Chapter 1387 (1/2)

Randidly looked at Mareen. The papers around them fluttered lightly, a counterpoint to the stillness of the two humans in the shack. Mareen looked at Randidly and her expression remained serious. So Randidly repeated his earlier question. “Huh?”

After a split second of studying Randidly’s face, Mareen’s expression twisted into a frown. “I hadn’t realized you put so much stock in gender roles, Mr. Ghosthound. I know that it is unusual, but… honestly, if I don’t do it, I have no idea how long I will need to wait for Naffur to propose, so… And these last few weeks with him… it’s like every second I feel his eyes light me up like I’m a firecracker-”

“No, it’s not that, it’s just…” Randidly tapped his fingers against the paper-covered tables. It was not the questions about who should propose to who or whether these teenagers were moving too quickly that gave Randidly pause. Why me? Why would I have any right to give away Naffur’s hand in marriage, even just setting aside everything else…

Although she might not have heard Randidly’s mental question, it seemed Mareen was becoming increasingly nervous that this would end up being a no from Randidly. He could see the fear of rejection widen her eyes and cause her jaw to tremble. So she spoke more quickly, as though she could overwhelm him into agreeing with her request. “Well as you know Naffur is an orphan and isn’t close to so many people… and you were the one that recognized his talent and took him in to be the head of the Order Ducis… so in a way, aren’t you like an adopted father to him? So I just thought…”

Ah, girl… Randidly kept his expression even, but inwardly he was twisting his stomach into knots. It wasn’t even me that found Naffur; it was Neveah. But when you talk about our relationship like that… I almost feel guilty that I have essentially thrown him to the wolves after naming him head of the Order Ducis. When he asks for help, I’ll freely give it, and I have always been generous about making image training opportunities, but when it comes to a personal relationship with Naffur…

Honestly, my personal relationships in general...

“So? Please?” This time, Mareen went down on one knee, as though she needed to ask for the blessing in the same manner that she would ask Naffur to marry her. It seemed that she realized the ridiculousness of what she was doing a full second after Randidly did, looking down at her. It was somewhat reassuring to see her face slowly heat toward redness. Due to her pale skin, her flush was very visible.

Neveah must have been paying close attention to Randidly’s emotions because she quickly interjected. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Yes it’s true you could have done better, but he has grown quite well into the role of leader of the Order Ducis if I do say so myself. We were busy. There was always so much to do.

A sad smile crossed Randidly’s face as he looked down at Mareen. We can’t keep using that as an excuse forever, Neveah. And also… I’m guessing from the fact you are paying attention to me that your experiments with the Bizarre Spike haven’t been going well.

Randidly could feel Neveah’s frustrations for a brief second, then she mastered her emotions. Between the two of them, she had much more self-control than he did. Rather than answer his question, however, she focused on the previous discussion. But even if Naffur is alright, what with you being his de facto father figure, I’m worried about Mareen. They often say that a lot of your sexual issues are a direct result of poor parenting… so considering your absenteeism in Naffur’s life… ah, poor Mareen...

Randidly was torn between amusement and annoyance. And what would you know about sexual issues, Neveah?

She snorted and went to continue their mental discussion, but Randidly signaled for her to stop. Instead, he looked at the young woman in front of him, watching the struggle between the desire to stand and stubbornness to see her ploy through play across Mareen’s face.

After a bit, Randidly sighed. “...honestly Mareen, I don’t know either of you very well. Because of that...”

Mareen’s face clouded. “So then…?”

“Then let's plan a dinner. For next week.” Randidly said softly. It was strange, but the young woman in front of him just seemed so… young. They were on completely different emotional wavelengths. Plus, to compare the amount of foolishness that must have possessed her in order to make this request seem reasonable to Randidly’s feelings for Vualla… “Let me see the two of you together. If I see in him what I see in you right now… then I’ll definitely agree. For all that it’s worth.”

After receiving Randidly’s tentative acceptance, Mareen sprung to her feet and put her arms around Randidly. Her wrists seemed so thin. Her skin was cool. Then she pulled away, thanking him the entire time, and retreated from Randidly’s island.

Even a few minutes after she left, Randidly still felt strangely strained standing there. Or perhaps it was better to say that he felt lost. Because that move by Mareen highlighted all the social connections in the world that Randidly didn’t usually experience. He could look down the Path he had not taken to get here.

Then he forced his breath out and shook his head.

Besides, Mareen’s arrival had been rather surprising, but it had brought one thing to his attention: how long he had been working on his Kharon Academy idea. It was to the point that Randidly had completely forgotten to do his daily training in the morning. The experience of losing himself in the task was freeing and humbling. However, Randidly was glad that he had been shaken out of his obsessive focus.

But the fact that it had stretched on for long enough that he missed his morning training meant that quite a bit of time had passed. It had now been two days and five hours since Captain Quill had assured Randidly that even at its most glacially slow, the task of cleaning up the remnant Nether forces would only take two days. And since Captain Quill had encouraged Randidly to ask him questions, Randidly had no qualms proceeding to the front of the Captain’s tent and announcing himself.