Fragarach

Will of the Bearer

The master hurriedly got out of the room and head towards the front of the house. His eyes widen as he saw the persons who visited their manor.

“It’s been a while Rowan.” The man leading the group said with a stern face.

Caisein is standing beside him and bowed after seeing him as Nyx did the same.

“This young one greets the master.” Both of them said in unison.

“Why did you say it’s been a while?” Rowan said with a stern expression.

The atmosphere suddenly changed as both head of the families stare at each other. All of the family members except for the heads feels agitated and terrified that something might happen between the two of them.

[Did something bad happen between them in their last meeting? Why do I feel like something is off?] Mars thought as he glance at both of them.

[Damn it! This guy! He knows that I can’t defeat him in a stare off contest.] the master of the Eran family thought as he bit his lips.

After a few minutes of staring at each other, the other members grew wary how the relationship between the family heads withered without their knowledge.

[The last time they met, they were both laughing and so laid back that they seem to enjoy each other’s company. Was it just my imagination? No- it was so real to be called considered my imagination, so what is going on here?] one of the Eran family thought as he tries to solve what is going on in front of them.

The left eye of the Eran family head twitch after a while of staring at each other.

[This guy, he cannot hold on much longer.] the father of Nyx, Rowan thought as he flashes a smirk at the head of the Eran family.

Nyx and Caisein saw each of their parent’s expression that made them doubt what seems to be happening in front of them.

[Why does master Gilbert seemed irritated? Is he irritates him to see my father’s face? Why do they seem like they are having a staring contest?] Nyx thought as he look at the head of the Eran family with a confused expression.

[Why is mater Rowan wearing a smug in his face like he is about to win something without any doubts? Why do I feel like both of them are doing a staring contest right in front of the house? Doesn’t their knees go numb? It’s more comfortable to do it inside while sitting right?] Caisein thought as he glance at the face of the Arcan family head.

The family head of the Eran family’s eyes started to tear up while the other party is simply enjoying the sight of the slowly defeated opponent. Nyx glanced at Caisein hoping to understand what is really going on between their parents but Caisein replied by gesturing ‘I don’t know either’.

[I can’t hold on any longer.] the Eran family head thought as he blinks his eyes. [This bastard! Freaking cat eyes are unfair. He can stare in the sky for hours!] he grits his teeth as he throws a tantrum in his head.

Rowan, the Arcan family head could not bear it any longer flash a big smile that the other Eran family members can see.

[It’s my victory. Hehehe. You still have a long way before you can beat me Gilbert.] he thought as he let out a chuckle.

“It’s been eight days, three hours, fifty-six minutes and nine seconds –ten. Gilbert.” Rowan said with a huge smile on his face.

The Eran family members were relieved when the atmosphere around them change when the Arcan family head greets their master.

[Wow he really counted the time he and my father last met? That’s awesome! I wish I could do that as well but I always lost track of time easily.] Caisein thought as he admired the devotion of Nyx’s father.

Nyx can see Caisein’s face of admiration towards his father.

[He is quite devoted for someone who as easy going as him.] Nyx displayed a blank expression in front of the other members of the Eran family.

“Why don’t we go inside first? I think the young and elderly ones are getting tired of standing in the middle of the road waiting for us to greet each other. Haha.” He said then he laugh while walking inside the house.

[Isn’t that your fault? You took a hell of time to greet him back.] everyone thought as they stare blankly at the master who is continuously laughing while walking inside the house.

Caisein walk towards Nyx and throw him an elbow attack in his sides.

*BUMP*

“So how are you feeling? Today was a blast, you almost lost your life in that duel.” Caisein said as he put his arms on Nyx’s shoulders.

“I was fine before you throw your elbow at my sides just now.” He said in a cold tone. “I was planning to pay the lord a visit but you and your family appeared at the perfect time.” Nyx added with an irritated expression.

“‘I was planning to pay the lord a visit but you and your family appeared at the perfect time’” Caisein repeated in a mocking tone. “Didn’t you know that he was so exhausted after what happened earlier? Besides it would not be a good time to visit him now since instructor Edward is planning to do the same thing as well. I considered that you will want to visit him after you have recovered your energy so I already asked him if it was okay to do so but he told me to keep you in bed so that you can recover fast.” Caisein continued.

Nyx stopped in his tracks after hearing what Raven told Caisein to do.

“Are you sure that’s what he said? By the way, why are you not showing any respect towards the lord?”

Nyx asked with a suspicious look and Caisein replied with a blank expression.

“What’s with that look? If anyone of our families heard you calling the lord like he is someone you know, they might pounce on you without any single thread of doubt.” Nyx said with a smile.

*sigh*

Caisein let out a sigh.

“I may not be the most obedient person in our families but there is one thing that I did not forget after all of those training that we had to go through. It was to honor the will of the bearer if he ever shows up in our lifetime and he did, the bearer wants us to become his friend and not some object or tools to be used in defeating the demon lord. A friend, a true friend is worth more than that a million times. I know I sound crazy but considering what Raven went through in his childhood, a genuine and true friend is what he really wants and longs for the most. Not someone as a butler, he did not grew up in the same environment as us. We grew up with a gold spoon, everyone in the kingdom regards us demi-humans as the pinnacle of all mortals so it’s hard to keep a true friend since every human will always be wary of us even if they consider us as a friend. Being friends with the bearer, Raven, we might put an end to the wall that separates us from the humans.” Caisein explained with a calm demeanor.

[It never occurred to me to honor his wishes, it is so hard to break away from tradition that I had grown up from. I promised the bearer that I will do my best even if it might be slow and he accepted it, he never really forced me to change right away.] Nyx thought as he stare at the ground.

“I know it’s hard to change right away, but the bearer is patient. I know he will wait for you to change even if it’s little by little.” Caisein said with a smile as he pats Nyx’s back. “Let’s go, our parents might be up to something. It would be a shame if we miss it.” He added.

“Wait, tell me what happened when I lost consciousness first.” Nyx asked while holding Caisein’s sleeve.

“How should I say this?” Caisein tilted his head as he recall what he and Raven talked about inside the carriage.

[Before leaving the academy]

“Is the young master alright?” Mars asked while inspecting Nyx’s body for wounds with a concerned expression.

“Don’t worry, instructor Edward gave him a drop of elixir earlier so he should be all right.” Caisein said as he sat inside the carriage.

Mars eyes directly moves towards Caisein after hearing what he said.

“He got a dose of elixir that no one knows what would be the effect?” Mars unconsciously raise his voice.

“Excuse me but Instructor Edward’s elixir is used for healing that is why Nyx no longer has the injuries that he suffered from earlier. I can vouch for instructor Edward’s elixir.”

Raven said as he cut in on Mars and Caisein’s conversation.

Mars immediately bow his head when he heard Raven’s voice.

“This servant, greets the bearer.” He said in a polite manner.

“Please stop that, its making me uncomfortable.” Raven said with a flustered face while waving his hands to stop Mars from doing something unnecessary.

“I cannot do something like that, it has always been our tradition to be respectful of the bearer once he appears and regard him in high honors.” Mars replied in an overly polite tone.

[Why is the young master of the Eran family so laid back in front of the bearer? So disrespectful! Is this how the Eran family taught their successor to act in front of the bearer?] he thought as he continues to bow down.

Raven look as flustered as he glance at Caisein hoping to get some help from him.

[I don’t think I can change his mind at all. It’s hard to break away from their tradition.] Caisein thought as he gestured ‘It’s beyond my power.’

[There has got to be some way.] he thought as he accepted his fate.

“Anyway, there are witnesses that the wounds and their complexion earlier was a lot different than it is now.” He said with an awkward smile.

“If the bearer says so, then I will not pursue any further. But you said it was an elixir, may I ask what is the quality of the elixir that the instructor used?” he asked while as he raise his head to see look at raven more carefully.

[If an elixir is used to heal the wounds that the young master suffered, then surely it was of a middle tier one to be able to show such astonishing result in just a few minutes of taking it.] Mars thought as he recalls the name of the famous alchemist in the whole kingdom.

“It was crystal clear.” Caisein said without any delay.

“Heuk!” Mars flash an awkward smile as he look at Caisein sitting beside him. “Surely the young master of the Eran family is joking. No one has ever created a crystal clear elixir much less a clear one in the whole family of the renowned alchemists. If one managed to do so, how is he able to stay hidden for a long time?” Mars asked as he still could not believe what he heard.

Mars caught a glance of Caisein staring at him with a blank expression so he turned his head towards Raven who nodded his head. Chills suddenly ran down his spine after Raven confirms what Caiseins said. The corners of his lips twitch in embarrassment as he bows his head.

“I apologize for doubting the words of young master Caisein twice, it will not happen again.” He apologize as he kneel down.

“It is okay, it’s normal for you to be worried about Nyx and I understand that there is no need to go that far for something so trivial. I was so shocked when the instructor pulled it out of his pocket earlier like everyone else, well except for his students. They were responsible for obliging the instructor to use the elixir even thought he was clearly doubting.” Caisein explained in a calm tone with his arms crossed.

“Caisein, please tell Nyx to get a lot of rest. Based on his behavior now, he might come and visit me when he regain some strength in his body. I want you to make sure that he gets some rest. Please do it as a favor.” Raven said with a humble tone as he glance at Nyx.

“When we arrived at his house he was staring at you with a concerned expression before leaving the carriage, after he left, Mars asked countless of questions that I had no time answer every single one of them. Well, basically that’s what happened.” Caisein said with a smile in his face.

Nyx look down with a sad expression after hearing what happened after he lost consciousness from Caisein.

“Chin up, he was worried about you. You should be happy that he cares about you, not to mention you recovered the lost holy sword of your family.” Caisein said as he messes with Nyx’s hair. “We, the Eran family is here today for a meeting. I told them that the bearer appeared, they were anxious to meet immediately but since Raven is busy today with his visitor then I guess we have to plan what will happen next. The other families heard what happened in the duel earlier, it is bad enough to show the holy sword around but for the Reynolds family’s successor to use it in a mere duel concerns the other families. I am sure Nash and Kai’s families are well informed about the incident and some reason Roniel’s family was informed as well. All of the main families are going to have a meeting in a few days regarding that matter. But now both of our families are going to have a meeting about the important person of all and you already know who it is.”

Caisein’s face suddenly became serious that it bugged Nyx.

“I am going to tell them the will of the bearer.” He said with a serious tone.

Nyx’s eyes immediately widen after hearing what Caisein said.

“Are you crazy?” he exclaimed.

“Call me crazy, but if you are backing me up then they can’t deny that fact.” Caisein said with a smile. “We have to stop them before they made Raven sad and disappointed by doing something that he finds uncomfortable.” He added.

“I’ll do what I can.” Nyx replied.

“Then let’s go. We have a lot of old dudes to convince.” Caisein said as he put his arm on Nyx’s shoulder.