Chapter 373: Siblings and Secrets

While the decorated general and the not-so-young Master Leon had their first dinner discussion and ended up shaking hands no matter to the General's growing inner turmoil about the topic, in the not so pleasant district of the city, in the Slums another steadily growing family was also attending their own event.

Aiden, Lily, and her two four-legged guardians have managed to arrive without difficulties after taking care of the small nuisance of Master Balun and his goons. While they were not aware, their actions caused huge waves to ripple and shock the neighborhood, eventually reaching the ears of the higher echelons. 

Albeit oblivious to it, a certain prominent figure once again will be thrown into a setback, making him even more determined to claim victory in the upcoming war games…

Going back to Aiden and his group, after arriving at the magically disguised mansion, they spent a bountiful dinner with everyone present. While they focused mostly on their plans, they ultimately agreed to settle the matter with the upcoming battle first before doing anything else. The city was already in an alerted state, it would be unwise and ultimately futile to try anything for the time being. 

Also, while Aiden was agitated and wanted to just simply use the easiest and most direct method to free up his friend, as well as Drake and Scarlet's little brother, he was once again reassured that nothing would happen to Cole for the short term other than being forced to study enclosed somewhere deeper in the academy grounds. 

In the end, he agreed to go with the approach they have already agreed on previously: Go to the Annual Academy Entrance Exams at the beginning of the next year and try to gain admittance as students.

During their talk, Aiden though couldn't be certain, he felt as if his Master, Number 3's gaze have changed since the last time they met. She had a strange, complex, heavy look in her eyes whenever she looked at him. It wasn't hostile, but it carried a mystery Aiden couldn't decipher… at least, for the time being. 

After the talk and dinner, he visited the still unconscious Naybeah with Scarlet and Sara leading the way, the rest followed shortly behind. Seeing the peaceful look in her eyes, and the much better but still pretty beat-down state of her body, Aiden could finally relax. She was getting better, improving day by day. While it was still unknown when she would wake up, he could finally be sure of her eventual recovery. 

Eventually, the dinner came to an end. When Aiden was getting ready to leave with Drake and Scarlet back to the inn for the night, Lily suddenly came to them with Sam and Biggy in tow.

"Brother, I will be also staying with you in the inn." She exclaimed with a bright exciting glee coloring her face. 

Aiden didn't even try to argue with her, as after just a brief look at her determined gaze and bright smile, it was clearly obvious he would be fighting a losing battle. Instead, he nodded, asking about the others instead.

"What about Granny and Master? Will they return?"

"Only I will return home this time dearie." Coming from the corridor, the raggedy old lady suddenly appeared, turning her wrinkled, gently smiling face towards this adopted (grand) son of his. 

"Huh?" Surprised by what she said, Aiden looked at her with a confused gaze. "What about Master then? Is she not going with you?"

"No, not this time." Granny shook her head, the smile not leaving her expression. "She still has some stuff to do, and has decided to help her twin sister a bit." She explained, walking over to the youths.

"Still, don't expect her to be with you tomorrow. She is quite a hard-headed individual and will at most follow your progress from afar…" She sighed, shaking her head before slowly strutting towards the entrance. 

She opened the door, but before stepping out, she turned her head sideways taking one more look at her two adopted grandchildren. Although she was smiling, her eyes were telling a different story. Before they could turn blurry, she averted her gaze and sighed. Looking away, she faced the dark night, before stepping out of the building.

"Stay safe children! Don't forget about your Granny, no matter how high you soar in the future, okay?"

Before Aiden and Lily could snap out of their daze and speak up, Granny's slowly receding back vanished in the night. What was shocking was that even Aiden couldn't tell where she went. One second he could feel her presence and in the next as if she was never there in the first place, she vanished from sight…

"What the…" Both of them exclaimed with a shocked expression, running after her but failing to find any trace of her.

—

Leaning against the metal rails of the balcony upstairs, Number 3 followed the group as they left, steadily walking to leave the Slums and towards the inn to rest for the night.

She followed their movement with her eyes even all the way as they exited this horrendous, nasty part of the city and strolled through the empty streets under the cover of the night.

"That disciple of yours sure is an interesting one… sister." The Masked Mistress' impish voice came from behind as she appeared at her right side. "I wonder… does he know who YOUR Master truly is? Or perhaps your past?"

"He knows enough." Retaining her gaze at the back of the youngsters at the distance, she responded in a curt, cold manner. Her voice carried nothing of the usual familial gentleness she exuded.

"Oh? Heh… Color me surprised! How much is exactly 'enough' in your terms, dear sister, I wonder…" 

Pushing herself away from the railings, the Mistress walked behind Number 3, gently touching her back, her fingers gently trailing off from it as she continued with a suggestive tone.

"Does he know your real identity? Your name, your old, forgotten family? Your… well, let's say, connection to those two with him?" 

Number 3's gaze turned colder as soon as the two royal siblings were mentioned. A fit of deep-seated anger appeared, pushing her stoic outlook down. She gripped the railings, tightly holding onto it as she tried to keep her cool and not lash out.

Obviously, her subtle actions didn't escape the Masked  Mistress' piercing sights. Walking over she took her place on her left this time, shifting her focus on her sister's tight hold over the metal bar. 

Whilst her face, as usual, was hidden behind her mask, her tone suggested a stretching smirk behind it.

"Interesting… You try teaching him, but you also keep him…" Realizing something, she gasped with wonder. "No… You keep everyone in the dark. How brave of you, my dear sister!"

"I wonder… what would they say if I were to enlighten them a bit of that endless darkness that lives inside you? What would they say if they learn more about you… about us?"

"Stop." Number 3 muttered, seething the words through her tightly closed lips. Her look carried a strange, profound mixture of conflicting and contradicting cavalcade of emotions.

"What? After so many years, you still can't accept what we are? What we are atoning for?" The mistress asked, with sublime contempt. "Hmm… How did those 4 old fogies refer to us back then…"

"Stop… Don't." Number 3 whispered her denial again, but this time, it was carrying less weight and power than before. Her shoulders slumped down, the previously tight grip lessened its vice as memories of the long-forgotten past flooded her mind…

—

"Do you have another room, by chance?" Aiden asked the pale-looking innkeeper. The old man felt as if he had already died and was now suffering his punishment, endless torment by the hands of these little demons. Why can't they just let him and his wife be?!

"Y-yes… Young Master." After a bit of struggle, he nodded, responding with a defeated voice. "The room to the right that Young Master is currently occupying is still free. If you want it, I can give it to you… or the young miss." He nodded at the blonde-haired girl next to the golden-eyed demon. 

"Sure! We will take it!" Aiden accepted the offer with a neutral smile. "How much for it? We might be needing it for a while…" 

"Oh… No- Don't worry about it, young masters! It's on the house!" The old man turned aghast at the question. No way in hell he wants to have anything to do anymore with these monsters. The less he knew, the safer he and his wife were! "Take it as an apology from us for the grievance our actions have undoubtedly caused! 

Deciding to take the shot, he took a step back and bowed deeply at the youths. "I can only hope that you both could be generous enough to forgo the actions of two insignificant wastrels such as me and my wife!" 

With a thin smile stretching over his face, Aiden nodded, not minding the actions of his wife by a bit. Also, he realized that there was no point in pushing all his anger on this elderly man, he was just doing what he could to protect his own family. 

If he were to face a similar situation, he would also do what he could to protect those that are important to him, and would not bother about everyone else.