(Chapter 21 Poisson II Navia)
"Uncle Constantine!"
Early in the morning, the voice of a child boomed through the room as they flung the door open with a loud crash, shattering the quiet stillness of dawn.
"Hm? Oh! Why, if it isn't the little star of the Spina di Rosula! Haha!"
Constantine said with an excited tone.
"Teacher... Shut up..."
Tempest said as he used the bedsheets to cover his head, still drowsy after the events of midnight.
"Huh? Who's this person? Uncle Constantine?"
"Hm? This is the person I always tell you about, Young Master. Would you care to introduce yourself to Miss Navia?"
Constantine said.
'Navia? Callas's daughter?'
Tempest thought to himself as he removed the bedsheets from his head and sat up. His eyes were narrowed, still adjusting after just waking up.
Tempest took a look at the child beside Constantine. She had long blond hair, similar to Tempest's golden hair, and her blue eyes were as clear as the ocean. No wonder Constantine said they looked like long-lost siblings, their appearance somewhat matched. However, Navia's blue eyes contrasted with Tempest's golden eyes, a distinct signal of his Proudmoore lineage.
"Hello there, Miss Navia."
Tempest said to Navia, his face emotionless and unreadable, making for a somewhat awkward first meeting between them.
"Do you not smile? Mister?"
Navia said with genuine curiosity in her eyes, with Constantine chuckling.
"I... I find it difficult, Miss Navia. You can just call me Tempest, by the way."
Tempest said, forcing a smile with two of his fingers. Constantine's chuckle turned into laughter as he observed Tempest's action.
"Hehe, Dad told me not to judge others, I'm Navia! Nice to meet you, Mister Tempest!"
Navia chuckled and then smiled, extending her hand to Tempest for a handshake.
"You can drop the 'Mister', Miss Navia. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Tempest shook her small hand.
"Then you can just call me Navia, then Tempest!"
Navia said with a big smile on her face, and Tempest nodded in response.
"What a sight for sore eyes... A brother finally reunited with his long-lost sister."
Constantine said while wiping a fake tear in his eye.
"Uncle!"
Navia turned her head to Constantine, her face blushing slightly, as Tempest got out of bed.
"Just ignore the old geezer, Navia. He's always like that. But if you'd like, we could be friends. I believe we'll see each other more in the coming months. I could also show you around Stormwind if you'd like."
Tempest said as he crouched down to her height.
"Really!?"
"Mhm."
"Sure!"
Navia smiled, and a genuine smile broke through Tempest's mask. He was truly happy to make a new friend, not just putting it for a show.
"Let's play tabletop games, Tempest!"
"Chess?"
"Sure! But be warned! I'm quite good at it! Hehe."
Navia smirked at Tempest.
"I look forward to it Navia."
Tempest said as he got up from the floor.
"Oh right! Melus told me the food was ready! Uncle, please lead Tempest to the dining area!"
Navia turned to Constantine.
"I will, Miss Navia."
Constantine said with a smile, and Navia then ran to the door to make her exit.
"I'll see you later! Tempest!"
"Mm."
Tempest waved his hand at her.
She finally left the room, leaving Tempest and Constantine alone in the room.
"What do you think of her? Young Master?"
Constantine turned to Tempest as he asked his question.
"She's lively, and I'm quite thankful she didn't question my background or my family when we first met. And I can't help but wonder why she calls you Uncle, is Callas your brother?"
Tempest said to Constantine, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh no, we're not relatives or anything. She started calling me that about four years ago, I think. If you ever can't find me in the mansion for a few days, I'm most likely here in Poisson."
Constantine said.
"So that's why... Wasting yourself drinking here, most likely."
"Well, can't argue with that... But I also teach Navia how to defend herself and I teach her close friend Clorinde a few of my techniques from time to time."
'Clorinde? The same person Rohan fought with in the Champion Duelist entrance ezam?'
Tempest thought to himself as the familiar name rang a bell.
"Is this Clorinde a Champion Duelist in training, perhaps?"
Tempest said to his Teacher, the question got a reaction from Constantine.
"Yes... That is true, how did you know?"
"Rohan told me, he was her opponent when he applied on the Champion Duelist entrance exam, he lost to her."
Tempest said, Constantine put his hand on his chin in a thoughtful gesture.
"I see... Clorinde used to have a master named Petronilla, she was from the Marechaussee Phantoms, and she left without a word five years ago. She left no note, didn't leave any traces, and even Callas never found any leads or had any idea where she went."
Constantine said.
"Curious... Well enough of that, let's go, I don't want to keep Melus waiting for us."
Constantine nodded in response and opened the door for the both of them.
Tempest followed Constantine in the narrow hallways of the ship, but Tempest couldn't shake the feeling of being watched... No, he was being watched.
"Teacher."
"Young Master?"
"We're being watched..."
Constantine's eyes widened as he slowed his walking pace, struck by the revelation.
"Who do you think it is?"
Constantine said only he and Tempest could hear.
"Fatui, most likely, keep your eyes open."
Tempest said quietly, and Constantine nodded in response. After a short walk, they finally reached the dining room.
"Ah! What took you both so long?!"
Navia said as she sat alone at the table, eating, with Melus standing nearby.
"Miss Navia, please don't shout with your mouth full."
Melus said.
"Haha, let her be Melus."
Constantine said as he took a seat beside Navia, rubbing his hand in anticipation as he looked at the food on the table.
"Tempest!"
Navia ignored Melus's warning about not shouting and proceeded to call out loudly, gesturing for Tempest to join her by her side. Without hesitation, Tempest sat on the chair beside her.
"Let's play outside later! I got a chessboard ready!"
Navia said to Tempest.
"Sure."
Tempest picked up a plate and surveyed the table, noting the abundance of seafood on the table before him. With a deft hand, he selected a fish and skillfully filleted it, placing the delicate pieces on his plate. Alongside, he added two plump scallops, their edges seared to perfection. Drizzling a creamy sauce over the fish, he opted for a light breakfast, savoring each bite amidst the morning calm.
"Miss Navia, please eat your vegetables."
Melus said at the side.
"Ehhhh..."
Navia pouted for a moment before turning her gaze to Tempest. Tempest responded with a warm, reassuring smile. With a playful glint in his eye, he used his fork to pick up a few tomatoes and some crisp lettuce from Navia's plate.
"There! All done Melus!"
Navia said with a wide smile, puffing out her chest proudly. Melus sighed in response.
"Hehe."
Navia turned her head to Tempest and gave him a wink.
'She reminds me a bit of Penance... Just more lively...'
Tempest thought to himself, as he smiled at her.
"Awww, you two really are like siblings!"
Constantine said to them both with a broad grin on his face. This time, Navia didn't protest or complain. Instead, she blushed slightly and began to fidget with her fingers, her cheeks tinged with a hint of shyness.
Tempest simply ignored his Teacher's delusional words and continued eating his food.
"Hurry up! I want to beat you in chess already!"
Navia said to Tempest excitedly.
"Alright, be prepared."
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
The weather was pleasantly warm, with a gentle breeze rustling through the trees. Outside Poisson, Navia, Tempest, and Constantine enjoyed the fine day together. Constantine laid out a picnic blanket on the lush grass, carefully placing the basket filled with fresh pastries to the side and an umbrella to provide a cool shade. Without hesitation, Navia swiftly unfolded the chess table and set it up on the blanket. With a decisive motion, she took her seat, ready to dive into their game.
"Well, you two have fun! I'm gonna go fishing, and I won't be far."
Tempest said to them both with a fishing rod in his hands.
"I'm going to survey the area to clear your suspicions, watch over Navia for me."
Constantine leaned in close to Tempest's ear and whispered softly. Tempest listened intently and responded with a subtle nod, acknowledging the quiet exchange.
"Alright! See you both later! I'm gonna catch us some lunch! Haha!"
Constantine said, as he walked away waving his hands.
"Bye! Uncle!"
Navia then turned her head to Tempest with an eager smile on his face, she took a small cake from the basket and put it on the picnic blanket.
"Alright! Here's the deal! Every time I win, ehem, excuse me, every time one of us wins a game we'll take a spoonful of this cake! Do we have a deal?"
Navia said with pride in her eyes.
"Deal."
"Game on!"
Navia was white and Tempest was black, first move was Navia, she put F2 Pawn at F3.
"Your move."
Navia said, and Tempest made his move instantly putting his E7 Pawn at E5.
Navia moves her Pawn from G2 to G4.
'Did she just...?'
Tempest thought to himself, he moved his Queen from E8 to H4.
"Checkmate."
"Heh?"
Navia looked at the chessboard closely and her eyes widened when she realized her mistake.
"Wait! One more! One more!"
Navia said frantically as she waved both her hands, Tempest smiled and grabbed a spoon then took a spoonful of the cake.
'Too sweet...'
Tempest thought to himself as he put the spoon in his mouth.
Navia glanced at the cake and sighed in relief when she saw that Tempest had taken only a small portion.
"Alright! I'll win this time!"
Navia said with pride as they both rearranged the chessboard.
"Mhm, alright, your move."
Tempest said, Navia then moved her Pawn from F2 to F4.
"Let's see you counter this!"
Navia said excitedly with a smile, Tempest moved his Pawn from E7 to E5.
"Gotcha!"
Navia said as she moved her Pawn from F4 to E5, taking out Tempest's Pawn.
"Hm."
Tempest contemplated his next move, he moved his D7 Pawn to D6.
Without hesitation, Navia moved her Pawn from E5 to D6, taking out another Pawn from Tempest.
"Got you again!"
Navia said, as she took a glance at the cake again as she was sure she was going to win this time.
Tempest moves his Bishop from F8 to D6, taking out Navia's pawn.
Navia moves her knight from B1 to C3.
'Again...?'
Tempest thought to himself, as he moved his Queen from D8 to H4.
Navia moves her Pawn from G2 to G3, in response Tempest moves his Queen from H4 to G3 intentionally.
Navia moved her Pawn from H2 to G3, taking Tempest's Queen.
"Got your Queen! Haha!"
Navia smiled with pride as she took out Tempest's Queen, victory was near she thought. Tempest simply smiled in response.
"Checkmate."
Tempest moved his Bishop from D6 to G3.
"Heh?!?!?"
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
"Finally! I won!"
Navia lay down on the picnic blanket after finally winning the first time and losing to Tempest six times...
"Congratulations."
Tempest handed her the cake with a spoon with a smile.
'I could've beaten her again... But I wanted her to taste victory for once'
Tempest thought to himself, Navia got up and took the cake from him and took a spoonful, her eyes went blissed when she finally took a bite from the cake.
"You can finish it, it's too sweet for my taste anyway."
"Really!? Thank you!"
Without hesitation, Navia took a bite of the cake, her face lighting up with delight as she savored each morsel. It was clear from her expression that she was thoroughly enjoying the treat.
"You're really good at chess Tempest! Where did you learn it from?"
Navia said with her mouth full of the cake.
"I learned it from my Father when I was young."
'Though I was slapped every time I lost a game, even when tears started falling out of my eyes. He didn't stop when I finally had my first victory...'
Tempest thought to himself as he remembered a horrible memory...
"Really... I'm jealous... I learned mine from Melus and his friends... Sometimes I hate Father... He always works all the time and would always leave me with the Spina di Rosula members to look after me like Melus or with Clorinde... You must be close with your Father right?"
Navia said as she curled and hugged her legs, Tempest's stomach churned when Navia assumed he was close with his Father when in truth they were not at all.
"We're not close at all..."
Tempest said as he looked away from her, gazing at the Court of Fonatine in the distance.
"Heh?"
"Navia, you must not harbor hatred towards your father. I can tell he loves you very much because you have a freedom that I don't. If you hold onto hatred for him, you might become someone completely different from who you are today. So, don't say you hate your father when, deep down, you truly love him. Remember, he cares for you more than you realize."
Tempest reassures her with a smile, he stood up and patted her head.
"Hm... I was just joking... I don't really hate my Father..."
Navia said as she buried her face beneath her legs as Tempest patted her head.
"Good, keep it that way."
"You're treating me like I'm your sister... Tempest."
Navia said a slight blush forming on her cheeks.
"You can be one if you'd like."