The last rain before the peak of the summer poured on Cordella. Into the ground, rainwater sipped through that created puddles of mud that splashed once the car wheels drove through.
Patiently, Emerald sat on the back seat of the car. This night, Sardon was not able to stop his father from bringing his daughter with him.
A while ago, Ziron finished the family dinner by demanding, 'Emy, go change. You will come with me'
Sardon with wide eyes was about to protest but his dear wife who was sitting beside him held his hand under the table. Sardon looked at his wife, who was wryly smiling at him.
Ziron ignored the brewing tension and added, 'As the only one in this family who can take over me, it is time for her to understand our world.'
Everyone was silent for a moment until Jade talked, 'I would want to accompany Emy.'
Jade did not ask to come. She demanded to come. The stubbornness earned Jade a strong rejection, 'Definitely no!'
The high-pitched voice was noticeable. Sardon did not want his father to feel being undermined in his own home, thus, he held his wife's hand persuading her, 'Calm down Marie'
Realizing her sudden burst of emotion, Marie pleaded with the head of the house, 'I'm sorry father.'
Ziron ignored Marie and turned to look at the twins who were sitting on the opposite side of their parents. 'Tell me foolish child, what can you do there? You cannot even walk up the stairs without feeling out of breath.'
After criticizing the youngest member of the family, all gazes fell to the ground, except for the one who was shamed. Jade looked at the Elder with eyes of dissatisfaction. Ziron, commented to himself that out of the twins Jade had more guts. True, that Emerald had the stronger body, but Jade had the stronger will. Jade seemed to have inherited some of his son's stubbornness, which, if given some time, would make Jade even more stubborn than Sardon and him combined. For a small girl who endured three deadly surgeries, she had proven her will. However, he will not allow a burden in his line of work.
'You will not come. That is final'.
Thus, Emy ended sitting in the backseat alone but together with her grandfather. Emy knew that Jade wanted to come to make sure if the one they are meeting was an ally or an enemy. Emy heaved a sigh which did not escape the old man with her.
"Your true lessons will start now. I will not let the fruits of my labor rot in the hands of incompetence. Remember that Emerald."
Without looking back at Ziron, Emy mumbled in reply, "Yes grandfather."
It took twenty minutes before the car they rode stopped. The sky eventually halted form pouring rain and the starless night sky called upon fog to greet the muddy ground. Upon setting her foot outside of the car, Emy saw that the place was far away from the city center. The cool breeze and the sounds of rustling tree leaves made her shiver. She realized they were in the shallow part of a forest as she could still see the city lights from a distant.
Emy, Ziron and their chauffer walked deeper into the woods. After a mile, they saw a cabin. As they took a step which made them a meter near the door, numerous glowing strands glimmered around them.
Ziron was not as surprised as Emy when he saw the silver strands. 'A barrier'. Though shocked at first, Emy wondered what would happen if the barrier was breeched. As if the creator of the stands heard her, she noticed a small flying insect that leaped from one of the tree branches outside the field of protection. Once the insect's body part touched the strand, the insect burned into nothingness.
Ziron noticed the girl stop suddenly and turned pale at what she saw, "Don't waste my time Emy. Come."
Emy heed Ziron's call. The three entered the cabin and Emy was surprised. The cabin looks shabby but inside, it was well lighted, warm, and cozy. The pinewoods that made up the cabin were well maintained and the aroma of pine floated within.
As they entered, Emy immediately noticed a young man who stood from the couch.
'Dmitry'
"How was the drive going here Uncle? If I had known it would rain, I might have picked up a better place where its more convenient for you."
"It was not that rough. No, this place is perfect for this kind of things. And? Where is the woman and the beast?"
Dmitry crossed his arms against his chest and replied, "They're down there." Dmitry tilted his head downwards. Ziron and Emy followed the direction of his sight and saw an obvious different structure on the cabin's floor. 'Basement?' Emy thought to herself.
Without waiting for Dmitry's hospitality, Ziron took off his coat and sat on the couch. Emy followed suit and sat beside her grandfather. While Dmitry chose to sit directly across her. The sitting arrangement made her jittery. Maybe this young man is still a stranger to her that is why she finds his company uncomfortable.
Before her thoughts trailed off, she wondered why they sat on the couch. She was sure that Ziron was supposed to interrogate her attacker tonight. Her contemplation was cut short when she heard Dmitry's voice.
"I was not expecting princess to join us tonight." Emy shot Dmitry an irritated look which Dmitry replied with a slight chuckle.
"She must start to see how things work as a Kandas."
"hmmm"
The mumble sounded as if it had an underlying meaning, causing Emy to look at Dmitry. He was sitting like a young lord, with his long legs crossed, one hand resting on his leg and the other arm rested on the arm of the couch. He had fair complexion and his brown pupils gleamed while looking at her. As if Dmitry noticed that the girl was staring so he gave Emy a slight smile.
Emy looked away as she did not realize that she was staring at him like a fan-girl.
Thankfully, this awkward interaction was interrupted by a knock on the door. The chauffer that accompanied Ziron and Emy opened the door.
"Seriously Ziron! Did it have to be this place?! May car is stuck in mud!", the old man who immediately entered as the door opened yelled. But the shout was done with obvious jest.
Emy stood up as she realized who the old man was. He had a muscular appearance than her lean built grandfather. But he was shorter than Ziron. He had no gray hair, but the wrinkles in his forehead and the loose skin folds below his chin say that he had the same age as Ziron. 'Elder Muriel!'
The old man brushed his coat with his hands so that the drops of water would not be absorbed into the cotton cloth and further aggravate his coldness.
"Well, will you look at this. Ziron brought the girl with him this time!" The old man commented.
"Come here child and give your granduncle a hug!"
Emy gave a sweet smile. As soon as she came near the man, her small frame smashed into the old man's chest.
"How have you been?" Muriel asked sweetly
"I am doing good and am lucky I guess."
Muriel ended the embrace and took the child's body away from him to study her.
"I knew it. I was right after all. Between you and Jade, it was you who would look more like Mariela!" the old man proudly said and chuckled.
It has been many years since she last saw this man, Muriel. Muriel is the older brother of Ziron's deceased wife, Mariela, making him Ziron's brother-in-law. From what she heard from her father; There is a complicated relationship between these two people. If it were not for Sardon, Emerald and Jade, Muriel would have cut his ties with Ziron after his sister's death.
"Enough with this! Your late!" Ziron shouted.
Muriel rolled his eyes. Emy slightly bowed her head as an act of asking forgiveness for her grandfather's usual sour mood.
"This better be good Ziron. Why did you ask me to come here in the middle of the night?"
Acting like the owner of the cabin, his posture demanded a seat. Dmitry gave a slight chuckle and silently offered his seat. Muriel sat down comfortably.
Ziron started. "I am sure you heard what happened in the university grounds yesterday."
"Of course. Words also reached me that you found a long-lost grandson." Muriel gave a quick look at the young man who was standing and leaning comfortably at the door. Dmitry noticed the aggravating look from the newcomer and gave the Elder a bow. "…and what of it?" he sarcastically added.
Ziron sighed. His rubbed his temples. He always found it irritating to speak to this brother-in-law of his. Seeing Ziron's irritation, Muriel continued with his sarcasm,
"The one who attacked my grandniece is among your clan. What? Will you ask me to dispose the mastermind, who is obviously your clan member so that the great Kandas will not stain his hand with his relative's blood?"
"Muriel!". As soon as Ziron shouted his name, as if thunder passed by, the cabin trembled. The shadow beneath Ziron started to spread wide in the floor and in the wall behind him.
Sensing the threat, Muriel tensed with a poise and he raised his right arm to get ready to fight. But before anything could start, Dmitry walked towards them, grabbed Emy's arm and placed her behind him.
The act surprised not only Emy but the two old men as well and even more so when they saw a crude smile from the man, "If the two sirs insist to fight, I will be taking the princess outside then. May I just remind both esteemed sires that the enemy is below our feet. I'm afraid that after your bloody battle, the purpose of the meeting had already been wiped out."
Both old men, surprisingly, calmed themselves immediately. Emy let out a soft laugh, 'Who is the mature adult in the room again?'
Dmitry heard the soft laughter. He turned his head and signaled her 'sshh'. Emy nodded, and this time the jittery feeling she had was not uncomfortable at all.
"Please allow me Uncle," Dmitry asked and Ziron consented.
"Elder Muriel, your presence was asked by Elder Ziron that you may be a witness."
A confused Muriel repeated, " A witness?"
Dmitry nodded. "Besides the fact that we would need someone outside of the clan to hear who the woman's master is, we need someone to witness against another crime of hers."
The topic finally earned Muriel's ears. "You see sir, she is able to use the forbidden gift."
Muriel eyes widened. "That can't be?!"
Ziron stood up and stared down at Muriel who suddenly stood up and cried, "Calling and using Kaleshing is forbidden!"