With Alfred's aid, I toured the entire castle. The Knight's quarters, the main hall, the wine cellar; I couldn't do much about that one, right now I loon underage, let's wait for a few more years. The armoury: These were all interesting places, seeing the knights' spar was one thing that amazed me the most.
This is something you would probably not be expecting, Judo, karate, taekwondo, boxing, kick-boxing, Japanese and Brazilian jiu jutsu, krav maga, jieitaikakutojutsu. I might not have a black belt in all but I'm quite experienced. Unexpected? I had a passion for martial art and started training, I even served in the military because I wanted to learn the kind of martial art they taught there, after leaving was when I ended up a civil servant.
The thing is, I am not a sword or knife person. We'll talk about that later because right now, this Knight won't just take his eyes off me and something tells me he's going to call me.
"You must be the new young master?" He said as he proudly walked closer to me.
Not much had to be said, the tone in his voice, the way he walked, I could tell he's a proud one that thinks he owns the place, he probably is favoured by the Duke or should I say, my father. Hehehe.
"You seem to be interested in Swordsmanship do you want to learn?"
"Nope, it's fine. I don't like Swordsmanship..." '...it's lame..."
His countenance suddenly changed, he looked upon me with disgust in his eyes, "I get that you don't like it but the tone of your voice seems to insult Swordsmanship itself."
Ops, looks like I gave myself away, "What do you mean? I don't even understand. I don't know Swordsmanship, why and how will I insult it?" I replied to him gently with a little giggle.
"You are the young Lord of this duchy, isn't it important that you learn how to wield a sword."
I don't need to wield a sword. I didn't say it but my gaze was sending those messages to him. Only a dumb one wouldn't get it.
"That's enough Sir Denethor." Alfred interfered. Oh and Alfred is the old man that came into my room earlier today. The one with the moustache and monocle.
The Knight gently bowed towards me and walked back to where his other Knight was
"If you will young Lord. Let's go..."
Alfred, he's so nice and polite, but he's not going to fool me. I saw that sharp gaze he gave the Knight.
Even though the Knight's eyes as he left told me he wasn't just going to stop.
"How is our new lord, does he want to learn from you?" Another grey-haired Knight asked.
"He doesn't want to learn at all."
His reply took not just the person he responded to by surprise but all of them.
"You could easily blow him away with a sigh if only you'd just get a hold of your powers"
'Hey, little fairy, what the hell do you keep going on about since earlier?'
"Don't call me a fairy, don't you dare address me like I'm some sort of human mosquito"
'Heye looks like someone is mad. But you have the size of a fairy. Besides, you don't have a name"
"That is because you --you aren't even taking any chance to harness your power. And as for a name, I am called the ring of stasis."
'Is that even a name, doesn't that imply balance.'
"Goshujin sama, Baka!"
'I might not know Japanese quite well, but I know you just called me a fool'
She folded her arms, put on a huffy face threw it away from me as she floated beside me who was gently walking behind Alfred.
'How about we just call you Anastasia, since it's very close to stasis.'
"I love it."
I successfully brought back her cheery face.
'So what do you want me to do?'
"We need to be alone."
'That's unexpected but okay.'
"Alfred,"
"Yes, young Lord"
"Can I go to my room? I think I'm tired from all the walking."
"Of course young Lord. I will escort you to your room."
"Thank you." Both of us silently walked beside each other till I reach my room.
The first thing I did was pull off the suit and the white inner shirt. My chest was so skinny but it's fine, I'm still growing.
I walked closer to the window, one could see almost half of the town from the window.
"So what did you say you want to talk about? what powers?" I asked her, opened my mouth as you thought, I opened my mouth.
"Goshujin sama, you are bound with me, the ring of stasis."
"Yea, I got that part well."
"I have seven sisters; Pride, Wrath, Envy, Sloth, Greed, Gluttony and Lust. I am the only one that can keep them in control."
"Chill, Anastasia chill. the ring of pride, the ring of wrath, the ring of sloth?"
"Yes."
"So I don't understand, it's a good thing you have sisters. Isn't it?"
"Shut up Goshujin sama!"
Her yell was so embarrassing I wondered how she still managed to call me Goshujin sama even when putting me in place.
"You are not letting me even talk"
"My bad, my bad. Do your talk."
"My sisters are bad, as you might have guessed or else you are dumb, they are named after the seven deadly sins of humanity. And just as it suggests each one of them is a manifestation of those sins at their peak. Which is what brought about my birth. I'm the ring of stasis the one that is supposed to keep them in check."
"..."
I was yearning to say something. That I had to gently raise my hand for permission.
"Talk..."
"That's not how it's supposed to be. There is also the seven virtues, I think those are what are meant to keep the seven deadly sin in check."
"You are wrong. Those darn manhood are just another side as my sisters are one side. Good is not the balance of bad, it is just the bright side of it. Light is not the balance of darkness, it is just the bright side of it, the true balance is that thin line that differentiates good from bad which is neither good nor bad, that unnoticeable moment of the transition of darkness to light which is neither dark no light, that is me: STASIS. For all twelve of them, I am their balance.