Part 4
Yes, the training proved effective repelling the chillness I felt earlier. Moreover, sweating that much after our mock battle animated me. Though I had been displayed again before the coldness of the stares that young woman gave to me. Still, I thought it would be a great day considering this was my first morning in this mansion. After the sparring with His Highness, Marikit and I were going back to the guest room designated to us. I had to change clothes before breakfast. The arnis sticks were sitting on my back, resting after they have done perfectly their duty.
Walking within through the decorated hallways made me feel strange. The morning sun had already hanging to the point of warming up the dark corners. Still, the mansion was void of people. Since the mansion was so big, as I learned thanks to Johan, it would require much effort doing mundane chores in here, especially in cleaning. Surely, it is. Nevertheless, as I had said, the mansion was devoid from people.
"The place is sure big and quite"
The pixie wondered as she sat on her favorite spot, my shoulders. She blurted out my thoughts earlier while we were passing through the hallways.
"Yeah, it seems like we're the only one here," I replied to her while turning my head from left to right in search for someone. "It would be a big work cleaning this house. I wonder how they managed to." I made an evil smirk. "Ah, maybe we'll be cleaning here soon."
Hearing my speculation, Marikit flew ahead, turned her back, and faced me.
"That will not do. I am a pixie, not a slave!"
Surely, she knew what my head was thinking.
"Yeah, I know. Besides, the world would surely end if the pixie had begun cleaning." For she had been with me all these years, I knew the pixie very well as well as she had known me. I knew she would not dare to touch and to wash the dishes. She had no time to spare to do some chores. Therefore, to move around in this big mansion to clean is theoretically possible but practically impossible to happen.
"Huh? Do you think I am lousy enough not to clean?" She said, leaning forward, eyes on me.
"I wonder about that." I really did not want to get in a fight with this pixie right now, so let me set aside the cleaning. "But, I really appreciate when you came here with me."
I tried to change the subject of cleaning, however; it ended up as a serious one.
"I kept my promise and I will always be. I am your pixie after all." She turned his back against me and flew ahead. "So keep yours too, okay?"
Even she was afar, her tiny and bell-like voice crawled into my ears. It somehow made the end of my lips raise. However, I did not know what she really meant at this time. I did not have even the slightest conception about the gloomy feelings that were roaming inside her since we met.
Our voice echoed on the wall as we enter into the interior of the mansion. No worries. The paints, pictures, and decorations did not know how to raise their complaints while we were shouting in the empty corridors. The knobs of the doors were glimmering as we passed the rooms. I could tell the only ones inside the rooms were the stagnant air, stranded a long time in those rooms, for it was silent as death. About housework or rather mansion work, I settled in the idea that they might have hired some house cleaners and after the day, they would return in their home.
Yup, that would be the best thought I could think.
As I pondered about these things, the pixie fixed on her spot, waiting for me. She was indeed lazy, wanting to have a free ride on my shoulders again. However, she knew me to the bones that I would let her slid and sat on my shoulders again. It's not that I cared though. It's not that it really matters to me.
The first time she sat on my shoulder was a long time ago, just after I had found her. I could still remember it. Even having beaten by her kin, I was so happy having a pixie riding on my shoulders. But really, it never matters to me, though. Though, my shoulders had already adapted to her, even to the point that, it felt incomplete when she was not on there.
As I said, it doesn't really matter to me. Jeez!
"I wonder what they think of me." Out of nowhere, she blurted it out.
She must be worried as her existence had been exposed to the people living in here, in this mansion. To be honest, I thought of that too last night but I came to conclude that somehow I see that they can be trusted. I can feel that they are not greedy. It made me feel a little ease inside. However, the piercing cold eyes were still an issue needed to be addressed.
"No need to worry," I said to her, comforting. She glanced at my face. "I mean, you are used sensing danger, right?" I patiently waited for her response but she became mute. So, I continued. "You can distinguish if ever they have such ill intentions on you."
"Nope, it's not that I worry about…" She paused. Her eyebrow creased. "What if a word will leak outside about you keeping a pixie? Surely, your life will be threatened as well." Her hands grabbed my ears as she continued talking. "I swear to myself that I will be careful not to be seen for your own good, but here I am, exposed to the elements and to the world"
"That's why I told you – "
She knew what the next words would follow and immediately interrupted me. I had told her to stay in our village to take care of Mayumi but she refused, pushing her selfish reason.
"But I am your pixie. I believe I had told you many times and I will tell that in your face, reminding you always. It's my certain duty to be your side all the times. I am sorry failing in hiding myself, though"
"Nope, I should be the one apologizing. You did it for my sake, even revealing yourself, endangering your own. I thank you for doing that."
I am not a masochist, yet the itch from her little hand pinching my ears felt relieving. The guest room where we slept last night approached as my feet were still striding towards the room. Now that I could see she was a relieved too, that she was pinching me, perhaps I could kid her a little.
"Besides, you don't have to worry about me. If the time comes, I'll willingly hand over to them the gluttonous pixie"
"Eh? That's mean. Jeez"
I wanted to laugh, seeing her reaction but –
"Right, that's no good"
A monotonous voice rang behind us. I quickly turned and stepped back, away from where the voice came from.
'How did he?'
It was Gil. But his presence. He nulled his presence, as I could not feel him. No, let me rephrase it. At the instant his voice sounded, I sensed his presence became noticeable too. What makes me wonder, how did he get behind my back without me noticing?
Even making a surprise attack, Gil brought us good fortune. He was holding a tray, most probably our breakfast. Therefore, as I am kind enough, I let it pass for now.
One thing was also bothering me. I knew Gil is one of his highness's assistant whom he trusted. Then, why would such an important person deliver our provision? I mean, the maids or other butlers could bring breakfast for us. That would really mean that there's no other servant here, right?
Gil told me I will be having my breakfasts and dinners in my room, not this guest room, which I am yet to see. Though for now, I will still be having my meals here in the guest room.
"Whew! I thought I had a heart attack for a moment," Marikit said almost good as sighing for even she did not notice Gil. "It's only you"
"We'll be telling no one. So rest assure."
Gil must be talking about spreading the news about a young man keeping a pixie. That would be a big deal to the capital and other neighboring towns. Luckily, he seemed uninterested in spreading the news as he opened the door with his other hand.
"That will be a lifesaver to us." I thanked him with a nod.
Oh, the way he balanced the tray full of food while opening the door was magnificent. His movement was too refined and composed. He is a real-deal butler, after all.
"Oh, that's thoughtful of you" The pixie happily replied to him, drooling.
With me patiently waiting outside the room, Gil in his usual penguin-like suit entered the room and placed the tray on the table beside the bed. He calmly nodded, passing me, and headed his way wherever he was heading.
"What a - whatever he is"
Right after Gil's shadow vanished from our sight, pixie fled quickly to the table with such hastiness. Her eyes were on the food all this time.
"By the way, why are we still having our meal here, Laum?" Marikit asked while gnawing her food. "I think it's better to have our meals together with them, right?"
"I guess it's not, Marikit. We aren't in our village anymore. It should be clear to you now that it's not the same in our village."
When we were still in our home, we had our breakfast on our dining table made from bamboo together. It's my father's rule that everyone should gather together when it comes to the meal. But here, I think it's not going to happen.
Gil had delivered our food in the guest room. It makes sense since I am just a peace offering/proof of submission of Abbalon/ proof of strengthening the alliance between Ferrum kingdom and Pantala Empire. I am not on the same level as his highness and his daughter, or even to his trusted servants. It should not be strange if I am having my meals here in this room with the pixie. Well, not that it bothers me, really. In fact, I prefer this. I prefer myself and pixie alone.
Speaking of meals, breakfast was so awesome, awe-inspiring. Bread along with fried egg and slice of meat, flavored with mild sweetness and saltiness, and green leaves on the side of the plate. The fresh milk was heavenly. Overall, it was great. A whole lot different from the food I ate when I was in the village and on the ship.
Sorry, Old man, but I think Gil's dish is far more abundant than yours.
I was full and the pixie was also bloated enough to float.
****
After taking our time letting our stomach digests the food we did intake earlier, we moved to the room that Samantha directed us. As she had said, we supposed to take ourselves in the second room of the west wing. Again, we ventured the maze of hallways.
There were pictures of different subjects attached on the wall, but what got my attention was the picture frames of people with red hair, similar to his highness. However, this was not enough to prevent me from going to our destination.
With Marikit sitting comfortably on her favorite spot, we stood before a door, as if waiting for the door to open itself. After a while, concluding the door was not going to open itself for us, I reluctantly knocked and opened the door after hearing a feminine voice, giving us permission to go inside.
"Morning~"
Johan, sitting lay back on her desk, yawned while greeting us. She did not look up, eyes in the book she was holding, and fixed her eyeglasses.
"Good m-morning"
I could not make my reply not to stumble as to her outfit, let alone to have my eyes on her.
As early as this morning, why are you wearing such vulgar clothes? – was I would like to ask, but, I think it's not a bad thing though. Indeed, it's not seeing her like that. Hehe. Well, it is not that I had the right to speak about her not-so-reserved outfit, to begin with. I remember seeing a Moro with his not-so-reserved outfit walking to the crowded alleys of the city before.
Nodding by myself, satisfied seeing Johan on her attire, I was indeed convinced it was a good day. However, the pixie became lunatic again, kicked my face while puffing her cheeks, and had her arms crossing.
"Ouch…" I rubbed my cheeks, looking at her flying away from me. "Why did you do that?"
"What do you think, Laum? You were leering at her again."
"I-I wasn't" I averted my eyes from the pixie.
"Don't deny it. I know you were making perverted thoughts again while you were leering at her, dumb Laum."
"Y-you!"
Hearing her murmuring nonsense made my head to boil. She's getting on my nerve.
I tried to catch the pixie by my hands but she was too slimy. She evaded every time my hand would reach her. I was moving around, striving to capture her, forgetting the other person in the room at that moment. She moved up enough that I could not reach her even I jumped. Therefore, I had to use the chair right into the front of Johan to reach her. The pixie moved away to the spot near the chair I was standing. I lifted the chair to move near her. A few minutes later, the sound of broken windows, falling books from the shelves and falling furniture echoed inside Johan's office. Dust floated inside the room making us coughed.
With such ruckus inside her office, Johan finally stood up and slammed her desk hard enough to freeze both the pixie and me. Johan got our attention and we turned our head into her direction.
Her eyes without her eyeglasses were … gleaming with such sadistic and horrifying expression. She gazed straight to the deepest of our souls, with eyes that could kill someone who is weak.
One word. One word would perfectly describe her right now. Malicious! Without her eyeglasses, her mystic brown eyes were simply malicious. It was like the abyss was staring at me when her brownish eyes looked at me.
Thinking that I should immediately do something or I would meet my end earlier than I expected, I bowed myself before her, touching my head on the ground.
"S-sorry!"
It was an honest apology with my life in the stake.
This place, these people, they are indeed not on my level. The Johan I knew was nothing but a lie. This scary woman in front of me gazing us was the real Johan. She is truly a witch she had said when we were still traveling. Fortunately, for she accepted, calming herself, and fixed her eyeglasses again as if it was all she needed to change her scary gaze.
"Don't mind it." She said while putting her eyeglasses again. She was also smiling now as if she did not have that deathly gaze earlier.
'Of course, I do! '
"Besides, who can blame you not to be attracted by me, no? So it's partially my mistake too…" She was even in the mood to tease me.
'H-how? How could she change her mood in an instant?' But she's right about it's also her fault.
"It's... it's not true" Being pretentious, I denied it.
'I answered her with face down, trying not to look on her as she did a pose supposedly to seduce a young man like me.
What the hell is she doing right now?!'
I steeled myself not to make another glance again because if I did, I would burst myself laughing for whatever she was doing was… simply hilarious. She must be kidding us. If it was the case, then I had myself laughing at her long ago. However, seeing her gaze earlier, I could not bring myself to laugh.
"Like this…. Like that…" She mumbled doing another weird pose.
However, despite my effort straining myself to hold my laugh, the pixie laughed out loud as if there's no tomorrow. If she continued, that would be the case. She would found herself hanging in the corner like a voodoo doll.
Marikit was holding her belly while pointing Johan. I could see tiny drops of water coming out from her closed eyes.
"Haha Haha… W-what? What's with that?"
"Hmm… this one? No, this one, no?"
Yet, as if to further provoke her, Johan made another pose, which made the pixie laughed more, falling down on my shoulders. The pixie grabbed on my shoulder as her balance went off while she was grasping her breath from laughing.
I could not laugh. I could not after seeing Johan making those eyes, those scary eyes. If I were to laugh right now, definitely it would mean death to me.
"Haha Haha…Stop that… Ahaha – "
The pixie stopped laughing with a sudden 'Eek' witnessing those scary eyes again. Johan just made them again!
'Inang! Help us!'
The pixie shrank and shriveled as Johan was doting her using those frightening eyes. Even though Johan was not targeting me with those horrifying stares, it still sent chills into my spine.
Whew. Luckily, Johan turned back to her normal self when a series of knocks echoed.
As a punishment, the pixie found herself, not hanging like a voodoo doll as I speculated earlier, but wrapped tightly in Samantha's arm while she was rubbing her cheeks again against the sky-blue hair of Marikit. While Samantha was fanatically smiling, on the other hand, the pixie was wailing and was flailing her hand, asking some help.
'M-my apologies, Marikit.'
I could do nothing about the current situation she was at but to look. I really wondered why Marikit was so scared at her. Never mind the pixie. She was in good hands.
'Oh, how comfy!'
The thought when I sat on the chair with soft red padding at the front of Johan's dark-brown and shining desk. Inspecting inside the room, it was tidy and well-lighted as there were large windows in this room. Tapestries in reddish-brown were hanging into the walls made the room constantly warm. Curtains with scarlet were on the side of the window. There was a chandelier hanging in the middle of the white ceiling and books on the shelves arranged neatly. Of course, after the ruckus we did earlier and witnessing those eyes of Johan, we fixed and cleaned everything we messed up.
While my eyes roamed inside the room, I unintentionally met Samantha's eyes who were trying to gain the pixie's trust while talking to her. Her bright smile vanished immediately and she threw a cold stare again, making my head turn again to Johan.
'Eh? Seriously?'
Johan was preparing something, pulling something big out under her desk. Sooner, she placed five boxes with a different color on her desk. It was blue, red, black, white, and yellow. I wondered how the heck the boxes managed to fit under her desk. Casting off the thoughts aside, Johan fixed her eyeglasses again, pointing me to choose among those boxes she presented.
"W-what is this?" I asked her even I got what she intended me to do.
"Obviously, boxes?" She fixed her eyeglasses, looking down on me, while her right was reaching her left elbow. I looked at her with disappointed eyes. "You should hurry, no? Just point one already"
As she told me to, my index finger pointed out the black one. She immediately pulled up the box, revealing a small scroll. She made a hand telling me to read it and as she commanded, I did so, too.
"Arithmetic?"
'Oh, I can read, too!'
Nope, it's not that I could not read. Back to Abbalon, we had already writing system called Alibata or for some, it was called Baybayin. Although, the alphabets between Alibata and these alphabets I was currently looking were two-worlds different, what amazed me was the fact that I could read their writing too. The skill Johan cast on me must have to do something with this. Open mind, was it?
"Well, what about arithmetic?" I asked her. She fixed her eyeglasses again and she cleared out the other boxes out.
"That will be our lesson for today, no?"
After putting the boxes under her desk, she handed me a paper.
'I see. His Highness ordered me to be here so I can have my lessons. Hmmm, in that case, Johan becomes my new mentor. She replaces my grandma.'
In there, a set of problems was written.
'If I had four apples, you had two, and we put them together in a basket. How many apples were in the basket?' and the likes were on the paper. The basics of basics.
Hey! Hey! You're quite underestimating me, aren't you?
I am a son of Rajah and destined to be one. My Nanang, as one of the elders and adviser of Papang, cramped all her knowledge in my mind since I was a kid. But as respect to Johan's effort, I answered effortlessly all the questions on that boorish paper.
"Impressive" She exclaimed after she was done checking my answers. "You got all of them correct, no?"
"It's not" I was looking her with sluggish eyes.
"Why is that?"
I told her my grandmother had taught me from dealing with daily lives activities to DNA repairs and DNA polymerases, probability and chances, f(x), quantum entanglement and the eventual fate of the universe caused by nuclear degradation. Heh? What are those, author-sama! No, Nanang only taught me simple arithmetic and simple science. Nanang said it is important for the next-rajah-to-be to learn arithmetic since it is also his duty dealing with trade with other villages, or in a simpler and her commonly used example was counting his wives. As Johan heard that, she put her hand on her chin, mulling something on her head. I saw her trying hard to make something. I interrupted her as I suggested something.
"Uhm… G-geography?"
"Geography, what about geography?"
"Yes, Geography. I want to learn the geography of these lands"
"Good suggestion, no? Indeed, you are a son of a rajah, Laum" She fixed her eyeglasses. "You are lucky since I have the latest of the latest atlas."
"Eh, what's the connection with me learning geography and a man named atlas?"
Moreover, if I plan to escape here, I should know my way back home, you know. But I could not say it into Johan's face.
"Ah, Nevermind that" Her mannerism acted again, thinking it was a drag answering my question. "Geography…and a man named Atlas… hehe" She giggled while scanning the titles on the books on the shelves. One by one, she piled books on her desk and after a few minutes, she had made a tower of books.
While Johan was still busy, I checked the pixie.
'Okay, she's fine.'
Unlike her earlier struggling position, tightly hugged like a bed pillow, she was now sitting on the small table while eating a biscuit bought by Samantha. While gnawing the biscuit, she never let her eyes wander away on the lady in her front. On the other side, while basking on those suspicioning stares, Samantha was smiling, enjoying how the pixie's mouth chewed the biscuit as if it was nothing. It was painful to see such one-sided love. Nevertheless, I was not in the place to reprove her since she was happy.
With a thug, I turned my attention again to Johan as she deposited the last book, large enough to fit in three or four books she piled earlier. By the look of it, it was quite intimidating, however, I could not complain now after the effort she had done gathering these large books.
"At last, atlas. This one here is the latest atlas we have, no?" She tapped the leather cover of the big brownish book. "So, make yourself comfortable."
Sighing as she sat on her desk, she fixed her eyes as it was pointing on me, anticipating for me to ask. She smirked lightly hearing my query she awaited.
"Atlas? I thought Atlas is the name of a man. It's the name of a book, after all."
Sighing again, she stood up.
"Ah, just get into the corner with the book and turned some page." She walked away on her desk. Sooner as she passed through me, she continued. "While you're at it, can I talk with the pixie?"
"I see."
She, not on the same degree as the young lady over there was also interest on the pixie. She would not do any harm on the pixie, would she?
"Marikit, Marikit is her name."
"Marikit, hmmm, that's her name?"
Doing her mannerism in a bolder manner, she nodded at me saying 'I'll be off, then', as if going to a furious battle. She headed into the red sofa, opposite where Samantha was sitting. Johan's palm supported her chin as she leaned forward, watching the pixie gnawing the biscuits. The pixie noticed Johan's stares and let out a hiss, warding off Johan as she wrapped the biscuits on her small body.
"What... What? I am not giving you any."
As a response to the pixie's defensive behavior, Johan smiled with eagerness.
"Sure, sure"
'Hmm... I guess she's okay with them'
I decided to leave the pixie on their care for I had some things to do as well. Besides, I could tell that Johan is a person not to be cautious of if not provoked as we did earlier. During the fight between His Highness and me, she had a worried face, clenching her hands together.
Like I had another choice but to obey them. I mean, I am here in this mansion, under the care of the His Highness. It left me no choice but to trust them and to gain their trust while we are here, hoping they would do no harm to us. Therefore, if they told me to study, then I should oblige.
For now, I cast the thoughts away by opening the large book. I am also eager and interested in learning new things. As Johan had instructed me previously, I moved my butt in the desk at the room's corner near the large glass windows. While the women had started interrogations to Marikit, I turned another leaf, skipping some pages of the books, which some names were written. I doubted they would do any good on me since I am only interested in geography, which it turns out that Johan will question me about those tongue-twisting name. I only stopped as the book offered me a whole map of the chaptered world.
****
Continents, islands, oceans. An imaginary line called 'Tears of saddles' divided the world map into two parts, the west and east. In the bottom of the map, there was an explanation about Tears of saddles. The Tears of saddles was a treaty agreement between Pantala Empire and its naval rival, The Great Nation of Physalia, a nation with a size only a quarter of the Pantala Empire. Theopolis, a powerful nation with a size of only a city, issued the said treaty when the Pantala Empire turned into the Great Priest of Theopolis to preempt any claims of Physalia to the new lands. The Great priest resolved this by dividing the World Map with an imaginary Line, the said treaty. The two Nations had agreed to the terms. Pantala Empire had the right to claim any land to the west side of the Tears of saddles while the east side was to the Physalia Nation. Both of the nations have one purpose, to discover where the fabled fountain of youth is.
Looking on the map, how could the Pantala Empire reach the group of islands called Maharlika, when it was located on the east side of the map? Abbalon is included in a group of islands called Maharlika, which the Pantala Empire decided to colonize.
There are six continents in the world. The largest is the supercontinent Argiopy, twice as large as the second largest continent, the Dark Continent. Argiopy lies across the upper side of the map through the lower part, stretching from almost across the map, split unevenly by the Tears of Saddles Treaty with the most part on the east of the imaginary line. The enormous mass of land included the kingdom of Qin and the island called Yamato, lying on the east side. As the largest continent, it contains the most diverse number of population from different country, tribe, clan or kingdom, or whatever else. Ferrum, Pantala, Placida, Physalia, Theopolis, etc. are on the upper west side of this continent. Nations of Qiram and Murka lie on the south side and Khlemir, Budhamesh and Chuel on the Southeast.
Lower to the western part of the first continent, lies the second largest, the Dark Continent. By crossing the Causausian sea, located the said continent. There, three empires are known, the Sultanate of the Erabs, which stretches on the northern shore of the continent, facing the Argiopy. The second empire is the Kingdom of Jinan, which also faced the Argiopy and territory includes some lands of the Argiopy continent. The third one is The Old Kingdom of Sphinx. Also in this mass of land, the largest desert in the world, the sea of sands.
Desert, huh? I want to see one.
Since the desert is a harsh place, only a few magical creatures lived in there, but they are far from your normal monsters. They adapt on their unfriendly weather and they always make sure they will only strike to catch certainly their precious prey when the opportunity comes. Survival of the fittest rules in the middle and lower part of the continent, and the mightiest heroes and warriors live in the driest place. Gold and diamonds, which apparently used in pieces of jewelry and catalysts, rain in there like the sands of the continent's dry desert.
The third and fourth continent are the twin continent of Braska, which lies across Atlantis, an ocean separating the twin continent and the first continent. The north Braska is the third largest continent, in which the natives who formerly lived there were called Indo-braskan. Placida, a neighboring nation of Ferrum kingdom, and Anglomyne, an island kingdom located at the upper side of the Pantala Empire, have colonized the said continent.
Pantala Empire has also colonized the fourth largest continent, South Braska. The same horrid fate as her northern twin continent suffered, South Braska's natives, The Zeno and The Maucans people, were also slaughtered when the troops from the empire arrived.
The fifth continent is not worth mention, but still, I will for the sake of knowledge. It's located at the furthermost north. The lands of this continent are always freezing. Snows storm's blowing winds instantly freezing up everything, even a freshly boiled hot water. The only on there are the cold-loving creature like the Emperor of the birds, and Auroth, a legendary dragon, whose breath freezes everything to death.
The last and smallest continent is Oceania, composed of several small islands. It is considered a continent in this book for the speculation that most part of the continent is submerged under the ocean, hence naming it Oceania. The largest islands on this continent are Austland, Ezarwerk, and Ollene. A group of an island called Maharlika also belongs in this continent, in which Abbalon also belongs.
Hmm?
Skimming at the world map, I just realized how far I traveled and crossed an ocean. No wonder it took months after I reached the port of Pantala.
Speaking of Oceans, there are four oceans in the world. First from the largest, Oceania. Yes, the ocean near Oceania, the continent, is also named Oceania. Why bother finding another name when the said Ocean is just sitting beside Continent Oceania. Or should I say that the continent Oceania is named after Oceania the Ocean? Oceania the Ocean and Oceania the Continent. Confusing. Unlike Oceania, the Continent, labeled as the smallest continent, Oceania, the Ocean, is so large, which covered almost two-thirds of the world map. The Ocean also separates and links the west from the east.
The second ocean is called the Silk Trade Ocean. I really do not know at this time why it was named with that name. It is located south of Argiopy, eastward of the Dark Continent, and westward of Oceania, both The Ocean and The Continent. The next ocean is Atlantis Ocean, separating Argiopy and the twin continents, The Braskas. The last ocean, Aurora's ocean, located at the south most part of the world map.
I wanted to turn another leaf of the Atlas but as I did so, my head went hazy. Inside my head, I could hear some bothering sound alarming 'Info overload' repeatedly. Was that also an effect on what Johan cast on me? It's weird.
Ah, that's all for today.
Deciding to end my lessons, I closed the book and went to check Marikit. Hmm... She's still alive and intact. I originally thought that Johan would have the pixie's arm or two. However, Marikit was now answering the ladies in front of her.
As if he waited for me to finish skimming the large book, the door's knob made a click as it opened. Gil came out. I was not the only one who noticed Gil. The women interrogating the pixie had also stopped.
Gil, noticing that we were staring at him, made a knock, to ask permission even it was too late for he just had opened the door already. He made a little bow on the orange-haired princess.
Since attention of Samantha and Johan was on Gil who was standing on the doorway, the pixie sneakily fluttered her way back into her rightful and favorite spot, my shoulders.
"Princess Sam, Launch's ready." Said Gil in his monotone voice.
"Yes," The princess answered him.
"Arah? Time flies so fast when you're quite enjoying, no?"
Samantha went out to the room silently, overtaking the man on the doorway while Gil was giving her way. Gil remained unspeaking and still, even though Samantha was already in the hallways.
"You go with Gil"
Johan on the sofa fixed her eyeglasses ordering me, in which I quickly left the desk at the room's corner to go with Gil. When I was approaching Gil, he nodded at Johan, asking consent to leave. However, he did not wait for her answer and moved to close the door when I was ahead of him. Before completely closing the door, Johan's voice slipped to the slimming opening of the door.
"By tomorrow, I'll be asking about the atlas you read"
"Eh? Seriously?" I scratched the back of my head.
"Who is Atlas, Laum?" Marikit asked.
"A man who has the world on his shoulder" In my place, Gil answered Marikit.
'I thought Atlas is a name of a book. Now, it's the name of a man who has the world on his shoulder? It's pretty confusing.'
Gil made his upper body bent sideways a little, glancing at the Johan. Upon seeing his head, she added something. "And you, I didn't have the opportunity to tell him. Would you mind if you do?"
"I doubt I have the permission too," He said shortly and added a postscript. "But, I'll ask his highness about it."
"Is that so? Okay." Johan replied.
I still heard her last response when her voice infiltrated the door even Gil had completely closed it.
"Eh, something you're gonna share with me?"
I might be involved in what these two talking about, so I asked Gil. My question reached him, definitely, it had. However, Gil strode the hallways without looking back at me. He deliberately ignored me.
"A pre-warn won't hurt, you know"
Even I muttered those word, Gil was undaunted, still, focus on his feet.
After that, concluding he would not speak a word, I did only but to follow Gil as we searched our way wherever we were going. We turned in some corridor, passed some marble-made nude statues, stared by the big frames, and went through some green courtyard. I thought our wandering would have known no end, but thankfully, a double door in darkish brown with squares designs got Gil's attention. He made the door and entered the room without making a knock.
He slightly turned his head on his back, trying to search my image. When my presence confirmed him, he nodded.
Soon, the pixie became hyper again. She became a dog sniffing her nose on her food.
That makes sense.
Inside I saw a table ready for battle. Yummy food was on the table, ready to be devoured by us. Beside the paradise-like table, a cart of silverware and trays were sitting with such heinous aura.
'Gulp. I have a bad feeling about this. This day might be my last.'
The pixie did not feel the uneasiness I had. She, without any care, floated toward the table. The food's aroma hypnotized her already. She fluttered her little wing, circling around the table. Like a big fly, she tried to land herself on the food but she stopped seeing another food.
I could relate to her though. Even I made a gulp seeing the table with such abundant foodstuff.
Gil, who was on my front, coughed. He warned the itching hand of the pixie. Now that she had control of herself again, Gil made a chair for me.
"Come," Gil said shortly.
'Did he just made a smirk!? Hey Marikit, I have a bad feeling for this? Don't tell me… this is a trap!"
"I am in charge of correcting your manners. We'll be starting on table etiquette." Gil continued.
"Eti- what?"
"Just take your seat. I'll be teaching you while having lunch."
"Eh?"
Perhaps the fly-like pixie might have gotten on his nerves, Gil pulled something under his black blazers. It was a racket used to kill mosquitoes.
'How did you manage to fit that thing inside? More importantly, why do you have such a thing under your sleeves?'
Gil glowered at the pixie, effectively settling her down into my shoulders, shivering. His serious golden eyes were heavy, which just made me smile while cold sweat falling off my forehead.
"Now, Laum. Shall we eat our lunch?"