Three Years Later
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I turned 4 years old five months ago.
It's been three years since I'm being trained by uncle Christian, plus grandpa Aaron and great-grandma Medea. When I say it like that it sounds colossal, doesn't it? I'll never not be weird out to see all of them looking 25 when they are actually centuries old. It's weirder when you realize that this 25-year-old female is my the mother of two, grandmother of one, and great-grandmother of five. She may not look the part, but one sentence from her and you'll notice her wisdom and experience.
As I had expected, two years ago Roman made Midgard turn into a chaos when he awakened at 5 years old, and with 1000 acupoints, seemingly destroying an entire wing of his grandparents castle, where he was supposedly in when it happened. I was happy for him, that is a legendary accomplishment never seen before (…well, it is my fifth time seeing it, but always him), and by what I heard from my father's meeting with his spies, when I pretended to be sleeping in his office, talks of war between Nebelhain and Astrophel were already sparking.
Oh, I've gathered a whole lot of information in this mean time. As I was constantly eavesdropping on every thing I could, and paying attention to what all of my family was talking, I learned a lot of what's happening in the political world as of now. And I've also got a hang of where all the spies are, enough for me to be able to start on my plans of approaching Thomas Amerongen, my previous Master, as he's now acting as a Knight protecting the outer side of our Royal Palace. He's still young, around 18 years old, and he appeared here a year ago. I'll help him gain more space and more affluence by becoming my Knight.
The others Nebelhain spies are Dhimitër Zaharia, a 21-year-old male Knight working under the protection division of the Palace, that works on maintaining the Palace inner security; while Sofija Stepinac, is a 19-year-old female working as a maid responsible for the cleaning of Sebastian's wing, probably because they believe he'll become the next King, which is a wrong assumption. And all of them meet daily on the heart of the woods surrounding the Palace, where no one goes.
No one, but me. I've always had a habit of going there at night, and that's how I know this. They never feel me because I stay hidden in the tree house I made with the skills I go while living with Margaret. So, every night I go there at 1 am, and when it's 10 minutes to 3 am they come, each from a different direction of the woods, meeting in the heart of it. Using my heightened hearing, I listen to their talks every night.
Thanks to that, I learned about Roman's awakening before anyone.
Astrophel has four spies: Olafs Bertholds, a 28-year-old working as a Knight for Sebastian; Daniels Bartulis, a 25-year-old Knight working under Oliver; Karolīna Ulman, a 22-year-old Dame working under mother; and Antons Skrastiņš, a 27-year-old working in the Royal kitchen. Montara has two: 23-year-old twin brothers, Artur and Justyn Stachowski, both working as Knights in the inner palace. Thornbury also has two: Teresia Tornquist, a 31-year-old working as Sebastian's maid; Mona Carlen, a 27-year-old working as Oliver's maid.
Again, there's a misconception that Sebastian or Oliver will be the future Alderidge King in the future, just because they are the two oldest. None of them consider Allya or Zachary, which is a big mistake. After all, Zac will be King, while Allya will be his 2nd in Command, right hand, as well as the Captain of the Royal Army, and a Duchess. Sebastian and Oliver will both marry Queens of other Kingdoms and become Kings there.
They will all go for Kingdoms allied with Nebelhain, as they are to become the strongest Empire and win the war. Sebastian will marry Lindsey Asmaria, the Crowned Princess of the Asmaria Kingdom, who will end up being his mate; and Oliver will marry Aleksandra Scardia, sole child and Heiress of the Scardia Kingdom, who will also be his mate. While our sister will marry Aart Van 't Hof, the 3rd Prince of the Holden Kingdom, also allied to Nebelhain, and her mate.
In the end, our bloodline will all be politically tied to Roman's, and all of my siblings will be wealthily married to their mates. Even Sebastian who scoffed at marrying for love when I was born. Their lives will all be amazing, only I was destined to misery.
Seems like these cursed Gods really play favorites, hm? To think that in my very 1st life I believed them so faithfully. I would go to the temple every noon and pray. And for what? For them to do this to me! Hah…
Back to my training with uncle, and my great and grandparents, I've reached 777 acupoints a week ago, after secluding myself for five days, which I was able to thanks to them telling my parents and siblings that I wanted to spend the week and weekend with them. Uncle began teaching me the sword three months ago, and I followed with ease as I had learned it all with Thomas in my 4th life. But he isn't simply teaching swordsmanship, he's teaching me his secret technique I had only heard about, of fusing martial arts and Yin energy with the sword.
It's devastatingly powerful, difficult, and exciting. He didn't let anyone else see it, only me, as he said that it was his greatest treasure and something that made many mages come to him seeking training and his technique. Uncle explained to me that he made it in a way that you can only learn if you are a Alderidge of Yin energy, with Air and Water elements, which is the case for both of us, making me the perfect pupil.
And I'll never admit that to anyone, especially not to him given his ego, but uncle Christian is becoming one of my favorite people. As much as I tried not to get attached to him or to like him, it's impossible. He's just that likeable and amazing. To top it all, he's charming.
Grandpa Aaron, grandma Malia, great-grandma Medea and great-grandpa Maven too, are getting under my skin. It's weird how they can get me and understand me so profoundly without me having to say a word. And regarding the three powerful elemental spirits, I've gotten used to all of their overwhelming energy surrounding us when I'm with them. I also have a feeling that they might be fond of me, even if just a bit.
"Mischief, are you here?" Medea called me and I jumped from the seven-feet tree I was laying on. "There you are, Mischief," she smiled and came closer to me, kissing my forehead. "You've gotten used to climbing such tall trees already, aren't you our little prodigy? Come," she gave me her hand and I took it. "It's tea time, I prepared that chamomile tea you like and your beloved lemon pie, with dark chocolate brownies." You get it? How can I not love her?
Smiling excitedly, and made a little happy dance.
Great-grandma giggled, "You are so adorable, Mischief. You act so tough and indifferent towards most people, but it's when you're with us and when there a table full of food that you look like a child your age." Using a silent spatial incantation for teleportation, she moved us from the outdoor garden to the glasshouse, where the others were already waiting for us. "You were right, Chris, she was perched on the Hyacinth tree."
I sat down in front of uncle Christian who had a wolfish grin on, and began taking a slice of the lemon pie for myself, and stuffing my mouth with a brownie. Closing my eyes, I appreciated the holy flavor, and drank a sip of my tea.
"Prodigy is such a little glutton," grandma Malia giggled and petted my hair. "Though she never eats like this when she's in the Palace." Why would I? It's loaded with spies that could poison my food, and I'm not immune to many poisons yet, only to a handful.
"Does our food tastes better, Lovely?" Grandpa Aaron asked and I nodded feverously, making them chuckle. "But it's comprehensive, we get hungrier the more flowers we unlock, and you have 777 now, Lovely."
"Little Siren will either awaken sooner than Roman Nebelhain, or she will become the second youngest to awaken. But she's definitely going to make history, that is for sure." His mention to Roman made my cheeks blush and I ate more of the pie.
"Is it just me or Mischief blushes every time we mention Roman?" Grandpa Maven asked suspiciously, making my skin turn redder. "Did she just blush harder?" He grinned mischievously and I avoided his eyes.
"Oh no," uncle chuckled loudly. "Does she has a crush on him? Oh, sweet Gods, you are to be his nemesis, little Siren. Is it because he's strong? Or because you heard someone saying he's a handsome boy?" I glared at him and he grinned again, "Okay, okay, little Siren, I won't joke about that, but he's not available for you."
What? What does he mean by that?
"Don't frown like that, Prodigy," grandma Malia caressed my face, "or you will get expression marks." I don't give a damn about that.
Ignoring grandma, I arched my eyebrows, still glaring at uncle, in my way of asking him to spill the beans, making his grim wolfishly widen. "Landon sent me and Aaron a letter yesterday about how he was annoyed with his son and daughter-in-law for setting up his beloved grandson's to get engaged with the young Lady of House O'Brien. As he wanted him to marry for love."
…House O'Brien? He isn't talking about who I think he is, right?
Clenching my jaw and fist, I swallowed hard, crunching my nose, and frowning deeper, silently asking for more information. I could feel the anger inside of me boiling, and by how they all shared a weird gaze, I think they could too. "Her name is Dove Lana O'Brien, she's the young Lady of House O'Brien, a strong household in Nebelhain," uncle kept going, unsure.
My eyes widened in disbelief, and I lost my appetite.