The sun rose over the horizon, its warm light spilling into Eon's room through large windows. He blinked his eyes open slowly, still feeling unsettled from the remnants of his nightmare that lingered at the edges of his mind.
Eon rose from bed and began getting ready for the day. He started putting on the clothes that was laid out for him. As he was getting dressed his thoughts turned to his grandfather, why has he never met before, and why was his dad, a factory worker if he come from money.
As Eon finished getting dressed, questions still swirled in his mind about his family's past. He knew seeking answers wouldn't be easy, but remaining in the dark did not sit well with him either.
"Knock"
"Knock"
Eon hear's someone knocking at the door, he immediately went to open and was greeted by a young made that looked around his age.
"Good morning young master, i hop you had a good night's rest" she says emotionless
Eon nodded at the maid politely. "Good morning.
Yes, I slept as well as could be expected, given the circumstances." He hoped his response didn't sound too rude, but found the maid's cold demeanor unsettling.
Clearing his throat, Eon asked gently, "Please, call me Eon. What can I do for you?"
"Very well, Eon," the maid replied matter-of-factly. "Master Samuel has requested your presence for breakfast. If you'll follow me."
She turned without waiting for a reply and strode briskly down the hall. Eon hurried to catch up, his mind still buzzing with questions. The maid's aloof behavior only deepened his unease within this imposing estate.
As they ventured downstairs, following the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Eon found his grandfather in the dining room, reading some documents while enjoying a morning meal.
"Good morning, grandfather," Eon greeted respectfully.
Samuel looked up with a gentle smile. "Good morning, Eon. I hope you slept well and are settling in comfortably."
Eon took a seat. "As well as can be expected, given the circumstances." He paused, searching for the right words. "Grandfather, if I may ask...there are some things I don't fully understand about my family's. Things my father never spoke much about."
Samuel regarded Eon with keen interest over the rim of his coffee cup. He had anticipated this conversation would come.
"I see. What is it you wish to know?"
Eon took a breath. "Why have we never met before? And why did my father live so modestly, if we come from...all this?" He gestured at the opulence around them.
Samuel set his cup down slowly. His expression was unreadable as he began, "It is a long story, Eon. One with many layers you are perhaps not ready to fully comprehend yet. But I will tell you everything when the time is right.
" if you think so grandfather" Eon was a little, angry for being kept in the dark, however the moment he saw the delicious food that was laid out on the table, his anger quickly vanished.
The silence stretched on as Eon and Samuel finished their breakfast. Eon cleared his throat, eyes darting around for a neutral topic.
"So, um, what kinds of activities do you enjoy around here?" he asked Samuel.
"Hmm? Oh, we have a large library, you may find interesting," Samuel replied. "The grounds are also quite lovely when the weather is fair, many scenic walking paths."
"Right, that sounds nice." Another pause. Eon tapped his fingers nervously. "Do you, uh, have any hobbies yourself?"
"In my younger days I enjoyed horseback riding. These old bones aren't quite up for it now." Samuel chuckled. "I spend my time managing the estate mostly."
"I see." Eon smiled politely, though he felt awkward prying into this stranger's personal life. He barely knew his own grandfather, after a lifetime apart.
Thankfully the maid arrived then with a question about their empty dishes, drawing the attention away. Eon breathed a sigh of relief for the interrupted lull. Small talk didn't come easily, but he was trying. At least Samuel seemed kind, if a bit formal and hard to read.
"Thank you for the meal, grandfather," Eon said as they finished. "It was lovely."
"You're welcome, Eon. I hope you'll continue to make yourself at home here."
Silence fell again. Eon glanced around restlessly, tapping his fingers. Finally he asked, "Would you, ah, like me to join you for anything today? Or is there anything I can do?"
Samuel considered. "If you've no other plans, you're welcome to accompany me on my morning rounds of the estate. I like to check on operations."
"Oh, sure, I'd be glad to." Eon stood eagerly, glad for the distraction.
They ventured out as storm clouds gathered. Samuel pointed out various workings - the stables, greenhouses, even a laboratory Eon was intrigued by. Conversation was still stilted but Eon asked thoughtful questions, soaking in all he could.
As they circled back, a figure appeared at the gates. Samuel hurried over as Eon followed, finding a disheveled woman collapsed at the bars.
"Is she alright? What should we do?" Eon asked worriedly as Samuel checked on her.
"We must get her inside. Help me carry her to the house, carefully now."
Eon obeyed, doing his best to support the stranger alongside his grandfather. Though questions still arose, helping another took precedence in that moment.
Eon and Samuel carried the woman inside as swiftly as possible and laid her on a sofa in the sitting room.
"Eon, fetch some water and towels at once," Samuel ordered. He checked the woman's pulse, then lifted an eyelid to examine her pupils.
As Eon hurried off, two figures dropped from the ceiling - sleek metallic suits glinting where their faces should be.
"Stand back from her," one commanded in a modulated voice. Its companion raised arm cannons that whirred with charging energy.
But before they could fire, the maid and butler rushed in, moving with inhuman speed and coordination. Mr. Jenkins snatched the cannons while the maid grabbed the first assassin, flinging it bodily into its partner.
"Apologies for the disruption, sir," said Jenkins calmly. "Might I suggest retiring to a safe room?"
Eon gaped as Samuel replied, "Do what you must with haste, we'll leave you to it."
They made to flee but two more assassins dropped behind them, cannons primed. The maid sighed dramatically.
"Haven't you clods had your fill yet?" She blurred toward one, jabbing pressure points that caused its suit to short circuit.
Its partner swung for Eon but Jenkins intercepted, wrestling its cannon aside as the shot blasted a wall. Eon backed toward the exit, half intrigued and half terrified.
The butler flung the disabled suit at the last intact one, sending them both crashing through the window in a shower of glass.
The maid dusted her hands, smiling sweetly at Eon and Samuel's stunned faces. "My apologies, sirs. Please tend to your guest - we'll sweep for any others." The maid Clara.
And with that, the two "servants" slipped away, leaving Eon certain this estate held many mysteries yet.
No sooner had Clara and Jenkins exited than three more assassins smashed through the ceiling, encasing the room in a shower of debris.
"More of you pests?" Clara sighed. Without waiting for a response, she blurred into action.
The first assassin fired its cannons but Clara was too quick. She darted between the blasts, drawing ever closer until she was upon the assassin in an instant. Her fists and feet moved like lightning, striking its armor with crackling bursts of yellow energy. Piece by piece, the plating fell away under her onslaught until with a final blast, the suit crumpled inward.
The second flew at Jenkins but he was ready, channeling his indigo combat energy into a barrier that absorbed its cannon fire. When it was upon him, Jenkins grabbed its wrists and swung the assassin around like a club, smashing it repeatedly into its partner until both collapsed in a broken heap.
That left the last assassin facing both awakened warriors at once. It switched tactics, firing blasts of blue energy from its palms that exploded on contact. Clara cartwheeled around the bursts while Jenkins gathered the debris into a whirling storm shield. When an opening came, Clara launched forward within the shelter of Jenkins' defenses, shattering the assassin's arms before Jenkins pulverized its torso with a crushing energy punch.
The room fell still amidst the wreckage. Clara turned to Eon and Samuel with a smile. "You're safe now, sirs. I do apologize for the mess."
"You...fight well," Eon said shakily. His mind reeled with questions but Samuel spoke first.
"Thank you, Clara, Jenkins. I believe some explanations are in order. But for now, see to our guest's injuries - I suspect she may provide some answers herself."
Clara nodded, scooping up the still woman. Jenkins began clearing rubble, his indigo aura already mending cracks in the walls. Eon watched them go, certain this day had brought more questions than answers.