I walked through the still unfamiliar halls of this huge mansion, following right behind Mia.
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdPXHefY7X
I felt strange and unfamiliar with myself. How could I not when I was wearing clothes that I was not familiar with? I was wearing a white button-down shirt that was tucked into a pair of long black pants that came along with fancy black shoes.
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbZVsSbdBA
"Um..." I said while straightening my collar. "What's the occasion?" I asked.
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzZmE5yu3N
Mia, while walking, looked back at me. Her eyes scanned over me, and there was no doubt in my mind that she completely understood the hidden meaning to my question.
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuG2iqunJw
"Mr. Adams has ordered me to lead you to the dining room for breakfast," Mia explained.
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KuuajTpPb
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvT2c30a8UB
"All of this for breakfast?" I asked.
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjaMVycPzD
Mia smiled and giggled as she listened to my remark. "Welcome to high-class society," she said.
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JuYdt3Fvk
I continued to follow Mia, and as we walked, I learned that she was a pretty cool person.
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpBLZzk49z
Apparently, she was born into the House of Bathin as a combat maid, which was pretty badass if you ask me. Her family had served Madelyn's family for ages, and just like her forefathers, Mia had every intention of following in their footsteps.
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4cltRjp76
She also had one older brother who was doing his best as a butler, but apparently, he was studying abroad. What he was studying, I have no clue.
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSClmXbpWod
As we talked, we soon came to an open area filled with morning light from the glass windows. In the middle of the room was a long table that sat two individuals, Madelyn and her grandfather, who were eating, not saying anything to one another.
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTmC9yk2Qa
I looked around the room as Mia showed me to my seat. I saw more of the same, rich people things, like beautiful lamps and artwork, chandeliers that shined like crystal, and so on and so forth.
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0ZF7mSRaO
"Good morning, my boy," Madelyn's grandfather said with a smile as he put down his fork and focused on me.
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNshjQ4REUm
"Uh, morning," I said.
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdwikh0wXz
I looked over at Madelyn, who was still busy eating her breakfast, which looked like an omelet. It seemed like all her wounds had healed; every scratch mark and bruise had disappeared, leaving only her pure white beautiful skin.
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7z7VNSj90
"What can we get you to eat, my boy?" Madelyn's grandfather asked, his elbows on the table and his fingers interlocked with one another.
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7dVXGa9YP
"Um... pancakes?" I asked.
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwwkPmOHjg
Madelyn's Grandfather looked over to one of the butlers standing at the side of the room.
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTAclRf7cV
The butler nodded his head and left the room as if he had had an invisible conversation with Madelyn's grandfather.
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2NI2XOboE
"So tell me, Ethan my boy, how do you feel?" Madelyn's grandfather asked.
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiJ6HmJYg5
"I, um, I feel okay..." I said awkwardly, but I soon began to realize that I was actually feeling really okay. I wasn't hurting at all, not even a little.
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtktpC2v3Mm
"I would be surprised if you were still injured," Madelyn's grandfather chuckled. "Your own unnatural healing abilities aside, we used high-quality ointments on you last night so that you wouldn't be in any pain."
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlncJw8ayj
I, like many times before, was confused. What unnatural healing abilities? What ointment did they use on me, and who applied it while I was sleeping? I looked over at Madelyn. "Could it have been her?" I thought to myself, blushing ever so slightly.
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZn5XbDimvT
"Anyway, I would like to offer thanks to yourself , Ethan Brumfield," Madelyn's grandfather said, standing up from his seat.
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8390ASiMJ
"Thanks for what?" I asked.
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTforvnc04k
"For helping my granddaughter extinguish that demon you faced last night," Madelyn's grandfather said, bowing his head.
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDI1raUxIDU
Madelyn began to stand up and bowed her head as well, leaving me speechless.
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNes4uOoEF
"Uh... you don't have to thank me, I just did what I needed to do," I said, blushing. I wasn't used to being bowed to.
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTE6A4vFCmS
Soon, Madelyn and her grandfather sat down, and I was able to breathe again.
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwroM0mwYf
"The things you needed to do," Madelyn's grandfather said with a slight nod. "I like that," he continued. "Honoring duty and responsibility, that's something we understand all too well."
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCZBFrwX4e
"In the name of duty and responsibility, I have to ask you a question, young man."
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0JXuiuwmX
I looked at the old man who had both of his hands together, his elbows on the table, looking at me with sharp eyes.
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqgaGPiUDR
"Would you like to officially become a Pillar?"
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bWdbRjYj2
I sat there, looking at the old man, my mouth hanging open. "I can become a Pillar?" I asked, a little bit of happiness swelling up deep inside my chest.
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9z9NH91Tb
"You can, if you wish," the old man clarified. "You see, Ethan, we have taken a great deal of interest in you."
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxb6dLrWGH
"We?" I asked, pretty sure that he wasn't talking about Madelyn when he said 'we.'
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rqYhtxgCn
"We, as the House of Bathin," the old man continued, ignoring my curiosity. "Welcome you to join our ranks. There is something inside of you, Mr. Brumfield, and we want to know what it is."
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡad7Q93B8rr
I suddenly thought of her, the girl with black hair and crimson eyes. I pictured her laughing, the madness in her eyes, the craziness in her laugh. Yeah, it just gave me goosebumps.
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgQ3auStiJ
"I-I want to know what she is as well," I said.
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUViF71l5yT
"Then come, come and join our family. We will protect you, we will train you in our ways, we will make you a Pillar," Madelyn's grandfather said.
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rydr9aGBY
"A Pillar," I thought to myself, really wanting this with all my soul.
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiZX1YHgr0
"What say you, my boy?" he asked.
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5L2xD9wWh
I didn't say anything at first. I looked over at Madelyn, who for the first time wasn't focused on her food but on me. Her eyes almost seemed empty, as if she had no emotion, which wasn't a new look to me.
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvwEsXlaAe
"Okay, I'll become a Pillar." "I said with determination, not that I really had a choice. I didn't have anywhere to go after all."
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAzBsN5lL8
The old man smiled. "Good, very good. Welcome to the House of Bathin, Ethan Brumfield. I truly hope you survive the experience."
***
Author notes: Please support my work on Patreon for early access to new chapters. https://patreon.com/DarkMatteromniverse
ns 15.158.61.22da2
