold in the spring sun. 

"Hello mom, hello dad," Meresankh starts with a deep breath. "This is Song Terem, I think you've met him before once or twice. I've been wondering for a long time how he managed to make Jade, and today when I saw him I took the opportunity to ask him for a few pointers. We got to talking, and he did a small technique demonstration for me, and we had lunch. I would like your permission for him to travel alongside us for a few days while I try to practice the techniques he's shown me."

Meresankh's mother looks over, and performs a formal bow, her expression a polite smile. "It's an honor to see you again," she says to Terem. "I will have to confer with my husband."

Meresankh's father looks up from his ledger, and his voice rings out, warm and boisterous. "Ah, yes, the clanless prodigy! Just like my daughter!" 

He looks over at Meresankh and gets a broad smile. "So he's the one you've been mooning after for the past year. I knew there was someone but I never knew your standards were that high!"

"Faaaatheerrrrrr, come on —"

"I'm only teasing, of course. The Honored Jade is welcome to travel with us." He bows to Terem and offers another wide smile.

He's going to ignore the comment about mooning, Meresankh seems like she'd probably prefer that.

"My thanks. Your daughter approached me for some advice on her path and we discovered both that there seems to be some similarity between force and her combination of ice and sword, and also discovered she picks up new techniques fast enough to actually get some use out of the limited mentorship I can offer before my path calls me onward. I've tried teaching before and it's never quite worked, I move on too quickly."

"That sounds like my daughter alright. From what I've seen of her, I'm confident she'll be able to learn whatever you have to teach."

Meresankh's mother gives her father a small look and nods. "I am certain my daughter will acquit herself with honor."

"Thank you, mother, father. I won't let you down."

That night, she dreams she's sitting on a blanket beneath an archway covered with vines, weeping roses drooping down its side. All around her is the enclosing hush of a deep, still forest, the individual trees blurring together into a mass of green. With staticky senses she tries to solidify a technique, her breath not quite steady as she cycles madra. The madra in her shifts and roils, alive in her hands and fighting her, the technique resisting her will. She's getting nowhere. 

"Careful there. I think if you keep trying to force it like that you'll end up trapped in an angry briar patch. Maybe try going slower, actually? I think sometimes it resists when you push harder."

He's grinning at her, expression warm and gentle. It's a different face, though, but the way he talks is just the same, and so is his smile.