"So it was them who's sending these notes on those hunters." He phased on the teared notes. Euseff saw other information of him, from being member of a children gang, to what sleeping position he was most fond of when at streets.
"Yes, Jacquesimer must have told you of this already. We are expecting your arrival sooner or later." The same warm voice walked in the Tables Room, stretching her feet over the piles of documents on ground to reach her seat. The senior Wetnurse gestured for Maya to wait still outside and close the door.
"Why are you expecting me here, Lady Tresinfort?" Euseff started, concluding over the envelope he found.
"I am not able to tell you yet, child. However, it is worth noting that I have not known your existence but a few days ago. Also, we don't have any means to harm you… yet. In terms of how we found you... It's not me you should ask, but you'd certainly find all of your doubts and worries when you meet them." Lady Tresinfort referred to the sender's name and the ones at the subject at the envelope.
The boy traced the names he was not able to pay attention, written on it were 'Oxelia Everlark' as the sender and the subjects were 'Kross Everlark; Amaia Everlark; Ingrid Everlark; Euseff Everlark.'
"Who are they, how am I to find them?" Euseff inquired to keep tabs and followed another question, "Also, my lady, if I would have the chance. How would I be to see my father?"
Lady Tresinfort opened her mouth to answer the first questions, but realized the third question and she closed her mouth, gathering words.
Euseff saw through the skepticism of the lady behind the table, he knew something on his questions was amiss.
Pulling up a piece of paper, Lady Tresinfort scribed a note, crumpled it, threw it out the open window, and turned to Euseff, "Find a chance to collect that, remember that no one must see you or see that paper with you. Written there is about your father, burn it as soon as possible."
Euseff was dumbfounded of the whole thing that just happened, 'Why not just hand it over me?'
"On regards of those names by your hand: Her grace, Lady Oxelia is your grandmother, she's at the capital and won't be here anytime sooner. Lady Ingrid is in care of Jackson Family, Wardens of River Cheshire and a loyal house to Everlark–she has never been in the island. The rest are in the island, Kross and Amaia are in the care of her highness, Dioselene. They reside north the island at the palace of Helminguard. They are to attend your arrival on dinings four days from now." Lady Tresinfort extended her arm to a metal quill with ink already stored within, scribing on another sheet of paper.
The lady handed the clean paper to Euseff this time around, it contained lists of unfamiliar words, symbols and things jumbled together. Some of it have words in two languages he was familiar, Galistrician and Imperian, others were symbols which had similarity to how the artistic marks were written at the back of Dakila.
Euseff suddenly reminisced how his real uncle died. Dakila used to be a clever and fortunate man turned a drunken redneck, a brother to her mother's second husband and Euseff's stepfather. His stepfather is a kindhearted man and loved him unconditionally along with Dakila who graduated in highest badges of honor at a prestigious Magistry at Vittor. During the rainy seasons of year 3539, they had a guest which Dakila introduced to them as a wonderful woman he met at the Magistry–they were planning marriage. Euseff's parents were very happy they even spread the news in the whole village townsquare, the most eligible bachelor of the town is to marry a smart and beautiful woman who is his scholarly sweetheart.
The family and town friends had celebrated all night while Euseff could barely sleep in the noise, he went down to see that everybody was sleeping anywhere the house: on the table, the bathroom, and the kitchen tops. When Euseff found peace and slept for some hour or two, he heard cluttering down the stairs. He saw everyone were still unmoving, except that the woman his uncle introduced was headless. Carrying the head is another woman, a young maiden his uncle used to have an affection but he left to pursue his scholarly studies. The young maiden has a scary smile on her face and her abdomen was something like torn and twisted, eyes blood red and her supple skin had protruding veins up to her neck.
Screaming, Euseff ran atop, but his mother left early for her work and his stepfather was not present. Only his uncle Dakila and a few friends were around. Euseff closed the door tightly and he heard shouts and whimpers down the kitchen, then a screech of horrifying creature lasted long enough for the whole town to hear and wake them all up from deep sleep.
The only thing that Euseff saw after that event was his Stepfather mauled half to death, his half body is missing which officials told promptly to be a bear attack. Dakila was not found along the headless body of his woman.
While working along the children gang two years later, Euseff once again met Dakila who looks like he lost all his wits and just drowning himself in jugs of beer. He asked around of what had happened to the man and everybody told that Dakila is regularly meeting a woman working on his favorite house of pleasure. Using his ways, Euseff met this woman and found out that it was the woman Dakila planning to marry firsthand, she happened to be still alive. Month forward, he saw Dakila lying dead in his apartment floor. Around him is what appears to be a ritual circle drawn in his own blood.
The circle had a language Euseff only read at holy scriptures or the books from far north. Drawn on Dakila's backskin were four symbols with scriptures of jumbled words, lines, and shapes which Euseff was unable to grasp until today. He has always believed that his real uncle is no longer living and somebody else has been using his body, although Euseff really did not confirm it as he had seen unnatural events lurking around his new uncle eversince. This new person has been fond of him and helping him on many things, the reason was why he just lets the mysterious person do as he wish as long as he did no harm.
Only one thing was known by Euseff on the motives of Dakila while with him, he was finding something.
"What's this?" Euseff is not really interested to know.
"Strings... It is stored under our protection." Lady Tresinfort told him nonchalantly.
'Strings...' Euseff told himself in his mind.
"I don't-I don't understand. What does this have to do with me?" Euseff was very hesitant, questioning like this is beyond his principles. Although his uncle, or his new uncle, do have this same symbols marked on him, Euseff is never interested in delving deeper of anything about this mysteriousness. As how his mother strictly taught him, 'Don't pry too deep, carry the information as it is ought to be light. Don't look what is unseen and don't ask what you are not ready to hear.'
"Pick one, child. I will explain." Lady Tresinfort made herself comfortable between the cushion of her chair, brewing the right atmosphere for Euseff to do the questions and her giving short answers.
"No... nevermind. I wish to remain humble and naive, my Lady. After all, I am still a child." Euseff stated decisively.
Lady Tresinfort did not expect the quick turn of events, her burrowing brows were curious that it resembles a questioning look like 'That's it, you don't want to know else?' She ogled on the boy and pondered how clearminded and organized was this little boy's decisions were being made, If anything, he chooses the words right. Then she realized, Ruella was just like this boy when she was under her care. It was precisely the reason why the Third Scion Georgio had taken a liking to her, sadly after she had discovered the world Georgio was carrying on his back, she disappeared.
"That's wise, it is indeed not good for a mere child to be aware of these things... unprepared." Lady Tresinfort had given a weight on the last word. "Very well, if that's all, you may proceed on Maya's sorted activities for you to accomplish firsthand."
With a farewell, Euseff left with Maya back on the maze of halls.
"That was unusually quick. I would guess The Lady has forgotten to tell you the important ones, again." Maya said casually, browsing on her list of sorted activities.
Euseff's brows furrowed, "How so? Which were the important ones?"
"She didn't tell you that you are to skip the preliminary education as you are past the age of nine, you were also not made aware of the purpose of the Children's Island, and lastly, you are obviously not told about the Forbidden Rule." The girl shown him a full list of everything else he is supposed to have been told, then he was gradually pushed forward to keep walking.
"It was mostly personal conversation, we have not..." Euseff paused, he remembered the crumpled paper outside the window.
"It's alright, Lady Tresinfort has come of age where she idly forgets other important matters when she gets tired or emotional. It was why we, children, was called to assist her other helpers and relieve some of her works at the castle." Maya guaranteed her service is remembered by this new young lord, it is a very crucial step for her to be known by many young lords and ladies. An increased acknowledgement is on pure hardwork. In determination, she again pushed the boy gradually to keep walking.
"While on it, I should brief you just as the things I have heard, read, and instructed. First thing, the Children's Island is also called the 'Hidden Fortress.' Her Grace, Lady Oxelia has this territory as keepsake for her descendants even when she breathed her farewell from this world. It has three castles and one palace, this Children's Castle being the largest and Helminguard Palace as the residence of her highness, Dioselene." Maya handed some of the drawn images of each castle and palace, making Euseff continue walking.
"The island is not defenseless even with just a few guards and armed men, you have to note that no lowly person has ever lived here since the Everlarks has taken over. Every person here are descendants of nobility who bade the rule of Everlarks, so you must be wary of insulting or looking down on someone, including me young lord." Maya clarified, she built her pride and her family's legacy bestowed upon her birth.
Euseff did not see that one coming, now he had understood how Jacksie remains on the status names of each of the farmers and townspeople. They were actually descendants of nobility, but he was stuck in a big question. 'It is very evident that these Everlarks hold a degree of power that suppresses nobility to be reined on their hands loyal, he suspects them to be some sort of a Royal Family but why is it that they aren't called by their royal titles?' Euseff saw this query in his mind, he knows that it is an impudence equal to certain death to not call a royal blood by their title.
"Additionally, every servant here have attained excellent education, physically and mentally. Talking about education, now this one did me some wondering. In the curriculum, it was clearly stated the two types of education. The first one is called Telpochcalli that is taught on those who are loyal to Everlarks, the second is called Calmecac that is taught for the Everlark Children. Both these types are said to follow an ancient system of education strictly in seven stages of attainment. The lowest being the Cheder or Foundation, then the Yeshiva or Preliminaries, Survivability, Rule or Follow, Art of Expectations, War with Unknown, and Weave of Many to One. However, Cheder and Yeshiva are for little ones and you aren't so little anymore. While being out of education, I have seen you understand two languages, read, count, and recount history by a good comparison of things you have seen beyond this island. For that, I will recommend the young lord to advance on survivability this instant." Maya bowed at him suggestive to agree on her. They both stopped in front of the atrium that interconnects series of halls.
Euseff did not understand anything she had said, it was being dumped at him like an abstract painting so he just agreed with a nod.
"Survivability then, excellent! It's settled," The satisfied girl did a check mark in her list, she managed to cut some slack and directly go straight on the sweet top. She can now enter the grounds of training when this young lord is around, she flashed a smile at him mischievously.
Euseff felt that smile to be something halfheartedly, like he was successfully tricked.
"Now on the last lesson for today, we tackle about the rules. The Do's and Don't's. You must know of this much more than me so I will simply give you especially significant three." Maya took the paper images of the castles and palace he gave him earlier and handed another smaller portion of the brown sheet.
"Jotted there foremost, you must abide the heads of the houses or the simply: Lady Tresinfort of Children's Castle, Lady Dioselene of Helminguard, Lord General Tresinfort of West, and Lord Sebaste of Northwest. You understand? None other else."
"Secondly, no one leaves or enters the island. Well, you can't actually leave or enter willingly but it's still forbidden to try. You just saw what happened to young lord Arturis, that was considered light punishment because young lord Yules has taken the half of that punishment."
"On that last line, you can't go to Helminguard Palace. That place is not for everyone, perfectly selected few gets to serve inside and they can no longer serve outside. Added on this rule, you can't talk or look in eyes of young lord Kross and young lady Amaia."
"Follow these and you will…well, uhm…you will be happily spoiled." Maya did not know if following the rules are rewarding, she just knows it is otherwise.
The boy was caught in problem, Euseff does not know how he will be able to talk to Kross and Amaia if they are basically a forbidden fruit which no one is allowed to touch.
After the verbal lessons, they carried on circling around the castle and treated him with good food. They continued on the near grounds of activities like the Library, Kitchen, the map of the small town, and way to the young ladies' hall. Finishing the list of Maya before sunset, she lead him back to the young lords' hall and gave her his new room with complete set of fresh clothes and other necessities.
"Be at the Dinings at Moonrise." Maya instructed him, it is the time when the moons in the dark of night starts to rise by two fingers from the northern horizon. Moonset on the other hand is two fingers from the south where moons falls.
Euseff saw Dakila also in fresh clothes and in a brushed-back hair sitting and hugging his knees while staring at the window, he has a smile on his face. The boy considered this good.
Euseff thought of things twice, he just want to see his father. He haven't really thought through of what will happen between and after. Him being fed without thinking of where to get a Livra to buy one, wearing clothes that smells like it is washed daily, and given a proper education are feats he could not have even if he worked all his life as a gang child. Overlooking the swaying trees and mooing cows at the fields, he both felt his exhilarating breathe and tinge in his chest like awaiting for candies and a wrapped gift toy, hoping for it to happen again tomorrow and not just a vivid dream.
"Okay…" Euseff whispered, agreeing late to Maya's suggestion earlier. This simply translates to him of being forced to learn more silly when he just want to play around. His cheeks shown a slight red thinking of this absurdity, he could not mutter words further because for the first time in his life, he felt like a real child.