Author's Note: This rapid update will goes on for a few more chapters to catch up with what I posted on Spacebattles.

I'm sure that people want to see actions, but unfortunately, magic did not come with an instruction manual like parahuman power. So...

Chapter 8

Going to the town at the base of the Pandemonium Castle was a new experience for Taylor who came from modern age society. Everything outside the crystal-like castle wall was almost like a picture of Renaissance-era described in history texts and fairy tales, from the architecture of the buildings to the people who lived there.

And then there's the method of transportation, namely with Yumeko picking her up, packed all her belonging into her personal space magic, and flown over the castle wall instead of using the front gate. While the experience was a little bit soured by certain apathetic nine-tails fox flying alongside them, it was still like a dream come true to Taylor who once lived in a universe where superheroes and supervillains with superpowers were real and once dreamt of being one in her childhood.

The best part was when Yumeko told her that she would be able to do it as well given enough practices and studies. She was delighted, but for now, she has to clamp down that excitement and focus on the present, making a promise to herself that she'd definitely learn how to fly one day.

Part of her mind was a bit resentful that Shinki couldn't come with them, however, Taylor clammed down that thought by the reason that the first envoy was expected to arrive at the castle today so it'd be improper for her to ditch that duty for Taylor's selfish desire. Yumeko has made that clear to her just this morning that there're tensions between some the kingdoms out there, and they were expected to meet here to try to resolve their issues peacefully.

'Should've to leave Haku there so she can come with us.' Taylor thought before dismissing it almost immediately after experienced the fox's attitude first-hand, Taylor knows in her mind that it's not going to end well at all.

"What are you thinking Taylor?"

Yumeko's enhanced voice broke her out of her inner monologue. Looking between her, the reddish sky, and then the town they were descending to below, Taylor smiled slightly and replied with the magic-enhanced voice like her senior's so that her words won't be swept away by the rushing wind "I'm just nervous, Yumeko. I haven't been out of the castle before, and…" her gaze turned to the sky which perpetually glowing in reddish color "…it's kind of unsettling, seeing the sky like that up close."

Yumeko's spared a brief glance upward before shrugging "Understandable, most immigrants from the other realms, especially human's, also find it unsettling. But those who were born here and grew up with them won't." She then motioned her free hand toward the strange trees with white leaves growing around what seems to be a small park or public space of some kind in the middle of one section of the town "…same as many species of plants and animals here."

Yumeko then pointed toward the mountain ranges in the horizon in an attempt to lighten the mood of her junior "There're many civilizations of various sapient people out there. Many with cultures unique to them from universes apart. Think of this as an opportunity to see what this world has to offer outside the confine of Pandemonium Castle and not dishearten by this temporary arrangement."

"Say the one who always stays in the castle."

Taylor couldn't help but verbally jabbed her senior lightly. However, that caused Yumeko to shook her head slightly and quickly corrected Taylor's assumption.

"I still occasionally venture outside. It just that with my ability, I can travel faster than flying."

Taylor looked confused for a moment before she realized that her senior was talking about her magic "There's teleportation magic?"

"Indeed." Yumeko replied before quickly adds "But you better master flying first before trying your hand at teleportation. One thing at a time, so to speak."

Taylor nodded in agreement before Yumeko pointed toward one section of the town below "We're almost there."

Their descend was interrupted when Taylor spotted a few people looking up from the clobber stone street below them "Wait, Yumeko, there're people watching us!"

The senior quirked her eyebrow at Taylor's sudden panic but have yet to slow their flight "What's wrong with it? People looking at mages and flight-capable individual passing over them all the time."

"We're wearing a skirt."

Understanding expression lit up on Yumeko's face, but again she didn't act to protect her modesty at all and continued on their path, even waving her free hand at a group of men in front of one bar they were flying over. As for Haku, she didn't seem to care at all except for sending a warning glance in the two maids' direction to not fall behind.

Yumeko then spoke up "Don't tell me you're going to let this stopping you from flying? And don't you think it's too late to complain right now?"

Taylor retorted back while pointing her free hand at the hem of her maid dress "Well, I'm not planning to fly while wearing a skirt, flashing my underwear for all to see. And sorry if people in the castle didn't bat an eye because it's you who picked me up."

That caused her senior to chuckled a little which irritated Taylor even more for not taking this seriously to the point that she briefly thinking if she has no shame at all until Yumeko explains "Anyone that can fly can also employ many ways to cover their modesty, and I'm using it on you since the beginning."

That piped Taylor's interest "What kind of method?"

Yumeko nodded her head toward the fox who was already down on the street below looking at them "Illusion magic is one option. But for me, I'm using wind magic to keep our dignity intact. You'll have to practice to find the one you like, but that's for the other time."

They touched a small road at that moment. Yumeko quickly released a grip on Taylor and let her walk with Haku narrowed her eyes at the duo before turning around and begins leading them to the destination.

Along the road, they passed by various townspeople who seem to recognize either Haku or Yumeko and greeted them, which they returned the gesture. What surprised Taylor was how casual Haku looked when she knelt down to speak with passing children, but then returned to the stoic, unfeeling mask the moment she caught sight of the town guards patrolling the area.

'Is she only nasty to those under Shinki's employ?'

Taylor didn't voice her thought out loud however, as the woman in question was within earshot, a very far-reaching one too, so gossiping was out as well.

They walked through the narrow street following Haku until she stopped in front of one resident. It wasn't hard to notice the house though, not only its walls were made of wood instead of bricks and mortar, it was also made in the Eastern style like those Taylor vaguely saw in the book describing the old Chinese civilization instead of European style housing that surrounded it.

Furthermore, the sign in front of the resident was written as 'Clinic' in Makai dialect which she could read thanks to Yumeko's teaching.

As Taylor was wondering why this clinic was so different from its neighbors, Haku waltzed up to the front door and knocked on it rapidly until it slid opened revealing an elderly man with wearing a grey Chinese style clothing standing there. He was thin but well-built, unlike Taylor's beanpole stature that still plaguing her new life.

'As if I'd know that self-image was used as a template to create a new body for me.' Taylor thought bitterly, her hand unconsciously rubbing around her belly 'At least working around the castle helped getting rid of my pot belly.'

The old man's eyebrows scrunched up as he saw who was in front of his house, his thin lip turned into a wide radiant smile as he greeted the nine-tails woman and her group warmly and energetically, contrasting his supposed age "It's good to see you again, my dear sister."

Haku responded by pulling the old man into a hug and return the greeting with a kind affectionate voice that surprised Taylor "I'm glad that you're still as lively as ever, brother."

That earned a heartful laugh from the old man, and then after the two parted away, he turned attention to the two maids. His squinted eyes looked through them before settled on the blonde first "Long time no see, Yumeko. And would you mind introduce me to your apprentice?"

That got Taylor to wonder if Yumeko or Haku talked about her to this elder before coming here, but from the earlier reaction, she concluded to herself that it was unlikely.

"This's Taylor, and she's a new maid in Milady's employ." Yumeko introduced her to the old man, which prompted Taylor to greet him by bowing "She'll be staying with your family for the time being due to the impending gathering event at the castle."

The old man beamed at the reply from Yumeko and then quickly ushered them "What are you all waiting for? Come in, come in, all of you! We can talk later."

He turned around and moved inside followed by everyone. Once inside, it was revealed that the room was filled with wooden shelves containing various jars and bottles of herbs and medicine with labels that Taylor couldn't recognize attached to them. A flat-large table situated to the side with a brown blanket covering it. And a counter at the back of the room.

The old man led them to the back of the room which was the living area behind the counter. But as he was about to go to the kitchen next-door to brew tea, Haku's hand grabbed his. The two stared at each other silently for a moment, and then Haku let the old man's hand go and walked into the kitchen herself leaving him with Yumeko and Taylor.

A chuckle escaped the elder as he gestured the two maids to the set of modest chairs and small table "Come on, let sit while Haku brings us tea. For now, you're my guest just like many that Haku kept sending here whenever they were disqualified for duty."

Taylor tensed at his statement, but before her negative and depreciative thought could surface, the elder preempted her first while he and Yumeko took their seats "My sister, Haku, seems to think this's a good place to hold a remedial lesson for some reason. But I digress. So far, they only showed up here once, stayed for a month, before returning to the Pandemonium castle and never have to come back here." he then turned toward Yumeko and smiled "Except this lady here who frequently visit since I opened this clinic."

Then he noticed that Taylor was standing and asked in the same energetic voice he used since they met which startled her "You too, take a seat and tell me your story."

Yumeko noticed Taylor's nervousness and quickly come to a rescue "You haven't introduced yourself yet!"

Her senior's words paused the energetic old man in his track. He let out a chuckle "Pardon this forgetful old man. Surrounded with people I know tends to make I forget." He then smiled at Taylor "The name is Yang, and welcome to my clinic."

Taylor nervously reached her hand out and paused for a moment when she noticed Yang didn't present her with his before her training kicked in and bowed to him without any prompts from Yumeko "My name is Taylor Hebert, a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Yang."

Yang laughed "Ah, polite one, aren't you? I think you'll get along with my daughter fine."

Taylor wasn't sure how to react, it was a long time ago since she had seen someone genuinely happy like this, Mr. Glady's fake enthusiasm didn't count.

Sound of boiling water reached their ears, and soon enough Haku returned with a tray of tea set for everyone which surprised Taylor even more, that someone like Haku would do a maid works like this for her so-called 'brother' but she shut her mouth as the tea set was placed on the table and all of them seated across each other.

Without waiting, Haku and Yang started sipping it, while Yumeko mumbled "Thank you" before treating herself a cup as well, leaving only Taylor who was overthinking on what's the fox's trick this time…

"It's rude to ignore the host's hospitality."

A whisper from Yumeko who seated next to Taylor made her picked the cup up and started sipping it as well. And to her surprise it was very good, but that perhaps was because of her low opinion on Haku whom, thanks to Shinki's and Haku's own indirect admission, reminded her too much of Sophia whom she couldn't imagine doing something so 'girly' like this.

A clank echoed as Haku put her cup down on the dish and caught everyone's attention as she turned to Yang "Brother, I must apologize for spoiling the mood, but…"

A wrinkled hand held up in front of the fox as the old man smiled "Don't be! As I said, it's not a trouble at all to take care of promising youngster from time to time, and Little Mao could use new friends too."

"She has made plenty since she could talk." Haku sighed.

"Having a hundred friends is still too few, having one enemy is already too many." and Yang sagely responded.

This back and forth argument was so much different from what Taylor heard during her short interaction at the castle, partially cementing her belief that Haku was either just messing with newcomers or just mean and abusive to those under her only.

Taylor didn't know who would be more terrifying, a supervillain that wear a visible mask when committing villainy, or someone like Haku and those three bitches who wear a metaphorical one.

"…are you listening? Taylor?"

"W… what happened?"

Her panicky reply earned a scowl from Yumeko who sat next to her, but the scolding never came as Yang come to her rescue "Relax, girls. This's not the castle, you're my guests, not servants. Try to relax a little bit more."

That calmed Taylor down despite the look given by Yang's sister and begins to enjoy the hospitality provided. And again, to her surprise, the tea was surprisingly good, considered Haku's attitude.

"It is my brother who prepared the tea leaves, he's the one you should be praising."

As if reading her mind, Haku spoke up before Taylor even said her thought out, but it rarely surprised her anymore, after all knowing that many have been sent here before, perhaps they also said the same thing?

Right then the door was pull opened revealing a figure of petite girl barely reaching teenage with freckles on her cheek, black hair tied into a double buns and dressed in plain Chinese attire not unlike Yang's carrying a backpack walking in and announced her presence by greeting the old man, seemingly didn't notice the people gathered in her home at all "I'm back, Dad!"

Yang shot up from his seat and greeted his daughter back with a wide smile "Oh, Mao, welcome home, how's that boy Lucius, Is he all right?"

At first, Taylor thought he was referring to the girl's boyfriend consider the girl was quite pretty despite the freckles and her experience during the hellish high school day in her previous life…

"Still the same careless idiot dad. You wouldn't believe what kind of poisonous plants he ate this time. I made him puke three times before he stopped being green."

…and again, her expectation was shattered when the girl replied the old man while carefully stowing her backpack in the corner of the room with a scowling face that was to be expected from someone who literally just cleaned up someone's puke.

And then, the girl finally noticed other three women in the room, she greeted both Haku and Yumeko with a smile "Hello, aunt Haku, Yumeko! I didn't know you two will visit today!"

Those two greeted the girl with affection, and then the girl turned toward Taylor. The girl sniffed, around Taylor who froze in place with indecisiveness on how to respond, before the girl looked up at Taylor's eyes and asks first "I never see you around before."

Yumeko cough, gaining Mao's attention "She's Milady's maid, and Haku wish for her to stay here for the time being."

Mao sighed and then turned to the fox woman and deadpans "Aunt Haku, are you sure your standard isn't an impossible task?"

Haku suddenly turned on her stoic expressionless mask and replies in a matter of fact tone "I'm certain that she's only the second person from the castle you've met this way."

Mao pouted "As if I'd believe you who's hundreds of years older than my dad." she then shook her head "You and dad never tell me how the hell you two become sworn brother and sister either."

"Maybe I'll tell you someday."

Taylor swore that she saw an amused glint in the fox's eyes briefly as she answered that question with a vague promise that caused the girl to huffed in response.

It was then that Yumeko poked Taylor and nodded meaningfully at Yang's daughter. Taylor caught on quickly but hesitated for a moment before she could muster the courage to speak up under the expecting glances "I… I'm Taylor Hebert, a maid under Ma'am Shinki's employ. Nice to meet you."

After she introduced herself, Taylor felt like a weight has been lifted off her chest as the old man smiled at her while his daughter took hold of her hands and shook vigorously while saying "Nice to meet you too Taylor!"

Haku chose that moment to drank her tea in one go and then stood up "I'm sorry that you have to wash the cups for me. But my schedule is tight. I'll leave Taylor in your care for a while brother."

Taylor wasn't sure if it was intentional or not, but one of Haku's fluffy tails brushed against her nose and make her sneezed as she walked past. She sent the fox a parting glare just in time for her to slammed the door shut though.

"She's always busy during this time of the year. I hope you'll forgive her."

Yang's voice drew Taylor's attention back to him. She shot him a glare and deadpans "That's an understatement of the year Mister."

Yang didn't seem to mind as he responded to the girl with a kind voice "You should think a little more positive. Taylor."

Taylor snorted but suppressed her anger and tried to be polite with her host "I doubt I can do that with your sister Mister."

"I've seen many people my sister sent to stay here since I came to live here, and trust me that you're not the first nor the last who will find her unbearable."

To Taylor's surprise, Yang actually agreed with her, but that confused her even more.

"Then what do you mean by 'think positive' if not to tell me to try and like Haku… your sister?"

Naturally, Taylor asked her question out loud disregarding Yumeko's warning glare again.

"There're many kinds of teachers in the world. Some taught by being a good example, and some by being a bad example."

Thankfully, Yang seems tolerant of her question as he explained without any annoyance in his words.

"There is wisdom to be gain from everything you experienced in your life…" he paused as he looked at her in the eyes "…but wisdom may not always pleasant to the receptors."

Taylor pondered the meaning behind his words before she spoke up "You're saying that what your sister behaved is not acceptable and I shouldn't follow her example?"

"They're both good and bad things. Few are clear-cut bad or good. You'll see as you grow and experience the world." Yang replied in a cryptic manner.

It was at this moment that his daughter showed her face around the kitchen's door and spoke to the two maids "You know, you should start unpacking your stuff now, I don't have time all day to show you the room."

"Why's the hurry, Mao? Something happens?"

At her father's inquiry, Mao pursed her lip before pointing to the door "Mr. William asked us to check on his wife today, dad. Don't you remember?"

Yang's almost close eyes widened slightly and then he chuckled lightly "Ah, I almost got carried away by Haku's visit it seems."

Mao let out an exasperated sigh before walking up to Taylor. Without any words, she tugged on Taylor's sleeve "Let's settle you in while we still have time so I can get to know you better."

Taylor soon realized that she wasn't given a choice as the girl dragged her up to the second floor with Mr. Yang telling them to take their time from behind and Yumeko silently followed them.

They soon arrived at an empty room, which doesn't take long as this two-story house was much smaller than a single great hall in the Pandemonium Castle. Never mind Taylor's new room which has only one small bed and a waist-high drawer which doubled as a desk with a small lamp standing on it.

The unpacking of Taylor's stuff went quickly as it only amounted to Yumeko opened her personal pocket dimension and dumped out a tiny stack of neatly folded clothes and boxes containing essential belonging on the floor which Taylor simply put them inside the drawer without many problems.

It's not like she could carry over the items from her previous life, nor did there's a lot of her belongings to unpack in the first place.

"So…" Mao spoke up from the front door as soon as the final package went inside the drawer "…how did you become a maid in Lady Shinki's castle anyway?"

Taylor who just stood up paused at the question, no doubt contemplating the response due to her distrustfulness of strangers before she chided herself mentally for being paranoid to a girl she just met, being a relative to Haku was a flimsy excuse at best.

Still, she couldn't help but asked the girl "Has Haku not telling you?"

Mao shook her head in reply "Dad always said that it's a private matter that we shouldn't pry about unless they wanted to share it with us. So, even Dad won't know a thing more than that you get flunked out of aunty Haku's ridiculous test and have to live with us until those foreigners go back to their lands."

"I… see…"

Taylor couldn't criticize Haku's strange way of dealing with her family members though, not when she herself also not telling her Dad a thing about the bullying campaign until it was too late.

"If you're not comfortable sharing it, then don't."

Yumeko once again came to the rescue. Her mild glare directed at Mao as a warning, which the younger girl got the message and backed down.

However, Taylor finally made up her mind at that moment. She won't let her past dictate her anymore. Being paranoid of everyone including a little girl just because of her bad experience in high school is akin to acknowledging that those bitches still holding power over her to the point that she won't make friends even with children after given a second chance.

Taylor was fully aware that this cannot continue, Haku's indirect lesson during the 'test' notwithstanding.

"Ma'am Shinki…" She spoke up, catching attention from Mao and Yumeko "…give me a second chance at living, that's why I serve her."

Alas, the deep-seated paranoia won't go away with just a few words from everyone pointing out the problem. But at least, this was another step into the right direction, or so Taylor thought.

Mao accepted that vague explanation with a nod "All right. Standard 'I owe you my life' then."

Taylor was about to ask what she meant before the girl complimented her "You're a nice one you know. There're a lot of people out there who wouldn't hesitate to off their own parents or someone who saved their lives because it's convenient or 'beneficial'."

The last part she spoke with her hands in quotation gesture, not of a good kind if her expression was anything to go by. That ease Taylor's worries somewhat that at least the girl was a good person if a bit weird.

'But maybe it's because I'm judging her using a modern-day standard, not Medieval one.' Taylor mentally noted to herself as they were walking back to the living room where Mao's father is waiting.

"Oh, done already?" The old man quickly noticed their approach and greeted them. On the table was a heavy-looking leather bag containing what Taylor assumed to be medical supplies for the task ahead of the father-daughter pair for the day, but then, unexpectedly, Yang beamed at Taylor "Well, why don't you come along, Taylor? Yumeko?"

The two maids looked at each other before the senior politely declined the old man. Yang on his part didn't seem to dishearten and asked Mao to take care of his clinic in his absence instead.

"Someone has to stay here after all."

Mao nodded, seemingly didn't mind staying back that much. But given what she was doing previously, Taylor thought that it was understandable.

After that, Yang departed to his appointment of the day, leaving three ladies all by themselves.

Mao didn't go to the clinic immediately, she invited everyone to sit around the dining table to chat, and when Taylor asked if it's all right to leave the clinic unmanned, her explanation was something Taylor should see coming.

"The door was enchanted to amplify the knocking sound, so we're going to hear them even from the second floor."

Of course, this World has magic, how can she keep forgetting that.

Mao chose this opportunity to continue the conversation they left off seeing that no one come to the clinic yet "So since we're going to be living together for at least a month…"

"I have to help around the clinic in the meantime?"

She trailed off, but Taylor could guess what Mao wanted to say and replied. After all, she's an adult now, no more freeloading at someone's house anymore. Or at least, that's what Taylor was thinking of herself.

Mao nodded before she added quickly and in a more serious tone than earlier "Mostly housework, the medicines and treatments are not something you can learn to do in a month."

Taylor nodded, understood the reasoning, yet one mystery remains, and it concerns the daughter of this household, or rather, her apparent age.

"But you look younger than me and you're already treating people…" Taylor pointed out, and then quickly adds "…How long since you started practicing medicine?"

"Five" The girl proclaimed proudly if her puffing her chest was any indications.

"What about school?"

The girl's face turned into a frown at Taylor's question and shrugged nonchalantly "Why should I go to school when I have a clinic to run with my Dad? And it's not like I'd miss anything."

The response caught Taylor by surprise, only when Yumeko explained that she realized her error.

"We have mail lessons."

Sighing, Taylor muttered, "I keep jumping the conclusion, didn't I?"

"Indeed, you are."

Yumeko's voice reminded Taylor that she wasn't as quiet as she would like to think. However, she put that aside and resume the conversation with Mao. "Even so, can I study your… er… craft?"

Mao scratched her chin with a thoughtful look at the question before answering "I don't see a problem. My dad won't either." the girl shot Taylor a radiant smile and then muttered quietly "At least I'd happy to have someone to discuss my interest with."

"Pardon?"

"No, it's nothing…"

Taylor blinked, but then realized that maybe she was encroaching on a personal matter and dropped the subject. She then turned to her senior and asks when one thought surfaced in her head "Can I ask for a mail lesson in magic from Ma'am Shinki while I'm staying here?"

Yumeko rose her eyebrows in surprise before shaking her head "Mail lesson can only work if the subject it teaches won't endanger the student or people around them too much, can you say with certainty that magic study isn't such case?"

Taylor's retort died in her mouth and she looked down on her lap for she has no argument, not when she could realize the potential just by studying alone.

Sensing distraught in her junior, the blonde gave Taylor a small smile "There'll be plenty of things for you to learn while staying here. If you're so inclined that is. Who knows, you may find something interesting in the meantime." and then she adds "And no one says you cannot practice what you've learned so far while here. After all, magic is a commonplace in Makai, no need for secrecy here."

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?"

Yumeko shook her head at Taylor's response "No, it is not." and then she asked a question right back "But why focus on the unchangeable past, or the future that only realized with your actions in the present?"

Taylor stared at her senior and then sighed "That's like something Shinki would say."

Yumeko didn't respond this time. However, she didn't have to as that was already enough to nudge Taylor to make up her mind. She turned to Mao and smiled "I… I think it won't hurt to learn… I mean, I have to take care of people after all."

"Well, you're serving an old hag who didn't look any older than twenty, that'd make anyone forget that medical skill is useful."

Taylor didn't know how to respond to that remark and remains silent while Yumeko glared at the girl for perceived 'insult' to her mistress/mother. Taylor used that silence to think about one of her ideas, could she keep up with studying multiple demanding subjects whose failure could spell disaster at once?

In the end, she decided that it worth a try and asked Mao "Can I keep learning from you and your father even after this's all over?"

Yumeko turned to Taylor, looking surprised before Mao replied after a moment of thinking "Let's see how it goes during the stay first before saying anything else." she chuckled and admitted, "After all, the one who'll be teaching you would be my Dad, not me."

Taylor's felt relieved; she hasn't been rejected outright. The people in this household seems nice enough so far in contrast with that fox. Maybe this stay won't be as bad as she first thought.

Even so, her gut's feeling tells her that Haku will certainly plot something nasty for her if she didn't. Yumeko's and Shinki's assurance of allowing her to return to the Pandemonium Castle once this all blew over notwithstanding. And she won't deny her long-buried scholar habit anymore.

Hopefully, she'd up to the task and gaining something during this stay.