After my preparations and saying my goodbyes were done the day to leave for school finally came. A horse carriage was here to bring me to school. My friends and family were here to see me off.
As I was getting ready to board the horse carriage, my little sister came to face me. Her eyes shone with her determination. "Big bro, Sarah will become strong. So when I go to where Big bro is, Sarah will not disappoint Big bro!"
My little sister was really so adorable, which made me hug her tightly. While I was hugging my sister both our parents approached us and join in the hug as well. My dad didn't seem like he wanted to let go.
"No, I really can't! My son needs me I won't let him go!" Mom suddenly shouted as her hugging tightened.
"Yes your right Seri we can't let Edge go, he needs us!" My dad shouted as well, yet after a while, although begrudgingly my dad and mom let me go.
Tsukiyomi, on the other hand, was having her separate goodbye coming from Eri. When did those two become so close? I waited for their discussion to be over. Once they were done both Tsukiyomi and I proceeded to the capital.
†
"Hey Tsukiyomi how many Ethereals are there?"
"Oh? Why the sudden interest?" She looked at me curiously.
"Nothing much it's just to pass the time."
"Really now, I thought you succumbed to my beauty and wanted to know more about me."
"Huh? W-w-w-why d-do I want t-to do that? I just wanted to pass the time." My face was blushing my heart was beating faster. I even stuttered in my words I really have no defense against women. My lack of skills in this regard can be attributed to my two lifetimes of zero romance.
Tsukiyomi looked at me smirking. "Kukuku, I thought of you as a more mature kind of boy but it seems deep down you're so innocent. Well, no matter, how many are we, you ask. In this era, there are only about a dozen of us and I only know seven of them. There are some half Ethereals here and there but they too are few in number. As of now, I have no idea the exact number of Ethereals left in this day and age. If it is just an estimate I would guess we're less than a hundred. Well, that can't be helped seeing that not only do we have the weakness of no mana regeneration. We also have difficulty giving birth."
"Is that so? But who are those seven that you know of?"
"Hmm, I can't really remember their names anymore the only one I can really remember is my mother's name, Macha, known to Ethereals as the witch of the blade."
"Your mom what happened to her?" Tsukiyomi looked out the window of the carriage and sighed,
"I don't know but most probably she went into hibernation waiting for a contractor."
"Hibernation?" I asked confused at the new term I just heard. "It is the state that older Ethereals go into to wait for their contractor. Though we Ethereals are long-lived, without the appropriate amount of mana we might instantly die. So the older Ethereal's who have little to no mana left tend to go into hibernation." Tsukiyomi explained seemingly bored at the topic.
"So what about your father?"
"I don't know, nobody talks about him, and I don't care." Tsukiyomi said so in a bored tone.
"I'm sorry if I asked a rude question." I tried to bow my head down inside the carriage as an apology. Seeing this action Tsukiyomi suddenly giggled. I looked up at her, her beautiful face was smiling cheerfully. This might have been her genuine smile.
"Kukuku, you really are the best Edge. Stand up and sit beside me." I did as I was told.
"So Edge Stop with such boring questions already and start asking the real interesting ones." I looked at her confused as to what she meant.
"Interesting questions?"
"You know like asking me about my three sizes and such."
"W-w-w-why are saying such things." My face was heating up again. Tsukiyomi leaned her body against mine. I could smell a nice fragrance from her. So this is how a girl smells. I could also feel something soft hitting my shoulder. Wait! That's not the problem now.
"What are you doing Tsukiyomi!" With her usual mischievous smile answered.
"Some skinship what else. Here you must be tired, how about sleeping on my lap." Without hesitation, she forcefully placed my head on her lap. Seeing as she is physically stronger than me I didn't struggle much.
"Kukuku, with all your complaining you didn't really struggle much. You must have really wanted to do this." I didn't reply if I did she would just find a way to poke more fun out of me. Well, I really do feel tired with all that was going on, so I better rest while I can. Better take her up on her offer, and before I knew it I already dozed off.