Author's Note: Another time skip just happened! This time though, it does not skip straight to the Proving or to a date near it. It happens around a year and a half later, just like what the title suggests.
********************
This is Alex reporting in for duty!
'Give me an accurate report on everything you have done so far.'
Sir, yes, Sir!
As you know, it is already the 3rd Day of the 2nd Month! I entered the city of Quaran and started living here around a year (and a half) ago. Right now, I am 8 years old. Concerning the place where I live, I live in the middle ring of the city, where minor or foreign nobles live.
'Alright then. Tell me a bit about what it is like living there.'
Living here is, how do you say it?... Um, radically different from how I used to live. First of all, the actual house is so much bigger than where I used to live. Another thing is that there are servants and guards who roam around the interior and the exterior of the house proper. It is part of my daily routine to talk with these servants and guards during my free time so that I have an idea of what is happening around and outside of the city.
So, let's see... Ah, yes. Another thing that I have learned to accept already is the fact that I don't have to make my own food when my parents are out or if they are still sleeping as the chefs are always serving the food on time. Plus, everyday has been a treat as they are really good at cooking and are able to make food we have eaten before taste better with some extra steps to the cooking process.
I actually have asked for them to teach me before but, alas, they said that fire could be a bad thing, especially for a blind kid like me as the only way I would know where fire would be if I touched or felt it's heat, both of which require me to get dangerously close to said fire. Also, the baths are amazing! I always look forward to the baths as they always feel so refreshing and warm for me.
'Ah, okay. How about your family? Tell me about them, like their names, their personalities, their likes and dislikes, and, just some general information.'
My family here, huh?
Well, my uncle's name is Ostensio Loros Elsher. He is the eldest sibling among my mother's family so, I think he is probably around 40 years old already. Due to spending time with him for a majority of my time there, I found out that he likes to sew and make hats or clothes. It is pretty cool as he is the first person I have met who is able to sew clothes well, aside from mother. He dislikes discrimination against other races and, from what I have heard, is part of a group of people who wish to end racism. He seems to me to be a jolly man but can act stern when something bad happens. Also, I found out recently that his room is the only one with a mirror inside as I felt it with my tendrils when no other room has one.
It's not like that is a bad thing, of course. I just thought that the females in this house would be more conscious of their appearance as they are technically nobles.
Next, I have my aunt. I just met my aunt a few months ago and, it was a bit weird. When she was going to introduce herself, she paused for a few seconds and then said that her name was Alicia. I don't know why she would hesitate to say her name in front of me but, I do know that it is suspicious how the name she gave me sounded like the name of another woman I know. Also, it seems like Kyra is very attached to her. I mean, what child is not attached to their mother, aside from abusive families? No, I mean like, she is with her almost everywhere. I don't what is going on between them and it certainly doesn't concern me with the time being.
Lastly, the person I seem to meet almost every other minute around the house. It is Kyra herself. Well, she is around 1 year younger than me and I don't know why she hated me when we first met. I say 'hated' as I have just made a breakthrough a few days ago. I can now gladly say that I am in the neutral zone with her, maybe even trending towards the friendly zone. Here is what happened.
~ FLASHBACK ~
Hmm...
I don't have anything to do the entire afternoon today. I don't want to do anything that isn't unproductive as there might be an opportunity to do something but I'll only realize I could have done that after a few hours of slacking off. So, I will just try to learn more about the history of this city and some other things, if I can find them.
As I was walking down the stairs, I felt the presence of a guard nearby.
"Hey, can you tell me where the library in this city is?"
"The library? Well, it is in the inner ring of the city."
"Thanks."
"Wait. You will need us to bring you there as it might be hard for you to find it."
"Alright, go ahead."
And so, I was heading off towards the local library with some guards with me. While I was walking, I felt the presence of someone following us with my tendrils in a shadowy alley. I don't know if they are actually following us but, they sure seem to be going the same way as us, just in the dark alley, which definitely doesn't scream suspicious.
"Hey, I just need to check something really quickly. Stay here."
"Okay."
I shifted into my shadow and approached the place where I last felt the presence. After a few seconds, I was right behind them and that was when I realized who it was. Just by checking the shape and stature of the body told me that it must have been-
"Miss Kyra?!"
"Ah!"
"What are you doing following me!?"
"Why were you even able to know about that?!"
We then had a civil (not really) conversation and she decided to come with us. I brought her along, but on one condition.
"When we get there, you will help me read the books."
"Huh? Why should I?"
"Oh, you didn't know? I need you to read me the contents as I can't read it myself because I am blind."
"Wait, you are blind?..."
She seriously didn't even know that?!
"Oh, then, that should be okay."
She doesn't sound as hostile as before now. I think she is actually fine with helping me with this. Did I just unwittingly made her more friendly towards me?
~ END OF FLASHBACK ~
Yeah, and that was how I started to think that we might get on good relations very soon. She isn't calling me without the Mister yet but, I think she has a good time reading with me now. If I was able to awaken her liking for books then, I did a good job. When she eventually gets to school, she might get high grades and have a bright future.
"Sir Alex, you need to get going now! The first training session for the Proving will be happening in 30 minutes!"
Wait, it's that time already!? I swore that I still had, like, 3 hours before it happened, or something!
Oh my Death God! I actually spent all of that just talking with myself and remembering what happened over the years! I need to hurry or I will be late!