Esme's POV
"So Sanya, any tips for a breakout?"
That was the simple question I asked. Not only did she have no tips for me, but she created a weird exercise for me to partake in. Did I complain?
I hurled all the silver ornaments I had stacked up into the biggest mirror and they went past. "Yes. He'd come crawling to me, soaked in his tears." I huffed.
I didn't know how she figured this out, or if she just made something up so that I'd feel better.
I took out the silver ornaments from the piles—lots of silver ornaments were buried under the gold—then tossed them into the biggest mirror that served as teleportation to the farthest part of this mansion, likely a place where he didn't visit frequently. Sanya also said those mirrors only took objects, so he would have to walk there for his ornaments.
When all his silver ornaments were so out of reach, he'd feel the frustration I felt.
"I should take all the silver crowns too." I went to work. The Sixth murmured something else in his sleep and I froze to listen.
He had done it once before but I couldn't tell if he said 'Someone' or 'Sora'. Likely the latter, but what came afterwards made me doubt it. 'Someone beat me' or 'Sora beat me'. I just dismissed it. I sat beside him.
His lips kept moving but no meaningful words came out of them. "Huh? Does he have a piercing on his lip?" I lowered my head to check. It looked like a curled-up… caterpillar? I scrutinized it. Truly a young butterfly. It paired with the ones on his ears.
"Mistress?"
"Wha!" I jumped back. "A-Are you okay?" I held my chest, my heart nearly bursting out. He rose slowly and had a blank expression. Did he still feel drowsy? He blinked a couple of times before his hand reached his lips.
I grimaced. "What do you mean by that?" I definitely didn't do that.
Suddenly he pointed at me, dramatically covering his lips and staring like he was seeing the worst criminal in the kingdom. "I was a child the last time you saw me. How could you?"
Huh? I balled my fists and pointed at him. "You didn't feel anything and you're accusing me. Do you want me to give you something to feel?"
"No, I don't want to feel something," he answered quickly, gathering his hair in front of him as an extra shield, but I didn't miss the slight smirk on his lips.
I lowered my fists and sighed. These brothers always knew how to get under my skin. Even this one who had just awakened.
"You called me to save you, and I did. If you were going to take advantage of me, you could've waited till I was conscious."
I smiled but rolled my eyes. Perhaps Eidrin and I should take a lesson about personal space. "Stop saying nonsense or you'd really feel my fist."
He tapped the wall and it gave way. My eyes widened. "Should I leave first then?" he asked, still taunting. I rushed to the exit but paused.
The exit looked like Haven's dark hallway. Had I been in a room within the dark hallway while crying for help and no one came?
Or did he just connect the exterior to the dark hallway the way Eidrin once connected his door outside Haven? I didn't know the extent of these brothers' abilities.
"I would leave first." I said curtly, then hurriedly crawled out.
The darkness and cool breeze were truly a refreshing part of this Haven. It was endless and different rooms and exits could be carved into it.
It deserved to be amongst the three wonders of our recent civilization.
I glanced at the Sixth as he calmly walked out. He stooped down and threw back the coins that spilled out of the wall when he broke it.
I would have preferred Grandus return to see his wall broken and his riches spilling out, but the Sixth was a sweet younger brother, unlike his son.
However, while he dramatically accused me, he said he was Sora. He had been a child the last time I saw him? And I called him to save me?
Eidrin did say Sora was the literal incarnate of the Sixth, but I didn't take it literally. I assumed knights were incarnates as well. Ritch wasn't the spitting image of Ruby. The Sixth and Sora might not be very different from each other.
"So what's your name?" I said, just in case his name was different.
"Do you still want to call me Sora?"
That made my heart heavy. Was Sora gone? I wanted to see him again. If the Sixth woke up, did that mean his son shouldn't exist again?
He paused what he was doing and turned to me. His eyes delved into mine as if he could read my thoughts. I looked away, folding my arms.
"I will call you Sylin. That's your name—and what I had used during the ritual."
He calmly returned to what he was doing and sealed the walls. He rose slowly from the ground. "I wanted Sora to help me keep an eye on my younger brother while I hibernated, but Lilin joined me in hibernation."
"Oh, I see." So Sora existed to watch his brother? Was he never his son? I exhaled. The youngest must be a handful judging from how Eidrin spoke of him. My lips pressed together as I said again, "I see."
Perhaps that's how it worked here. Apart from the Princes, knights and incarnates were dispensable. The growing pit in my stomach churned painfully. Would I someday become dispensable?
No. Blood-Hounds were the only ones that gave them stability. There was none other than me. Wasn't that right? "Sanya—"
"Mistress," Sylin called.
I didn't turn. Was I displeased with him? I couldn't tell. "Sylin, I have to meet a knight. We'll talk later."
He made a choice with his own creation. It wasn't my place to decide who he brought into existence and what position to delegate to them.
They were truly powerful, if they could create beings with sentience and emotions. However, I shouldn't make myself feel differently about them. Sora was still an adorable and helpful boy during the time he existed.
"Oh, and thanks for saving me."
He didn't say a word, but I saw his shadow behind me. I wiped my eyes calmly and let out a breath.
Without knowing exactly where to go, I walked ahead. The darkness and the breeze would give me comfort… eventually.