Chapter 174: Care of a Mother

(AN.: Sorry for the abrupt ending yesterday. I wasn't comfortable cutting anything out, and I didn't want to go too overboard with length.)

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With some great difficulty, Sarah only managed to utter a short nod accompanied by a muffled "Uhm" as a response towards the Masked Woman's gesture. Yes, she was her mother, but had she ever treated her like a real daughter? Ever since she knew, she was treated with coldness and were just taught the mystical arts. She had no knowledge about the concept of what a Mother's Love really meant, the only thing she ever got was the harsh stares.

The simple gesture from the masked woman didn't develop further. There were no hugs or any show of real motherly and familial love. Still, the much warmer, the kinder tone was what really had an effect on Sarah's heart. It was a unique, new experience for her.

"Moth-, Mistress, may I ask what happened to you just now? Did I say something I shouldn't have?" She first wanted to refer to her as Mother, but remembering what happened the last time she did so, she changed it back to Mistress half-way.

There was a momentary jolt that flashed through the masked woman's body when she heard her daughter speak and almost refer to her as Mother. She sighed internally, understanding the fear and hesitation in the girl's heart; after all, she never has been a proper parent. She was just hoping that someday in the future, she will understand that all she had done was for her benefit alone. In this harsh and cruel world, one needed the strength to be able to survive!

She gently touched her demon-faced, silver mask on her face, this was a lesson she learned the hard way. Now, because of her own naivety, she is forced to hide herself, never daring to go out into the light ever again!

She pulled her hand back from the girl, her other hand still gripping the silk glove. She turned around, walking back to the window. She remained motionless and silent for so long that Sarah started to feel uncomfortable once again. Did she say something bad? Should she now excuse herself? What would be the right thing to do?

She was still wondering if she should just apologize and leave when her Mistress's voice startled her. This was the first time, she heard such a painful, sad tone coming from her!

"That is a story, that I can't fully tell you. Not now at least. I'm sorry."

Hearing the words, Sarah hurriedly bowed and spoke out with an agitated tone.

"D-don't worry, my Mistress! I should be the one apologizing to you, not you! I-I am sorry, I will excu-" 

She couldn't finish excusing herself out of the room and the mansion when her Mistress's voice interrupted her.

"Don't. Stay, please. I see it now, that I was too hard on you in all these years. I know you resent me for what I did, and what I didn't in all these years, but just know that all I am doing and what I was doing was for a single reason only. I am not blinded by hatred or revenge. Nor do I care about the wealth of others. It's not the power I want either."

The woman didn't turn around, still, Sarah could feel her presence enveloping her. It was as if an invisible thin silk cloth was carefully placed around her shoulders. She felt an unfamiliar sensation. The energy felt similar to what the Mistress's radiated just a moment ago, but it wasn't cold like before. No, it had a strange warmth to it that entered her body, refreshing her tired body, and giving her new, unfamiliar emotions at the same time.

Before she could linger on these feelings more, the Mistress continued.

"The only thing I ever cared about was you. You alone, my daughter." 

Her words shocked Sarah to the core. The Mistress cared about her? Yes, she knew she wasn't heartless, after all, she had a very unique position, but she never had any benefits of being the young Mistress. She slept just like the servants, she trained with the soldiers… The only difference was that she was trained to utilize her gifts. She received schooling and personal teachers that taught her the mystical arts. She could manipulate the energies in the air, she was told she was gifted in Fire, Air, and to everyone's shock and surprise, a bit in Dark magic as well. 

Having two affinities was already considered an incredible feat but having a third was considered a miracle! Still, her best talent wasn't any of these. It was the strange but powerful eyes she inherited from her mother. 

As if she could see her expression even when she was turned away from her, the mistress continued on.

"I know. It's hard to believe and accept. I was hard, maybe too hard on you. I was hoping that by doing this, you would grow up to be a strong and independent woman, and you wouldn't suffer the same fate as…" Her voice trailed off not finishing her thoughts. She took a breather, before turning back and changing the subject.

"Anyway, that area is dangerous. Even I would have to tread carefully there. It doesn't matter whoever you send, they will never be able to return."

"I see… I have made a mistake. In that case, I have to apologize, Mistress. I will try to talk to the boy tomorrow and explain the situation." Sarah said with slight dejection in her voice. She accepted the proposal without properly thinking it through and brought shame to her Mistress.

"No. I…" While her face couldn't be seen, her body gestured that she was in great turmoil. In the end, she sighed painfully again, before continuing with a weaker tone. "While I can't really speak about that place, Sebas can. He knows just as much about it as I do. Talk to him, he will be glad to answer all your questions."

Then she turned back towards the window once more. She didn't speak anything else, she returned the cold, indignant persona she wore before.

Understanding the social cue, Sarah pulled up her hood, covering her face, and gave a deep, respectful bow towards her Mother and Mistress. 

"Thank you for your help Mistress. I will excuse myself for now and find Sir Sebas." She then turned around and left. Upon reaching the door, however, the Mistress's voice stopped her.

"I trust your judgment on this matter, Sarah. Bring the boy the information he desires, and then bring him back to me. I will have a talk with him myself."

Her voice was rigid and cold, just like when Sarah first stepped into the study room. She nodded at the request, accepting the order, and after giving an "I understand, Mistress." she promptly left the room. 

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In another, much more elegant part of the town, the familiar and chubby man, the not so young Master Leon's figure, sat in a chair. He was wearing tight, form-fitting, expensive clothes, something that was standard amongst the nobility. 

Unlike before when he was just a young master, however, this time, he radiated a powerful, violent aura, giving him a much more mature outlook. In front of him, 5 sturdy-looking armored men could be seen kneeling, their heads lowered to the ground. 

Master Leon wore a stern expression on his face, his forehead was full of wrinkles. His fingers kept nervously knocking on the armrest of the chair, betraying the cold exposure he was trying to express towards this group of soldiers. 

He wasn't afraid of them, no, after joining the mystical secret society of The Organization, he became much more powerful over the years. He wasn't the helpless, rich, and spoiled brat he was before, he held much power now. A group of warriors such as these, wouldn't have taken him any meaningful effort to deal with at all.

His worry came from another source. His plans so far to knock out any opposition has met with failures. He wanted, no he NEEDED to get the City Lord position if he wished to make his dreams come to fruition. Yet, every plan, every move he made was a complete and utter failure. 

Today's meeting was yet another report about how the group of assassins he had sent towards that pompous idiot in the Guild's Hall had disappeared without a trace! Just what was happening? 

He looked at the group in front of him with a disdainful look. These 5, sturdy, stout, and rough-looking men were the leaders of his gathered forces. He still had a trump card, a secret group that was much more powerful, but he could not reveal this until there was no other hope left. 

He didn't utter a single word, yet the group of 5 kneeling in front of him shook in fright as his cold gaze swept through them. 

Eventually, after a long and tense silence, Leon's cold and slightly angered voice reached out to them.

"Tell me, what happened, how you failed once again."