Lucious has grown from uncertainty to mild annoyance when walking across the large corridor within the walls of the Baron’s keep. Every corner sang the extravagated praise of the Tress’s achievement. Large crystal chandelier on the ceiling of the main entrance hall which led to corridors sparsely decorated with expensive-looking ceramic pots and life-like sculptures. The floor was covered with carpets as maids walked around, cleaning and attending to their tasks. He nearly had a heart attack when he saw a corridor lined with paintings of Tress portraits. “...I guess even pigs could have their fatty faces on the wall if they have the money.” Scanning dismissively at the grandiosely painted portrait works, he walked along, nudged by Floki who seemed to be quite comfortable with the surrealistic setting.
Lucious stared at the nonchalant Floki. Catching his gaze, Floki merely shrugged in amusement and continued on. That old bald. Realised that he has been made fun of, Lucious continued on with the grinning man in his fifties. They stopped in front of a large two-sided door flanked by a pair of guards. One of the guards knocked and entered the room. The guard returned and gestured them inside as their escorts returned to their post. The spacious room was covered in splendid light as every item on the office gleamed with a shiny surface. On the couches sat five persons. The one sat in the middle of the discussion looked the same as the ones on the right. Dressed in finely tailored clothes, the faces were leaden with excessive fat with a rounded nose and callous eyes. Even the fancy clothes could not hide the bloated arms, neck, belly, and legs.
“Greetings and good evening, my Baron.” Before Lucious could measure the rest of the attendance, Floki placed an arm on his back and pushed him to a bow. Catching the drift, Lucious repeated the formal greeting. “Right, right, get on to it. Tell us what happened.” A sudden surge of anger flared from his eyes as he trying to calm himself with several deep breaths. “You bunches never care before...” A hand caught his shoulder and Lucious turned to see the deep firm eyes of his company. Floki. Taking in a breath, he started to recount his experience of the tragic incident while skipping the personal and private details.
They listened in silence from the start until he finished the narration. Trying to make sense of the limited account, they pondered in silence before a voice broke the stillness. “Do you saw what happened that caused the appearance of the dark mist?” Lucious turned to his left and caught a calm and firm gaze weighing him. The man was older than him, perhaps for more than five years older. Sheathed in plate armour, the man was tall with strong arms and broad shoulders, but most striking of all was the face. The feature was strong yet there was the sense of gentleness in the way his blond neat hair combed, his emerald eyes gazed, his slightly rounded-edged nose, and his mouth pulled back. The knight gave a familiar impression which reminded him of his brother.
“...No, I was in the rear group of the expedition. The screams and shouts for a retreat filled the cave by the time I realised... Sir?” Lucious bit down the rising emotion and answered the question while curious about the knight. “Ah, I forgot my manner. Cassian Maell Clypeus, the leader of the Centalion squad from Lesser Seers Order of the Principle of Jercflosey.” Cassian rose and made a slight bow to Lucious and gestured to the female swordswoman in elaborated armour beside him. “She is Merridian Vespell Harpe, the assistant leader of the Ex-Gale squad from the Godswind Division of the Principle.” Merridian rose and made a similar introduction politely. Suddenly, Lucious self-conscious of his equally poor manner and mediocre birth. “Sir Clypeus and Lady Harpe, my name...” “No, there is no need for such courtesy. And I know of you, Lucious.” Surprised by the knowledge, Lucious also noticed strange reactions of slightly raised eyebrows and mild grimaces when he addressed them formally. The reactions were gone instantly as the knights of the Principle closed in for more information regarding the incident.
“...What is it looked like, the strange black mist?” “Can you explain the formation of the veterans when dealing with the threat? “What are the characteristics it presented when it burst into a gigantic flame?” Overwhelmed by the flow of questions, Lucious looked lost and uncertain. A booming laugh stopped the incessant questioning and jolted the Tress to mild annoyance. “Wait, wait, younglings. You have frightened the boy. Let’s take this outside. My Baron, we shall take our leave.” Floki quickly settled the deal and bade the Tress farewell. Lucious followed his suit. “Well then, duty calls. Sir Baron, Sir Hearn, and Sir Hursel. You can trust the Principle to close the Abyss. Of course, the Principle also trusts the Tress family will make the right decision. Have a splendid fest and good night.” Cassian and Merridian made their farewell courtesy and took their leaves, leaving the Tress in deep thought.
Striding quickly from the Baron’s office, the group walked in silence until they were out of the Baron’s keep. Out of the den, back to the world. Lucious heaved a relieving breath. They continued their fast pace toward the second gate before Merridian stopped them. “Floki, be considerate. You want us to parade around in heavy armour?” “Hmm? Ah...hahaha...Certainly forgot about that. I always thought Harpe and armour are a set.” “What a nice helmet...Oops...It’s your barren head.” “Alright, Floki. We will stop at the inn first. Wait for us.” Breaking off the fight, Cassian walked ahead to the inn at the corner of Rose Boulevard, followed by Merridian. “Floki, sir. Do you know Sir Clypeus and Lady Harpe well?” “Hmm...used to kick them around...Got a problem?” “Argh! No, sir.” Silence ensued between the mentor and the trainee as Floki did not intend to share with Lucious, but Lucious did gain some insight. “But, that means Floki...” “We are ready...” His thought was interrupted when Cassian and Merridian were back with simple tunic and trousers but the wool was softer than the ordinary tunic. “That was fast, kids.” “You learned a thing or two when donning and removing for dozens of times...”
“Alright, kids. Let’s go back to the Union. We can talk more in Graw’s office.” The rest nodded and proceeded on. “Still, I’m surprised that you’re alive, Floki. Thought you kicked the bucket.” “Never change, huh. Harpes always been thorny and annoying, even your father...” “My, my. Don’t group me with my loathsome father. What happened to your already dismissive hair?” “Well, well, never thought I get the chance to kick another Harpe over her heel...” “You can try, geezer.” Stunned, Lucious could only listen passively to the mindless exchange between Floki and Merridian. “Floki, who... what are you?” “Don’t mind them. We know Floki for ages since our days as trainees. You see, he used to be in the Principle... with Grawyrad...” Words trailed off as Lucious was trying to digest the revelation. Floki. In the Principle. With Old Grawy.
Lucious turned and saw the mild sadness in Cassian’s eyes as the knight gazed far off to Hay Compound. In contrast to the quiet Rose Boulevard, Hay Compound was in the complete mood of a festival as Armo Lane was turned into a brightly lit street with people mingling and chattering. They even caught some finely clothed residents of Rose Boulevard drinking and singing with the peasants as they cheered on the dancing troupe and cheerful music. The main square of the Hay Compound was decorated with lines of lanterns as tables of delicacies such as meat pottages, lofty loaves of bread, vegetable salads, and fruits were swamped with throngs of people trying to get their hands on the feast. Hay Compound was filled with laughter and jolly shouts as they celebrated with great fervent to drive away the misfortune more than a month ago.
However, the air between Lucious and Cassian remained chilling even as their surroundings were engulfed in the unprecedented euphoria in Tressmoor’s history. Watching and listening silently to Floki and Merridian’s bickering, curiosity and impatience were building up in Lucious’s mind, but he refrained himself from questioning. “It will be rude to interrupt Sir Clypeus, considering the look just now...” Still, he could not help but linger on the fact that Cassian knew his name which was not possible as they did not have any direct connection between each other. Lucious started to sort up the pieces of the puzzle which took over his mind. First, the fact that a refined person as Sir Cassian knew his name could only mean two possibilities. One was the report to the Principle. “...But my name should be omitted from the record... Another one...but that is not possible...or not...?” His mind was almost gone kaput when Floki’s loud noise shook him out of the labyrinth of thoughts.
“Hahahahaha, good, good. Not too shabby. They really make it in time...” Lucious raised his head and noted they were in front of the Union without realising. What was surprising was the magnitude of the crowd filling the Union compound. It seemed like there were a few locations which selected to hold the feast throughout the city to accommodate everyone in the city. The main square was only one such a location. Given the large area occupied by the Union, it was natural that they were chosen to host one of the feasts in the city. The scene and atmosphere were similar to the main square. Perhaps even more joyous as the trainees and the Union members also joined the fray. Using their trades, these people organised fighting competition and gimmick performance. The crowd was in ecstasy when Jasse threw another trainee over the makeshift matching ring, screaming and chanting his name.
“Waay tooo gooo, kiddoo...!” Floki whistled as Cassian and Merridian watched the match in interest. There was nothing that interested him to watch fellows sweating in a fistfight. Lucious looked uninterested and was looking around for something else when a sharp cry rose from the side of the ring. A large man in oriental feature and long ponytail heaved himself on the ring as the moderator inciting the crowd. “Weee haveee a challengeeer...!!” “Fight! Fight! Fight...!” “Jasse. Jasse. Knock him down...!” “Ah...” Overhearing the sighs, Lucious turned back to see the bland look from the rest of his companions as they narrowed their eyes at the man who challenged Jasse. “Jeez, let’s go.” Suddenly losing their interest, the group moved on, leaving Lucious confused before he recovered and followed the group into the main hall.
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