The White Darkness

By Helbaworshipper

False Treaty Arc: The Tutor's Musings

Perhaps it was the ultimate joke for some people that Lotis was the ultimate rank system. If one was truly loved as a Lotis Master, no one would be mean to you. However, if reviled beyond belief, one could simply be relegated to doing things without a word of praise. The true joke is that the most powerful Lotis user was nothing against a truly angry Maram awakened user. A Maram Master was not common and for good reason.

It was said in all the classes he took and taught that Maram was only easy to learn because it took an extremely negative feeling to get that feeling of invincibility. A true Maram Master not only used those emotions, but understood what they were used for. So when one could not handle the slightest hint of losing their beloved rank, it was obvious their power in Maram would be low.

Still, the fact that Alice was ushered into the most bland of carriages and rushed into the most unnecessary part of the parade did not surprise him. She was dressed for the occasion, to the chagrin of her sister. He had done nothing to greet Kyo and King Wakamiya beyond a bow and a return to his student. Yet now, looking at the beautiful Jade-colored gown and matching jewelry… It was indeed a shame she was being ignored.

"The Kingdom feels a bit cloudy." Alice's voice was soft as she spoke, as if worried just her comment would ruin Mayura's moment. He thought for a moment before answering.

"Certainly it seems someone is running a bit of a storm out here." He commented, examining for a moment with his own senses. Well, it wasn't a very well done Daara, that's for sure. A true Daara would be a massive storm. Yet, the remnants of the storm were evident to him and Alice. Mayura was most likely ignoring the incident.

"Should I say something to Mayura?"

"Do you want to fix it yourself?"

"Th-that..." She looked nervous at the thought. "I'm not sure I could do something if it's this bad."

"Give it a try?" His hand lifted up to hold the one with her Lotis bracelet. "Certainly they can't argue with you trying to make Mayura's day better? Or perhaps brighting Prince Kyo's day?" At the mention she blushed a bit. She nodded for a moment and waited for instruction. "Close your eyes and focus on who you want to use the word for." Her focus was admirable. At this moment, she could pass for a truly strong royal. "Focus that power inside you and choose the word that you know will fix it."

"Aleto," her voice was strong as a strong energy released all around. For a moment he had to look around to be sure it was not anyone else casting it. Even with her current situation, she could manage to cast such a strong purify around this place? Everyone around he could see was rather perplexed, but quickly began to praise Mayura Seno. He turned back to her as her eyes opened, looking confused for a moment.

"I… I only cast a word yet I-" Her body slumped back against the carriage. He carefully got up and moved beside her to make sure she was still sitting enough to be seen without his face blocking view. She did only cast one word. However, it was a gathering of too much power just to use against this storm. He wanted for a moment to remove that they had even thought Mayura had cast this. Still, Alice was more important than that mess.

It really was a matter of time until he was approached again by pests. Though, really, it should have been obvious by now. There was no way that opportunists would put down the time to convince the tutor of the dud of a princess to leave her. Their thoughts didn't even need Lotis to show intention. At this very moment he was doing a review of his next lesson. Particularly in a place where only tutors or Lotis users should have any access.

"I heard Alice collapsed during the parade." Mayura's voice was not exactly gloating. He could hear some concern. "Did she get hurt when I-"

"When you what, your highness?"

"When I cast Shibi."

"When did you cast that?"

"As soon as we got to the castle."

"Then you are mistaken. She would not have fallen for such a paltry amount of power." He spoke as he took a sip of his tea. "And what sort of mind do you have to say that your power could do such a thing?"

"It couldn't have been Kyo or any of the other Lotis users. I was the only one casting at the time." Well, she certainly had the gall to claim such things. Still, he couldn't allow her to know that her sister's ability to contain her power was in progress. She had simply put too much out and lost any way that she could claim any responsibility for it.

"Even if it could have been your Shibi, your highness, I highly doubt so." He lifted the quill in front of him. "What power came over the parade was long before the castle. Are you certain you cast a word that could wait that long to cast?"

"Then what word, pray tell, could it have been?" She commented with a bit of annoyance starting to come out.

"Someone cast Aleto, your highness." He stated calmly, yet felt a bit of excitement at her annoyance. Mayura was horrible at purifying for some reason. Perhaps the Shibi had calmed her own feelings so she could look pretty. "Unless you are saying Shibi could calm such a strong Daara."

"It could and it did. Aleto would need a considerable motivation to cast." She sat down in the farthest chair. "And yet you choose to not give me a second chance."

"I gave you a chance and you didn't last a day. Your sister has lasted much longer."

"You're taking it easy on her."

"I'm treating her like every student I have so far." He lifted a piece of parchment for her to look at. "There's no reason to think she has time to fool around, as you have."

"And what makes you think that?"

"I'm simply making a point. You should learn quickly if you want to be seen as a true master." He took the parchment back and began to write on it again. "And no, I have not given or desired anything on that thought you have come with. You should visit Alice if you are concerned, though. Certainly she would like to see you are happy."

Samuel was quiet as he noticed Eric's entrance to Alice's room. Thankfully Alice had gotten up not too long after the parade. At the moment she was taking an early rest for events he was sure were not to be entirely pleasant. He sat down at the desk where she had been writing her study until dinner.

"Master," the blonde was softer in tone than usual. "Why are you letting them praise Mayura for what happened?"

"I'm not letting them." He answered while reading, feeling the power in the letters. "The fact is that they can't make any sort of sound judgement while Mayura is parading around like she is."

"You make it sound as if-"

"As if what?"

"You don't like the way things are going."

"I wish I could say it it was going exactly as planned." He picked up to see the next page. "Alice is not one who can be predicted. If anything, we should be accelerating."

"Is it them?"

"That and her fiance."

"You truly think?"

"Yes," he finally turned from the parchment. "If Frei Weilhausen arrives now, there is a chance we'll lose our chance. He stood up and approached where Alice slept and looked at her body carefully. "We only have one shot at this. So you'll need to make sure Kayna is ready when the time comes."

"And Mayura?"

"She's no threat," he lightly lifted the pillow so Samuel could see something. At looking at it, his eyes widened. "Years of this, and yet… You have seen no weakness."

"Are you sure she's… She's the one?"

"I am most certain." He spoke as he knelt down and carefully returned her to her more comfortable position. "I may be seen as an evil man, but she deserves more, Samuel. Do you not agree?"