Speech = ``...´´
Thoughts = [... ]

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There were not many things that Arisha did in a daily basis inside the comp-fines of her home Apart from the basic of things like….:

Awake from her beauty-sleep, get breakfast brought to her room from the kitchens by the maids, take a bath, be dressed by the maids, greet her parents, go take some tea, take a walk inside the gardens, play with her dolls, take some lessons of magic and swordsmanship which she hated.., go take a tea break, go out to play with her friends and her ladies in waiting, go take a walk towards the capital or the closest town, have her servants buy things for her, eat at a fine restaurant, return home, greet her parents once more and go to sleep after having her mother read her a story..

Not much really…and without much variation on it.

It was nice..

She liked for things to be as they are, not change for one reason or another, especially when she found no gratification on it.

However, this last few days she had been wandering where that familiar and beloved familiarity had gone..

She had trouble understanding what was going on anymore around her, let alone in her own house. Starting with the arrival of her step-brother, the surprising appreciation and favor her parents showed to him...and now..this?

She looked down onto the arena, her feet standing over a small box that had been offered to her by a servant so that she would not make a fool of herself when trying to witness what was taking place down below.

Who would have thought that she would be here in a regular basis now staring at the two things she liked the least

Swordplay….and her step-brother doing it.

When she had first heard why he was doing this, she had thought that she had heard wrong, that it was a joke from the servants that liked to exchange useless gossip. It was less amusing to see it actually be true, and that SHE was the last one to find out

She bit her lip, grimacing at the total disservice and shame of been caught so utterly unaware of the goings of her own home. For the love of the goddess and all that is holy, why NO ONE thought continent to tell her what was going on? She had wandered blind into..into...whatever this was a few days!

But if that was bad, it could not be compared with the fact that everyone had considered this turn of events as the most interesting attraction ever seen.

Why? What was so interesting of seen such...brutish show? Even her ladies in-waiting had been drawn here like a pack of ravenous mutts if only to catch a glimpse of the boy who was by now making a name of the unbeaten. Whispering and talking to each other like a bunch of brainless school girls each time he wiped the sweat from his face and his drenched clothes showed the body underneath

Perhaps she should get new ladies in waiting, something inside her felt bitter at the thought that outsiders could look at Koldarrd as if he were a piece of meat.

He was….complicated.

But he clearly was better than this harlots who could do nothing but droll at the sight of him. Truly, what they saw? She could barely notice anything from the distance and most often than not she had to abandon the box when someone came by to avoid looking even more foolish.

And with all the people now crowding around...that was more often than not.

Still, back to the matter at hand..if she was honest with herself, the fact that the boy had made such a ruckus about it and had put himself through all that ringer had made her question his sanity.

Not like she would say it to his face, she knew deep down that was something bad to say, that to speak that way, especially to her brother was beyond horrible. And though there was no love between them, she could surely try be and act polite with him.

Yes, thats right..she had to act proper like a lady…, the best lady that there could and would ever exist in this household.!

Why? That was rather simple.

Good girls did not slandered their brothers behind their backs..., good girls tried to be kind and caring.., good girls were responsible and did not act stupid and brash...and she was a good girl, wasn't she?

Because if she wasn't...she would be useless..

Someone that was not cared or loved by anyone.

A piece of shit.

A waste of breath.

A walking vermin that was better of dea-

``My daughter, you should not be making that face in public..´´

The cold, authority sound of her fathers voice managed to break her out of the self deprecation pit she had been just about to be swallowed by…

The realization that not only she had drawn her fathers notice towards her, but had also made the blunder of not answering right away as she should have made her blood ran cold, immediately bowing her head in supplication.

``My apologies father.., pardon this uneducated girl for it was not her intend to do so..´´

``It better be, fate is fortunate for you that everyone is busy glancing at what is taking place down below rather than anything else. You should be grateful..

It was true, everyone seemed enthralled by the never ending stream of duels taking place in the arena.

Men talked and boasted to one another with rather cheerful voices as they made bets.., women laughed and smirked with each other, their lips either covered by bright and highly decorated fans or wrapped in thin lines of amusement. Servants now patrolling the area that had peculiarity become so crowded, trying to cater to everyone's needs and desires...

Clearly, whatever she and her father had just spoken was not even a bleep on their radar as it was. Still, that did not absolved her of her failure

Lowering her head and graving the edges of her dress she semi knelt before her father.

``Y-yes father, I am grateful for the chance that I have been given. The thought to bring you dishonor brings me with nothing but dread and sadness...´´

Even if she could not see it, she was sure that the cold and calculating eyes of her father had not even soften a little bit as they carved holes into her skull. The pressure he emitted from such a wordless gesture was oppressive in its entirety.., vastly different from the one her step-brother oozed when bothered.

And though normally her usual bright and talkative self would have spoken out her mind by now.., in the presence of the master of the household…, even she bowed.

And so she waited.

And waited..

Not speaking another word without consent, no raising her head without the given command. Until he did, and what he said did not bring any sort of relief to her heart.

``Hmppf…., is that all?´´

The words stung more than anything else, taking away her breath in an instant and her mouth dry..

"Is that...all?"

"Is...that...all?"

It took nearly all her force of will not to gasp either in shock or outrage at the sheer tone of disappointment in her fathers voice, but nothing she tried could stop her pupils from shrinking into pin size pins.. Arisha hands trembling, chewing on her lips as sweat started to slide down her forehead.

All under the steadily increasing throbbing sound of her heart.

Did she do a mistake..? Had she infuriated her father with her words..!? There was no other way to explain that, but what..!? What could have been the cause...!?

She took a step forward, raising her head while she placed a small hand over her chest.

``Father I-´´

``I don't care, in fact.. I am good mood given that things are starting to get interesting around here. So shut your mouth, my daughter...unless you are selfish enough to take this moment from me..´´

She didn't know what to say, in fact, she did not know what to feel about it…, the only thing she could do was lower her head and stare back into the ground.

``Good, now...for the next time... put some more honesty to it….a daughter of mine should at least sound half way convincing instead of that useless blubbering that you just uttered.., understood?´´

``Yes father..´´

``My Lord Father..´´

``What..?´´

``Yes, my Lord father…´´

``Yes, my Lord father…´´

``Dear, don't be so hard on our little darling...she is trying her best..´´

The arrival of her mother finally put an end to the never ending sense of wrongness that was to be in her fathers temporal bad side. Bad it was not enough to stop her from hearing the seething disappointment dripping from his lips

``Is not enough..and I am already tired of that´´

``She is young, she will learn..´´

``You always say that..´´

``And I am always right..´´

``Are you?´´

With the two of them busy talking-arguing as they were when it came to talk about her, Arisha walked away, willing to put as much distance between her and them for the given moment. Holding the lower edges of her dress with her hands and bowing a final time before taking her exit.

They didn't notice or if they did, they did not gave a sign to it. It did not matter...Arisha made her way through the crowd towards somewhere less noisy.

She heard something happen down below, something that must have been particularly bad or surprising given how everyone gasped and became silent all of a sudden...but she did not stop to figure out why.

She just wanted to find a place where she could no longer feel the eyes of anyone behind her back. How much she would have loved to go to the temple that was her own private room, but sadly, going back there was a no no in this moment..

In the end... the spot of her dreams was found in the Easter wing of the ring, just underneath the upper levels where everyone else was now, but a floor just above where the action was taking place. Curious enough, the walls here were a lot more thinner and lower, not forcing her to lean over with the help of a box

She would have died out of sheer embarrassment if she had been forced to drag that thing around.

And so, alone, she looked at the previous object of her vexation…

Koldarrd.

The black haired boy who stood undefeated at the center of the arena, now seemingly talking to the captain of the guard of the mansion.

Even after all the times he had dueled, all the men he had bested...the boy was still untouched. Not wounded, not harmed, in fact he was not even winded or worn down by the entire ordeal, even though she could picture the sweat that was slowly pouring and sliding down his now glistening skin.

She knew he was…. "special", but she had not thought the magnitude of it.

He was quick, her eyes barely managing to picture the afterimage of his movements.

He was not skilled with the sword, but beyond the meaning of that word as the sword did not seem to be a tool in his hands, but a part of him. Twirling and dancing through the air with an unknown grace..

His stamina and resolution were greater than what one could have expected, his small body untouched by anything but the sunlight and the dust hovering in the air each and every time a man fell down.

But perhaps, the most curious thing was the fact that he was beating everyone in three strikes. Why? Why three...? She did not know…, but it was certainly striking...

``He is rather special, is he not?´´

The sudden intrusion of a voice not her own shatters the comfort of her own company in the room. Prompting Arisha to turn around, almost hastily as she tried to find the owner of said voice who had intruded into her makeshift sanctum without her notice nor permission.

She would not have to look far, finding the source of the voice been a young, proper looking man in his early twenties given the still youthful look in his features. Short, yet well kept blond hair falling over his shoulders. Standing a good head over her, he was dressed with the clothes of the black knights .

Her eyes had hardened by then, annoyance starting to drip out the depths of her grey eyes at the thought that a nobody had not only the audacity to startle her, but get as close as he had without her consent.

The only thing that had kept her from screaming bloody murder to get his unworthy ass out of the way was the fact that he bared in his chest the royal symbol. A mark that only those trusted by the royal family wore.

Given that she could not dismiss him like she wanted, she did the second best thing she could...

Mildly spat and made her annoyance known to him.

``I don't know where you come from, sir...but Its neither polite or appreciated having a man sneak on a noble like you did..´´

The man-boy rose his hands in a placating manner, bearing an apologetic look in his eyes.

``Of course, of course... my apologies my fair and noble lady. It was not my intention to cause any discomfort or worry whatsoever to you... I was merely stating what I feel you think as-well of the boys performance in the arena...´´

``Whether it was or not, it does not absolve you fault…, next time you should do well to remember your place and the correct etiquette..sir- ´´

``Zenon Griffey, my lady..I come from the capital...and you are indeed right in your assumptions, the only thing I can do is ask for forgiveness for my lack of tact and thought to you, great daughter and heir of the Pendragon family, the luminescent sun that glows ever brighter each passing day…

``That's, rather kind of you to say…, but don't think that mere wordplay would get you far in this life...´´

Oh, no, no, no...not at all my lady. I believe that my words, even now...are still not enough to clarify your greatness. Your mere presence brings light into the comp-fines of this dim lighted room and rest to the weary heart of mind...´´

He said eloquently, bowing his head and kneeling in-front of her. A hand placed underneath his chest while the other remained resting on the floor through only his finger tips. His expression serene and collected, his words warm yet honest.

Arisha tried to keep her composure, but she felt a strange heat coursing through her cheeks as pride started to flare up inside her chest.

``W-well, of course I do. I am after all the heir to the family, the brightness and most dazzling girl to ever walk this earth. To see that another soul is capable to see my greatness, of course smart people would flock to those so capable who fate has granted its spotlight..

It was not like the man was saying things to butter her up, he was stating the obvious, something that many were vexed to admit thanks to their pride.

It was the law of this world for those with nothing to admire and revere their betters. It meant that they understood their position in life and that they were to be trusted.

She never saw the brief, twisted smirk that wrapped around the Black Knights lips.

``Your kindness knows no bounds, I am truly honored to have met you..´´.

``Ah, it seems that I pegged you too soon as an annoying interloper. To think you would be so cultured and wise...it makes me realize that you were rightfully chosen to watch over the crown..´´

``I am still surprised to have been given that chance, still…perhaps not as interesting as the sudden rise of interest on your brother..´´

``What about him..?´´

``Everyone is wondering and interested in the young and mysterious child of this noble house.., and though it was first mild curiosity, this debut he has gifted our eyes with surely is eye opening..´´

``Its..just swordplay..´´

``It could open many doors for him in the future..´´

``To be a Black Knight?´´

Given that she was the one that was gonna inherit and he was showing skills in the sword it was rather simple math that he would probably join the order of the Black Knights in time. That was a given... so what other opportunities her step-brother would have apart from that she wondered..?

Zenon was no longer looking at her, but at the arena.., his eyes following the movements of only one individual so far. Thinking. Contemplating..

And then…. he smiled.

``Or more.., so much more..´´

``More..? Sir Zenon.., what are you talking about..?´´

He switched his attention back to her.

``Sorry.., state secrets, I can not go and divulge them without permission..´´

``What? Why...?´´

``My apologies, but that would be a question that I would not be able to satisfy with an answer. I did not made the rules..,

``That's a pity, but I guess the crown would not be what is it today if its servants were to disclosure everything they knew to anyone or everyone..´´

``All too true, but do not worry, its nothing nefarious...merely related to the young masters abilities in the field of battle that could be use for the betterment of this world...´´

``Not the kingdom?´´

``Do you think that with such raw talent as his he would choose for less?´´

``Eh...?´´

``No, forget it my lady...just myself speaking out of place the thoughts of my mind.., ´´

``I see…´´

``Still, I hope this change of pace does not startle you or cause you an inconvenience...but I need your help, my lady..´´

``M-my help? Why do you think I could do anything about it?´´

``Because I believe you are the closest person I could ask to, given that you live with him..´´

She could not help but feel a tad of disappointment at that.

``Is this about Koldarrd again..?´´

``So that is his true name.. ´´

``Eh?´´

``Nothing my lady, dont pay it much heed. Now, if it could be possible... I would wish to..interview him..´´

``Why..?´´

``To see whether he can be of use to the kingdoms higher echelons…, he has talent, it should be put to use in its rightful place.., wouldn't you agree?´´

``That.., does make some sense.´´

Zenon gave her a weak nod, crossing his arms below his chest, satisfied with her response.

``You are not only pretty, but also wise...your future will be a great one...I can already hear the bards sing songs of your gleaming path..´´

She felt herself fluster and redden at the praise, her heart soaring with pride as she bated in the acknowledgment of her virtues.

Ah, it felt so good to be noticed...

If she was so smitten with her, perhaps she could use him to get good contacts inside the capital, perhaps with the princesses themselves if she played her cards well.

Power..

Fame...

Parties..

Tea...

They would be hers...and the only thing she needed to do was help this good ma had an interview with her...step-brother. It was too good to believe..

She was almost humming cheerfully at the future thought of having herself partake in lavish dinners with the royal heirs to the throne. The shame, worries and regret that she had felt from her fathers abject disappointment at her was fully gone now as dreams of grandeur occupied each and every corner of her mind..

After all, wasn't that what every little girl her age dreamed about..? It was clear what she had to do, and who would not when it was offered to her in silver platter? She could get back the attention that the new comer had taken away from her...and get close contacts with the capital.

Like those peasant mongrels used to say here and there...two birds with literally one stone.

…

…

Yep! She was a genius...

``I must say that fate must be shining down on you, sir Zenon...because you have convinced me. I will help you in your quest..´´

``How gracious of you my lady, I wont forget your kindness..

She smiled at that, placing a hand over her hip, while the other remained gracefully resting over her chest.

``You better not, sir...because its I….The great and grand Arisha Von Pendragon who will escort you to my step-brother...´´

``Then I will be in your care…, my lady. I just cant wait to get to know him..´´ The man said with a candid and wide smile, his eyes denoting warmth his pose gallantly and courteous.

Taking his hand, he escorted her outside...the two making their way down to where she guessed her step-brother would go once he was done with this.. "thing" of his.

..

..

..

..

..

Unbeknownst to them, there was someone else paying attention to their discussion, someone who had known and perceived the true nature of the capital knights visitor.

An old looking man that had been hiding in the shadows. His appearance normal and holding an air of mystery and wonder, like the wayward yet kind grandfather or uncle who was too much into reading occult staff or investigating things here and there. Someone who could not be able to hurt a fly with the way his legs seemed to shake or the dried cough's slipping through his lips from time to time, all while he held onto a cane to guide his steps….,

Yet this time was different as his face was stuck in a bitter grimace as his eyes were fuming with contained anger.

``Damn you brat, don't think that you will get the better of me just because you convinced that idiot… ´´

He took a step out of the shadows, and then another, and another...the dim light that barely managed to protrude into the narrow windows of the room obscuring his features instead of revealing them, but they were not enough to hide away the change in his demeanor, the way his lips became crooked and ravenous before he started to laugh….only for a fit of coughing to stop him.

He knew why that man had come all the way here form Midgard..

He knew what he was trying to do, what he would say, what he would propose...each and every word that would be uttered already in his head in perfect order.

Why? Why did he know? Well, that was rather simple…: because it was the exact same thing he had planned since an ounce of amusement and curiosity had peaked his interest on the boy.

He knew the boy was strong..

He knew he was capable..

In fact, he appeared to be more of the academic type than merely brute force if his investigations had anything to say about it..

But nothing of that had sway his hand this much compared with that look in his eyes.

That look of boredom and jadedness gleaming inside those ponds of cold silver, the way he resembled a walking corpse or a machine given human flesh becoming the spark that had started this desire to know more.

Even though he had only see said expression for a second, perhaps even less through the reflection of a mirror….it had made him feel a strange sense of dejavu. Like starring into a mirror.

And perhaps he was wrong..

Perhaps he was imagining things and it had been nothing but a glimmer of light badly reflected from the mirror. But if it was true…, the possibilities could be endless.

Still, the only difference between him and the upstart first child... was that Zenon wanted a soldier to use for his schemes now that Fenrirs seemed to be dead…

HE however needed a weapon for his vengeance

Loki would pay for his transgressions, and all of those that had slightest will regret the day they spurned him from his rightful place...

Still, like any surgeon worth their salt...first things first. Then, he could have his fun...

``Have it your way, useless first child...I Lutheran, will take your challenge. And that pawn...will be mine..´´

There was a bit of time before he had to return to Laugus and continue the charade with that brain-dead pink haired fool and her daughter.

He could still play a little...

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A/N

Here comes another chapter, I hope you like it and leave a comment down below to share your opinion if you want, sometimes it helps to know your thoughts whether why you like something or why you dont, or just your doubts...

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I already know how the arc is going to end and which characters are gonna be pivotal to it, like: Delta, Iris, Beatrix and a few others to say the least to not spoil the rest of the roster and what is going to happen "there".

Now the only thing remaining is making the parts prior stick well to it.., its going to be a bit of a pain, but eh, nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?

Have a good day or night and see you next time.

:)