Chapter 9: The Manor
"Hikaru? Hikaru?"
Hikaru woke up slowly and her eyes were met by a blurry and obscured person of about average height.
"Hikaru?" he said again hoping that she was still alive.
"Ascot?" Suddenly Hikaru was awake and sitting up on her bed. She had thought she would die. She had thought she would be eaten by one of two monsters, and now she was sitting up in a plush bed right next to one of her friends.
"Hikaru, you're alright. I'm glad. My friends and I were worried," Ascot motioned to a great beast that stood beside him. It was very tall like a human but it had the features of a bird. Like a hawk. It was covered in brown feathers, had wings, and sported a long yellow beak.
"You're the one who saved me!?!?" Hikaru said as the realization took over and her face started to blush in admiration and thanks. Hikaru looked around her. The room they were in was a large and open. Its furnishings were all wood, and many wall tapestries hung about. The high ceilings she supposed were to help house Ascots "friends," which most other people saw as pets if not monsters rather than beings. She looked at Ascot. He seemed to be a little bit different from the last time they met, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She was still a bit dazed from her attack.
"Our manor sits atop a large hill that overlooks the valley in which you were attacked. Luckily, I recognized you from one of the upper balconies and sent my friend to save you." Ascot explained.
"I'm so glad to see you, Ascot, and I thank you for saving me, but I must go. I am on a mission to rid Cephiro of the monsters that plague it." Hikaru said with zeal.
"I will not allow it, Hikaru," Ascot said in defiance. "Did you know that half the "monsters" you killed on your little quest were harmless creatures of the forest. Many new species have taken shape since you've been here. Part of the reason I moved out here to the manor was to watch over them…and the breaking," Ascot finished his sentence under his breath hoping Hikaru had not noticed. "…and you are in no condition to do any fighting. My eagle pal may have saved you but you got beaten up pretty badly by that bear."
"Alright," Hikaru said feeling beaten down. She did still feel tired and the problem was exacerbated by the news that all the work she had been doing was actually hurting her cause. "Ascot, why do you look so different?" Hikaru said, yawning.
"Oh. that." Ascot took a deep breath he was also starting to feel fatigued. "If you remember, before, I only made myself grow up because of Umi," he blushed a little but went on, "Then I found out she loved someone else, and then the three of you left for what we thought would be the last time. Caldina suggested it, actually. She said that I shouldn't rush through what might end up being the best years of my life so here I am…a teenager."
But Hikaru did not here his explanation because she had fallen fast asleep.
The next few weeks were fun for Hikaru. She hung out and lazed around the castle catching up with Ascot and getting to know his friends. After some time she even started training despite her wounds. She and Ascot practiced sparring and Tae Bo, and Hikaru taught ascot Kendo with her practice sword.
One day when Hikaru was feeling particularly good and they had just come out of the large wooden room they used for sparing, Hikaru picked up a lit torch that had a long neck sticking into the floor. She did a series of complicated series of kendo moves and stances and feeling particularly invigorated, she ended her routine in a loud "HA!" with the head of the torch sticking out in front of her.
A small burst of flame emitted from the torch singing Ascot's back. "Watch it, Hikaru."
The event went relatively unnoticed, but what did it mean?