Princess Thief [✔]

44. Arvory Manor

"What about the clue on Deliora?"

He was clearly asking Reichen but the latter was lost in his world until Blaze nudged him on his side.

What got him so distracted? I thought as Blaze was probably telling him about the question.

"The clues on the Lost Treasures in Deliora are false. I have sent Karios there yesterday but it was futile," Reichen replied.

He gestured to the man who looked the same age as me with a half-mask covering his face vertically, who in turn, spoke.

"Yes. It was only a common jewel when we tried to purify it."

Thankfully, the discussion ensued calmly while my gaze traveled to anyone who spoke the whole time. I certainly had no idea who they were aside from their voices and masks. 

Even their second names were hard to know since everyone had been preoccupied lately so I was not formally introduced to anyone. Not to mention, they didn't even address one another most of the time.

Ah. Reichen was definitely not kidding when he said that secrecy was the highest priority here.

***

When the meeting belatedly ended, the people dispersed while I approached Blaze who was with another member. It was the same old man who stopped further disputes and led the whole conversation looking at how Reichen was very sidetracked.

"What's going on, Reichen? This is the first time you acted like this. With the leader being absentminded, how do you think the members will feel especially in this grim circumstance?" criticized the old man.

"See? Grandfather, you can't get anything out of him when he's brooding. Oh, hey, Ace," greeted Blaze when he saw me.

"Hello. What's wrong with him?"

"Probably lost in thoughts. Anyway, this is my grandfather, Elkan. He's the one who made all the current masks and your dagger. Grandfather, this is Ace. She's the one I talked to you about."

Elkan. Blaze only had one living grandparent and that was the famous Count of Riom. One could not mention talent without saying his name. He was a knight who honed exemplary people all over the Grand West and the Far East and had risen to the noble ranks. Moreso, he was a legendary craftsman that influenced the current period of arts.

The man's stature bent with age but my respect towards him had always been high up to the sky with all his accomplishments. It was even rumored that if he acknowledged you, your potential was boundless.

"It is an honor meeting you, my lord."

"Hm?" He glanced at Blaze and the other man shrugged before his eyes returned to me. "I can say the same. I never expect to meet a person blessed with two magic. It is truly best we keep your magic in secrecy. As your name stated, you can be our ace in this battle."

"Please lessen your expectations, my lord. I'm afraid I cannot exceed it."

They had told me about my role but, in truth, I was hindered by boundaries I could not discern. There was no assurance I could do what they want me to do because I may have loathed Father but deep inside I feared him too.

Fear that consumed and ingrained in my being. I thought I was numbed but I never overcame the terror rooted in his atrocity. I could confront him when his façade was on but when his charade was bared and his raw emotions reflected his disgust and revulsion towards me, the feeling of suffocation followed.

My heart thumped as memories flashed of all those moments in the oubliette where Father's true nature was revealed. I hated how I could never forget things I had personally witnessed.