Chapter 18 Holy Artifact? No Thanks (1/2)

Author's notes: So after three weeks, finally a new chapter! I didn't drop it! So, i owe an explanation. Two things happened: My mother got hospitalized for ketoacidosis so everyone freaked out and I stayed with her for three days at the hospital, overnight, going hungry and ripening with every day since no one ever brought me a damn change of clothes--thank god for body spray, i guess. She's good now. Had to go call paramedics when she had too low blood sugar a week later, yeah, but its alright now. Scared the shit outta my brother tho sinceher jaw was locked and that was pretty. terrifying.

Second, my cousin. Again, the hospital. This time I brought clothes. She almost died giving birth. Had to do a c-section, it got infected, docs tell us she has to do rehab and make sure it stays clean otherwise she could still die. Baby is fine though.

Third, which i know is more than two, i had writers block for the last five days likely due to all that shit mentioned above. Just been dicking around trying to get past it, unwind and all that. Rewrote this chapter literally ten times. Finally happy with what I got.

So, yeah. Lots of stuff hit all at once, so im sorry for the delay, but priorities, you know?

I dont like making excuses though, just feel that after all the support you guys gave and how much you're liking the story i at least owe you an explanation for the sudden disappearing act.

Also i made a new story. More of a fan fiction, really. Im not the original author, i just liked his story and he never continued it so after seeing the guy around kissmanga and confirming its him I asked if i could make my own version. Which i actually had for a while, a least a few rewritten chapters, that i never published since i couldnt get ahold of him before now.

It's currently called the Last King but i dunno if imma keep the title. Anyway here's the link to the story. I make no promises i will release it often but i think it's a fun little project to do. Hell I may not even finish it myself either but, well, like i said i think its fun and i also think my writing is a lot more free in that story so if nothing else i hope you guys enjoy what comes out of it.

Anyway, onto the chapter.

**********

”That's enough for the day.”

Those were the first words out of the man's mouth in the past three hours.

The sentence was accompanied by a pair of cold, hawk-like eyes that pierced through the bleak light and sent shivers down the spine.

The owner of which was a man with ink-black hair and sharp, handsome features standing calmly above my battered frame

The way he was completely unscathed and not shedding even a single drop of sweat was incomprehensibly annoying.

Now understandably anyone with half a brain would be terrified of the guy who'd just beat them black and blue without a single flicker of mercy.

But me? I was totally up for round 56.

”What, done already?” I challenged.

Strongest swordsman in the world? Terror of the East and West? Reaper of ten thousand honorable souls?

Yeah, none of those things frightened me at all.

I didn't give a damn who you were, you couldn't shoot sword energies at me so many times and expect me to not be just a little bit resentful about it.

His mother is one of my former clients, dammit. I refuse to be treated like this by a Mihawk wannabe!

”No, but you are.” He sheathed his blade. ”Get up and go take a bath. We'll continue after breakfast.”

I thought we were done....

”Carry me.” I held up my hands like a child wanting his dad to hold him. Considering I was laying on my back with my clothes all torn up it was decidedly less than cute.

”Fool.” He coldly turned his back.

No one does that to me.

”I'll make you my son, dammit.”

But Sir Marcus Kane had no time for my threats, no matter how feasible they may be. I swore to rekindle my past association with a certain finely-aged Milf sometime in the future...

In the meantime though I dragged my poor beaten self off the ground, gave my body a good pat, and walked towards the Castle.

”Good morning, Young Master.”

I felt my skin crawl. ”Will you stop that already?!”

”Oh? Whatever do you mean?” Vera's figure appeared from out of the ether. The sun rose at her back, casting her in a dark silhouette. Her beautiful, unchanging face was hidden by shadow.

”Forget it.” I said, knowing she wouldn't give me a straight answer anyway.

She and Dolly had shown up here a few days ago without warning. I don't even know how they got here, the two of them had just been conjured from thin air while Minerva tended the garden--she'd spent most of her time there ever since we arrived, saying the place was calming. Gave the girl a fright.

I asked repeatedly but the two were tight-lipped. Actually Dolly was clueless too. She only said, ”My desire to see Day bent time and space to bring us together again.” Sounding quite sure of her hypothesis.

She went on to say, ”Little sisters truly are supposed to be by their big brother's side, right, Day?” As if that explained everything.

Which was heartwarming to hear but also complete nonsense.

”Dolly, I get you missed this Big Bro in the time we hadn't seen each other, but please understand. No matter how much you miss me, the laws of physics won't bend just because you got lonely!”

”Huh? But Day, all evidence points to the contrary, you know?” She had shot back, leaving me speechless.

At that time it was pretty hard to argue against it...

I suspected dark magicks at play. I wouldn't put it past Vera, this little she-devil.

As for the Prince and Princess, I hear they were still with Mother. Bonding, or something.

”Here you go, Young Master.”

Vera held out a clean white cloth.

”No thanks.” I politely refused. The girl always made a point to offer me a towel or handkerchief to wipe myself with after my training sessions even though I continued to refuse her every time.

The thought made me feel guilty, just a smidge. Maybe I should ease up on her a little? At least stop going straight to spanking all the time, if nothing else. The Devil's Left isn't something that should be taken out so readily, especially on a child, eh?

I resolved to attempt being a tad kinder and, unlike Sir Kane, merciful.

Afterall say what you will about her foul-mouthedness but she's still quite a considerate little girl.

And it's not like I don't appreciate the good intention. I just thought it was pretty useless, you know? I take baths after my sessions anyway so why would I need to use a towel? That'd just dirty it needlessly.

”As you please.” She promptly grabbed my shirt and tore it off, ruining all the goodwill I'd just built up for her in the last few seconds.

This little...

”Listen here you...” I got ready to smack her. Then stopped as I realized the shirt was messed up in the first place.

”I'll dispose of this properly.” She held the tattered, blood-and-sweat-stained garment as far from her body as possible. I caught a faint gleam in her eye, obviously disgust.

It was pretty damp. And ripe. Couldn't blame her.

”Thanks.” I coughed, again feeling a pang of guilt. It's the small things like this that get me.

”And what were you going to say, Young Master?”

”Nevermind that.”

Okay, okay, fine.

Perhaps I really do need to cut back on punishing her.

....As weird as it sounds though I feel like somewhere along the line hitting her just became a habit. And I have no idea when it started either.

Wait...Now that I think of it something doesn't seem right...

”Young Master, your pants are also fairly damaged.”

My train of thought broke instantly.

I looked down and saw my pants were indeed a lot more breezy than they should've been. I was glad I sent Baz to fetch me some more clothing the day previous.

See, that's partly why I normally don't like coming here. Not even my clothes can catch a break!

”So?”

”So...” She trailed off, nose wrinkling in displeasure.

Failing to understand what she wanted at all, we ended up in a weird stare-down for several moments before I decided it was best not knowing.

This Big Bro had no interest in the thought processes of oddball little girls like her. Yeah.

***

”You've improved again.” Sir Kane noted.

It was an hour after our second sparring session when he'd called me to his Study at the highest floor of the Castle. He sat comfortably in a plush chair nestled near a blazing fire.

Not sure why but it was always little nippy in the Castle. Fires were sorta necessary.

He looked so posh and snobby just sitting there drinking wine like he hadn't a care in the world.

”Doesn't feel like it, but thanks.” I grumbled, not pleased at all with his praise. To be honest I didn't even like using swords these days. So...vanilla, you know?

We need to find ourselves a real weapon.

”Anyway take this and go kill the Ogre holed up in the nearby caves.”

On a small table was a knife. It was definitely a knife.

Ogres were decendants of war weapons from eras past. They were not as deadly as their ancestors but they had pretty thick skin and could probably turn a car into a smooth, crease-less ball of steel with their hands alone.

Sending me to go off one with a knife alone...

”Are you stupid?” I asked, seriously concerned.

Sir Kane took another sip of his wine. ”I'll pretend I didn't hear that.” He replied. ”Don't worry, that place has something I'm sure you'll appreciate. Whether or not you can take it will depend entirely upon your own virtue, however. Such as they are.”

Something? That was fucking vague, now wasn't it? What does he mean, something?

I couldn't imagine what he'd think I could want in some dusty old c--Hold up.

Ogres, he said....He can't mean THAT, right?

I had a feeling I knew exactly what he was talking about. Oh. Oh yes. Now I'm interested.

”Oh buddy, just you wait till I get back. I'm gonna pound you so hard.” I promised. If what was in that cave is what I think it is, it'd suit me perfectly. With that in hand I'm positive Icould show this asshole what-for.

The thought of beating him up after all these years of abuse was almost arousing. This time HIS face was going to be black and blue!

”We'll see about that.” He looked out the window. ”If you do manage to take the item I would like to study it for a time. I'll give it back once I'm done and you can do with it as you will.”

I dunnot why he'd wanna study that type of thing, but whatever. Maybe it was made of special stuff?

”Whatever. Just point me in the right direction.”

Things were gonna get a lot more fun

***

”He wants you to go beat the Ogre? The one that lives within Azalith Cavern?”

Vera, again. This girl didn't have anything better to do other than bug me?

I tied up my boots, put on my new red greatcoat, and took some snacks. The cave in question was only about a few hours away by horseback and I wasn't allowed other weapons so I didn't take the knives I usually kept.

Why do I keep knives on me? Well they were fun to throw and you never knew when you would need to open a letter or box of something. So I normally had at least one or two if I was gonna go out.

Anyway Vera had come and caught me when I was getting my things ready and had hounded me relentlessly trying to figure out where I was planning to go. Finally I had to give in.

”Yup. I'm gonna go get something neat from there.”

”I'm sure you are. If it's you then you'll likely be able to acquire it. But even if you can get it are you positive you can handle the responsibility it comes with? It's a heavy burden.”

”Once I commit to something, I do it. Don't worry, I'm pretty strong. I think I can lift it.” I was more certain of this than anything right now.

”You're unexpectedly motivated for once, Young Master.” She implied I was lazy, huh? Well I can't say I wasn't. But it wasn't so bad in this life, alright?

Vera was looking at me intensely. ”This doesn't have anything to do with that Minerva woman and her little kitten, does it? I know they think of you as some sort of Saint Damien or something.”

”Them? No, why would it? What's their devotion have to do with anything?”

”The thing you'd looking to get is, after all, a divine object. I was thinking perhaps you only want it to make yourself look good for them.”

...What's this girl talking about now? I had no time for any of her nonsense.

”You're a weird kid.” I told her. ” Alright, I'm done. Run along now. Wait, where's Dolly? And Baz? I haven't seen them for a while.”

It was really odd. Actually I haven't seen Evie or Minnie either. Not since breakfast at least.

”Oh he's busy trying to stop a war from breaking out, think nothing of it.”

”What? War? The hell is going on?”

”You'll find out eventually. Just concern yourself with the task at hand.”

”...This is about Evie and Dolly, isn't it?”

”As always the Young Master is perceptive only after shits already hit the fan.”

That wasn't fair, I was just busy these days! That bastard keeps me up all day and night! If I knew freeloading at his place meant getting beat up THIS much I'd have picked somewhere else to live.

...Although this is one of the only places I felt Mother couldn't spy on me. So I sorta hadn't many choices....

Mother had a pretty scary information network. I didn't know how she did it but I noticed a pattern of her knowing things she shouldn't quite often.

Like Minnie and Evie's origins. And my escapade with the King. Also that one time with Count Zemo's burning stables that caused his place to smell like shit for a solid three days. That one was really a surprise because Jacob was there too and it was dark and how THE FUCK did she know I was the one who threw that candle?

I hadn't noticed before but recent events kept me on my toes.

Mother had met Sir Kane on several occasions and the two seemed on guard against each other for some reason so I assumed she wouldn't be snooping near his place, or couldn't even if she tried since it was out in the middle of nowhere.

All grasslands and graveyards and only a few small towns that kept to themselves.

”Let me guess, she's jealous?”

”And the other think she's an ungrateful, spoiled brat.”

As one of my ”devout believers” Evie may be a little hostile to Dolly after seeing how she acted with me. I couldn't really blame the kid either.

She never had what Dolly had. If she stayed at our own home and saw all the things Dollygrew up with she may have been even more resentful.

”Sounds bad.”

”She think her beloved brother,” The two words sounded incredible sarcastic and insulting when she said them, ”Is slowly being taken away from her. Of course she'll react badly. You should've seen how she was before we got here.”

”We've always been close, yeah.”

Evie had a point, in more ways than one. Dolly IS spoiled. I know since I'm the one who always spoiled her. And she was spoiled not just by me, but with me.

The kid and me were two peas in a pod. I can barely remember a time when we were seperated for longer than a few hours.

Maybe having a fight with Mother and leaving for several days was a bit too much for her to handle. She was pretty attached to me, I had to admit.

Our relationship as brother and sister was tight, if I do say so myself! I think my previous worries were ridiculous. I was a great big bro.

It was a little saddening to think I never had this kind ofwarm relationship with my past sister, though.

”I should've expected this situation.” I sighed.

Evie, in the days since I've know her and Minnie, has also grown to like me as a Master. I treated them well and cooked delicious food for them. I've talked to them a bit and gotten to know them better these past few days too.

I wanted to court Minnie but I wanted to be her friend first, and Evie's.

I don't think they've ever had that before, a friend. Not to mention I was their saviour.