“You’re quite a good learner, Topaz.”

“It’s all thanks to Big sis Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald.”

I, Topaz, am currently holding another book that I just finished reading. It is a book about etiquettes and manners.  Everyone in this mansion is my Lords and Ladies. Big sis Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald are my families as they are the same as me, devils that were able to take up a form of a human permanently.

I’ve coop up in the grand library for almost three days now to read and learn. It was an order from Lady Hydrangea who said that I have to absorb knowledge that would be helpful in serving them. I have been reading books as soon as I was dressed in this uniform of a servant in which my sisters also wears.

From time to time, Lady Hydrangea will check up on me and my sisters will take a turn to watch over me. They said they are doing this because of a certain old man that’s lurking outside the library who wanted to feel me up.

Also, since being occupied with these studies, I never get a chance to meet the other masters of this place. My sisters told me that I am almost done so I am getting excited. Excitement is a feeling or emotion that portrays enthusiasm towards someone or something. That must be what I am feeling right now.

Somehow, I immediately settled in the place through my sister’s interaction with me. Everyone show suitable kindness and stern attitude at the same time. And also, I found out that we, the sisters, has varying Arcana Magic and desires that are too abnormal.

“Topaz, that reminds me, what was your Arcana magic again and its origin?”

“Big sis Ruby? Did you already forget about it?”

“I just want to make sure.”

“Un. It’s Arcana of Earth. It enables me to freely manipulate any form of earthly bodies such as soil, rock, stones, sand and even cement. The origin and desire that I have are burying people alive.”

“Burying people alive, huh? It sure is gruesome.”

“Isn’t Big sis Ruby power more gruesome?”

“Yeah, burning people alive until they die, that was my desire as a devil and it is deeply engraved to me, the Arcana of Fire.”

“Incidentally, Big sis Sapphire is the Arcana of Water and her desire to drown people and Big sis Emerald is the Arcana of Wind and she loves to suffocate people, right?”

“Good job remembering it!”

“This much is nothing. I am also aware that we are stronger than an archdevil, right? Makes me think why we are even enslaved.”

“Once you met with Lord Nil, you’ll immediately know.”

“That man…isn’t he the one who has the power to manipulate us, devils? Is he for real?! Aren’t we creations of our own god?”

“I don’t understand it myself. Lord Nil has a goal incomprehensible to us devils. Only the Order of Arcana is well verse of his plans. And as far as I know, we, the four of us, are being kept inside this place.”

“I shall not make any hasty judgment, Big sis Ruby. Instead, I want to meet our Lords myself.”

“That’s why right now, we are going to let you do chores as of today.”

“Really?!”

“Calm down. It’s only a small task. However, through this small task, you may find answers to your questions.”

“I see, I shall make that experience and opportunity a valuable one.”

As I was told, I am going to start my task and I will interact with my lords. I will try to analyze and gather sufficient and genuine answers. But before everything else, I have to inquire Big sis Ruby of the recent book that I have read by accident.

“Big sis Ruby, I have a query to make.”

“What could it be?”

“What is…sex?”

“….Uwaah?!”

“It is said in one of the books that I read that sex is an act of intercourse between a male and female genitalia. When I did a further research, it indicated that it is an act of affection towards your counterpart in romance. I am clueless when it comes to romance…”

“T-T-T-T-T-Topaz, that’s…! I…!”

Due to my query, Big sis Ruby’s cheeks becomes aflame like her hair. The redness spreads throughout her face. Is it that hard to answer imagining that Big sis Ruby, who is older than me, has already done it.

“So, what is sex?”

“Ah?! Umm…it’s…uhhh….aha….”

“Seems Lord Dylan is well versed about it, how about I just ask him instead if you are greatly troubled.”

“N-No! Don’t do that! That’s a really bad idea!”

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“However, Big sis Ruby, you are getting feverish, no? I am troubling you.”

“S-Sex is! Is…! S-something obscene like…holding hands…and…touching…and…a man and woman…feeling up…each other…”

“…Verified. If that’s what Big sis Ruby said, then I shall take that knowledge.”

“A-a-anyway, I’ll clean up the library now! Go to Sapphire and she will give you your first task, okay?”

“Confirmed! I shall be on my way.”

Receiving Big sis Ruby’s instruction, I left the library and start searching for Big sis Sapphire. I'm kind of troubled being locked up in the library now and I want to explore the whole mansion.

Blinding sunshine meets my eyes as it rises from the horizon. The sun peeks from the horizon indicating that it’s just sunrise. I left the large door of the grand library behind and made a quick stride at the corridor patched with red carpet. The glass windows are clear as water and beyond it is greenery scene of the forest.

Big sis Sapphire should be prepping for breakfast and Big sis Emerald should be trimming and watering the plants.

Obviously, my strides are headed to the kitchen where I can find Big sis Sapphire. Taking repetitive turns in the unmapped mansion, I rely on detecting her presence alone. My detection is proven effective as I found myself in front of the kitchen door.

The two-way door is slight showing a slit indicating that she is there. As a devil myself, I am aware of the presence of my kin, however, we cannot detect any other life forms through magic and power perception. Directing such surge of power will be noticeable for us and we will be able to measure it up.

I quietly peer my eyes in the slit of the door to confirm any existence.

As I did, I saw Big sis Sapphire together with Lord Dylan. She’s in the prepping table where she tries to cut vegetables. Tears forms in her eyes and she hardly moved her hands as Lord Dylan massages her rear beside.

Among my sisters, Big sis Sapphire is my most favorite because she is always smiling but it kinds of ticks me when she shows such expression.

I waltz in the room with a great surge. It startled Lord Dylan who seems to be drunk. I point my palm towards Lord Dylan and cast…

“[Arcana of Earth – Sink Hole]”

WHOOSH

The pavement beneath his feet created a gaping hole enough to immobilize him. Since he was startled, he wasn’t able to immediately act and fell without resistance. The hole was deep enough that his head is the only visible part of his body.

“Ahh! What the hell is this?!”

“Toooopaaaazzzz!”

Big sis Sapphire fearfully runs towards me and shivers behind my back. My judgment seems to be correct. Lord Dylan can only stare at me with a dumbfounded face. His drunken countenance is aggravating.

“What’s happening here? I felt magic being used.”

Behind us, Lady Hydrangea appears. With queer elegance and poise of something noble, she elegantly enters that room. With cold and icy countenance, she gives off a feeling of majestic.

She laid her eyes upon and us and made a quick glance at Lord Dylan before sprouting a questioning gaze. Big sis Sapphire bows down towards her and she forcefully made me bow too. It is one the etiquettes I should remember.

Because Lady Hydrangea looks at me with gaze asking for an answer, I immediately speak up.

“They are…”

I momentarily stop. I cannot find the right word in my knowledge pool to use in such situation. I tried recalling everything I learned for the past days for an appropriate term but I cannot search for something more accurate. I shall substitute word closely related…

“They are having sex.”

Big sis Sapphire’s tears suddenly gush out with a frozen face of half smile with extremely pale countenance. Her eyes became unfocused like her whole world shattered. Lady Hydrangea’s gaze becomes colder and sharper which she directed at Lord Dylan with utter disgust and disdain. Even I felt her overpowering presence…

Lord Dylan who is deeply planted in the ground started sweating and his face becomes paler. He tried struggling from the confinement but to no avail, he wasn’t able to break free.

“HOLD ON! THAT LASSY THERE! THAT’S NOT WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT?! HEY!”

“Little Topaz, I am sincerely happy that you told me about it and I promise that that old bastard there will be punished considerably.”

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN SEX?! I AM JUST FEELING HER UP! MOLESTING! I DON’T HAVE THE BALLS TO ACTUALLY DO IT IN THIS PLACE!”

Molesting?

Was that the right word?

It can’t be helped then. I don’t have any moment to correct my mistake as Lady Hydrangea elegantly walks towards Lord Dylan. Her elegant stride is contradicted by her hand that maliciously crackles with magic.

She grabs Lord Dylan by the head and uproots him from the ground. Lord Dylan is hopelessly suspended in the air as he struggles from the pain of Lady Hydrangea’s iron grip.

While maintaining her iron grip on Lord Dylan’s face, Lady Hydrangea walks out of the room without further action. She just left us with words such as.

“Clean up. Fix that hole.”

Without further ado, I immediately patch the hole on the ground. Big sis Sapphire heaves a sigh as they left and collapse behind me. Even though their hair color is in the same hue of blue, Big sis Sapphire is soft-spoken and weak-willed, unlike Lady Hydrangea.

“Topaz, thank you.”

“Why did you let Lord Dylan do such act towards you, Big sis Sapphire.”

“Um…well…I’m sorry…”

“Don’t apologize to me. That’s unsightly as my big sister.”

“I’m sorry for saying sorry! Ah…I’m sorry for saying sorry that I am sorry…”

“Calm down, Big sis Sapphire. I am asking is why…”

“B-Because…I just can’t…say no…I am unable to say no to anyone…I’m sorry…Why am I even alive?”

“Don’t say that. If you die now, who will give me my task today?”

“Ah! Yes! I need to cook and Topaz…”

“Yes?”

“Please collect the garbage in each of our lord’s rooms. There are trash bins in corners of their rooms and you will immediately recognize them. Also, go to Emerald and ask for the dimensional container where you are going to dump the garbage.”

“Got it.”

“When you are done collecting the garbage, bring it into the incinerator and burn it. Also, please remember to be polite to our lords. Lord Dylan and Lady Hydrangea maybe different but the other lords are a bit…dangerous.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. I’ll be off now.”

I left the kitchen and walk again towards the garden. Exiting the left wing of the mansion, I found my way towards the blooming flowers and finely trimmed grass and trees. A water fountain surrounded by such stands in the middle. Piles of trimmed leaves left a huge mound next to a figure of a woman sweeping with enthusiasm.

It’s Big Sis Emerald.

Noticing my presence, Big sis Emerald broke out in a blinding smile and run towards me. She pounces on me and firmly hugs my whole body. She rubs her cheeks into mine while yapping nyahahaha! And because she is my beloved big sister, resistance is futile.

“What brought you here, Topaz? Is it because of me? Are you feeling lonely without me?”

“Big sis Emerald, please unbound your wrapping hands around my body!”

Big sis Emerald is very enthusiastic, free-spirited and carefree. Because of her attitude, she sometimes strikes me as someone overbearing. I do not want to tolerate clinginess, however, when I told her off once, she started unpleasant acts towards me.

If I remember right, it was a subtle act of bullying. She won’t stop until I pay her heed again.

Big sis Emerald let go of me and stand up. With her extended hand towards me, I grasp it and let her help me get back on my feet. A dusts my skirt of dirt and leaves that stick to it before speaking.

“Big sis Emerald, Big sis Sapphire told me to fetch the dimensional container from you. If you would, please hand it over to me without making any more fuss.”

“Fuss? Did something happen?”

“Yes. Lord Dylan was molesting Big sis Sapphire…”

“Ah…Lord Dylan…”

“Big sis Emerald, what do you usually do in such situations?”

“Me? Lord Dylan…usually never does it to me…”

“Why would he not?”

“He said that I do not elicit the reaction he was looking for wherein Sapphire sprouts a tease-worthy face as she tears up while Ruby will redden upon contact.”

“You?”

“Me? Ah…I just laugh it off.”

“I see. I learned something useful today. Now, hand over the dimensional container.”

“Right, right.”

Rummaging in her skirt pocket, Big sis Emerald brought out a glass jar with wide mouth. The jar is light and compact that it could fit in her pocket. handed over to me.

“Here you go. Good luck with your task, Topaz!”

“I will.”

I left Big sis Emerald and head off towards the first room, Lord Shun’s room, the Arcana of Envy.