The day after we arrived home was filled with errands. I woke up with Alisson after having bathed last night – It feels really good to be nice and clean again – I then followed Alisson's morning routine while he was in the city, which started with a couple hours lifting weights and drilling. Since we know we won't be fighting for our lives for the entire day, we can exhaust our energy all at the beginning of the day to maintain our readiness; It was novel to me. Afterwards, Alisson and I picked out some clothes from his wardrobe to wear.
It was weird to wear things that weren't armor, but I felt girly for the first time in a long time. Alisson looks really nice in noble clothes…Since I really didn't have much other than my training uniform given to me from the Academy, Alisson lent me some of his older clothes – They fit me quite well.
I nuzzled the collar of my tailcoat, thinking that Alisson had worn it too, long ago. Alisson said I'll have to pay a visit to the tailor at some point before we depart to get proper clothes made for me. Before leaving the Nuam compound of the city, Alisson wanted to pay a visit to the library. While he quickly outlined the draft of his formal report on our prior mission, he instructed me to gather books on a select realm.
The realm of enhancement. Becoming stronger. No books on sword play, or muscle growth – But texts on powers and magics that would give you an edge in combat. I asked Alisson about it, and he remarked that it was prudent for us to keep in mind further avenues of increasing our fighting power. Our techniques and bodies were probably near the peak of what was achievable for us; Thus, external and unorthodox means were now our greatest modes of becoming stronger. Powers that, to others, would be unattainable. Topics that strayed between the lines of legend and fantasy…To Sidonia, such methods were looked down upon;
Sidonians prided themselves on a disciplined understanding of straightforward techniques. That was to say, they fought without relying on magic or magic items, and anything that didn't produce grounded results, was discarded.
To an outside observer, this further pursuit of power seemed frivolous, but I knew the reason for it. The Nuam archives, as expansive as they may be, aren't all-encompassing; Alisson said that if we have the chance to browse other sources of information on similar subjects, then we should.
Leaving the Nuam compound, we visited a barber first and foremost. Our hair had grown out of control in the months without proper tending, Alisson looks like a girl and my hair is really long, it's not supposed to go past my shoulders…Well it's not only the length but it's also a mess, obviously. We can't see nobles with hair like this. After an uneventful trip to a barber, Alisson was far more handsome and I was far less primitive. We then paid a visit to the armory in the Rolaign, that held specialized weapons and requisitionable gear. We went there to deposit our armor and weapons and spent magical items, so that they could be tended to and prepared for the next mission. The quartermasters very obviously gawked at our ruined armor – Such armor was probably deposited by the dead more often than not.
Alisson advised that I should take the time earlier rather than later to put in a word with the smiths regarding my weapons and armor – There were a lot of changes I had learned that I wanted done up in the north, not all of them crucial, but they would certainly be nice. Thus, I had some homework to do in writing up some requisition papers for myself. Next, was onto the real reason we left Nuam compound…Politics.
After a full day of being in the city, meeting with nobles and keeping up appearances for the Nuam house, and eating out – A welcome luxury I'd forgotten – Alisson and I both had one last meeting toward the end of the day. Alisson wanted to informally meet with Lente Li Arquis, the head of science in Sidonia and a childhood friend of his, to discuss his findings on our mission, and to touch base in general.
I however, had the choice of going to my graduating year's send-off party. Alisson said I should go, since it was prudent that I could do things on my own in the social sense. Even if I end up just sitting around not talking to anyone, at least I'll have been there.
It'll probably be more interesting than sitting behind Alisson like a dog all day in meetings with nobles. They all gave me funny looks, and some asked why Alisson had brought a lowly apprentice along with him to these important meetings. I understood where they came from. It was odd; The whole day, Alisson was treating me like an adult, like a fellow 51st, like a friend, and not like a student. It was completely different to the last time I was in Sidonia.
I pushed my thoughts out of my head. Right now, I need to be presentable! I might not have the reputation of my family to guard, but now, I have Alisson's reputation to guard, being his apprentice. So, entering the gathering of apprentices, I kept my chin high.
The whole thing was meant to be secretive. The location reflected this: It was in the sewers underneath the capital. I met up with Oda and navigated the large service tunnels under the city to find the gathering point. In contrast to the industrial, rusting, dirty sewers; the room was cleanly and soft, and very childish. It seems the apprentices responsible for putting on the event had retrofitted an unused room with several large improvements and furnished it with amenities.
Soft pink cloth coated the walls and magic lights shone brightly high in the ceiling. We had to take off our shoes because the carpet was a soft walkable fabric. Trays of treats and desserts were laid out across the room, and several groups of apprentices my age laughed and chatted with each other. I recognized most of them, though they seemed to be from all of the socialite groups of our class- I didn't see many of the reclusive, studious types like myself.
A few people who recognized me welcomed me in, if only because I was known as a good fighter back when I graduated. It was one of the given reasons I was assigned to Alisson as an apprentice. But most people gave me disinterest at best and disgust at worst. I found a quiet corner of the room while Oda went and chatted with other apprentices. I stared into the plate of treats I had been given.
The gathering went on, business as usual for a long time, without me having to say anything or do anything. I've never liked social outings. Alisson is all I need.
Someone in the center of the room, on a little elevated platform hit a glass with a spoon to get the attention of the crowd.
"I'd like to take moment to bring to everyone's attention, our very own Celistine Regadonia: The most notorious apprentice given that her master is none other than the fabled Alisson Vi Nuam…"
One of the more popular types said, indicating to me. I'd seen Oda and them conversing beforehand, and with Oda smiling at me from a distance, it seems this was probably put on by her.
"…But that's not all," The prominent apprentice went on, "Celistine here survived a trip all the way up north, encountering Sidonia-knows-what kinds of troubles and monsters!"
The crowd ooh'ed and aah'ed.
"Would you like to make any remarks, Celistine?" The apprentice motioned for me to come to him, and take the stage.
I showed a shy smile and shook my head no, waving my hand back and forth a little.
"It's probably classified, I get it…But-! There is something you can show us!" The apprentice went on, "Your skill in combat! Here before me we have one of our most distinguished fellow graduates, why he slew a Gold Knight just last month!"
The apprentice went on to explain this other apprentice, who was something of a big deal, apparently. He was large, his shoulders broad, and he had a cocky smile. I didn't bother internalizing any of their names. It didn't matter.
"So, why not some fisticuffs? Come forward, come forward!"
The apprentices were all worked up now, and it was hard to refuse. I guess they were making me fight the biggest, baddest guy they could find. Maybe they all had something to prove, to make themselves feel better; to watch the apprentice that was assigned to a famous master get beaten. Something like that. I eyed Oda as I rose to the guy before me. She was watching with great interest.
In standing, I made apparent I was just as tall as him. I looked over his body. I was probably more muscular than him. It wasn't right to call him a man yet, but he wasn't a boy either. He rose his fists and took a stance, smirking at me. I did the same, giving a shy and nervous smile.
After they said start, the guy swung for me. I can't believe I actually had my guard up for this. I stepped forward into his swing, and tilted my face to the side, his fist missing me by a paper. In stepping forward though, I let his chest collide with my collar, and I immediately let myself fall backwards onto my butt.
I sat, rubbing my head with a little smile as everyone cheered the guy. He looked a little confused, but it looked like no one else even suspected that I wasn't actually hit by anything.
I heard a few of them quip about me,
"I guess she really was dead-weight for Alisson that whole time!"
"What a letdown…"
"She'll never be a 51st, there's no way she deserves to be Alisson's apprentice…"
But, after a minute or so, the jeers were replaced by something else. I was glad – their comments pricked at me more than I care to admit.
The more popular and viceful ones in the room, the ones who had beamed only scorn and disgust at me for what I can only assume is for jealous reasons, now smiled, satisfied by what they had seen. Over the next hour, the amount of people who approached to speak with me rose from zero. Whereas earlier they had shot nervous glances at me, they now approached with warm smiles, asking me questions about what life was like, if anything interesting had happened on my escapades, and what kind of person Alisson was.
They asked things like if I'd ever seen an orc before, or an angel. I had seen both, but I neglected to tell them the truth. They also asked about what the countries were like in the north. This, I could say plainly: That they were terrible places to live, and could hardly be called countries.
I continued to give non-answers and spoke without really saying anything, but I apparently did a good job of it, because the apprentices seemed to like talking with me. I found myself smiling a little, my cheeks flushed with some sort of social excitement. The night thereon was entertaining and by the books.
Some apprentices spoke of their times with their masters so far, and any exciting encounters they had, and so on. A few other apprentices also playfully fought with each other, sizing each other up and seeing who had grown stronger in the time since we'd left schooling. The apprentices who had gone into more civil sectors like the smiths, artisans, or engineers mostly kept to their own circles, largely discussing their fields and various logistics topics. Their topics of conversation were far more mature than those of the rest of the room.
With that realization I was grimly reminded of the plain fact that the combat orientated apprentices here would not all survive the coming years. The civil service ones would continue to operate the Sidonian military machine while their friends went and died on the frontlines. It's not like I actually cared about anyone in the room, but I felt bad; knowing that I couldn't very well protect all their smiling, innocent faces. They didn't know what they were getting into. They didn't know anything. I smiled bittersweetly to myself. I was complicit in maintaining their innocence as well; But I had a veil of secrecy to confide within Alisson.
Eventually the meeting started to come to a slow close. Apprentices started crying in each other's arms even, perhaps subconsciously realizing that this might be the last time they would see many, if any, of their friends again. Oda approached me, apparently laid back and satisfied with herself. She had spent the night talking with a few select apprentices, out of earshot from me specifically. It seemed less like they were catching up and more like they were making plans. At least, that was just me, I might just be paranoid. But I can't help but notice that Oda's body language said that she was far more eased around me; she didn't feel the same need as before to keep herself defensive around me. I could discern that in the time it took for her to talk to me.
"Enjoyed yourself, Celis?"
"Mm."
"Well…I know I said I'd take you to see Ukuri but the thing is, her condition has gotten quite a bit worse, I don't think we should see her until she gets a little better."
I gave her a shrug. I always liked Ukuri better. Oda was just the annoying one who added dumb quips in; But Ukuri talked to me with sparkles in her eyes of genuine friendship. She was quite extroverted. I can't say I didn't enjoy her company, at least secretly.
"Well anyway, there's something I've been wanting to talk to you about, come on, walk with me."
We made our exit from the party and once we were in a more secluded part of the sewer tunnels, she picked up again, "So, how has your master, how has Alisson treated you?"
"Fine. Why?"
I gave her a blank stare.
"It's just that, well…Popular masters like that tend to be really rough on their apprentices, you know, since they have to make you so much better than all your fellow apprentices, since it's their reputation, right..."
"I guess." I looked away down the tunnel. My teeth started to clench.
"He's been a pretty bad master to you, hasn't he? You look, well…different. He hasn't hurt you, has he? I know they say Alisson is known to be a very gentle soul, but there's all these rumors about him that he's this crazy loyal servant who'd slit your throat if he even thought you were going against Sidonia…That, and I've done some research on him, and I was thinking that since his master was Serendipity, that must've left some sort of long-lasting scars on him…"
I grinded my teeth together. How dare you imply that Alisson hasn't taken care of me-!
My eye twitched a little, more like a flutter.
"So, if he's had any craziness done onto him by his older sister during his training," Oda continued, "Then I thought there might be a chance that he'd take something out on you. Besides," She motioned to me, "You know the rumors about him, right? About all of his former apprentices dying in terrible, horrific ways…You'd think he would've prepared them better, or maybe he set them up to be suicide-driven freaks or something…So I've just been worrying about you…"
My fist tightened slowly, but intensely.
I took a small breath of air, which looked like a sigh from the outside, trying to calm myself.
"Not all of them died though." I put in suddenly. "Leukini Al Suzu is still alive, and that was his most recent apprentice."
I've never met her. Alisson told me that Leukini hated him for her entire apprenticeship.
"Well yeah…" Oda conceded. "I haven't heard much about her though. I think she was attached to some frontline unit or something, which is weird, because being the apprentice of someone like Alisson should land you a spot in one of the elite units, but…"
We exited the service tunnels and got to the surface. Curfew would soon be in effect, and apprentices like us shouldn't be seen out in the streets this late. Despite this, Oda wanted to continue talking with me, so offered to follow me back to the Nuam compound. Having her enter Alisson's home was a definite no-no, so I said yes but resolved to end the conversation before we reached our destination.
"So, have you ever thought to, well…Stand up for yourself?"
My eyes narrowed at her. I caught myself and straightened my expression.
"No... What are you suggesting?"
"Well…You still didn't give me an answer. How does Alisson treat you?"
"I already told you. He treats me fine. I don't think anything of it."
Oda rose a hand to her temple, and muttered to herself, "Airheaded and a sucker…"
"What?" It took everything for that to not come out as an angry growl.
"It's nothing." She rolled her eyes. "Maybe you really can't do anything on your own after all…Why did you even come out here today?"
"What kind of a question is that?"
"Ugh…" Oda sighed again. "You know what? Never mind... have a nice night. I'll head back to my dorm now…"
Oda turned and gave me a wave. I stared at her with sharp eyes as she walked away, not even looking back at me once. My teeth were grinding hard. I continued on to the Nuam compound. I got behind one of the perimeter walls near the keep, and silently put my back against it. No one was around.
After a moment of looking up into the star-filled night sky, I clenched my hand and punched the brick wall next to me, my Opensen activating in the same motion. The explosive force made a small crater in the wall, and bits of stone fell from my knuckles.
"Damnit!" I shouted out at the sky, growling.
Just who the fuck does that piece of shit think she is!?
A million thoughts ran through my head as I grinded my knuckles into the wall. I wasn't wearing any gauntlets or armor. Realizing what I was doing after a couple of seconds, I pulled my hand back. My skin was cut up and abraded, but it's not like my bones are so weak as to break from that. I blew a heavy burst of air through my nostrils.
I would never hurt Alisson. He would never hurt me. He's trained me well. I love him. Some third-rate piece of shit brat like you isn't going to do a thing to change my mind. The arrogance and ignorance of that little…
I took a deep breath, and my body slackened.
…
It wasn't long until Alisson got home. When he entered the door I fell into his arms, not even waiting for him to take his coat off.
"Alisson…" I whined. "It was terrible…I hated it!" I shook my head vigorously.
Alisson smiled wryly as he handed his coat to a servant. "But it sounds like you managed it."
He pet my head. I giggled and activated my Opensen, my tails wagging behind me.
"I did." I beamed at him. "I kept a mask on and didn't say or reveal anything!"
Alisson nodded in satisfaction, and kept petting my head. "And I met with Lente. The results were, acceptable, but I was hoping for more…"
I backed away from him. "So, we can't…talk to him?"
Alisson shook his head. "No, we shouldn't. I wasn't able to ascertain his mind. The artifacts we recovered though, I handed over to him – He seemed quite happy about them, so I think we did a good job of picking good pieces to bring to the homeland."
I nodded to Alisson, the once raging fire of my joy at seeing Alisson gradually cooling down to burning embers. I hesitantly looked to one of Alisson's servants, rubbing my cheek guiltily.
"By the way…I might've put a hole in the wall outside…"
She looked at me with wide eyes, but frowned soon after, perhaps choosing not to question it.
"Sorry…"
Ignoring the meetings and antics of the day, tomorrow will be important.
It'll be my last day as Alisson's apprentice.
***