"T-that's no good Alek! You need to eat your veggies too!" she says as she picks the vile green lumps against the spikes of her wooden fork and points it against the skin of my lips.
I let out an audible grunt as I reluctantly take it into my mouth and chew before swallowing with hesitation. When did this girl become my mother anyways? Is there a chapter I missed?
"Yeah, yeah, I get it already" I let out awkwardly after briefly debating how to respond in my head.
It's been 2 years since Himari started her life with me in this run-down excuse of a "house".
I'm surprised she didn't run off on me once she woke herself to find she was staying in a bed which was within the confines of a roof barely holding itself in place of a stranger that pointed a giant sword at her in a shack out in the middle of butt-fuck nowhere.
I'm surprised she even decided to stay.
I asked her about it at one point, and she told me about how her mother died of some illness she was trying to cure but unfortunately ran out of time thanks to that lame bandit that tried offering her unwilling body to some loser who's name I've already forgotten.
And she said she had nowhere else to go, and because I saved her life, she made it very clear how much she trusts me enough to give her a new home. Which I agreed upon, why not? This place has gotten really quiet now that the old man has been missing since the last time I saw him 2 years ago. And I could really use someone to work on my social skills with, as pathetic as that may sound.
But I don't really see why she'd wanna stay here rather than seek some kind of better shelter within the Kingdom's inner capital.
Talking to her is still pretty nerve wrecking, there are times I have zero to no clue just what to say or reply with, because the few times I do speak to her, I can't help but wonder if I said the right thing.
She sure tends to flinch and tense up around me a lot.
We're just about finishing having dinner on yet another foggy afternoon. When she looks up at me and speaks in a low shaky voice.
"S-so... what are you doing today?"
Well, I was gonna head out towards the inner capital to climb some roofs and look down on the streets and pounce onto some nobles for some pocket change. Assassin style.
It looks like she wants to have a conversation.
I'm up for the task.
Let's get this show on the road
I brace myself and clear my throat loudly, which makes her jump a bit in surprise.
"AHEM.. nothing really was gonna jus- *AGH* *CHFH* "
I start to audibly cough, the amount of force I used to clear my throat catching up to me and punishing me in a brutal display of hate.
I want to die.
"A-alek..!" She starts panicking as she watches me hunch on the ground, fighting for my life.
"*COUGH* i'm alright Himar- *GUGHP*"
"O-oh no! You're.. y-you're sick??" She kneels in front of me and lifts my head onto her lap.
The warmth of her lap attaching onto my cheek along with her proximity make me jolt back up and backing away against the window.
"I said I'm fine I just need some fresh air" I say without realizing just how forward I was with my barely thought-out reply.
I quickly gather my coat that's resting on the slightly tattered couch and make my way towards the door and outside, escaping the extremely dangerous situation.
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A group of 4 people are sitting in a roundtable of a large chamber, lit brightly by the golden giant chandelier that hangs above them. One of them is wearing full shining silver knight armor. One is wearing a catholic robe. Another is wearing a short, elegant dress. And the other is wearing a black school uniform.
"This is mutiny!" Says a bulky man with red hair as he slams his copper prosthetic arm against the table. "How have we not caught this bastard? How many will continue to fall victim to his deranged games?!"
"Do calm yourself, Draken" Replies a bald man wearing a monocle with a silver cross necklace. "Those that pursue the path of transgression before god will face their untimely demise. Until then, do behave yourself within the King's chambers."
"Hah?" The red-haired man replies in defiance.
"Need I remind you of your little stunt of attempting to reach the Grand Cathedral? You're quite fortunate the King gave you the mercy of not having you publicly executed, Draken." Replies the bald man as he grabs onto his monocle to wipe it with his robe. "Your ignorance of not seeing just how much of a lucky man you are is amusing.
"Pipe down you two" Says a woman with purple hair. She is wearing a purple witch hat with a small bell hanging from its tip. "I've had enough headaches for today"
"That's because you're constantly staying up reading your fancy little books y'know?" Says a young girl with black hair in twin tails. She has her elbow resting on the table, a small ethereal dragon wrapped around her finger.
*THUMP*
The loud sound of a large heavy door closing within the chamber as a gray bearded man with a golden crown walks through the large room towards the roundtable.
The 4 knights straighten up against their seats and fall into silence at the sight of their King sitting on the second empty seat within the roundtable, leaving now only one seat empty.
"Lux still not joining us?" Asks the man with red hair.
"I have sent him away to the Azula Kingdom, we will proceed without him, pay it no mind" says the man with the golden crown. The pure platinum cross necklace with a single ruby etched onto it swaying and shimmering as he shifts to look at the single empty seat.
"Aww no fairr~ He always gets all the good stuff!" The young girl with the black twin tails says in a pouty manner.
The woman with the witch hat shoots her a sharp gaze, as to say 'silence your bratty mouth and speak only when necessary'
The bald man leans forward and places his elbows against the table, resting his head against his hands, before speaking.
"Ahh, the Kingdom of Azula, quite the while since we have last crossed paths with the supreme sorceresses."
The man with red hair suddenly sits up from his chair and slams his hands against the thick wood of the round table.
"Your highness! The various murders and kidnappings across the Kingdom are proving to be too high on a large scale. If such cruelty continues, I fear panic and the fall of order will soon follow upon the Luthran Kingdom..."
The young girl with twin tails looks at the King. As if waiting for him to say what it is she's waiting for him to say.
"Draken, it is foolish of you to think such matters have gone unnoticed. Compose yourself, the matter will be resolved with haste." Speaks the King, then turning his gaze to the young girl in twin tails, giving her a slight a nod.
The young girl looks at Draken in a face coated in a wide smug expression before giving him a wink. She stands up from her seat and walks towards a large open window and jumping out, landing on a large ethereal blue dragon that materialized below her, then flying off.
"Wha-? What is the meaning of this, your highness? You gave such task to a brat lik-"
"Now then." Speaks the King, in an intimidating voice of authority. "Do tell me about the other matter."
The room falls into a haunting silence, the man with red hair sitting back on his seat.
The room is silent and tense.
Then the bald man rises from his seat and speaks.
"Your grace, we have yet to find the bearer of.. death. The one responsible for the complete and utter destruction of the mountain, and the crater far off in the distance."
The room falls in another state of absolute silence, before the woman with the witch hat speaks.
"Are we absolutely certain this is the result of the one that walks in death? I've been led to believe that the red rune was no more."
The bald man looks at her.
"And just what drives you to believe such chaos and destruction was caused by a different party involved?" He asks in a tone of amusement, eyebrow raised.
"My oh my.. I've had the impression that the red rune of Satan has been long wiped from the records of the grand archive after his demise in the Second Calamity. Is that not what you've revealed 2 years ago, your highness?
The bald man falls silent.
"Enough." The man with the shimmering golden crown demands. "I've heard enough. I must consult with the outer heavens. I leave this Kingdom in your hands, I trust you will keep everything in order during my temporary absence, yes?
Another brief silence follows, before the 3 knights rise from their seats to bow before him.
"Yes your highness..."
"If God wishes it, then it shall be done."
"But of course~"
The King gives a slight nod before rising from his seat then walking out into the hallway and being escorted by 2 tall black knights.
The chamber grows silent before the bald man speaks.
"Hmm... just where could little Satan be hiding..."
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*BUURP*
Oh man, those veggies are already starting to leave their mark within my inner temple...
I'm currently looking down at the cloud of smog below me as I'm looking down at the barely visible streets. Maybe I shouldn't have chosen such a ridiculously tall tower to sit on.
If I was someone with a fear of heights, I would be shitting out some organs.
I've decided to come to the inner capital to see what's up. it's not every day I decide to come and look at the many scattered tall towers, the polished cleanliness that is the brick roads, and the luxuriously crafted buildings that consist of inns, churches, and various shops and blacksmiths.
I'm thinking I'll treat myself today.
I then stand up and do a little stretch.
It's important to limber up.
Before I could pounce on the nice fine gentlemen below me and make bank, my shoulder is poked from behind before I turn to look at whoever had the nerve to come between me and my bonus stage.
"Heya~" A girl that looks like she's 2 years older than me is winking at me. She's wearing the uniform of the Academy of knights of this Kingdom. She's also got black tights on.
Dude where did she even come from?
Alright, I know I've screwed the pooch with the interaction prior to this one, and frankly, I still want to die.
HOWEVER.
After debating on what I could have done differently within the confines of my genius mastermind head, I've come to a direct conclusion.
BUT.
More testing is needed to determine its full potential, so I will now shoot her with this:
"Sup"
Impressed?
She looks at me with her head tilted to the side, like she wants to ask me if I have the brain of a slime as she just looks at me with a confused smile on her face, then giving a slight giggle.
"fufufu~ I haven't heard a greeting like that! What's it mean? Tell me~!" She says as she brings her hand up and covering her mouth, giggling.
Alright, listen.
I can't help but wonder if I'm getting hit by a slap of sarcasm to the face by this smug girl. What's her deal? Was my greeting not satisfactory? Should I have just given her a nod instead? Would that have made her act less bratty? What does she want from me god damn it?!
Or maybe I'm just being dramatic. More testing is needed as I've mentioned.
I've got to get stronger...
"Hey... what's that on your hand? You get hit by a falling brick~?"
At this point I'm just about done trying to put in the effort of talking to her normally, so I'll just say whatever the fuck pops into my head.
"Oh this? It's my lucky hand." I say awkwardly as I suddenly bring up my right hand and rubbing the white bandage with my other hand.
Which is pretty much true, I'm pretty sure I'd be living in the insides of a gooey sentient blob of ass a long time ago if I didn't have it.
"Pfftt.. teehe-hee-hee..~" She suddenly covers her mouth with both hands then turning away briefly as she explodes into another giggle. Then she composes herself and turns back to me, wiping her tears. "You're a funny fella! Seriously? A lucky hand? I didn't know such a thing existed! You really know how to amuse me! Say more words!"
"Pardon?"
Who even is this? What's her deal? Is she making fun of me? Am I her new source of amusement now? This isn't the slightest bit funny, I'm not some party clown. I'm a human with emotions and insecurities. How do I even reply to that? Curse my inability to think in the face of human interaction. I'm gonna go find a well and drown myself in it.
"I'm Yukki~!" She says with her hand extended as she suddenly got closer while I was stuck being a feeble dork within the confines of my fragile poor mind.
If it weren't for the fact that the edge of this tower was literally right behind me, I would have just turned her down before turning tail and walking away. And I don't exactly want to flatten myself like a pizza by jumping off this stupidly tall tower. She's got me right where she wanted me. There's no escape. It's so over.
"Just call me Alek" I say in a defeated yet annoyed tone as I take her hand with my left.
"Teeh-hee~ Woow! your hand is soo cold!!" She says as she shakes my hand over and over, making our hands swing rapidly as if it were some jump rope.
"Give it back then god damn it." I yell as I retract my arm in annoyance. I'm pretty sure this girl made my shitlist in the fastest way possible.
"Ooh scary... teh-hee~" She giggles as she pats my back over and over.
At this point I really just don't care; I want her to get it all out of her system and piss off already. So, I just stand there in complete silence, blankly staring into her eyes.
"A-ah!" She notices my gaze then pulls back and straighten herself.
"Ahem.. a-anyways Alek... I've got something to take care of, it was really fun talking to ya." She says before giving me a wink then jumping off the edge behind me and on to a BIG FUCKING glowing blue dragon that wasn't there before, zooming off into the sky.
"Good riddance..." I breathe a sigh of relief before making my way down the staircase in front of me.
I hate stairs.
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