Chapter 98 - Attitude

"Amos, I need a place to put my stuff so that my family won't confiscate it as soon as I come back to the residence," Geraldine sighs as she sips her cup of hot tea.

"You know that you're always welcome here," Amos chuckled as he took out the cookies from the oven.

"Thank you. I always know that this is my safe home." Geraldine's body relaxed because of Amos presence that she knows that there's someone out there that she can lean on.

"You look unwell Amos," She looked at him from top to bottom to observed his movement as well as his appearance.

"Ah, old age," Amos grunts as he sits down on the chair and put his cane on the side.

Without a word, Geraldine reach for his hand, "Mabaho itlog mo mag hugas ka naman." She used her powers to heal him even a little.

"You don't have to. I'm already old and might die soon so don't waste your mana on me," Amos smiled and patted her shoulder.

"I can still revived my mana, so don't worry about it." Geraldine took a small pouch from her satchel and gives it to Amos, "Those are healing pills, take it once a month and you'll be fine."

"Healing pills? I've never heard of it before except for mana pills that the Gauthier's family supplies," Amos took a yellow colored circular pill from the pouch and used his glasses to look closer.

Geraldine laughed awkwardly as she forgot that the pills are now popular within the Empire, "I bought that to some merchant travelling in my area."

"These might be rare and expensive. I don't want to waste it over this old body," Amos push back the pouch towards Geraldine but she hold it back.

"No, you deserve it. Besides, I can still buy those again so don't worry about that stuff," Geraldine smiled and push it back which Amos accepted.

"Thank you."

Healing pills are the new kind of pills that Geraldine was able to make but haven't introduced in the public yet. It has a yellowish hue that resulted from the medical herbs she used to create the pill. It could be seen as a regular medical substance that you can buy in the Apothecaries but the only difference is that the herbs used on Geraldine's healing pills are rare and also has a strong effect on the body that is why one pill is enough to supply ones body for a month. 

After their short conversation, they finally agreed to let Geraldine take one storage room to store her stuff. She has brought all the stuff she have even the things stored at their store so that nothing can be found inside related to black elemental if someone would barge inside since nobody will use that place.

Geraldine unloaded her stuff and used the old books inside as a cover for her stuff. Amos doesn't know that she's been learning black element and decided not to tell him so it won't endanger his life away because people who help hiding the identity or location of the dark elemental users are executed or banished from the Empire.

That is why Geraldine decided to keep it a secret from him so he won't get involved if there will come a day that her element will be exposed. 

Hiding the dark elemental stuff behind the shelves, it took her at least an hour to finish setting her room and locked the door once she was done with the work. She went to Amos who is sitting on the corner reading an old book.

"Amos, I'm done setting up, I should go back to my father's residence," Geraldine packed up a single bag with her essentials and was ready to go. 

"You really grow up gracefully and your aura and attitude change as well," Amos smiled with pride as if he's seeing his daughter grown up to a fine woman.

His words made Geraldine's eyebrow raised, "Attitude?" she asked. In her memory she's a quiet type of girl who only stand on on the corner of the room and nobody would notice her and if someone would notice her, they would only throw hurtful words towards her family and her being the Duchess killer.

"Huh, what do you mean by my attitude?" She asked as she's curious about his perception of her.

"Hmm, I remember you used to be a wild child. That one time you bought a gun to the party because you hate it every time they called you a murderer," Amos chuckled as if he's remembering the good old times.

"What?" Geraldine was dumbfounded by what he said and tried to remember what she had done in the past but no matter how she thinks of every party she attended which is so rare. There's no part of it that she brings a gun in the party.

"I don't remember bringing a gun or holding one," she said in disbelief. All her life Geraldine only handled a sword and never owned a gun even though she trained to use one. It was not in her forte to use a gun in a fight.

"Maybe you have for - forgotten about it since you're too yo - young that time. I still find amusing for such a sm - small girl to bring a gun because you're so done with their insults but now I see that you've become an el - elegant and calm person, I feel re - relieved." Amos sighs in contentment and even opened the door for her. 

Geraldine was speechless by what he said but only smiled and never argued with him, "Well, I guess I did improve over the years of spending my time alone away from the noble family."

"Yes. Now, be careful on your way back home," Amos waved goodbye as she went to her cart and started walking.

"Did my memories slip over the years?" She murmured while she's to dig her mind from her younger days but her father would never even want her to attend a single party because they are ashamed of her.

Shrugging those thoughts away from her mind, she continued her way towards the direction of her family's residence. She stopped by a shop and sell her horse and cart and settle on a cafe while deciding what to do next.

"Should I enter through the gates or at that hole again?" Geraldine scratched her head and thought about her grand entrance of return. In the end, she decided to try and enter through the hole at the training hall and waited at night.

***

"It should be near here," Geraldine whispered and tried to tap the wall to feel the rock that was used as the barrier on the hole. It was the same hole she used to enter the residence four years ago.

"Base on my memory, my father cemented the hole to prevent the knights from slacking off. Let's see if that really happened," After she said that, her hand was able to hold on the huge stone.

To her surprise, Geraldine paused for a few seconds before she tried to move the stone away from the wall and saw that it was still uncovered.

"What the-- the hole even got bigger than before," She chuckled and was about to crawl inside when something popped into her mind.

"Why should I enter this way when I can just go to the gates. I'm a noble after all." She puts back the stone an the hole and wipes away the dirt on her dress.

Walking towards the gates, she adjusted her wig since her hair is still short and covered it with her hood. Even though that it's already night time, there are still people roaming around.

Upon getting closer on the gates, the guards instantly noticed her presence and went in front of the gate, "Who are you and what is your business with the Duke?"

She didn't answer and stand silently while thinking of how she will response, "I'm Geraldine."

The guards only looked at her like she's a crazy bish, "The young miss has been dead for years now. No need to act as a poser and ask for money. The Duke's family is too busy for this! Go away before I call the knights!" The guard yelled while shooing her like a dog.

Geraldine was shocked by the news, "What? I'm dead!?" she chuckled while shaking her head from amusement, "Can't you see I'm alive and well?"

The guards looked at her with bored eyes and signaled his fellow guards to call over a knight roaming that night. Geraldine remained standing with a smirk hiding behind her hood while adjusting her bag.

After a while, two knights came in with a grumpy face and looks irritated. Upon seeing them approaching, Geraldine noticed their unfamiliar faces which means that they are new in the residence and doesn't know her face.

"Hey, it's already night time. We don't have time for this crap, so get lost before I slice your tongue off!"