Vistuler and Elixia giggles as they climbed down the stairs. Feeling fulfiled as they have thought of a fantastic plan to send that lady out of this house and out of their father's life. They got paused in their tracks when they saw Miss Gruticent run out of the dinning hall and head for the exist door. The girls ran into the hall. They were met with their father standing and his back facing them.
They intertwined their fingers as the atmosphere felt tense. Giving each other one more stare. They walked to him. Elixia went to his right and Vistuler his left, where he faced.
She looked at her father so innocently. Then he turned to look at Elixia. Elixia gave off her innocent smile. He turned back to face Vistuler. Then he made his eyes travel to their intertwined fingers and they both yanked their hands off. And looked in different ways.
Johnbones knew they were up to something but he couldn't fathom what they were up to. He sat to finish up his food. And the girls dipped their forks in his plate. And ate almost all the content. The last bite in the plate caused serious trouble.
"Hey, you should leave that for me". Vistuler pointed. "And why would I do that?". Elixia asked. "Cause I'm older than you are with two years. It isn't a small gap. The older one should always take the bigger potion". "You are older, yes. But at least act like one for once". Elixia spoke.
"What?!".
Vistuler asked loudly attracting all the maids and servants attention.
"A scence just ended and another is about to start".One of the maids said. "Looks like Captain William Johnbones woke up on the wrong side of the bed". A servant added
"Yeah. I mean you should prove you are more older than I am by leaving that potion on father's plate for me". They had stood to have this conversation behind their father. "Girls you both can share this" Their father said but they both ignored him. They both smiled at each other and when they saw their father turning to face them on his seat. They frowned deeper.
"Girls". "Father don't try to pasuade me". Vistuler said and crossed her arms on her chest. "Me too". Elixia said and pouted like a child that she is. She also crossed her arms on her chest and faced the other side.
"I wasn't planning on doing that". He said as he got up. Their attention directed on him and he picked up the potion of meat they fought for and threw it into his mouth.
They both gasped. "What do you both want?". He turned his chair to face them and sat. "We don't want anything". They twisted their neck to the other side as they chorused.
"Hey, father's here. If you are feeling disturbed you can always run to him". He spoke as he opened wide his arms. And they shyly walked to give him an embrace. "It's being so long since I last received this kind of hug". He complimented. " You gave miss Gruticent the chance to steal the time we would have used to give you hugs like this". Vistuler spoke. Elixia pulled out of the hug and that automatically stopped the hug. Her face seemed curious.
"Elixia is anything wrong?". He asked. Vistuler wondered why she would have stopped the hug. "Is miss Gruticent okay?". "Ha. Of, of course. She just won't be coming here anymore". He laughed nervously as he started his sentence.
"She ran out crying. Is everything okay?". Vistuler asked. "Yes". He said then clears his throat. "Um, we just broke our intimate relationship".
He could feel some kind of pain in his heart. He couldn't understand why such pain came back. The only time he felt such pain was when Vistuler's mother died. Why did he feel such upon remembering Gruticent. After all, they were just acquaintances. How could he feel like this. Was he in love with her? No that can't be possible. He shook his head at this profusely. Trying not to believe. His thoughts were just playing tricks on him.
The girls looked at their father with pity. And ran to hug him again. He jerked back to the present with this action of the girls. "It's okay father". Vistuler patted as she spoke. "Even if we wanted her out of this house and your life. We have to bring her in and welcome her wholeheartedly as our new mother". Elixia patted also as she spoke.
Johnbones pulled out of the hug and looked at his girls faces. "Why would you both do that?". Johnbones questioned. "Cause you're in love with her". Vistuler spoke. "Madly in love with her". Elixia said and he laughed at her word. "What do you know about love Elixia?". "As much as it means for a man and a lady to decide to live together, have children and train them together. Wouldn't that be called love?". Johnbones facial expression was that of confusion first of all and then surprise to Elixia's wors. This child kept surprising him in different areas.
"I'm not in love with Lady Miss Gruticent. All I care about now is my daughters' happiness. I want to spend my time with you girls before I head back to the sea". The girls smiled sincerely.
"Father let's have a chat together under the moonlight. The three of us". "Of course Elixia, but first your training is in a moment from now. So hurry and go get dressed". "Okay". She answered giggling.
Vistuler just watched Elixia run up the stairs but what was the essence when she wasn't going to watch her.
"Why are you still here Vistuler?". He brought her back to the present with his question. "Huh. What do you mean father?". She asked not understanding his question. Johnbones walked closer to her and squatted. "Don't you want to watch Elixia fight?". Her smile soon broadened as she shows off her excitement. She ran after Elixia.
*********
The battle had already began between the two. Johnbones and Elixia. Johnbones was to defend and Elixia was given the liberty to attack. As she was still little.
They both went three sixty decree, before Elixia launched her attack. "Ahhhhhh". She shouted as she was about to launch her first attack. It was met with Johnbones sword. Causing the clashing of sword. "I was trying to be easy on you father". Elixia said as she kept her hold on the sword. "Do really think so?". He said and threw her sword to the ground.
Vistuler watched from a distance. Upon seeing this she stands.
Elixia glanced at her sword but she couldn't make any move as Johnbones' sword was on her chin. She threw him one of her smile to alert him of her new attack. She placed her hand behind her back pocket . And brought out a pocket knife. Opening it in the most quiet way as possible. Her smile remained.
"Elixia what are you planning on displaying". Johnbones asked curiously. "You will soon find out". After completing that statement, the hit off his sword to the sword with her pocket knife. And immediately, she slid and pick her sword. Then pointed his to his neck. "A pocket knife seriously, Elixia?". "Yeah, but your sword broke it". "Your strength on weapons are tight".
"Father your growth is rapidly taking your strength and agility. Are you sure you aren't going to give up now?". "Not yet". He turned and hit Elixia with his elbow. She fell to the ground but she was fast to get up to her feet.
And they continued clashing swords. This time, with a faster motion. Elixia tried her best in keeping up but her father was just to fast. Then he cut her close to her shoulder and on her cheek. Elixia winced and moved backwards fast. Then stops to look at her arm and her touched her cheek. She looked at the finger which she used to touch her cheek , and found blood on it.
This time she threw him a smirk. And rushed to him. Moving in her speed but using her little size to an advantage. She was able to get close to him. And she hit him with the edge of her sword on his belle. His face fell a little and she hit his nose with the edge of her sword also.
Johnbones fell to the ground and lost hold of his sword. Elixia ceased his sword and pointed the two at him as he sat. Vistuler clapped from a distance and blew Elixia a kiss. "Now that's my sister. I thought you'd go easy on him?". She shouted from where she was.
"I was going easy on him, till he forced me not to". Elixia shouted back. She went to dropped the swords and came back too help her father up. "Elixia you made me bleed through my nose and mouth". "I didn't want to do it, but I couldn't be the only one living this yard with injure". Elixia told her father.
"It is good. At least I was the first to have a cut from your sword". "And you were the first to give me a cut with a sword". They both laughed and they went.
******
"You are the one who had asked to have a discussion with father under the moonlight. Just don't move okay?". Vistuler tries passuading her. "How won't I move when it hurts?". "Okay let me just apply little more okay?". "Okay". Elixia agreed. As the cotton wool touched her cheek she flew off her seat.
"We shouldn't keep father waiting". She said and ran out. Vistuler dropped the wool and followed her.
"You told the maid to go and that I would apply it on you. And now you're running off". Vistuler shouted as she ran after Elixia.
"I'm not, trust me. I don't want to waste anymore of father's time.
*****
Johnbones looked up at the moon and memories started to flood in. Till his daughters intrusion.
"What took you both this long?". He asked as he is seated on a spread blanket. "Take a look at Elixia's face and arm. She didn't give me this chance to clean it properly". Vistuler spoke out of frustration. "Why Elixia?". Johnbones asked as he turned to face her.
"It was causing more pain". She said nonchalantly and went to sit at his right side. Then Vistuler sat at the other end.
"Now about our discussion. You must have said something to Lady Miss Gruticent for her to run crying. What is it?".Elixia opened the atmosphere for discussion. "That's not necessary". "It is". Vistuler spoke at the other end. "Speak father". "Why?". "Cause we've decided to be considerate