A/N: Hello there! As always, thank you guys very much for your reviews and follows, and kudos! All of it! I hope you enjoy today's chapter!
ㅤ
ㅤ
"A dream-like being who gazes at the stars with fascination."
Barely falling into the realm of what is considered human. Seeing what are human emotions but never understanding them. Forever bonded to be limited by his nature. Observe to show him the story of a perfect king he created. The tale in which he played is just another mechanism of fate.
The stars of this story represent dots of light that are soon consumed by the darkness surrounding it.
"I want to see this beautiful story play out." Untouched by anyone but him. Let these things unfold. A happy wizard will be happy when things go the way he wants.
That was the wish of Merlin the Magus of Flowers, the truth causing others to accuse him of manipulations. And perhaps that was the case.
Was this the core of his being? To watch precious things from afar and see their hidden meaning. To create a setting that will be rooted in the history of mankind forever.
As a result of his actions, despite appearing as pleasing to knights and nobles as he could, taking the form of a man with dream-like beauty. But by human standards, he was a twisted being.
Though very rarely, whenever being called on that directly, Merlin would burst out laughing. After that, his face goes unsettlingly blank.
With all this, some who knew the truth referred to Merlin as many things. Proclaiming him good and bad names such as sage, snake, prophet, and even devil himself. For his ability to perceive cannot be replicated.
"Hehehe, still, it was fun." The him from before found this story amusing if not for his current thoughts.
Learning, adapting, understanding, and teaching. Living through what is considered imperfect and fighting for the notion of betterment. These were many qualities that defined human beings. A life was full of choices when every action impacted your decisions. To forever gain knowledge and make use of it.
To respect the humanity of others, an aspect Merlin wasn't able to sympathize with.
Until now.
To human Merlin, that was reality now.
He couldn't take it as easy as before.
The love of the Mother and Father. The wishes of parents for their child to grow into something amazing. The sacred sensation of feeling the weight his action bore. Resulting in a spiral of consequence he thought not to care. And yet it was difficult.
He acted and acted as best as he could. Just when he thought it didn't bring fruition, he felt the warmth of human touch.
And that's why Merlin understood it to an extent. Someone who ignored other people's feelings - 'As long as it didn't change the picture saw in visions.' - was no longer there.
If someone similar existed in this world, would he allow them to shape the future where his mother would cry?
He imagined this and it caused his stomach to churn. Throw up. Throw up and look at yourself, are you beautiful?
Would he?
The result was…
"Master Rudeus?" A female voice called out, a woman still looking like in her twenties but much more stern than one could think.
"Miss Lilia? Why are you here?"
"Young master is disappearing at times, dissolving in the air. Lady Zenith tells me to look for him again."
"Is that so? You noticed me then."
"I searched and searched and couldn't find anywhere so I checked here."
"Oh, I see."
His gaze turned and saw the maid standing here, the amethyst glow of eyes meeting a shade darker than his own. Have someone called them mother and child instead, they would point at that color first.
Even though he couldn't see it, this woman was hiding her true perception of him.
They are both surrounded by this cozy house. With an unexpected question, Merlin proceeds,
"Does Lilia not like me? Is it possible?"
Something flashes in the woman's eyes.
"No, that's definitely not the case."
"Haha, I feel a little reassured. Now see here. Let's take a look outside okay?" Merlin smiles gently, pointing outside the window, "Trust is important."
"It's no good. The frost has come so I advise Master Rudeus against that. He will be ill an hour later."
Merlin heard none of it.
"Just for a little while, please? We will be back in no time! I'm sure you'll like it!"
Lilia sighed at the enthusiastic reply, strengthening her shoulders and opening the door leading outside.
Merlin headed there and felt cold-chilling air hitting his body, making him shiver slightly.
"Would you lend me your hand?" He mentioned kindly to the maid, she looked hesitant enough to change her expression to more guarded, "Now now."
The woman offered her hand slowly like she was about to give it into a lion's mouth. His palms brushed against the soft skin she provided and the boy got to work with his magic.
Merlin felt mana in the air and body, he harvested it and let the spell do the rest. Converting the necessary amount into heat. His now warming touch helped raise their body temperature to not be bothered by cold.
"Warm," Lilia muttered uncertainty as if his touch alone was about to set her on fire. She then looked from her hand to him before setting on staring at him weirdly, "Thank you." It was odd to hear it from the woman's lips in such a quiet tone, Merlin thought and just nodded.
He could try to warm the whole place around the house, although he could not tell if his control was sufficient to take such steps. It wouldn't do any good if the house suddenly started to catch fire, not only would it be difficult to extinguish it with water spells, but Mother would also be upset.
Returning to his current predicament. If not for the age difference, Merlin was sure the scene would call it romance. But as it is now, they were just awkwardly standing next to each other.
Hehehe!
"Would Miss Lilia come with me to see the blooming Vatirus tomorrow? I have never seen it and Mother says it's very pretty."
"W-what?!" He never knew the maid's vocals could go this loud. She looked absolutely petrified for a moment before it was quickly masked with a cough and composed face, "Ahem, I mean. Unfortunately, I have my duties as always so it's impossible. Lady Zenith surely-"
"Mother agreed!" Merlin gushed with joy, hands threatening to give out.
Lilia's mouth opened and closed a few times, trying to conjure the words but failing to do so. Her violet eyes bulged in apparent disbelief.
She tried sounding optimistic but it quickly slackened, "I s-see."
Lilia frowned at him, "But I must warn you, my legs are no good for long walks. So be prepared to wait just in case."
Her words were crude.
"Hehehe, that's fine with me! Let's go on a grand adventure!"
"Master Rudeus is much too melodramatic."
ㅤ
ㅤ
Sometimes, as days went on, the atmosphere caused Lilia to reminisce about her past.
Throughout her life, Lilia never entertained the thought that she would end up in someone else's household on the borders of the Asura Kingdom's territory as a maid. She expected to serve the royal family or at most some noble family for the rest of her days.
Not here.
However, destiny had prepared other plans for her. While her previous occupation consisted of being a royal handmaiden and protecting Princess Ariel, an assassination attempt happened in which she received a life-long injury.
During the protection of the princess with her body, Lilia became the victim of an assassin as well. She vividly remembered the blade sinking in her leg like it was yesterday. Having nausea immediately after the incident. A horrible sinking sensation spread across her body and rendered her to a near-death experience.
After waking up, she noted that it was near one of the medical rooms designated for knights undergoing treatment. Feeling confused and dizzy, the first thing she spotted was a bandage on her leg. Tightly wrapped around the darkened place. An awful smell of death permeated the sealed wound. This caused anxiety in her heart because given how much power the Palace had, it shouldn't be a problem to heal it with magic.
A freezing panic set in when she saw a pale shade of skin on the place around the darkened part. For a moment she mistook it for a dream and thought she was long dead.
It later turned out that the blade was coated with a poison directed at killing a member of the royal family. This was determined during the investigation, but Lilia knew that while the crown would not forgive a serious attempt on the princess' life the fate of an ordinary servant girl was a subject of indifference.
In other words, Lilia ended up like this because of the product of politics among the presumably noble houses eager to get rid of the young ascendant to the throne. What a cruel joke. Still, as a faithful servant to her duties, Lilia bowed obediently and left the palace as quickly as she was discharged from required medical care.
Once all was said and done, Lilia was signed off from being part of the services at the palace, it was left to look for another job. Now that she was additionally not at full capacity, the journey was proving to be tiring and taxing.
Just when she thought the odds were lost she noticed a job posting looking for a housemaid at the Greyrat house in Buena Village. A place hidden and forgotten not from intentional measures, but from how in the middle of nowhere it stands.
Overall, Lilia was surprised when she saw who the employer was.
Paul Greyrat.
This could not be a coincidence, after all, the Greyrats' name couldn't simply be thrown around left and right. She knew him as quite a lazy and unconcerned boy back when she was still training with a sword.
And so Lilia found herself a week later at their house door.
ㅤ
ㅤ
It transpired the baby was due to be born shortly after Lilia's arrival. Zenith, whom she had the opportunity to become deeply acquainted with, rested with a round belly, while Lilia took it upon herself to take care of the lady of the house. Zenith was the one with whom Paul Greyrat eventually settled down, it was still a surprise remembering how in his teenage years the man was undeniably a womanizer.
Clearly, the right person really changes a man. It wouldn't be a sketch to say that Zenith transformed Paul for the better with her bright personality. The woman was kind, sometimes Lilia thought it too extreme. Considering how many times Paul did something unreasonably stupid like flirting with a villager's wife.
Lilia changed her mind, Paul still did have asshole vibes.
Regardless, the air was different from what the redhead was used to. It was warm and welcoming in contrast to the cold walls of the palace and the whispering walls where servants engaged in slander and gossip. At first, Lilia didn't know quite how to conduct herself, but after a while, she yielded and decided that the best way would be to remain professional.
It helped that Lilia and Zenith quickly got along. The blonde-haired woman opened her arms to the presence of the other woman. Immediately when she saw Lilia standing before the entrance Zenith revealed contentment. Perhaps she needed a similar presence from the bigger town while living in such a desolate place? Village women were not always easy to deal with.
Regardless, Lilia was far from having anything against the closure when her employers were willing to get it.
Zenith described happily to Lilia the adventurers and her past being the party's healer. It also explained where Paul had wandered off to after he left his ancestral place, which answered a few remaining question marks in her mind.
Paul began his career as an adventurer, soon after meeting Zenith and forming a team of multi-skilled adventurers along the way.
The redhead wondered whether she was going to keep them company in this house until the very end, strangely she didn't mind the thought. Perhaps this was the place for her that she had been looking for so desperately. A peaceful spring where it's just her and the daily chores, it didn't feel repetitive. In the end, everyone wanted a quiet life.
Honestly, she felt a little old at times.
A dry laugh escaped her, it's been so long since she did it so wholeheartedly.
To put it simply, Lilia was happy. The salary was satisfactory, the place of residence met all the requirements, and the married couple treated her with respect. It was like her dream job.
The only thing left was for the child to be born.
ㅤ
ㅤ
Lilia gave a small smile and felt stress pass from her body. She let out a breath of relief. The anxiety seemed to leave her in a refreshing-like state.
The maid helped to ensure the baby was successfully delivered, and everything went without complications and according to plan. All these classes about medical health and preparations finally proved to be useful. Zenith gave birth to a healthy baby, who let out a gurgled cry as it opened his eyes to the world.
The world paused for Lilia.
Everything stopped moving. The sound is replaced by static. The world no longer had its color besides what she deemed unnatural.
This child has different eyes than his parents. But that's not an abnormal thing. It could be explained by having old ancestral blood. No, it was the nearly sickly amethyst color, one much different from her own. This is far too intense.
Intelligence.
She noted, growing worry and fear in her stomach.
Intelligence beyond what a child could show. She couldn't explain it. No one would understand it. From when Lilia herself was a child, there were things only she could perceive. That's why when first seeing magic, she was scared of its nature. Of the sparks it brought into reality before becoming accustomed to the phenomena. The way this child's eyes lit up knowingly at some things was like a waking bell in her brain.
The child's gaze rolled around the room, fluttering weakly then gaining strength, slowly passing over his parents until it landed on Lilia. This gut-wrenching shock this newborn gave. The curiosity should resemble that of a child seeing the world for the first time.
Not right, incorrect, wrong.
Yet she was the only one to notice. Her body shook when feeling this suffocating presence for it to be gone a blink later.
None of them noticed. Not Zenith nor Paul. The maid saw the baby leaning towards Zenith and clutching the newly made mother. It basked in her touch. Since quitting its mother's womb, for the first time, Lilia saw it acting like a baby should.
She hoped to be wrong.
She hoped no more occurrences would happen.
ㅤ
ㅤ
Over the years of service in the Greyrat household, Lilia had become used to seeing the tiny details of Zenith's child. His name was decided on Rudeus Greyrat, and since Lilia could not imagine a near future outside the household, it was natural that she would call him Master Rudeus.
There was no mistaking that he would be the future master of the house in case Paul fell in battle with the mana monsters, albeit it was unlikely judging by the low-ranking monsters around the village area.
The problem with the boy was that the problem itself didn't exist in the first place.
This child seemed perfect, too perfect. It learned to crawl and soon after that to walk after only a few months. Zenith was barely teaching him to speak when he pronounced his first words. Never did Rudeus cry. He never complained. When the boy hurt himself by accident, he immediately informed Zenith. This child seemed to have no faults.
This was what made the situation so disturbing. Zenith and Paul evidently didn't notice anything strange about the fact that their child was flawless. On the contrary, they praised him constantly.
One day Lilia headed to do laundry, seeing the boy perched on the window sill and staring straight ahead without blinking.
"Master Rudeus, is everything well?" It took several attempts to get the boy's attention, his eyes emerging as if from a slumber, getting used to their surroundings. Blinking a few times afterward, he looked at her cheerfully and smiled in that unsettling way as if he hadn't quite perceived her.
Lilia thought suspiciously, there was no doubt this child was different.
Sometimes the son of Zenith would just sit somewhere and stare at nothing with glazed eyes before going on like nothing ever happened. These were instances that were never obvious when his parents were home.
...
A few moons later, Lilia found Master Rudeus trying to climb the stairs while she was returning from the yard. Thinking nothing of it yet, she helped him upstairs, maybe Rudeus wanted to explore the upper floor beyond just to sleep.
She still thought nothing of it when the young boy asked to unlock the room door where Zenith kept mementos from the past. It was still in the realm of curiosity of a healthy child.
She watched his back as he ran toward a strange box lying in the room's back. Picking up a book that looked like a children's story. Hah. Lilia fought off the fatigue along the bags under her eyes and set to tidying up the room, taking advantage of the fact while she was here.
There was a thud-like sound, something impacting the ground, and Lilia automatically turned her head toward the disturbance.
"Master Rudeus!"
The boy sat dizzily, mumbling something incoherent.
She noticed a book lying alongside.
ㅤ
Fear.
ㅤ
A Textbook of Magic...? Why would a child who barely should be able to read want something like this instead of a book with pretty pictures?
Breath in. Breath out.
Her body unfroze and she made sure to get him away from the book at all costs and methods available.
Breath in. Breath out.
"Fairytale." She spoke and saw the disappointment in Zenith's son's eyes for a brief while as it was gone under a facade of confusion. Nonono.
"A book about Perugius?"
Lilia swallowed, "That's correct. Let's read this instead."
She started telling him the tale heard many times by her younger self. Occasional glances as his eyes grew increasingly sleepy.
End it. End this madness.
A dark part of Lilia whispered, awakening some dangerous thoughts of how easy it would be. But she couldn't do it, no matter how much conviction one gathered it's still impossible.
Perhaps a part of Lilia that thought this, was due to her sleeping issues. How she constantly had the feeling that someone was next when no one was. The paranoia had been building in her for years, never giving her a meaningful rest.
Sleep.
Her eyes grew heavy and closed momentarily, it was enough to drive her away from reality.
Please.
ㅤ
ㅤ
Lilia opened up to a star-covered sky. The woman had trouble collecting her thoughts regarding this position. Her gaze was instinctively attracted upward.
Countless stars seemed to shine on the ocean of void, these glittering sky lanterns overflowing with stories. They reflected in the round glasses while she had this impression while looking at them.
She couldn't breathe. She couldn't feel it. She couldn't hear. She couldn't turn her body.
The picture she saw, however, was uneven and incomplete. It was correct to say that her presence changed nothing. No matter how anyone put it, she was like an observer of it all, who was creating a magical-like narrative in her mind.
The red-haired maid could look here. Exist, and just that.
In the corner of her vision, Lilia saw a blurry silhouette, a man whose appearance she found difficult to pinpoint. He was sitting not far from her, looking intensely at the stars, unlikely to be disturbed by anyone.
She witnessed the white hues adoring his figure. An aura she could only describe as magical emanated from the man.
Who...are you?
Suddenly the man turned his head in this direction and smiled, there was no real feeling to it, just an expression without meaning. Lilia stiffened. Her heart froze. Her unmoving body tensed at the sensation. It felt like her very soul was under careful examination, this soft glow coming from under the hood and she could do nothing about it. The pressure of being seen through easily. The mysterious light seemed to come from beneath it. Familiar color.
He then brought a finger to his lips and whispered a message.
"Sleep."
Dream.
Dark.
Lilia didn't wake up until many hours later. She didn't remember the strange event prior.
ㅤ
ㅤ
A/N: Hello! Thank you for reading this chapter. This was part 1 out of 2 about Lilia and I hope you enjoyed it. Writing Lilia was tricky and I'm not that proud of this chapter but eventually, I agreed with myself to release it. Maybe I will add something more later on.
When it comes to Lilia herself, yes, I made her a little more backstory because I wanted to give her more character than just her reaction to Rudeus like in the manga.
Edit: Oh and worry not, this chapter may seem a little dark at the end but I assure you that's not the case. This is not a dark story.
Also, I wanted to warn you that updates will be irregular like this one. I'm enjoying my free time with my friends while doing work. Most of the time I just don't feel like writing despite having so many thoughts in my head.
Thank you for hearing me out. Goodnight or good day!