It's been a week since the crown prince went back. The weather has started to change serenely. The warm air is now turning into a cold wind. The tree leaves have started to fall. Soon, snow will follow. The winter in this world is harsh. There are no facilities like I had back in my previous world. To hell with this world if only the nobles can afford to buy artifacts. I'm in no position to complain. "Life is what it is, unfair and all" I sighed. Celina has been going to the royal palace every day. From the look of how she's going there every day, it's clear there will be good news. Good for her to marry to a psychopath.
I've been improving myself. Lynn and Lumi have been a great help to me, teaching me everything I need to know. For some strange reason, they have also been teaching me formal etiquette and won't tell me what that reason is. I've also started looking into the Darkovia Empire and the imperial family. The library of the Marquis estate didn't have the material I wanted to read about; all it had was the basic history of both the empire and the imperial family.
The estate has never been this quiet. I'm afraid something terrible is going to happen. It's like the lull before the tempest. It scares me to think about what the Marquis is going to do. The last time it was this peaceful, he killed his wife. I wonder what he's going to do this time.
Master, what are you doing? You need to focus. If you don't focus, you won't be able to summon another spirit. Here we are in the abandoned annex, trying to summon a fire spirit. I'm trying, but it's not working. Are you two completely sure that it's going to work? I asked. The circle for spirit summoning is quite complex. It took me an hour to draw it accurately. I hope a mid or high-class spirit will answer my call. I absolutely need a fire spirit to help me survive this winter.
The circle glowed with a bright, blinding light. In the midst, there was something floating. "You called for me. It better be good. I'm not in the mood to do anything bothersome." "Keahi, I told you not to be rude to our new master. Because of you, we don't have a master until now. Don't mess up this time. I'm warning you." "Fine, don't be such a crybaby, Sylvaine. But if they are not up to my standard, I'm rejecting the contract." "You're not going to reject it; we're the only high-class ones without a contract in over a hundred years." They kept arguing back and forth. "I thought you only get one spirit per summon, boy. Did I get lucky? I can't believe I summoned two high-class spirits on my first try."
"May I have your attention, both of you." I said. "Are you our master?" asked the spirit. Lynn said spirits don't have specific genders until they are mature i seriously can't tell their gender for Lynn and Lumi they both are girls looking how they have genders they really are higher class spirits. I really did summon higher-class spirits. "May I ask what type of spirit yo-. He cut me off.Why is it so dark here?" Excuse me, it's going to be dark here since we're in the abandoned annex basement.
"Ignite," with a single spell, the whole basement lit up. There were a few that burned down. "Keahi, I told you to be careful while using your spell. What were you going to do if something happened to our master?" "Master, I would like to apologize on his behalf. Please don't abandon us. Please don't go. I promise to be good from now on. I won't ask for anything. Please don't abandon me. Are you okay, Master? You don't look so good." Lynn asked she look like show might cry anytime soon.
"I'm fine, both of you. You don't need to worry," I reassured them. I wonder what that memory was. "I want both of you to sign a contract with me." I said, but the red brat hasn't looked this way since he arrived. "You want us to sign a contract with you?" He finally looked at me. "You... you have platinum hair." "Why do you have a problem with my hair color?" I stated. His eyes gleamed with concern or did they."We'll sign a contract with you. Do you think these punies will protect you from any threat?" "Sylvaine, do you like her?" He asked her. "Yes, I do. I want her to be our master. I want to serve." "You heard her. Now do it."
In unison,"State your name. You who summoned us,the great spirits of fire and nature".
"The contractor's name is Riona. From this day forth, you are under my command. Do you hereby accept this contract".
"We, the great spirits of fire and nature accept the contract and you to be out master". It's a good thing i learned it before i summoned them. We finally have a master after not having a master for a century. But Keahi, why did you suddenly decide to accept her as our master?" "Sylvaine, our master has platinum hair. Don't you remember what happens to those who have platinum hair?" "Keahi, I'm touched."
We spent the next whole hour getting to know each other. These higher-class spirits are on different levels. They can change into small sizes like Lynn and Lumi. Sylvaine is kind, whereas Keahi is a little hot-headed. With Keahi and Sylvaine's addition, I can learn magic more efficiently. "Master, can I ask you something?" "What is it that you want to ask me?" "Master, we want to ask how you came here," Sylvaine asked me. "I'll tell you about it later. We need to leave before someone comes looking for me." I said, avoiding this topic like a plague.
"You! Where were you? I thought I told you to stay put in your room, and you still went outside. Don't you think you've been doing as you please these days?" Inola shouted. This woman never lets a chance slip by. She really thinks she can do whatever since Celina is not here. Too bad for her; I'm not in the mood to hear her spout bullshit. "Sylvaine, summon rain," I ordered her. "As you command. Rain, come forth and obey." With her single command, the sky started to turn dark, followed by a thunderstorm. It poured like a beast that wouldn't be tamed. Sylvaine went a little overboard with her spell. In her defense, she said she forgot to control her powers. Thanks to her, I didn't have to see Celina, or for that matter, anyone else's face. The rain continued to pour until morning. I slept so peacefully that night.
The morning came with a sudden turn of events. A letter arrived. I have been dreading it since he left, and today it finally came. After three years, he's finally returning from the academy. The first son of the Marquis sent it from the academy, he's the real devil and far worse than the Marquis himself. He killed all the slaves. Every slave that the Marquis bought in the span of five years. To this day, I wonder why he didn't kill me when he had the chance yet he spared me and killed everyone else. He even killed Anna, who showed me compassion. He's coming back.
"Laura, come and read this; the young master sent this from the academy," Alice called me. After Anna died, I thought no one would approach me, yet Alice approached me sometime and brought me warm food not the satel or rotten food Inola usually leaves for me.
"What does it say, Laura?" "It says the young master will be arriving in three days," I answered her. I could see it. When he'll arrives, he won't show any mercy. He's the type to torture someone until they are dying. He would heal them again and again. He finds pleasure in hearing them scream in agony and pain. That's how he killed all the male elves he bought. He is going to buy new ones after he's back. It's going to happen again. I don't want to recall.
"Laura, go and clean the stairway, hallway, and the attic in the east wing," Alice said. "But Alice, that's the young master's place, and you want me to clean it?" "Laura, you're going to do it whether you like it or not. I already told you,Get going, or you won't be given any food." She said. For a while, Alice has been acting strange. I never trusted her yet i thought we could be friends. What can we do if she's going to start harboring something else for me? "Let's go and clean the east wing. There's no point brooding over it."
"Uwah! It's so cold and dirty. It's going to take too much time to clean this mess. How did they let it get so dirty? Aren't the Luciano family well-off?" "Master, shall we help you? If we do it together, we can do it faster," Lynn, Lumi, and Sylvaine said together, while Keahi was not so pleased with their suggestion. "You all will do it for me? Are you sure you want to do it? I can do it by myself," I said. "What are you saying, Master? How can we let you do all clean this filthy place when we are here?" This time, Sylvaine said. "If you want to, then who am I to stop all of you? Keahi, you don't need to do anything. You can stay here. We don't want anything burning," I teased while him giggling. While Lynn and the rest cleaned, I went around the east wing for a quick stroll to bond with Keahi.
"You know you really shouldn't be alone. You still don't know how to use offensive or defensive magic. It would be better if you kept one of us by your side all the time," Keahi whispered. Even if he looks like he's not worried on the outside, he's still worried on the inside. He's a good spirit even though we've been together only for a day i can tell he's have a good heart. I wonder what's the mystery behind the platinum hair.
To be continued.