The Game Before the Fall

Chapter 38: Inheritance (Part 2)

"Chloe that's enough," the new voice caught me completely by surprised and on instinct I reacted, facing the potential threat and standing between it and Zen. A mature woman with black hair and dressed in a black dress stood casually beside the trolley. She ignored my sudden movement, focusing instead on Aria. "Our guests appear hungry. Chloe, make some preparations."

"Of course, sister," Chloe bowed and left the parlour, leaving us with the strange women.

If I had a blade I would have drawn it. Aria however was the opposite, she smiled pleasantly to the new women and looked at me annoyed, "Ardy you're being rude."

"I'm being rude? She appeared out of nowhere," I replied, refusing to let down my guard.

"No, she walked in," Aria stated bluntly. "She was in your blind spot." While that may have been true, I hadn't been snuck up on like that in a long time and unlike previous times, I was actively being aware.

The women smiled amused, "Do not worry. I have no intention to harm you. My disposition makes it hard to be detected. The fault is not yours."

"Ardy, just sit down," Aria spoke again firmly, and I begrudgingly sat.

"It's fine," the women chuckled. "I as well would usually be guarded."

"And why aren't you then?" I asked.

"Well, how could I be rude to a sister of my lady?"

Aria stiffened, "Your lady... that would be who?"

"The Witch of Blood," she answered with a soft smile reminiscing of a better time.

"I'm not a Witch!" Aria replied firmly, fists tightened. She spoke again, softer, "I'm not a Witch. I can't do what they could. I'm not that powerful and I don't want to be."

"My lady was the same. She rejected it at first but eventually did comes to terms with her role... though in the end I wish she wasn't one. Then perhaps she could have escaped what happened." Her eyes turned away from Aria's fierce declaration and shifted to me, "My name is Elene, caretaker to the Witch of Blood and as you may have guessed, I am not human."

"Ardent," I replied. "My sister is Aria and the sleeping one is Zen."

"A pleasure to meet you," she bowed her head lightly. "Before we continue, please allow me to ask a question. What does the world outside this dimension, what does Areithia remember of the Witch of Blood, of Elastire?"

I had to answer with the truth, "Elastire is a legend. A great city that once existed in the North of Areithia. It's now a cautionary tale to fear Witches and the power they promise, otherwise you bring destruction."

Elene tensed ever so slightly, "And what do they say happened to Elastire?"

"The Witch of Blood sowed a curse on the people, turned them into mindless slaves and would have spread that curse to the world had a Hero not erased Elastire from existence."

The polished floor beneath Elene's feet cracked, "Is that so...."

"I'm guessing it didn't happen as the legend told."

"There is truth to it at least," she grit her teeth.

I glanced at Aria who still remained conflicted after being called a Witch. She listened discontent. It was true I had never seen Aria do something as grand as a Witch. She hadn't turned a country to sand or bought an army of swords to life, but she had amazing things before. Her power was mysterious and at times I was jealous of how easy she manipulated mana. It was almost like second nature.