On the streets of Avina, three humans sat inside a pristine white carriage drawn by silver-grey horses.
One was a lady, with a head of long black hair and deep black eyes.
One was a bladesman, whose fancy clothes and bright blonde hair hid his abilities with the sword.
And the last was a child, perhaps nearing the age of five, with silky black hair and obsidian black eyes.
It was silent inside the carriage. The lady had her eyes closed, as if deep in thought. The bladesman was in a similar state, although one could tell that his guard was up nonetheless. And the child stared out the window, curiosity flashing through his eyes.
The streets in this part of Avina were wide, winding, and sloped. Lining one side of the road were villas and beautiful houses of white and sky blue. They overlooked the shining midday sea to the west.
Athelei saw many of these luxurious houses as the minutes went by. One by one, the houses seemed to lessen as the fanciness increased. The lots grew ever larger and the gardens more beautiful. He wondered which villa the lady would stop at with each passing structure.
When they finally stopped, it was at the base of a hill. Athelei watched as their carriage moved past a grand gate of silver and blue. The road was a blinding white and was surrounded on both sides by green, green grass. With the neatly planted fruit-bearing trees appearing every now and then, Athelei realised that he was in an orchard.
And as they moved through the orchard, Athelei caught sight of a beautiful stair-like village residing at the peak of the hill.
Statues, frescoes, and wave-like carvings brought about an elegant air for any beholder to experience.
Athelei saw statues of men and women in long flowing robes, as well as creatures described in the stories he had been told before bed.
When they well and truly stopped to disembark the carriage, Athelei found himself near a fountain, where a unicorn was spouting water from its glass-like horn. Behind him stood a white mansion where a grand tower lay at the centre, looking like a pillar holding up the sky.
Silently, Athelei followed the two adults into the mansion. His feet stepped on a cobbled pathway where an artificial stream snaked through every now and then.
Once inside, Athelei was greeted by a spacious entrance hall, where servants busied themselves all around. A chandelier with floating orbs of light hung proudly from the high ceiling, as a mystical tree grew under it. The branches and the chandelier intertwined magically, as if a tree of heaven and a tree of the earth grew into each other, bearing fruits of light.
"Lady Karire." A voice that Athelei found familiar echoed in the hall. It caused the pair of adults before him to abruptly pause.
Athelei looked over and was intrigued to see the familiar tall stature of Apple. His scarred face and bald head now held a different atmosphere as he wore clothes that a fisherman wouldn't wear to sea.
"...You," Lady Karire narrowed her eyes upon seeing the man sipping tea by one of the tables in the hall. "What brings your barbarous figure here, Apple? It's been eighteen years since you've shown your face to me."
Apple dryly chuckled.
"Eighteen years, and you have yet to change. It doesn't look like you've aged at all, Kar."
"That's Lady Karire, to you, you sea-loving rascal." Lady Karire clicked her tongue but still found herself walking towards the couch opposite Apple. Her slender form was a stark contrast to the giant and muscled Rank 2 Evolver.
Athelei found himself standing to her left while Jack stood at her right. A servant quickly served another tray of leisure food and drink as Lady Karire took a seat.
Apple took another sip of his tea, eyeing Athelei and Jack. Lady Karire sipped on her own cup of coffee, waiting for the man to answer her earlier question.
"The legends were true." Apple suddenly said, his cup had yet to touch his saucer.
"I know." Lady Karire replied succinctly.
Apple froze.
"Of course you do..." He then sighed, "At least ask which legends in specific. Let me act like I did when we were younger."
Lady Karire raised an eyebrow, "Very well... Which lege—"
"The one about the natives."
A Mystic Pattern suddenly appeared on top of Apple's head, drenching the man in ice-cold water.
"Whoa!" Apple covered his tea, not letting his drink be diluted.
"Don't cut me off." Lady Karire hissed.
"Alright! Okay! My fault. My fault entirely!" Apple desperately protected his cup of tea as the waterfall had yet to end.
A faint smile appeared on Lady Karrie's face as she watched Apple scrambling to save his tea. "You and your mismatched priorities..." she sighed in pleasant resignation,
"I've already hinted the Adventurers about the subterranean kingdoms. If you're here to pull me into another adventure, go and dig the others out of their graves instead. I have a war to fight and prepare for and a daughter to care for. I have no time to spare."
"That's the thing, Kar. I figured out a few things about why this war is even starting. Stop the waterfall or my tea will be ruined!"
Snap!
Lady Karire snapped her fingers and the Mystic Pattern dispersed, ceasing the icy waterfall it had been producing.
Steam began to rise out of Apple's body as the man dried himself. He was finally able to take another sip of tea without worry.
"We will talk about this in my office." Lady Karire stood up, suddenly recalling Athelei and Jack.
"As for you," Lady Karire eyed Athelei who looked up to her with innocent eyes, "Go with Jack and introduce yourself to my husband. He will deal with the job I have brought you here for."
Lady Karire then walked off without waiting for Athelei's reply. Apple was hastily following behind her.
That left Jack and Athelei in an awkward scene.
"Come," Jack said simply and walked towards a different part of the mention. Athelei followed like the curious cat that he was. Silent yet scrutinizing all that fell into his crosshairs.
.
.
.
The duo walked in silence. It was a silence that Jack found unnerving. He even glanced behind him a few times just to be sure that the kid was following him. They had walked through a large part of the mansion and passed many an interesting sculpture or magical structure.
And yet the kid behind him spoke not a single word. Jack might've assumed the lad was mute if not for the interview his lady had held for him when they bought him from the trader.
When he could no longer stand the silence, he asked, "Do you have no questions to ask?"
"I do not." The boy replied to him.
And then silence returned.
Jack's eye twitched, "Really? Nothing? This mansion is one of the most amazing houses in Illyas, and you ask nothing?"
"...I'm a slave, am I not? Do I really have the right to question all that which lands in front of my eyes?"
Jack choked when he heard such words come from a child so young. But when he connected it to the boy's behaviour ever since they met, it somehow fit the image he had built of the boy.
"Lady Karire is not fond of slaves, so you will not be considered one as well."
"Then why was I purchased and not freed?" Jack heard the boy finally ask an actual question.
'To be aware of such subtle specifics... where did this boy come from?' he thought to himself before answering, "I do not know, but Lady Karire is a magnificent orchestrator. There is a reason for everything she does."
"I see. I am not a slave, but a pawn instead?"
Jack coughed when he heard those words. He shut his mouth and decided not to speak any longer. This boy was not like him when he had been saved from the slave trade. He had asked hundreds and hundreds of questions when he first arrived here, which earned him a few spanks.
'I've only ever seen nobles twist words in that manner... It gives me headaches.' Jack thought to himself.
Meanwhile, Athelei was simply smiling as he inwardly laughed his head off. It was fun watching Jack have difficulties speaking with him.
"Sir Jack?" Athelei tugged at Jack's sleeves.
He got no reply.
"What's the matter?" He asked again, "Cat got your tongue?"