Megha feels as though someone snatched her beating heart only to place it into the nest of angry wasps. Also at the moment she weirdly felt a little grateful about the strange calming powers of Nithya. Which effectively helped in keeping her cool in front of the other two and the dangerous surging emotions in the check in a very timely manner.
' Don't get too agitated, little girl. The boy you needlessly worry about is perfectly fine. Focusing about doing his own business with dedication. He was far from getting into any kind trouble so cease your worries alright? ' the familiar voice of her sarcastic partner rang in her mind.
Megha didn't get jump scares by hearing this mysterious voice in her head anymore. After nearly a month of acquaintance and getting to know the annoying things; which wasn't walking in the park recalling the painful confrontations and some additional sufferings a few times, everything was fine with them.
But She finally got clear about one thing and accepted the fact that she was in for quite some hardship. The brief interactions leave her with unpleasant experience felt wasn't quite right in her head- *ahem* She has this connection to artifact spirit and moves on from this, no biggie.
Her taut nerves subconsciously relaxed a great deal after the simple assurance from Nithya. Even she was surprised by this Megha was half expecting herself to lose control from the surging panic just half minutes ago. So Megha couldn't help but ask ' Ni-Nithya j-just now... *gulp* Who are you talking about... the boy you are talking about is he-?'
' Who else could that be huh? Aren't you worried about that pretty red haired, a scrawny boy? Whom you have been showing unhealthy amounts of interest and secretly stalking for the past few years in your free time.... which was quite a lot considering how much of an idle person you are during this' came Nithya's merciless mocking voice.
Megha turned off the rest of the snide words, But contrary to the expecting shame and embarrassment washing over her. Instead the only noticeable change was the absence of a heavy sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.
Now she felt like a thousand pairs of tiny little ethereal butterflies trying their best to come out of her hollow stomach but asked Nithya something tinged with curiosity and a sense of vigilance about Nithyas' knowledge ' So you are saying...you know about Amara? How did you know about him once again I didn't remember ev....did you read my mind or something? ' she suddenly asked a little suspiciously.
Though Megha was acting like this, she was completely relieved from her previous worries hearing such an unexpected piece of news from Madhu. As she somehow believed Nithya in this anything else. let's call it her instinct or intuition she felt in her heart he wasn't in any danger.
In fact she could feel the sense of overflowing confidence from Nithya from their connection and could tell Nithya didn't say so because Nithya wanted to calm her down.
' Tsk, tsk...you are really something aren't you? You better take a look at your surroundings. Besides I believe it wouldn't be before your 'big sister' getting hysterics, rather than asking all these useless questions. I doubt you will like it if that's happened. I wonder...' Nithya's gloating words trailed off suggestively.
Rather than puzzling over her usual shenanigans the message did drag her out of her tiny little world to the current predicament. She completely forgot about her surroundings, withdrew into her own little bubble of assurance, and forgot that someone else might need her assistance.
Megha's curiosity got flickered by Nithya's information about Amara, secretly wondering what exactly he was up-to. When she turned to Vaani she threw most of her doubts about that punk to the back of her head.
Megha confusedly sized up at the pale and trembling form of Vaani. Trying to figure out what made her, Before she could brainstorm a fleeting thought came.... that it's possible Vaani also might have been worrying about Amara and started to get panicky from the sudden situation and lack of information.
That didn't dowse the small tinge of irritation or amusement in Megha's heart for witnessing such a scene in front of her. But Megha wasn't going to mulling over this complicated emotions as they all quickly got washed away by her genuine and overwhelming concern for Vaani, who she considered as someone important in her life
She also caught from the corner of her eyes her aunt's peculiar expression. Madhu had this calm and see-through type of gaze. As she looks at Vaani, as well as slight interest and concern. ' Damn... didn't Vaani mention something about this a while ago? About how her aunt had some suspicion of ... now that I remembers her aunt's also probed me that day about Vaani's love life '
'OH dear, what a fine mess this has become?' She thought to herself but she decided that first she would try to calm down Vaani then deal with her aunt's suspicions Megha worriedly sized up Vaani.
As if sensing Megha's gaze Vaani slowly turned to Megha like a rusty puppet with a horrified gaze. Megha could sympathize with the vulnerability in Vaani's but it also awoken a familiar possessive streak in her. Vaani's eyes had tears welled up in them, unable to see her in such a pitiful state she suppressed her jealousy to herself and hugged Vanni tightly.
"Shh! Don't worry big sister nothing going to happened to him? " she whispered in Vaani's ears " Trust me, I made sure he was safe and sound.... now, now! control yourself little more will you? Or aunt might get really suspicious of us...Can you please do this one thing for me? " her voice was very low and literally pleading.
Megha didn't want her aunt to find out about Amara or the love triangle between them. despite her deep trust in her aunt Megha couldn't afford to let out this secret. Madhu wasn't an evil or selfish person in general when it comes to Megha's life she became an unpredictable variable.
Of course all of this because currently Amara was literally considered as a trash servant disciple who might not even become an outer sect disciple in the next decade or two be it her talent and physique considered worse simply not to become a martial artist ever.
That seemed to do the trick as Vaani trembled visibly in her hug and went still. But Megha could immediately tell she was alright now, even relaxed to a certain extent; when they locked their eyes with one another Megha slightly nodded her head in assurance. Megha's expression was one of utter confidence and had this unquestionable faith and Vaani's eyes mellowed; she finally believed in Megha's word.
Megha had to stop herself from rolling her eyes in frustration because of Vaani's stupidity. When she saw how Vaani cast a subtle glance at Madhu and only to flinch in the next instant.
' You are so Dumb, idiotic and clumsy to be called my big sister, if you act like this ' Megha had to bite back and swallow the rush of verbal scolding, in the tip of her tongue. She couldn't even tsk fearing attention but frowned at the grimacing Vaani who just took in Megha's annoyed frown.
Megha patted Vaani with as much exaggerated comforting gesture she could put up " Big sister, don't get too emotional okay? I'm sure that little girl will be alright come back to our sect safely alright don't worry too much "
"Yes..." Vaani answered little too quickly Megha almost could feel her aunt's inquisitive glance in the back of her head but tried her best to stop Vaani from letting anything slip.
" Here let me help you " Megha took out her silk hanky and dabbed the tears and trails from Vaani's pale puffy cheeks. Who tried her best to not to look at Madhu or anyone at the moment.
But one look carefully they could notice There was an awe and sense of bewilderment prominent in Vaani's face for a couple of minutes when she looked at Megha.
Megha tried her best to salvage the situation from getting out of hand but one flustered Vaani was enough to ruin her plan. Vaani was too much of a thin skinned person to play this kind of game.
'A bad partner in the game....I hope she wouldn't mess up anything else ' Megha thought to herself.
" Ahem, sorry we didn't expect such big news, " Megha awkwardly said, when she noticed Madhu's Hawk-like eyes. She would be lying if Megha said she wasn't getting nervous with this kind of gaze.
"Hmm" her aunt only hummed looking non commenting with what happened right in front of her eyes. Megha had a foreboding feeling when she felt Vaani shifted near her looking kinda unrest.
There and then she realized if she didn't want **** things up she had to say something... anything to distract the calmness in the carriage even it was easily seen through " She became friends with this little girl servant disciple in the outer sect "
" Her name is Rathi or something. I couldn't remember her name, a cute little thing. I guess she must have grown up on big sister haha! " Megha turned to look at Vaani with wide eyes signaling her to act along appropriately. Megha wanted to really furiously bonk Vaani's thick head there and then for her slack jawed look.
" They kind of developed sister bonds during this time. I heard not a couple of weeks ago that girl went home with his father over some matter-" Megha tried to spin a fancy yet believable story on the stop.
" Is that so? How old was she again? " Madhu interrupted the pace with interest as she looked at Vaani.
" Maybe T-twelve ? " Vaani stuttered as she threw a glance at Megha.
" You are asking me now? " Madhu raised an eyebrow, " By the way, is that her correct age?"
Hearing her aunt's soft voice and pleasant smile remind Megha of her past dealing with her. Alarm bells rang in her mind and she quickly replied, interrupting whatever Vaani was about to say.
" No, she must be remembered it wrong aunt" Megha cautiously said to Madhu then turned to Vaani " Big sister that little girl should be ten or just turned eleven"
Madhu turned to look at the both of them with a gentle smile, " My oh My, Vaani must be really stressed to even not properly thinking what I asked her "
"Yeah, the girl was very lovel-" Megha answered awkwardly.
"Honey, I don't know, you had been interested in a servant disciple your big sister bonded with...This never happened before. I mean you kind of have this "don't bother with me" aura about you " Madhu teased, with a peculiar smile adorning her lips.
"I d-don't know what aunt is talking about" Megha lamely finished.
"Just joking dear" Madhu sent her amused smile, then turned to Vaani " Since when did you- I mean how did you meet up with this girl again? "
Vaani thoughtlessly, and casually turned to Megha like it was Megha, who was going to answer this question as well, not realizing Megha was put in her place.
" Oh it seems it was a little cloud introducing this dolly to you I assume?" Madhu asked with amusement creeping into her tone.
Megha stifled a groan and smilingly turned to Vaani, carefully angling her body so as not to let show her expression to Madhu " Big sister, why are you turning to look up at me. remember it's you who introduced that girl to me " while her voice seems confused and sweet, her eyes burning with annoyance and frustration.
"Big Sister, are you feeling tired or something, here sleep in my lap, I'll wake you up when we reached the garden " with that she little forcefully put Vaani's head on her lap half heartedly commenting to Madhu " She must be tired, big sister told me this morning she was little under the weather "
Megha's eyes flash as she tries to recall anything about the attacks in her past life but come out as empty. Megha was back then simply careless and dumb never caring about outside news or sect internal, external affairs.
She wasn't so sure if such a thing had happened before or not, so she decided to go out for a mission regardless of what everyone says. It was important because just that punk is safe for now doesn't mean he will be safe in the days to come.
He was supposed to come back around a week and a few days later, she couldn't care less. He was currently even weaker than non practitioners. ' I can't afford to be a careless idiot in this situation ' she thought there was a determined gleam settled in her eyes.
Madhu secretly shook her head at her niece's show but had an impassive expression full time. She could already tell what this all about and guessed her niece didn't want to bring that up in time like this.
' I was always kind of worried, this brat might grow up either eccentric like her mother or stubborn like her father. I'm glad neither is the case, it could be said my efforts in bringing her up weren't in vain. She was a sensible girl. ' Madhu smiled to herself as she thought of something.
Anyway Madhu didn't care, she could tell Vaani just started developing feelings though it would be hard if she learned something happened to that boy but this was barely a crush Madhu was sure Vaani will be fine in some time.
She even felt this was a good thing this way, Madhu asked around and learned about this boy. He was probably the least talented disciple in the entire sect for the last hundred years. If they got together he would drag Vaani down.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the question from her beloved niece, " So, what is this all about and how does this affect me from taking some missions again?" Megha's insolent question must have greatly irked Madhu.
" You still dare to talk about this again?" Madhu's eyes flared in obvious anger and reached out for a heavy pinch this time Megha's thigh.
There was a squeal from Megha as she tried her best to get away from the unforgivable hands of Madhu.
___ ___ ___ ___
Mission Hall,
" Thank you for your understanding Elder Bathra " Thruva thanked the hunched hooded figure in the deep chamber of Mission hall.
" It's what, I should do No need for anything else " a gruff voice came as if it was muffled by something. It's also hard to distinguish whether it was male or female.
" I'm still indebted to the elder's understanding " Thruva still insisted, he looked relieved and grateful.
" I already said this is what I should do, even if I have to do this as a favor I should be doing this for your father or granduncle not for you brat. If this is all then get going don't bother me " gruff voice sounded a little annoyed.
Thruva froze for a second then looking awkward and flustered, " Then I'll be leaving, Take care elder Bathra " he walked away in hurry.
" Though, you have to understand there were already issued missions out there. Be sure she didn't take one of them " Thruva paused and nodded to the person before leaving the chamber.
In longevity sect Generally missions have to be issued from the mission hall, it retains the right to nearly take back all the missions it's ever issued with a single exception called Death Missions.
It was missions only allowed to take core disciples or seeded disciples, maybe very few selective loyal inner disciples. Due to the mission nature this mission can't be canceled out or taken back by mission hall needed collective votes of inner court elders plus sect master.
In emergency cases, said disciple doesn't even have to inform the sect after their mission finishes they can submit the result in front of inner court elders.
As its name suggests it was extremely risky and had a high casualty rate comparable to dangerous missions in the hall which were considered hard for even some newly joined elders.
Thruva doesn't believe his naive daughter even knows about such an inconspicuous thing, why should he be concerned about such a thing he inwardly shook his head. ' She was like her mother quite stubborn and unpredictable' he smiled ' I just have to make her see how unreasonable she was '