Fragarach

Visit Part I

Instructor Edward saw everything that happened to Cassiopeia.

[It’s good to be young.] he thought as he smiles while gathering his teaching utensils.

“Excuse me, but can I join?” a familiar voice came from behind them.

[The next day]

*Creak!*

*Opens door*

“I’m heading out mother. I have already packed everything that you need for the market. There is someone who volunteered to bring your goods to the market so do not worry of lifting something heavy as that container okay?” he said as he opens the door.

“Have you prepared your lunch?” his mother immediately asked as she hurriedly wipes her hands with a cloth and went to the front door.

“Yes mom, I already did.” he said as he points his bag.

“Is that so? Then enjoy your business okay?” she said with a smile.

With his mother’s permission he left the house and went on his way to the academy. Everyone he pass through hid and distance themselves away from him.

[Hmmm, looks like today is going to be a peaceful one. I knew I told the both of them not to tail me everywhere I go. It’s a good thing that Caisein follows every word that I say but Nyx concerns me, knowing him. He may not be able to stand his habits and go sprinting towards our house, thank goodness Caisein is there to stop whatever he is planning.] he thought as he smiles brightly not minding the people who are distancing themselves from him.

After a few minutes of walking towards the academy, he saw Iris standing in front of the academy waiting for him.

“Good morning, did you wait long enough?” he asked immediately after arriving.

“Good morning, not at all. I just got here a few moments ago.” He replied as he adjusted his glasses with a smile.

“You really saved me back there. I was in panic when I remembered that I will be visiting a girl. It’s a good thing that I am coming with another guy from our class.” Raven said with a smile as he scratches his head.

[A little flashback]

“Excuse me, but can I join?” a familiar voice came from behind them.

Both Raven and Cassiopeia were surprised at the voice coming behind them. The moment they turn their heads they saw Iris standing there with a smile in his face.

“Can I join?” he repeated.

[Huh? Did he manage to hear our plans?] Cassiopeia thought as she gaze at Iris.

[I will not be like them, if I want to know both of them. I need to see it with my own eyes before I say anything bad about them like everyone around me seems to be doing.] Iris told himself.

Raven’s face immediately brightens after hearing what Iris said as he flash a glimmering smile.

“Are you sure?” he immediately grab Iris hand to confirm what he said. “You want to join too?” he said with an innocent smile.

“Yes, I also wanted to learn the proper way to make a rune formation. I manage to hear what you said a few days ago, and I also heard that both of you are going to do it this weekend. I happened to be free as well so I wondered if I can join you both as well.” Iris said with a laugh. “I am pretty sorry for eavesdropping at the both of you earlier. I’m just interested in learning some new things so I could not control myself and listened to what you both were saying.” He apologized as he bows his head.

[What a lifesaver! Thank goodness, I never have to worry about getting a misunderstanding anymore.] Raven thought as he flash a grin.

“I am Raven Oston, I apologize for not introducing myself first.” Raven said as he bows his head. “No, it was me who did not introduced myself first. I know that my introduction is kind of a late but I am Iris, Iris Laken.” He replied with a smile.

“If its fine with Cassiopeia then its good right?” Raven said as he turns to Cassiopeia.

Raven’s expression might be brightened by the sudden news, Cassiopeia’s face on the other hand gloomed the instant she heard that a student from their class wanted to tag along.

[It’s supposed to be a date between me and Raven. I can’t believe that someone just had to tag along like that. I already conducted an investigation about what Raven likes a few days ago and I plan to cook with everything I can.] she told herself as she stares at the ground.

(She literally stalked Raven on a daily in the past after the mana manipulation test. It was not written so I guess I have to enlighten those things in the future.)

“Oh it’s fine. The more the merrier right?” she said meekly without looking at Raven and Iris.

“Then it’s decided. Where are we going to meet tomorrow?” Iris asked with a smile.

[Huh?]

Both Raven and Cassiopeia thought in confusion.

[Huh? Why are they looking at me like that? Did I say something wrong?] “What happened? Don’t tell me you forgot that tomorrow is already weekend.” Iris said with an awkward smile.

[Shoot! I almost forgot about the date. If he didn’t tell us today, I might have arrive here in the academy tomorrow alone and embarrassed about for not remembering the date properly like a real student.] Raven thought as he buried his face on his palms. [That might be the most embarrassing time in my adult life if it were to happen. Was I distracted that I almost forgot what day is it today.]

“Thanks for telling me, I might have went here tomorrow if you did not remind me.”

“Thanks for telling me, I might have went here tomorrow if you did not remind me.”

Raven and Cassiopeia said in unison. Both of them were surprised to hear that both of them thanked Iris for reminding them.

[Huh? Both of us forgot what day it is tomorrow?] Cassiopeia thought as she stare at Raven with a surprised expression while Raven does the same thing.

“Did you also forget the date?” Raven asked.

Cassiopeia covers her face in embarrassment.

[Wow! They really had to thank me in unison huh?] Iris thought as he stares at the both of them blankly. “Instructor Edward, can I take my time off tomorrow? I plan on joining Raven and Cassiopeia in a private lesson. Is that okay? I promise to make up for what I will miss tomorrow.”

Instructor Edward glanced at Raven and moves his eyes to Iris. “It’s fine by me, it would be good for me to relax for a day as well. You can just come to me the day after tomorrow.” He said with a smile.

[It’s a good thing to have him tag along with both of them. Maybe the rune formation lessons will catch his interest more than just making tea. I hope he takes more interest in rune formation so that will not pester me about teaching him something that I did not even make myself.] he told himself as he prays in his head.

[Back to present time]

“Haaa! Haaa! Haaa!” [Thank goodness! I manage to prepare everything in time, I never thought that all of that following behind him will make me forget what date it is.]

Cassiopeia sat on the floor as she told herself as he breathes heavily after making the preparations.

“You’re really that excited for your guest huh? It’s my first time seeing my little sister this excited for a visit.” Kai said as he stand behind her with his arms crossed while flashing as smile.

“You startled me!” she exclaime as she jumped off the floor. [Was he watching me preparing everything?] she ask herself as she turns back with a flustered expression.

“You got so excited that you didn’t even asked for help huh?” Kai said with a teasing expression.

“Big brother you i***t! I didn’t have enough time to prepare and ask for help since I forgot the date!” she cried as she pounds her fist in his older brother’s chest.

“Whoa there, I’m just asking here you know. You don’t need to be that defensive. Ow- it’s starting to hurt.” He said as Cassiopeia’s pound starts to get heavier. “Are that angry with just a teeny tiny bit of question?” he ask while holding his chest.

Cassiopeia just stare at him with a completely flustered face.

“Hey now, why is your face red like a tomato? It’s not like your boyfriend is coming here right?” Kai said with surprised face.

Cassiopeia’s face turns even redder.

“Huh? Is it true?” he said with a shocked expression. “Did I hit the bull’s eye?”

Cassiopeia grabs a mug and threw it at Kai without any hesitation.

“Ah!” Kai screamed as he immediately sprinted out of the room.

“Big brother you i***t!” she yelled as the mug hit the door.

“Father! Cassi is going to have her boyfriend over!” Kai screamed inside their house surprising everyone.

[I was just playing with her, but to think that she took it seriously.] he thought as he hides himself behind the curtains.

*BUDUMP!* *BUDUMP!* *BUDUMP!* *BUDUMP!* *BUDUMP!* *BUDUMP!* *BUDUMP!* *BUDUMP!* *BUDUMP!*

His heart started racing when he hears a pair of footsteps beside the curtains that he is hiding.

“Where is that i***t?!”

He heard Cassiopeia screamed as she passed by, having heard the footsteps walking far away from him he steps out behind the curtains only to find that Cassiopeia is waiting for him to reveal himself while holding a pan staring at him devoid of expression.

*Shudder*

“I know that I have said some things but I did not purposely do that you know? You love your big brother right? I was just joking you know? Please let me off that hook just this once. Hehe” he said as he raise both of his hands with an awkward chuckle.

With his plead and gesture to surrender Cassiopeia just stare at him without changing her expression.

[You know how embarrassing it is to run around the house looking for you with a bright red face?] she thought as she flash a grin.

*Gulp!*

Kai swallowed his spit as Cassiopeia walks slowly towards him without putting down the pan that she is holding.

[Oh sh*t. I’m in deep trouble.] he thought as he felt the hair on his skin rose like a blooming flower.

*Swoosh*

*Whapang!*

With a swift swing Cassiopeia hit her big brother’s head with a pan and left him until she is satisfied of his punishment. Cassiopeia left the scene with the deformed pan in her hands with Kai on the floor as foam starts to appear in his mouth, slowly losing his consciousness.

[Girls- girls in love are really dangerous- ugh!] he told himself then he lost consciousness.

“Kya!” maid screams as soon as she saw Kai’s unconscious body on the floor.

Other maids and butler immediately ran towards the location where they heard the scream. “Young master! Pull yourself together!”

*Step!* *Step!* *Step!* *Step!* *Step!* *Step!* *Step!* *Step!* *Step!* *Step!* *Step!* *Step!* *Step!* *Step!* *Step!* *Step!* *Step!* *Step!* *Step!* *Step!* *Step!* *Step!* *Step!* *Step!* *Step!* *Step!* *Step!* *Step!*

“Is this the place?” Raven ask as Iris looks at the address written on the paper.

“I guess so, this is the only place I know that elves reside so I think it is the Lenus Manor.” Iris said as he scratch his head. “Are you not going to ring the bell?” he asked.

Both of them look at each other waiting for the each of them to make the move first.

“Ah, I was waiting for you to do it.” Raven answered. “Huh?” Iris mumbled in a surprised expression. [I was waiting for you to do that thought.] he thought as he stares at Raven with a blank expression.

Both of them stood there staring at each other for a few minutes and with the feeling of defeat. Raven decided to ring the bell beside the gates.

[Well, I guess I have to do it since we cannot move on if both of us just stand there doing nothing. Someone has to do it.] he told himself as he rings the bell.

*KLINK!* *KLINK!* *KLINK!* *KLINK!* *KLINK!* *KLINK!* *KLINK!* *KLINK!* *KLINK!* *KLINK!* *KLINK!* *KLINK!*

“It looks like our guests have arrived. Should I greet them personally?” a familiar voice said as he vanished inside the room.

*SWOOOSH!*

The gates opened slowly a few moments after Raven rung the bell.

*TUG!* *TUG!* *TUG!* *TUG!* *TUG!* *TUG!* *TUG!* *TUG!* *TUG!* *TUG!* *TUG!* *TUG!* *TUG!* *TUG!* *TUG!* *TUG!* *TUG!* *TUG!* *TUG!* *TUG!* *TUG!* *TUG!* *TUG!* *TUG!* *TUG!* *TUG!* *TUG!* *TUG!*

The sound of the gears rotating envelope the area as the gates slowly opens.

[Oh, nice mechanism.] Raven told himself. “It’s open. Shall we proceed?” Raven turns his head as he asked Iris behind him.

“That’s is not even a –“

Iris’ eyes widen as he saw the person standing behind the gates is then he immediately kneel on the ground. Iris’ immediate gesture surprised Raven as he slowly turns back towards the gates and saw an elegant elf standing justa few paces away from him.

“Good day young ones.” The elf said with a smiling face.