"Do you not find the dessert to your liking? Please do tell if something is bothering you," Crow asked, noticing the worried look on Aeloria's face.
"Not at all. The dessert is quite lovely," popping a berry into her mouth, Aeloria spoke. "I was just thinking about what a wonderful family you all are," she glanced over at Yoru who had an indifferent look on her face.
"We try to take care of each other. I'm sure you also have a family just as lovely," Sarah spoke with a bright smile that seemed to light up the entire table.
"Unfortunately, I'm all that remains of my family. But I don't feel lonely, because I have an older brother."
"I'm sorry to hear that. Your older brother must be just as wonderful as you," Crow leaned over, joining in on the conversation.
"He is. The only problem is that he always draggs me around, saying I'm too slow to walk. Other than that, he is a wonderful person."
'She has an older brother? Since when? The only person who drags her around is the Commander. But surely he's not who she meant.' Yoru hid her curiousity behind a calm expression.
"I see. Well, a friend of my daughter's is a friend of mine. Please allow me to show you around." Crow suggested, gesturing towards the door.
"Sorry if it sounds rude, but I need to be somewhere at the moment. I only came because I didn't want to disrespect Sir Crow's kind intentions." 'The Commander said after I get the book, I should come to his personal training grounds. I'm already late as is. I can just feel it, it will not end with a knock on my head this time.'
'For her to say she has a meeting with someone in front of me, then that person must be fairly important, if not of a higher status.'
"Then we will detain you no further. Please be on your way." Crow adopted a friendly tone when he spoke.
"The meal was wonderful, by the way. Please do excuse my rudeness in leaving mid-conversation." Aeloria apologized with a bow.
'In all the two years I've known her, she didn't tell me she had an older brother, neither did she talk to anyone aside me. Does she feel uncomfortable? Is that why she's making up excuses?' Yoru stared at Aeloria with an expression close to disappointment.
"It's alright, Aeloria, please do visit whenever you have the time. I would love to get to know you more," Sarah spoke, standing to see the guest out.
"Please allow me to see her out in your stead." Yoru suggested, already standing up, unbothered by the response her mother would give.
"Well then, I guess some other time, please take care." Seeing her daughter's determination, Sarah could only back down.
...
Outside the Shikel territory, the two maidens dismounted their horses.
"I'm sorry, Yoru, you went out of your way to invite me to your home yet..." she didn't finish speaking when Yoru pulled hard on her hair, an action inherent of a noble in public.
"Owie..." Aeloria yelled.
A man lost in thought walking nearby jumped at the sound Aeloria made, certain it was a bandit attack.
Passers-by stopped temporarily to watch the two maidens perform such an unsightly act.
'Maidens these days waste their precious time fighting over men who don't even love them,' an older woman walking by spat on the floor, her gown worn out from years of washing.
"It hurts, please stop," Aeloria said, her head tilted towards the direction of the pull.
"It's meant to hurt. Why did you lie? You and I both know you don't have an older brother and neither do you have anywhere to be," Yoru said in a dissapointed tone. Her voice then softened and her grip loosen at her next words.
"Did you not... like my family? I'm sorry if they were rude to you." Yoru's voice wavered slightly.
"No, it's nothing like that. I really do have an older brother, though we are not related by blood. Commander Orin is my older brother." Aeloria explained, finally freeing her hair from Yoru's grip.
"What? Surely you jest." Yoru took a step back. The idea that the Tyrant would take in someone as his sibling was absurd.
"It's the truth."
"Then the person you're going to meet, is also him?" Yoru asked and Aeloria nodded.
"I see. I expect to hear more from you later. I'll explain things well to my parents. You need to hurry. I'm sure the commander is punching the walls in frustration of how late you are."
With that, Yoru mounted her horse.
"Oh, and don't forget, as of this moment, you not only have an older brother but a younger sister as well." Yoru said, pointing to her self before riding off into the distance.
Aeloria smiled, watching her back before finally mounting her horse.
...
"What took you so long? Did the Queen not give you the book?" It wasn't a knock that awaited her as she entered the personal training ground of the Commander, but questions.
"Oh, I was invited to the Shikel territory. I thought it would be rude to turn down the offer. I'm sorry I wasted your time," Aeloria apologized as she approached.
"I see. Well then, there's no time to waste, let's begin right away."
After taking the book from Aeloria, he began to teach her.
"Šërēĺįťh is a language Lady Nyxelene created. I don't know how or where, but one thing I know is that it's a powerful chant different from witchcraft and sorcery. Each word of Šërēĺįťh was designed to sunder the laws of the world, leaving only the Queen's will behind. Bear this in mind before we continue. For every word you learn from the book, it disappears, that means if you were to forget a word after learning, you would not be able to learn it again. Even if I were to say them to you, you would no longer be able to understand them." Orin explained.
'Such a complicated method of learning,' Aeloria thought, watching Orin explain the Origin and rules with unwavering attention.
***
A week later, The Head Captain led her troop towards the Lonorith river. This was the first time she was leading without the commander by her side. She rode forward with Yoru riding to her right and the rest of the soldiers behind them.
The journey was a silent one, except for the chants of the soldiers.
The soldiers' voices rose in a vesper hum as they prayed.
"Let the ground be stained crimson, but let the blood not be mine,
Songs of sorrow and grief, only my enemies shall sing.
A thousand to one, one to a thousand, their victory I shall redefine,
Runevale seeks victory, and victory I shall bring.
On this field my soul was forged, and on this field I shall die,
So watch over me, oh All-Mother Nyxelene, Great Ruler above the Third Sky."