Chapter 7 - Starting Her Own Army (1/2)
Walking slowly, Reina sat next her mother. Her mother reaching out to hug her, a look of jealously flashes on her father's face.
”Lydis, how are you feeling?” Her mother releases her and pats her body being careful not to touch the area where her arm had been torn off.
”I'm fine mother.”
*ahem* ”Now on to the matter at hand. Lydis put your hand on this crystal.” Her father held out a round purple orb the size of her fist. Getting up she walked over to her father sweat forming on her head. ”When you touch it try to imbed slyphir into it.” Nodding her head, she touched the crystal. Feeling a warm and silky energy flow from her fingertips she tried directing it into the crystal. A few seconds passed before it shattered.
”Wh- Honey!” Her mother ran up and hugged Reina almost suffocating her. ”This is wonderful!” Her father was tearing up again.
”Lydis…” Now her father was hugging her. His face glowing with pride. ”Now, now she can protect herself.” His slight beard scratched at Reina's head. Stuck in their tight hold she was powerless to do anything except let them squash her in their hold. A moment passed, and a slight knock rapped against the door. Looking over Reina saw that it was the big man and the young man, each wearing a floor length cape that covered their bodies. Clearing his throat, the young man walked inside. Glaring at the men her mother and father squeezed her tighter. The young man walked to them and kneeled to Reina.
”Young miss, please be satisfied with the punishment.” He removed his cape and he was missing his right arm. Head bowed he glanced over at the big man, a scowl appeared on his face. ”Roland get your a- *ahem*, body, over here.” He hissed at the other man. Shrugging the big man walked over and kneeled like the young man did and removed his cape in the process. Reina saw that he had also gotten his right arm removed. Bowing his head, the big man continued where the young man had left off.
”I have allowed harm to come to the young miss. If you're not satisfied with this discipline, please correct our mistake.” The big man's voice was deep, like a low hum of a machine. Reina looked at her parents 'What's happening' plastered on her face.
”Lydis dear, they have been punished for allowing you to get hurt. It's only natural.” Her father replied. She looked back at the kneeling men.
”Well, if they don't have both arms how can they protect me?” Lydis pulled out her best puppy eyes. Her parents looked at their daughter with questioning eyes. ”And if they aren't able to do that because of the punishment then whose fault is it?” Her parents began to think about it too. Silently her mother whispered,
”…us…” Reina nodded her head and pointed to the men's missing arms.
”They need their weapons to protect me, and they need their arms to use their weapons.” Looking pleased Lydis reached over to the kneeling men and placed one hand on each of their shoulders.
”You are my protectors since young, I will not allow your service to end here as I'm selfish like that.” Smiling she turned back to her parents. ”Is it possible to have their arms back?” Speechless her parents looked at her. Her mother reached out to touch her hair.
”L-Lydis, are you alright?”
”What do you mean mother?”
”Well, it's just, you're acting so… mature.” Rubbing her red hair her mother's face continued to fill with worry.
”Don't worry mother. I have just had my eyes opened to a new light.” She smiled again, and her parents didn't question further. Turning away and whispering to one another her parents had a hushed talk, occasionally looking over their shoulder to look at Lydis and the two men. Reina turned over to talk with the two men.
”So, you're part of the 'no right arm club' now?” She waved her nub of a right arm at them. ”Man-fairy and big dwarf. Seems about right.” Nodding her head in conclusion she ended it there.
”M-miss! My name is Derick. What is that man-fairy nonsense?” His face flushed as he tried to avoid that name. Roland on the other hand was laughing too hard. His loud booming laughter filled the silent hall.
”Man-fairy! Hahaha! What a perfect name!” He continued to laugh his head off.
”At least I'm not called a big dwarf. Dwarfs are known to be ugly, even they admit it.” Derick laughed to himself.
”I'm not ugly, right young miss?” He looked at her with puppy eyes, or at least what seemed to be puppy eyes. His beard and square jaw made it hard to call him cute. Especially the slight wrinkles in his face and the scar on his cheek.
”Uhhh…” Not sure what to say Reina turned away and commented on the tablecloth. A hurt look passed through Roland's face but it didn't last long as he turned his pain into anger that fueled his verbal assaults against Derick.
”Derick the man-fairy!” Laughing out loud once more he held onto his stomach. ”Well with your feminine features any man would be after you!” He wheezed as his lungs couldn't take in the amount of air he was using. ”Skin like silk, eyes like a lake, and long hair to boot! Watch out ladies, here comes the man-fairy!” His never ending mocking laughter angered Derick to the point where his face was like a tomato or maybe he was just embarrassed.
”Roland you better stop right there.” Gritting his teeth Derick clenched his fists.
”Oooh, what're you gonna do? Hit me with your noodle arms?” Roland continued to mock Derick.
”At least you're going to be alone for the rest of your life. And can you imagine a dwarf trying to act cute?” Derick mockingly laughed at Roland returning his insults.
”Better than becoming a toy for some noble with a pretty boy fetish.”
”Lies, you're just jealous of my good looks.” Derick flung his head in victory.
”Heh, you're just jealous of my muscles.” Roland flexed his bulking muscles.
”Your muscles are useless in battle. They get in the way.”
”Like you can do any better with your girly face.” Going head to head Roland and Derick continued to bicker with each other practically fighting. They didn't dare use their fists and weapons in the presence of their superior. Chuckling to herself Lydis turned away from them. Her head throbbing again. The sharp pain almost made her stumble forward but she caught herself on the table, trying to look as if she was just touching the tablecloth. The pain intensified, it's like her head was splitting open from the inside. Sweat formed on her head. Swaying she stumbled forward landing face first on the floor. Landing with a loud thud her parents and the two men looked at her with worry.