Kismet’s Tale

      Elea looked at her Teacher. Teacher Natalya had not been speaking, and she had become rather stiff. She was still teaching Elea and Sister Elna, but she didn’t have a smile any longer like usual.

The spells that the Teacher was teaching were related to self-defense. It was the same spell that she taught them. She was showing how to use the layer of shields as a weapon to repel elements and also to defend.

Big Sister was able to teach herself to do it by practicing three times. Elea had tried her best, but she was young, so she could only do so little.

Teacher was worried so she taught Elea how to make use of the layers to fire a spark bullet, though inferior to a lead bullet, it was good enough to keep her protected.

Little Elea continued to practice while the Teacher was staring at the Great Manor. Sister Elna remained diligent in her practice, but the sad look that Teacher had, worried Elea more than her practice.

“Is there anything, little one?”

Elea rubbed both her fingers. “Teacher...did you have a fight with Big Brother?”

Natalya stared at Elea. There was a shock yet amused look on her face. Then, a smile finally beaconed at her Teacher. Her teacher gestured her to come close, Elea warily walked next to her teacher, and was rather surprised when she was hugged.

Her teacher buried her face on Elea’s shoulders. Elea became flustered. Her confused gaze looked towards Big Sister Elna, only for the Big Sister to reply with a rather amused smile.

“A-are you okay, Big Sister?”

“Me and your big brother fought.”

“W-why?” Elea wanted to tell her big brother that he shouldn’t be rude! Mother had taught her how to be patient however, so Elea couldn’t reprimand without knowing what happened.

“Your big brother and I...we have a relationship where one side gives, and the other receives. I doubt your mind can understand it, but there are days where this Big Sister just wanted to be loved back.”

“B-but aren’t you two married?”

The rather innocent question made her Big Sister flinch. “Yes...we are...but there are reasons for why we are bonded. Oh how I wish you were younger, and taller so that I could share it with you.”

Elea stomped her little leg. “Then Big Sis Elna could hear you out!”

Big Sister Elna looked at them. She retracted the spark she gathered and walked towards them shyly. Elea crossed her arms, and demanded. “Sis! We must listen to our teacher!”

Sister Elna dropped her practice. She moved next to Teacher, and sat on the side. Elea was about to listen when Big Sis glared at her.

“Elea, this isn’t a topic for you.”

“But.”

“She’s right, my disciple,” she said calmly. “Practice your spark bullet while we talk, okay?”

Elea, though curious, went back to her practice. Elna regarded her cute niece with a curious smile on her.

“She’s a lovely child, isn’t she?”

“She is, Teacher.”

“How much do you know about us?” Natalya asked.

Elna responded kindly. “I know enough. This lady knows what the spark, the Magi, and the Nullers are. I believe that the Teacher knows what it means to include me in this circle of yours.”

“Yes, you are too talented when you manipulate the bloom. The bloom is special and it is the catalyst that we use to move the spark. It is the organ that allows us to move the spark. Disabling it would sever the spark in us. I could disable you for knowing that I still have my Magi.”

Elna became silent. “You’re not a bad person, Teacher. I know that enough after I spent time with you in these few weeks.”

“No, I am a bad person. Every path that I take leads me to villainy and I hate it. But...for once I am genuine about my husband. I truly do want him to understand that I’m willing to do anything for him to give me a chance to be a part of his heart.”

Elna nodded. “Teacher, considering who Brother Mavin was. I think he’s much kinder than before. Back then, Brother Mavin would always be...cold. It was like someone crushed his soul. There were no emotions in his face, he didn’t show compassion unless it was towards the people who he cherished. And even then, he looked at everyone as if they were tools. It made me upset all the time, but I began to understand.”

“What is it?” Natalya saw her hesitating.

“I think that...before Brother became that...he really did...no, even now, he cherished Princess Cecilia. He made a hospital for her, poured resources into finding out if she could still live. I also thought that with Brother’s resourcefulness, there would be a chance for the Princess to live.”

Her words made Natalya bitter. She knew that despite all they did so far. It never came to her that he had looked at her beyond someone seeking comfort. She had sought his warmth, but not once he sought hers.

He was willing to give, and she was willing to receive. But the moment she wanted to give something. He would not want it. It was as if he was unwilling to carry something more than he was carrying.

“I’m sorry...Teacher. But most of the family already knows,” she suddenly smiled. “Lately, Brother has cheered up. I don’t know what exactly happened, but something about the war changed him. I heard that he gifted his fellow soldier with kilos of marinated meat, you know?”

“Oh, the person he encountered in the war. Was he truly different before going to war?”

“Face like stone and he held no emotion to keep himself focused on the task. There are even days where he scared me. His eyes were always dull and lifeless so that it made anyone shiver. They said that before what happened to Brother, he was far cheerful, ahd his eyes were burning like charcoal.”

Natalya imagined how he would look during that. The last time she saw him look genuine and unconcerned was before they arrived in Flost City.

Even before she knew he was the Ghost of Dinia. His eyes never lost their brightness, and yet the moment he learned who she was and what she might become...those eyes lost a glimmer.

“Sister,” Elna advised, “I think it would be your best interest to take it slow and wait until time heals his wounds. I...heard that the Princess has secluded herself to her private villa, and is readying her funeral. She’s out of time and I think that when that time comes. You can be there for Brother.”

Natalya nodded. She felt...absurd that she was this upset. Then again, although she had so much time in her hands before, this time she didn’t have that advantage. The bond that gave her ability to turn back time during events where there was a burst of spark was lost. She doubted that the Imperator’s Crest could return and it would take at least half a century before the Imperator’s Crest would appear once again, and break the seal.

“Thank you for that, no, it’s rather obvious that I should be more patient and give hime,” Natalya looked at the sky. “It should be dinner soon, let’s go home, my lovely students.”

The three left their practice area. As they walked to the great manor, they saw the grim faces of the uncles and aunties. The hospitable and cheerful atmosphere was clad with gloom.

There was darkness. Approaching, one of the aunties was talking to one of the uniformed soldiers and warned them. “Please be careful, Seniors. The estate, Alarava, our Capital and to Karbid is going to be in a lockdown. There might be a demifiend flock that might gather so we can only humbly request that you shouldn’t get out. The Capital will be locked as well, and no trains are going to be heading here, so please send letters or call your children who might be in other cities to stay in their homes.  Thank you for cooperating with us.”

This made Natalya raise her brow. She and the girls hurried to the great manor and saw that there was a crowd in front of the great manor. They wore different outfits than usual. They were wearing exoskeletons that Natalya saw from Holmia and the Capital.

They were about to get close when they were barred by the soldiers in formation. Elna was recognized so they were able to get past and entered the main door. Upon entering the main door, Natalya saw her husband, however, he didn’t see that tired look he always had.

He saw the Hunter. That cold and unemotional look that put a shiver on her. It was a placid look that betrayed no emotion other than steel. His eyes had lost all its glimmer.

“Old Brother...is back to himself...what happened?” Elna muttered devastatingly.

Natalya couldn’t stop herself from shivering. Her ‘visions’ were familiar to this cold-blooded look of his. It was the same look that he had as he carried that saber and swung it towards her.

Natalya froze in place. Mavin looked towards the entrance and caught a glance of them. His face didn’t change. He looked forward and walked until he reached Natalya.

“I’ll be leading a group to a fight. Natalya, you stay here until we take care of these abominations,” his words were stuck for a moment, as if unable to get it out. “And goodbye, Natalya Tomas.”

Mavin Tomas gestured at his group and left them without backward glance.

Natalya felt her heart ache for some reason.