Soverick smiled. He didn't need to turn around to see her because he was already looking at her right from the start. His dare was more to her than everyone else. He wanted to see if she would still go through with her plan even in the face of his power. Apparently, she is not a coward.
It is a good thing that she stepped forth. It will make sure that all her efforts in creating this situation will not go to waste. She knows that Soverick knows about her. He has been looking at her since he started his speech. That can't be a coincidence.
She also knows that she will suffer no matter her decision to come forth. Her end will be the same if she comes forth or not. Soverick will make sure to make an example of her. Running is not an option for her anymore so she stepped forward to admit what she has done.
Creating this situation is an affront to Soverick and he will make sure she suffers for it regardless of her decision to go through with it or not. So she had no choice in the matter. It also helps that she can't die in this competition. That gave her the confidence to step forth. She walked forward as the crowd separated for her to pass. Soon she was at the center of the barricade opposite Soverick.
Her position is not by a coincidence. She had picked it to be as far away from Soverick as possible. It is partly due to her hatred of the child plane and her need to stay a safe distance from him. Her hatred is not a logical thing and she knows it. She may hate him because her ancestor hates children of the plane but it also gives her pleasure to antagonize him.
Her hatred is just one of the reasons why she is scheming against him. Soverick is a big fish in the waters that is the plane. He is an important person in the plane and a strong obstacle to overcome. It is fun for her to create problems for Soverick and she will be happier to see him stumble. She let her hope in his failure and her fear of him to strengthen her resolve and prevent her from flinching under his intense stare.
His stare is definitely intense. It is as if he wants her to wither and die under his glare. That's what she thought of his gaze. He on the other hand doesn't think much of his stare. He is simply inspecting her. He has no intention to intimidate her that way. He has done nothing more than to place his attention on her.
Soverick said to her. "Lady Amari of the bloodline of secrets. State your grievances."
He didn't ask for her name or introduction. He knows that and more. So he asked her to state her grievances immediately. He wants them to cut to the chase immediately. She comes from a reclusive bloodline. It is a bloodline that is as old as that of the first sage but it doesn't belong to any sages. That's because her ancestor refused the title of Sage. I think you should take a look at
Her pitch-black eyes with tiny spots of light in them like the stars in the sky on a dark night indicate her bloodline. She is a seer and one of the descendants of the keeper of secrets. Her bloodline is both why she hates him and why she is a threat to him. She used to hate him when he was just the child of the plane. Her hatred for him has doubled now that he is also a sage.
He asked her to state her grievances even when he knows it. He first found out about her plots on the day that is now referred to as the calamity of the child of the plane. He saw it in the past that some of the people there that day were being manipulated by an unseen hand.
A more specific inquisition revealed that she is the one behind the rumor that whoever defeats him will become the next child of the plane. That rumor is why people flocked to the Ghastorix main city to fight him in the first place. She told people that his title can be taken if he is defeated.
The rumor is partly true. His title can be taken from him but it can't be done by a simple defeat in combat. The best way to lie is to mix lies and truths together. She used that method to tell a great lie. Her half-truth galvanized people into trying to challenge him.
They coveted his title so they came to fight him. She hoped to make him come out of the safety of the Ghastorix main city into the open where he can be assassinated. But he didn't come out no matter how much people clamored for a fight with him. Then her plans went to ruins when he simply killed everyone.
He came out finally. But he didn't stay outside for long enough for some forces to attack. He waved his hand once and returned to the city where he stayed ever since. He didn't come out once. She didn't let that setback stop her. She picked up the pieces of her broken plan to create the current situation.
She has been scheming and planning against him for a long time. She has shown resourcefulness and the ability to stay hidden while she manipulates. You wouldn't know it just by looking at her. She is a tiny lady with a frail body. She is wearing a dress much too big for her. It seems like a robe that envelopes her thin body. It is not a facade. She really is as weak as she looks.
She is the reason why the Calamity of the child of the plane happened. People don't know that. They blame him for it. He was a voluntary accomplice to that particular Calamity. But she has come forth today under the guise of righteousness to accuse him.