E.T was uneventful although, I did got to witness Amie and her flames. I always enjoyed seeing fire awakened, they have a certain flair. Sistine flames were both beautiful and extremely potent.
I kept checking over to Ranni and her close knit group of friends.
Occasionally she caught me but unlike the others who looked away or awkwardly flailing like a fish, she just smiled at me confidently. She was the girl next door type with healing to booth, deadly stuff.
I didn't do much, I evaporated a few dummies and decided to use the rest to nap so I head to the bleachers. Did anyone stop me or said anything about it? What do you think?
I wasn't flaunting my position here either, Evolveds didn't really had a lot to do, the only real expectation was to get more powerful. As longs as you were strong you practically already received your license.
The bleachers were more comfortable than I thought they be and was sleeping soundly soon.
I dreamed again and by this point, I wasn't even nervous, unconsciously I knew what was going on. I only felt slightly annoyed and dizzy it was like looking into a kaleidoscope and trying to make out a single colour or shape in the constantly moving mess. Felt sick and then..
I felt warmth, it was nice and comfortable like being bathed in sunlight after walking in the shadow covered cold side of the street. I woke to someone caressing my face. Opened my eyes and looked into Ranni's. She looked down, her face twist to face mine a little more.
" You seemed to be in stress, blueberries or bad dreams? "
I was was mesmerized by her lips and the way her fingers felt, gently caressing my hair I wanted to reach out and feel her cheeks to, but even in this position I knew I had no reason to.
Her red hair fel down perfectly framed her face, her irises are blue enough that you wanna swim in them. What beautiful contrast. What an underrated beauty and how can I possibly not notice her until a few minutes ago?
" You don't even know me, why show such kindness? Shouldn't you be afraid to look right into my eyes for so long? "
I honestly didn't care about the droves of people who must be watching us now, I so rarely felt this comfortable I didn't moved from her lap, to be fair she didn't seem to mind at all.
" You mean you don't know me, it's hard not to know you. Besides if you'd want to I doubt me not looking would help."
" I would never do that, but dodging my question with well worded flattery... you and my mother would get along well."
" Hmm...perhaps one day we will. " she said with a lovely smile.
I loved her killer confidence, quick banter and her smile mirroring my own.
" Ranni classes are over, let's go."
One her friends called her and whoever she was I already disliked the person.
I got up not wanting ruin our little moment.
I took her hands and squeezed just a little.
" Thank you Ranni. I hope one day I'll get to return the favour and comfort you. "
" I'll be looking forward to it."
It took me a while and a lot of effort to forget her smile.
---
I called Remy and skipped Imperial studies, I felt great and sweet inside. I didn't want anyone to ruin my mood. So I apologised to Ms Inoue and excused myself until Thursday to visit my grandfather.
" Did something happened? Also you and Ranni .. what's up what's up? "
" Tetsuya whispering is quite an underrated skill... no nothing happened, I just have business there for a day. I'll be most likely be back this week. "
I didn't want to talk about what happened, I got swept up in the moment and needed to focus on what's to come. So without looking at her I went outside where Remy waited with around 50 soldiers. All ready to move out the ride was about 2 hour or so.
I needed to banish that healing angel from my head, but it was easier said than done.
I mean I like Mikeyla fine, but she and Ranni is like comparing apples and oranges. One a strong warrior who had clear confidence in her skill and seemed inexperienced even though older.
Ranni on the other hand never felt like talking to typical 15 year old, so much more mature and ...alluring. Plus none of it felt forced. I'll felt at ease with her, granted it was an abysmal amount of time.
I really am just thinking about nonsense now.
I needed the distraction, the exhilarating feeling of putting a dog in its place and the feeling of relief after my sister is done with this. Let our Uncles tear each other apart as long as it doesn't involve my family I didn't really care who sat on the damn throne.
" If I may young master, you look distracted. "
Looking at Remy I thought how was he in school and if the problems were all the same? Maybe it was the same for 100s of years.
" I just had a strange day is all. " I answered evasive.
" You mean Miss Ranni Castil? " he asked.
"...yes her, I mean I couldn't remember her last name but you...you need more hobbies or a wife. By the way how come you never got married, for all those years I never seen you with anyone. "
It was strange.
This man was skilled, high society and decent looking for his age also his people had their population on the wrong side of the extinction scale since GRACE. One would think he is a lady killer.
He went pretty quite for a a while, I felt like I may have said something that I shouldn't. Got ready to apologise ..
"...what's the point of it all? When all the women I ever did love, never loved me back. Love is not real my lord unless is fully reciprocated. Keep that in mind, in your life you be adored by a lots of beautiful ladies, so protect your heart and choose carefully, after each wrong choice we lose something in the process. Those pieces can never truly be recovered. "
I felt I got a peak behind his cold and often goofy persona. And I absolutely agreed with him. Nobody will ever call a one sided love a great story.
I wondered and Ranni's face floats in my mind, who knew someone I didn't even notice until today and spent like 7 minutes in total to bother me so much.
My tragic inexperience in the ways of women comes from the very distrust in them. Have I ever been approached without ulterior motives?
" Those words .. I'll take em to heart. Thank you Remy. "
We spent the rest of the ride in silence both lost in our thoughts, until we pulled to castle Osaka my grandfather's residence.
What seen a battalion of soldiers wearing black with a single purple palm on the front indicated they served directly my grandfather. They looked intimidating lined up all neat.
" We look to be well meet my Lord. "
Remy seemed ready and had a little excited smile on.
" Be ready.. and signal our man to. "
Sol or grandfather... some of their spy must've watched me since arrival and reported me coming. I grabbed my sword my mother gave me on my 15. It was a work art crafted by bones of the Mimiks and could cut through steel like cotton candy, did I name it? Of course not cause I'm not some cringe douche.
The on the front Malcolm Olivani, the head of 1st hands honor guard a powerful wind awakened and a fanatical of Numa Avesta. He bowed once when we were out of the car and the soldiers preformed a salute.
" Lord Stivanstin, honorable grandson, welcome to Edo. Mr. Bennett it's been to long. "
He looked afraid, which made me guess his orders.
" Captain Olivani... can I assume your mission is to have return to Moira? " I asked keeping my voice even.
He looked nervous, good .. because if dear Numa thinks I won't incinerate these poor devils just because they are his soldiers, although it break my heart .. I will.
" Honorable grandson, we were issued strict orders by his Grace Duke Avesta to stop you. We are prepared to use force if necessary. "
Were you now?..what is this? He would put these people's life on the line..why? Are you planning to agree to Shien madness? Are they willing to ..Father..did you foresee this?
I felt my confusion disappears like spring snow, I saw my sister smiling face in front of me...
I walked straight ahead past Olivani, I draw my sword and see the first line of soldiers stiffened, but their training did them credit.
I made sure the first line heard me.
"Listen well, I'll give you all 10 second to think about all the people you love .. and all those who would miss you. Remember their faces and ask your self. ' Am I ready to leave them?'...because right now you can all leave and be with them .. your parents, your lovers, children, your brothers and .. your sisters. So deny those orders, for one time...or stay and WE CAN TEAR EACH OTHER APART LIKE ANIMALS! "
I took a defensive position and felt Remy arrived by my side his golden daggers in hand.
Some of the more nervous took aim at us with full automatics, that was my signal and they were no more, with a look they evaporated guns and all.
I swiftly moved in front of the one near me and cut his gun in half, Remy thrown his daggers the ones near him and a few more dropped without touching them.
I cut the stunned solider in half and turned quickly to my left.
I wanted clean it of a dozen or so who were fumbling with their guns ..
" ENOUGH!!! "
I remained alert but did steel my eyes, my grandfather voice even in his 60s were cut through the ensuing chaos and all soldiers aside from me and Remy went on their knees and stayed like that.
I looked at him.
" Grandfather... I came to visit. "
He looked tired and with a long sigh.
" You could have waited a minute .. "