My wandering thoughts were interrupted when the lovely maid Fiona, sent by Alexander knocked gently on the door to announce her arrival. She paused, waiting for instructions. Engjell let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding and said softly, "Come in." Her voice was warm and inviting.
The door swung open, and in walked Fiona, the maid, followed by three others. One of them was Lucretia, the potion brewer. Knowing Alexander, he must have sent her to personally brew a calming potion instead of just sending one from the treasury. The other two maids, Fiona and Lucia, were there to assist with her bath, while Tamara, her personal masseuse, headed off to prepare for her massage after the bath.
"My lady," they all bowed together with sweet smiles before straightening up to look to her for permission.
Engjell returned their eagerness with a gentle smile. "Please help me prepare the bath. Lucretia, I would really appreciate a calming potion, and maybe an invigorating one too for my bath," she said, her tired smile radiating warmth. After all, she was known for her constant smiles.
The maids responded with shy grins, with the exception of Lucretia, who chuckled with amusement. Fiona and Lucia hurried off to fill the tub, and Tamara bowed before stepping away to get everything ready for the massage.
Engjell rolled her eyes playfully at Lucretia, who was lingering a bit too long. "Well, that doesn't seem very lady-like, now does it?" she teased, Lucretia loved to push Engjell's buttons.
Lucretia grinned back mischievously. "You do know I'm your Miss, right? Just in case you've forgotten what that means. It means you serve me, and this isn't quite how a loyal servant should act!" she replied with mock seriousness.
"Based on the lively energy you're showing me right now, I'd say you're doing just fine! You definitely don't need any of my potions," Lucretia shot back playfully, letting Engjell's mock threats roll off her like water. After all, this was just their usual banter.
"Ugh! You're such a pest sometimes. So, how's Severus doing?" Engjell asked playfully, eager to shift the conversation away from their lighthearted banter. She and Lucretia had grown up side by side, making them practically sisters. Lucretia had witnessed Engjell transform from a shy, reserved child into the confident young lady she was now. She wasn't just another servant in the household; she was truly Engjell's friend and companion. Their bond was so strong that they didn't bother with the formalities typically seen among the members of Austrean and Aurean society.
Lucretia raised an eyebrow, a smile playing on her lips. "I see what you're trying to do, but I'll bite! Well, Lord Victory Severus is still as insufferable as ever." She emphasized 'Lord Victory Severus' with a playful sigh. He was the Austrean heir who had awakened her at the convention, leading to her discovery of her dual spirit and plant-type abilities, specificallising as a witch.
Meanwhile, Lucretia had been pondering about settling down with an Aurean. After some contemplation, she decided on a charming warrior named Sebastian. He was an Air mage and quite talented—a true gem among the noble blue-blooded Aureans—earning him the title of Baron.
People were still puzzled about how a servant of a Viscount could catch the eye of a Baron, but that wasn't the main concern. The challenge lay in the fact that the Aurean heir, who was of equal rank to Engjell's father, had refused to bless their union, putting a wrench in their plans for the future.
"What's your next move?" Engjell asked, genuinely sympathetic but aware that there wasn't much she could do to change the situation.
"Honestly, there's not much I can do except keep asking Lord Severus for his blessing. If he remains stubborn, then I guess we'll just have to wait," Lucretia said, her voice tinged with frustration. "But enough about that! Alexander wouldn't stop talking about how exhausted you were. Judging by the look on your face, I think he might have exaggerated a bit." She held her wrist and fitted a device she had on it, clicking her tongue in mock concern as she read the results.
"Well, that was kind of my fault. I didn't want to sit through one of his usual monologues about how incredible the convergence is, so I pretended to be tired. Truth is, I was a little fatigued," Engjell admitted sheepishly, feeling her friend's scrutinizing gaze.
"Are you telling me he summoned my highly
Sort after self just because you faked a headache?" Lucretia teased, her playful tone bringing a smile to Engjell's face.
Before Engjell could respond, Lucia stepped out of the bathroom, signaling that they had finished preparing her bath. Engjell nodded in acknowledgment, sharing a knowing glance with Lucretia.
Lucretia rolled her eyes in good humor but willingly helped her friend. She guided Engjell to the flower-scented bath and selected a random bottle from her bag, pouring the contents generously into the large tub.
Engjell, regaining her composure as a lady, dismissed the maids with a wave of her hand. Lucretia made a playful "talk later" gesture as she exited with the other maids, leaving Engjell to enjoy her relaxing bath.
Engjell nodded in agreement, divested herself of her airy clothing, and stepped into the bath with a satisfied sigh, remarking to herself about what a life worth living it was.
Engjell's mind wandered back to the convergence, but this time it focused on the various abilities that were awakened during that pivotal event.
Abilities are categorized into four main types: Elementals, Spirits, Mutants, and Shape Shifters.
Elementals are further divided into several types: Water Mages (light blue), Earth Mages (dark brown), Fire Mages (red), Air Mages (gray), Thunder Mages (purple), Lightning Mages (violet), Plant Mages (green), Light Mages (white), and Dark Mages (black).
Spirits possess incredibly powerful souls and can use their soul energy in unique ways. This category includes Empaths (warm yellow), those with Intuitive Aptitude (deep blue), Astrals (pink), Witches (scarlet red), Warlocks (wine red), Illusionists (ashes), and those with Telekinesis (gold). These abilities are classified as special grade, and only a select few are capable of awakening them.
Mutants are beings that exhibit physical enhancements, making them stronger, faster, and often larger than the average Auroran. Among them, the Giants are particularly notable; their mutations are primarily physical rather than mental. Giants, though intimidating and quick to anger, can control their size, a fortunate trait, as their destructive potential can level entire towns if not restrained. Other physical mutations include Superhuman Strength, Speed, Flight, Invisibility, and many more.
Shape Shifters are categorized into several types as well, including Dragon Kin, Werewolves, Vampires, and Beast-Kin. While Beast-Kin are considered Shape Shifters, they have a distinct ability to communicate with and merge with intelligent mystical beasts.
Austreans, on the other hand, remain largely mysterious. They seldom engage in battle, typically leaving the front lines to the Aureans. However, when an Austrean does participate, they make a singular, decisive move that often concludes the battle. Their power is such that an Aurean of equal rank would struggle to compete.
As Engjell soaked in the bath, she felt her tense muscles begin to relax. It seemed Lucretia had added a calming potion to the water, which she appreciated as she scrubbed her skin. Submerging herself, she held her breath for several moments before resurfacing. Gazing into the rippling water, she noticed her bright orange eyes. In her world, both Aureans and Austreans have eyes that match the color of their blood.
To clarify, if your blood is blue, your eyes will reflect that hue. All unawakened Aureans have orange eyes, which are the result of their orange blood, alongside their hair color that resembles that of their parents. Upon awakening their powers, their hair color changes to reflect their abilities. For instance, a Plant Mage would have green hair.
Once finished with her bath, Engjell slipped her feet into soft fur-lined flats and wrapped herself in a bathrobe, carefully towel-drying her hair. She exited her expansive washroom, turning right to open the door where her masseuse awaited.
Tamara quietly assisted her in removing the bathrobe, offering a towel which Engjell gratefully accepted. She tied the towel around herself and lay down silently as Tamara began her gentle work, allowing Engjell's eyes to drift closed in relaxation.
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