☆ FATED ☆

Chapter 12: Years pass like flowing water

"At ease, Join me for a meal."- They heard the King's old and rough voice talking to them, they thanked him first before sitting to their respective seats.

Halfway through the dinner, the King started to ask about the method they used to clear the century-old snowstorm of the Death Star Peak. Elise calmly eat a small piece of steak before speaking to the King although her eyes are still gazing at her food.

"King Dragonell, do you seek the way to eliminate a natural disaster or are you trying to know our ways of dealing with our power?"- Elise asked with a calm tone before looking up to meet the eyes of the Dragon King.

'Do you think I will tell you the secret of "Science"? Dream on. There is a reason why the magic of this world is not advance and there is also a reason why I taught my little brother well.'- Elise thought with a calm gaze on her eyes.

"Human, you are very daring."- The Dragon King said in a gruff voice before scoffing. Yes, he is curious of the magic formulation she used to create such monstrous magic, however, since she is not willing to speak, why would he push it? Who knows what kind information will this little human leave that could be a ticking time bomb inside his territory.

"It is simply because I am mindful of my wisdom, humanity, and magic."- Elise said before resuming to eat her dinner. Ashur look at his big sister with a look of awe and worship in his eyes. No matter who she was talking to, whatever status, power, etc. they have, Ashur will never put his big sister anywhere else but the Top! Only the Top will fit his big sister who was like a beautiful goddess that descended the sky to be his family.

After that dinner, nothing much happened. They thank the Dragon King once again before leaving the Dragon Kingdom as soon as possible. 

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They travelled for three days straight and finally arrived at the Von Dutch terittory, however, the both of them were shocked. The head butler was only there with a few servants to tend the mansion, their parents were both in the Capital because of an urgent letter. Elise frowned at this and asked the head butler if there is a copy or the original of the letter was left in the territory.

"I'm sorry young miss, The Duke and Duchess said they will need it in the Capital, also they told us to look after the estate and territory why they are busy."- The Head butler reported to her. Her frown deepened as she look around the estate. There were few things that were not inside the mansion, and the gloriousness of the mansion seemed to dwindle away. The servants who were left here are ranging from mid-30-40s,and they seemed to be a bit thin. 

Ashur felt something odd within the household as he looks at his big sister's frowning face. His heart was beating anxiously as he tried to look around one more time in the mansion's entrance.

"Head butler."- Elise called the head butler's attention who straightened up and salute at her with a nervous gaze.

"Have all of the servants present to come in the front hall, give me the finance log of the Von Dutch family as well as the servant's logs."- Elise said in a serious tone, the head butler tried to have a leeway but Elise's sharp ruby-red irises peirced through the old head butler.

"In this household, who is the Master?"- Elise's calm yet oppressive voice rung in the mansion's entrance. The Head butler gulped before nodding, turning to a nearby servant to help the young masters bring back their baggage upstairs and direct them to the Parlor.

"You have 15 minutes, if you're just a second late, I will give you an appropriate punishment."- Elise threatened the old man before walking towards the salon, Ashur look at the old man sweating before walking behind his big sister.

'Something must've happened while we are away... but how did our territory fell to such a state? Why is mother and father not here?I just noticed... its been a year since they exchanged letters. Something feels wrong... I feel slightly threatened.'- Elise thought before looking at the servants who were slowly filling up 1/4 of the spacious salon. they look nervous, guilty, and wary of them- or her alone. She didn't recognize any familiar faces from the last seven years. who were these servants? what happened to the other servants before? Where are their parents?

The head butler came inside the salon looking haggard and sweaty, Elise took the log books from him and opened the finance log of the estate.

Large values of gold and platinum left the treasury of the estate started from two years ago, as well as the dwindling numbers of precious items inside the estate. She took the other log book with a bit more urgency and look at the names of old and new personnel that was hired over the past seven years.

"What is the current situation in the Capital?"-Elise asked as she look at the head butler with a glare.

"Young miss, There was a level 3  danger zone that is located between the Geon Kingdom and the Fairy Kingdom since three years ago, they stated that there were low grade demons that were popping out from a fissure of the earth and has been  trying to seal the gap till present times. Both kingdoms were trying hard to create a way to close the gap."- The head butler reported to her in haste. Elise frowned as she look at the open log books while deep in thought.  Ashur look at his big sister with a worried look on his face.

"Send a swift letter to the Palace, the Von Dutch siblings has arrived in the Von Dutch territory and is requesting to pull back their parents from the front-lines."- Elise said in serious tone on her voice.

"B-but young miss! The Duke and Duchess were the core players for this operation!"

"Who cares? I want to pull them back. Who are you to ignore my orders!"- Elise' oppressive aura was released and suffocated everyone except her little brother. 

"Y-Yes, please forgive my impudence! I will directly carry your message to the Capital!"- The head butler salute at once and run away in haste. 

"Return to your duties, I want to have lunch at the balcony, prepare it within one hour, go."- Elise ordered and the servants all bow down and left the room in haste. She sighed and relaxed on the sofa before looking at her anxious little brother. 

"Sorry for leaving you out earlier. It seems that the money of our family was directly used in the mission to defeat the low-grade demons. Ashur, I want to pull them back here and replace their position. Isn't that a wonderful idea?"- She asked with a smile on her lips. She watched as her little brother nodded eagerly and spoke out his thoughts.

"I will follow you big sister! with our prowess in magic and the knowledge of "Science" we will obliterate those pesky demons!"- Ashur said with an innocent smile on his smile.

'Hah... My little brother can spew some scary words with an innocent look on his face...' Elise nodded her head and told him to clean up first before meeting her back here to eat on the balcony.

"Years pass by like flowing water, I guess its time to see the bigger picture of this fantasy-type of world setting."- Elise mumbled before walking back to her room to change her clothes. 

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A/N: Hi everyone! hope you like this chapter!

I'm really exhausted in my current curriculum and although I could say I have a decent amount of good grades for my school work, I'm dying from exhaustion as in sitting all day and dating my computer 24/7; not able to exercise from early schedule and not enjoying sleep to the fullest! Gah! Life is so hard! QWQ) 

see you all around! Idk when but I will come back with better plots, +++ word counts and more! Byebye!