Chapter 11
Weeks passed by since the last visit from Shinki. Taylor went back to studying from Yang and Mao with renewed vigor. Although still squeamish about some disgusting 'medicines', Taylor gritted her teeth and endure, knowing that many doctors both past, present, and future, had to face the same challenge before become fully accredited, which make her respected them more than before.
Apart from the study which began to get harder as Taylor delved into the human anatomy, life in the clinic was never boring after Shinki talked to her about heroism through violence. Now she could find a little joy in helping people of their maladies, even if said help only amounted to being a handyman for Yang or Mao because her knowledge and skill weren't good enough to do it herself, and probably won't for a few years provided that Shinki's arrangement worked out.
When thinking about what she discussed with Shinki that night, Taylor frowned, not because of fearing reprisal from certain fox under Shinki's employ, but the expectations and burdens that will result from this deal.
'Even if the deal goes off without a hitch, it isn't going to get any easier.'
Taylor thought as she diced herbs that look like blue ginger into tiny pieces, idly noting with slight disappointment that household grinder hasn't been invented yet, and even if it did, there was no electricity to run it, only gas line. She mused a little on whether it's a worthwhile venture to invent a magical grinder or not.
Putting that idea aside for the later, Taylor finished her assigned task by putting the crushed herb into a glass bottle half-filled with syrup for preservation, and then attached a label to it before putting it on the storage shelf. Afterward, she left the backside of the house to join Mao at the front door, basket on her back and began a journey toward the usual market square.
Despite the time was well into the afternoon, the market was still buzzing with people, though the type of people changed from housewives and servants to merchants and travelers buying supplies for their journey, with town guards posted around the square to keep order.
For the duo Mao and Taylor, they never come to the market this late, today was the exception because of one certain vendor in the market selling certain ingredients for medicines in Yang's clinic was scheduled to show up today. If they missed the purchase, then it'd be another month of waiting.
"Are there no other suppliers for this thing?" Taylor asked as they approached the market square, passing by a pair of town guards who took a glance at them before letting them in.
"The same reason why I always buy meat from Uncle Orthog whenever possible." Mao quickly replied without missing a beat as they slowly made their way through the throng of people with Mao leading Taylor toward the destination on the opposite end of the square while the taller girl pondered on the answer she received.
However, Taylor couldn't focus on it for long when she caught sight of a pair of young adventurers judging from the clothing they were wearing. But what caught her attention was that they were sweeping leaves and garbage off the street with brooms in their hands to be picked up onto a waiting cart, and a pair of human town guards in full armor standing watch over the duo with several passersby shot them glance of curiosity once in a while.
Mao saw what caught Taylor's attention and deadpanned "Well, are you not going to greet them?"
Taylor looked at Mao questioningly until the shorter girl shrugged "She won't go anywhere until the evening and she doesn't have many customers, we have some time to spare. I dragged you out here early because of habit."
After looking at each other, they decided to approach the group in question. The town guards spotted them when the adventurers were loading the garbage onto the cart and greeted them first, or specifically, Mao.
After an exchange of pleasantries, Taylor finally got the chance to ask the guards while glancing warily at the adventurers who were still busy loading the cart, grumbling something incoherent all the while "Why are you using them to sweep the street, Mister?"
The human town guards looked at each other before the one with a goatee scratched his chin and answered "This's a punishment detail, lass. These lads…" he nodded at the adventurers who just finished loading garbage up and was now looking at them "…caused a brawl in our fair city and almost murdered a clergyman who tried to stop them."
Taylor's eyes widen as she remembered that old clergyman from the other day, while they weren't the same guards that brought him to Yang's and then to the hospital, she still asks "How is he?"
The goatee town guard answered "Last I heard, he's fine now. Arm reattached thanks to the healer just in time." he then glared at the two adventurers who at least had enough decency to looked away in shame, probably because the clergyman they almost killed was either from the religion they worship or someone they respected "Which is fortunate for these two, else their sentence will be harsher."
"You get the convicts of almost-murder to do community service instead of serving a sentence in prison?" Taylor asked the obvious question. "Are you not afraid that they'd run?"
"Hey!"
"What do you take us for? A no honor thug?"
It seems that Taylor was too loud, or the adventurers had better ears than she thought. Taylor quickly apologized, clearly not expecting them to react like that. The adventurers were about to say something, but one look from the town guards and they settled to just accepting her apology.
The town guards, seemingly satisfied with their behavior, turned his attention back to Taylor again "Well, if they run, we'll write a report to Adventurer Guilds across the world. Or at least, Guilds that established within countries that attended this month's meeting..."
He left the sentence hanging, but it was enough for Taylor to connects the dots by herself what are waiting for those who avoid justice of this town.
"Also, letting them sit in the prison is counterproductive." The town guard continued, completely unconcern of her thought "Lady Haku said that having them laze around in a cell doing nothing is like giving them a holiday. Have them work for meals but no payment is a much better punishment."
Taylor couldn't exactly disagree with that logic despite seeing the flaws in such measures. Her words with Shinki came to mind as she inquired further "What if the convicts are violent and unrepentant?"
The town guard's eyes twitched before the senior one pushed the man she was conversing with aside and replied with a grim look on his face "We hope we'll never face one. The sentence will not be pretty, that much is written in the law."
The implication was unsettling, but Taylor decided not to pry further by Mao's insistent tugging at her sleeves to get going. The two of them said goodbye to the town guards and all went on their separate way.
Once they were out of earshot from the convicted adventurers, Mao turned to look at Taylor and spoke up as if she knows what she was thinking "Before you let your imagination run wild, shouldn't you ask Lady Shinki first?"
Taylor blinked, the thought about laws and punishments of this town came to a grounding halt as she processed Mao's words before she silently nodded. Mao was right, she shouldn't be so quick to open a rift between her and others again after having a second chance like this.
After all, history was studied to learn from the mistakes of the past and not repeating it.
Taylor noticed that Mao led them to the stall selling plant seeds that have fewer people waiting than the nearby ones, and the vendor behind the stall was also equally noticeable.
After all, that bob of wavy green hair was certainly not natural hair color for a human woman despite there was no pointed ears, fangs, horns, or any additional body part to mark her as other species at all, at least, as far as Taylor's normal eyes could see. Even her choice in the clothing of a long-sleeve white shirt, a yellow tie, and a red ankle-length dress that wore over the shirt didn't stand out from the crowd at all.
When they drew closer to the middle-aged woman's stall, Taylor decided to use her Mage Sight on the woman on a whim. But as soon as she activated it, she was taken aback from the overwhelming feedback from the sheer power the woman – no – being behind that stall emitted that she briefly wondered why no one noticed her, or why no guards were around yet.
"Like what you see? child?"
A melodious voice from that woman-like being interrupted Taylor's thought and put her mind in a panic of garnering attention from the being she observed. Only by Mao's firm grip on her arm placating her instinct to run away by reminding her that the girl knows the being in front of them and that nothing harmful will come to be from their confrontation.
That, and the fact that the being was a vendor that Mao regularly buy from and won't accept any substitute speaks volume of the trustworthiness of the being.
A moment later and the two of them stood in front of the stall looking at the various plant seeds that the being was selling. However, Taylor found it's hard to focus on looking for what they want to buy while a pair of red eyes were looking at her curiously.
Luckily, they weren't under any timetable as they're the only customers of this green-haired being's stall at the moment. Hence Mao decided to introduced Taylor to the vendor instead of immediately search for the items she wanted.
"Lady Kazami, this's Taylor, a newly employed maid from the castle staying with us for the month. And Taylor, this's Lady Yuuka Kazami, she's the one supplying us with some rare medical ingredients, the best one!"
Her voice was genuinely cheerful as usual, easing Taylor's worries a little as she bowed slightly at the being called Yuuka who showed a coy smile at her attempt to be cordial.
"It's nice to see a new friendly face around here too, little one." Yuuka spoke up first before she paused and chuckled when she noticed that the raven-haired maid was averting eye contact with her "Relax, little one, I'm not going to hurt you. Has the fact that this marketplace is still standing not enough to convince you?"
Taylor looked up at Yuuka's ruby-red eyes and nodded, elicited a smile from the latter.
After the pleasantries were exchanged, Mao asked Yuuka for the items she requested, which Yuuka has prepared specifically for her. Hence, the transaction was quick and their baskets were filled with bag holding plant seeds soon enough.
However, Mao decided to stay and chat happily with Yuuka, which is understandable considering that the latter only shows up once a month. Yet, when observing the interaction, Taylor wondered how did the little girl not afraid of someone like Yuuka at all. Ignorance was definitely not an excuse, with how much raw power Yuuka was emitting, there was no way that Mao wouldn't sense anything when she could sense magic too.
"What are you daydreaming about, little one?"
Yuuka's voice cut through her musing snapped Taylor out of her thought and recoiled a step back when she realized that somehow the green-haired being has walked up to her and now standing mere inches from her without her noticing.
An amused smile graced Yuuka's lips while Mao's snicker at Taylor's expense, which caused Taylor to give the girl a stink eye despite knowing the Mao wouldn't faze by such display.
Displeasure has to be made known, after all.
"Let's me guess…" Yuuka's voice brought Taylor's attention back at the speaker "It's about how you can 'see' my power but not Shinki's isn't it?"
Taylor's surprise was clearly shown on her face and Yuuka chuckled at the reaction before answering. "It's not that I'm stronger than her if that's what you're thinking. It's because I lack subtlety. That's all to it."
"Or it's because you don't see the point to be subtle, Lady Kazami," Mao interjected with slight sarcasm, seemingly not afraid of a being of immense power at all.
Another soft laugh from the woman in question "I find it more useful in deterring pest, either in this world, or mine."
That caught Taylor's interest almost immediately, followed by questions "You created a world too?"
Yuuka shook her head "Less of a world and more like a pocket dimension large enough to contain my home, a field for my children, and a sky for the sun to shine through. I'm not strong enough to build an entire world for millions like Shinki. And even if I can create a world, I don't fancy sharing my land with other people who will abuse it."
Taylor felt uncomfortable with the way Yuuka expressing her opinion, apathetic and selfish when compared to Shinki, yet it felt right. Shinki's ongoing effort on diplomacy at the castle in the distance came to her mind.
'Maybe Yuuka doesn't want to deal with such headache.'
Mao chose that moment to chimed in and break Taylor's thought "I'd say it's better that way, otherwise, we wouldn't have high-quality ingredients like this." she patted the basket filled with bags carrying the purchases for emphasis.
Taylor could only nod in response as she knows nothing about how to cultivate the seeds they bought. She doubted it'll be like regular seeds she learned about to in her previous life. Nothing is ever certain when magic was involved, after all.
"I…" Taylor began "I hope we're not interrupting your business, chatting like this."
Yuuka waved her hand dismissively "Not at all, little one. It's not every day that I get a chance to talk with people peacefully. While I can gate to Eastern Wonderland, that place isn't quite as open as Makai and things tend to get… violent whenever different beings interacted with each other more often than not."
It was the third time that Taylor had heard of Eastern Wonderland, the first time it was from Shinki, and the second time was from her senior and head maid, Yumeko. She has deduced by herself that it must be another world or dimension connected to Makai and one of the normal Human Worlds out there, and probably with creators watching over it and its denizen which some of them chose to take refuge there instead of Makai.
It was frightening to learn that there're so many godlike beings out there that could create and destroy Worlds on a whim. It was only two that she met personally now, but that's still too many in her mind. She didn't doubt their claims at all, not after what she saw.
Mao continued the conversation for a little bit, asking about the wellbeing of Yuuka's children and some such but Taylor didn't pay much attention to it before they finally decided to parts way several minutes later with baskets on both of their backs.
As they turned the corner into the small road leading up to Yang's home, Mao finally spoke up about the person they met earlier "Seriously Taylor, what are you afraid of Lady Kazami anyway?"
That caught the taller girl by surprise as she turned to look at Mao and accidentally admitted to the latter's question "Am I that obvious?"
A nod from Mao was followed by a reply "I once traveled the world with my Dad and Mom before Dad settled down here, remember? And our family's occupation means that I met a lot of people, and know a little about how to read them."
"I… see…"
'Compared to someone like me who rarely socialize except for a couple of best friends at best, let alone leaving my hometown and make more friends outside.' was what Taylor didn't say out loud.
Upon another urging from Mao, Taylor finally caved in and expressing her fear about Yuuka's claim, which she believed to be true considering what her Mage Sight showed her.
After Taylor finished, Mao shrugged "Well, Yuuka is quite nice as long as you're not trying to press her buttons." she paused a bit "Hard to do because most of her buttons are in her home pocket dimension, Mugenkan she called it. But she won't hold back if you try to hurt her. It's a miracle that there're no so-called righteous adventurers styling themselves as heroes dying from provoking her yet."
That was reassuring because Yuuka still cares for her children back at home which somewhat helped to humanize her a bit in Taylor's mind.
Speaking of which;
"It will be over next week isn't it?"
The maid mused nervously, didn't expecting answer from the girl she was walking with. However, Mao was still as sharp as ever as she immediately knows what Taylor was talking about.
"Yea, finally we'll have some peace for another year or so." Mao groused "A lot of merchants would say having more customers is a good thing, but when you have to see them get hurt for you to make money, it's not a fun or good thing anymore."
Again, Mao's complaints challenged Taylor's belief that people with special power should don a mask and goes out into the night to combat villains is normal and should be expected. And worse, Taylor cannot dismiss it at all, given what she experienced over the weeks where the injured seek out their help, and she was sure that there were more in other clinics and the main hospital that she couldn't see.
Taylor was silent for the rest of the way back to Yang's clinic, troubled expression etched on her face as she pondered the question which plagued her mind; 'Is wishing to be a hero to fight villains on the street equal to wishing people to be in danger to be saved, and wishing for others to turned from a good honest people of the society into villains?'
Granted, Shinki said that there're time and place for everything and that some people will still become villains regardless, but if given the choice, should she wish for something like that to happen to a peaceful and innocent people just to make someone a hero to save them?
"That brooding face again." A sigh from Mao broke Taylor out of her thought. She watched as the smaller girl put hands on her hips and pouted while walking backward in front of her to keep eye contact "When will you knock it off Taylor? It's annoying to see someone making that face every single day without telling me or my Dad what's going on."
Taylor hesitated about telling her what she and Shinki were planning, despite the assurance from the latter, the paranoia part of her mind still doubtful that Yang and Mao would okay with it without Shinki being present in person. But on the other hand, they deserved to know as it involved them directly.
'If I do not tell them, then I'm no better than Haku!'
Her mind made up, but she asked Mao that she'll tell her and Yang together back at the clinic as it was a private matter. Skepticism plastered on Mao's face for a moment before she accepted the offer and they resume their walk to their resident in silence.
It turned out that Taylor's worries and paranoia were unfounded; the father-daughter duo accepted the proposal without a fuss except for Yang looking at her with sad eyes for some reason, while Mao was happy and couldn't wait for it to become official.
Mao still loved Haku though, not surprising considering that she was the only family member left in the world of the living. But the girl also thought that the fox could use some lessons that not everyone will always put up with her attitude.
Getting another fellow apprentice in the art of medicine studying and working alongside her was also a plus in her book too.
Finally, the last delegate from foreign countries left the town after the conclusion of diplomatic gathering the other day and people in the Pandemonium Castle. And it was only a matter of time before Shinki sends someone to fetch Taylor back to the castle and resume her duty there, probably under even stricter supervision from the chief guard, Haku.
At least, that was what Haku probably planned to do.
Since waking up, Taylor was sitting in her room, trying to read a tome of human anatomy without much focus. Her gaze constantly shifted nervously between the door and the tome. She didn't even get downstairs to help with Mao and Yang like usual.
She couldn't thank Mao enough for bringing a simple vegetable porridge as breakfast to her room up here when she didn't show up at the dining table. The smaller girl just waved it off, saying that it was normal that their 'guests' will get nervous when faced with such pressure from her aunt.
"Besides, you're about to do thing that others that came before never tried." Mao added with an expectant smile "Better take this time to calm down and prepare."
Mao was right, she couldn't cower behind Shinki in this plan lest Haku called her out on it. But still, it was hard to focus her thought today, her mind kept wandering back to the question of what to do if it doesn't work.
She didn't know how long the time has passed, but a knock at the door broke Taylor out of her thought to reply to the one behind it "It's unlocked."
Surprisingly, the one behind the door was the old man who sheltered and fed her during the past month, Yang, instead of his daughter. He politely asked to come in and talk, which Taylor didn't see a reason to refuse.
After all, she could use some counseling right now.
Yang stood in front of Taylor with his arms crossed over his chest for a while. His almost-shut eyes scrutinized Taylor in silent and unreadable expression before his lip curled into a frown "You're still nervous."
Seeing no reason to deny his assessment, Taylor nodded, which prompted Yang to continued "Do not worry too much. Remember my story? She can and did concede before, this wouldn't be the first time." He gave her a reassuring smile "And we have a sound reason, not something you cooked up on a whim."
Taylor almost flinched at Yang's attempt to calm her because it was partly her selfishness that brought this about because Shinki didn't do this for Yumeko when she was in her shoes in the past as far as she knows.
'How can she endure that fox treating her back then and still working with her professionally like now?' Taylor sighed, she doubted she could get an answer without invading her senior's privacy.
"I'm sorry…"
"Don't be." Yang cut her off with his fatherly voice before she could speak further "I know that you want to look after yourself without relying on others. But you're still young and inexperienced, there's no shame in relying on other people. Even I have to rely on others all the time."
Taylor looked confused at Yang's admission. In her eyes, he was looking after himself just fine after all, so why did he think that?
"Tell me, Taylor," Yang broke the silence once again after seeing her expression "Where do you think the food on our plates came from? We exchange our money, our service and profession, to get them without us doing the hard work of cultivating crops, raising cattle, fishing or hunting for game meat. The gas in our kitchen came from others who refined and produce it in exchange for a fee we paid to their services. Is this not mean we're relying on each other all the time?"
Taylor frowned and mumbled, "That's a strange way of thinking."
"You're not the first one to said that to me." Yang smiled a little "Strange or not, can you deny that what I said isn't the truth? The truth that people often overlooked, seeing it as normal lives for so long that they no longer consider its true importance."
Taylor didn't reply, but inwardly she has wondered if Yang and Shinki were cousins, because they sure have a strange way of viewing the world, and she couldn't deny that what they said always had merits as well.
"I will try…" She found herself replied, even though she doubted that she will trust someone outside of this little clinic and the castle as quickly.
Yang sighed at the response "That's all I'll ask. Being a loner is not a pleasant experience."
It was then that the sound from the clinic downstairs reached their ears. Both stood up on reflex and made their way back down to the living room where two people just arrived as expected. Taylor froze for a second when Haku turned to look at her with those expressionless eyes, but she steeled herself and walked down to properly greeted her and Shinki before they all sit down around the table.
"I'm sorry, brother, for giving you trouble to look after this past month." The fox begins with apologizing to the old man, and Taylor thought the light was playing tricks with her when she saw that the fox looked apologetic for a second before her expressionless mask slipped on again. "She didn't give you troubles, isn't she?"
Those fox eyes drifted toward Taylor as she let the question slipped, scrutinizing her as if trying to intimidate her into confessing any sins she committed during this stay. Taylor stared back, trying to present a strong and indifferent attitude and not giving anything away, as Yang had discussed with her the other day.
"No, not at all. She's a good kid. Helping me and Mao around the clinic instead of sulking in the room or practicing fighting skills is a nice change from others. She even took up studying my medical art too."
Yang's joyous reply seems to have a strange effect on Haku, instead of being relieved that her sworn brother didn't have any difficulties in looking after what she perceived as problem, her eyebrows twitched, her fluffy nine tails stopped swaying, even her smile and neutral voice seemed forced as she responds without even looking at him "I… see…" then she quickly shifted subject and stared at Taylor "…have you packed your belongings yet?"
Taylor stiffened like a rat paralyzed by viper's gaze. She gulped silently and preparing to respond when Yang interrupted their staring contest with a cough. She and Haku turned to the old man and saw him gave her a nod. That strangely emboldened her and her answer came out before she could stop herself.
"I'm not going, Ma'am. I'm sorry, but I prefer to stay here..."
Taylor turned and apologized to Shinki sitting next to Haku. She knows that Shinki discussed it with her beforehand, but she felt it needed to be said nevertheless.
Meanwhile, a frown on Haku's lips was now more prominent, her gaze shifted to her liege immediately.
"Oh my, it seems you finally found a new pupil to help the poor Mao around aren't you Yang?"
The gaze prompted a smug response from Shinki who didn't bother to hide her smirk at all. And Taylor swore that Shinki's silver eye winked at Haku to rub it in too.
Haku immediately knew that something was up and glared at her liege with an accusing look, yet her words still as cold as ever "You're setting this up aren't you Milady!?"
A chuckle escaped Yang's lips as he answered in Shinki's stead "I support this decision though..." he then pretended to look up and down on Taylor, which made her feel uncomfortable a little "…Cities are not built in a single day after all. She should stay here learning what she likes instead of going back and forth between here and the castle."
Haku made a face like she just swallowed a lemon whole, something which Taylor never thought she would witness. It seems that the fox was expecting her to go back and live in the castle under constant watch and stupid 'guidance' from her, meekly accepted her position like the guards who came through that farce of a test before.
"Whether or not her duty includes defending the castle from intruders, the fact remains that her primary duty is not a guard." Shinki pointed out the fact without dropping her smile "Rigorous training you subjected those who came before do not apply here. Have you forgotten that Yumeko accepted training because she wanted to?"
Haku closed her eyes and slowly inhaled and exhaled her breathes several times. When she opened her eyes a moment later, they were once again clear of emotion as did her voice "I... apologize, Milady, brother. Lashing out at you is unbecoming of me."
Taylor's hatred for the fox came to grinding halt and begun to ponder what happened to Haku in the past to make her so emotionless like this. If that accusing gaze and the even, frosty voice was supposed to be her lashing out in anger, then she could understand a little bit why she didn't think twice about what she did to her.
That didn't mean she would forgive Haku though, that road still a long way.
Yang however readily forgives her lapse of self-control before resuming their talk "Regardless, since she took interest in the art of healing, it'd be prudent to go all the way and finish the study. You know that this art isn't something you can finish halfway."
"I understand, brother." Haku replied calmly, before argued "But she still has duties to fulfill, part of her contract with Milady. If she lives here, then how can that part be upheld?"
"I'm still here, Haku, no need to decide in my stead." Shinki mirthfully chided, prompting the fox to apologized before she turned to Yang and continue "And don't forget that your brother is the one in contact with Taylor throughout this month, his evaluation and judgment is not something to ignore, don't you think so Haku?"
"… As you say, Milady…"
It wasn't like Haku could respond in any other way without sounding illogical though. Not to mention, she does care for her family members and thus valued Yang's input, something that Taylor still having a hard time believing given the interactions thus far.
Suddenly, a sound of rustling cloth snapped Taylor out of her musing in time to see Shinki stood up, her silver eyes looked directly at her as she motioned her to follow her outside.
'What happened?' Taylor wasn't sure if she should voice that question out loud, but then she almost fell out of her chair as Shinki's voice rung in her mind.
'Give those two some privacy, Taylor. We wait outside.'
Taylor almost forgot the fact that they had their mind linked as part of the contract that resurrected her. Shinki never used it before out of the understanding of her experiences in her previous life and the respect of an individual. To use it now to convey a message silently, it means that she was serious about what she just told.
At least she didn't take control of her body against her will despite it was in her power to do so.
Taylor didn't have to be told twice. She stood up and excused herself out of the living room to the clinic where Shinki was standing in wait.
As she stepped past the door, an invisible force brushed past Taylor and turned the door shut with a soft click. Shinki even cast something over the doorframe for good measure.
"A sound barrier. To give them some privacy." Shinki explained as she gestured at her to sit at the table before sitting down herself.
It was a strange sight, seeing her sitting on the table like some of those rough and ill-mannered adventurers, it makes her feel approachable in Taylor's opinion.
Taylor glanced at the closed door with a worried look before turning back to Shinki as if wanting to ask something, but Shinki beats her to it "Let brother and sister talk it out, Taylor."
"If you say so, Ma'am…"
Taylor reluctantly replied. A part of her mind wishes to stay there and carry out what she had prepared, however little that was. But another part told her that intruding on the siblings would just make things worse, she wasn't confident that she could keep a calm mind required to tackle Haku yet.
"Let's talk about something else, my child." Shinki's voice chimed in, interrupting Taylor's thought. Only when Taylor turned to face a smiling goddess that she continued "I heard that you met Yuuka the other day. So, what's your impression of her?"
"How did you…"
"…know? It's not spying or clairvoyance or anything like that if you're asking." Shinki quickly preemptively answered the question "I'm familiar with Yang and Mao so I know their routine. And I also aware of Yuuka and her profession. Does that answer your question?"
Taylor nodded, the way she explained it was a bit roundabout, but she was getting used to this kind of speech by now.
"So, back to the original question if you would?"
That request reminded Taylor of what she saw with Mage Sight back at the market and shuddered, she glanced at Shinki and hesitantly asks "Are you not afraid of someone like her?"
"Afraid of what exactly my child?"
Taylor wondered if it was confidence in her godlike power that made Shinki replied as such, but Shinki questioned her before she could form a proper response "Are you going to judge people by what they possess or their lineage? Like those so-called Nazis back in your former hometown?"
Taylor winced at the comparison and apology flew out of her mouth on instinct. "I'm sorry."
Shinki shook her head "You do not have to apologize to me. If anyone deserves your apology it's Yuuka who you think ill of. But I'm sure that she will only find you amusing more than anything. She gets that look all the time after all."
Her voice was sincere and honest, that much Taylor could tell, and it relieved her worries a little.
"Are you a bit too optimistic?"
Just a little indeed. But that didn't dissuade Shinki's optimism at all as she again reminded Taylor of the talk the other day "Pessimism, while useful as it taught us to be cautious and be careful around other people, it is not about being paranoid of an irrational threat or imaginary things."
Taylor looked down at the apron on her lap and mumbled: "I'm sorry that you have to remind me of this over and over again."
Shinki stretched her hand out and patted Taylor on her shoulder while comforting her "Trauma is not something you can forget. Learn from it, but do not let it define you." she paused a little, "And as I told you, we're here for you, me, Yang, Mao, Yumeko. And even if you do not want to accept it, Haku as well, she's worried about you in her way."
"Hard to believe that she'll have any compassion for anyone." Taylor snorted before she could stop herself. "I'm sorry."
"Is this plan we're currently threading not relies on Haku's compassion? All of it will be for nothing if she's as heartless as you perceived her to be after all." Shinki reminded Taylor, causing the latter to sighed and turned her head away to look at the door leading to the backroom hoping that Yang would be all right.
Even with all that, Taylor was doubtful that she could stomach calling Haku friend in this lifetime still.
"How are your days, brother."
"The same thing, the same thing. This old man still lives a good, healthy peaceful life, dear sister."
After Shinki and Taylor left the living room and Mao went elsewhere, the nine-tailed fox woman and the old human male sat opposite of each other. Cups of tea placed in front of them were left untouched as the two unlikely sworn siblings sat down for a rare private conversation between them.
"What do you think of Taylor, brother?"
Instead of apologies for dumping responsibilities upon him, Haku forgoes it and went straight to the point.
"A nice girl haunted by her past, so traumatized that I doubt she'll get over it if you breathe down her neck every waking moment."
The blunt, cold assessment from Yang would make Taylor shocked at the sudden change in his demeanor, yet this too was another display of closeness between them, to know each other well enough to not perceive each other's blunt speech and lack of tact as slight.
"She needs to get over it or she'll never grow, brother, I just do what I think is best."
"I do not fault you for it, after all, it worked for those crybabies who once thought that the guard corps of the Pandemonium was a cushy job." Yang replied while his eyes opened a little wider "…a teenager who never saw conflict, though…"
The fox ears on top of Haku's white hair twitched at his words and responded in a voice that laced with disappointment "You're not going to teach her 'your skill'?"
Yang's lip turned into a straight line with his eyes narrowed, but instead of angry shout expected from an upset old man, he let out a sigh "Haku, I've already talked about this before, if those who were aspired to be the guardians of this town never caught my eyes, why would I teach it to a little traumatized girl who only recently finds her footing in new life?"
"Because she's…"
"She's not ready to learn it. And it's not necessary for her." Yang cut his sister off with a grim determined look on his face, signifying that this matter was non-negotiable.
Silence reigned between the siblings for minutes before Haku tried to ask her brother again, but the old man beat her to it "I believe that your intention of sending her here is to fix that girl's trauma. And I can tell you that teaching her how to fight will give you the opposite result." he paused for a moment, studying the expression, or lack thereof, on Haku's face "I'll be the judge of whether she's ready for it or not, and only if she wanted to. Not before."
"You're being unreasonable, saying as if you have time to properly heal her and then evaluate her, and then teach her after that. I know how long you take to evaluate things involving disciple in the art of combat. But you don't even hesitate when it comes to medical study."
Haku rebuked, her frustration barely escaped the lid she put on herself. But for someone who've known her for so long like Yang, that did not escape his notice, and he stared back. Two of them kept their eyes on each other for minutes before Haku averted eye contact first with a sigh "You can be stubborn some time."
"Killing should never be taken lightly, so should the skills that promote violence among civilized people." Yang said with a grunt before shaking his head "…Look around you, is this fair town in such a dire strait that it needs someone like her to fill the rank of defenders?"
"You are being short-sighted again dear brother." Haku countered, the argument has been going on for some time that some people would've lost their cool and began a shouting match by now, but Haku and Yang barely rose their voice at all.
Yang chuckled at Haku's implication "You're underselling your boys and the government council Lady Shinki formed to run this town again." he held out his hand to cut off Haku's argument "…Both of you already had contingency plans upon contingency plans to keep the Makai from being run to the ruin. I don't think we need another fighter right now."
Haku frowned but didn't respond, allowing Yang to continues "I also think that you're burdening the poor girl too much, sister. She has to work two jobs, here and the castle. And takes two lessons, learning medical skills with me, and magic lesson with Shinki by this deal. This's already pushing the limit of a person's ability to absorb knowledge. And you know that something as delicate as magic and medical study cannot be taught in half-measure."
Haku took a deep breath and released a long frustrating sigh with a hand nudging her temple "You should've said that from the start and spare us all this pointless argument."
"Sorry for this old folk for forgetting something so obvious."
The reply from Yang elicited a rare chuckle from the nine-tails fox "If you're old, then what am I? Ancient? Because I also forget about it until you mentioned it."
The mismatch siblings smiled at one another briefly, and then the serious atmosphere returned in full when Haku's smile vanished as she said in the familiar emotionless voice "All right, I won't press this issue any longer. But I'll expect you to brief Taylor on the security..." she paused "…your experiences as an assassin during the late Qing dynasty should be helpful."
Yang's eyebrow knotted at the mention of his old life, but he gave Haku a grunt of affirmation. This was a compromise, something that Haku rarely agreed on, especially when she was outplayed by her superior and the girl plotting behind her back. So, this's the best deal Taylor would get in Yang's opinion.
The two of them stood up and make for the door to tell Lady Shinki and Taylor of their agreement. While they'd like to have a small talk between siblings some more, it wouldn't do to keep their guests waiting after all.
Author's Note: After a while, I found out that Interlude things isn't suit for my writing style at all, so I think that last interlude may be the last.