(Chpt. 37) Frustration.

Alice.

Have a better title? Let me know! Also, grammar is probably questionable; find missing punctuations? Let me know as well. 

I have slightly changed PoV formatting, it will no longer be a guessing game. I will be using guillemets for it. So, it will now be displayed as: «X» 'X' is the character. So... Don't think much about it. I might start doing it a lot. Since this arc has a huge amount of PoV switches. They might become constant and the chapters without PoV switches might become somewhat uncommon.

I was awkwardly sitting with no sugary tea to sip from anymore. Firil was sitting with his daughter (Cecil) on top of his lap; patting her every now and then. It was cute. However, I felt weird, I did not really belong in the family setting. Rather… Cecil wasn’t a family member, unlike Aizen and Ari. This situation was more like a father and child kind of thing, which I did not understand, but I did not mind it that much. They were quietly talking between each other, I wasn’t paying much attention. 

As I was quietly looking at the table while minding my own business. Firil called out for me.

“Yami.” 

“Yes?”

I tilted my head. He thought for a second before nodding and then fixing his gaze on me again. 

“This might be presumptuous of me. Since you are my benefactor.” he took a deep breath. “Where are you from?” It was a really random question that I had no real answer for. I just awkwardly scratched my cheek with a wry smile. 

Now, I need to tell him where I am from… Is this common courtesy or something? Cultures are weird... 

Since he saw me immersed in deep thoughts he just shook his head. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. I was just curious seeing your rather… peculiar features.” Well, he is right… Who has heterochromatic eyes? In the game, it was rather common, because you have to make your avatar cool, but I know it really isn’t that common in life. Ah, well. Not like I could actually answer his question even if I actually tried. I could just mention an in-game location but there is a chance the place doesn’t even exist. 

I have been thinking about this for a while now, but aside from the game thing and the church thing. How do beastkin do here? I just got some vague answer from Cecil that time I asked. It was rather awkward asking him after he just called me peculiar, but I had to know. 

“Emm… Firil, are there beastkin in the capital?” 

He froze and looked at me. 

“… Yami, you shouldn’t worry about beastkin.” 

“Why?” I just quietly questioned. He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose for a second. 

“If you insist… I don’t dislike beastkin, however, the church has had a big influence on the capital... I don’t think I need to continue explaining.” 

I nodded in response. What a pain… Just… Why does the church hate beastkin so much? I mean, they really do seem to have a grudge against that one race. I would be royally screwed if I didn’t happen to have such a convenient item, wouldn’t I? 

I looked at my ring with a bitter smile for a second and then sighed. 

At least Cecil seems to be doing a lot better. She has a warm smile and looks at her father with sparkling eyes. So I guess that’s good, I wonder how was her father before? I mean considering the drama that broke out and all… Well, it already happened, I probably shouldn’t pry about family issues. But now that we are on the capital. At least I will have some things to do. 

“Yami…” Hearing his tone, something was odd.

“What’s wrong?” I tilted my head with a puzzled look. 

“Could I pet your wolf?”  

‘Even, men have a thing for Fenri? How surprising… Well, I don’t mind him being petted, it’s more of a matter if he would like to or not.’ I just looked at Fenri, awaiting his decision. He slowly got up and lazily moved in front of Firil’s feet and parked himself on the ground again. Firil gave him a puzzled look and glanced at me ⁠— I shrugged in response. 

He gulped and began petting him. I noticed he kept doing so for quite a while. Eventually even slowly doing it. He seemed to really be into his fur. Well, it was fluffy and silky smooth, so I couldn’t blame him for it. He finally stopped and looked at Fenri fixedly. 

“I have to say… that’s the most luxurious fur I have ever touched.” 

I just nodded, not knowing how to react to his weird acknowledgment. I mean, it was a compliment, sure. But, it was still a rather weird one. He was thinking about something. 

“How long will you three stay in the capital?” He asked out of the blue. 

“Well… I don’t know.” I just gave him a truthful answer. Hearing me, I noticed his eyes lit up. And then swept his gaze across my entire body. It made me uncomfortable. 

“Would you girls like to go to the academy with my daughter?” 

“Dad?!” Cecil’s face became flushed as she questioned her dad’s proposition. 

“Well…” I started scratching my cheek. “I am not a mage, nor can I become one. I can check with Ari though.”

“I see... “ He acknowledged the facts while looking at the floor with cast-down eyes. I kind of felt pity for him. I decided to try to cheer him up a bit. 

“While Aizen might have not given you the best impressions.” He nodded as I paused. “She did receive an invitation letter to the academy, so there is a good chance your daughter might enjoy her stay there,” I informed Firil, however, his eyes carried doubt. Cecil just nodded. 

“Why is that?” 

“I said it, didn’t I? She found it interesting. Whatever she finds interesting or amusing. If it’s not amusing she might make it amusing.”

I said with a grin. I actually wondered what would happen if she attended the academy. Firil gulped hearing me, but well. If it becomes amusing or not, not my issue! 

“You girls said you were adventurers, right?” I nodded. “So, if you don’t mind me asking, what rank are you girls?” Well, I guess I could answer at least that. 

“[Copper]” Hearing me, his soul left his body. After a few seconds, his body regained color and he started muttering things. I could see the frustration dwelling in his eyes. Eventually, he nodded. 

“I see… Well, I hope you enjoy your stay.” He placed Cecil down and left the room; I looked at her. 

“What do you think made him so frustrated?”

“I don’t know…” She quietly answered. 

* * * 

«Firil»  

Just copper? I can’t help but feel like she was lying to me, even though she said it so casually. I can understand her not wanting to share her origins. But why would she hide her adventurer rank? She did spout the disposable part of the items. Does she seriously expect me to believe a [Copper] ranked adventurer can even acquire items? Well, no use worrying about it. I kind of just feel annoyed being lied face to face like that. I guess she can’t trust me, well that’s fine. 

‘It is indeed fine, having my daughter back…’ From those thoughts, I couldn’t help but tremble from joy as I walked throughout the house; I headed towards my office. 

I still can’t help but wonder, where do these girls want to go or achieve. I mean, adventurers are normally interested in wealth. But considering she turned down a monetary compensation, that is probably not the case. She does not strike me as a battle maniac either... 

She did mention being interested in smithing, but that does not have to do with adventurers much... What about the other girl? Aizen… She apparently was a mage, I wonder how good she was to receive a recommendation letter. 

And that wolf… Was it really a tamed monster? I got the rare chance to see one wolf monster, but the fur was nowhere near as good, and it was less… docile? I mean, this wolf looked to me like a house dog instead. I did not even hear it make sounds. I heard that tamers had a hard time with some monsters because well, they were only tamed and not domesticated. But, this wolf is different. Also… That fur… I don’t think I could get a material of that quality even if I tried my earnest. 

I sighed as I continued walking down the hallway. The doors to my office were now visible. I noticed Gerard was standing next to the doors. As soon as I arrived next to him, he bowed. However, his skin was somewhat paler than usual. 

“My lord…” He looked me in the eyes. “Are you really sure about the guests?” 

I nodded. However, what could make Gerard question my decision? 

“Did something happen Gerard?” I asked out of concern. 

“Well… I-I was just wondering. My lord. Remember the mana torture method?” I slowly nodded… How could I forget such an inhumane procedure? Although I wonder what Gerard intended with all of this. He was rather…  tense. 

“Well… Remember Milady?” I instantly nodded. “Apparently they taught her mana perception and manipulation like that.” My heart came to a stop. “Milady did say there was no torture involved, but I think we should ask them personally.” He said with a firm tone. It was indeed a rather weird situation.

I felt rage boiling inside me when he linked the method with the girls and my treasure... If Gerard hadn’t said there was no torture I would have forced the guards on the girls… Gulp. 

Gerard expressed his thanks and apologies; then left to prepare the feast. I sat behind my desk. 

To believe I would hear about that method again… A wicked method… Most humans cannot handle mana from outside sources, nor mana of different attributes. By injecting foreign mana into another person’s body it would simply make their mana… Instable, eating the body away in a slow but painful process. However, this method was also known for its effectiveness or lack thereof. 

One could get rid of the mana by manipulating it outside its body. However, if the mana was left inside for an extended period of time, the inhumane torture would begin… The effectiveness of allowing someone to perceive mana and try to manipulate it was there. But the drawbacks were too much… 

To believe Cecil would go past [Mage] and straight to [Archmage]... I can’t help but feel joy. Intermediate rank mana manipulation and perception are a must. To believe she would acquire the intermediate versions first instead of beginner… Wait… While it is theoretically possible. Isn’t this the first time it has happened? 

I rummaged through my documents regarding mages and their history. I did not have that many, but the few that I read and saw; did not contain anything like that… Nor something like skipping the beginner level… 

I couldn’t help but feel overly excited and happy for my daughter to have acquired the class. However, I hope she likes magic. Otherwise… Her life might just get ruined unless she reaches level 40 and manages to find something she likes. Thinking about that makes me nervous… 

I spent an hour or two just thinking about all of the piled-up events from today. It was a rather eventful day. It was probably the most eventful day in years. However, the thing Cecil said still aches in my heart. ‘What would mother say?’ I don’t know… 

The door opened. 

“My lord.” Gerard was standing there. I looked behind me to see the outside. Before I had realized it, the sky was dark.

Alice.