" How is she now?" Jennings asked after seeing Bernard getting out of the master's room, where Maitea locked herself in.
It has been three days since the battle with the white Griffin, Jennings stayed at Sekka to help Bernard with the reconstruction. As for the beast's corpse, once the sun rose it slowly evaporated into the air, leaving not even a single drop of blood.
" She is still refusing to eat"
Bernard sighed as he placed the plate of the untouched food, that he had brought to Maitea yesterday, on the sink with a distressed expression.
'she did not even spare it a glance'
He was barely hanging on after losing his master, but seeing his little sister starving herself and crying bitter tears day and night made him extremely desolated.
A moment of silence covered the room, no- actually silence has been accompanying them most of the time in the past couple of days.
"Hey, Bernard. There is something I was meaning to tell you "
He had to tell him, even though Bernard would obviously be furious, still, Jennings could not brush such a sensitive matter under the rug and walk away.
" what is it? I told you before, you can leave whenever you want "
Keeping a busy Emperor in this small town for longer than it was, surely wasn't something appropriate to do. Not to forget that Jennings at the meantime was still performing his duty in the sublime tour ceremony, any more delay would bring nothing but troubles.
" no. It's about the white monster...."
Hearing that, Bernard's back stiffened. He turned looking at the man behind him in confusion.
"Ten days ago, I received a report from the mine teams at Amaira that a beast from unknown class has been discovered in one of the mines"
Bernard did not utter a word, instead stood there quietly. Jennings had no intention in raising his head to see what expression was on the man's face.
" I have been informed about the abnormal magic of the beast, however, I still chose to send a knight guide to annihilate the beast and seize the cave. And for safety, I instructed them to immediately report in case anything went wrong "
" and?"
That single word was too heavy on Jennings, it's the first time he hears Bernard's tone being as cold as frost.
" As I did not receive any messages, I thought that the operation was successful. However, it appeared that the reason for not receiving one, was because no one survived to report back. After sending someone to track them down, we found that the monster has crossed the mountain chain towards the town's direction"
Again, the silence returned to cover the air, the stillness continued for a while before Bernard broke it, saying with gritted teeth.
" and why have I not been informed about it?"
Jennings answered after pausing:" because I decided not to...."
-Stomp
-Stomp
-Stomp
With heavy steps, Bernard hurriedly walked to Jennings, who was sitting on the dining table and roughly yanked the collar of Jennings shirt, shouting.
"So are you telling me that the reason I lost a PRECIOUS FAMILY MEMBER, a man who was more than a father to me, was because of a stupid DECISION you have made in whim!!!!".
Bernard's handsome face turned ugly from the deep frowns, his eyes that were tired of the sleepless nights burned with both anger and sorrow. Jennings couldn't respond to these words as he averted his gaze.
" ISN'T IT MY FUCKING JOB TO HANDLE THE MONSTERS!!! WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU SUDDENLY ACT ON YOUR OWN?!! I AM STILL ALIVE AND CAN CARRY OUT MY RESPONSIBILITIES!! IF YOU HAD OPENED YOUR MOUTH FROM THE BEGINNING NOTHING OF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED NO ONE WOULD HAVE DIED-"
Tap
Tap
"Brother! stop it!!"
Hearing her brother yelling from the master's room, Maitea quickly dashed out of the room and clung to Bernard's waist.
" Please don't fight. Don't be angry"
Maitea pleaded as tightly warped her arms around Bernard's waist. Seeing his sister's pale face and swollen eyes, Bernard couldn't make her worry more. He pushed the man in his hands viciously causing him to bump heavily on the chair, where he sat before.
" your majesty are you okay?!"
Anxiously, Maitea reached to Jennings with an uneasy expression. Jennings answered in a weak voice:" I am fine little one, don't worry ".
He was obviously not fine, but Maitea had another thing to ask, she looked at Bernard with round swollen eyes saying:" why are you fighting brother? Did something happen?".
Bernard tightened his fist, he absolutely could not tell her something like that, nor does he want to lie to her. Bernard answered after a pause:" it's nothing baby girl. I will go to see how the work is going downtown ".
He said this then quickly turned around and left the house.