Ilesha shook her head. "I'm good, thank you." Though she did snatch another slice of bread. Bread was a weakness.
Ilesha checked her phone, she didn't have anyone to check on. She didn't have many friends and the girls at the club probably didn't need her bugging them to see if they were safe. And there wasn't many at work or school. This was the first social gathering. Though she did text Cadence to make sure she was alright. That was one friend she really did have.
When Claude returned she merely shrugged. "I'm glad your sister is safe. Nothing special about my work -- the applications are numerous. I'm looking for ways to make light weight strong and durable replacements for metal. So millimeter thin almost cloth like bullet proof armor we can wear everyday. Or unbreakable gears for a clock or a bike. I started mending my motorcycles with the power. It's how I stumbled upon the research."
Claude chuckled at her response. ”Don’t downplay your achievements. That sounds like something that would be incredibly beneficial. It sounds like it could save lives. That’s always important,” Claude sat back in his chair.
It really was a failing that the Atharim didn’t see the uses of their power. There was so much that could be done with it. On the other hand, it could be incredibly dangerous as well. It was a fine line to walk between making sure to keep the dangerous ones from destroying and still allowing the good natured ones to work with it to improve lives. There was even the possibility of people taking advantage of those who could channel. It was a lot.
”So a hacker friend told you to be cautious around here,” he said, leaning forward, curious. ”How much do you know of our order?”
She shook her head. "No, the hacker is not my friend, he's a friend of a friend's coworker. I hardly know the guy." Ilesha laughed. "As odd as it sounds, but the girls at a burlesque club kinda teach other girls how to use their ability. A girl I met once sent me their way and it's uncformtable but I learn a lot. Their head of security is one of you -- being both a channeler and Atharim. He has the hacker friend. And he followed me home, told him where I lived and he told Juls, who told me to watch out. I know nothing more than your order as you put it hunt us and that I should be careful. Though the only people whom I've met of these so-called scarey people have all been Channelers. Though Nox has been hunted by a few I'm told which is why Kallisti has a perimeter around it that drones hunt."
Ilesha knew she was rambling but it was hard to stop "I can't imagine anyone stupid enough to hunt Nox. Besides the Ascendancy, I can't imagine anyone more powerful -- not in strength, but in pure imagination and flexibility and his knowledge of the power. And he inspires so much in others -- Did you know ..." Ilesha wanted to tell him about healing the severing -- but that was probably a government secret now -- and probably something the Atharim didn't need to know. "That you could combine powers with someone else?" Ilesha wasn't sure she could teach it, but the club could certainly "I mean it wasn't him who found it out but he was the reason someone tried."
Claude laughed almost as soon as he heard Nox's name. He was able to keep it in check with a smile as he waited for her to finish. "So the performer you mentioned IS Nox," he chuckled. "Why am I not surprised?" Claude already knew of Kallisti and its, for lack of a better word, coven. There wasn't much the women there could teach him, but he had been learning from Nox. It had been beneficial and enlightening. "We've met. He's actually taught me how to use it and I meet with him frequently to practice and learn."
Claude doubted Ilesha was worried about him attacking her. After all, she had come willingly into his apartment knowing what he was, but knowing that he was connected with Nox could be a relief. Also she was probably on that list of people he watched and protected. Messing with her would definitely earn Nox's ire - not that Claude had any plans to do so.
He showed a little surprise that powers could be combined though. "No - I didn't know that. I confess I'm not very good at it yet and that hasn't come up in my lessons. I know your power is somehow different than mine. Ours are compatible or would I only be able to combine my powers with another man?" It was getting easier to use the power now though. Like all things it got easier with practice.