A/N: WI-FI or Data Connection recommend playing the audio above
_______CHAPTER SIXTEEN_______
HATHOR
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"Ethan," Milady began, taking a pause from the book she's assessing placing it carefully down the table "Do you want to know what happened to your parents?" Milady asked her little raven prodigy with a stoic expression "What about them Milady?" he replied floating upside down around her bored out of his mind as usual "Did you actually believe what your relatives had said? about them not being located in any map whatsoever?" he stopped rotating around Milady for a second at the mention of his deceased relatives "Maybe...? but Milady why are we talking about them?" he replied to Milady's question doubtful of his own answer and also put a question at the end of his words, hence he was quite young when the incident with his parents passing from the human sight had occurred "It's because the last two biological people who took care of you, refrained from telling you due to your age at the time."
~
"And done! make sure to clean your piercing every day for two to three weeks after, keep the area around the piercing clean and free to the air and lastly consult or contact us if you feel anything may be wrong. Thank you!" Ignatius got a forward helix ear-piercing as her fourth one today saying that it was bonus jewelry for the banquet that is going to be held after Queen Minea's state address. Aside from tattooing as a sign of physical strength back in the first era, it is also in RHEA's tradition that amazon's had more than three piercings on their ear "How long will this one take to heal?" Nox asked as they walked out of the shop that has recently opened back up "Three to six months approximately, why? planning on getting one?"
"No, I just wanted to know." life was beginning to bustle around Lireo once again, the two stopped by a store to purchase a few items with the allowance they've been given, well in Ignatius' case its a payment for working under Milady "I'm surprised we haven't been to a liquor shop yet." the white-haired kinou regretted his words hence after saying it he found Ignatius vastly running over to the firewater retailer purchasing every brand that she loved to drown herself into. The two enjoyed their day off as the relentless packing of garments almost felt that their upper limbs fall off any moment from how numb it had become.
"Everyone seems to be so excited." Ignatius took a big bite out of her ordered bacon sandwich as she and Nox took a break from shopping in the cafe they passed by earlier "I mean who wouldn't be? we're lucky that Queen Minea's palace is massive, leaving us the chance to freely roam around whereas the citizens had to stay cooped up in a small but comfortable home of theirs." he blew off the steam from the black coffee before taking a sip, Ignatius glanced at the window seeing a couple of giddy children playing around in the snow, reminding her of the times when she used to run around free of worries with her siblings, Nox took notice of the far-flung look she had "You okay?" he asked worriedly, placing down the cup as the redhead sitting opposite of him stayed quiet not avoiding the question thrown at her "You know you can always talk to me if something is bothering you." no matter how many times he had said that to her the redhead intentionally forgets it so that he can remind her "I...I just missed my sisters is all." She admitted pouting a bit.
Ignatius is already depressed as it is, the last thing she needs right now is a reminder of her deceased family "I'll have Ethan yeet a bunch of snowballs at you when we get back." at the mention of Milady's prodigy had her irritated "Don't even mention that stupid brat." she aggressively chowed down the sandwich till nothing of it was left as Nox just laughed it off "Why what did he do this time?" adjusting the scarf on his neck as the door opened a few customers coming in "He fucking bothered me in the middle of the night the day we were tasked to help pack winter garments." a few annoyed tears fell from her eyes just thinking about it "Because? and thank you," he asked casually and gave his thanks to the waiter who served the packed tub of two take out pasta's he ordered along with the bill.
"To roast him a bunch of pine nuts saying that it was easier because I was basically a walking stove." Nox almost spat out the coffee. "So that's why you were groggy that day." he smirked bringing the coffee back to his lips "I still haven't gotten my revenge on him for that." Ignatius propped up her left elbow on the round table's surface waiting for Nox to finish up his hot drink "By all means, just don't put me in the middle of it all...please." he pulled out his wallet slipping the cyhea and a tip to the bill handed by the waiter earlier "What do you mean?" she asked innocently like a puppy, the topic regarding her deceased sibling already forgotten, taking out her own stash of cyhea, adding it to the ones Nox placed "Every time you two start nagging at each other's necks for some reason I always become either a referee, shield, and even the reason." he expressed finishing up the drink "Whaaat? No, I don't do that to you." Nox had unbelievable look plastered on his face "Hmm."
Several days have profused on and the palace servants of Lireo moved around with their assigned tasks in a gentle hurry "Where are the new carpets?" one yelled over the third floor's hallway "Take out the new plate ware!" the chef yelled from across the kitchen tasting the fine dish he has prepared for their beloved monarch "Melancholia is still going on smoothly ma'am!" a kinou reported the weather status they have monitoring "The throne room is spotless clean!" the servants cleaning one of the most important room inside the palace congratulated themselves on a job well done "Praises and Glory to the empire, good morning Your Majesty," Irina greeted her master she woke up from her slumber to start a new day, pouring a cup of warm water for her Queen's first drink.
"All the agendas for today are arranged to a proper order of fashion." a kinou from Queen Minea's court handed Chase's a stack of papers for Zero to busy himself with "OORAH!" legionnaires yelled as they did rounds of jogs around the palace grounds a way to start up their first exercise. Today Sting was helping Hibiki run through some things for Milady "We haven't done anything like this since I died." the blonde spoken out of the times he and Hibiki would always partner up whenever former King Loki would train their physical prowess "Keyword you died." the orangette climbed down the ladder giving the book to Sting "Why can't you just use your talent rather than climb up the ladder?" he asked following Hibiki up to the shelf "I'm conserving energy and that stems from my laziness."
"Isn't that the other way around?" Hibiki just put out his tongue and shrugged his shoulders "You sure are chatty today, I like it." Hibiki smiles to himself "Why is there something wrong if I talk? because seems like everything I do nowadays is an offense." Sting scoffed, looking around the library noticing that there wasn't a sign of Milady yet and it was a relief to him "No not at all catch!" the orangette kinou yeeted a book over his shoulder much to Sting's whammy "Damnit Hibiki!" he yelled annoyed of what his comrade just did "Not my fault you're distracted, and stop looking out the door every now and then Milady won't be coming today. Hence the reason why you are here today with me." the elite kinou from Xeris balanced the book in his hold as Hibiki read his thoughts with the courtesy of his talent. "You just got to read my mind don't you?"
He put a question "What can I say? it's a classic." Hibiki said whilst skimming his finger along the books' spine looking "By the way are these for Ethan?" Sting looked at one of the book's hardcover where the title outright says what it contains within "Yeah, Milady wants him to be properly acquainted with every single part of history." pulling on the book midway seeing if that was the one and returning it back to the shelf hence it was not "Isn't that a little much? I mean he's only seventeen, after all, shouldn't the focus be on improving his talent and physical prowess?" the blonde kinou sought an answer from his friend who was up the ladder "Dude you're the smartest guy in the room right now, I get it okay." leaning away from the shelf with one hand holding on "I'm not being a smart ass because that's literally how your father taught us back then, he always told us to focus on our talent first then history." he quoted a word their mentor used to tell them"Milady's teaching style is different than my father's style."
Climbing two steps further into the bookshelf "And what about you? what's your take on things?" Sting backed away to make sure the orangette doesn't fall off "I'll teach them whatever they want to learn, easy." the words had Sting a little bit concerned as Hibiki is the one that taught Nox and Ignatius everything they know, so to make sure that his assumption is true he tested the waters "So basically if a random kid asks you to teach them about how bone someone you'd teach them?" it was answered quickly as Hibiki pulled out one of the books opening to a page to see as it did not look like it belongs over on this section "Wha-? Zeus' pole no! of course not I have rectitudinous morals...unless they really want to know then okay." Sting gave the blackfaced orangette up on the ladder a look of disbelief "By the gods, what was I expecting?" catching the book Hibiki dropped "Okay here's the last one, place the books your holding on the table below them come back up here, and help me arrange these."
Ethan swung his foot bored out of his mind as he waited for Milady to come back "I'll be back!" he jumped off from the bench taking a short leave to grab himself a box of water, while Odette just stood there behind the bench watching me levitate seeing her own reflection as the sun hit my glass form. What lies inside is an observatory made of glass and gold at support, floating above are countless antecedents, yesteryear and chronicles of the three occurrences those being past, present, and future, Milady is looking for a piece of yore from Medea Kyle's sagacious disclosure throughout the years of her life span as asking Ethan about it would be a debacle. As he had quite the experience of ignoring the family business in order to focus on admiring Milady on all of her notorious pursuit of serving her tyrant father.
Ethan's parents and grandparents clearly told him multiple times to stop idolizing the wrong people but he never listened arguing that it is just the same with them preaching Medea Kyle like she's a deity of sorts mind you, he was seven years old when he spouted these words, they never punished him regarding his admiration of Milady as some of the elders in their family countered that maybe this is just a phase in his life and he'd be over it by the time he grows up apparently for them Milady took great interest in his fascination over her and recruited him to be her prodigy a few years later after her matrimony with Zero. Upon seeing her hand out the free pass to him like that--of course, how could he refuse? he accepted it out of pure excitement, and to make sure that Milady has a firm grasp on his loyalty she gave him a condition, whispering closely to his ear to slaughter his own family right there, he smiled, taking advantage of their confusion.
One time when he paid a visit to Nox and Ignatius' lectures with Hibiki, he was asked by the redhead why and how did he end up here, this was prior to him being told to bother her all the time proudly narrating the entire thing in detail, Ignatius and Nox mouths were left agape after the ravenette was done saying that he needs extreme medical help but he laughed it off with a knee slapper. "I'm back!" he announced, making Odette cranked her head in his arriving direction Ethan sat back down on the wooden bench, water box in hand sipping loudly the greenette handmaiden didn't make a word out of her lips taking her attention back on my glass form her brows balancing to that of an elated one and tense tenterhooks a light wind passed by them Odette held on her earmuffs to prevent them from being blown away whereas the little ravenette monster adverted the wind's gravity prioritizing the safety of his favorite drink.
Seeing him calmly sit by the bench back-faced at this moment makes her ponder on what exactly goes around his head when he's not antagonizing Ignatius nor playing with anyone. How does he function anyway? is the question Odette has.
~
"Ethan, Ethan...? Ethan! where are you?" a woman's voice called out worriedly looking for her son, her foot took her around the entire household and temple but found no signs of him in every nook and cranny that he likes to lounge in "Ethan!" she began to holler again walking past the open balcony where the young kinou (he's six years old in this, a year before Milady had recruited him) she's looking for is climbing his way up to the roof where no one will be able to bother him ogle over the recent news about Milady "Almost there." he encouraged himself only one step away from reaching the roof upon placing one hand on it his right feet slipped on the bricked wall almost making him fall off from the tall height of the home where his mother had given birth to him and grew up in. Dangerously clinging on the edges, while his foot hung "Come on, come on." he mustered up all the strength he can with his scranny young limbs. Taking this instance in mind is the reason why he choose to learn the talent he uses now.
The strong howling wind was not helping him at all, now he sees why his parents always told him to learn a talent or two, the problem he has is the fact that they are the ones who are going to teach him and to teach him they will first throw Medea Kyle's entire purpose in life at him like propaganda and that isn't something he wants to undergo because before he knows it, he's already wrapped up doing the same thing they are--preaching Medea Kyle like she's a deity of graces. His parents were left with no choice to force their beliefs on Ethan as he was deemed a miracle to his mother and father who both had issues when it comes to conceiving a child of their own, the problem could have been solved by mixing their blood and brought a sculpture to life by in their perspective it would make them look odd from entire kinship, hence everyone else conceived the normal way.
One foot over the roof Ethan pushed hard on the edges safely catching his breath from the near-death experience he just had, crawling over the top to be in proper peace in case his grandfather walks out of the garden seeing him sitting on the edges "Now let's see." he pulled out the small rectangular prism that presented a holo screen giving him a visual of the latest news going around RHEA "The second daughter of the Emperor now deemed eligible for the throne, not this maybe the next ones?" he scrolled down on a few articles, stopping when he spotted what he wanted "Heir of Helium has been spotted strolling in Kathe with Hibiki Nimue." he read the title of the article out loud with great pleasure kicking his feet, after that he looked on the snapped holo photos and stolen holo videos clips of Milady walking around Kathe with Hibiki, saving some worthy photos.
Midway to the second piece of news, the building underneath him began to shook and it only means one thing--someone is either being immersed into the Rael's family beliefs or they are conducting a ritual praising the big blazing sun, either way, he was starting to hastily fall off the roof frantically looking for anything to grab on to "AAHHHH!" the ravenette shrieked plummeting down from the top, he closed his eyes expecting his entire body to hurt from the high drop but when he opened them he saw the angry expression of his father glaring down at him holding his safely in his arms "Heey Daaad how's it going? ehehe" the prism made an entrance after he said that, it rolled on the grass for a good second before settling down.
"So that's why your mother can't find you." the older kinou grumbled his glare burning holes on Ethan, "Whaaat? I was just--" his father pulled a little of strength on the ravenette's ear not wanting to hear what excuse he's going to come up with this time "OW! OW!" he complained all the way till they made it inside the home where the one-fourth of their bloodline that participated in the ritual is present "Ethan!" his mother ran over, kneeling down his level fretfully looking if her son had any scratches on his skin "I found him falling off from the roof." his father informed them "What we're you doing on the roof?" his mother asked concerned holding both of Ethan's shoulders, who just averted his gaze on the floor scratching his temple coyly "This again." the older kinou held out a small rectangular prism for everyone to see.
"How many times must we tell you to stop admiring that woman?" one of his aunts let out a heavy sigh upon hearing that he was again keeping up with what Milady has been doing "He's still young just let him do whatever he wants for now." one of the elders spoke out their say on the matter "We need to teach him now! or else he'll never learn and continue this shenanigan." his cousin argued hence he is one of the jealous few about Ethan getting special treatment, whereas they obediently followed the family customs "That's enough! carry on to the hall." his grandmother ushered them out as the ravenette was left alone with his mother, once the double doors have closed she left out a sigh cupping the face of her son "Ethan we just simply want what's best for you okay? and don't go climbing up the roof." she smiled ruffling his curly locks.
"Okay!" he plastered on a cheeky grin agreeing but if there's one thing his mother knows about is that he won't listen despite agreeing by word. A few days later after he miraculously fell off the roof like the blessing he is, a banquet was held in the celebration of his female cousin who recently joined the tradition that their family practices and Ethan? he was mindlessly playing with his food over their designated table "Is something the matter, Ethan?" the woman known as his mother asked as he hasn't eaten a bite yet since the party started, the young raven shook his head meaning no "I'll go get him some water." his father offered walking away from the table, upon hearing the mention of his obsession, his eyes sparkled promptly laying his face flat on the table's surface no longer interested in eating his food.
She smiled seeing the soft reaction on his face "Here." the older kinou placed a pitcher full of cold water down the table, Ethan reached out for the pitcher with his hand, drool heavily evident on the corner of his lips "Someone's eager." his mother teased picking up the pitcher pouring her son a glass once it was two fingers full she gave it to him, immediately downing the entire glass in one gulp astounding his parents despite seeing it multiple times already "More." he asked for seconds "Maybe we should teach him how to use aqua?" his mother turned her head to her husband "It's only ideal hence he likes to drink water so much." the older kinou considered.
"Excuse me, sir and ma'am." a servant came to their table "Yes what is it?" Ethan's mother responded, "Not to interrupt but Madam is calling for you both to the pavilion, saying that she wants to introduce you two to some of the temple's patrons." the servants relayed to which the latter's parents agreed to "We'll be back and stay put, please." she kissed the young ravenette's temple before heading off, Ethan nodded his head still distracted by the drink in his hand, once they were no longer around the young ravenette some of his envious cousins ganged up on the table startling him "AHH!" he shrieked making them laugh at his embarrassment "Whatcha doing Ethan?" one of his cousin who is five years older than him asked intrusively "Drinking water." he hugged the glass close to his chest as they startled to put some of the food he refused to eat earlier into the pitcher souring the clear liquid's purity and overall taste.
"Aww, what a shame now you can't." their laugher bellowed "Come on give me that glass." one forced him to let go of the only pure water left in his possession "No!" he countered refusing to give it to her, "I said give it to me!" his cousin who was at the ritual the other day pulled on the six-year old's hair so that the young ravenette could lose his grip on the glass "Let go already you stupid brat!" another joined in forcing his grip off, instead of him letting go the cylinder glass slipped out of his grasp shattering straight in the face of his female cousin, a big shard got caught in her right eye, blinding it "AHHHH! Mama! Mama!" she cried out calling for help as her cousins who helped her bustle Ethan watched her eye bleed out terrified of what just transpired so vastly.
Ethan was unable to move from his seat, wide eye starring "This is your fault!" his male cousin who's about the same age as the girl whose eye is bleeding got hold of Ethan's hair harshly spits of tears began to gather upon his eye at the pain surging pain rounding his scalp, high pitched cries did not fail to be heard by the adults who promptly ran in the direction where the screaming came from upon their arrival, the boy who held Ethan's hair loosened his grip preparing an act that would hopefully place Ethan out of the elder's good graces "What is going on here--by the gods." the mother of his female cousin quickly ran to the side of her disfigured daughter who was crying heavily on her good eye, the guests surrounding them gasped at the sight "How did this happen?" one of the elders asked a stoic expression present.
"It's Ethan's fault!" his cousin pointed a finger of blame at him "She just wanted to know how he was doing and out of the blue he threw the glass on her face!" another lie was spouted, whilst Ethan's parents ushered to his side the woman known as his mother instantly scooping him to her arms "They're lying!" the young ravenette defended himself from all the accusation yeeted his way to make themselves look better and innocent of the accident they just committed "Mama, they're telling the truth, I just asked Ethan if he was okay since he looked lonely and he threw the glass at me." the disfigured girl voiced out her say in the matter, and with three against one the ravenette was the one seen as the liar. "Ethan would never do such a thing to hurt his own family and why would he lie? he's only six years old!" his mother defended him and it only aroused more anger into the matter.
"Hate to break it to you, but everyone in the family knows how that child of yours idolizes the firstborn daughter of RHEA's Emperor, so it is only plausible that he'd want to mirror her notorious actions!" the guest's were but at lost at first but once the knowledge that someone admires the infamous legacy of Milady came into their sense of hearing, they immediately gave a judgment of hate regarding a familial matter they are not fully knowledgable in any case what so ever "Agreed, given the fact that he's the only one of his cousins who isn't eucharistic yet." a brow-raising fact "And just because he's a child it's an excuse for him not to lie? ridiculous!" clearly she is right because her own children are lying about the entire part of how they bullied Ethan when he's just minding his own business "Lying is lying no matter what age you are in!" they are swimming in thick molten of hypocrisy to avoid humiliation from all their present guests and patrons.
"Does anyone here uses Sensory Sentiment or Pulse Variation?" Ethan's father proposed the idea to get this over with and it proved efficient as their relatives stopped ganging up on his only child, by the way, Pulse Variation can also be used to detect lies but the user must have a paramount equanimity within their system to memorize its synchronization, unlike Sensory Sentiment which can immediately detect the lies being spouted with-out breaking a sweat "Get her treated first then we can proceed with the proper judgment." the woman who had called the ravenette's parents earlier interrupted hence the wound might get infected if it is left like that any longer along with is the conclusion of the celebration, those invited had been dismissed with compensation of food that is divided into fair rations.
"So, who's really at fault here?" the head amazon of the Rael family asked in a serene tone to hide her favorability over the disfigured girl who had fists of anger hidden under the table, the gauze covering her wound had some of their relatives stare at her and the young raven who was accused of blinding her on purpose, the entire family was held present as both an audience and witness "It's blatantly obvious from the start, who's fault it is!" his cousins who had bothered him earlier aroused their distress into the plate "You can even check the glass it's got that brat's fingerprints all over it!" the boy who tried to force Ethan's hand insisted "Settle down now children, we're not here to argue about this any longer." her words are laced with a potent hoax kindness that allows the untrained ears to befall victim to it.
"Ethan, what do you have to say for yourself?" his grandmother implored, pitying him "I didn't do it and they were bullying me." was all he had to say determined that they would believe him somehow "Check the glass." one of the elders commanded as the piece of glass removed from the girl's eye was now lying with dried blood on a small plate sample, they brushed some powder on the glass to reveal the hiding fingerprints showing it to the family head "Boy show me your hand," she demanded but before he could a strong feminine hand held his wrist at a pause "Don't you think this is a little unjust? why don't his cousins also show theirs? since we're all about being fair here." the words his mother spouted had the head amazon ticked off, leaving her to agree to avoid suspicion over who she's favoring.
His cousins feared for their lie until the boy who pulled on Ethan's hair showed his hand which gave them a bit of confidence that maybe the facade won't crack, using her mystic eyes to see each and sadly only Ethan's matched with the ones found in the glass "Your son's fingerprints is the only one that matched." his mother's brows furrowed still refusing to allow them to belittle the other facts "You!" Ethan's father pointed at one of their relatives who was astounded upon the sudden mention "Me?" the kinou who was in his early twenties pointed at himself "Yes, you, I notably know that you can use Sensory Sentiment, now tell us who is really telling the truth here." intimidated by Ethan's father, the twenty-plus kinou vastly complied unable to notice the glares being sent his way.
Once the sensory bracelets were attached and served their purpose, the twenty plus' lips quivered as he spoke out the factuality "E...Ethan is telling the truth." his voice came out like a whisper "Say that a little louder so that everyone can hear it!" the head amazon slammed the table hard creating a loud thud "Ethan is telling the truth, they were trying to force him into letting go of the glass by pulling on his hair and forcing his hand off, making the glass slip and blind her! please don't hurt me I'm just telling the truth!" he shielded his face expecting a world of pain after saying such words. "Guilty." was all the head of their family spouted confusing those seated at the table "Pardon?" Ethan's mother stood up from her seat "If he would have just given the glass willingly this accident would have never happened...and for that."
The guards we're gestured to aggressively apprehend the young raven "No, no, no!" the eyes of his mother widened in fear knowing exactly what they are going to do "What do you think you are doing!? let go of him!" his mother grabbed on to him refusing to let go, but she was whacked hard on the chest losing a good amount of air from her respiratory, her husband was held in place by their relatives from wanting to help his wife get up on the floor "It's only time we punish that child of yours," the head amazon of their family began as Ethan's yells of protest echoed out down the halls "Not only for hurting one of his family but for outright refusing to follow our family's customs by idolizing the firstborn of RHEA's emperor." the troublesome children that bullied Ethan had butterflies in their stomach from the joy of finally getting what they want.
"Let my son go, I'll take his place--" the young raven's father squirmed in his seat, tugging on the restraints "Oh? you? you're not even related to us by blood only by paper, so don't be ambitious into thinking that you can possibly take that brat's punishment." some laughed at his struggle and his wife who was finally able to writhe slowly from the cold hard floor "I'll do it, just don't hurt my child...I beg you." she voiced out her breath still unstable from the hit inflicted on her chest, such words made the head of their family plaster a wicked smirk placing her left hand under her chin "See? there we go someone who understands the hierarchy of worthiness."
The meeting was dismissed after Ethan's mother choose to carry the burden on herself, they were given a short amount of time to collect the little raven out of the punishment "Ethan!" his mother immediately scooped him into her arms tightly upon the doors opening with her husband following closely behind her, tears of joy fell out of her lower lids to the little raven's hair "You're not hurt are you?" his mother pulled away from the embrace getting a good look at his features, the boy simply shakes his head meaning no "Good." she pushed his hair back kissing his forehead, "Get out of here or else we'll drag you out." the doors slammed open with two amazon guards staring daggers down on them, "I'll be fine, go." she passed the young raven to her husband who took him with shaky hands, Ethan peeked by his father's shoulder seeing his mother smile as the doors closed.
"For failing to properly discipline your child...you, Aisha Rael, is to take up a hundred whips on the back," one of the elders spoke out for everyone to hear, her hands were tied up on the posts of the temples plaza, long raven hair covering her face from the sides and her back perfectly exposed "If you are to be heard whimpering or shed any tears the amount will be doubled. BEGIN!" a member of their family who volunteered for the task unlatched the coiled up whip allowing it to fall down the cold pavements, Ethan and his father was purposely made to have the front row seat of the ludicrous show, he wanted to cry but the tears never came the ripping sound of flesh echoed and its iron stench reeked. The little raven's mother managed to get through it with permanent scars.
Months profused after that little show and his parents for some unexplained reason by their family disappeared overnight without a trace whatsoever and were declared MIA at the subsequent time of the failed search for them. As nothing was found out to be of place either, no solid evidence was given on why they would vanish just like that, and most of Ethan's relatives also stopped bullying him for their amusement and self amelioration. At exactly a year after he turned seven years old, things started to become interesting--for the better and by better I mean he started having plans on spouting no evoking Milady's name on an important ceremony his family is going to have in a few months.
Two months before he is recruited by Milady, which also happens to be the seventeenth month in the year he turned seven years old "Ow!" the little ravenette rubbed his already red ear, as his grandmother had to scold him again about not falling asleep during an important ceremony, he sat by the window pouting avoiding to make any sort of eye contact with his grandmother whose sitting opposite of him, both are waiting for his grandfather inside the carriage that they will ride back home to their household "Thank you for hosting today's ceremony." the older kinou's voice could be heard from the background as he thanked one of their relatives before boarding the carriage. "Ethan," his grandfather began the talk as his wife nudged him to do so since Ethan wasn't listening to her earlier "Did you stay up late again last night?" he asked calmly considering his grandson's feelings in tow.
"Yeah..." the little raven admitted looking out the window where they passed by a line up of flowery shrubs "Let me guess, it has something to do with the Emperor's first child isn't it?" his eyes never left Ethan's stubborn figure "Yeah." was all he answered preparing for the inevitable scolding that he should stop idolizing Milady "Ethan, you are almost eight this is getting a little out of hand, you are literally the only one left out of all your cousins whose still uneducated about Medea Kyle's biography and how the temple works, stop, stop, preaching the Emperor's daughter she is not a saint. I suggest you reconsider hence this is not right...please." the voice of his grandfather cracked a bit when he said the words please to the little raven "No." he refused without a second beat of thought sprinkled into it, stressing his grandmother even more, she's been wanting to discipline him ever since the ceremony ended but her husband objects to such actions saying that she shouldn't hence they are the only ones left who could possibly love this stubborn child of their MIA daughter and son-in-law.
And by treating him the same way as the others did will only make him harder to handle than he already is, but right now even he is having a terrible time containing his patience as he is well aware of what has happened to Ethan's parents and that sort of knowledge cannot be known by the little raven yet due to his young age "Ethan, do it for your parents at least--" the older kinou was cut short of his words when they passed by a shrub of roses "STOP THE CARRIAGE!" Ethan exclaimed shocking his grandparents of the sudden yelling, before they knew it he opened the window and climbed out of it slightly scratching his knee down the pavements from hopping out the window, his grandmother raised a brow of confusion, thinking that the door was right there.
"Help me pick these quickly!" Ethan tugged on the coachman's pants asking for help with picking the thorny roses, the coachman's eyes widened upon seeing the plant hesitant to follow suit in which case Ethan rushed him hence he seemed to have frozen upon his seat "Hurry!" the little raven tugged on his pants a little stronger leaving the coachman with no choice but to endure the splinters he's about to get from picking the beautiful flowers, the two older Rael's got curious of what the commotion was all about and decided to step out the carriage, seeing Ethan holding three pieces of red roses happily removing their thorns "What are those for?" his grandmother asked as she's never seen her grandson show any interest towards any sort of flowers before.
"They say Ul--the emperor's firstborn daughter likes red roses because it is the same color as blood." He almost spouted Milady's name, and that is reserved for the next few months he cannot say it yet, his grandparents, on the other hand, cannot believe what is going on right now hence they just had a talk moment ago that Ethan should stop idolizing Milady the coachman picked the last piece of thorny rose giving it to Ethan, nervous by the looks being given to him by his served people "Ethan stop patronizing this unholy woman she is not a good influence and just like what your grandfather had said earlier she is not a saint--" his grandmother stepped forward pointing the hand fan she is holding at Ethan but her words were cut short "It is just the same with you guys preaching Medea Kyle like she's a deity of sorts." the older woman was taken aback the little raven's words unable to snap back hence it made sense in a way.
The ride back to their household was quiet, and once they have arrived at the front doors Ethan immediately dashed out vastly asking the first servant he encounter in the home to fetch him a vase with water to put the roses in. Moth eighteen in the year Ethan has turned seven it was now due time for his recruitment without his own knowledge...right now he's busy blending into the background of things whilst his relatives are busy running around doing proper preparations of the ceremony that is Medea Kyle's death anniversary.
"Did the catered food arrive already?"
"Madam the decorations on the venue is just about done."
"Where are my gloves?"
"Where is that child at anyway? Ethan! Ethan!"
"Make sure that the entire temple is sparkling clean!"
"Have the plants been watered? I do not want them looking dry when the patrons arrive here!"
"Ethan! Ethan! where are you? It's time to get dressed! Ethan?"
"Are the refreshments all accounted for?"
"Bring me my jewelry!"
"Make sure that no litter is found within the household and temple's vicinity."
He climbed up again the roof, but this time it's in the temple's roof which is a much higher building than their household is. With him is a bag of items he'll need to stay put in the roof till the day ends and those items are, a newly bought coil of sturdy rope, two liters of bottled water--he wanted to bring more but apparently, he can't carry five liters of water this high up so he irritatingly settled for just two instead, various kinds of snacks, one pack of bread and a small towel "I did it!" he congratulated himself whilst laying on his back down the roof catching his breath from another near-death experience of slipping while climbing up to where he is now.
~
"Milady!" the little ravenette monster jumped off from his seat to hug his mentor like she's been gone for a long time, she caught him safely in her arms "Did you find what you're looking for? Milady?" he asked looking up to her "Yes," she answered dematerializing me before walking away from the bench, the greenette handmaiden followed closely behind Milady "Oooohh! Milady what is it? " he shimmied out of Milady's hold to float beside her finishing his water "Something about Medea Kyle." upon hearing the name of the amazon his biological family practically worshiped he became disinterested real quick "Ew!" he made a puking gesture to prove his point "I figured as much." Milady chuckled, "It's a good thing I killed them..." he talked under his breath pouting after "And I'm proud of you for it." Milady pinched his cheek, caught off guard that she was able to hear it. Odette had no idea of who they are talking about by she is certain it had something to do with Ethan by the expression plastered on his face.
"Now, I want you to try to make those lighter and crush them, Odette I suggest you stand behind me if you want to live." Milady pointed at some huge blocks of accumulated ice (that is free of any egg laid by the Sikotas) for Ethan to exercise his talents on, the greenette handmaiden did not object to the order given out by Milady vastly hiding behind her "Okay!" Ethan placed himself back down on the snowy ground outstretching both his upper limbs not giving out any type of warning to the workers who are picking up the ice, the teen grinned from ear to ear upon successfully making them lighter hence the last time he did something this massive is when he crashed--no yeeted the bullet train from Lapis to Queen Minea's beloved palace.
"What the--"
"Everybody run!"
"Oh my god! Oh my god!"
"Wait for me!"
"AHHH!"
"Get down!"
"Damnit all why now?!?!"
Ethan turned to face Milady, whilst in the background, the workers are panicking "Excellent, and considering from what Hathor has told me, that you have made a bullet train from Lapis lighter like a feather...solidifies a firm standing in your grades." the teen raven floated beside Milady side hugging her whilst rubbing his face on her cheek like a cat purring for affection, Odette slowly peaked her head making sure that it was safe before fully standing beside Milady once seeing the panicking workers run around and about, a sigh escaped her lips with a breath vapor alongside it or Exhaled Breath Condensate (EBC) if that's what you want "Hibiki tried to stop me, but I didn't listen to him HUHUHUHAHAHAHA!" Milady patted his head, knowing well how the orangette was tricked by Ethan into saying yes "That's my boy, but do listen to Hibiki sometimes, okay?" he snuggled closer to her "Yes, Milady."
Exigence Magnitude is the name of the talent Ethan chooses to master. Users of this talent can create, shape, move, control, interact and manipulate, a natural phenomenon in which all things with mass or energy including planets, stars, galaxies, and light attract or gravitate towards one another. This talent allows one to increase or decrease gravity at will, be it the environment or individual objects. Increasing gravity would cause everything in an area heavier, causing loose objects to propel to the ground, cause people immobilized or crushed depending on the gravity increase. When doing the exact opposite which is decreasing gravity obviously, the talent user could make those around them or themselves lighter making all objects float upwards, or lift heavier objects with astonishing ease due to the decreased weight that has been applied.
With enough control and skill, the talent user would be able to attract and repel objects regardless of direction, achieving an effect akin to Psychokinesis--or telekinesis if you want a simpler and more familiar term, to ignore and defy the very laws of gravity altogether, allowing one to walk on walls or ceilings or manipulate orbital fields on almost anything. Those adroit talent users can control their gravitational field freely, allowing them to move faster, be agile and conserve their overall stamina. The talent is greatly adaptable to combat profitability by being able to repel and crush a given adversary with staggering force and lastly anchoring oneself to the ground to tank heavy physical attacks or decreasing the gravity of an attack to weaken its potency and overall velocity.
The limitations of this talent are being unable to create gravity, this is only limited to manipulating gravity from already existing sources. It is definitely useless in areas with no gravity, although this is not much of an issue though since everything has gravity. The distance, mass, and precision of the user all depend upon their knowledge, skill, strength, and their own natural limits. Talent must be centered around the user at all times necessary, in which case the user can attract or repel from their current standing point. Gravity is the weakest out of all the fundamental forces, so this talent may lose against manipulations of the other forces.
While everything was going about lively like a party outside the royal palace, Zero was busy plotting numerous ways on how he can bring an end to Sting's impious daughter with Milady, the bluette heir of Lireo masked his intentions thoroughly without fault by drowning himself in tons of paperwork, boning Milady every night till she's tired, secretly stealing any of their servant's pulse, and sneakily walking around the palace's hallways in the middle of the night monitoring the routinely movements of the raven-haired baby's nanny. Yesterday night he snuck into the blonde kinou's designated room to steal one of his newly sharpened daggers that mainly served as his primary weapon when it comes to fighting any foes.
Why did he steal a weapon that is out of his primary skill? simple he'll use it to frame the blonde, that he killed his own child which is quite iffy if viewed from a certain standing point of range as Sting has been known by the palace's inhabitants to be quite fond of his firstborn daughter...but still this era is quite known to be traitorous in every sense of the sayings flying around, let me remind you mortal reading this "Live with trepidation." is what it plasters, Zero did not hide the dagger in the drawers of his desk hence if one of their servants cleans his study they will be able to spot it and start asking why, during the day it is strapped inside his clothes and by nightfall, he hides it alongside his firearms despite not wanting to associate the dagger with them the bluette had to suck it up in order to kill the baby.
"Your Highness?" Chase's voice called out from the other side of the door "It is open." Zero answered not bothering to look up from his chosen task of facade "Madam Irina has told me to inform you, Your Highness, that the gown has reached its completion." a servant poured Zero a cup of water in which case he took a short gulp from before scanning his eyes back to the piece of paper "Good then, tell my mother's handmaiden to bring it up here in my study carefully." placing the pen down beside the paper taking a break "Yes, Your Highness." Chase bowed down to his boss before heading out the door once again to get Irina to bring the commissioned garb for Milady, the bluette kinou leaned up to his swivel chair, finger combing his hair back a luscious sigh escaping his lips.
A few minutes on Chase knocked again on the door's surface but this time he came along with Irina and a few seamstresses' following behind her and a mannequin covered in a huge draping cloth "Your Highness." the brunette handmaiden and the seamstresses bowed down to Zero as a sign of greeting and respect, who is sitting on his desk both of his elbows propped up the desk's surface, his hands clasped together under his chin humming as a response to them, lazy to even move his lips that has been doing fine work on Milady's figure the night before, Irina nodded to the seamstresses to tug on the cloth in which case they promptly did showing the bluette "Those who have worked on this piece have gone by the measurements you have given them, Your Highness." no dared to ask nor question how exactly Zero knew how each snatching curve on Milady body is known by him to the point that he memorized it.
Zero closely watched the gown being shown to him, temporarily ignoring what Irina and the other seamstresses were spouting about till his scape unconsciously had begun to wander off into the thought of killing Sting's child "Your Highness," Irina was about to show Zero the jewelry but she noticed how his eyes were no longer focused on the garb and they had a dull tint in them, just by the mere thought of slitting the baby's throat had him thirsty "Your Highness...?" Irina called a second time but Zero didn't hear it completely engrossed in his own raging thoughts... impending bloodthirsty thoughts "Your Highness, Your Highness?" the brunette handmaiden began to wave her hand in his face but to still no avail, the servants within the study was overcome by a feeling of uneasiness as to what Irina was doing, thinking that Zero might yeet her over the open balcony despite being the woman his mother's own handmaiden and his nanny when he was young.
He began to have mental images of the deceased baby drowning in its own pool of blood, dullness was replaced with that similar to a corrupted person's eyes "Your Highness--" hence nothing she was previously doing was having any sort of effect on the thirty-seven-year-old bluette, so she opted to tap him on the shoulder but before she could tap a second-time Zero vastly got a stronghold of her wrist's "What?" his eyes traveled on his side where the older servant stood frozen, his voice came out like a growl "We would like to show you the jewelry now, Your Highness." she kept her voice calm as much as possible, despite the surging pain that was etching on her wrists making them turn pale a bit. She helped Queen Minea raise him so it is only fair that she knew slightly what kind of tendencies he'd do when his deep thought is bothered.
"Go on then," Zero released his hold on the servant's wrist, brushing off the blood lust "These are the accessories that have been picked, Your Highness." the servants placed various boxes of different looking jewelry down the desk for Zero to choose from "Is this necessary for her public image?" those were the same words Odette had spoken out when Irina had given her a peek of the garment but Irina won't tell Zero that, as he had strictly ordered her not to show it to anyone before he sees it first with his own two eyes "Yes, Your Highness, as her appearance on Her Majesty's speech will be the first one ever since she's been stricken by her disease, resulting in her being inactive for an entire year." Zero outstretched his hand pulling one box that caught his attention "I like this one... how much does this cost?" there was also a similar-looking one that had a pearl as a centerpiece but Zero knew how much that would remind Milady of her deceased friend, so he opted with this one instead.
"54, 828 Cyhea, Your Majesty." the servant standing beside Irina spoke up, telling Zero the jewelry's price when it was bought "This one will do, have the rest be taken to the treasury room at once." he dismissed them with a wave of his hand in which turn they bowed down to him and followed suit with what he ordered "And Chase?" the bluette heir of Lireo called for his assistant's help as he closed the door behind Irina and company "Yes? Your Highness?" the purple-haired kinou replied holding the tablet close to his person at all time ever since starting this job of working for Zero, making his life and bit better.
"Bring me one serving of chicken parmesan with edamame pasta," he pinched the bridge of his nose as slight tiptoe of dizziness passed by his scape from skipping lunch earlier to finish up the papers early today "Not to be rude but, may I ask why? Your Highness?" the purple-haired kinou poked fun at his boss' sudden hunger "I'm starving all of the sudden. Just bring me a bowl damnit." Zero smacked his lips annoyed, and effect of skipping an important meal he hasn't been able to work out due to all his planning, and let's just say that it's also getting to him whenever he remembers it, but at least he's maintaining his diet so that's good but still, he must be jacked "As you wish, Your Highness." Chase gestured for a servant to follow him down the kitchen and have Zero's desired meal made vastly.
The bluette decide to distract himself out the balcony of his study whilst waiting for his sustenance to arrive, placing both of his hands on the railings as a breath of chilly air passes by. He was able to spot his foster son and his best friend walk back and forth out a delivery truck carrying regular-sized sealed carton boxes down the palace grounds from the reflection of a huge mirror. Zero's excellent eyesight is what makes him perfectly compatible with his guns no mystic eyes are needed, his profound ability towards them even sparked a running gag from the original team saying that he has more chemistry with the firearms than any other human being in his life hence the reason why he's never dated anyone, he paid their teasing no mind as caring about that means he wants to go head to head with his father's legacy. Which is heavily expected on him to do by the masses.
In fact, he wanted to date someone (before he liked Milady duh) but stops himself from doing so because every single time he tries to, the past actions of his father plasters right in front of him like a blockade of endless propaganda, an example of his sudden thoughts about the matter is goes like this "What's the point of going out with this amazon if, in the end, she isn't the one I'm going to be in matrimony with? If we broke up that also means breaking her heart...and that makes me no different from that stupid bastard" his daily dose of this reminder is by seeing Larcade do the same thing his father has done every day without a second thought of remorse whatsoever--in short he's being discourage every day during his teen years. The sudden ringing of the galva in his pocket made him take it out to answer the call coming from Milady.
"Oh hi, I'm calling to let you know that I took Ethan and Odette on a hike up the mountain." her voice spoke through the other line, Odette was heavily catching her breath while Ethan was jumping around full of energy creating rolls of snowballs with the white icy sand "Just be careful, and please do not to cause an avalanche." the bluette held the device close to his ear, doing a three-sixty on the mountains by the city ends that held up a billion tons of snowy residue on the top "Even if Ethan manages to, I'll be fine." Milady vastly pulled on Odette's shoulder as the rock she was previously sitting on was now covered in snow from the tree shedding it off, the greenette's eyes widen in shock hence if Milady hadn't pulled her then she would have been buried in that previous spot.
"That doesn't sound reassuring." the worry in his tone didn't miss Milady's perceptive line, she could sense him brushing his hair back "You worry too much." her deep luscious tone poked fun at him "How can I not? you have been sick for a year and I just got you back." he chuckled to himself "Oh, Zero." she smirked, playing with a strand of her silky locks wanting to hear him beg her to stay out of trouble or cause it "Ultear...please?" he had to lower his voice a and place a and hand to cover his eyes as the guards standing guard by the balcony entrance are somewhat eavesdropping out from curiosity of course, upon how Zero and Milady talk to each other "That's more like it and let them hear Zero...no shame in lowering your voice and lastly don't worry I'll listen to you by taking extreme good care of myself and the two with me." Milady watched Ethan with careful eyes whilst talking to Zero on the other line
"Did you just watch me through Hathor?" the blue-haired kinou looked around and above figuring out from which perspective Milady is seeing him right now "Yes, and you are currently standing out the balcony of your study waiting for the meal Chase is getting from the palace kitchen." Milady ran her finger around my glass form lovingly observing her spouse"Are you still looking at me?" he wanted a verification a little bit nervous that Milady might look into the other aspects of what he has been plotting from the past days "Yes, and look straight out into the horizon that's my current view of you." she told him upon which direction to face "From my point of view all I can see is...the mountains filled with snow, a large number of random trees and the empire of Lireo, but as long as you can admire at me this way then looking over my home tribe, won't be so bad."
He smiled softly at the end of his words "...Oyu veloi." her voice came out seductively, much to Zero's problem hence it is like Milady's aphrodisiac scent whiffed out the air and into his nostrils, it made the bluette kinou swallowed a sudden lump in his throat "Oyu veloi, and come home early." He was unable to reply for a full thirty seconds and when he finally regained his composure a husky snicker left his lips, ending the call that was insinuated by Milady to inform him of her current location "Your Highness!" Chase's voice called forth from inside of the study placing said hot bowl of food down the table's hard surface, Zero pocketed the gadget turning his back away from the terrace.
~
"Soooo now that I'm a little older you're gonna tell me Milady? is my guess right?" he asked a bit of excitement in his tone as his view of Milady is upside down, she didn't mind his way of entertaining himself as long as he didn't interrupt her when she is speaking nor bother her as he does with everyone else "You are correct, and for that, I'll add ten points in your grade, keep up your attentiveness that is good." Milady temporarily picked up the pen lying beside the countable pieces of paper taking a note before going back to Ethan "So what about my parents?" he pipped floating lower so that Milady won't have to look up to him whilst they strike in a conversation "Did you love them?" such a question was unexcepted, Milady knew the answer since she has looked through Ethan's time but still wanted him to say it personally to her when it is presented "Yeah...? Maybe? I don't know, I forgot because it has been so long--Milady I don't even remember what their faces look like hehehe." Ethan opted to laugh it off instead "I know you do." The jolly expression on his face fell to that of biting his lower lip.
Milady stood up from her seat by the desk opting to sit by the love seat sofa, crossing her leg over the other, before vastly patting the fluffy cushion twice with her right hand offering Ethan to sit beside her in which case he floated down on his legs tucked in an Indian sitting position both of his upper limbs plopped down the cushion-like an obedient cat "Ready to know?" Milady laid out her palm for Ethan to take, the little ravenette monster hummed a response taking the offer, upon touching the bare skin of his mentor's hand a surge of vast energy overcame him, taking his scape into a third-person view above the sky looking around the familiar scenery he spotted the household he lived in for a short period of time during his toddler years and the temple he used to run around in, a place he had a love-hate relationship with due to their family tradition and practices.
"Hurry up you fools or else we'll get caught!" He whipped his head in the direction of hushed but angry voices origin, seeing people none other than his long-deceased relatives and they seem to be carrying two huge sacks of wiggly rice? He assumed hence he cannot comprehend what was within the brown sacks "Dig right here and hurry!" one of his relatives ordered, momentarily later through the digging process a woman clad in a long hood came out of the dark holding captive a confused kinou "What are we doing back here in the middle of the night? Can you at least--" the kinou stopped yapping his mouth upon seeing a glimpse of what was transpiring there at that moment.
The hood wearing woman gestured for their relatives to untie the wiggly sacks restraints, showing him what was inside them "UHHHMMM!!!!" a muffled pleads of help escaped as the sacks were lowered a bit and it was none other than Ethan's parents their hands and feet were tied up tightly to their skin to the point that it has started to turn pale from the lack of supposed blood flow, whilst the skin underneath the ropes are beginning to bleed from their constant struggle to break free "Now be a good relative and do not defy me as they did." the hooded woman turned out to be their family head, she held a knife on the neck of Ethan's grandfather whose lips began to shake upon seeing his daughter and son-in-law's state "You will watch this example." the head amazon whispered a sweet threat to his ear leaving his entire body to gain a petrified cold shiver.
The sacks were tied back up again and Ethan's parents were thrown into the freshly judged pit that would serve as their graves, their muffled screams continued to cry out as their relatives shoveled back the dirt burying them alive in a broad moonlit night. Once the process was done, his grandfather was allowed to fall down to his knees with tears erupting from his lower eyelids--his heart full of guilt upon how, and why didn't he do anything to stop the monstrosity his own relative has committed before him, he aimlessly clawed the ground wailing, their relatives who buried his daughter and son-in-law assumed that he was trying to dig them out in hope of saving them and was about to whack him in the noggin for doing so but the head amazon of the Rael family stopped them saying that he would never do such a thing because he is aware of the consequences that will be paid.
After seeing all that Ethan came back into his aware senses, unconscious tears falling from his eyes not long after realizing that Milady had shown him a factful truth he began to choke up sniffles from his nostrils and by a minute the little ravenette monster was nothing but a crying mess angry at himself, feet rapidly kicking by the sofa "Waaah! ugh.." Milady's brows furrowed in the sudden wave of unwanted pity, looking down at her hand she was still holding on to the teen whose breathing has now become erratic from the overwhelming feeling of sadness and sorrow, seeing him cry reminded her of the time when Riona passed away right before her own eyes and she began to understand the clenching feeling of one's chest when they feel this raging anguish of emotions. Ethan's face began to contort and he hated it he pulled his hand out of Milady's hold covering his face with it. He was about to turn away but out of the blue Milady pulled him close to her--an embrace that was mentioned to calm down his emotions.
~
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