Little Elea had finished lecturing Mavin. He sat in front of the little lady, staring at the little Elea who had discovered his crocodile tears.
“Hmph!” Little Elea glared. Her cheeks puffed, and brows clashing. “I hate liars!”
“”But I did not lie, I was simply so happy that I cried. Little Elea, surely, a lady must not misunderstand, no?”
She studied Mavin cautiously. “I supposed it was my misunderstanding,” she held her finger up. “But no more crying, okay? This lady dislikes crying!”
“Very well, milady.”
Elma looked at her daughter, and then shifted her gaze to Mavin. “It seems I must teach my daughter to be more wary of strangers with sweet smiles.”
“Elma, it’s been really long.”
“It has been long. I see that your recent adventures have chipped off the stone on your face,” she rested her hands on her lap. Her posture refined. Elma’s striking green eyes and fiery red hair made her intimidating to some degree.
“Might be. You two have done well. From Tolea to Sahus, the homeland has become a beautiful place to live.”
Elea looked at the two. She leapt off the couch and faced Natalya who was sitting in the corner, uninterested in what they had to say. Derrick kept an eye on Mavin and Elma. Not moving an inch away from where his wife was seated.
“Most of the gold flowing from the south is being spread wisely. Roads and infrastructure are what we needed the most. The better the roads that we have, the better our logistics become. Many of our operations in the south of Jorvi and Omevia requires long distance travel. You might already know this, but our companies operating outside of Lazon are gathering manpower to lead an army of workers to construct the rail track. We have received help from the Webman Company, and they have spared some of their professionals to mentor some of our aspiring rail workers here in exchange for our sponsorship,” Derrick said.
“Hmm, indeed, the school of learning in our Capital has become rather full and in the next two years we must spend more capital to keep them educated and expand on making sure that our school of learning can accommodate more than four thousand," Elma said.
“That’s a lot of students. Are these aspirants?” Mavin asked.
“They are. Although our teachers have recently planted their roots in certain areas of the provinces. And it would be ideal to create small schools for our people in their villages. Some of these villages are placed near mountain edges, and places where our teachers would have to worry about the constant safety of the children. We had made sure to purge some of the largest demifiends in the area, but there are remnants of them that are hiding. We cannot truly eliminate them at the moment, so all we need to do now is make sure that the young ones are safe,” Elma explained. “We were thinking of using train carriages to carry them to their schools at the moment.”
“I see. What about now? Are they learning properly?”
“Oh, they are learning well. I've convinced our minister of education that they must be properly taught how to read and write. Our teachers are devoted to educating our young ones. The more our home grows, the more it is better that we have a generation that could support our future.” Elma said.
Mavin glanced at Elea. “Our little heiress is going to have a tough time then.”
Elma smiled. “Of course, but I shall expect the young master to give birth to heirs that will help Elea out, no?”
Mavin shifted his gaze to Natalya for a moment. She was listening fondly to little Elea with a clear expression on her face. He found it strange that she could have such a calm face. Perhaps she was fond of the little girl?
“I don’t know.”
“Is that so?” Elma didn’t speak about the topic further. “Nonetheless, she's Tomas now, no? Even if she was married due to various circumstances, I shall treat her as our own.”
“Have you discussed this with her? I thought you’d want to slap me for taking a bride so forcibly, Elma.”
“I would have. But I heard of her reasons, and decided that it would not be right of me to say things on her behalf. Oh, don’t misunderstand, I will help her if she needs it. She's Lady Bellatrix, one of the most courageous women of our era. Not only that she has beauty, repute, and the proper bloodline. She's someone worthy to be part of this family. You are somewhat lucky to have her, and not against her.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course, she might be from the Tripartite Alliance, but she’s someone I can respect. If her reasons were not to my liking, I might have persuaded you right now to call everything off with the Emperor. Mavin Tomas, I’m sure you know this already. I doubt you even bow your head in front of the Emperor, and if you had done so while you were in that hateful place. Then you forget that this family does not kneel in front of others. The Emperor? Their Imperial Family? Right now their forces are sparse, their weapons inferior to what we have right now. If they think they can still threaten us with our bombs and weapons. Then they are surely mistaken. They will listen to us. Even the next Emperor will listen to us. That’s why if you had done this out of fear for that Emperor, then I can still call this off for you.”
“It’s not. We need the resources that can be found on the Duchy of Wilde. It will allow us to power the Vulcans and at the same time. Create more of those bombs that were made to destroy the nest. The Emperor knows this and he is racing to have more of those bombs on his stockpiles.”
“This is a problem,” Derrick said. “If we let the Emperor get the resources for themselves, it would become a problem. As much as I hate it, we have reasons to get a piece of those resources as well. Are you saying that this Duchy has enough of them?”
“Yes, and if the Emperor has sole control of the resources then it would allow him to gain an upper hand. We have our own pool of resources somewhere northeast of Jorvi, right?”
“We’ve started securing that area two months ago,” Derrick’s expression turned serious. “It looks like the Emperor wants them, huh. I’m afraid that you’ll have to send a letter soon then.”
“A letter? No, although the Emperor wants the stockpile. I made it part of our agreement that the resources mine in that area are going to be distributed to us as well. I suspect that the 108th nobles will soon figure out what those bombs were and the resources needed to build them and where they are coming from. I doubt they'd try to build their own without the proper funding, and the approval of the Emperor. Even so, they won't be able to do anything without Natalya around.”
Elma glanced at Natalya. “Hmm, it looks like letting her go now would be impossible.”
“I thought you would help her?”
“Yes, if she had said something different. Besides, I think she wants to be in the family.”
Mavin looked at her.
Natalya had taken off her silver hand and poked Elea with it. She was using it as a baton to scare and at the same tickle little Elea. Elma who saw it, found the scene rather hilarious, she chuckled to herself.
“You wouldn't think that Lady Bellatrix could act so silly, no?”
“It feels off for me.”
“And? It’s not like we are so kind here either. Sometimes, we have to include some silliness, or else we’d turn into a family of perpetual frowners, no? I say she has better control of her emotions. It is not something to be surprised about, especially to such a woman of repute.”
“Got it.”
“Anyway, we can somewhat keep our minds off this problem for later,” Derrick regarded the two casually.
“Agreed. You boys are so eager to go back to work that I might just have to take a beauty sleep to pass the time. As the Matriarch, it is my responsibility to keep you two working in top shape!” Then her eyes landed on Mavin. “But I think that you’ll have a place to go to. Are you taking her with you?”
“Yes...although there are various circumstances regarding our union. She’s still my wife, and I think it is only proper for her to make the visit. Are they still on that hill?”
“It is. We had already designated it as a restricted burial area since you buried them there, Cousin.”
“I see. Then I should go now.”
“Are you sure?”
“It’s going to be evening soon. Be back before the dinner, hmm, I shall have our servants prepare you two a lavish meal.”
“Thank you, Elma.”
“There is no need for thanks,” she looked at her daughter and called. “Elea! Your Big Sister will be heading out to visit your Grandfather and Grandmother! Come with me and help this lady prepare a feast!”
Elea, who was fascinated with Natalya’s silver hand returned it to Natalya, and joined her mother. She then lifted the hem of her skirt, and made an exit, mimicking her dearest mother.
“She’s quite a handful, isn’t she?”
“What? Afraid that she’ll become exactly like Sister Elma?”
“No, if she’s strong and proud. That should not be a problem. What if she becomes such a beauty that many would come and try to take her away?”
“She’s...a child, Cousin. I don’t think that this is exactly the time to be worried about her prospects. Besides, she’ll be fine. You worry too much. And if such an event happens, then we’ll welcome anyone who is willing to join the family through the family gauntlet. Thirteen rounds against a demifiend will do nicely.”
“We’ll make it sixteen.”
“Got it.”
Derrick grinned. He thumped a hand on his shoulder. “Be back soon, Cousin. Don’t forget that Lazon is colder at night. You might just meet the old nannies so make sure to greet them, okay? They are still family to us.”
"I will."
Derrick then followed after his wife and daughter. Mavin adjusted his clothes, and looked at Natalya who set her hand back.
“I don’t think you should be taking it off that lightly and scaring Elea with it.”
“It’s fine. She’s a silly girl, but she’s braver than most kids. I like her.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. She’s a sweet child. How could you not like her?” she muttered something under her breath.
“Is there something wrong?”
“Nothing. You seem to be heading out? Where?”
“To the hill close here. I need to visit my parents.”
“Oh, are you heading there alone? If you want privacy, I understand.”
“Really? Although it would be formal of me to bring you to them right now. I want to go there first.”
She lightly bit her lip and changed her mind. “I can at least give you time at the base of the hill. Would that be fine?”
“Okay.”
Mavin agreed. They left the room, went back to the first floor of the great manor, and went to the back area of the great manor. The area was occupied by the Tomas Family as ancestral land. It wasn’t as big as the Imperial Family’s city-like grounds, but it was enough for them to personally raise their own cattle and plant some crops for themselves.
Mavin met familiar figures in the area. Most of them had started to grow wrinkles, and some of the old nannies that worked for the house began to surround them. Mavin didn’t have the heart to make them go away, so he half-listened to them, and found a way to head to the hill. He also got a bottle of wine that was recently taken out. He took it with him while Natalya followed behind.
Mavin stopped just below the hill. Behind him was a grassy hill that had been littered with grasses. There were some flowers growing on the side, but what was striking the most was the way the northern sky mingled with the sleeping sunlight.
“I'll be back soon,” he handed the bottle to Natalya.
“Okay.”
Mavin took a step forward and stopped. He clenched his right hand, and continued moving forward.
Once upon a time, a decade ago, there was a boy who escaped in the middle of the night, to watch over the stars in the hill. That boy could still remember how cold it was during that night. How he was eager to see the stars popped out.
But instead the boy got a vision of a coming future.
The boy wanted to prevent this future from happening. But he was just a kid who knew nothing, and even if his parents believed in him.
They couldn’t abandon those who were going to suffer.
His duty-bound parents still took a step forward, uncaring of the dangers.
That day on the very hill. Mavin Tomas had his life changed. A decade of struggle, constant planning, and laying the foundations had led him to avenging his parents.
Mavin sat on the ground. He thought that he was happy. He truly thought that he would be fine after taking care of those monsters.
But on this hill he had come to realize something.
“They won’t still be here,” Mavin said painfully. He looked up to the skies and saw the stars that had fascinated him since young. He tried his best to look happy, but his face easily crumbled at the sight of the stars that reminded him of them.
“Father, Mother, I had done what I had wanted to do now. Your foolish son has returned home.”
Mavin placed his forehead on the plaque and with body-shaking sobs, and a muffled cry.
The boy had returned to the hill where it all started.
Little Elea had finished lecturing Mavin. He sat in front of the little lady, staring at the little Elea who had discovered his crocodile tears.
“Hmph!” Little Elea glared. Her cheeks puffed, and brows clashing. “I hate liars!”
“”But I did not lie, I was simply so happy that I cried. Little Elea, surely, a lady must not misunderstand, no?”
She studied Mavin cautiously. “I supposed it was my misunderstanding,” she held her finger up. “But no more crying, okay? This lady dislikes crying!”
“Very well, milady.”
Elma looked at her daughter, and then shifted her gaze to Mavin. “It seems I must teach my daughter to be more wary of strangers with sweet smiles.”
“Elma, it’s been really long.”
“It has been long. I see that your recent adventures have chipped off the stone on your face,” she rested her hands on her lap. Her posture refined. Elma’s striking green eyes and fiery red hair made her intimidating to some degree.
“Might be. You two have done well. From Tolea to Sahus, the homeland has become a beautiful place to live.”
Elea looked at the two. She leapt off the couch and faced Natalya who was sitting in the corner, uninterested in what they had to say. Derrick kept an eye on Mavin and Elma. Not moving an inch away from where his wife was seated.
“Most of the gold flowing from the south is being spread wisely. Roads and infrastructure are what we needed the most. The better the roads that we have, the better our logistics become. Many of our operations in the south of Jorvi and Omevia requires long distance travel. You might already know this, but our companies operating outside of Lazon are gathering manpower to lead an army of workers to construct the rail track. We have received help from the Webman Company, and they have spared some of their professionals to mentor some of our aspiring rail workers here in exchange for our sponsorship,” Derrick said.
“Hmm, indeed, the school of learning in our Capital has become rather full and in the next two years we must spend more capital to keep them educated and expand on making sure that our school of learning can accommodate more than four thousand," Elma said.
“That’s a lot of students. Are these aspirants?” Mavin asked.
“They are. Although our teachers have recently planted their roots in certain areas of the provinces. And it would be ideal to create small schools for our people in their villages. Some of these villages are placed near mountain edges, and places where our teachers would have to worry about the constant safety of the children. We had made sure to purge some of the largest demifiends in the area, but there are remnants of them that are hiding. We cannot truly eliminate them at the moment, so all we need to do now is make sure that the young ones are safe,” Elma explained. “We were thinking of using train carriages to carry them to their schools at the moment.”
“I see. What about now? Are they learning properly?”
“Oh, they are learning well. I've convinced our minister of education that they must be properly taught how to read and write. Our teachers are devoted to educating our young ones. The more our home grows, the more it is better that we have a generation that could support our future.” Elma said.
Mavin glanced at Elea. “Our little heiress is going to have a tough time then.”
Elma smiled. “Of course, but I shall expect the young master to give birth to heirs that will help Elea out, no?”
Mavin shifted his gaze to Natalya for a moment. She was listening fondly to little Elea with a clear expression on her face. He found it strange that she could have such a calm face. Perhaps she was fond of the little girl?
“I don’t know.”
“Is that so?” Elma didn’t speak about the topic further. “Nonetheless, she's Tomas now, no? Even if she was married due to various circumstances, I shall treat her as our own.”
“Have you discussed this with her? I thought you’d want to slap me for taking a bride so forcibly, Elma.”
“I would have. But I heard of her reasons, and decided that it would not be right of me to say things on her behalf. Oh, don’t misunderstand, I will help her if she needs it. She's Lady Bellatrix, one of the most courageous women of our era. Not only that she has beauty, repute, and the proper bloodline. She's someone worthy to be part of this family. You are somewhat lucky to have her, and not against her.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course, she might be from the Tripartite Alliance, but she’s someone I can respect. If her reasons were not to my liking, I might have persuaded you right now to call everything off with the Emperor. Mavin Tomas, I’m sure you know this already. I doubt you even bow your head in front of the Emperor, and if you had done so while you were in that hateful place. Then you forget that this family does not kneel in front of others. The Emperor? Their Imperial Family? Right now their forces are sparse, their weapons inferior to what we have right now. If they think they can still threaten us with our bombs and weapons. Then they are surely mistaken. They will listen to us. Even the next Emperor will listen to us. That’s why if you had done this out of fear for that Emperor, then I can still call this off for you.”
“It’s not. We need the resources that can be found on the Duchy of Wilde. It will allow us to power the Vulcans and at the same time. Create more of those bombs that were made to destroy the nest. The Emperor knows this and he is racing to have more of those bombs on his stockpiles.”
“This is a problem,” Derrick said. “If we let the Emperor get the resources for themselves, it would become a problem. As much as I hate it, we have reasons to get a piece of those resources as well. Are you saying that this Duchy has enough of them?”
“Yes, and if the Emperor has sole control of the resources then it would allow him to gain an upper hand. We have our own pool of resources somewhere northeast of Jorvi, right?”
“We’ve started securing that area two months ago,” Derrick’s expression turned serious. “It looks like the Emperor wants them, huh. I’m afraid that you’ll have to send a letter soon then.”
“A letter? No, although the Emperor wants the stockpile. I made it part of our agreement that the resources mine in that area are going to be distributed to us as well. I suspect that the 108th nobles will soon figure out what those bombs were and the resources needed to build them and where they are coming from. I doubt they'd try to build their own without the proper funding, and the approval of the Emperor. Even so, they won't be able to do anything without Natalya around.”
Elma glanced at Natalya. “Hmm, it looks like letting her go now would be impossible.”
“I thought you would help her?”
“Yes, if she had said something different. Besides, I think she wants to be in the family.”
Mavin looked at her.
Natalya had taken off her silver hand and poked Elea with it. She was using it as a baton to scare and at the same tickle little Elea. Elma who saw it, found the scene rather hilarious, she chuckled to herself.
“You wouldn't think that Lady Bellatrix could act so silly, no?”
“It feels off for me.”
“And? It’s not like we are so kind here either. Sometimes, we have to include some silliness, or else we’d turn into a family of perpetual frowners, no? I say she has better control of her emotions. It is not something to be surprised about, especially to such a woman of repute.”
“Got it.”
“Anyway, we can somewhat keep our minds off this problem for later,” Derrick regarded the two casually.
“Agreed. You boys are so eager to go back to work that I might just have to take a beauty sleep to pass the time. As the Matriarch, it is my responsibility to keep you two working in top shape!” Then her eyes landed on Mavin. “But I think that you’ll have a place to go to. Are you taking her with you?”
“Yes...although there are various circumstances regarding our union. She’s still my wife, and I think it is only proper for her to make the visit. Are they still on that hill?”
“It is. We had already designated it as a restricted burial area since you buried them there, Cousin.”
“I see. Then I should go now.”
“Are you sure?”
“It’s going to be evening soon. Be back before the dinner, hmm, I shall have our servants prepare you two a lavish meal.”
“Thank you, Elma.”
“There is no need for thanks,” she looked at her daughter and called. “Elea! Your Big Sister will be heading out to visit your Grandfather and Grandmother! Come with me and help this lady prepare a feast!”
Elea, who was fascinated with Natalya’s silver hand returned it to Natalya, and joined her mother. She then lifted the hem of her skirt, and made an exit, mimicking her dearest mother.
“She’s quite a handful, isn’t she?”
“What? Afraid that she’ll become exactly like Sister Elma?”
“No, if she’s strong and proud. That should not be a problem. What if she becomes such a beauty that many would come and try to take her away?”
“She’s...a child, Cousin. I don’t think that this is exactly the time to be worried about her prospects. Besides, she’ll be fine. You worry too much. And if such an event happens, then we’ll welcome anyone who is willing to join the family through the family gauntlet. Thirteen rounds against a demifiend will do nicely.”
“We’ll make it sixteen.”
“Got it.”
Derrick grinned. He thumped a hand on his shoulder. “Be back soon, Cousin. Don’t forget that Lazon is colder at night. You might just meet the old nannies so make sure to greet them, okay? They are still family to us.”
"I will."
Derrick then followed after his wife and daughter. Mavin adjusted his clothes, and looked at Natalya who set her hand back.
“I don’t think you should be taking it off that lightly and scaring Elea with it.”
“It’s fine. She’s a silly girl, but she’s braver than most kids. I like her.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. She’s a sweet child. How could you not like her?” she muttered something under her breath.
“Is there something wrong?”
“Nothing. You seem to be heading out? Where?”
“To the hill close here. I need to visit my parents.”
“Oh, are you heading there alone? If you want privacy, I understand.”
“Really? Although it would be formal of me to bring you to them right now. I want to go there first.”
She lightly bit her lip and changed her mind. “I can at least give you time at the base of the hill. Would that be fine?”
“Okay.”
Mavin agreed. They left the room, went back to the first floor of the great manor, and went to the back area of the great manor. The area was occupied by the Tomas Family as ancestral land. It wasn’t as big as the Imperial Family’s city-like grounds, but it was enough for them to personally raise their own cattle and plant some crops for themselves.
Mavin met familiar figures in the area. Most of them had started to grow wrinkles, and some of the old nannies that worked for the house began to surround them. Mavin didn’t have the heart to make them go away, so he half-listened to them, and found a way to head to the hill. He also got a bottle of wine that was recently taken out. He took it with him while Natalya followed behind.
Mavin stopped just below the hill. Behind him was a grassy hill that had been littered with grasses. There were some flowers growing on the side, but what was striking the most was the way the northern sky mingled with the sleeping sunlight.
“I'll be back soon,” he handed the bottle to Natalya.
“Okay.”
Mavin took a step forward and stopped. He clenched his right hand, and continued moving forward.
Once upon a time, a decade ago, there was a boy who escaped in the middle of the night, to watch over the stars in the hill. That boy could still remember how cold it was during that night. How he was eager to see the stars popped out.
But instead the boy got a vision of a coming future.
The boy wanted to prevent this future from happening. But he was just a kid who knew nothing, and even if his parents believed in him.
They couldn’t abandon those who were going to suffer.
His duty-bound parents still took a step forward, uncaring of the dangers.
That day on the very hill. Mavin Tomas had his life changed. A decade of struggle, constant planning, and laying the foundations had led him to avenging his parents.
Mavin sat on the ground. He thought that he was happy. He truly thought that he would be fine after taking care of those monsters.
But on this hill he had come to realize something.
“They won’t still be here,” Mavin said painfully. He looked up to the skies and saw the stars that had fascinated him since young. He tried his best to look happy, but his face easily crumbled at the sight of the stars that reminded him of them.
“Father, Mother, I had done what I had wanted to do now. Your foolish son has returned home.”
Mavin placed his forehead on the plaque and with body-shaking sobs, and a muffled cry.
The boy had returned to the hill where it all started.
