NINA
"I said I'll only take Ling there. What are you two doing following us outside?"
Ren scratched his head and Cellon smiled sheepishly at me.
Nina," Cellon said while suppressing his laughter, "I really want to stay but Ren wants to go with you and I have to go with him because he is not completely healed."
I looked pointedly at Ren, "Ren, stay here. We'll be back immediately, okay?" I said that to him like a mom does to his son.
He exhaled loudly, "Fine. But I expect you in an hour."
"What?" I asked him, anger surfacing in my being, "The estate is outside the city. It takes one hour in the city traffic and another hour to get out of the boundary. Sit your ass tight there and wait for me. Nothing's gonna happen to us. If anything goes wrong, Ling can warp us back here immediately. Happy?"
I raised my brows at him to see his reaction. When he had none, I dragged Ling out the bar and went straight to my almost destroyed car.
I sighed. After the events of last night, I really forgot about my car and sleep. Goodness, I need to learn how mages are not required to eat. I'm very hungry.
"Ling, is it okay for you that I'd go somewhere first to grab a bite and change my car? I feel this won't reach our destination."
Ling looked at me intently and maybe hearing my growling stomach. "Where do you plan to eat?"
"At home."
"Let me take you there. Can you have someone prepare you food there?"
"Oh yes. I called earlier that I'll be going home and eating." I beamed at him. I forgot I have a spatial mage with me. Going home would just take me a second. I looked back at my car and kissed it goodbye, mentally saying to it that I'm coming back for him.
I entered Ling's warp gate and said to him, "Thank you Ling." And winked at him.
I entered my house with him and was welcomed by my butler, Papa German.
"Papa German," I exclaimed and hugged him happily.
He caught me, although he seemed a little bit struggling because he is getting a bit old. But I forgot that due to my happiness.
"Sorry Papa German," I said.
He chuckled a little and said, "It's okay madam, and welcome back. I prepared you food. Would your guest eat as well?"
I looked at Ling and asked, "Will you eat?"
Ling nodded, his eyes fixed on Papa German. Seriously, what is wrong with him and what is wrong with my Papa German? He looked like he's gonna murder my butler or something.
"Let's go," I said to him. He did not budge, his eyes still fixed on Papa German's receding figure.
I nudged him, "Ling! Wake up! What's wrong with you?"
His eyes focused back on mine, there was fear written in his eyes. "Your butler, why wasn't he here when we were here looking for you?"
My eyebrows scrunched in confusion, "He wasn't here? But he's always here. Maybe he was asleep."
"Does he leave any light open at night?"
I thought for a while, "Yes. I remember he leaves the front porch light on, most especially when I'm not at home."
"Nina," Ling shook me. "When we went here last night, it was pitch black. Not a single light and soul was in sight. It was eerily quiet."
"That's impossible. Papa German would never leave without informing me, and he rarely leaves. Maybe the light wasn't functioning. Maybe there was an outage."
Ling looked around and found the switch. The door was still open so we could see that the light turned on when he clicked the switch. "Explain that to me?"
I swallowed. I trust Papa German with all my heart. What he is implying is beyond my wildest imaginations. He is like my second grandpa.
"Maybe he repaired it this morning. Ling, there is nothing wrong with Papa German. If you can't really believe me, let's just go inside and observe him okay?"
Ling looked afraid, "Nina, I really don't know. My skin crawls when he looks at me. Remember, if I feel a little hostility from him, I'm warping you back at the bar."
I nodded at him. I mean, what could go wrong with Papa German, he is such a sweet grandpa to me.
"Let's go," I said to him, dragging him towards the kitchen.
The lunch was uneventful. Papa German wasn't around when we were eating. Ling sighed in relief.
As soon as we finished, I ran upstairs to my room to freshen up and change my clothes. If we're training, I need to wear something very comfortable for me to move about. I changed to a black leggings and an oversized shirt over my favorite sports bra. I brought some change of clothes so I don't smell like shit when I get home.
As I went down, Ling was anxiously pacing in the lobby.
"Ling," I called him. "What happened?"
He looked at me and said, "Nothing."
I sighed, somehow irritated of his overthinking. "Whatever Ling. Where is Papa German?"
"I don't know. I didn't see him since we had lunch."
I nodded and called out for him, "Papa German!"
He immediately answered coming from my back. His abrupt answer surprised me. "Oh Papa German, you scared me. What are you doing up here?"
"I was cleaning the study madam."
I sighed. "Papa German, just leave cleaning to the maids alright? You just supervise all of them. I need to go now. Please take care of the house. See you!"
I kissed Papa German's cheeks and ran towards Ling and outside of the house.
"Wait, I'll get my car."
I opened the garage and took out my college car, a red Toyota Vios. This would do fine in the travel.
"Hop on Ling," I said to him and then we went out. It was almost 1pm but I don't care. Food is the most important thing to me.
I sped the highway. Good thing there was less traffic, seeing that its already one and most of the car owners are in their offices right now. We were out of the city quickly and then I turned to the right towards my family's estate.
I parked the car in front of our rest house and said to Ling, "Here we are. See, nothing's wrong with Papa German."
He sighed, "I am still not good with that butler of yours Nina. Let's just leave it at that. I gotta go and take the whole squad here."
I nodded, "I'll wait here for all of you then."
When he disappeared from the warp gate, I walked to the large open area at the back of the house. It was supposed to be our pool. The project never happened since I did not continue it due to the death of my parents. There was no reason for me to have a vacation here alone.
I sighed and ran back to the house to put down my things and went out at the front to wait for them.
My emotions are still in turmoil, and some physical activity would help me get it straightened out. I can't wait for the training.