CHAPTER 24 - MEMORY
As I walked down the same hallway I walked with Gramps yesterday at night. To be honest, he really did not question me further on the veil that made my core look fake or artificial. I thanked him for that. But I would've revealed everything if he kept on pushing a little more and that idea was something I had to work on. My mentality was still low compared to anyone's here in the castle.
Before I could continue with my mental side note. A loud cute yell or something like that threw me off and I ran towards the source of the voice.
"KYAAAAAA!"
"--there?"
Wha–
When I arrived, the elf princess was holding onto the squirming black little cat that looked alike...
Wait a minute...
Is that...
"Kyu!!" the small little dragon cried.
The "father" of the little dragon let out a defeated breath and fell back into bed.
"A-Art... is this?" I said, astonished by the black creature trying to run from the elven girl.
"Her name is Sylvie and she just hatched from her shell yesterday. You should let go of her, though. It looks like she doesn't like being strangled," He muffled through the pillow that covered his head.
I got closer to Sylvie. Her head was shaped like a cat's but the snout was just a little bit more pointed, otherwise the same. The tail, though, looked exactly like Sylvia's tail. It was a reptilian tail that had two red spikes at the end. Along the spine of this one day old were also small red spikes that matched the color of its eyes. It didn't have wings but where the wings should be located, were, instead, two small bumps.
Being distracted by her appearance, Sylvie had finally freed herself from Tessia's grasp and was glaring at her while she hid herself behind Arthur.
"Grrrrr..." Sylvie let out a high-pitched growl.
"Don't worry Sylv, she's a friend," Art said while patting her head.
After Sylvie settled, she looked at me, turning her head in confusion.
I, being confused as well, forgot that she can communicate with Arthur through telepathy. Convenient. I thought, being somewhat envious of them.
Suddenly, Arthur shot up from his bed and looked at Sylvie with a tense look. Slowly he turned to me with eyes that were trying to make sense of whatever Sylvie told Arthur.
A sense of fear entered me, thinking that she might have found out my secret.
That shouldn't be possible, not even the Lances–the two strongest warriors of the Elven nation could understand much less make note of my secret now that I knew how to hide it. And now Sylvie, who was just born yesterday, made note of it just by looking at me?
A sense of frustration entered my mind. It was directed towards Sylvie or anyone who was in the room, in exception to myself. In fact, I couldn't be more glad that if Sylvie actually found out, it meant that she barely knew what it was and her description to Arthur might be sloppy. Perhaps the best thing that she would say to describe whatever she felt or saw, was familiar yet not at the same time.
Still, how were things going my way until they weren't? Just how many times was Fate going to play me by letting me think that I had the upper hand just for Fate to throw it all into the ground? Making me realize that I was never two steps ahead but rather five steps behind every move I mustered? Moves that perhaps take claim of people's lives? People that are dear to me.
Noticing my absence in the moment, Arthur, who had been quietly staring at me, spoke in a teasing voice as he got off bed. His eyes no longer on me, but rather on Tess who was literally drooling over the sight of Sylvie. I could see little hearts come out of her eyes as she was itching herself closer to both of them, her hands twitching lewdly like a predator's.
"Okay, now you just look scary, Tess. Get out of my room, both of you, so that I can change."
Quite the fact that Arthur had described from his perspective in the novel...
I walked downstairs alongside the princess. Tessia still being in love with Sylvie, nothing but heart eyes and small little resembles of hearts around her aura made her even more creepy to me. Nonetheless, it still bugged me. The reason for Art to look at me with an expression that at the moment I may have thought it was one but it could've been wrong.
Shock? Confusion? Anger? Frustration?
No matter how long I'd pondered on this situation, what truly mattered in the definition of true understanding. I lacked.
What Arthur was thinking, and what Sylvie saw on me, brought some desperation and complication towards my plans. I can't just intervene, but what was the whole point of training and mastering the techniques I need for the future? Sure, over these past years, my training hasn't been the best or easy. Yet I still believe that it was–still is–enough for until the academy invasion starts.
More specifically, when Dravnee starts brainwashing the students into being guinea pigs for the spellforms that Alacryian's use. Except that instead of the ceremony method, it was something that was a type of liquid.
I don't remember exactly what it was, or what it was called.
"Hello, Grandpa!" Tess shouted, waving a hand and got next to Virion in a flash.
Those words alone were enough to get me out of my daydreaming faction.
I greeted the old elf as well before sitting in front of him. Of course I couldn't just start trailing off into my own thoughts knowing full well that Virion is the type of person to sense when something is wrong.
Moments later, Art appeared with Sylvie on his head, not wanting to let go.
"Gramps! We're here!" He shouted, all while Virion sipped his tea while reading an article that wasn't familiar to me in any way. Turning his head, he smiled, "Ah! Art you're here! Why was Tess fussing about some sort of pet that..."
"Here...we...go..." I managed to mutter without catching the attention of those surrounding me.
His cup fell when he noticed the horned black lump sitting on Arthur's head.
"T-thats..." He continued to stutter something incomprehensible.
"What is that?" He finally managed to ask, his eyes glued to Sylvie.
"Er... I think she's something like a dragon, although I'm not entirely sure myself," Art responded unconfidently.
"Kyu?"
Tess came through the door into the courtyard practically bouncing up and down.
"You said it's a dragon? But it's so cute! Art! Can I hold her? Can I? Can I?" she begged, eyes sparkling.
"Grrr~" Sylvie started to hiss at her mortal enemy as she clawed at the boy's scalp.
"Ah ow ow OWOW! Sylvie your claws!"
I stared at the scene. Wondering what to say. If I were to say anything like I already knew about the stone being an egg–which I already did, however I couldn't say anything–meant I would be suspicious of anything I do now and into the future. Restricting my movements and thoughts.