"Let's just ask the maids to help us throw it out, though the hair it has isn't bad for wigs and some accessories!" Walking back to where the body was, I declined his idea.
"Let's not.. I'd rather not let the maids help out, especially Priscilla."
"Hm, why not? The blood will have stained the carpet by now, might as well."
I sighed, "Fine, let's just exclude Priscilla.."
"Why does it seem like you're suspicious of Priscilla? If it's about last night, It's just because I have bad memory." It was definitely not just bad memory, Lione and Priscilla were villains!
"Dad, I think I should tell you.. Lione and Priscilla aren't what they seem to be."
"What do you mean?"
"Well.. Dad, don't tell anyone about this. But, I lied."
"You can trust me, I won't tell a soul, you're my daughter! Though, what do you mean you lied?"
"I kind of lied, last night I actually stayed up because of Priscilla. I was suspicious of her. And when I went into Lione's study room. I could hear their voices, Lione and Priscilla talking about the execution of a few noble families."
"What are you talking about Lia? They're good people, don't talk bad about them. They let us stay at their place for free, don't try to backstab our benefactor."
"Excuse me Sir Rhin, Lady Ophelia, what is this about me?" Dad and I turned around to see Priscilla right behind us. Sh*t, did she hear our conversation? Was I going to die for knowing their secret plans? Wait, why was I so worked up about this?
The execution of a few noble families didn't seem all that bad, they had nothing to do with me.
"Oh uh, nothing! Don't worry about it, we were just talking.. Talking about training! Yes training!"
"How about the body in front of us?" Priscilla asked, walking ahead as she heaved the body over her shoulder. Now that I had a better look at the dead Night Stalker, it was extremely large. It looked to be around 7 feet tall.
"I won't pry into your conversation, but you'll have to tell me about how this dead Night Stalker ended in our halls." It was sub-conscious but the realisation of it made me want to puke. The stench of its blood smelled like rotten Oni's sh*t. I've never smelt Oni sh*t but I felt like they were similar.
"Will do Priscilla." Dad accepted, he glanced at me, nodding his head. Hopefully he knew what not to say.
I left for Hanise's lesson, while I assumed Dad explained the gist of what happened to me last night.
"I'd like to apologize once more, Lady Ophelia. I got too heated yesterday."
"It's alright, what are we learning today? Or are we just practicing the skill you taught me yesterday?"
"Were obviously learning a new skill! We'll practice next week."
"Lia!" It was the sound of Claudia's voice behind, getting closer.
"Claudia? What are you doing here?"
"Dad let me have some time to myself today, so I'm coming to watch you."
"How about training with me?"
"I'm not great at swordsmanship Lia, I'll just watch!" She skipped over to the couch nearby.
"Right.. So Sir, what am I learning today?"
"You'll be learning a simple technique, a 'skip slash'."
In short, a technique that allows for someone to seemingly slash further than where they actually are without looking like they moved. He demonstrated, and the slash was almost 4 metres away from Hanise's actual body.
I attempted it while Hanise corrected my form, but I got worse as we continued.
"Sir Hanise.." catching my breath, "How is this.. A simple technique.."
"It should be, I learned it pretty easily and even my friend too-"
"Wait, Lia what did you say?" Claudia chimed in, her face appeared puzzled about something.
"How is this a simple technique?"
"No before that."
"Sir Hanise?"
"Sir.. Hanise? I don't recall your teacher's name being 'Hanise'." What did she mean? It was always Hanise.
"Your teacher's name should be Mur-"
"Lady Claudia, your father is calling for you to come back!" Priscilla from afar was running toward us, sweating and out of breath.
"Oh okay, I'll talk to you later Lia."
"Wait Claudia, what were you going to say?"
"I was just going to say that your teacher's name is supposed to be-"
"Now now, Lady Claudia, you can converse later! Your father needs you this instant!" Priscilla's voice cracked, interrupting and pushing Claudia farther away.
What was Claudia going to say? Mur.. Mur, Hanise's name started with a H not a M. Mur? Mur. Mur. Mur-ren? His name, I remembered. My teacher's name wasn't Hanise. It was Murren.
I had remembered everything that I had done with Murren.
How was it possible to forget his name, or his personality, or even his style? And why did Murren change his name? He was different too, before he was irritating, laidback, and his teaching style was the complete opposite of what it is now these past few days.
"Now that Lady Claudia has left, let us continue on-"
"Murren." I whispered aloud.
"What did you say?" He leaned closer.
"Your name is Murren not Hanise."
"Mur-ren? No, my name is Hanise. Don't try to play with me Lady Ophelia!" He spoke in a playful manner.
"It's Murren, Sir."
"No.. It's not. It's really not!" He clutched his head, dropping to the floor.
"Murren."
"Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop! My name is Hanise! Hanise! I'm a prodigy! An Aetherian capable of using all four elements! Hanise!" He trembled, clawing away at his face he yelped.
"Mur-"
"Don't say his name! Don't say his name! Don't say his name!" To be honest, I knew he wasn't Murren. From when I regained my memories, he only had taken the identity of 'Murren'. His name was most likely Hanise, but I felt as though he was under some influence, like Dad.
Within the next few seconds, his body would glow, making him spasm. His eyes rolled back, and his neck lacerated by his nails.
Before.
It all came to a stop.
He stood up. His eyes focused on my own. His expression was more rhadamanthine and had daggers for eyes.
"Kid. Thanks, I think.." He scratched his hair, groaning as he closed his eyes. "I don't really know what happened to me, but I think you saying my name helped."
"Your name? I'm pretty sure you mean someone else's name. Is it your friend? Or teacher? Sibling even?"
His eyes widened, frozen in place before me.
"How did you know?"
"I pieced some clues together from when you were 'sick', and when you were rolling around just now."
"Right.. Yes, you're correct, I am not Murren. My real name is Hanise." His eyes adverted my own, and his hands clenched, trembling. "I think I need some rest, we'll officially start your lessons again next week." As Murren started to walk past, I tugged on his blue tunic.
"Were not done, you're going to tell me why you took his identity, and basically everything else."