That night, Lotus holding the trinkets in her hands in deep thoughts, she had just finished her modification of the items before her, but there was no certainty that it could even stand against her attacks. Lotus reached out to the small hammer on the table when she paused with a raised brow and pulled out her cellphone as it ran. Not long after opening the screen and forming a silent barrier with a snap of her fingers, she was met with the figure of a tall woman with a bold aura coming from her presence as she stared back at the screen to her with a familiar stern expression. One she was all so familiar with aside from her parents.
The woman scolded her with a harsh glare, "Peony. Xue!"
Like a child, she shuddered in surprise when she heard this with a pair of wide eyes, "L-Lady Zigvolt..."
Before her was Sebek's powerful Fae mother, Lady Zigvolt. They had known one another since she was still but a child working hard in the human library. At that time, she was dressed and behaved as that of a boy despite her gender as a girl. However, the lady was able to see through her disguise immediately and scolded her for not behaving as her gender dictates. It was only after sharing a few words with the old general, Sebek's grandfather, that she finally relented but pitied her without restraint. In the so-called open, yet secretive world, Lady Zigvolt was her tutor of etiquette in the etiquette of the Valley of Thorns, or as she and most would call it Briar Valley. She is a strong will woman that Lotus admired. In a country where prejudice against humans still existed, though the violence had mostly disintegrated, she fought against everyone's beliefs and dared to place her faith in a man of an opposing race. Her strong belief and pride in her family shook many as she never yielded but never abused her powers against others. Those who knew of the two of them knew of her respect towards her. However, within a smaller circle of a handful of individuals, few knew that she was very close to Lady Zigvolt than just a admirer and a role model.
"Oh, so you finally decided to call me? Hmph! To think that you would not even think of calling me before deciding to leave on your own! Is our bond so fragile that you would even forget me?!"
As she was scolded relentlessly, Lotus wore a dry smile as she struggled to think of a way to calm her, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Lady Zigvolt! It was my fault for not contacting you immediately. I sincerely apologize. Please don't worry anymore."
"Who's worried?!" Lady Zigvolt huffed before plopping back down on a seat somewhere, "Huff... So, Maisy told me everything... Your injury, is it healed up yet?"
"Ah..." Lotus hesitated, "I would be lying if I said that it's on a speedy recovery."
"The injury was that bad?" Lady Zigvolt frowned and narrowed her sharp crocodilian eyes. She had been told of Peony's circumstances since long ago. Though peeved that she did not earn the immediate trust of the fairy princess, she was just as open-minded as her father and got over it just as quickly.
Lotus nodded, "The enemies are getting stronger."
"I see..." Lady Zigvolt grimaced, "According to Maisey, your parents are very worried."
Lotus did not respond but only frowned as she nodded in silence. Lady Zigvolt continued with a small sigh, "Nevermind. How is my son? I heard that he's still acting as retainer to the prince and that he got into an argument with you."
Lotus wore a small smile and responded, "He's doing well. It's true that he is still acting as he probably had back in Briar Valley. However, he has made friends with those of his years. Haha... He just refuses to admit it. And, no. he didn't get into an argument with me. There was a misunderstanding."
She went onto to explaining what had occured that day. She concluded with a small dry smile, "Technically, the fault was mine as I wasn't around to monitor her."
"Nope, that was clearly my son's..." Lady Zigvolt stated bluntly with a sigh greatly surprising Lotus, "Seriously! How could he bring trouble to those around him? And the prince as well?!"
"Huh?"
Although she was fully aware of the disadvantage to being half human and half fae, Lotus has always known the lady to be proud of her children, even though she never fully expressed it at times. However, her meanings are usually well-conveyed to her children as according to her father's words. She had never heard her take bad of her children before.
Seeing Lady Zigvolt's harsh gaze, Lotus realized that she may have hammered the nail in Sebek's coffin. Quietly apologizing to him in her mind, she quickly cleared her throat and continued, "Ahem... Aside from that, he's gotten very close to those around him in just a few months. We ended up having the same club amongst the two I take. Aside from the prince and Lilia, he also respects the current dorm leader of Heartslabyul for his skills in horse riding. He takes that club with Silver too. Riddle is rather impressed with Sebek's strength as well. However, he does find it hard to believe that his training would be so strenuous, but..."
Lady Zigvolt chuckled, "The training of a retainer and in a fae kingdom is different from those of a regular knight."
Lotus nodded with a wide smile, "Former General Lilia is similar to master. They take their work seriously and doesn't slack off. No one would believe that they've already retired. Hehe..."
Hearing this, Lady Zigvolt smiled, "You've finally smiled."
"Eh?" Lotus looked to her in bewilderment.
"It must be hard, isn't it?" Lady Zigvolt wore a small smile, "Father and I understand that you must have your own reasons for doing this, so we're not too unhappy with the situation. We'll take care of the trivial problems. You just focus on the assassins and your own recovery. There's probably other matters that you don't want to speak of as per usual, so I won't push for it. Being the only woman in a school of men must have its annoyance..."
"Annoyance?" Lotus shook her head, "On the contrary, I had a lot of fun. Well, most of the time... But, you should've seen the library here! It's amazing! There are so many books and a the professors here know so much about the history of other countries and alchemy. Then, there are so many students from so many places in the world! It's nothing like that place!"
She continued to talk about the things that has been occuring during her free time and the friends she's made. The more she talked about it, the previous emotions she felt was quickly washed away. Lady Zigvolt smiled wide as she heard all this, "It sounds like you're having a wonderful time, then."
"However, there's that dorm leader of Pomefiore. Hmph!"
As she pouted, Lady Zigvolt laughed, "Normally, there are no one that could contend with you when it comes an argument with you."
Lotus pouted in disappointment, "You're making fun of me again, Lady Zigvolt..."
Lady Zigvolt giggled, "But, am I wrong? It wasn't the school's fault that you were placed into such a minor dorm this time. You clearly chose this yourself. So, you must play host to your school's team properly. The scolding was necessary."
Bitterly, Lotus grumbled incoherently, but there was really no way for her to argue against her. Lady Zigvolt has always been strict on her children and firm against others with a strong sense of pride, but, when she's with her on a casual day, she love nothing more than to corner her student and relish in her misery!
She knows that she can't fight against her either because it made no sense for her to disrespect her elders like this. And, it's not like she's done anything terrible against her either.
Lotus then began with a frown, "There's been a problem, though..."
"Oh?"
Lotus spoke to her about her dorm leader's background and story before explaining the problems that has been occurring over the start of the school year. The more she spoke of it, the more positive she was about it.
"The prince was easily able to pass through the barrier of the dorm leader's overblot. So, I'm certain that he's able to not suffer a single scratch. However..."
"The overblot situations are clearly a problem and the cat..." Lady Zigvolt frowned, "Does he really not know what he is doing?"
With a trembling voice, Lotus nodded solemnly, "When I forced a contract on him, I learned that he had lost memories of his past. However, I fear... I fear that he is a part of the key to the overblots of this world... and he has no idea of it all..."
"Peony..." Lady Zigvolt looked to her quietly.
It was a long time since she last seen her like this. The last time was when she incapcitated that man that created the disaster in a county prison. That night she appeared bloody from the waist down in blood and the storm that rain down upon her made it all the more dramatic. Her husband and father quickly ushered her in and Lady Zigvolt stood there stupidly in shock at the sight of the dead eyes that was void of all former cheer and mischief.