Sensitivity warning.
As always, Giliath demands your power stones!
*****
"Here we are girls. Welcome to Valleria Lake.", Renne happily said to the group as a vast, glistening lake appeared before them.
Pater-Mater finished its descent, and its thrusters turned off. Its giant figure landed on the rooftop of a pearly-white mansion.
The mansion appeared to have three floors to it, and a veranda on the roof. Including the veranda, the roof even had a decent-sized pool. Thanks to Pater-Mater's thrusters, it created small ripples in the pool's water nearby, but it was subtle enough to where it didn't spill any water off to the sides. Toward the other end of the veranda, a hanging garden could be seen with several potted plants and various exotic fruit trees.
Pater-Mater knelt down, and it shifted its two large, metallic hands downward.
Renne was the first one to hop off, and the other five girls followed. Once they were off Pater-Mater, Emma casted another spell, allowing Pater-Mater to remain cloaked. If someone did accidentally stumble upon this private residence, they would definitely be shocked if they saw Pater-Mater.
Musse frowned as they spent a moment to look around.
"We aren't intruding on someone's villa, are we, Renne? This place looks quite vacant.", Musse frowned with a hint of worry in her eyes.
"Teehee, this is the surprise I wanted to show you girls. Big Brother had this place built in secret you see. It wasn't until recently that it was completed. We can use this villa as our base of operations, and have some fun at the same time. Killing two birds with one stone~", Renne explained with a playful smile.
"Now that you mention it, I do recall Naoto saying he had a side project he was working on. Was this it?", Angelica mused.
"Sure was. This place was entirely commissioned by Big Brother. I do feel a bit guilty since he wanted to surprise you all, but things change you know? He picked the best spot he could find. We can rest easy without any prying eyes here.", Renne answered.
"His Highness really knows how to spend his mira~", Musse teased.
"That's for sure. This place is pretty extravagant. How much did it cost? Three, four million mira?", Fie asked with interest.
"Within the ballpark. Big Brother currently has another person managing his finances. She isn't with us, but I wouldn't be surprised if we come across her here and there.", Renne said.
"Oh yeah, the secretary Naoto recently hired back at the castle. Her name is Jayna, I think?", Angelica wondered. She had come across Jayna a few times, but she always seemed busy, so their conversations were kept short.
"Jayna? Now why does that name ring a bell?", Musse wondered.
"You may or may not have come across her name before. Big Brother poached her from the Northern Jaegers. She used to be their Vice-Commander.", Renne answered.
"Ah yeah, I think I came across her when Naoto and I were in North Ambria. So that's what happened huh?", Fie replied.
"His Highness traveled to North Ambria? You did mention he partook in Jaeger activities, but I'm still having a hard time trying to wrap my head around that...", Musse frowned again.
"It wasn't a lie when Fie and I introduced ourselves as Jaegers back on the Glorious, Musse. Zephyr is currently occupied with a new contract, but I wouldn't be surprised if they start patrolling this place, considering Naoto's current standing as a member of Zephyr.", Emma responded.
"Haha, we can talk conjecture all we want, but I'm surprised Naoto could flaunt several million mira like this. This place is quite nice. I could totally see myself coming here to relax on the beach during summertime.", Angelica mused.
"That is the main purpose of this beachside villa after all.", Renne explained.
"You don't mean...", Emma uttered. A light blush appeared on her cheeks.
"I think I know where you are getting at.", Ennea responded. "It is to let Naoto's royal harem have some fun and relax here, right?", Ennea pondered.
"Bingo. Which is why you won't see me here much. I am way too young to be considered for such matters. Apart from us using this villa as our base for the next month that is~", Renne replied with a playful grin.
"You are indeed quite young. Too young, even. You're even a year younger than me, but you still jumped grades to be in my class, Renne. Two grades for that matter. You are a really smart cookie, you know that right? Your mental fortitude isn't something a little girl like you should have, considering you don't have a noble background.", Mussed doubted. Ever since she became resolute on joining this group, Musse was beginning to question Renne's intellect. It wasn't something a little girl like Renne should have. Renne was even younger than her!
Musse was different. She had standing and stature, she was born into a family and wealth who had high expectations, being a daughter of one of the Great Houses. She had to strive hard and study hard to live up to those expectations.
Musse's curiosity of Renne's disposition only grew more and more. Coupled with that, the girls who were with her too. They were similar in age, and she saw that Fie was maybe a year older than her at most. But she's already experienced the life of the battlefield, and as a Jaeger no less. It was definitely something extraordinary.
But Renne's position, Musse found different. She gave off a different feeling than the rest. Musse's eyes remained on Renne as she pondered that.
To Musse's surprise, Renne stayed silent. Instead, she turned her body around, and began to walk a few steps forward, parting ways from their group. After taking some steps forward, she paused.
"You know, Renne didn't always used to be this way.", Renne suddenly said. Hearing that, Ennea's eyes turned downcast.
"Renne...", Ennea uttered. Unlike the rest, she knew what had happened to Renne. Emma joined after, and Fie only had glimpses of what had occured back at Paradise during that joint operation as she fought alongside Naoto. Naoto's group had infiltrated from the inside while Zephyr attacked Paradise from outside.
Ennea tried not to recall such a scene, as it was quite gruesome, even to her. And Renne was at the crux of it all.
Musse felt the atmosphere turn weird, and frowned again.
"I didn't tread on something touchy, did I. If so I do apologize.", Musse apologized as she saw the girls' expressions change. Renne simply shook her head.
"It is of the past, and it no longer haunts Renne. I don't mind telling you, Musse. Besides, Emma here can just wipe your memory if you decide to leave this group after this excursion is over.", Renne replied.
"Fair enough.", Musse nodded, not refuting Renne's words.
"You really are going to tell Musse about it, Renne? You don't have to. Even Naoto doesn't like to tell the tale.", Ennea said with a hint of worry in her eyes.
"It's okay, Ennea. Renne can tell it.", Renne said, a look of determination appeared in her eyes.
"You are doubting as to where my intellect came from, right Musse? I meant what I said, Renne didn't always be like this. It is artificial. It wasn't naturally acquired.", Renne began.
"...Artificial?", Musse frowned. Her eyes raised, not expecting Renne to say that.
"Yes.", Renne nodded. Her back remained turned against the other girls. She began to tell her tale.
"Renne used to belong to a loving family. She loved her papa and mama very much. They would dote on Renne lots and lots!", Renne started.
"Papa wanted to start up his own business, you see. So he took Renne and mama to Crossbell. Papa was a good, earnest trader at heart.", Renne continued.
"The process went smoothly, and Papa started his business. Each passing day Renne played around and had lots of fun!", Renne continued.
"But one day, Papa got entangled with some bad men. Papa didn't tell Renne that papa's business wasn't doing well. Papa had to take out an unforgiving loan from the local mafia.", Renne explained.
"Loan sharks...", Musse uttered. A glint streaked across her eyes and she started to guess what would happen from here. But she kept those words to herself, and continued listening to Renne's story.
"It was too much money for Papa to bear paying off. With each day, Papa grew more worried that the mafia might come after Papa, so Papa made a decision. Papa urged Renne and Mama to leave Crossbell with Papa. And so the three of us did.", Renne continued.
"Papa mentioned he had a nice friend that Renne could hide away at while Mama looked after Papa. Papa took Renne to this certain place, urging Renne to stay with the uncle there. The nice uncle said he would look after Renne while Papa would go off trying to find a solution to Papa's problem. They left Renne there.", Renne continued.
"Even after a year had passed by, Papa and Mama never came to look for Renne. Not even once.", Renne said, causing Musse to shudder.
"Child abandonment...?", Musse uttered in shock. Even her eyes started to swell up a bit.
"Not quite. Renne trusted Papa and Mama would return. It's just, Papa ended up placing his trust in the wrong person. The nice uncle wasn't such a nice uncle. He burnt the house to a crisp, and sold Renne to men dressed in suspicious robes. By the time Papa and Mama tried to return, Renne was already long gone.", Renne continued.
"Renne struggled, but the suspicious-looking robed men were too powerful. They took Renne to a weird place. A place called Paradise. It had nasty old men wanting to do weird things to Renne.", Renne continued.
"Oh no...", Musse said. "Please don't say what I think you are referring to, Renne.", Musse frowned.
"It is as you think, Musse. Renne was sold and brought to a place called Paradise. It was a brothel that targeted particularly wealthy individuals. It was a place shrouded in secrecy, and had rather...special connections.", Ennea explained. She glanced her eyes from Renne to Musse.
"That's terrible. Child slavery in this era?", Musse complained. She didn't expect to hear such a tale from Renne.
"Unfortunately, yes. Are you familiar with the kidnapping incidents that struck western zemuria a few years back, Musse?", Ennea asked.
"How could I not be? That was a rather hot topic going about the nobles. It eventually reached my ears, even though I was still quite young.", Musse answered. Yet as she said that, she turned quiet for a brief moment. Her eyes turned wide. "You must be suggesting Renne was part of the kidnapping...", Musse uttered.
"She was. And it wasn't just her. I was too. And so was Naoto.", Ennea replied. Musse's shock remained in her eyes.
"Both you and His Highness were part of the kidnapping incidents!?", Musse exclaimed. "Now it's starting to become clear...", Musse uttered again.
"Renne was part of the testing, that is why Renne's intelligence is on an unnatural level. But you needn't worry about Renne, Musse. Big Brother swooped in and saved Renne before anything truly nasty was done to Renne!", Renne happily responded.
With her tale ending, a smile bloom on Renne's lips, prompting her to turn back around.
"Renne...Thank you for telling me this. It must've been painful for you.", Musse responded, also revealing a smile.
"Renne doesn't mind. It is a thing of the past. I see Big Brother as family now. He also introduced me to Big Brother Loewe and Big Brother Joshua!", Renne happily chirped back at Musse.
"Loewe and Joshua?", Musse asked, tilting her head in confusion.
"Oh you'll come to get to know those two in due time, Musse. The Bladelord is currently assisting Weissman in the Gospel Plan, and you met Joshua last night. He's that black-haired boy that was with Estelle.", Emma explained.
"I see. At the very least, that group aboard that gigantic airship seems to be rather...eccentric. They don't seem all that evil to me though?", Musse wondered.
"It's only because of the common person's lack of understanding of the world. I do thank you for listening to my tale Musse, hehe.", Renne giggled. Hearing that caused Musse to smile.
Musse took a few steps forward, approaching Renne. Renne became surprised, as Musse went in for a hug. But Renne accepted it.
It was a blissful moment shared between the two. A smile appeared on the rest of the girls' faces as they enjoyed a cold breeze of the wintry air that struck against their faces.