29 Meeting New People (2/2)
”I'm Maria~!”
”Though I like calling her little rabbit!” piped in Cordelia.
”She does remind me of a rabbit. We best meet up with the others; I just got my hands on a quest offering a hefty reward. The rest of the party are waiting for us at Bay Tavern,” urgently addressed Paige. Upon hearing the words 'quest' and 'rewards,' Maria couldn't help but ask,
”Wait... Are you two adventurers?”
”Yep! I'm the leader of the adventurer party, Outlaws.” Paige introduced herself.
'Wow, a real adventure!' Maria had always heard of them of many fantasy genre anime she had read back in her old, but this was her first seeing on in the flesh.
Cordelia and Paige exchanged a few more words with Maria before both became aware of the time and made a hasty exit, though not before addressing Maria.
”It was nice meeting Cordelia's savior. I hope we can meet again!” said Paige.
”See ya, little rabbit~!” Cordelia blew her a kiss and winked as Maria waved them good-bye, watching as they disappeared down the streets.
”It seems like I made two new friends today. Today was nice~! Now let's head back so I can try out these religieuses.” Maria ran off ahead with Kuroka and Shirone distressingly yelling out to her as they ran to catch up.
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”This Paige seems really interesting. I think I have heard that name somewhere before... Hmm on well! Hey, Maria wants to hear how your mother's mom first met you dad?” Once back at the manor, Maria sat next to her mother, sharing her dessert as they talked. Spending some quality mother and daughter time together.
”Sure!”
”Yay! You see unlike your father, I did not attend the academy. I was home-schooled by teachers sent to my home and was trained by your grandpa. When I was still training, your grandpa sent me out on a mission. A mission I was determined to succeed if a certain smartass hadn't gotten in my way back then. Now I love your Papa, but when we first met, I thought of him as nothing more than an arrogant smartass that I despised.”
Maria was shocked by her mother's blunt confession, unable to believe that there was actually a time where the sweet overly affectionate woman felt such contempt for her father. Especially with the way those two were always acting so lovey-dovey with each other by constantly showering each other with affection in their own individual ways.
”Your father attending the academy when we first met, and students from the academy tend to not leave behind the best of impressions. Then again what do you expect from a bunch of rich spoiled brats, not that my adorable Micheal and Maira are anything like that.” Maria sweatdropped at the way her mother proudly defended her children.
'Mom, that's favoritism.'
”You see, while the academy doles out missions to their students, none of them are life-threatening. The academy is filled with children from noble class families who have no problem raining down hell if their child's life is in danger.” This was something Maria could understand, having witnessed the behavior behind the children at the academy and the majority were spoiled rotten.
”Only guilds receive a highly dangerous request. Now don't get me wrong, no matter how much I dislike the thought, there will be times when you will come back from a mission injured but never will it be life-threatening. The academy has a last resort item, issued out to students once they enter the Middle School Division, stopping this from happening.”
Listening to her mother, Maria was reminded of the words her grandfather concerning the students only taking mission from wealthy and not the poor. She realized how the academy coddle the students, their enrollment as Diamon Academy student was nothing more but a trophy with no real achievement behind it.
”Oh, look at the time! Time for someone to get to bed as me and you are going on a shopping spree tomorrow, but not before getting brunch and-Oh! Maybe we can even get mani-padi's!”
Listening to her mother list out all the plans she had in store for them tomorrow, Maria knew that tomorrow was going to be a long day.