After the unpleasant conversation with his father, Ryuji had a pretty typical day. He went back to being his six year old self, attending lessons, eating meals, bothering Reginald, and having copious amounts of time to himself in the library. It was probably his favorite room in the entire house. It was such a stereotype but Ryuji was indeed a prolific reader, but none of the Lyondel's seemed to be. He often spent hours there, reading, dreaming, planning, anything he wanted. No one ever came in so it really was his domain. A domain of high bookshelves and dusty tables that were all for him to explore. Well him and Lorraine.
Lorraine was a young girl, closer to his own age, who served as William's ward. In a business or bureaucratic deal of some kind a few years back, in order for William to get what he wanted, it was requested of him that he take the family's daughter as his ward. William was in no need of a ward but he needed to deal so he took her in, now her only job was to take care of the desolate and dark library. Ryuji was sure William had even forgotten Lorraine existed.
Ryuji and her interacted from time to time, but if Ryuji was being honest he often wished they wouldn't.
Ryuji had adjourned to the library to begin his study on drakes. He knew them as a concept in his world but needed to learn about them in actuality. He sat with a stack of books and let his mind wander through the pages. Even though it read like a textbook, he couldn't help but find fascination in his new understanding of this world. Each creature and biome, every bit of sociology brought Ryuji wonderful insight, he couldn't get enough.
However he was abruptly taken from his world by the loud sound of a bang that shook his table. Ryuji jumped up in his chair with a start at the commotion. To no surprise, Lorraine stood on the other side of the table looking displeased, she had dropped a large stack of books in order to startle Ryuji.
"What could you possibly want Lorraine!" Ryuji yelled.
"Oh I'm sorry did I disturb you?" She said, batting her eyes. The nerve. Lorraine looked different from most of the elves in the estate, mainly because of her hair. It was light and golden, shining like the sun, in stark contrast to the wintery cold of Lyondel's white hair. When Ryuji had first met her he thought she looked an awful lot like Rapunzel from 'Tangled,' even down to her green eyes. But where Rapunzel was charming and kind, Lorraine was more like Mother Gothel.
"Leave me alone Lorraine, I have a lot to get done and this isn't helping," Ryuji said, trying to go back to his book.
"What possibly could you have to get done? You're as forgotten as I am in this place!" Lorraine said smugly.
"For your information, I am trying to learn about mounts," Ryuji said matter of factly. He was surprised at how much he was acting like a child, what a strange day.
"Oh really?" Lorraine said, "the boy without a mount wants to learn about them?" Lorraine flicked her hand upward and as she did so her eyes glowed a light violet color, the book on the table jumped into the air and into Lorraine's hands; telekinesis. "What kind of mount does the estranged boy want to know about today," Lorraine said reading the page. Her face went from wickedly smug to a smile that would make even the grinch cringe, "a drake?? You want to learn about drakes! Could you have chosen a worse mount to have interest in?" She said laughing.
Ryuji was annoyed but then a thought occurred to him, "what do you mean by that?" He said acting slightly dumb, he had to make sure she felt like she had the upper hand.
"Drakes are about the most dangerous mount one could take. Don't you know that the empress herself rides a dragon? To ride a drake is to consider yourself equal to the confidence and stature of the empress!" Lorraine said, putting her nose up proudly.
"And how would you know that?" Ryuji said, questioning her.
"Tsk," she scoffed, "are you really that dumb? Drakes are the symbol of house Twila."
Of course! Ryuji had forgotten her house. If there was anyone outside of a book that would know about the creatures it was her, as the only Twila he could interact with. "So if you know so much about drakes how exactly would someone Mount one…" Ryuji said, trying to be subtle.
"That's easy!" Lorraine said, "I didn't even grow up in the Twila house and I know that!…" she suddenly stopped in the middle of her gloat, "wait a minute…what's in it for me?"
Crap Ryuji thought. Lorraine had caught on. "What's in it for you? I don't actually believe you know anything about drakes!" Ryuji said, trying to rile her up.
"Nuh uh uh!" Lorraine replied, "that won't work. If you want to know so badly, then I gotta get something in return for the information." Lorraine looked quite proud of herself, it was incredibly annoying to Ryuji.
"Like WHAT!" He said he really was a child when he wanted to be, "you want me to put some books up? Cover your chores? This is extortion!" Ryuji slammed his hands on the table.
"Think of it as an exchange. If you really want to know how to mount a drake, that book isn't going to teach you what you want to know, but I can…if you will be my servant for…" Lorraine thought, "a week!"
"A week!" Ryuji exclaimed, "Lorraine, that's ridiculous, I'm one of the masters of his house!"
"You aren't even a real Lyondel, be my servant…or have fun looking through your books," Lorraine said, crossing her arms. This was obnoxious, there was no point in arguing with a ten year old. He didn't like the idea of it but he knew he didn't really have a choice, if he wanted to learn about mounting a drake it wasn't going to come through books, he needed experience.
"Fine…" he said defeated, "I'll be your servant…for one day."
"5 days," Lorraine's rebuttaled.
"3," Ryuji fought back.
"Done!" Lorraine extended her hand. Ryuji reluctantly shook it, he wasn't happy with this deal.
"I'm not going to kiss you if that's what you want," Ryuji said under his breath. But he realized he might have said it a little too loud. Lorraine had gone silent. His face had gone completely red. Something was wrong with her.
"FIND OUT ABOUT DRAKES ON YOUR OWN FOR ALL I CARE!" She yelled louder than Ryuji would have liked. Then stormed off out of the library slamming the door behind her.
Ryuji sighed and rested his head on the table. What an unpredictable girl.