The Negligence of One's Self

The Citadel has once again stirred into a flustered motion, at least, in Malinda’s wing.

Malinda had been carried into her quarters by Recina rather clumsily and fast yet with such care for her wellbeing, making her servants gather outside the unshattered double doors that Maldoran broke yesterday. However, they’re newly replaced.

The Battle-Maidens that stand guard at the entrance have let none inside but Ereanna who had come with her helpful healers of her choosing, and Tanya who returned from the vaults with her own servants carrying caskets filled with gold crowns, while Cerinn, she was in awe from the spectacular sight which she had witnessed.

Malinda’s accumulated mountain of assets which Xe’Reth could only dream of. But now, no longer a dream.

Cerinn had first thought that Malinda’s wealth was only exaggerated, but as her eyes glued themselves to all those various gleaming objects, her thoughts of Malinda has risen to such a height in her heart. A woman of such magnitude. Through her and her lover, Cerinn will stand above the lesser beings, called, nobles.

…

As she squints at the crowd of servants and handmaidens that inspect the heavy breathing Malinda who lies on her bed unclothed, only dressed in a thin long negligee, Cerinn frowns while shaking her head.

They’re like animals watching over their prey.

Nevertheless, this opportunity has worked in Cerinn’s favor. For in her right dress pocket, she’s clutching onto gold crowns that she had stolen from Malinda’s vault.

Because of all the commotion, she could stretch out her hand and grab a fistful when a bun-haired servant had come with the news of their Mistress’s condition. Cerinn was the last one out of the vault, following after the startled maidens.

She has held onto the crowns so hard so they can’t rattle around, to not make them sound in her pocket as she moves.

She wants to escape to her newly given abode to quickly stash away her riches. But can she actually leave unnoticed from Tanya’s watchful eyes? That she can, because Malinda’s faithful handmaiden stands with the other anxiety-stricken damsels.

Last time Malinda was like this was when she was drunk. But a trivial matter such as that doesn’t need this kind of supervision which she’s getting now. This isn’t something trivial – this issue is of utmost importance. Even once when she caught a cold some months back, similarly like now, they loomed on all sides of the bed to tend to their Mistress’s needs.

Cerinn’s face contorts as Recina emerges from the crowd by the bed. She walks over to her with crossed arms, to stand beside Cerinn next to the blazing hearth.

Her escape route has been blocked. Still, Cerinn purses her lips in secrecy as her feet silently steps on the floor, trying not to make a sound to alert Recina whose expression, too grave and sorrowful-looking for comfort. It’s as if she’s blaming herself for letting her Mistress get sick with this… with this kind of disease.

But as she sneaks past Recina with head lowered, a gauntlet lands on her shoulder, ceasing Cerinn’s movement in an instant as a teeth-clenching and closed-eyed grimace displays on her expression.

“Where are you going, girl? Your new Mistress needs our prayers,” Recina preaches with a raised eyebrow, jerking Cerinn to stand beside her again. “Come, join me in a prayer.”

“B-But I need to go to the toilet… I can’t hold it in…” Cerinn whimpers while bending and crossing her legs to seem as though it’ll leak any moment with innocent eyes gazing up at the looming Recina, giving her a smile. ‘Why is she bugging me now…?’

Recina, however, doesn’t budge one bit from what she says. She glares at Cerinn, growling out, “What kind of disgraceful behavior is this? Not wanting to pray for your benefactor?” She tightens her grip on Cerinn’s shoulder. “You’ve been taught the lines of healing like everyone else, yes? Good. Now, clutch your hands and begin the prayer.”

The Battle-Mistress starts by locking her gauntleted fingers together, and as she brings them to her chin, she glares to her side. Cerinn’s hands aren’t forming to pray. One, in her pocket, the other, limp.

“What are you waiting for? Take out your hand from your pocket and begin. You’re starting to test my patience. And my patience is very fragile at this moment, girl…” Recina warns with a lip rising. “You don’t want to get punished, now do you?”

‘Damn her and Annettria for not telling me… No, father-be-damned! How couldn’t he tell me of something so important?! He’s serving Maldoran without telling him of what his wife did! What her family did!’ Recina’s eye ticks the longer she glares at Cerinn. ‘Why haven’t they thrown that killer in jail yet?! Why?! Matilda… I’m sorry, your vengeance shall come. Just wait. I’ll see to it that that snake will be punished.’

Cerinn, as frightened as she can be, flickers her eyes while staring at the plated mountain.

Though stepping away from her, Cerinn gathers her courage with a teeth-clenching grin, “You’re not the boss of me!”

She dashes out the door, and Recina gets stunned by the spring in her feet. Her gauntlet stretches out but yields nothing. She only grabs air. Even scoffing out a chuckling breath.

Retracting her fisted gauntlet, gazing at it with such a peer, it starts to shake and grasp harder until it can’t handle the strain of such strength any further. Such anger. Not anger for Cerinn, but for those old ladies. Why has she been out of the loop when someone like Tanya, a mere twenty-year-old, knows of information that she doesn’t?

“Recina! Where did Cerinn go?!” Tanya shouts as she, too, emerges from the crowd, gawking with widened eyelids as she strides down the few steps with hands holding up her handmaiden dress, then walks to Recina who only now raises her eyes to glare at her.

The Matriarch, Annettria, and the Battle-Maiden that was dressed in a servant’s uniform had taken Recina into Malinda’s changing room to speak to her so others who weren’t allowed to hear, couldn’t. It was a quick briefing of blasphemy, of horrendous acts committed by a family known to her. A family Recina thought was untainted by corruption. She had never experienced their presence before, so she honestly believed that they were a loving household, a noble family.

She doesn’t believe in rumors until she sees it for herself. And having heard of the failed attempts from the servants when the sons of the Bradinox family tried to woo the Tertin sisters, she laughed it off as child’s play. Just fools in love. Fools that were rejected harshly, and spoke out about their failures.

Heartbroken men can spew out their feeling in different ways. Though, cursing her Mistress with profanity was tactless, which Recina didn’t like to hear.

Rumors are rumors.

Though, what the old ladies told her… those aren’t rumors. It’s the undeniable truth; two rulers inflicted with a disease, but none other in the entire Citadel caught such an illness.

Why haven’t others come to the same conclusion as the Sanctuary? Are they blind? No, it has been covered up. Because what little information that got out was that the Lord suffered a heart attack, while the Madam committed suicide from the painstaking loss of her husband. The Fire-Brand sickness was scarcely in the mix of it. At least not talked about when it’s combined with the former Lord and Lady Tertin.

A funeral was held, and a funeral was concluded within a span of a month. Too short to mourn the rulers’ passing. But just enough time for people to succumb to the Fire-Brand disease to wash away any brewing minds.

The Bradinox family worked hard and quick to not have anyone talk about the reasons for the Tertin heads’ deaths. So hard that they put the city guard that they had taken control of to silence any voices of doubt. Then they cleaned up all loose ends. Killing their supporters in secret by inflicting them with the very disease that they helped unknowingly spread.

“Tanya…” Recina calls out in a whisper, continuing to glare at this so-called gentle girl.

What else does Tanya know, that she doesn’t?

She has only been in the service of Malinda for four years, while Recina, she has been longer. She has spoken to the Honored Matilda, the mother of her Mistress before her passing. She had felt the warmth of that woman, of a goddess when her own mother passed away, for Matilda took her into her arms, welcoming her to the Citadel where both her parents worked, but yet not lived.

It’s not known to many anymore, but Recina lived in the outer Citadel grounds before her mother fell in combat. Killed when the enemy forces overwhelmed the middle gate. A day that Recina remembers as if it was yesterday.

Though, one day before her mother’s death, she confessed with her whole heart on the line, her love for another woman which she respected as a friend and battle companion. She wanted more.

A confession that has made her heart hollow, for she never got a reply. Only a broken heart. A heart that needed comfort from the depression of losing a parent. She’s growing colder the more years pass because of it.

“Recina…? What’s the matter? Why’re you looking so sad?” Tanya asks with a hand covering her agape mouth. “D-Did Cerinn say something mean? That girl can be such a handful.”

“How long have you known, Tanya?” Recina, in half a second, returns to her principled stance with an unbending expression, glaring down at Tanya’s shorter self. “How long have you known of what Celyssa and her family did?”

Tanya’s body recoils, even starting to bite her lower lip. Her gripping hands tighten on her dress, dropping her head, not having the bravery to meet those watchful eyes of hers.

“She as you, Recina, have been brought into the secrets of the Sanctuary today,” Ereanna, the Matriarch says, with all the ladies by the bed gazing towards the hearth’s direction where the two handmaidens stand, like a flock of ravens perching on a leafless tree. “She had only been let in on minor mysteries, nothing of the sort we spoke about. Those are major subjects that I don’t feel to be worth speaking in the presence of our Mistress, asleep or not. She wouldn’t handle the news well. Her mind would utterly break upon hearing such sentences. She’s already having trouble coping with the terrors inside herself from witnessing the acts of war.”

“That’s right, Recina dear.” Tanya’s grandmother steps forth, jumping into the conversation. Her guise is so gentle. A calm breeze beneath the burning sun. “Today I’ve told my youngest granddaughter of things she shouldn’t know. She’s too young. Not even her oldest sister have been let in on what is going on in the Sanctuary. But as we couldn’t keep it from her any longer, well, you now know too.”

“Recina…” This time Annettria walks into the fray, flowing her hands to her sisters of servitude. “Everyone inside this chamber has sworn their undying loyalty to our former Mistress, our Matilda Tertin. Excluding you, Tanya, and of course, Malinda. It’s paramount that what we’ve told you stays a secret. No matter what; you’ll not speak of it nor think of it as long as you aren’t with your fellow sisters.”

“But why…? Why haven’t you taken care of those killers yet? Are you a bunch of incompetent fools? That’s what you’re, aren’t you? You’ve had four years, but they’re still free, why?” Recina throws glares around, crossing her arms, not yielding one bit. “If we just told the Lord about Celyssa’s crimes, he would surely—.”

Recina ceases her mouth, watching Annettria’s headshake with eyes narrowing and a lip rising; such revulsion on her face.

“Your mother would rise from her grave and die a second time because of your blatant stupidity,” Annettria spews with clenched teeth. “Yes, that’s right.” And upon getting Recina’s wide open mouth and eyes, she dives in to tear at her emotions. “What? You thought your mother was a Battle-Mistress only because of her prowess in combat? Don’t be so damn naïve. She had done deeds that you can’t even fathom with your tiny brain. You never wondered why both your parents were gone most of your teenage years? Why they always put a servant to tend to you instead of them taking care of you?”

“You were never supposed to gain your title that early. And because of your mother’s own stupidity of wanting to protect both her Lord and husband, she went out to war with them, throwing aside her duties as a Battle-Mistress and a mother. She was supposed to take care of the training inside the Sanctuary, not go outside the walls to play bodyguard.”

“And do you honestly think we can get retribution by simply going to Lord Maldoran or the damned DLO?” Annettria asks with open-palmed hands extending out. She scoffs, throwing her arms into the air. “What good would that do? Only numerous investigations upon investigations. What we know is evidence that wouldn’t yield anything but headaches, not revenge. If the Lord himself doesn’t believe us, we can be ruined for throwing out baseless accusations at an Honored One, in turn, gaining unwarranted eyes. We would only be shielded by our Mistress’s Honored title. That’s why it has taken so long. And well.” She gains a smile. “We've now begun our long-awaited vengeance that’ll be a silent thunder echoing in the shadows.”

“What do you mean…?” Recina asks but her voice becomes more demanding with a growing frown on her brows. Even taking a threatening step forward. “What are you going to do?”

Annettria chuckles as her one cheek rises as though Recina just said something hilarious.

“You just worry about your newly given duty. Nothing more, nothing less. You’ll know in due time as everyone else,” Annettria finishes, waving Recina away. “Now off with you. We’ll overlook your disregard for our Mistress’s life in taking her to that disgusting house. I’ll also warn you for one last time. Keep your big, flapping mouth shut. Now leave so we can continue tending to Malinda.”

It’s mind-boggling news that Recina has heard, but she does give into their demands as she heads out the door like Cerinn did without saying so much as a goodbye. Just finding Malinda’s lover is on her agenda.

Unbeknownst to Recina as she strides into the changing room, to her left, stands the man she needs to find.

Xe’Reth watches her thud past, without her noticing him, for he has stood and listened in on their conversation. He is leaning against the wall that leads to the bedroom, while his arms are crossed. However, the air about him is ominous.

His narrowed eyes peer at the plated mountain as she disappears out into the lounge room.

Yet, his lip has risen in… anger?

Some kind of ill mood must’ve gotten over him. An increasing dread that’s growing and growing on his expression and inside his heart. An emotion that he had felt when he heard of the bear mother’s death from Malinda. And about thirty minutes ago, the display of insanity. Xe’Reth is neither immune to damage to his own mind nor to that of his heart.

Sadness, anxiety, confusion.

‘If I killed those agents when they dared tread into my valley… Then nothing would’ve happened to those innocent cubs,’ Xe’Reth broods while still leaning against the wall, gnawing his lip. Even closing his eyes to try to calm himself down, breathing in unhurried but shuddering intakes of air. ‘If I had moved their bodies to a far away location… I could’ve protected my valley… Damn them! Damn me!’

Opening his eyes after standing there for half a minute, Recina comes charging back into the changing room where he is. She goes indeed wide-eyed upon catching him there all nonchalant.

“B-Boy, what… No, how long ha—. Why haven’t they announced your presence?”

“I told them not to. But before you say anything else,” Xe’Reth interrupts, striking forth his palm. She surprisingly does quiet down with a mouth descending in suspicion. “Ereanna and Annettria had already told me yesterday. About… everything involving those murderers. The criminals who spread that disease which my mother, Theresa, have.”

“W-What? Y-You know?” Recina chokes, shaking her head with flickering eyes of disbelief. Even the name of her long-lost friend quakes her heart. ‘They told this boy… so quickly… yet they’ve kept it from me? Or is there more to this boy…?’

Recina squints, taking once more a good look at this boy, “Who are you really…? They surely wouldn’t tell you such vital secrets… Because it’s rather odd. You gaining my Mistress’s love so easily and getting the support of those old ladies so quickly, as though you’ve had prior meetings with them. As if planned…”

“It’s merely a coincidence,” Xe’Reth shrugs his shoulders while forcing a smile, which, for once, is completely see-through.

Hearing about the news of the bear cubs have shaken his heart. Never in his life has he lost something dear to him to this extent. Sure, objects such as his old house and his secret garden were lost to him. But innocent lives that he cares for? Only his mysterious father was the only life he had lost.

Nothing else.

Xe’Reth’s mother is alive. Her health? Ever-changing.

Though as his eyebrows lower to form a scowl, he responds, “Who am I?”

“Yes, tell me truthfully,” Recina nods, peering with such curiosity.

“I… I’m just a son that seeks retribution for my mother. The days and nights tending to her. Hearing her cries for help to end her agony. Asking myself why she was inflicted with this disease. It was hard for me. But what kept me going was my mother’s own strength. While all others succumb to their fates, she fought on. Fought for her dear life to not leave her son alone in this cruel world,” Xe’Reth says as his face ascends into real tenderness. “A few days ago, I hadn’t even met Malinda nor the old ladies. And because they’ve their own network that gathered information about me, they took advantage of my sorrows to gain me in their grasp. It’s simple, Recina. They put out a proposition of revenge, and I, with my ultimate joy, accepted.”

“Couldn’t have said it better myself, boy,” Annettria agrees as she steps into the changing room with such a humorous smile on her lips, because she didn’t notice him. Very dangerous. Though, placing her hand on Xe’Reth’s shoulder, she scolds with her finger pointing at him. “But it would be much appreciated if you don’t open your mouth so eagerly while in the presence of someone so unreliable.”

“Annettria—Just stop it. I admit I shouldn’t have brought Mistress to that place. But I didn’t know what that disgusting man had done. So your anger is unwarranted—unfair!” Recina shouts, also pointing a finger with a frown, telling the others in the different rooms to not disturb them.

“Tsk, I don’t have the stomach to look at you. However, you boy,” Recina switches her finger to Xe’Reth. “I’ll accept your explanation, for now. Because if somebody had done the same to my mother, I would agree with all my heart. But alas, I can’t really put all my trust in someone that’s so suspicious. Almost as if they used… magic… to make Malinda love you. Although I guess since Lady Madelyn also has a thing for you, it lessens my suspicion a little bit.”

‘Oh, you’re so right. You shouldn’t trust me, that’s for sure. Even if you were my mother’s friend back in the day. Sorry mom, but I’ll have to use you once again when this woman becomes unruly,’ Xe’Reth just nods, smiling. But still, his smile is unbearable with his sorrow showing in his eyes.

“All right then.” Recina bows with her upper body, then finishes, “Sir, I’ll be waiting in the living room after you’ve seen to my Mistress. Because that’s what you’re here for, yes?”

Pushing his back against the wall, Xe’Reth flings himself forward to stand straight as an arrow, “That’s right. After I’ve checked up on her, I’ll come, then we’ll meet Maldoran. And someone should send word to him that we’ll be there soon.”

“It’ll be seen to, Master Xe’Reth,” Annettria bows with a chuckle. Also giving such a grin toward Recina because of her newly granted status. An heir to the Sanctuary and a handmaiden to the future husband of the Tertin household.

Malinda is merely a puppet to them. A doll they love yet need to control. However, Xe’Reth’s tugging power over her exceeds their level of comfort. Since Xe’Reth will most likely be the real head of the household when they give back the rule to Malinda, after taking it from Maldoran. For the Mistress is too naïve and quick to temper – driven by her emotions. So they must both please and put strings into Xe’Reth to make him a puppet as well.

Scoffing at Annettria, Recina curtsies with her head to Xe’Reth, then leaves again but with much more sound in her steps, resounding her annoyance.

Watching her with four eyes, Xe’Reth and his handmaiden remains standing there, while Xe’Reth changes to a leaning position once more with arms crossed. Which alerts Annettria to his current mood.

“How are you holding up, sweety? I guess you saw the beast, yes?” Annettria asks while putting her hand on Xe’Reth’s cheek, caressing it. But he pushes it away, frowning at her try at being motherly. “I’ll take that as a yes, hehe.”

Though as Xe’Reth’s eyes go slight wide, he remembers why he has returned, blocking out any other emotion than to hurry.

“Come, tell me what has happened, other than putting Malinda to sleep. Though I think the others should leave the bedroom,” Xe’Reth suggests as he taps his hand on her shoulder, beginning to walk past and into the bedchamber.

He puts on his mask again. A disguise that’s currently cracked with hidden grief.

He liked those cubs. So much so that he missed their company when he wasn’t tending to his garden. Painstakingly hard work. But it needed to be worked on a couple of days a week. He had to travel in and out of the City, while still keeping his mother healthy and doing various paying jobs. He can go days without sleeping.

Witnessing the bear cub with his own similar colored eyes has done a number on him. Yet his rage exceeds his sadness. He had to run to his mother’s chamber then run back to where it was, though thankfully the Battle-Maidens followed his orders in bringing it to the courtyard, so the distant wasn’t so far.

All done in a couple of minutes. Xe’Reth had told the workers of the garden to continue without him, while the bath servants stayed too, to keep their eyes on them, so they behave. But they will soon get new orders.

Servants’ eyes had indeed gone wide from gawking at the running young man whose clothes were clad in black.

Though the urgency wasn't that crucial. A broken off claw here and a gash in its fur there. Xe’Reth inspected the cuddling creature flawlessly, missing nothing with his dark eyes. Then he put the animal to sleep, for now, giving it the necessities it needs to recover from its wounds.

It needs a deep sleep. As long as its emotions are running rampant, the healing significantly lessens. Or at least that’s what Xe’Reth thinks because his own regenerative prosperities reduces when his mind is in turmoil. From both outside elements and from within. Like when he woke up, he still had the bite mark from Madelyn on his skin, yet healed now. Sleep didn’t help him there, but that was the cause of the sedative that he got into his system last night.

It’s a dangerous drug that he hasn’t trifled with…

Sure, having a heart pumping rapidly might improve the blood circulation to give a faster regeneration, but it also exudes more blood than needed from the body if a big enough wound is open.

“Friends, return to your responsibilities for now. The Sanctuary still needs our watchful eyes, and you too, Tanya. I’ll take care of Malinda for now because you’ve been given a task to perform. Do bring along Cerinn. She requires much more training than you’ve currently given her,” Annettria orders with an arm flowing to the door while standing in the middle of the bedchamber.

Getting curtsies and head bobs from the various unknown ladies, they leave, one after the other.

While Tanya, she stands baffled.

“You can’t honestly believe I’ll leave Malinda when she needs me the most?” Tanya asks as her sorrow-filled eyes travel to Xe’Reth who hasn’t bothered with the women at all, only giving a smiling nod to everyone to announce his presence which they saw immediately. Or rather, everyone waited for him get inside the room so they could take a good look at their future Master and Lord.

“Orilldera, escort her out. We’ve serious issues to discuss with the boy,” Ereanna says with a hand waving Tanya away. Completely undermining her higher rank that’s currently void of any real leverage. Control has been taken from her.

“Come now, dear. Let’s see to your task, shall we?” Her grandmother puts her hand on Tanya’s back, pushing her to the door, while Tanya, she lowers her head in humility since she can’t refuse the current head of the Orilldera family that runs the blacksmith in the Citadel.

Her own household.

However, what tugs at her heart the most… is Xe’Reth… How? Why? Who is he really? The voices from the changing room weren't enough for her to catch with her ears.

Were the old ladies responsible for their union? Plotted to entangle her Mistress?

She lowers her head even more as her grandmother embraces her as they disappear…

…

With everyone gone, Ereanna sighs, gazing at Xe’Reth with half-open eyes. Last night's events have caused her to get no sleep at all. Likewise for Annettria… and the slight recognizable Battle-Maiden in full plate armor; her face, stern with a downcurved mouth, while her eyes, glaring at the child of darkness.

It’s the same servant that was with the Matriarch and Annettria when they first met Xe’Reth in Theresa’s quarters but was told to leave because of her outbursts.

However, as the Battle-Maiden sucks in air through her flaring nostrils, she bows while voicing out with such embarrassment, “Sir… I request your attention… Do forgive me for my previous transgressions when we first met. I only ask to have a new chance, and that you’ll accept my genuine, heartfelt regret. That’s all. I’ll also now leave to take up my new temporary rank of Battle-Mistress while Recina teaches you all that she can. Farewell, we’ll not meet again for some time.”

Raising her upper body from her curtsy, the Battle-Maiden glances toward Ereanna who nods in satisfaction while sitting on a chair by the table. With her nodding back, she leaves the room with booming steps, but not infuriated feet, just the weight of her armor.

Having sat on the bed next to Malinda, stroking her dripping forehead, Xe’Reth narrows his eyes with a curve rising on his cheek.

“Ordered her to apologize, did you?” Xe’Reth asks, peering at Ereanna who closes her eyes as her slow nod makes its movement up and down. “Though what kind of sedative did you use on Malinda? Not one of mine I hope? Because they’re way too dangerous for her if you give her a wrong dose.”

“Be at ease… boy,” Ereanna says as though her voice means for it to be in a whisper. But since Xe’Reth’s ears hear what most can’t, he raises his brow. “We used our own made concoction that you needn’t worry about. Though what is surprising is that none of our healers know what’s wrong with her. So the question is – what have you done to her… given her?”

Switching his eyes to his sleeping goddess, her blond-haired head comes to his view. She is tucked in on all sides; her eyebrows contort in intervals, her closed eyes are moving under her lids, and Malinda’s body shudders as if she’s in a blizzard.

Annettria squints at Xe’Reth’s growing confusion forming on his expression while standing on the other side of the bed, looming over the two.

“I… I don’t know what’s wrong with her. The only thing I’ve given her… Well, saliva through kissing and… When I gave her my seed last night,” Xe’Reth says as if ashamed of saying such unpure words. Frowning, he gazes to Annettria. “I’m different, you know that, but am I so different that I can harm her?”

“Obviously we must ask out of our own fear for her wellbeing, Xe’Reth,” Annettria responds, too taking a seat on the bed. But she shakes her head with wrinkling eyebrows. “It may be that you have caused this, yes. Or it’s just that we’re all overreacting because of some unknown sickness that hasn’t been discovered yet. The Tertin family is prone to such things. However, for now, we can only watch over her current condition.”

“But it’s weird to suffer from this ailment when she hasn’t had any prior afflictions. She was as healthy as she can be… before you came…” Ereanna wonders, drumming her nails on the table.

Pursing her lips side to side, she travels with her eyes to Xe’Reth. “Boy, we’ll need a blood sample if you don’t mind. We have ways to distinguish if there’s something wrong with it. And well, Annettria collected a sample from you last night too…”

“You did what?” Xe’Reth asks as he whips his head to his handmaiden, causing her to avoid his gaze.

Coughing, Annettria laughs, “Hehe, it’s currently being examined to search for any anomalies. You needn’t worry, boy. But surely you understand our curiosity in your… enhanced body, right? As you said, you only gave your saliva and your… semen to her.” She grins. Saying such a word has her in a humorous mood. “And your blood…”

‘It’s indeed weird that Lady Madelyn suddenly gained such new strength yesterday, then to only lose it and faint. She never trains, and wearing that substantial armor… It must be his blood, I’m sure of it. If it’s so, then might I’ve found a way to strengthen the Inner Sanctum?’ Annettria ponders in silence, breaking off her sentence completely as both Xe’Reth and Ereanna raises their brows.

“I mean. We will need your blood, it’s as simple as that,” Annettria finishes with an evading smile.

“If the public knew of your capabilities, you would be branded as a freak of nature, a monster to be put down. Like the Ebon kind.” Ereanna says with such clarity, having her head low with peering eyes. “But fortunately for you, boy, we have a need for your monstrous capabilities in the future. It strengthens our faction. Under a single circumstance will we reveal what you are… Even we don’t know what you are. Yet, if Malinda were to die for unknown reasons, I’ll cut off your head and present it to the masses. Understand?”

“Heh, I hear you loud and clear. But granny… you seem rather grumpy today. Have the children given you such a headache that you’re taking it out on me? Because I don’t take threats kindly, no matter who it comes from. So you should be careful,” Xe’Reth says while he gives Annettria, not Ereanna, a grin. “By the way…” Xe’Reth turns to Ereanna. “Did you have people watching over Malinda’s wing last night? Because of what happened? I was too tired to hear anything.”

“No, we didn’t have anyone since the Sanctuary’s children, and… adults were causing trouble. Only the shafts are where people are, listening in. Because we can’t have suspicious people that aren’t a part of any wing running and sneaking about the Citadel. Only outside the Citadel walls, in the outer Citadel grounds and so forth is where we can keep an eye on things. Trained maidens in the art of shadows. They blend into their environments using all kinds of tricks and disguises. Even you had trouble noticing them, heh,” Ereanna chuckles in the victory of subterfuge. “Can’t believe such innocent beings could have so much hatred in them. Hate for both Madelyn and Malinda. Their factions went at each other’s throats. Many were injured, many were and are being punished. But it was Malinda’s girls that started everything. Though Madelyn’s little rascals joined right after as our faction tried to get their hands on Madelyn. Idiocy!”

“What wouldn’t you do for your idol, huh?” Xe’Reth pities the little girls.

The servants are brainwashed to love their wanted Mistress. Even having the nerve to lash out when they have been given everything on a silver platter. Naïve minds that don't know about the outside world. However, their little Sanctuary bubble will never burst, because Xe’Reth himself will brainwash them into further submission. Women can be such dangerous weapons if handled correctly. So can men.

“True that,” Ereanna agrees with a chuckle. “Come, boy, let’s drain a little of your blood. Just to be sure that it can’t wilt a flower within a couple of seconds.”

Caressing Malinda’s forehead to remove hair strands and to feel her temperature, he sighs as he gets off the bed, then walks to the table where Annettria have already sat down with some bloodletting equipment in hand.

“Already came prepared?” Xe’Reth asks as he arrives, being forwarded a hand from Ereanna to sit in-between the two on a pushed out chair.

“The other healers insisted on draining some of Malinda’s blood too. But such base practices are beneath her Honored skin,” Annettria explains, taking off Xe’Reth’s upper clothes to have his arm naked because pulling up his sleeve is a big no no. The material is too tough to do such a feat. And placing a bowl on her lap, she holds onto something that makes Xe’Reth’s eyes go wide. “Hehe, it’ll hurt. Do you need to hold Ereanna’s hand to comfort your mind?”

Xe’Reth rolls his eyes, “Just get it over with.”

“As you wish, heh,” Annettria chuckles, wanting to pat his head just to tease him even more.

“Well, then…”

……

…

In Taryna’s abode, Tanya shakes her head in embarrassment while supporting her oldest sister to position her at the side of the bed, “How could you fall asleep with your uniform on? Making me change your clothes for you… What are you? A child?”

“S-Shut up… D-Don’t talk… I’ve no strength to argue with you,” Taryna growls, grimacing from even moving an inch. She’s drained. Her arms quake as she tries to hold herself up with Tanya’s help, but her limbs won’t listen to her.

Taryna’s bedroom, as exquisite as all the other rooms that reside on both the second and first floor of the Citadel. Taryna’s furniture is expensive, to say the least, almost like she holds the title of Honored One, for that she has – an Honored title of being a Handmaiden. A bedroom of dark wooden material, even the floor, the walls, and the ceiling have intricate craftsmanship.

As Tanya throws Taryna’s glossy, patterned cover to the side, clearing room for her to sit beside her sister, she presses Taryna’s head onto her shoulder. She hugs her, clutching her to give her own strength because of what happened last night. Malinda, the love of her life, has been tainted by a man.

Tanya honestly believes that her sister’s weakened self is because of the blow to her emotions. Yet, the drug that was sprayed is the cause since that drug was in its purest and strongest state. It needs to be blended with other ingredients when used. Otherwise, the effect can be deadly.

She had come early in the morning to wake Taryna up since she’s usually the one to be the first to open her eyes. But not this time, this time, her sister was slumbering away as though she didn’t want to wake up.

It took a while for Taryna to arise. Though what awaited Tanya was a person she hadn’t seen before. So weak, so pathetic. She couldn’t even move. Like in a coma but still, her awareness was there. And when her emotions flooded back to her when she remembered what happened last night, she wept and wept.

Having watched her sister being so sorrowful, Tanya let her sleep in. To be taken by the darkness again. Which helped sort out her feelings about her Mistress and the plot against Xe’Reth. A plot that failed miserably. Or did it?

Ceasing their sisterly embrace, Taryna sighs while frowning. ‘I must find out about what happened. It seems they didn’t hurt me other than that kick the dog gave me.’ Her teeth clench. ‘Damn, if I only took him seriously, then… Then what? Hold an Honored Lady hostage? Don’t think I would’ve made it out of there in one piece. Damn! Damn him!’

“Sister… What did you do last night?” Tanya asks, cocking an eyebrow at Taryna’s grimacing face. “I went to sleep immediately after bathing. But you, what did you do?”

She says with evading eyes, “Eh… I… I took out a bottle of spirits… then I drowned myself in it…” But not being happy with such a vague answer, Taryna adds with sinking eyebrows, “I think I drank the whole b-bottle.”

“Is that so…? That would explain your irresponsible drowsiness,” Tanya says with a nod, then narrows her eyes to glare as she catches the wall-leaning Cerinn’s smirking curve. “Cerinn, why are you snickering over there for?”

“Weeeeell…” Cerinn puffs out her chest, as meager as it is; hand pointing toward Taryna, and her face rising to grin even more, “I drank a whole bottle of wine last night, and I didn’t get to sleep in. Why is that Tanya? Are you just giving her preferential treatment because she’s your sister? Ha! Didn’t know you had such a weakling for a sibling. Can’t even take her alcohol, while I can!”

“You treacherous midget!” Taryna shouts, trying to use some kind of force with her outstretching, clawing hands, but her body doesn’t listen to her. She almost falls to the floor if it isn’t for Tanya whose arms coil to support her.

“Enough you two. And Cerinn, who was it that whined about a painstaking headache? Cried and cried to sleep a little longer?” Tanya scolds with a tiring scowl as she positions her sister to sit straight so she can begin to clothe her, for Taryna is currently in her night garment because her sister had changed her clothes when she found her in the morning with her uniform on.

Hearing Cerinn’s scoff, she continues with her task. “Hmm, we should have someone look at your bruise. It doesn’t look good at all.”

“I'm all right,” Taryna ensures with a slow flick of her hand.

Tanya’s head appears right before her sister’s.

“Is that so? It doesn’t hurt when I do this?” She pokes the hidden rib bruise, making Taryna clench her teeth as her lips shudder, even going wide-eyed. “See? You should go to the Sanctuary’s healers to get a check up.”

Tanya scoffs with a shaking head, “Hmph, falling on something hard… How could you be so negligent to drink that much? But I know you’re going through a lot. So I won’t say anything to Mistress when she feels better. Though she already knows that you were bedridden this morning.”

“Y-You said she’s sick? What happened? What did she catch?” Taryna asks, focusing her soul at the question at hand, growing so worried while her whole expression sinks. “Well? How is she? Tell me!”

“The healers don’t know what’s wrong with her… yet,” Tanya answers, placing her hand on Taryna’s cheek. “But don’t you worry. She’ll be back on her feet in no time. As a matter of fact, we’ll need someone to keep a watchful eye on her condition. How about you take that duty since you’re feeling under the weather?”

“Yes, I’ll do that!” Taryna, in an instant, accepts with a new fire igniting in her coal heart. Blazing with profound duty. She wants to help her love, her Mistress. “Quick, quick! Give me a hand to put on my uniform!”

Taryna with painstaking movements slinks out of her negligée, displaying her everything to both Cerinn and her sister. No shame to show her body. A body that has more protruding muscles than Malinda, because Malinda has muscles that almost doesn’t show, while Taryna, her body is trained to the limit, nothing to hide, nothing to be embarrassed about in front of her fellow maidens of servitude.

It is common for servants to display their nakedness to one another, for most of them live in the same dorms and uses the same bathhouse. Since after all, it’s a Citadel of women. Men must tread lightly to not walk where one should not.

“Yes, yes,” Tanya obeys as she waves over Cerinn who goes to bring her sister’s handmaiden uniform.

She has even begun to fix Taryna’s flaming hair into a bun. Such speed with her fingers to crisscross traces into long and thin braids to tie the rest of the hair. But a fastener is needed, so she jerks her head to Cerinn who puts the dress on the bed. “Go to my sister’s desk and bring hairclips for me. Shoo, shoo!”

Cerinn’s dejected head travels to her destination; rummaging through jewelry after jewelry until she finds the objects which are currently holding up her own bun hairstyle.

Arriving back at the bed, she thrusts forth her hands in front of Tanya, “Here… But aren’t we supposed to do something else? Why are we dressing a handmaiden while we, ourselves, are too? Just put a servant onto this task. I don’t get it why we need to do it.”

“Quit it with your complaining, you little rat. I don’t get it why you were saved by that bastard. A betrayer to your former Mistress will always be a betrayer. Someone I don’t want near Malinda. But I guess it’s fitting. Because he’s a rat too,” Taryna chuckles while trying to claw at her once again, but Cerinn’s quick dodge saves her from doom.

“Do you want me to tell Mistress of your new drinking habit?” Tanya warns, jerking back her sister’s head with looming eyes. No tranquillity in sight, just annoyance on her lowered eyebrows. “And if you disregard my warning. You’ll give me no other choice but to tell Malinda about what you said to Xe’Reth.”

‘What happened between master and her…?’ Cerinn flickers her eyes and tilts her skull in wonder.

“Y-You…” Taryna goes wide-eyed but lowers her gaze and sinks her head. “I-I understand.”

“Good, now stop moving so I can fix your hair,” Tanya orders while shooing away Cerinn to go back to her position at the wall. Which she does without throwing a fit.

As Cerinn leans with her back against the wall, beside her, the door opens. Orilldera, the sisters’ grandmother, comes carrying a bowl of warm water for her eldest granddaughter.

“Ah, ah, ah! Before you clothe her, she needs to freshen up!” Orilldera announces with fast moving feet, walking to a round table in front of Taryna’s bed. “Tanya dear, let me take care of her, for you’ve business out in the City with the garden workers. Better get to it so that animal can have a home quickly.”

Tanya sighs since she doesn’t want to argue with her grandmother. She puts her hand on Taryna’s shoulder, “I’ll see you later. Now behave, will you?”

A nod and a smile are what she only gets from her sister as Tanya gets off the bed.

She walks to Cerinn who leans beside the door. Arriving, she grabs her wrist, dragging her out of the room, “Let’s go Cerinn, we have a long day ahead of us. And I’ll not let you out of my sight for one second after your little theft. Now come.”

“Yes, Tanya…” Cerinn pouts while her head descends into oblivion because Tanya had come to her room right when she was hiding away those gold crowns that she had stolen.

Outside in the hallway, a crowd stands in front of Malinda’s quarters, being blocked off by Battle-Maidens. The servants turn to Tanya as soon as she emerges from her sister’s bedroom. Some run, some take it slow, but the flock approaches the two handmaidens with anxiety-filled eyes, clutching their praying hands under their chins.

“Tanya, Tanya, please tell us how Mistress is doing!”

“Yes! Please, we can’t calm down if we don’t hear how she’s feeling!”

Tanya sighs. These troublesome women have stood out here ever since just a whiff of worry started to brew in Malinda’s wing. Indeed faithful servants. And because this is Malinda’s wing, they had to fight to gain access to Malinda’s service. A servitude that many wants.

However, some who don’t make it past the Choosing turns instead to Madelyn’s wing. They’re the ones that don’t have the patience to wait another year.

But these women, they went through the Choosing. Tests after tests, because Malinda’s faction only wants the best. Yet some manages to slip through the cracks. Nevertheless, a faithful servant is a good servant.

“Be at ease ladies, our Honored Mistress is going to be all right. She’s just exhausted because of… Well, from what happened yesterday and what occurred last night in her bedchamber. She needs rest and absolute silence, you hear me?” Tanya comforts them, giving all her most gentle smile in her possession. Her concern, though, hangs on her lowered eyebrows. “Well? Are you not going to return to your duties?”

With the heads of the servants descending in disappointment, bending their torsos forward while arms going limp, they do return to their work as they disperse. All of them go two different ways, one group to the left corridor and the rest, the right one.

Tanya hasn’t let go of Cerinn’s wrist as of yet. She’s squeezing it hard to have her imprisoned in her hand. But Cerinn remains silent. No words of complaint, just her pouting lips voice her protest.

Flicking her hand to the Battle-Maidens on either side causes them to open the double doors as their heads nod. Not sparing any moment, Tanya waves to the servants inside Malinda’s living room to follow her, which they do as heaving of the caskets begin. They carry it out the doors, pursuing Tanya since she’s already down the corridor.

Time to purchase the needed materials to build a giant and expensive enclosure…

……

…

Waiting in the living room, Recina stares out the balcony window. This time, she’s in her wondering state to come to terms with the information that she has been let in on. So much, too much. She has even trouble keeping her rage inside with furrowing eyebrows twitching.

The remaining healers that didn’t go back to the Sanctuary are on the couches conversing and contemplating on what their Mistress have for kind of illness. They browse books, turning page after page to find a cure. Yet all of their flapping mouths yield nothing but a headache, causing Recina’s eye to tick the more she overhears.

But as footsteps resound from whence she came, Recina turns her head as squinting eyes scan the three people that enter the living room. The closer they get to the middle, the more Recina’s eyebrows raise; Xe’Reth has a new binding on his neck while the other two pushes him forward with their hands behind his back as though to support him.

“Do you have to pamper me so much…?” Xe’Reth whispers, waving Ereanna and Annettria away because they’ve been too overbearing. They can’t help but tease him whenever they can. So unladylike for old women. He sighs, “But you didn’t need to drain so much. I’ve things to do today… and tonight… so spare me your indulgence for now.”

Flickering his eyes, his mouth opens again in joy, “Ah, Recina! Sorry for the long wait. Shall we be on our way?”

As Recina arrives, she just gives a sound nod and a grunt with a hand forwarding him towards the double doors that surprisingly opens after being closed when the casket-carrying servants left, making Recina frown.

“Taryna!” she shouts, booming her plate boots on the floor as she strides to her. “Why haven’t you come earlier for? Our Mistress is in bed, feeling sick. Yet you, yourself, have the nerve to stay in bed for this long?! Have you no shame?! You’re an Honored handmaiden for the Divines’ sake!”

Everyone goes wide-eyed from Recina’s outburst. Even Taryna who can barely stand, much less get out a response. The substance is weighing heavier on her than on Xe’Reth. However, making eye contact with the dark being beside the old lady and Annettria, she lowers her head. She didn’t count on meeting Xe’Reth now. Oh, who is she kidding, of course, she would meet him here, in her Mistress’s quarters.

“I-I didn’t feel well, so I didn’t want to burden Mistress… And you, what about you? Weren’t you with her when all of this happened? Where is your shame in not seeing her current state?” Taryna answers with eyes glaring at Recina, meeting her peer as equals. “I don’t need to explain myself to you or anybody else, only to Mistress, which I will when she wakes up. So just be on your way to take up your new job as… babysitter. You fat ogre.”

Recina scoffs while raising her lip in disgust, “Then out of our way you useless fool!” She pushes Taryna to the side with a single arm, which causes her to topple sideways, hitting the floor with her whole body. But she gains no sympathy from Recina, only another scoff as she broods, “Sir, let’s be on our way to the blacksmiths… Now.”

‘Wow, she’s in a fouler mood than me,’ Xe’Reth smiles, beginning to walk to escape the two women who cover their eyes with shaking heads at Recina’s new way of acting.

He arrives next to Taryna as she gazes up with a grimacing face, which makes Xe’Reth bend down to forcefully get her on her feet again. She resists as much as she can with hidden fury on her clenched teeth. And getting her to stand straight, Xe’Reth closes in, whispering as quiet as he can, but with such darkness oozing out of his mouth.

“If you talk to anyone about what happened last night, I’ll destroy you. Malinda will hate you… Your family will hate you… Everyone around you… will… abandon you... Be careful of your next step. Because it can be your last…”

Xe’Reth gives her a tap on the shoulder while smiling, then passes her to go out the opened double doors. He disappears with Recina, while Taryna, she begins to shake. Her fisted hands, her tense body, and her lower lip trembling. Even her breath have stopped altogether.

She just freezes in place.

“Taryna dear?” Annettria asks in confusion since she has stood there for a whole minute without anyone having the patience to converse with her because of her behavior. And because of something else. But Annettria has taken it upon herself to check why she isn’t moving from her fixed position by the doors.

Not getting any response, Annettria places her hand on Taryna’s shoulder, which she goes wide-eyed at, for Taryna falls to her knees in exhaustion.

“Taryna?!” Annettria shouts with grave eyes narrowing in suspicion.

However, she felt an inkling of it too, that force pressing at one’s mind, yet only a hint this time. Not like when she first met him since Recina who’s standing out in the hallway didn’t get moved by him in the slightest.

That other time was something extraordinarily powerful.

Such pure wrath.

When Xe’Reth whispered, everyone in the room was influenced by him a little bit. Hence the now quiet ladies by the sofas, even Ereanna has gone to sit down. It just comes naturally to him. The unknown. Not magic, no words, just… him. Even he doesn’t know what he did.

If someone were to know of his aptitudes, the DLO, the Magicians, the Divine Queen, they would destroy his very existence. Controlling him would be the least of his concerns. The current Queen doesn’t allow any beings other than her bonded Magicians to roam this Kingdom. Anyone off the leash will be put in their place or be killed heartlessly by the hunters.

An expert is needed to figure out what he has for kind of abilities. Someone who hates Magicians, no, the Queen. Because what the old ladies are doing is treason. Sentenced to death immediately if it were to come alight.

Though, Malinda’s great aunt. She despises everything she stands for.

Even Ereanna is afraid that Malinda’s great aunt might not favor Xe’Reth, for he’s someone that’s not worthy of her young niece. Wooing his way into Malinda’s bed, taking her chastity before marriage.

A rage will come which will be quenched in either fire or water, rejection or acceptance. The decision lies solely with the strongest entity in the family. A member that’s rarely home because of her Queen’s edict – her duty to the Kingdom.

“Come, let’s sit at the dining table. We’ve much to discuss regarding your threat that we talked about yesterday,” Annettria says with her tone growing serious. Eyes peering deep, hands grabbing to lift her up, then guides her to a pulled out chair…

Taryna is void of emotions. Her own eyes stare into nothingness. What peeks her interest, though, is the thought of them not knowing what she did last night.

“See to it that she knows her grave error in judgment,” Ereanna growls as she walks past them to leave too since she has business in the Sanctuary that needs to be dealt with quickly. To make everything return to normal again. “Your fiasco might have damaged your chances of ever mending your deed. Take great care when you open your dirty mouth. For next time, Mistress will be brought in…”

Ereanna strides out the double doors while being followed by some of the remaining healers while carrying the blood container of Xe’Reth’s. Time for research. Time to bring it to her.

……

…

The coming years shall be the time to give Annettria the reins of the Sanctuary. But Ereanna needs to get vengeance for her Mistress and Master before she hands them over.

Blood shall river. Fire shall burn. It’ll destroy the Bradinox household.

Every man, woman, and child will be dealt with… None escaping the wrath to come.

The sufferers shall become the monsters. And the monsters shall become unidentifiable victims.

……

…

In a large chamber with dozens of grand seats around a huge round table sits Maldoran, his wife, and the finest officers of the Tertinum army while servants sit next to each other on chairs that align with the walls of this giant sanctum; they’ve brought beverages to all.

It’s a meeting to discuss the restructuring of the city guard, the Tertinum domain, and the army itself since news of what happened yesterday has echoed into the realm.

Retribution must be dealt.

Though, many seats are unoccupied because some officers have taken upon themselves the duty to journey to the various towns and communities to round up those who were written in the City Commander’s documents. An army marching to take control of Tertinum land from the guilty.

They had already been sent out yesterday so the criminals wouldn’t be able to escape as the city guards did. Or at least a few of them managed to slip out of the City in time.

…

“Then how about we abolish the city guard entirely and replace it with the army instead? Sure, it might take a couple of months to set it up with proper procedures. But keeping the city guard as it is now, it would only grow hatred in the citizens. Particularly hatred from the poor when the news is generally known,” a woman proposes, turning her brown-haired head to Celyssa. Her eyes narrow to glare in dissatisfaction, while Celyssa, she sighs under her gaze.

The woman turns back to Maldoran who has remained neutral to his officers’ recommendations, flowing with her arms outward. “The head of my household shall abide by whatever decision we come to terms with. And I think I’m not only speaking for myself but for everyone else too. Right everyone?”

The other officers around the table bob their heads and give smiles and sound out with their mouths to confirm her statement. Only the most supportive noble families to the Tertin line have gathered here. Though they’re branch families; no heads of their households, just brothers, sisters, cousins, nieces, and nephews of the esteemed nobles in the Tertinum domain.

Through having various members of different houses in the army has given them plenty of favors from the Tertins over the years. Favors that has given them an advantage over outside entities, hence getting the first grab in their family’s chosen field of work. The best products to produce, the best materials from the land of their choosing, and, of course, having the best company in Tertinum, the Lord himself as a protector.

“Lady Artistone,” Maldoran curtsies at her proposal while stroking his chin, feeling the prickling of his growing beard that needs to be shaved, again. He turns to his wife with a raised brow. “My love, do you have something to add?”

“I do not,” she answers without question. “Rather, I support Lady Artistone’s suggestion.”

“Thank you Madam, but it’s hardly my idea alone,” Lady Artistone says with a bob of her head. “Together we have discussed every scenario that we have presented before coming here. We simply drew straws which would present what. But the idea I just offered is the solution to bring order to the City, yet it’ll cripple our army by a margin. Not by a big one, but still, having the current city guard return to their duties is out of the question. They can’t be trusted even though most are innocent of any crimes.”

“Then what’s your suggestion in handling the city guard and the army simultaneously in a time of war?” Reconon asks as he sits next to Maldoran as straight and as focused as he can be. He needs to leave soon to pick up Madelyn but not Malinda since news travels fast. She won’t be joining her devious sister today.

“My Honored Lord,” Artistone says, nodding to Reconon but directs her attention to Maldoran. She leans with eyes peering straight into his azure globes. “We would need to put two-fifth of the army into the domain’s defenses. While the remaining army would need to adjust their formation by a bit for the next surge of slaves. It’ll take weeks, months to choose who will transfer over to guard duty and resources to educate them even further. Our—Your soldiers, Lord, is fit for fighting onslaughts of slaves, not their fellow man with words.”

“How much are we talking about? The costs?” Celyssa asks since she handles the immense wealth of Maldoran’s ascendance. But Artistone doesn’t answer. Instead, her eyebrows raise in curiosity as a servant leans close with her mouth to Reconon’s ear, making him bend to his side, whispering something to his Lord, in turn, widens Maldoran’s eyes.

He coughs out as he rises from his throne, “L-Ladies and gentlemen, I’ll have to leave for a short while to see to my future brother-in-law’s armor. It shan't take more than an hour. Until then, servants shall bring more drinks so you can continue devising new ways to aid my domain while having my lovely wife and her subordinates help with whatever comes up. I’ll be back.”

All of the officers in unison scoots out their chairs to give Maldoran their practiced salutes, “We will await your Honored return, Lord!”

……

…