49 Chapter 13: Harvest Day 4 (1/2)

”Okay okay! Where to begin?” Eriol shrugged.

”The Ouboros” Levi says low. ”And what his connection with the Ouboros.”

Eriol nodded and leaps up to a desk, sitting on it with one leg bend close to him where he lays his one elbow down. ”Ouboros has eight elite mercenaries. They all have a tattoo that refers to their ranking. Their ranking pertains to the measure who is strongest to the least.

Cerguz is supposed to be the leader but he's already gone so... now I have no news if they are still all together to search for a next leader or not.”

”What exactly are they after?” Levi asked,

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”That's the thing about those guys. I don't exactly understand why theyeven formed a group. You see, despite looking for an actual leader, thegroup is already parted into two sides: those who follow Faram and thosewho follow Claude.

Claude is the ranked as the number one in the group, he's also the one who took me in and trained me.

Unlike Faram, Claude can controlmultiple Light elements, like me— wind, and more. Also thosewho follow after him uses light elemental magic as well.” Eriolexplained. ”And they are all strong. Far stronger than me— or you,Aeron.”

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”You said Ouboros is divided into two. So does that mean Faram and the ones who follow him are...” Aeron trails off.

”M'Lady, you have another visitor” Leon calls out.

Exactly how much more visitors are going to arrive?

The door swings open before I could even reply.

”Aerra!!!” Kain shouted as he ran towards me and charged. But Levi and Eriol was able to grab him before Kain could have tackled me down from where I sat.

”Settle down, we're talking here” Levi says, releasing Kain. He sharply eyed Levi. ”You might want to listen too. We're talking about the guy who's planning to kidnap Aerra after all” Levi say. Kain's shoulder loosens and turned to Eriol as he nodded in affirmation.

”Fine.” he answered curtly. Levi pats his head. Kain casually evades it and moved to sit next to Eriol by the surface of the table.

Levi has been surprisingly affectionate to Kain amidst all the death glare Kain has been throwing at him for the past few weeks.

”Where were we? Oh right! So about the elite mercenaries that follows Faram! Well they are all dark elemental users. Though I'm closer with those that follow Claude, so I can't exactly say what they're abilities are and the exact dark element they use. All I know is that all of the elite mercenaries of Ouboros are Transmuters. They can all transform into a weapon of sort. That's why they sought for a leader who is a Wielder. Cerguz was one.

If you ask me what they are exactly after, I can only answer from the side of Claude's gang. Claude is searching for something— some sort of fragmented relics that he even needs a Meister to wield him to maximize his powers and abilities in order to collect all whatever he is that he's looking for. I don't exactly know what Faram is after or what the entire group of mercenaries like them are aiming for, but I'm pretty sure whatever it is, it's something that concerns only their selves. They are all self-serving. Maybe that's why when Cerguz's supposed purpose and role for them has been disappointing, they dismissed him.”

That sounds like they're not truly looking for a leader, it's more like they're looking for someone they can all use and share.

Which is ironical.

They are all Transmuters, capable of turning into a weapon but instead of being used as a tool, they in turn are looking for a Wielder to use as their tool.

How twisted reality is.

”How about their apprentices?” Aeron interrupted. ”Why did they took apprentices... like us?”

”That I'm not sure. Perhaps making sure someone is going to continue their work?” Eriol shrugged.

There was silence.

Aeron finally stood up, ”We can't just stand here and wait until Faram makes his move. One way or another he will come back for sure,”

”What makes you so sure he will still come back?” I murmured. ”Look guys, I'm grateful for all these precautions and informations about Faram and Ouboros but you all are making this too much of a big deal. I'm just Faram's apprentice. Why would he even go into so much length and trouble to get me? There's nothing to gain from taking me. It's already been weeks! Almost a month...

He can just take another apprentice instead for all we know. They are all self-serving, as Eriol said, so I don't think...”

Aeron cuts me off, ”Aerra, you still don't get it don't you?”

I gaze up to meet my brother's eyes and saw him staring back with no humor in his eyes. I flinched at the sight of it.

”What... what is it that I don't understand?” I mumbled.

”To simply put,” Aeron begun as he pointed at Eriol with his thumb. ”Eriol has the unique capability as a Transmuter to sense and go to wherever you are if you're in danger, regardless of the distance. And Faram knows that. So if he will take you away, he first needs to cut him off.”

I know Aeron is sharp. He might have figured it out by now.

But it feels like he knows something more than what he's saying.

Aeron heaves a sigh. ”Right now, we can just assume he'll return. I don't think there's in anyway he's giving up on you.”

But why—

I'm missing something here...

”M'Lady, you have a visitor” Leon spoke out of the silence. This time he seemed to have walked in.

”Another one?” I almost did a headcount to all my friends inside the room with me.

Leon stepped aside to reveal a young beautiful girl standing behind him. Her hair tied into a ponytail like manner, in the color of cobalt. Her gentle arctic blue eyes that almost seemed like gray sweeps around until it aligned with mine.

”Princess Isera??” I admit I sounded more surprised than welcoming. ”You're here!”

She smiled and began to head towards me.

I met Princess Isera at our birthday party. She's the Arch Priestess of the Holy City of the West, Diër Selecí. It's a theocratic nation that is governed by their religion rather than by monarchy. She's also the current castellan.

All the guys made way to allow her to walk up to me as she held her head high, keeping her fine posture but demure aura with both her hands crossed infront of her skirt. ”Good day, Lady Aerra” she spoke with her heavy yet airy voice.

”G-good day. Umm... It's a pleasure to see you again! But— uhh. To what do I owe the pleasure for?” I stiffen on my feet as she calmly studied me. I glanced at the guys and saw them just curiously watching.

Princess Isera is not particularly close with me. I don't even know if I can regard her too soon as a friend. So this is really...

”Our prime minister gave me a task. As the Arch Priestess of Diër Selecí, he told me I should do courtesy calls. And since your family and mine has been good friends for so many years, I wish to uphold that even now... So I came here today.” She seems a bit nervous as well. Her eyes keeps blinking away and glancing at me minutely.

”Forgive me if it's unannounced. Are you perhaps busy for the day? I could just return some other time”

”N-no! It's fine, your Highness!” I said and exchanged glances with my brother. ”In fact, we're actually celebrating the Harvest season. Would it be fine if you join us instead?”

”That's sound delightful! I'm honored to partake in your events. Thank you!” She says timidly but her smile was very bright and sweet.

”Umm, let me introduce you to my brother and my friends.”

”This is Aeron, he's my twin brother as you might have already heard.”

”Ah. Yes. I haven't properly talked with you yet from the party.” She stretched out a hand. Aeron placed a light peck on the back of her hand. ”A pleasure to meet you, your Highness.”

”This is Eriol Windstray, he's with our Household.” I gestured at him, Eriol just gave a finger salute. ”Prince Kain of Grantzæl.” I veered my hand to him as Kain didn't show interest. ”And Levi. He's—,”

She walked towards Levi and eyed him with head up high. ”Lord Levi of the East.”

”I prefer being called Levi of Osteell, your Highness.” He slightly bows, almost like a nod. ”It's a pleasure to meet you, Princess Isera of the West.” Levi added.

I can see Isera's brow crunch for a split second but was able to blink it off as soon as it happened. She smiled brighter, ”I hope we can sustain good relationship with the Eastern Nation, Lord Levi. As what my family have kept for all the years, even before your family has been appointed as the castellan.”

”I hope so too.”

Somehow a tension seems to fill the air despite the smiles they show.

I stood between them. ”Well, we are joining the Harvest day today! This will be fun! Right, Aeron? Eriol?”

Aeron crossed his arms, he seems conflicted in saying yes. But Eriol pats his head and spoke for him, ”Yeah! We will all go! In fact, why don't we all head out now to start this fun day?” He sneers.

I sighed in relief as I watch them all begin to walk off.

”Lady Aerra” Princess Isera stayed and spoke with a low voice.

I turned to face her.

”I wish to get to know you better. If it proves to be bothersome for you, do tell.”

I nodded unsure.

”Umm. Princess Isera, I—!”

”Just call me Isera.”

”Uhhh— Isera...?”

She nods and smiled.

”Isera, I want to... ask,” I paused and looked at the guys from over her shoulders. They already were about to step out of the room. I whispered quietly, ”About what you saw that night— is it why you're here?”

Her eyes widened. ”Well...”

”May I ask what you saw? And what you meant by what you said that night?”

Her head drops down, ”I usually refuse giving readings, one reason is that— providing explanations about what I saw is difficult. It's not wise to make conclusions out of it because one scene can mean many things”

”And what did you saw?” I insisted.

She closed her eyes and stuttered.

”M'Lady?” Leon walks up to us and called. I looked at him and his eyes seemed asking. I just nodded, ”Yes, we're coming along with them. No need to stand on guard over there”