Speech = ``...´´
Thoughts = [... ]
ºº
As much as she could trust them to be responsible and not put themselves in unnecessary danger, it was her duty among many to still keep an eye just in case the girls would need a hand on what they were doing.
Training.
Lectures.
Cooking
Cleaning.
And hunting among many other things…, which had led her to this clearing of the forest surrounding their little home just after leaving Beta behind on the town with her training with the bow.
It seemed that above all that tool had become her friends favorite..
The sharp, throng sound of the string been pull back and then let go echoing time and time again even from the distance as her ears perked up and every time the ringing sound of the shaft punched through the target.
However, they would need to soon change from stationary targets to moving ones in the following days and she didn't know how she would manage when taking into account the girls squeamish nature towards blood.
Anyway, that was a problem for another date as she focused her attention on the Third member of their little group who was a top of a wooden set of stairs picking...berries?.
``Good morning Gamma..´´
``L-lady Alpha..!? Did something happen-eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek, ouch, blegh´´
The startled sound of the brunettes voice followed by the sudden stumbled face first down the ground from the small mobile wooden stair she had drag from the town happened just as predicted.
With a sigh Alpha merely shook her head inwardly, pushing the clumsiness of her friend aside as Gamma slowly, yet surely started to raise her face from the ground, offering an apologetic smile at her way as she did.
``I….I am fine´´
``You are bleeding..´´
The blond elf gestured with a tired tone at the small trail of arterial red sliding down the girls nose.
``I... sorry tehe…?´´
Pinching the bridge of her nose one second, Alpha immediately helped her up, taking a step back a moment later as to allow Gamma to dust away the dirt from her clothes and wipe away the blood from her nose.
As she did she took notice of some of the packages that stood just behind Gamma. All neatly sealed with the exception of the one, its lids open up and revealing a colorful set of fruits inside.
``I see that you have brought a lot of boxes with you this time, but what are you working on..?´´
``I thought I would help on the recollection of berries and fruits.., and since I finished on my end I thought that it would bad if I just sit still and did nothing..´´
``That is kind of you..´´
She muttered out loud, a hint of praise in her voice. Still, she could have used the time to practice her sword skills….or just manage to fix some of the unholy balance deficits she suffered from.
On that account she was sure a little more practice could not do her harm.
``Well, I just wanted to not make Beta pick up the slack from me when I accidentally set fire to the bath towels, especially after what happened last time she went out hunting with you my lady..´´
[Last I remember I was the one been stabbed, not her…]
It was not a pleasant memory to be honest, though once again she kept that to herself, choosing instead to walk past the girl and right towards the packages laying on the ground, softly squatting down to get a better look at one the boxes, inspecting its contents.
All full and to the brim...a labor of several hours
Gamma had always proven to be a rather diligent person.
``I see…, so you have been working since this morning?´´
Gamma nodded. ``Yes, I did not know when it would be best...though I thought that at dawn would be a good time as any..´´
Alpha tilted her head to the side, an eyebrow rising intrigued.
``Why...?´´
``Well, most wild creatures in this forest are not on and about at this chosen time so the chance of been caught by surprise by a monster or a bandit would decrease in consequence. I also calculated that the intermediate hours of the day and midnight are the most dangerous to carry such a task like this after a careful observation...´´
``Wise...´´ She acknowledged with a nod much to the gleeful happiness of the brunette before something else caught her attention. ``Hmmpf..? Oh..how interesting…´´
``Lady Alpha..? Is something wrong..?´´
Gamma asked with curiosity, however the words went past Alphas head as she picked up one of the berries from the box, fidgeting the red orb looking grape between two fingers, one among many. Eyes frowning in silent contemplation as if they could pierce it through and through alone.
Could this be what she thought it was…?
As if hearing her very thoughts her eyes flickered with barely a show of light as magic started to be channeled inside her and put to a different use than normal as its ethereal glow revealed something that would have gone unnoticed otherwise.
..
..
[It is...it actually is]
``Lady Alpha?´´
``Yes..?´´
She answered at last, finally able to drop the thing back into the box and raise her head towards to her friend.
``You seemed lost in thought for a moment…?´´
She had? She had not noticed..
Unbeknownst to her line of thought, Gamma could only fret at the silence of her leader, clasping both of her hands together as a bead of sweat started to slid down her face.
``I did not make a mistake, right? If the berries are in a bad state I can fix th-´´
``No, is nothing of the sorts..´´
``Ah, what a relief..´´
``I was just not aware that you were so knowledgeable with poisons, nothing bad with it though, its a rather pleasant surprise..´´
``Your words are too kind Lady Al-wait..what did you say..? Poisons?´´
Alpha blinked.
Did she just stumble on her words mid sentence? And why was she looking at her with such expression of surprise? Surely she had not thought she would not notice..?
``Yes…, there is no mistake, all these berries you pick up are deadly for consumption...´´
The countenance on the brunettes girls face started to grow paler for some reason.
``T-they….are poisonous? How could you tell..?´´
``Simple, I can sense it...´´
``Sense it...? ´´
``Yes..´´
``Lady Alpha, I...don't think I follow´´
She stared at Gamma with confusion. Why was she saying that? What was not to understand?
It took her a brief moment to connect the dots that perhaps...she could have been a little forthcoming with the details.
``I too was a bit confused about it first, but Reaper taught me that I only needed to infuse my senses my magic to pick up on the details that separated edible foods to those who weren't..
Realization dawned on those dark blue eyes as worried was forgone and replaced by wonder and awe.
``That's….incredible, to think such a small little thing could be so useful. The potential uses are endless, especially given that I assume it can be replicated by all, no..?´´
``Indeed...´´ She nodded before she gestured back to the packages around them with a hand. ``I must also admit that I had not given much thought on the idea of adding common poisons found in the wilderness to our slime weaponry, but they could actually give us a good edge on our foes if we cant just bust through sheer raw force…´´
``That...kinda makes sense..´´
``You will have to teach me how you were thinking on creating the concoctions..´´
``M-me? Teaching you?´´
``Of course, it would prove very informative and productive for each and everyone one of us to be aware of the ways of making such tools in the future as well as some training to treat wounds caused by them as-well if we ever were to be at the opposite end of such substances...´´
True, she would need to make a few changes on what she had planned until now, reschedule some tasks to give space on the working slots of their already busy calendar.
But like Gamma had said, the potential uses of adding these tools into their expertise would suit them well when the future demanded more and more from them.
``You think someone would try poisonous?´´
``Its foolish to believe it wont ever happen….´´
It was a grim statement.
But one no less true because of it….not since the veil of innocence had been pull out from her eyes.
It was then that she took a step back, scratching her chin as she decided to push those thoughts away from her mental focus, allowing others to replace them.
Still, they surely would have time before any of that would ever come to pass if fate decided to be kind to them and-
..
..
..
..
``Gamma?´´
``Yes..?´´
``You knew that they were poisonous, right...?´´
Her only answer was an apologetic and shy smile.
``Oh, Gamma….´´
º
º-...Kingdom of Midgard...-º
º
As much as one would loath the aspect of slavery intertwined with servitude, one would have at least to give their efforts no small amount of acknowledgment with the way they showed their zeal.
Simple yet practical strokes of a brush on a larger portrait, they worked tirelessly on their given duties., though the aspect that had caught his attention if only briefly was the efficiency they committed to it.
No doubt a product of a long and "stern" policy against failure or decorum from the servants towards their "betters"
Ignoring said aspects of noble etiquette and clear abuse of the strong against the weak perpetrated for all times until those wretches waited patiently for the collar to be attached to their necks for the rest of their lives, it was not surprising that they finished dressing him faster than he would have thought it possible for them.
With a quick bow and with a small nod from him in return he had made his way down where he was been called to, leaving the premises of the room and walking into the large and vast corridors of the building.
The light of day traversing through the large windows and panels on the walls to his side, leaving a trail of glittering light over the marble walls and floors that bathed the area in far more clarity that it had any reason to be, a stark contrast with the shadowy darkness of the room he had just left.
The expanse of the state of the family was a large thing of corridors and mostly empty rooms that served no other purpose for most of the year than to host a party or two or just entertain guest when they arrived.
Even though the entire place was plagued with souls of wretched things, slaves and guards…..it was easy to find a secluded spot of silence in one of the many rooms left vacant of human activity.
He had spent most of his time during the first weeks of attending here in such places, away from those foolish enough to try to pry further into him. Perhaps, he would return to one of those said places after this was said and done.
..
..
Now, if only he were not to be shadowed by such a large entourage of people everywhere he tried to go.
He grimaced inwardly as he suppressed the urge to take a side-glance at the men and women walking either behind him or just barely at his side.
It felt such a waste of resources and manpower to have all these people follow him like this when they could have been doing better things. Though, he would have to give half of an applaud where effort was warranted.
Old as the trick may be, it was easier to sneak a spy or several among dozens of servants rather than ten or less. Less conspicuous to other watchful eyes...or rivals who wished to do the same.
Speaking of which…..
He tilted his head to the side, his eyes briefly glancing first a mature looking maid walking on the opposite direction of his group before he switched his attention to the soul at his right, a young man in a butlers uniform, greasy black hair neatly cut short over a fish like face.
Both of them moving a little more straighter when they caught on the presence of the other.
He would have snorted if he could. It felt like a competition of sorts was taking place around him and he was the judge of it by now. Each one of them hoping to get something better than the others while hoping not to be discovered at the same time.
Their eyes blinking at broken intervals, sending from time time furtive glances at either those around them or the mere shadows cast by the mansion. As a spectator it felt rather amusing to watch them make themselves miserable with each real or imaginary foe they conceived on the house they were working on.
Unable to break free from their contracts either because of their greed or the fear of retribution of those above them clutching their souls so tightly.
After all, had fate smiled down on them a little brighter they would not have found themselves here of all places.
He turned around a corner, and took a flight of starts down a lower level of the palace. Anyway, as far as he knew, they were trying to gauge his routines, his behavior, the way he thought and acted.
Nothing strange as far as he was concerned on the duties of badly trained eyes for hire.
It would take however some time before their masters and those who held their leashes took upon them to do something about this new piece on the board that included something either more abrupt or definite than the subtle brushes of men or women trying to whisper promises of power if he were to "help" them in the future when the moment was right.
Which suited him just fine.
After all, though he was making splashes here and there, he had yet to become more than a curious and exotic animal in this zoo they called a kingdom. One that seemed odd at first, but...rather benign.
Even... malleable.
The edges of his lips barely rose, stuck just as they tried to crease into something resembling the ghost of a scowl.
Such innocence…. was amusing to even contemplate.
Moments after finishing his all too frequent mental musings over the situation at hand, they arrived at the dining room, massive dual oak doors opening up, gently pushed open by two servants who stood at each side once they came into range, their heads low, bowing as they all made their way inside.
As with most rooms in the mansion, it was disgustingly opulent.
Pillars of marble or jade lined the walls around them. A series of large crystal chandeliers hung above the long dining table, the glinting after image of their forms under the light of morning making them glow like clean silver on a river stream.
Servants, both free and enslaved, stood along the periphery of the table, waiting in silence for any instructions whatsoever that could come across from those they served who were already sitting while at the far fringes of the room one could spot the form of several guards mixed with black knights as this nation liked to call them...even though they had not a speck of black in their cloth of choice.
Men and women constantly eyeing every person within while they kept guard of their charges.
And now.., as they ventured inside this halls all eyes were finally fixated on those who dared intrude in the cold peaceful silence of the room.
No…
Not on them.
On him.
Their eyes following him, watching him….reminding him in silence his position as a stranger in this halls. Though a soundless warning that he did not heed on the slightest as his stride was as prideful as the shadow his figure was able to cast on these halls
The sound of his footsteps becoming the only echo of noise that was not part of the muted and almost delicate chirping sound of cutlery been used as he made his way alone to the table. One, in which at the end of it, sitting before a gilded set of perfumes and desserts sat the idiot and the madam of the House.
With Sarisha glancing at him once before badly pretending not to take on his presence, while the more mature woman glanced away from her daughter and right into his line of sight, smiling a few second later once she realized what was the nature of the intrusion.
Though one that did not reach her eyes...
``Good morning Koldarrd...´´
She amiably welcomed him, gently shifting her position and several of the perfumes on the table before her before she calmly gestured him to take a seat in front of her.
One which was right next to…. Sarisha.
A faint attempt to protest tried to come from the light blue haired girls lips at that….but one that was easily squashed by the madam of the house with a mere glance.
Yet he was not misled that those silvery eyes were not glancing and watching him.
``Good morning, mother...´´
He replied curtly in kind, sharply, but not too unkindly, immediately taking the offered seat at the table. A plate and silverware quickly placed before him.
His attention then switched towards the other and...less than savory individual sharing the table. An action that did not go unnoticed by either women, though resulting in different reactions.
Starting with the loudest of them...
``What..? Missed something? Because if you are looking to steal from my plate you are shit out of luck´´
As if to make the words carry more weight he was behold to the sight of…..a fork been pointed at him by a girl that was barely half his size.
He shook his head with a sigh, brushing away the hand of a butler as he served himself a cup of wine, yet still did not taste it, merely bringing it close to his nostrils to smell the aroma before setting it down on the table.
``Good to see that you are starting the day in high spirits….´´
Sarisha looked at him with a raise eyebrow that turned rapidly into a frown.
``You said something rude to me, haven't you..?´´
``You always had a rich imagination...´´
``Quiet you.., mother tell him to-´´
``My dear, what do we say first thing in the morning..?´´
It took nearly five seconds before a look of complete perplexity settle on the little brats face as she switched her attention away from her uncaring mask towards the fox alike smile of her mother.
``What..?´´
``What. Do. We. Say.?´´
Sarisha looked at him, then at her. Lips thinning down as she tried to speak up some half baked excuse yet nothing came out. She looked once again towards him, those silvery eyes no longer glaring with anger or childish distaste, but a silent plead.
He could not have cared less.
Betrayal flared in her eyes, her expression souring further down as she bit her lips in frustration and hurt. Her hands clearly falling limp to her sides before starting to clutch the helms of her dress.
``Good….morning, brother..´´
``That's better…, but it did not sound very enthusiastic´´
``I-...´´
``I know that the mornings are cruel to all of us, dear...but surely you can do better if only for your mother, right?´´
The offer was sweet and the words soft, but the fluster in Sarishas face could only continue to grow in her pale countenance, a bit more and the shade would fit nicely with that of the napkins on the table.
Perhaps she was not as stupid as he thought she was.
Still...
The soft, methodical tapping of a pair of fingers on the table gave momentary pause to the scene.
``Ignoring our familial shows of affection and love...I would like to know one thing´´
The question drew the attention of the two away from each other...and back towards him. One breathing with a speck of relief, the other smiling even wider than before.
``Only one, dear?´´
``Why was I called here "mother"..?´´
``So that you could join us of course…´´
She said with a small and playful giggle as if it was the most normal thing in the world while she gestured the rest of the room with a hand.
``Its that so..?´´
``It its so…..´´ She pressed so sweetly as she leaned forward a little more ``After all its been a while since we had a chance to sit down all together as a family …´´
``Father is not here mo-..´´
``So you can understand, my interest of at least putting to some use this large table of ours even if only for a day...´´
He merely raised an eyebrow
``I see...´´
``Though I wont deny that I also wanted to make a little get together between us, it would do poorly for a family to distance itself even within the very walls of their own holdings...´´
He grunted, holding the cup of wine and taking a sip even though his eyes never left hers.
So that was her game plan…
``Do we have to mother? I wanted to play with my lady's in waiting..´´ Spoke Sarisha, her voice a little more mellower than before, but still hanging up on pride, no matter how tarnished it may be.
``Oh my dear, what a silly little question.., what could be more important than family..?´´
``But I-….´´
``But? Since when does a lady start a sentence with that word...?´´
``Sorry mother…´´
``Its ok dear, you are great on your ways….´´
Even though he was aware of them, he really was not amused by whatever little power plays were in full swing before his eyes. However, he had neither the intention or need to put a stop to it yet.
And so...he just stood there.
Playing the role that either the loud mouth of an idiot had graciously granted him as a silent observer rather than a guest to the very table he had been invited to. Watching with almost cruel apathy at the myriad of little jabs the madam of the Household sent their own blood with those velvety words, instead of the iron fist that her Lord Husband so loved to use.
Appealingly more to the eyes, but no less effective.
All in order to protect the prestige of the blood in a land already obscured by the nonsensical existence of "noble politics"…., where children were expected to refer to their parental figures, their lord's, in a detached and respectful way.
Always thinking of the good of the family before the self, a land where a slight here, a few scathing words there normally end up leading to a "hunting accident" in the near future.
..
..
Or perhaps just some sort of ploy meant to target him in a more nuanced way by using the light blue haired buffoon he had for a "sister" as a smoke screen. Things were always much more thrilling if barely when he was not actively reading the thoughts of those around him.
Food for thought as he cut through a small piece of meat with a knife before bringing it up to his mouth...even though he couldn't actually taste its flavor in the slightest.
``And what about you dear…? What are your thoughts, Koldarrd?´´
``I am afraid that you will have to be more precise´´
``I am sure I do not need to…´´
[If you want to play it that way...]
``I suppose there are more benefits than deficits at the idea of establishing a healthy relationship between one another through moments of leisure or peace among these halls madam,´´
``So impersonal yet polite, so…carefully said yet with strength. You really sound like him..´´
``I merely want to defer to you with the respect that you deserve´´
``Now you don't sound like him...´´
[Eh?]
``Still, it was rather sweet of you, see Sarisha? You could try to learn a few things of etiquette from your brother..´´
``B-but...he just arrived´´
``I think that the words you were looking for would be why...´´ He corrected.
``Shut up! I know which I meant´´
``Its "what" I meant...´´ He corrected again.
``Quiet!´´
``Now, now my dear...that is not a nice way to speak to your brother..´´
``Mom...´´
The blue haired girl tried to speak, but her whining was rather short lived.
``Don't mom me dear, is not polite..´´
``Indeed Sarisha, that was not polite...´´
It would always be an amusing sight the murderous look he always got after teasing the little brat, however her expression would have turned even more sour if she had managed to pick up on the slight difference between each rebuttal and the source of what they meant by them.
Ignorance was the blissful world of the fools...
``Still, it seems its working as intended..´´
``What is working?´´
He asked, eyes barely closing as the sound of cutlery at work became by now nothing but background noise. The coming and going of servants replacing plates and refilling glasses nothing but black spots moving around at the edges of their sights
``The plan of course..we are having so much fun having a casual conversation..´´
``[If you consider throwing darts at everyone as such and wait for the resulting reaction…then yes] He thought before brushing aside a strand of hair from his eyes. ``I suppose you are right, "mother", I think we are learning a lot from this´´
``We are..?´´
[Though not everyone is in the same line of thinking..]
He thought, avoiding to sent a glare at the fumbling fool of a girl looking at the two of them as if they had grown a second head.
``Oh, I am so glad we both can agree…´´
``I don't get it…´´
He tilted his head towards Sarisha raising the glass of wine as he did. ``You don't need to...you grasp social cues as well as you grasp common sense.´´
``Of course I don't stand on cues, I am a noble after all not a farmer...´´
..
..
..
..
..
``I don't understand what part in your head thought that was a good response..´´
``Hey!´´
``Be nice with your sister, Koldarrd…´´ The admonishing words of their "mother" echoed kindly, but the spark of amusement in her eyes told a different story.
``Sorry, Sarisha..´´
``Yes?´´
``Between us, one of us is smarter than you..´´
``Oh, thanks…...wait, what?´´
That look in her face surely was priceless, yet behind the taunts and mirthless words he had presented a window of opportunity, given freely and waiting to be used.
And so it was..
``So, seeing how well things are going….perhaps we could do something more…... interesting~?´´
[And what would that be? Impress me…] ``More interesting, mother..?´´
Red lips curved with the slightest of upstrokes. ``Please, my dear...is nothing too serious, just a few questions between us if only to make us know each other better..´´
``Questions?´´
``Yes, Sarisha….simple things here and there. Who knows, perhaps we will find something funny to laugh about...´´
``Anything can be asked?´´ He asked, one raised eyebrow as his fingers circulated over the edge of the cup.
``Indeed, why...? Interested?´´
``I don't think you would allow me to leave without answering your query's now, can I? In fact, this game was the main dish you wanted to present me before I even arrived here.., was it not?´´
No answer was given…., but it was not needed. After all, was it not rude to ask questions you knew the answer already?
``Ok, why don't you start with me?´´
``How brave of you, but are you sure~?´´
``You said it yourself, its not going to be something too serious...so why bother with worry?´´ He said with a smile, the glint on his eyes daring her to continue on while he took all that was left of his cup of wine, placing the empty glass to his side.
What was the worst that could happen anyway?
``You have not had sex yet with a girl, right?´´
He was lucky he had already swallowed the wine or he would have spitted it out.
º
º
A/N
Here is another chapter, hope you enjoy it. Review or share your ideas if you like, the more the merrier.
Guest: About the Beatrix point I am on a mixed bag: on one hand she is a renown and skilled individual who have lived for at least a century and has won several duels to be considered the Goddess of war….In the other hand an individual like Pert who was working for Mordred and was high enough to become a Round if he was to succeed on his task on Orianna did not have the slightest clue of who she was. How does that work? If Pert doesn't know then those below his station shouldn't either (perhaps I am wrong), which means that only a scant few of individuals (Rounds) are aware of her.
º
There is also the fact that we know that the cult recruits promising individuals, but I believe that the reason a character like Sergey was recruited and Beatrix was not is more to their mindset and morals rather than just their skills. They promised Gettan, Sergey and Pert power, they promised the Duke a cure for his daughter….and they showed that they would do anything to get what they wanted. I don't think Beatrix would murder innocents in the name of a shadowy organization just for the vain hope of getting her niece back.
º
And since she was never under the possession I don't think those of the cult who know, few as they are would care much what she does or where she goes since it would be more of a hassle to recruit her or fight her than ignore her. She is to them after all….just another wandering elf with a flair for the sword, ignorant of their presence.
º
About the dark side of society, she is aware of it, but does not actively work against it if its not in her direct path of collision (she killed slavers in chapter 27 while searching for Alpha), she also helped Cid in canon to stop a serial kidnapping organization when the mother begged her for aid.