22 Chapter 9: Partings and Meister 1 (1/2)

PARTINGS.

It has almost been a week since we returned here in Grantzæl City.

I waved at the remaining two children that we arrived with as they rode an airship together with their parents who came all the way here in the central kingdom to get them.

Slowly, the airship began to hover up.

The royal crest is seen on the sail flags as the wind drew around it.

The sky is pale today, and snow kept on pouring down incessantly, gathering down the grounds to cover a roll of blanket of frost and ice everywhere in sight.

Everything seem just white and blue now. Summer has ended and winter greetings began with a morning departure.

”Bye bye!!!” I yelled, waving both my arms in exaggeration. ”Bye bye Aerra!!! Stray!!! Aeron!!!” sang the two kids in chorus as they ran to the line of the deck to follow our direction in contrast with the ships own rotation.

The other eight children had been reunited with their own families earlier this week. And today, with all the snow around, and the breath clouds that emits as I puff warm air out of my mouth, days from the deserts will begin to slowly turn as a distant memory. Like a dream perhaps that we could only see as either a good one or a bad one.

All their parents even ours agreed to cut all connections with each other, such that the younger ones can eventually learn to forget the abduction. It's a harsh decision for me but I have to agree. They do need to forget.

But not for me.

Reminder of our freedom is Nora's tribute.

I will always remember that.

However this conclusion means everyone can return to their normal lives...

—except for one.

I look at Stray as he kept waving at them, pacing few steps forward as if running after them but then he halted midway when the airship was too far from sight. ”Ahh, I'll miss those kiddos!” he snickered as he rubs at his nape before turning about to face me and Aeron. This separation must've been harder for Stray, I thought to myself as I side glance Aeron and saw him blankly watching Stray.

I figured, just like me, Aeron is holding back his tongue too. We both refuse to ask when Stray will be taken away as well, despite being curious about it.

After all we've been through, there's a part of us that honestly wants him to stay for a little bit longer. He became one of our closest ally and friend during all those days in the deserts. But we know, sooner or later he needs to go back home too.

”What are you two staring at me for?” he grumbles, walking towards us.

”Nothing.” Aeron replied as he turns his head away and focused at me, grabbing my hand as he spoke, ”Let's go back inside, Aerra.”

He began to head back, dragging me with him even before I could say anything.

Stray just followed us in silence.

We walked across the castle grounds and back to the portico where two distinct individuals wearing breast plates and armors waited for us in patience. They are assigned to watch over us closely. I try to recall in my mind their names again. I wanted to greet them but Aeron spoke even before I could acknowledge their presence, ”I'm planning to play with our cousins today, you wanna come?”

”Where will that be?” I replied, as we finally reach the portico and few butlers that idly stood by opened the door for us. We stepped inside the anteroom.

”The gardens!” Aeron says cheerfully, I can sense his excitement. ”We'll be by the gardens today to play” he repeated.

”I'm sorry to interrupt, your graces —but I don't think it's wise to play outside today. It's snowing heavy outside.” Says the lady in armor as she walks up to us, a little behind her is the man that accompanies here. The lady has a fine silky hair of chestnut color perfectly tied in a ponytail, not a single strand of hair out of place, broad forehead, pointy nose, thin but prominent brows that are now creased while her dark eyes studies us for a moment and then she opens her thin lips to add, ”You both might get sick!”

”Oh, we're not going outside, Lady Mirel.” Replied Aeron, facing the armored lady. ”I meant the inside gardens by the west wings. The one that has glass ceilings. So there's nothing to worry about.”

”Ahh, I see. Forgive me for being crude.” says she in a bow. Now I remember, Lady Mirel Agetha. She was introduced to me after the celebration of our return. I hadn't spoken with her at all because she's constantly talking with her subordinates even if she has been following me around lately. They told me, Lady Mirel is a Commander of one of Grantzæl's brigades and a Marquis's only daughter from the Eastern Nation. But right now, she's my personal body guard while I'm here in the Kingdom.

”It's alright, Lady Mirel. And good morning!” I greeted, beaming at her to reassure her. The creases on her forehead finally eases when she heard me and manage to smile in return. The man behind her finally reach us and stood tall beside her and my eyes met his gallant ones. ”Good morning, Sir Richel.” I greeted. I honestly don't know why I easily remember his name better even though he's Aeron's personal body guard. ”Good morning, miLady.” He bows down courteously. Sir Richel Hamnon is also a commander of one of the King's brigade. He's tall as he is handsome for his age. I'm guessing he's around his early thirties.

But I do wonder, how is it that I regard him as handsome when he's not even my type. I studied him as he greeted Aeron and Stray. He has dark brown eyes, blonde hair and a week old trimmed beard. Perhaps it's just his aura that I like. Confident but not too overbearing unlike Giles.

I cringed remembering how loud the mouth of that guy is. Especially when he laughed, it rung my ears like a firecracker going off.

”Is something wrong, miLady?” asked Sir Richel.

Oh. I've been rudely staring at him for a while. I even cringed at him. I immediately looked down.

”It's nothing. I just remembered something. So umm....” I wonder if I have to explain why I made a face. Perhaps not. I'll just digress. ”Have you eaten breakfast yet, Sir Richel?”

I'm being random.

He nodded with a gentle smile. ”I have actually. I trust you have taken yours as well?”

”Yup!” I nodded, beaming. At least he goes along with it regardless.

He just patted my head.

Aeron suddenly squeezes himself between us. ”I also ate breakfast! Thanks for asking!!!” he says sarcastically and then he added ”So are you coming with me or what?” He narrows his eyes. His brows furrows greatly at me. He looks somewhat conflicted and upset. Makes me wonder if he really wants me to come or not.

”I actually want to talk to uncle.” I replied as he loosens his tight shoulders down but throws his hands on his waist. ”About what?”

”I was hoping to meet the Sage. I already tried asking around but nobody knows his whereabouts. I'm hoping the High King knows at least.”

”Okay then, if you're done, you can join us.”

”I will!” I replied as Aeron walks the opposite direction while Stray just nods once at me then followed Aeron and Sir Richel.

Stray is surprisingly reserved today, I wonder if he's okay?

”Lady Mirel, can you lead me to where my uncle is?” I faced her and she bows briefly. ”His Majesty is at the throne room. Right this way.”

”You're not with your subordinates today?” I asked, sounding more rhetorical than a question while she began to lead the way.

”Today is little less busy especially now that all of the children had been finally reunited with their families”

”Oh, so you were also in charge with that.”

”Not precisely. My men just aided with what help we can offer with the investigations.”

”Investigations?”

”Err... It's just about something His Majesty has ordered for us to do for safety reasons for your friends, my Lady. It's nothing to be concerned of really.”

I tapped at my chin. Why would my uncle ask for an investigation just to send my friends off?

Ah.

”Investigations...like background checking you mean? Just to make sure the children will be safe with their own families, I assume? That would make sense why it took almost a week just to contact each of their families when uncle is fully capable of sending all the children to their homes instantly. But I guess it's wiser this way so to assure before handing them back blindly. Who knows if they might have been sold out instead of kidnapped, right?”

She halted and looked at me surprised. ”My Lady is very sharp! I'm impressed! I underestimated your ability to comprehend matters like such because of your young age. I just assumed you might not understand so... but I'll be sure to talk more openly next time.”

I just grinned at her. ”Please do. I'll ask if it's beyond my comprehension.”

She then went on to walk ahead preceding

as I followed her.

If uncle had them all investigated. They might already knew something about Stray.

He's our friend and yet I never really had the guts to ask him directly anything about his background. Then again, he never really opened up as well. Maybe he just didn't want to talk about it or— he can't remember anything about them anymore.

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Soon we reached the throne room.

They called it better as the audience chamber than the former. I've never seen the place that's why I'm also eager in stepping inside it.

I stood before a colossal double door as Lady Mirel spoke, ”We are here.”

I had to pull my head back just to see the entire doors. It makes me wonder what's the function of such overly sized door.

Guardsmen that stationed opened it for us at Lady Mirel's request. The door opens in an eerie noise as the hollow echoing sound emanates.

I expected red rug rolling across and towards the throne, huge chandelier and golden gleaming room but I was wrong. Very wrong.