I expected a story from her, but she never narrated one and left me with a dilemma. Her gestures were filled with pauses and hesitance. That made it harder for me to ask about Zerius and her past. Was I even allowed?
My charming friend had always been a mystery, quiet, humble, and soft-spoken. Words that carry wisdom and etiquette, her violet long straight hair covers her back, and her pink rosy lips are flattering. Her beauty was of a sublime kind, the kind that made men forget to breathe. However, not many here appreciate her and give her an ugly face, what stupidity they possess. She is definitely from a nobel family. Her estate says so. Perhaps that is the reason for her proper and rich demeanour.
"Goodnight," she pronounced in her usual mellow voice.
I forced a smile at her. That's the best I could do. It was never gonna be enough to reassure her if only I had a gift similar to the outspoken man.
I was forced into slumber, and the aroma beside me was the sole reason. Kyoko still hasn't restrained her Behemist magic. My head felt heavy, and I shifted between dreams and reality.
"Aniel....Aniel?"
My eyelids lifted, and the world came into focus. His giant top hat filled my view right before he shook me up from my dreams. With my right ear, I overheard the ruckus coming from across the room.
He helped me up, and from the daybreak itself, his goofy acts had come to play.
"Morning sunshine, have you slept well?" His silly tone exclaimed.
"What's the ruckus about?" I replied to him while ignoring his words.
"Tough from the morning, are we."
"What's going on?"
"The master of the estate and the head lady are arguing." He had finally given up and gave a straightforward reply.
"About?"
"Shall we go and find out?"
With my nod, he started leading the way.
Though the black and white vieled his face, yet it was clear that the smile he wore hadn't been worn out since the day I'd laid my eyes on him. To me, he was the soul flesh of mystery. His words and actions were an enigma that I couldn't unveil.
***
"I will never permit for another day!" The deep reckoning voice of his echoed till the horizon of his well established estate and panic surged into me. The head lady's face remained calm, unwavered by her husband's scream. Her complexion had changed right at the moment. A slight frown had formed on her wrinkles less skin. She was a woman who would never let her emotions leak out. She added calmly yet with wisdom.
"Dear, listen to your wife now."
"Amane, do not object to my decision. You know all too well that my decision is for the benefit of our clan."
"I'm aware of it, but I do not have any care for it."
"Amane!" He became more pisssed, and his glare grew while the four of them could only watch her stir the giant boat across the storm single handedly.
Her frown depends, and her curve body straightened up, and she concluded.
"Your daughter had come home after five years, I was afraid she would never after you had banish her. Is it really necessary for you to prevent me and her sister from ever seeing her again! She is my daughter, yours as well. But you are chained against the law of the clan, you're no father, you're just the master of the clan!"
Her mother finished, and she bit down on her lips to prevent her tears from escaping. Usagiko faltered at his position. He was definitely bothered by it. Yet the society and the responsibility held him back, held him away from embracing his daughter again, the daughter he had raised with his two hands, the daughter he was so proud of
Her mother's words ended, and she pressed her lips together, fighting back the tears. Usagiko hesitated, shifting uneasily in his place. He was clearly unsettled, yet society and duty restrained him, keeping him from pulling his daughter close again, the very daughter he had raised with his own hands, the daughter he cherished and was so proud of.
He glanced at his daughter, and the image of her younger self flickered across his mind. The same pleading eyes, unchanged by time, met his gaze. Softening, he finally smiled and spoke to her with the gentlest whisper.
"I can never win with you."
Kyoko beamed at her father in joy and threw her arms around him with tears running down her cheeks.
The family embraced each other while pursuing under their breaths to never let go. And that instance, Aniel had thought to herself smiling.
(Zerius must have done a thing or two at them. Thankfully, we had visited.)
[Who?]
(Late aren't you, where have you been.)
[Tired, slept well.]
(Why?)
[The mana here is too strong and soothing, makes me wanna sleep again.]
Tomb yawned and fell silent within an instant.
"Does that mean we can stay?" His little joy was overheard by everyone in the room. Usagiko laughing, added.
"Help yourself, young man!"
Ororon giggled, and he rushed towards the man of the house.
"Thanks, old man!"
"Ororon!? Words?!!" Dermis called out.
"Haaha, funny boy, call me grandpa, would you."
"Hehe... Grandpa!!"
***
I sat beside him, feeling his presence closer to me. He returned the gesture by moving closer.
"Did you get a good sleep?" He muttered between his teeth, pushing his green hair past his ears.
"Yes, have you?"
"Good enough."
The top hatted man stuck to me like a pest, and he proceeded to sit next to me. Dermis frowned, clearly annoyed and remarked mockingly.
"How long are you gonna wag your tail at her?"
My face turned sharply towards him. Catching my glare from the corner of his eyes, he sulked, lowering his gaze.
"Well, beside you, nobody seems to mind my presence." He slyly chuckled.
Dermis graoned and shifted his focus elsewhere. Nevertheless, Kim Soo-Hyuk continued.
"Ah! Have any of you seen Dermis?" He dramatically searched the room.
Dermis vision fell onto him, confused.
"Oh! Sorry I mistook you for some bushes."
"Pffttt," Tremious loudly snickered.
Followed by him, the man of the house smiled, and his wife chuckled.
Again, Kim Soo-Hyuk mocked.
"I never believed creatures that could blend into the background exist until I had seen you."
Tremious let out a maniac cackle, promoting the rest of us to chuckled as well. The moss head man gave a face of betrayal to his fellow companion he trusted. The disbelief was magnificent.
The shoot was shot, and the little revenge of his was taken.
"Zerius...."
The throbbing sensation in my heart and the twisting and recoiling of my stomach,yet the crunches in my body have never won against my curiousity. It crawled on the edges of my fingers and pushed me forward.
Who is Zerius? An unknown creature that carried a name, mana from the history, carrier of memories, she is the piece of the universe and the creature I needed the most.
I rose, silent and steady, wishing my movement would pass unseen. Regrettably, only his gaze followed mine, and in an instant, his steps matched mine.
"Won't you enjoy the refreshments?"
"I would like the restroom." I said with a shaky laugh to the black and white persona.
"I must go as well."
"Why don't you go sometime else."
"Am I a bother."
"Have you noticed it now?" I gave him a deep frown.
"Quite flattering." He didn't weaver by my confession and again worded out in his silly goofy tone.
"You look in a hurry. You aren't gonna use the restroom, are you?"
"I don't find myself guilty enough to tell you anything."
"Chilly, isn't it, amid the spring season."
He giggled for a while, and my mind had tried to find alternative ways to get him off of my tail.
"You find everything funny, do you?"
He fell silent, and for the first time, he pondered before replying.
"More than funny, it's soothing and warm."
Such words left his mouth, and he halted at his position, resulting me to turn back and having a good look at his face. Nevertheless, I couldn't tell what he desired and prayed. I took a stance and started walking away from him, yet he followed. On midway, I let out the words.
"Who?"
"Hehe, always Y---"
"Ah! Tremious! Please show him around the manor, will you? it's his first, you see."
A stack of dopamine rushed inside my blood with the sight of someone who could drag away this man from me. Tremious, obviously confused, tried to reason out something, but my rush was more important.
"It's my first too -"
"Appreciated! see you."
The two men dazed, stared me down from my back, and I could feel their piercing stare. Still, it's now or never.