POV Aron Brightcloud

Next day. I had barely eaten lunch when Sephiroth appeared next to my side with a sweet smile.

“My young master, are you ready to go out?” I could easily recognize her anticipation.

I tried to understand the reason for her pleasant mood. Ah right, how could I forget that?

“I won’t buy you anything, you will have to pay for yourself.”

Some things never change. Even in this world the women loved to go shopping with the money of us men…

Sephiroth deflated visibly. She looked like a balloon that had gotten pricked by a needle. But not for long, I could practically see the gears turning in her head. Quickly she had come up with an alternative plan.

She stepped closer to me, gazing deeply into my eyes with her own.

“Aw, common. Don’t be so mean. Didn’t I attend to every whim of you? I have protected you, taught you how to fight and have massaged you while doing my best to bring fun and happiness into your life. Doesn’t that count for anything?”

I looked nonplussed at her. “You have given me countless beatings, have broken at least two of my bones and that only in the last week. We don’t even have to talk about the other things. Like the glass of water that you have put on my head? Or the spiked cookies? I don’t know where you have learned your language, but taking care of someone means something entirely different.”

Instead of backing off in guilt, she stepped closer to me and her pouting face became even more pure and innocent.

“You can’t say it like that. The beatings were necessary to get you used to the pain you will have to face in the future. Inwardly I felt deep remorse about it, believe me.”

She was so beautiful and innocent, I should- Damn Aron, get a grip on yourself! I berated myself. She was trying to manipulate me again.

Amazingly enough, she had told the truth in her last sentence. How did she do that? Did I misread her? No… More likely she felt sorry that she was unable to hurt me more.

When she saw that I still hadn’t caved she belabored me even more.

“Was the cup of water that bad? I recall that we had a lot of fun afterwards. Would you rather have done no funny things during the past two weeks? Say the truth, didn’t you enjoy it? I got punished for the spiced cookies already. In fact, that was a very despicable move of you. You used your mum to punish me. Don’t you think that was over the top? We had an honorable prank war going, but you used the mother card twice. Shame on you!”

I watched her little play unfold. She acted really well, all the right emotions shown at the perfect moment. Shamelessly twisting the truth and bending them to her needs. Not once did she slip from her pure, innocent and righteous character. Even if I didn’t want to agree with her point of view, I had to respect her acting mastery.

I had never forgotten about the troubles that were coming my way. Yet, she had taken away my fear of them. Letting me enjoy the time in this unfamiliar world much more than otherwise possible. Normally I was distant, cold, and purely target oriented. Somehow she had unearthed my fun side. Letting me experience a new side of myself. She had improved my stay here significantly. These two weeks had been the best of my two lives so far. I sighed.

“All right. I will buy you one dress, you can decide which one. But then we are even. Okay? No more revenge for past pranks.”

She nodded energetically. Her angry face swiftly turned into a sunny one. Sephiroth closed the distance and grabbed my arm with both of hers, snuggling up to my side.

I could feel her warm body leaning into my right arm, before pulling me towards the door.

“What are you doing?”

“Going to the market, obviously.”

“No, I mean what are you doing with my arm?” I said while suppressing my annoyance.

“As you have invited me to go shopping, we are naturally on a date, so it is only normal to hold hands.” She looked at me innocently.

Now my right eyebrow was heavily twitching. Give that damn temptress an inch and she takes a mile.

“Sephiroth!” I grunted through clenched teeth.

Seeing that she had pushed me too far, she quickly let my hand go and stepped slightly away from me.

“Okay, okay, don’t be angry. It was only a little joke.” She grinned mischievously at me.

I could only harrumph and walked out of the door. Somehow I had the feeling this trip would take some time.

______

POV Sephiroth

Sephiroth happily followed Aron out of the manor. The last day had been very tedious, but it was not everything for naught. While peeling vegetables she had gotten closer to the other servants, which had given her a lot of enlightening information about Aron’s past.

But enough of that. They were going shopping now. Plans had to be forged, and evil schemes had to be devised. She wanted to make this an unforgettable experience for her most precious Aron.

______

POV Aron Brightcloud

With a step, I exited the manor and took in the surroundings. Not long ago I had been flying around as a ghost, uncertain about my future. So much had changed. I-

Before I could reminisce, I got pulled by the hand by an over energetic Sephiroth.

“Don’t sleep, my master. We have lots to explore today!” Sephiroth was overflowing with energy and happiness.

Her excellent mood was infectious. Despite my general sombre self, I smiled. The sun was shining, and birds were chirping. Listening to the beautiful sounds, we explored the city.

My family had invested a significant part of our money into the wellbeing of the people. The general happiness was very high. Another clue for that were the clean streets and the smiling faces of everyone we came across when we made our way into the direction of the central plaza.

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“Good Morning, young master Brightcloud, may you have a beautiful day.”

Many of the people greeted me with a smile and wished me the best.

My parents gave much importance to having a good and close relationship with their citizens. That transformed the start of this trip into a very comfortable experience.

It still felt a little strange to see the reverence in everyone's eyes, but I didn’t have the capacity to change that. In this world, such conduct was the proper way to behave oneself. I had to adjust.

The street was lined with small but clean stone houses. People walked, worked, and shopped everywhere. I could feel the positive atmosphere and even though I was only part of this since half a month, I couldn’t refrain from being proud. My family had built something beautiful here.

“Ah, young lord, I have some freshly baked cookies, would you like some?”

One baker that had a stand on the left side of the street walked up to us with a plate.

“Good morning, they look delicious. Thank you, I take two.” I nodded friendly in his direction and gave him some copper coins as payment.

He wanted to gift them to me, but I didn’t want to take advantage of him.

“Thank you, young master. This is very kind of you.”

He happily left and proceeded with selling his wares. I turned my head to Sephiroth.

“Here, take one.”

She smiled and grabbed the offered pastry. Not waiting, she bit into it with relish.

I couldn’t refrain from smiling at her apparent joy.

Like that we toured the city. Even though I had seen Mendres once from above, it was a novel experience. As a ghost, I had focused on becoming corporal. I hadn’t paid attention to all the small picturesque details that one could experience in this city.

At some point we reached a beautiful little restaurant. The wood and stone blocks gave it a very cosy appearance.

Sephiroth was immediately enamored with it.

“Let’s try this place. It looks very promising.”

I was in the process of assenting when I suddenly remembered some of the fantasy books I had read during my time in the in the old world. Ninety-nine percent of all the dangerous situations happened while eating in a restaurant.

These places were like breeding spots for villains. It didn’t matter what you did. Eating quietly in a corner or simply asking for the menu, you could be sure that somebody would take affront at your action and made it henceforth their life’s task to make yours a living hell.

Shuddering at the thought of another enemy, I quickly changed direction.

“Ah, know what, why don’t we walk a little further? I can remember that there were some snack bars further down the road. During the last two weeks I have eaten nothing but proper meals, my stomach is hungering for some alternative food.”

Sephiroth looked at me with one eyebrow raised, but let it go.

Not long later we had reached the snack bar. They sold delicious looking meat skewers with bread and drinks. My stomach immediately made itself known. Yes, buddy I know, they look delicious. Fear not, I will get you something good to eat.

“Sephiroth, do you want one of those as well?”

She vigorously nodded in reply. It looked like I wasn’t the only one that was hungry. I turned to the vendor and asked, “Hello, can I have two of your meat skewers?”

“Oh, young master, it is a pleasure to have you here. Take these, they have especially much meat on them.”

“Thank you.”

With a friendly smile, I gave my thanks before we made our way to a bench not far away.

“Here, Sephiroth, enjoy.”

The next five minutes were quiet. Both eating their delicious meal.

I leaned back comfortably on the bench and sunned myself.

Sadly, that relaxing quietness didn’t hold for long before Sephiroth spoke up. Now that she had taken care of her bodily needs, it was time to address her “soul”. It was shopping time.

To my surprise her first words were not about herself, but about me.

“You have advanced quickly in your martial arts and fencing classes. It is slowly but steadily time to begin the next step of your journey.”

I observed her with interest. “What exactly do you mean?”

“Until now you have always fought against me, but you have no real live experience. Tomorrow we will plan your first excursion into the woods. The beasts there will give you plenty of experience and near death situations. Only like that will you grow further.”

My drowsiness vanished instantly. She was right; it was time for the next step.

Before I could reply, Sephiroth spoke further.

“I congratulate you formally to graduating as my beginner apprentice. It is a milestone that heralds the true start of your future journey.” She stopped after that and regarded me with dignity.

“As a gift, I let you pick your own sword on this trip. Choose with care, it will be with you during some of your most dangerous moments.”

Hearing her sentences I realized that damn miser was bullshitting me again… Before I could form a response Sephiroth had already risen and quickly run away from me.

The only thing left was her bell like laughter as she made her way toward the clothing stores.

Head-shaking, I relaxed. That was so typically Sephiroth. I had to smile a little. With that I moved, a woman needed to be caught. I didn’t want to know in how much trouble she could get if I gave her more time.