However, as he ran after them to the corner, the two girls suddenly vanished from sight! Shocked, Vil placed a hand on his head daintily before sighing in disappointment and wearily, "Perhaps, I'm just too tired?"
Yet, looking at the crown in his hands, he couldn't say that it was all a hallucination either.
"Just who were those two girls?"
He could still recall the face of the woman behind the veil. It was only a side of her face, but it still retained great beauty that was gentle and soft. It reminded him of that one person, but it was even greater than them. Instead, the expression on her face when she looked at the birds reminded her of those exaggerated books depicting a motherly figure. Ah, yes. It was caring. It looked as though she truly cared for those birds as she scolded them. Her soft silver bangs were cleanly cut and her golden eyes were pristine and gentle. She wore a soft smile despite scolding the two birds and her soft pale lips were glossy and pink making the face look as though it was a soft and delicate flower. Yes. It was something that he had hoped to achieve to create for one of his underclassmen.
Yes! This is what he has been looking for from him!
Thinking this, he turned around and began making his way back as he planned for his next move. This time, he must win!
.....
In the lounge, Lotus was busy helping Grim finish his assignments for the holidays when she decided to take a break and bring out the snacks from her ring secretly onto the table. Seeing the cookies, Grim's eyes brighten as he began to gobble them up. After having taken one for himself, Yuu looked to her curiously, "Say, Lotus? If it's all right for me to ask, but why aren't you returning home this year?"
Lotus looked to Yuu in surprise before responding with a small smile and a teacup to her lips, "It's not that I don't want to, but there's something I have to do here on my own. To do that, I need to do focus solely without distractions. Being at home can bring many distractions, even if most of them are pleasant ones if not all. Unless... You want me to leave so you guys can slack off during the holidays?"
"Th-That's not it! It's just... How long does this take?" Yuu questioned in confusion.
He had thought of this before, but, aside from helping them with their studies, she would always be away from her room or she may even be staying inside without peeping outside at all. She had often performed many accomplished feats with ease and was very skilled. She held talent with one hand and a professional attitude befitting of an upperclassmen in the other. Yet, she was also very mischevious when she wasn't, but that was only whever Ace and Duece were around, which resulted with a banter before they leave. It was almost as if she was bored and had wanted their attention. But, why didn't she show how lonely or bored she was here? When she does, she would then excuse herself and leave their presence almost as if she was walking away from them to not be around them and that worried him. He could see that she was lonely and want to return home, but, at the same time, she's decided not to return home during the holidays and it seems she plans to stay during the summer as well. But, she was a freshman student. A year or two younger than them! Just how was any of this a normal behaviour? Therefore, he's decided that he doesn't want to push aside this topic anymore. After seeing the other overblots, he's learned to value the emotions and morals of others and he was afraid that she could end up going somewhere where he and Grim couldn't reach out to him. He hesitated as he continued, "I mean, it looks like you really want to return home?"
Lotus paused and placed her cup onto the table. She looked to him with a look of surprise and questioned, "Do I?"
Of course, she did! He had seen her stare off into empty space with a dispirited set of eyes and how she had been away for a long time that it had placed her in near danger. He couldn't shake the feeling that something terrible is awaiting them in the future if he doesn't talk about this with her now!
Yuu nodded her head, "Grim and I don't have any place to return to because Grim doesn't have a place and I'm from another world. Therefore, Ramshackle dorm is our only home right now. But, you have a home to return to and it sounds like you really like it. So, why stay here? Doesn't this make you lonely?"
"Lonely..." Lotus thought carefully in deep thoughts as it surprised her greatly.
Lotus had always thought about how to accomplish her works and achieve her goals, but she never really put into consideration of her own feelings. Or rather, it would be better put that she never really doubted herself before. Quite often, she would feel rather empty and decide to immerse herself into works and, even then, the sense of accomplishment would put her unease to rest. However, that doesn't really fill that feeling. It had always been like this too...
It was only ever swayed when she came across her elder brother or her sisters...
Then, there was mother, father, and the fairies back in the fairy kingdom...
Was she uneasy because she was lonely?
But that can't be right! It's not as though her mother would never see her again and she's made new allies! Yet, she, the princess of the fairy kingdom and the reincarnation of the fairy empress, was lonely? Could it be that she had always been lonely all this time? But, why?!
"Fgna!" Grim suddenly cried out in shock, "Look at what you did, Yuu! What did you do?!"
"Th-Th-This! I didn't do anything!" Yuu shouted in bewilderment.
"Huh?" Lotus looked to them in confusion.
It was then that she felt something warm drip onto her hand and she looked down to find a droplet falling onto her hands.
"Ahhh!" Grim cried out, "Where are the tissues?!"
Grim hurriedly rushed around the lounge quickly in shock when he finally found the box of tissues.
"Ah! Found it!" He hurriedly brought the tissue back.
Yuu snatched the tissue and quickly placed it carefully against her cheeks to stop the next tearfall from her face. Nervously, he helped Lotus wipe away the tears as she wore a complete look of confusion on her face. She was actually crying?! But, why?!
Inside her spirit ring, the other two spirits knew full well what was happening and quickly decided to prevent the other spirit beasts from catching on. Little Jun was very confused, but Crystal was smart and quickly brought the child away while she couldn't help but feel a little heartache for her master. She knew the struggles her master had to face growing up when she made the contract with her, so she knew that a day would come when her emotions would be let loose. Ying Hui knew this too and the two girls were quite appreciative towards this prefect for caring for their master since they had struggled to find find time or interests to share with her. She had been like a child looking for someone to talk with, but not having anyone in the end as everything was just formalities to her. Yet, they were unable to penetrate her heart. The most they could do was spend time with her the best way they could.
"Let me." Lotus picked up the tissue and quickly dabbed away the tears.
"Geez. Don't scare us like that..." Grim grumbled in exasperation as he looked to her with a sympathetic expression, "Listen up! You still have the great Grim and my servant here with you! If you have any trouble, you can always come looking for us too! Didn't you say that roasted duck is to be shared with friends and family? Then, we're all family here!"
Seeing this, Lotus was even more confused. She cried, right? In front of these people too. Now that was embarrassing. She never remembered the last time she cried.
No wait, she did...
Back when Mo Li...
"From now on, you are also a part of our family too!" Grim said with a wide smile, "It's be good to have another servant under me! Hahaha!"
Yuu sighed shaking his head in exasperation but smiled and said, "Since we're in the same dorm, you can just consider us as another family for you to rely on. We should rely on each other more in the future."
Having heard this, Lotus was rather touched. She sighed rather embarrassingly, "It seems that I've made a mess of myself today... Thank you..."
Would it be all right though? Lotus still held some doubts in herself. Wouldn't it be better to just be sworn siblings instead? However, she's seen people in the Land of Pyroxene that does this too...