Truths and lies

Lis'te fixed up his hair. The thick blonde strands, hanging to his armpits, were quickly pulled back as he used a thin strand of rope to tie them together. After that, he quickly checked the state of his attire. Everything looked in order: a loose tunic, similarly fitting pants, and finely detailed shoes. The gray cloak lay on a chair in his room, waiting for the man to decide to use it.

However, he did not even look at it. Today was not a day it'd see a use.

His hand found the handle to the door and pressed it, letting him enter the corridor.

The elf glanced over the place. His blue eyes shimmered with faint power as he surveyed every last detail. The carpet, the tapestry, the paintings, the chandeliers... the list went on and on as his gaze jumped from one point to another.

However... after a few seconds, he halted his use of magic. A frown entered his face.

'Nothing...' Lis'te thought, slowly closing the door behind himself and going in a direction.

The steady rhythm of his steps was as silent as his pondering.

'No matter how much I try, I cannot find anything off with the place. Ever since I came here, everything felt normal.' he groaned quietly, rubbing his chin. Scanning the corridor's length, Lis'te sighed. 'Cileres was of little help, as well. All he's done is just run around the place and didn't feel anything of significance. I understand he's only a low-rank spirit, but I expected a little more of a being from the astral plane.' he frowned at the thought.

...

Deciding to cut his pondering short, Lis'te resumed his steps. Turning a corner, the man halted slowly, seeing the black cat lying quietly in front of the door to Princess Seraphina's room. Approaching, he called out quietly.

"=Cileres, is Princess Seraphina awake?="

"=She's dressing,=" the cat replied, opening one bronze eye to look at the man looming over it.

"=Has she rested well?="

"=Slept the whole night,=" the cat replied, his body shifting as though it wanted to shrug. "=I'd imagine she's rested.="

Lis'te ignored the cat's slightly snarky words. His hand went to the door, knocking on the wooden surface.

"=Princess?="

"=Come in, Lis'te.="

The blonde elf did not hesitate. Stepping into the room, he immediately noticed Seraphina sitting in a chair. The green cascade of her hair completely hid her from his view. The mirror ahead of her allowed the shining blue points of her eyes to look at him immediately.

"=How are you feeling, Princess?=" Lis'te inquired, bowing his head lightly.

"=I'm alright. What about you, Lis'te?=" she responded, her hand going down from her cheek.

"=I'm well, thank you,=" he answered, seeing the woman get up and turn to face him. Scrutinizing her from top to bottom, he noticed the long dress she'd picked shuffle on the ground slightly. Its gray-silver hue seemed to emphasize the pink of her skin even more than her untied hair did. She gave the man a small smile, her blue eyes glimmering with faint radiance.

"=I advise you to go and eat breakfast immediately. After that we will meet with Lady Ismeria,=" Lis'te said slowly. Seeing that Seraphina nodded in answer, he smiled gently. "=It will be a simple talk. I expect you to keep yourself in check.="

"=I will...=" the green-haired woman answered. Her lips formed a small line, her gaze skittering sideways. "=I apologize for what I said yesterday, Lis'te. I know you mean well.="

"=It's alright, Princess. We all are unnerved. The best we can do is wait until the storm blows over.="

Seraphina didn't answer, her reaction reduced to a shallow nod. The somewhat passive demeanor she now showed stirred unease within her servant's spirit. 'I know it's difficult.' he thought but didn't relay his words further. 'But it's the best we can do. You're still young and inexperienced, Princess.'

Lis'te took a step back before turning on his heels. Facing the door, he thought of what to say. His pondering, however, was suddenly interrupted as he spotted something out of place.

"=...what's this?=" he frowned, leaning down and picking up a basket. It was a simple thing in construction. The empty inside gave him no clearance as to why this item would be in this place. This made his brows furrow in displeasure. "=Princess,=" he turned to her, showing her the basket. "=Where did you get this from?=" his eyes emanated a piercing look. He was not pleased with this item's presence in here.

Seraphina looked at him. The momentary surprise written on her face, followed by a sheepish look away, sent an unpleasant feeling down his spine.

"=Princess,=" Lis'te repeated, his voice lowered. "=Where did you take this from?="

She didn't answer, not meeting the man's gaze. She knew that he'd have reacted like this. Inwardly, she could only berate herself for not hiding it somewhere.

Lis'te sighed heavily, his brows corrugated as he brought a hand to his face. "=We have talked about this, Princess. Do I have to assign a permanent escort to you? In this situation, no less, to think you'd--="

"=I brought it here,=" a sudden voice interjected the elf's uttering.

"=Cileres?=" Lis'te's brow shot up with surprise. "=You? Why?="

"=Princess looked hungry, so I decided to go around and bring some food,=" Cileres replied with perfect calm, looking at the man lazily. If he were an elf, he'd have probably shrugged nonchalantly.

"=And you did not think about informing someone? There is always one of us on duty.="

Cileres made a sound akin to a groan. He appeared to be somewhat annoyed by the elf's remark. However, beyond that, no answer came.

Lis'te sighed with resignation after a second. 'Like the owner, like the pet...' he thought with dismay. His eyes scanned Seraphina before he turned to the door. "=I do not want this situation to repeat,=" he said, grasping the basket and opening the door. "=If you have any needs, Princess, there is always one of us available.="

"=...yes, Lis'te,=" the green-haired woman replied, lifting her eyes. "=I promise I will reach out first.="

The man's countenance softened slightly. However, he spoke not a word, instead leaving the room.

'I swear, I didn't expect Princess's behavior to rub off on her familiar...' he thought bittersweetly. 'If only she showed him some better behavior.'

...

"=Thank you, Cileres,=" Seraphina glanced at the cat that sat atop the dresser, looking in the mirror.

"=But of course, Princess,=" he replied, his eyes still focused on his reflection. Curiosity brimmed from within the bronze points as he nudged the glass surface with a paw. "=How else can you keep your little secret?=" he added, his voice tinged with teasing laughter. "=Reliving the stories you've read must be fun, hmm?="

Seraphina smiled, a hand going to stroke her familiar's back. The fur under her hand bristled lightly as the cat shifted, purring and allowing the petting to reach its head.

"=So, have you found out anything?=" she asked.

"=I followed him around a little,=" Cileres jumped into Seraphina's arms, positioning himself right between her breasts as the woman hugged him. "=There is definitely something strange about him. I cannot help but feel as though his presence encroaches on the astral plane, although very faintly.="

"=Astal plane? Could he class as a Spiritualist, then?=" Seraphina''s brow shot up in immense surprise.

"=It's not like your lineage, Princess. Your people only touch our realm. He... I cannot help but feel as though he could enter it,=" Cileres shuffled, slowly entering his owner's arm. He rubbed his head against her cheek. "=It's just a suspicion, for now. It doesn't feel like a Summoner, but neither does it strike me as anything else I know.="

"=I see... what do you think about his mana?="

"=Bizarre,=" sounded the immediate reply. "=I don't know what exactly it is, but... it really unnerves me.="

"=Is it dangerous?=" Seraphina frowned, unsure.

"=I don't know, Princess,=" Cileres replied with uncertainty. Shuffling on her arm, he pounced on the dresser, getting a better look at the woman. "=For some reason, it feels like he has condensed a mana circle while simultaneously not having one. It seems to be a fluctuation of mana, but whether or not that's true is beyond my ability. Simply put, be cautious with him. Something about him doesn't make sense to me.="

Seraphina nodded. Her slightly pondering expression told Cileres she would take a minute to mull the issue over. Her eyes closed as she sighed, half a step taken back.

"=That being said, breakfast does sound enticing,=" the cat broke the momentary silence. "=Unless you have more on your mind?="

"=...yes, there is one thing. There is a certain maid in this house. She goes by the name of Nimue. Elf, black hair, green eyes. She feels... extremely strange to me. I want you to observe her,=" Seraphina's gaze focused on Cileres. Caution was written all over her face. "=But be very careful.="

The cat stared at her strangely for a blink. "='Strange' how?="

"=I keep having this peculiar sense of... danger near her,=" Seraphina's hand raised to her chest. "=It's like there is something just beneath the surface that she holds, waiting for a chance to strike.="

"=Hmm...=" Cileres hummed, stepping to the side and jumping to the ground. "=Very well, I will keep it in mind. I'll be back by lunchtime.="

"=Thank you,=" she nodded, seeing the cat suddenly turn to liquid and slip under the door.

...

Seraphina let out a heavy sigh. A hand went to her face, palming a cheek as she glanced around. The bed looked somewhat tidied up, and her nightgown hung on a chair near it. The window that let in some sun was ajar, but the woman failed to sense any breeze moving about. It appeared that today would start with searing heat and no respite.

-Meanwhile-

Lucas's eyes parted. The languid motions of his body were somewhat mechanical yet methodical. His cloudy mind was slowly clearing, the dreamy haze still evident as his mouth crept in a half-remembered mumble.

The white-haired man shuffled atop his bed, his feet meeting the cold floor as he sat up. The sensation immediately sent a sharp sting through his body, helping him wake to the fullest.

As his consciousness focused fully, his gaze went across the room.

The memories of what happened not long ago reverberated. The soft, tender contact of Nimue's lips on his could still be felt. The clumsy movement of her response was bound to be forever seared in his memories. His heart skipped a beat unsteadily.

'...I should find a moment to apologize to her.'

His steps quickly went to his academic robe on a chair. Eyeing the material with a discerning eye, Lucas sighed.

'Tuesday.' he mused. 'It's the assembly day for the alchemy group... I wonder, will they receive me nicely?' the ponder entered his mind as he shuffled, quickly picking some clothes from the drawers to wear under the academic garment. 'Well, Professor Schweizer did say that they care little for one's class...'

...

'Professor Schweizer.'

The memory of the small redhead flashed in front of his eyes. No longer sleep-deprived, Lucas could feel his mind working in full swing, brimming with questions he wanted to ask her once they met.

'...it probably won't be so simple to get her to open up about Father. My best course of action would be to butter her up to it.' he sighed at the thought.

Inwardly, he tried to look out for the reaction from the voice within his mind. However, there was nothing.

Within a minute or so, he was already clad in his clothes. Stepping to the dresser, he positioned the pocket mirror and quickly inspected his overall looks.

'Not too shabby. My HP is full, the clothes are fixed... back to the norm, I suppose. Thankfully, with how my schedule looks today, I will likely avoid Illan altogether.'

...

He sighed, turning away from the dresser. The final checkups on his robe were finished. He faced the door. He inhaled deeply before exiting the room.

...

Lucas's steps led him to the kitchen. The steady rhythm of his boots clicking bore a dull echo. His mind was consumed by the multitude of thoughts surging left and right, starting and stopping uncontrollably. His heart beat with power, its reverberating tempo sending pressure spikes up to his brain.

All of that, however, halted when he opened the door.

Ina shuffled by a counter, the knife in her hand moving with speed and precision. The large crock near her slowly filled up as she threw ingredients in. She immediately shot a look toward Lucas.

"Good morning, young master," she smiled warmly.

"Hey, Ina," he replied, finding his way to the nearest chair. A portion of food was already prepared for him.

Lucas's gaze shot to the left as he saw something move. Immediately, he noticed Nimue, dressed in her maid outfit, glance at him momentarily before parting her lips, "Good morning."

However, unlike the many times when she'd meet his gaze for at least a moment, Nimue's green eyes skittered immediately. Lucas saw that her hand trembled slightly, and her ears twitched. A glint of a rose tint seemed to grace her skin.

"Y-Yes, good morning," he answered, his voice stammering ever so slightly. He sat down in his chair. "Thank you for the breakfast, Ina. Smells wonderful."

Ina gave the man a simple nod. Still, he could see she was pleased with the compliment. "Of course, young master. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, as they say," she said before turning to the crook next to her, resuming her activity. It appeared today's lunch would be a soup.

...

A long moment of awkward silence ensued as Lucas reached for his food. He bit into the bread, not daring to look toward the maid to his left. Nimue seemed to acknowledge the tension, not speaking a word as she quickly chewed as well.

A minute or so passed. Bar the sounds of Ina's knife working the vegetables, the room was quiet.

Lucas glanced at Nimue as his portion was finished. The alluring maid was still eating, her hand going for her cup as she drank some hot tea. The delicate features of her face were as beautiful as ever. The way her voluptuous body was hidden by her outfit made his heart almost skip a beat.

Seemingly sensing his staring, Nimue's green eyes darted at him, meeting his gaze. The contact persisted for a few seconds.

He took a deep breath. It was now or never.

"Nimue," he started, quietly. "could we talk for a moment?" he nodded toward the door leading into the corridor.

Silently, the maid nodded, putting her food down. Lucas noticed how her ears moved, bobbing down before pointing up. The undeniable flush on her cheeks was apparent as she turned to him before the two made their way out of the room.

...

Then there was silence.

The corridor was almost dreadfully quiet as the two stood there for a long moment.

Nimue looked at Lucas before averting her gaze. She looked uncertain about the situation but didn't break the silence. She was waiting patiently for him. Her hands were tied in front of her, and she fidgeted with her thumbs slowly.

'Why...' Lucas felt his heart thump unsteadily. The anxiety that ate at his nerves seemed all-encompassing. 'Why am I so nervous...?' he questioned himself, unable to find an answer. His plan was simple: find Nimue and apologize to her. Yet... he felt his throat tied in a knot at the thought. Seeing her right now, her expectant form full of allure and cuteness, his mind raced with all the thoughts bar the useful ones. This was a feeling not known to him. It felt like one wrong move could steer this situation in a very wrong direction.

...

Lucas swallowed dry saliva. Steeling himself, he took a deep, steadying breath. "Nimue, I... w-wanted to talk with you about what happened," he said quietly, taking half a step back. Both of them stood on opposite sides of the corridor.

Nimue's eyes flickered up. Her gaze met his. Lucas could tell that just like him, she felt nervous, and that was reflected in her emerald eyes. Her cheeks were tinged with a rosy blush, and her ears jerked. She nodded silently.

"I'm sorry about what happened," Lucas continued. "It was inappropriate, and I-I... I don't know w-what came over me. I-I'm really sorry about it."

Nimue's mouth parted for half a second before her gaze turned away. The flush on her face became even more pronounced. "I-It... It was s-surprising, young m-master," she replied softly, her voice punctuated by a slight stammer. "B-But... I d-didn't like-- I mean... I didn't... dislike it," she admitted, her every next word quieter. The blush of her skin deepened into fuller red as she looked to the floor. The black ponytail swirled as she gently shook her head. "I-I just... d-d-didn't... e-expect it..." her hands trembled in tandem with her voice.

Lucas felt a brief moment of relief. It felt... liberating, knowing that Nimue did not feel upset about his moment of rashness.

"Thank you," he said softly. "for not resenting me, Nimue."

"R-Resenting you?" the black-haired elf gave him a surprised expression. "W-Why would I... I would n-never..." her ears trembled, pointing slightly down. "I-I was j-just surprised..."

"I'm glad," Lucas sighed. It suddenly felt like a boulder was lifted from his shoulders. His body felt like it would start shaking out of nowhere, every single muscle in a strange state between relaxation and tension. His mind, however, was at peace, at least partially. "I was really worried that I hurt you. Again, I'm really sorry about that."

"It's... alright, young master. I-I'm not hurt," she replied. Suddenly, her face reddened again, her ears lowering. "And... I-I w-wouldn't m-mind if y-y-you w-were __..." she whispered, her voice quieting down so much that Lucas no longer heard her words. Nimue's lips moved silently as her skin flared up even more.

"Sorry, I didn't catch that last part?" he raised an eyebrow, stepping closer. Nimue was within arm's reach.

"I-I-I m-mean, i-if you wanted t-to... ____," Nimue murmured with a stammer, once again quieting down before finishing her sentence. Her hands, still intertwined, swung lightly as she swayed slightly left and right.

"Nimue, could you... speak a little louder?"

The black-haired elf didn't answer. Her gaze bounced between Lucas and some spot on the wall. The quivering of her lips was difficult to miss.

The tall man stepped slightly closer. His hand went to her shoulder, but he hesitated to make the contact. Worry and curiosity were written in his violet eyes.

"Nimue?" he asked quietly. "Are you alright...?" he frowned, unsure what to ask or how to react.

Nimue gave no verbal answer. Instead, she suddenly moved closer to him. Before Lucas reacted to her motion, her hands already tied themselves behind his back. Her face was buried in his chest for several seconds while the man stood there, stunned at her action. However, as he came to, he immediately answered. His hands caressed the elf's back through her clothing, feeling her almost shiver at the touch.

They remained like this for a few moments. Lucas could feel Nimue's hasty heartbeat that matched his own. Her flared-up skin brushed against his robe. Her breasts pushed into him, but he hardly even noticed, too caught in the moment to care. The tension in the air disappeared as both of them relaxed, seemingly finding silent understanding.

Nimue nudged her nose against his chest. Her heart felt like it would explode. Her veins burst with pressure that clouded her vision. She did not want to let go. She did not want to let this moment pass.

...

But eventually, Lucas pushed. His hands went to her shoulders, caressing her gently as he broke the contact. Hesitantly, Nimue allowed the motion. Her gaze went down sheepishly, unable to meet the man's.

"...I have to go," he said hesitantly, letting go of her shoulders. "I-I'll be back in the evening. H-Have a good day, Nimue."

"Y-You t-too, young master," she replied. "Good l-luck with y-your assembly."

"Thank you. And thank you... for everything. I mean it."

Nimue smiled at him. Lucas could see that her lips quivered ever so slightly, but it was not in a negative way. Rather, she appeared to be bursting with energy and positivity that her body failed to contain anymore.

...

Lucas wasn't even sure when he took his steps away. All he knew was that, before he knew it, he was walking alone in the underground corridors.

The gravity of what just happened hit him with double the weight. Lucas exhaled slightly unsteadily. Just the very thought of how nice Nimue smelled, and how soft her embrace felt, sent jolts of pleasant electricity down every fiber of his body. His body was light yet heavy, hot yet cold. He felt powerful yet weak, smart yet dumb. His heart beat thunderously, bringing with itself a relaxing and freeing sensation.

---

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