Alto walks through the mansion's halls towards her room, trying to calm her racing heart. To put it lightly, she's had many...troubling developments, today. Of course, the big one that sticks out is the revelation about the so-called Author, which she has mixed feelings about.
'Now, after hearing everything from Mizuki and considering the implications about their abilities...there's no way it can be my parents like I thought.'
On one hand, that relieves her...she's been dreading what felt like the absolute necessity of telling Mizuki about her past, because of the Note. On the other, she's now even more worried about the Author's identity and intentions, since they're clearly a bigger potential threat than her parents, and even more of an unknown to her.
As if that isn't bad enough, Alara's looming business meeting is definitely her parents' doing, and it invites at least as much instability into her new, happy life as she was worried about before. She didn't miss the fact that the invitation explicitly invited all the members of Nina's supposed party. Remembering the phrasing, her jaw clenches slightly...
'I can practically hear him going out of his way to imply that I'm a mere servant, even lower in rank than a "human secretary". Eighty or so years without me haven't made him less intolerable, it seems.'
The biggest question on her mind though is...why? What exactly do her parents hope to achieve by orchestrating this meeting? Naturally, there's plenty of reasons even if she weren't involved with Eden, both for the meeting and for inviting Nina. Yet, the verbiage of the letter seemed to target her personally...at least, that's how she feels.
So, if she's right, what should she expect to happen at this meeting in a few days? Mizuki is the only party member attending...what might her parents say to him about her? She honestly can't predict that with any certainty, not just because it's been too long for her to confidently predict her father's decisions, but there are also too many unknowns about what her parents' knowledge. Mizuki's level of influence within the party and the Kingdom, the extent of his relationship with her, and of course, his true abilities – how informed they are about those things could conceivably range from total ignorance to complete knowledgeability, affecting their actions drastically.
'Should I have agreed to go with him? Or, at the very least, tell him the truth before he goes? I'd much rather him hear about my past from me first. I don't want him to think I don't trust him...'
In her flustered state earlier, she declined in panic because she knew that her presence would definitely lead to a discussion about her upbringing. She's not completely over the admittedly childish fear that her parents could somehow come between her and Mizuki, like they used to do. They are skilled manipulators, after all.
But, if she's being entirely honest with herself, there's another reason she didn't just confess everything to Mizuki on the spot earlier. The thought of being alone with him, making an emotional confession, no doubt having him hold her, console her sweetly like he always does...she's cared she'll say more than she should. Unburden herself of everything that's weighed on her mind in secret recently.
Suddenly, her mind is flooded with memories of the last time she was alone in the family room with Mizuki. Mental images that have a hazy, dreamlike quality to them, and elicit unfamiliar feelings that she doesn't want.
As her face begins to heat up involuntarily, her footsteps accelerate towards the bedroom door, finally in her line of sight. She hurriedly pushes it open, preparing to throw herself into her bed and bury her head in the pillows. Instead, though, she's no more than a couple steps into the room when she freezes in her tracks, her blood running cold.
Seated on her bed, there's a familiar brown-haired woman with emerald eyes, a beautiful, mature figure, and a knowing smirk. Catching her gaze, Nina smiles in a way that's far from reassuring, her voice thick with playful expectation.
"I think it's about time we discuss these new deceptive tendencies of yours, hmm?" (Nina)
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I materialize on the third floor of our mansion, a short distance away from Percivil. He's standing over his main work station, staring thoughtfully at a hammer.
"Percivil...you wanted to talk?" (Mizuki)
He glances over his shoulder at the sound of my voice, blinking, then offers a warm smile.
"Aye, Mizuki...thanks for comin'. Just had some things to tell yah, and some things to ask." (Percivil)
I smile in response, gesturing vaguely.
"Well, I'm all ears. What's up man?" (Mizuki)
He nods, setting the hammer down on the anvil, and walking towards me.
"Ah, so I wanted to say, yah know...thanks again, for what yah arranged with the fox-kin for me. Also, I want to take yah up on yer offer, to open a shop here and all that. Oh, and a third thing...I've finished the rest of yer items, including the Rubik's cube." (Percivil)
I raise my eyebrows, then break into a huge smile.
"That's all great news, man, thanks so much! Alara's going to be so thrilled to have you here...all the elves, actually." (Mizuki)
He rubs his neck sheepishly.
"Hahhh...yer exaggerating, surely. But uhm...listen, Mizuki, I also wanted to ask yah for a favor, of sorts." (Percivil)
Oh?
"Well, no need to be shy, buddy. I don't consider it a favor when it's between friends. But even if I did, I'd say you've earned a few favors after everything you've done for me." (Mizuki)
He smirks.
"In that case...will yah learn smithin' from me?" (Percivil)
I blink.
"Wait...what? Why?" (Mizuki)
He sighs, looking away as he strokes his beard.
"I suppose I just...want to know that my life's work is in the hands of someone worthy. Someone who can make good use of it for others, yah know? Yer the closest thing I have to a son, so, what do yah say?" (Percivil)
For a moment, I just stare at him in stunned silence, considering the full weight of his words. It's touching, and at the same time...it makes me nervous. Makes me doubt that I can really live up to the expectations and the opinion that I'm suddenly aware he has of me.
I smile wryly.
"I'm happy to devote time to you teaching me, if it means that much to you. I just...can't guarantee I'm competent enough to learn. I'm more of an academic than a blacksmith." (Mizuki)
He grins, waving his hand dismissively.
"Bah! Yer not convincing me of nonsense like that. So..." (Percivil)
He turns around to his workbench, grabbing the hammer, then he walks over, presenting it to me.
"This is for yah...dwarven tradition, kinda." (Percivil)
Percivil scratches his cheek awkwardly. I take the hammer from him, examining it with wide eyes. I glance at him nervously, not missing his strange behavior.
"Thanks, but, uhm...what kind of tradition?" (Mizuki)
He grins wryly.
"I guess, to humans, it'd kinda be like...I'm adopting yah?" (Percivil)
I nearly choke on air, feeling the hammer slip slightly in my grip.
"Oh...I see...adopting me, huh..." (Mizuki)
He laughs heartily, stroking his beard.
"Pahahaha! Relax, will yah? Don't look so serious! I said it was like adoption, but I'm not asking to be yer daddy, boy. It's more like saying yer someone I trust like family...smithing tools and techniques are damn near sacred to dwarves. We don't share em' with outsiders." (Percivil)
Understanding dawns on my face, and I relax slightly. I pull the hammer against my chest, gripping it with intent.
"Well, in that case, I'm honored...I'll do my best to be a good student." (Mizuki)
He smirks, slapping his stomach lightly. Then walks towards his workstation excitedly.
"Good! Then, let's start with the process of forging a standard steel blade, to teach you metalworking. I have some notes for you..." (Percivil)
As he mutters to himself, searching through items on the workstation, I stare at him, dumbfounded.
"Wait...you mean, like, right now?" (Mizuki)
He shrugs.
"Aye. Yah have somewhere yah gotta be?" (Percivil)
I pause, considering the question. I mean, it's getting close to when I'd normally climb in bed, but...I don't really feel tired. On the other hand, I did promise Ilina I wouldn't take too long. On a whim, I scan the mansion with magic sense, and notice she's still in the family room. As long as that's the case...she probably wouldn't mind me staying here and humoring Percivil, right?
I give him a hesitant nod.
"Sure...let's go ahead and start my training, sensei." (Mizuki)