Preparations (Part 3)
"Hmm… Your cousin looks to be delicate. Isn't it the second time she's knocked out like this?" Mariah commented as she stared at the sleeping Tabitha.
I sighed. "She's just prone to danger. I doubt you'll say she's delicate once you've seen the type of magic she can produce."
"Oh really? Then she was chosen to work under Lady Lilith because of that?" She commented. I nodded, "Guess that's why Polisha was glaring as she trained."
I laughed and combed through my hair in slight frustration.
'It's beyond any doubt that Polly would nitpick on Taby from now on. My poor dear cousin.'
"She was grumbling near the dormitory." Mariah who rarely changes expressions than Lilith smirked slightly.
I observed the 15-year old girl who suddenly visited Taby's private room. Her usually neat hair was tangled in some parts, making me sigh deeply.
Removing my hair tie at that moment and walked closer. "You shouldn't mess up your hair." I said as I tied her hair, she just let me "There…"
She frowned at me. "That's cheating, my hair's not long enough to tie it."
I teasingly stuck out my tongue at her, "Disguise Magic is my specialty. I used it to grow your hair a bit so I could tie it properly."
"Anyway since you're so comfortable with your disguise magic 24/7, have you actually showed her your real appearance?"
Now that I think about it, I haven't. "She's only seen my feminine look so far. Should I change back now?"
Mariah ignored me while sighing and checked herself in the mirror.
"That's odd. You don't usually care about how you look, are you dating someone?" I asked teasingly.
"Shut up" She growled at me before returning to her composed nature.
Hmmmm… Is she actually dating someone?
"Are you really? You're still 15, you know."
"You started dating at 15 too, remember?" She averted her gaze and just continued to exhale. Mariah walked closer to Taby's bed.
"Besides replenishing faster than the average mage, she looks talented. Didn't she manage to obliterate one mana bomb and defend against the other one?" She looked back at me, her soft blue eyes were glowing.
"Yeah. The server also informed us that she seemed to have been chasing the criminals behind it." I added.
The room door cracked open, "Yoohoo. I'm here to check my patient." Lady Ingrid smiled at me and fixed her glasses. "It's been a while, Khiel. You too, sis."
She pat my head and Mariah's before moving closer to Taby's bed.
"I thought sister was outside the continent." Mariah stared at her sister from the back.
Lady Ingrid brushed her blue hair to the side, still focusing on observing Tabitha. "I just got back yesterday to check on my professors when an heiress happened to be caught up in an accident. Of course, I didn't know her but I took on her case to know."
"Thank you for that…" I mumbled.
******
It didn't take long for Lady Tabitha to wake up and explain her side to MTA, leaving brother Khiel in the hallways.
He was slouched down as he sat there all alone so I sat beside him.
"Get a grip, will you?" I carefully placed a light smack on his shoulder and observed him.
He buried his face in his hands and exhaled deeply. Brother Khiel's usually styled hair was offhandedly staying down and tangling together.
"Why does danger follow my family…?"
I couldn't react properly. Not because of how I don't express my emotions much but also due to the fact that I understood the sorrow behind those words.
It had already been five years since the accident.
My hands moved without realizing it, untied his hair tie from my hair which returned my hair back to its proper length and tied his own hair silently.
Hmmm.. I'm bad at this.
I wanted to create a long braid for him but it didn't end up that way.
"… This would be easier to tie if it was shorter…" I defended myself in my head.
He stopped slouching and laughed at that.
Good, he seems okay now.
I wanted to smile for that but it was my turn to act like normal. Don't show what you feel, Mariah.
He turned back to me while placing his cheek on his palm and staring back, "How short do you want it? Do you really want to braid it?"
I frowned. "I'm not a kid. I was just trying to cheer you up?"
Brother Khiel laughed again "You're really bad at it," he sighed and stood up "Well I should look like my real self for once, don't I?"
His long rose-gold hair and all over him glowed cyan.
In just a short amount of time, his hair became much shorter, only reaching his shoulder blade. He also became taller and broader, looking sturdier than before.
His facial features turned sharp and he had a manly face over all, rather than his feminine one.
"Wow. It's been really long, huh." He muttered to himself.
I couldn't help but smile, though I hid it by lowering my head. "It's been five years, Khiel." I exhaled those words.
Brother Khiel's parents wanted a daughter too before the incident. But they found out that his mother couldn't handle bearing another child due to her ill-health.
That was why brother Khiel had dressed up like a boy and girl simultaneously when he was younger. He dressed as a girl with his mother and acted like a boy and proper heir to his father.
Of course his father understood the situation so he just let him be but…
The joy from earlier had already passed inside me.
"Khiel, do you really like dressing up?"
I knew talking about his parents were a taboo thing for me but I couldn't help myself but be concerned.
He didn't look back at me but I could feel his aura faltering, "Yes."
"Really?"
"To be honest, Mara, I like dressing up." He turned to me with a handsome smile. I sighed. "And the people who aren't close to me can just simply regard it as my memento from my parents…"
My frown deepened, "Really, huh?" I stood up and walked away.
Damn you, brother Khiel. I was just concerned and then I hear words like I'm not really close to you.
I may not show my expressions properly but I actually care about you, you big idiot. I sighed and stopped.
"I'm just kidding, Mariah!" He laughed as he placed a hand on my head before pulling me back next to him. "If you thought about my feminine side as like that, then it's my job to tell you that it's not."
Khiel smiled at me. I sighed internally.
Just as much as I could guess his thoughts, he too can read me like that. I wonder how I got close to this guy who's only three years older than me.
"Well, you don't really have to explain to me."
"I thought so too."
Just at that, I realized that his other hand clung unto mine. What the. "If you're done with that, I'll get going then."
"Where are you going..?" He tilted his head down to the level of my face. God, I want to punch him. Control your nerves, Mariah.
I sneakily tried to take my hand back but he wasn't budging. My mouth moved on its own, "My friend, Louille, he's taking me out to dinner before dropping me off at the dorms."
It was a tiny movement. His brow twitched, ever-so-slightly but it caught my eye. "Have I met this Louille?" I shook my head.
"He was a new student last year, came from the free city Fjor."
"How old is he? Handsome? Tall?" Now he was bombarding me with questions.
"Mara!" I heard Louille's voice down the hall call out to me.
When we turned our heads, we saw a red-faced Louille with his brown locks moving about as he walked over.
Khiel took his hand back. He offered it to my friend. "You must be Louille?" he smiled sweetly, but his eyes held an ominous and calculating glint.
Louille gave me a side glance before shaking Khiel's hand, smiling brightly "Ah yes! I didn't know you were acquainted with Lord Rakhiel, Mara."
"…Mara…" I heard Khiel's low voice whisper in the ear, barely reaching me. He turned to me, "You don't talk about me with your friends?"
"There's really not much to talk about…?" I defended.
Louille had let go of Khiel's hand already. "We'll get going then, Brother Khiel. You should eat dinner too. Send my regards to Lady Tabitha." Louille and I bowed our heads to him as a goodbye before turning away.
"See you at the academy." He replied almost in a whisper.
As soon as the night air washed my emotions away, Louille moved closer and laughed. "Oh my god! He wasn't using lie detection, wasn't he?"
"…no. why?"
"Good. Because I lied at some parts." He stood up properly, "How could I openly tell the handsome young master that you think of him so dearly?" At that, my fist had already reached him.
"Ouch! Ugh… You're so brutal… sniff. I hope this doesn't scar, my boyfriend's waiting for me at dinner." Louille sobbed on the ground and I left him there.
How annoying. I don't talk about anyone that much.
The moon glistened right above the hospital, as if mocking me for being so emotional.
Let's try to get over these trivial matters first.
"Louille." I called out when he walked back over. "Contact the MTA, I'm joining the investigation."
****
"Can you explain in detail what happened to you?"
Ugh. Right after I woke up, my doctor had started pestering me about my fast regeneration abilities and what actually happened.
Now that I think of it, her blue hair reminds me of the Zarosa family. Although I can't really tell if it's true since there are hair dyes existing in this timeline too.
I remember the time when Regan confessed how he didn't really like his hair color and wanted it black so I had to secretly smuggle a black dye before it could be confiscated by father or mother.
"Lady Tabitha?" The doctor smiled at me and fixed her glasses once again. "I didn't mind my manners, you must still be tired or traumatized about what happened."
"Ah no. I was just trying to remember the details about it. Can you ask detailed questions instead?"
The lady nodded her head.
"Before passing out, you mentioned that the people who attacked you were 'Ribbon'?"
"Yes, that's right."
She observed me, the thick glasses couldn't hide the icy look she gave me at all. And the mana that was thinly leaking out of her was evident to my trained eyes.
My doctor was using a high-level of lie detection magic, something that was also new to me.
"Are you really an Obiel?"
"What..?" That was out of the blue. This person seems to be a member of MTA or someone of high-rank to be able to question me this simply. She remained quiet after that question and I sighed before answering "Yes".
The doctor sat still. It was annoying that her think bangs and glasses covered the upper portion of her face, I couldn't read her expressions.
"Hmmm. How do you know they were members of Ribbon?"
"They mentioned it." Although that Kiki child only said it right after I asked but it doesn't matter. It was still the truth in this world.
"Were there any other details from your brief encounter?"
"Actually after receiving the mana bomb gift I saw two cloaked men watching me from an alley so I followed them."
"When they noticed me and ran away, I immediately realized that they were the perpetrators. Unfortunately even though I've cornered them, this girl with incredible dagger skills blocked me and then another man came out from that."
"Did they mention names or codes?"
"They briefly mentioned something about reporting to a 'First', and the man which was called Zav was also called Second. The girl was Kiki as I've heard."
The doctor's mana relaxed after that. Guess I passed her personal test.
"I see." She smiled at me and walked closer. "By the way, it seems to be of late introduction but it is nice to meet you. I am Ingrid Zarosa." And she offered her hand to me.
I lowered my head and shook her hand, "I've heard you were attending an experiment outside the continent. I am pleased to meet you like, however such an unfortunate thing in this manner."
Her heavily parted blue hair on the right swayed forward as she removed her thick glasses, revealing sharp and strict yet beautiful eyes.
"Yes, it is quite unfortunate. I'm not really a doctor too but I handle cases like these from time to time. I am more of a researcher or scientist…"
Lady Ingrid sat back down.
"The Zarosa family is quite blessed with both brains and beauty." I smiled in which she shared with me.
"Hohoho~ You really are cousins with Khiel. It's refreshing and healthy though, that child had long been lonely." Sorrow flickered on her blue irises.
"For sure, this wouldn't have happened if Soleil was here." She grumbled bitterly.
"Excuse me? Who's Soleil?"
She stared at me before putting her glasses back on and smiled. "You should ask about her to Lili. It's not my place to talk but keep it a secret that you heard her from me."
"Anyway, you seem fine already thus, it will be okay to choose to go home. If you're much comfortable here then that's fine too."
"I am thankful for your help in this case. Although if I may ask…"
"Yes?"
"Can you… contact Rakhiel about this? I'm yet to be familiar with how the MCD works."
Truthfully, the Mana Communication Device had never become a part of my daily living here since the only people I was close to are Khiel and Lady Lilith.
I never use it since I'm usually pacing from my master's residence or office everyday with Khiel in tow.
"Oh right. He's here already. I pushed him out the door just before you woke up. I'll call him for you." Lady Ingrid stood up and left the room.
It didn't take long for a handsome man to come inside the room. He was built with lean muscles but the sharpness of his features were sturdier than those with large bodies.
The air around him was enchanting, sort of screaming 'I am a handsome lad' or something like that. His rose-gold hair was long but not very much. It was parted to the side and the addition of his snobbish expression made him look like quite boyish but manly.
Wait… rose-gold hair?
As if he could read all of the compliments running through my mind, the guy smirked at me and crossed his arms. "Stop staring at me like Taby. I know I'm quite handsome."
"What the hell?! Khiel?! Is that you?" The smug look on his face confirmed my suspicions.
"Oh dear cousin," He walked over and patted my head. "I've already told you that I know I'm very handsome so no need to be shy."
Ah. I want to punch this cousin of mine.
Then he leaned over the wall as if posing for a picture, his head was held high "Look! Revel in my handsomeness Hahahahaha!"
He continued laughing just like that as we got into our family carriage. This dude, really. Sigh.
"Oh! By the way, what happened today? The MTA was dealing with the aftereffects of the bombing so I couldn't ask freely. And Sis Ingrid was stingy with information." He rested his head on his seat, looking all serious even after all that laughing.
"I was attacked by an organization called Ribbon. Do you know them…? Khiel?" As soon as I mentioned them, Khiel went rigid.
An unexplained anger was visible on his face, but it wasn't directed at me, that's for sure. "Rakhiel?" I called out to him once again.
His usually sweet green eyes got darker. When Khiel reacted to my worried call he averted his eyes, "Sorry. Let's talk tomorrow, I don't feel well right now."
Just as he said that, the knights had motioned our arrival.
Khiel quickly got out of the carriage and inside the mansion without waiting for me.
Did I make a mistake? Should I… Should I even try to dig deeper into this?
My concern was understandable however I am afraid that if I probe into this, the wall that I needed to put up from being overly close with them might crumble completely.
I couldn't sleep that night.
****
"Lady Louvrata, please inform Master that I am back." She smiled at me, black hair swayed from left to right as she giddily walked closer.
"Good good. Remove that filthy server clothing before you report to the First." She folded her fan and brushed her dark blue dress as if I had shared some dirt on her.
I ignored that and did as I was told. When I left my room, Lady Louvrata Cromwell was waiting for me.
"Yes? Do you need something?" I frowned at her.
She pouted in her unusual way. Sometimes that behavior irritated me but right now it was dangerous.
Interest.
That pout wasn't for teasing. It was to showcase interest in the information I have.
Her red eyes was brighter than usual and I figured I was right at my conclusion. I unconsciously gulped. "You're really quite cold to me, Cauis. Why don't you serve the First with a proper butler uniform? I think it would suit you."
I wanted to laugh and mock her but even if I despise every Cromwell members, Master won't tolerate if I openly show my disgust. As she is too, a Cromwell.
In these times, it was better to be blunt about handling this lady. Out of everyone, she was definitely the most eccentric and dangerous one.
"What do you want?" My hardened voice sounded pathetic even to me.
She recognized my instinctive fear of her and smiled. Her bright red eyes mocking me. "Oh my… You know how to read me well."
What sarcasm. It was the opposite. I just dealt with her the way she knows how I would, without any dispense.
"How was the girl? I heard you stayed with her until she reached the hospital. What a caring server of the café you are…" her tongue was venom and her words were poison.
Ignore it. "The girl was exhausted, she couldn't get up after dealing with two members of Ribbon."
She opened her fan with a snap and fanned herself, "Hmmm… She did handle the quirky fifth and backed up by the Second. How about her skills? You're the family's personal appraisal magician, so you have sharp eyes for this."
"She was skilled. The first mana bomb was turned to dust under a minute or so. The second one was more complex thus I could understand her choice to flee instead of deteriorating it." I answered honestly.
"By the way you talk it seems that she is a formidable opponent." Lady Louvrata smiled. The dark hallway was glowing due to the bright moon and enveloped her completely, only her being was darker than everything in here.
"Yes. That's how I appraised her."
"So you mean to tell me…" She walked closer, eyes becoming much darker and her lips grinning "You left an exhausted powerful enemy to recover?"
I flinched visibly. "My apologies. The MTA were surrounding the area."
She laughed and closed her fan again. "You can meet Jermaine now, I've already informed her of your return." Lady Louvrata turned her back to me.
"At least now you can think of more excuses as you walk down the hall, right? I was a help this time. I hope you don't get punished too much." And she left.
My body instinctively lowered on its own as my mind drifted to the recent conversation and Master Jermaine's reaction.
As I walk down the halls, silent wistful wish to live sprouted in my unused heart.