[Tohru]: "Welcome... To the Aethervestille orphanage."
The woman lifted her gaze from its bowing position, and suddenly launched herself into Muriel's arms.
[Tohru]: "MEW MEW!"
[Muriel]: "Gah-! T-Tohru... It's good to see you too, but... it hasn't even been that long since we were last here. Is a hug really necessary?"
[Tohru]: "Oh, I know... I just get so excited when there's company, I look forward to it every time and end up losing sleep."
She lifted her head from Muriel's chest, her eyes freshly filled with overdramatic tears.
[Muriel]: "You ought to take better care of yourself."
[Tohru]: "My hair isn't too messy, is it? I slept in far too long today, and Claude had to do it up for me."
[Lisa]: "Ahem."
Tohru snapped back to reality as Lisa cleared her throat, half to get the fox girl's attention, and also to save her mother.
[Tohru]: "Bagh! I almost forgot about the rest of you! Please, welcome welcome welcome."
She bowed quickly, three times in total with each 'welcome' she blurted out.
[Tohru]: "Mh-?"
Tohru paused, having overlooked a significant detail. Julius felt a little out of place, and suddenly nervous as the previously energetic woman went quiet.
Her eyes glossed over each person in front of her, counting them in her head.
[Tohru]: "One, Two, Three, Four, Five... Hmm?... Six?"
Her gaze hovered over a very anxious Julius, feeling way too seen after being singled out.
[Tohru]: "Ah!- A NEW VISITOR?!"
All it took was a single blink for Tohru to have rushed over to Julius, towering him in height.
[Julius]: "Ah-hah..."
She clasps both his hands together and shook them way too enthusiastically, with a bright and excited sparkle in her eyes.
[Tohru]: "Goodness, I can't contain my excitement! A boy, so you must be- lets see here."
Julius leaned back nervously as his personal space remained invaded, casting a pleading look to Yuri beside him, who slides backwards in response.
Tohru once again scanned the crowd, though she paid no mind to either Yuri or Lawrence. Her grip on his hands unrelented, almost painfully.
[Tohru]: "Lisa's? No, she still too young... Lucille!"
[Lucille]: "Eep-!"
Lucille flinches back at her name being shouted, holding an arm up as if to shield her from whatever was about to be hurled her way--
--Having known Tohru for a long time, Lucille knew how spontaneous and unpredictable she could be.
[Tohru]: "Haaahh~ This must be your boyfriend! Why aren't you standing together?! AAAAGHHH~! This is completely unanticipated. I always prepare for more visitors than necessary, but this... You absolutely must share a room! I'll have it setup at once!"
[Julius]: "Kaaghh!?"
Julius felt as if he had been shot directly with her words. Lucille, on the opposite side of the group, experienced a worse feeling.
Caught up in her daydreaming, Tohru seems to quickly forget about the handshake, letting him go to instead cradle her own bright cheeks.
[Julius]: "W-Wait, hold on-"
[Lucille]: "Absolutely not! Miss Tohru, you can't possibly think he and I-!"
[Tohru]: "NO BUTS! I am a firm believer in young love, and you are not going to angst your way out of this one."
Lucille was speechless, her mouth open wide yet lacking any words, though her cheeks were a bright red by now-- the same could also be said for Julius, who seemingly took the brunt of the force.
Muriel sighed, having no answer for the glare Lucille stared into her. Tohru made haste in taking the bags everyone had been carrying, easily fitting them on her forearms, all except for Lucille, who had refused her assistance.
[Muriel]: "Tohru... These two aren't dating. You know how Lucille is with boys."
[Lucille]: "Ah-, Hey!"
Tohru looked back at them, confused until it seemed to have all clicked into place.
[Tohru]: "Ahh~, I get it now... You only act like you hate each other, which explains why you're both so far apart. Gosh, love these days is so complicated. You know back when Mew Mew and I were in school, you'd just go up to someone and ask them out! Goodness, things change fast in youth."
She walks off towards the building again, motioning for the exasperated group to follow.
[Yuri]: "For some reason, I don't quite think she gets it."
[Julius]: "You think?"
Following behind Tohru, who towers the group, Lisa skips up beside her, drooling at the display of physical strength.
[Lisa]: "You're so strong, Tohru!"
The woman's twin buns bounced subtly with each step towards the building, and she turned her head to flash a proud smile.
[Tohru]: "Back atcha'."
[Lisa]: "Heheh~"
The buildings twin doors were tall, likely to accommodate Tohru's impressive height, a feature Julius couldn't take his focus off of, speaking aside to Yuri.
[Julius]: "So, is she considered tall for her species? If she's this huge, what are the guys like in her family?"
[Yuri]: "Fox demi-humans are meant to be shorter than human women, dude... She's a absolute giant compared to the rest of her family."
[Tohru]: "I can hear you two whispering back there, it's rude to talk about a woman's size, you know."
She feigns a pout, glancing back at the two, who are caught off guard by her keen hearing, both embarrassed at being called out.
[Julius]: "Ah- S-Sorry!"
[Tohru]: "Heehee~ Just kidding~. I don't mind, at all, In fact-- I'm flattered you took notice~"
She shifts side to side with a soft blush, until stopping, as if she had remembered Julius was spoken for-- Or at least she thought so.
[Tohru]: "Eh-"
[Lucille]: "You don't have to look so guilty."
Lucille spoke plainly, clearly unamused.
[Tohru]: "Hey... Don't assume things..."
[Lucille]: "You're one to talk!"
Beyond the doors, the orphanage's interior was surprisingly similar to Muriel's manor. Red velvet and marble making up almost every wall and detail. These two women that now walked side by side obviously grew up close, and very rich.
Julius fell behind as he struggled to walk and look around simultaneously.
He turned to Lawrence, leaning forward to get his attention.
[Julius]: "Hey, you've been rather quiet since we got here."
[Lawrence]: "I am always quiet. Does this surprise you?"
[Julius]: "You've got a point, but this is different!"
He points an accusatory finger at the butler, who has seemingly forgotten about Julius's perceptiveness.
Folding almost instantly afterwards, Lawrence sighs.
[Lawrence]: "If you really must ask... I grew up here."
[Julius]: "Eh? Here?! Not in the capital?"
[Lawrence]: "Mmhm."
He shook his head-- for some reason, Julius had imagined him growing up in an army, or in a regiment like the knights he's seen thus far, and at least with a rich family such as Muriel.
[Julius]: "Is that why you're quiet?"
Immediately after asking, Julius realizes the sinister implications of being in an orphanage in the first place.
[Julius]: "Ah- You know what, never mind."
[Lawrence]: "It's quite alright. After all, you mean no offence, do you not?"
[Julius]: "A-Absolutely! I was just curious is all. I mean, I sort of just assumed you all grew up together in the manor. I overlooked that you all have different last names."
Lawrence lifted his head, recalling all the times he had counted the engravings on the ceiling.
[Lawrence]: "My time here was not pleasant. I was disliked."
[Julius]: "Disliked? Don't tell me you were bullied, I can't think of anyone I'd hate to get on the bad side of more than you."
Julius shivered even imagining it, drawing a chuckle from the butler, who toyed with his hair, the green locks that covered his right eye.
[Julius]: "I know how mean kids can be, but you? Why would they even dislike you in the first place?"
Lawrence sighed.
[Lawrence]: "You don't seem to have noticed... This Orphanage isn't normal. It resides in a ghost town out in the woods, ran by only two people. If it were conventional, would it not be a smarter choice to move into the capital?"
[Julius]: "Hmm... I guess when you put it that way, it does seem out of place."
[Lawrence]: "The Aethervestille Orphanage is a home for gifted children that have been struck by tragedy."
[Julius]: "Gifted?"
He nodded, continuing to walk down the long hallway, void of any windows, lit only by lanterns lining the stone walls.
Tohru led the group further into the heart of the orphanage with each turn.
[Lawrence]: "All the children here are sorcerers of some degree. Most of them have yet to awaken, but even at their young age, they show substantial potential."
[Julius]: "Ooh, I see... But that doesn't explain why you were disliked. If anything, I would have thought you'd be a celebrity in a place like this."
[Lawrence]: "... I was stronger than them. That's all there is to it."
Lawrences silence, his tone, it all left little to guess that he was leaving out crucial information.
Julius stared at him for a while, waiting for a continued explanation, but none came.
[Julius]: "Must have been some petty kids."
[Lawrence]: "One could say that."
Their conversation was cut as Julius nearly ran into Yuri in front of him, who had suddenly stopped.
[Tohru]: "Ah! There you are, Claude!"
That name alone shook Lawrence, audibly tensing.
Looking around Yuri, Julius saw an open door, a sign on the wall beside it that read: "Library".
Tohru rushed inside, followed by the group, ending with Julius and Lawrence.
[???]: "Lucille!"
Stepping inside a huge, double story library, Julius gasped admirably as he looked around. In the center, sat at the large wooden table, was another butler, dressed the same as Lawrence, the two even looked alike.
Rushing closer to Lucille, was a young girl roughly Lisa's age, crashing into the maid.
[Lucille]: "Oof-! Hey, slow down."
The girl runs a circle around Lucille, lifting her arm to get a better look at her maid dress.
[???]: "Is this a new dress? It's so pretty!"
[Lucille]: "It's standard. We can't disturb you for too long, Edith... Your tutor's giving a scary look."
Finally stood still, Edith, the young girl bowed to the group. Her hair was long and white, with a red ribbon tied to the side of her bangs.
[Edith]: "S-Sorry. It's so nice to see you all. I guess I need to get back to my studies..."
She voiced disappointment about not being able to accompany the group, hearing the creaking of old wood from behind as the man stood from his seat.
[Claude]: "It's fine, we'll just cover it next time as bonus work."
The butler now approaching wore an uncanny similarity to Lawrence, only his hair was blue, and cut between his eyes instead of covering either of his brown ones.
[Edith]: "Really!? Yes! Thank you!"
[Claude]: "it's a pleasure to see you return, Miss Astoria... And little Miss Astoria."
[Lisa]: "Hmph!"
Lisa crossed her arms proudly.
Claude greeted the group with his own bow, arm tucked in front before his eyes settled on Lawrence.
[Claude]: "I see you're still luggin' this guy along with you, heheh."
[Lawrence]: "Mmmh."
Lawrence grumbled as Julius could practically feel the sparks coming from the two butler's clashing gazes.
[Claude]: "Ah, and you've brought another this time. I am Tohru's assistant, Claude. Your name?"
[Julius]: "Ah-, it's... Julius. Nice to meet you."
[Claude]: "Likewise."
Tohru hummed melodically as she spun on her heel.
[Tohru]: "Onwards! We've yet to reach your rooms."
The mention of where they'll be staying for the next few days reminded Julius that he'll be sharing a room with Lucille, most probably his biggest fear as of late.
Julius softly clicks the door shut behind them as they leave, now joined by both Edith and Claude.
[Muriel]: "What are the kids up to right now anyway?"
[Tohru]: "All outside at the moment, but don't worry, one mention of lunch and they'll come running in faster than a herd of mice at the smell of cheese."
A large archway awaits them at the hallways end, a bright blue light breaking through the darkness from its opening.
Beyond the glow, Julius steps into a large room, uncovering his eyes and met with colossal room, lined with wooden catwalks along its edges, the entire center of the room being taken up by the light source--
--A giant tree, clearly several centuries old. It's roots and leaves remain healthy despite being completely indoors, and countless hexagon-shaped lanterns hang from its branches.
[Julius]: "Wah... That tree's huge!"
[Muriel]: "Ahh, I always love stepping into this room. It just feels so magical."
[Claude]: "Because it is. The great tree is sustained by the fairies in those lanterns. In a way, they tend to it, keep it alive."
An entire wall is made of glass, also covered in hexagon-shaped wood along its entirety in random directions.
Beyond the glass, Julius could see the kids of the orphanage in a field, each in groups. The closest of which, sit around a saddled drake, sat upon its own legs like a cat.
[Tohru]: "Come now, just a bit further, I promise."
[Julius]: "O-Oh, right."
Having fallen behind, Julius rushed back up to the group, still glancing outside as if to get one last look before stepping into another hallway.
His attention is grabbed by a single child far out in the field. He sits alone, reading a book in his lap, and quickly notices Julius.
[Julius]: "Eh?"
The boy had purple hair that sharply covered half of his face, but despite the coverage, it was obvious that the expression he gave Julius was one of distain, almost disgust.
[Yuri]: "Julius? You coming?"
[Julius]: "Yeah! Right behind you."
He gets one last look at the boy who holds the ugly look until Julius steps into the dark hallway's once again, chasing after his friends.
[Tohru]: "Firstly, our lovers rooms!"
She gestures to a door, looking giddily towards Lucille and Julius. The maid huffs before kicking open the door, dragging her bag inside.
[Julius]: "Uhh... I guess I'll just..."
[Tohru]: "Please, get settled in. I'll come grab you for lunch when it's ready."
[Julius]: "Got it... Thank you."
He bows to Tohru, stepping inside as the fox woman closes the door behind him, their footsteps echoing out in the hall beyond the door.
The small room contained two single beds, one of which had already been claimed by Lucille who was lying on it, reading a book she found in the drawer beside each one.
[Julius]: "So-"
[Lucille]: "Don't talk. Sharing a room is bothersome, especially under such circumstances."
[Julius]: "I get you're upset about the misunderstanding, but do you really have to be so mean about it?"
[Lucille]: "... Yes."
He sighs, collapsing onto the bed, staring at the roof.
Julius glances over at Lucille, who notices him and rolls onto her side to face her back to him.
[Julius]: "You were very friendly with that girl earlier. I don't think I've seen you that happy yet."
[Lucille]: "I thought I said not to speak."
[Julius]: "Well we have to fill the time somehow. You always look so down... Are you unhappy with being at the manor?"
Lucille shoots up, annoyed at his persistence to speak.
[Lucille]: "I AM happy. And I am perfectly fine with working at the manor, jerk."
[Julius]: "Okay, okay..."
She drops back down onto the bed, onto her back.
[Lucille]: "...That girls name is Edith."
Her voice was soft all of a sudden, surprising him.
[Julius]: "Edith... You get along with her?"
[Lucille]: "Mmh. I get along with most of the girls here. They don't know about my aspects... It's nice to talk to someone who doesn't know any better."
[Julius]: "Doesn't know any better? What difference does it make whether you have them or not?"
[Lucille]: "Don't be stupid."
Said as if it were obvious, yet she explained anyway.
[Lucille]: "It's all I'm known for. Everyone that meets me, I'm just Muriel's maid. I'm the one with the aspects. They should fear me, stay away from me. It's because of my 'gift', that I'm constantly reminded of how different I am. I want to be like these kids... They fit in with each other. I stand out too much."
[Julius]: "Like that woman in the capital? When we first met."
[Lucille]: "Mmhm..."
[Julius]: "But... Just because they fear you for it, doesn't mean it should burden you. Don't let them define you like that."
[Lucille]: "You really are an idiot."
[Julius]: "Seriously. you're talented, you deserve to stand out. I've only been at the manor a few days now, and I can already see how important you are."
He sits up, leaning more towards her as she lies with her back to him, her expression unseen.
Silence comes from her, though she tenses slightly as time passes on.
[Julius]: "You're seriously amazing, Lucille. You should be proud. Who cares if you're special."
[Lucille]: "I CARE!"
She shoots to her feet, stomping a foot towards him, clearly shocking him back slightly as she snaps.
[Lucille]: "Proud? I never asked to be gifted! I never wanted to be lifted up onto a pedestal and praised just for having aspects!"
[Julius]: "Hey, w-wait! I didn't mean-"
[Lucille]: "You think everyone should praise or fear me just for something that comes naturally? Something I have no control over?! Don't act like you're different from any single one of them."
The room fills with instant silence apart from Lucille's heavy breathing.
[Julius]: "I-"
[Lucille]: "Shut up!"
She tosses the book back onto the bench.
She spins around, heading for the door, slamming it shut behind her and leaving Julius alone in the awkward quiet that had filled the room.
He huffs out a defeated sigh, slumping down onto the bed.
[Julius]: "...Hmmm."
---
[Tohru]: "Hello? You in there?"
Julius jerks up as several soft knocks emanate from his door.
[Julius]: "Huh? Damn, did I fall asleep? C-Coming!"
The door swings open.
[Tohru]: "Oh! There you are."
[Julius]: "Sorry. I didn't keep you waiting, did I?"
[Tohru]: "No no, I only just came to check on you."
Julius sighs in relief, his shoulders relaxing from their tense state.
[Tohru]: "Come now, the kids will eat up all the food if you're late."
[Julius]: "Mh!"
The Orphanage's main room with the great tree was now much more lively, filled with echoes of laughter and children that run past him and Tohru.
He sees Lucille sitting with a group of girls, laughing as she braids one's hair. She pretended not to see Julius enter the room, but looked much happier than anytime before that he had seen her.
[Tohru]: "The cafeteria is this way. The others are already in there."
[Julius]: "They beat me to it, then."
[Tohru]: "They merely suggested to help cook, though I suspect Lisa only came to snag a good seat."
Julius nearly trips as a boy runs into him on the way past. The boy with purple hair covering half his face glared back, the same kid he saw outside earlier.
He felt an uneasy presence from the boy, their gazes clashing as he continues walking.
[Julius]: "O-Ow..."
[Tohru]: "Goodness, please don't mind Harriott. He's a particularly troubled one, so he tends to be a little cruel to visitors."
[Julius]: "Oh, that's okay, I didn't mind all too much, really. Harriott, huh."
Tohru stops before the opening to a new room, turning both her and Julius's attention to a small golden bell hanging from one of the tree's ethereal branches.
Julius watches with keen curiosity as Tohru swishes her finger around, conjuring up a small droplet of water, clearly from sorcery. She holds it out and flicks it at the bell, causing it to ding extremely loudly, signaling that lunch is about to be served, as read by the reactions of the children who perk up and run past them.
[Julius]: "Woah, you can use sorcery, Tohru?"
[Tohru]: "This is a school for the gifted after all, heheh. But Claude is the special one, my sorcery isn't anything too flashy."
[Julius]: "Any amount of magic is flashy to me."
[Tohru]: "Oh! You flatter me."
She places a guiding hand on his back as she leads him into the cafeteria.
Inside, is another large room, lined with smaller branches, and almost entirely filled with rows of tables and chairs. The tables were long, and the rooms ceilings were high, likely to accommodate for the golden chandeliers that filled the space.
Along every table, was perfectly set plates, cups and mountains of food. He could only wonder just how long it took to cook this much each day.
Once Julius spots Muriel, Lisa and Lawrence, already seated and waving him over, he runs to them as Tohru dashes off to tend to the children.
[Muriel]: "You're awake! I was rather worried you wouldn't make it when Lucille came out alone."
[Julius]: "Yeah, heh."
Lisa pulls out a chair next to her as Muriel waves her hand, gesturing to sit. Seated across from Lawrence, he has a front row seat to the sour expression on his face as Claude appears behind Julius, sitting down next to him, leaning an arm on the table.
[Claude]: "So, Julius. How is it you met this lovely group, hey? Not a light thing to be hanging with the largest kingdom's head of trade."
[Julius]: "Hm!"
He stammers slightly, having forgotten of Muriel's high level of status, and how he had been casually living under her.
[Julius]: "Well-"
[Lisa]: "We found him in an alley! Lucee thought he was drunk, so we came to check on him."
[Julius]: "Wah! Don't say it like that. You'll make me sound bad..."
Claude laughs.
[Claude]: "Classic. I like it."
Pouring himself a glass of brown liquid from a nearby bottle, Claude offers to pour Julius some by holding it over his glass.
[Julius]: "Ah, wait-! I um, I'm not old enough to-..."
[Claude]: "You aint' old enough to drink juice?"
[Julius]: "Huh? Juice? But it looks so..."
[Claude]: "You thought we'd just be keeping alcohol around kids? Damn, what kinda school did you go to? Wish I went there."
Claude laughs to himself, having unintendedly embarrassed Julius into slumping back down into his seat.
[Claude]: "Cheer up, have some. Promise you'll like it."
The liquid stirs as he pours it into the glass.
Julius watches intensely as the juice reaches the brim, his hand slowly inching closer to pick it up.
A droplet leaks down his chin as he takes a large sip, gulping it down as he finds a coaster for the glass. He can feel Claude's gaze burning into the side of his head, gauging for a reaction, the same as Lawrence across from him.
The juice was refreshing, in its own sweet and slightly clumpy kind of way.
[Julius]: "Hmm... It's good."
[Claude]: "HAH!"
[Julius]: "But a little bitter."
[Claude]: "Blagh!"
[Julius]: "I can't quite figure out what taste it is, I've definitely never had it before. Nothing like it, actually."
Julius holds the glass with both hands, watching Claude chug the whole bottle next to him, provoking a disgusted reaction from Lawrence, who had clearly hoped Julius disliked the drink.
He slams the empty bottle down, glaring a sly look at the other butler.
[Julius]: "Is there something about Lawrence that's funny?"
[Claude]: "Hm? No way he didn't tell you!"
[Julius]: "Tell me what?"
[Claude]: "Don't ya' think he and I look a little similar? It's because he stole my style, hair and all!"
With the two butlers close by, the similarity was indeed there.
[Lawrence]: "I did not steal anything. It is you that pushed it onto me. I was at an impressionable age."
[Claude]: "Hey, you're the one who kept it after Muriel took you from us."
[Lawrence]: "A memento."
[Claude]: "Ri~ght..."
The banter flowed naturally, like these two had spent a long time around each other before.
[Julius]: "Did you two grow up here together?"
[Claude]: "Nah... well, kinda. Lawrence ended up here with us a long time ago, didn't really take a liking to the place. Or the other kids."
[Lawrence]: "More like they didn't take a liking to me. Besides, I've already told this story."
[Claude]: "Oh yeah? And what about the part where you begged me to train you? To teach you everything I knew about sorcery?"
[Lawrence]: "Tch! I sure hope you're not looking for a fight again."
Claude throws up his hands in surrender. Lawrence's wording gives the impression that this was not Claude's first time to irritate him.
[Claude]: "Hey now, I was just playin' around. And please, you were kicking my ass when you were only nine years old. You think anything has changed since then?"
[Lawrence]: "Hmph."
Amidst Claude's mock battle, Julius notices Lucille silently slipping into her seat next to Lawrence, locking eyes with him only for a second before leaning on the table, looking away.
Julius knows he needs to apologize, but saying it here, over the full table would be unjust.
The children around them have all stuffed their faces full by now, and were bantering amongst themselves.
[Claude]: "Say, Julius. You ever ridden a drake before?"
[Julius]: "A drake?! Like, one of those big lizard things? Definitely not!"
[Claude]: "Wanna give it a go after dinner? We like to race them here. It's entertaining, and gets the kids all hyped up."
The idea was daunting at the least, an anxious shiver washing over him.
[Julius]: "If the one you're referring to is anything like Yuri's, then I can't deny that it scares me a little. They're huge."
[Claude]: "Nah, they're a little younger, but still great fun! Muriel actually happens to be a master at it."
[Muriel]: "Oh please. I haven't ridden one of those in years."
Julius tries to imagine Muriel on a drake, but the vision struggles to hold well.
[Claude]: "A little rusty maybe, but if you had of seen her back then, you'd be left speechless. Even beat Edith in a race, and she's our local champion!"
[Lucille]: "You're right, she's not the best anymore. I am."
[Julius]: "Lucille?!"
The maid chimes in after hesitating to speak.
[Lisa]: "Amateurs speaking! I've been practicing with Rauthen. I'm confident that I'd smoke you all."
[Muriel]: "Don't get ahead of yourself, Astoria girls don't boast unless they've got the skill to back it. Same goes to you, Lucille. When have you even ridden one before?"
[Lucille]: "When you weren't looking! I know I'd win!"
She sounded unsure at best, and Claude chuckles at their competitive spirit.
[Claude]: "There's no point in arguing when we can just go find out, right?"
[Muriel]: "Find out?! What are you implying?"
He points to the door.
[Claude]: "I'm saying we go out back and have ourselves a classic drake race. Winner is the best, no way to dispute it."
[Muriel]: "Oh, come on now, don't you think I'm a little old for that?"
[Lisa]: "You're only thirty! All excuses because you know I'll win."
She crosses her arms in her usual pose to exert pride, and naturally, playful arrogance.
[Muriel]: "You little... Fine."
[Claude]: "Hurrah! The queen returns from retirement!"
[Muriel]: "Don't call me that."
[Claude]: "Yes ma'am."
---
The slow walk out of the orphanage was tense, and Julius refrained from speaking a single word in the fiery atmosphere. Even Tohru joined them, having dismissed the children from lunch early just to watch her best friend pull out the leash once again.
The back yard was colossal, as it also connected to the nearby forest, along with a large barn, where two drakes were kept and tended for.
Claude retrieved them from the barn, and even though they were younger than Rauthen, the two creatures still towered menacingly over Julius.
[Lisa]: "Wait, if there's only two drakes, then how will Lucille race."
[Lucille]: "I guess I'll just have to go next time, can't help it."
[Muriel]: "Don't you dare think you're getting out of this! I'm still not convinced you even know how to ride one of these."
[Lucille]: "Tch!"
[Julius]: "Couldn't we use Rauthen?"
[Muriel]: "He's with Yuri. Besides, he's bigger and bred for long travels. There's no world where Rauthen loses a race."
Julius stands behind with Lawrence as the group dwells in their stalemate.
[Lucille]: "Fine..."
Lucille, after having mustered up courage, shoots up and grabs the groups attention.
[Lucille]: "We'll do it in pairs. Best team wins as a group."
[Lisa]: "There's three of us, silly."
Lucille grabs the leash from her drake, and tosses it hard at Julius, who stumbles back in the process of catching it.
[Julius]: "Wha-... M-Me!?"
[Muriel]: "Oh good! A mother and daughter team against their housemates! Sounds invigorating!"
[Claude]: "Great idea Lucille!"
[Julius]: "No way! I've never even ridden a horse! Or a bike!"
His pleas go ignored, as both Muriel and Lisa guide their chosen drake over to the break in the trees, where the orphanage's personal track starts.
Lucille pushes the leash further into Julius's chest.
[Julius]: "Ow! L-Lucille, wait. I get you're mad with me but... Please let me apologize."
[Lucille]: "I'm over it."
[Julius]: "I kind of doubt that."
[Lucille]: "Wanna make it up to me? Get on. You're piloting."
She steps back, holding the drake's harness, clearly waiting for Julius to move.
[Julius]: "... H-Huh?..."
---