Chapter Five: Ambition and Confidence
Anastasia took a short sip of her tea, it had been several hours since she had arrived to Okusnai, six hours since she had dispatched Ricardo and the rest of Iron Fang to go and look for the boy who stole the sword Okusnai. Naturally there were no results, and much to her disarray, all she could get from her spy network was a vivid description.
The merchant let out a sigh as she realized that today had been a big waste in resources, money wasted as her time was, workers preoccupied with a senseless task. To add insult to injury, local Kararagi guards managed to snatch up the only man accompanying the boy, refusing to elaborate any further.
"Just how could I have let this slip out of my fingers?" The fur covered merchant asked aloud, only for her contracted spirit to arise to life
From her supposed scarf, warped a wolf like creature in the form of a spirit, with snowy white fur and black eyes, the spirit bearing a mature presence
"This situation has gotten quite problematic for you hasn't it child?" The spirit asked in a reliable tone
"It has" Anastasia shook her head, "To think were this close" The merchant almost pinching her fingers together, "But so far away at the same time, I tell ya, fate's playin a trick" The Purple haired CEO let out
"I thought you didn't believe in fate?" The Spirit hastily replied
"Of course, I don't, just a way of me sayin im at a disadvantage for once" The "contractor" replied in a matter-of-fact tone
"I see" The spirit noted, "But this situation was unexpected was it not, for such a thing such as sword that predates even my existence to be pulled out, an ancient legend becoming true, who would have thought?"
"I get that" Anastasia replied in a bored expression, "I just wish we could get some info on the guy"
"It's as if he came out of nowhere, isn't it?" The spirit relayed, remember their morning conversation
"That's right, there's no record of em, just popped out of nowhere, like the type of thing ta hap-" Anastasia was cut off by the progressive increase of noise and commotion outside of her rooms door
"It appears our time's up for now?" The spirt asked in conformation
Anastasia nodded as the spirit returned to the dormant form of a scarf around her neck, she sighed as if spontaneously recognizing Mimi's voice, she enjoyed being with the girl but her mood was currently spoiled, she'd have to let her down easy-
"MAMA" and right on queue Mimi burst right through her door
"Hey Mimi wait!" Tivey cried out from behind
"WE SAW HIM MAMA, WE REALLY SAW HIM!" The small orange haired catgirl let out in excitement
"Saw who?" Anastasia's eyes lit up
"WE SAW HIM MAMA, WE SAW THE WORDLS NEW HEREO!" The girl practically roared
"You saw who?!" Anastasia began to rise
"The hero chosen by the first sword saint Mama, the main who's going to save the world!" The girl was practically beaming
"Tivey?" Anastasia looked over to the girls brother for conformation, stunning her as he nodded
"are ya serious, did you really find the man who took out the sword?" Anastasia asked her adopted daughter in disbelief, did fate really exist, did it really decide to bless the merchant queen?
"Yeah Mama! He was so cool, and awesome, and funny, he was like "sorry for the lousy introduction but im gonna be this worlds hero" and then Tivey was like "no way youre not, youre going to jail" and then the man was like "jail? No hero goes to jail" and then he outsmarted Tivey, who Mimi thought was really smart, but maybe Mimi was wrong, but the guy was just so cool so Mimi couldn't help but laugh at Tivey, the guy was really funny you know? And did Mimi tell you he was so awesome and cool? And, and-"
"Mimi, will ya please calm down"? The merchant enveloped in white had been overloaded by her daughter, only able to process half of the eccentric girls' words
"Oh sorry, Mimi just thought she'd talk about the hero, since Mama wanted to know about him" The girl replied innocently
"It's quite alright-" But Anastasia was cut off
"First of all, he's no hero, he's done nothing to prove it, and second of all our conversation wasn't so one sided, I actually had some valid points" Tivey stated as he crossed his arms
"I know you did" Anastasia smiled warmly, she knew Tivey to be the sensible one in this situation, she was glad though, she felt as if with the blessing of these two, she had some grip on the situation
Now looking back to her adopted family with a warm smile, "I want ya ta tell me everything about what the man"
To that both the siblings nodded
He wasn't happy, but not disappointed, it bothered him of course, to think a man had been able to pull the sword out, it was his city after all, and all that happened in this city re-laid back to him, Okusnai was his, just as the academy was his, just as the scholars were his. Every crevis, alley, street, all belonged to him. This city was his, and everything in it an extension of himself, so for someone to come to it, to disturb its natural order, and to in part, take a piece of him away from himself, truly an unforgivable mistake.
That was how Lucius Cornmen saw it, Lugnigan born, Vollachian raised, Kagargan bound, he held three of the pillars of this world, oh if only he could conquer Gusteko he scoffed, then he'd truly be a man of this world.
Of course, that was his goal, to own the world, to accumulate a name greater then Hoshin's, more benevolent then the sage, and greater then then the divine dragon's. So of course, it surprised him when he was much younger, that the sword had refused him, he was almost perfect after all, so of course it was waiting, waiting for him to do something, to earn it. Naturally Lucius being the man he was, expected that he must accomplish some great feat to obtain said legendary sword. He provided the people with a golden age, reducing poverty to near zero, eradicating disease across the city, going as far as to guarantee a job for everybody. Okusnai went from being just a scholar city, to a city of opportunities, naturally with attraction came corruption, which he swiftly ended, the only corruption there was Lucius and Lucius alone, he was the be all and end all. Yet still past all his accomplishments, all his hard work, the blade still refused him? Blasphemy! He'd proven time and time again that he was worthy yet to no avail, it had driven him mad! That was it then, he was mad, not at himself, or in the literal sense, but mad, mad at the nobody who claimed the sword for himself, that greedy, prideful little pig should be at Lucius's doorstep bending over to his needs offering the sword to him.
Lucius swore that he'd find that boy, even if he had to rip the city apart, he'll find him, and when he does, he'll take what's rightfully his.
This was his pursuit, he's self-conformation, this was not just greed or pride, but to have the sword is to be himself, the greatest Lucius could ever be, it was his personal validation.
"So, we don't have any idea on where he could be?" Halibel asked as he laid back against a wall, arms folded. Otto looking out of a balcony to the busy streets only nodded in confirmation.
"He could be anywhere in the world…" Otto blurted out as he gazed to the countless torches and shops
"And he just vanished?" Halibel continued
"Yep, in an instant" This was the third time the silver-haired merchant had been asked that question, the same answer every time
"Geez the kids a pain, if only you'd convinced him not to go near the sword" Halibel added
"if only if you never mentioned it" Otto replied sharply
"Touché" Halibel replied, quickly defeated, "Better not to reminisce in the past anyway, not like we could change it"
"Right" Otto replied, "perhaps we should return to where Natsuki-Kun originally left us?" Suggested the fair skinned merchant
"The scene of the crime, eh?" Halibel rose his hand to his chin, pondering the idea
"Well, it wasn't exactly a crime, was it?" Otto added in confusion
"It will be once Lucius Cornmen finds out about it" Halibel laughed
"Lucius Cornmen? What would the Duke want with Natsuki-Kun?" Otto replied with concern, he knew Lucius Cornmen was a powerful man, enough to influence even the Emperor of Vollachia if he wished
"Guys obsessed, even crazy" Halibel shrugged for a moment, "It's the entire reason he hasn't spread his domain past Okusnai, I believe the sword was a form a validation for him"
"Wait seriously?!" Otto sprung up
"I figure Su-san's not much on time if we don't reach him before hand, who knows what the Duke'll do to the kid" Halibel added in a serious tone
Otto was concerned, he wasn't exactly sure why. If anything, him and Natsuki Subaru were no more then strangers, with a grand total of about fifteen minutes together. By now he knew Halibel better, originally a mutual between the two. But why then, why were these two-man obsessing over one boy, both feeling a need to protect him, was it his child-like innocence they wanted to defend, or had he left such a great impression on the two, that they couldn't let an innocent man be threatened. Otto couldn't make sense of much at this point, but if he was stuck in this city, he might as well find Subaru.
"ah but to refuse her love!"
"TRULY, TRULY, TRULY, TRULY, Slothfull"
"To be given such abundant, sweet, cherish able love. Only to throw it away, cast aside for a usurper nonetheless, truly, truly, truly, truly, inconceivable!"
"MY BRAIN TRMBLES AT THE MERE THOUGHT!"
"But where then? Where did such vibrant, caring, affectionate, love go?"
"If not to me then who?"
"Who may have her love, who may bear her love, who is so deserving of such love!?"
"AH MY BRAIN TREMBLES!"
"but perhaps, was it Pride? NO, HER LOVE IS NOT MEANT TO BE WASTED!"
"TRULY Inconceivable!"
"I will find her love, in all my diligence, I will return her love with mine!"
"Then and only then may I make up for such SLOTH"
"This is the way, DES!"