The Inter-Continental Alliance, more widely known as ICA, was founded on the first day of Catra’xahr, 3799 AOC. They have declared themselves as the protector of the world’s peace and order. They have spent half a century ending the Age of Chaos, and then begun a new era. In the end of year 3860, peace is established under the flag of ICA. The new Age of Tranquility officially begins in the year 3861, and lasts until the current time.
Despite being the most powerful organization in the world, ICA denies world governance and maintains the democratic rule among individual nations giving them a more independent government. ICA’s mission is to prevent anyone from starting anymore large scale wars. Thus, cooperation from many countries is a must, however not all countries have signed the treaty under ICA. The countries that refused to become part of ICA receives no help or support from them in case of calamities or war outbreaks, in exchange ICA does not interfere with however they rule or use their power as long as it does not disrupt the current world order.
Within ICA, there are Seven Noble Houses that manages the central command. They are also called “Higher Nobles” to classify them apart from other clans or families that have served in ICA for generations. Under the Seven Houses are the nobles also known as the “sub-clans” that serve a specific house. These clans contribute to the power and influence of the noble house that they serve. They often stay around the heirs of the main house and serve as their aids. There are a few that are considered as “neutral nobles” staying off the political tension within. The Seven Houses usually competes with each other for greater influence and control over the organization’s decision making, but they never went so far as to harm anyone that is not part of their clan. So far, the nobles’ internal power balance has remained in a peaceful competition and rivalry.
∞×∞
Fourth day of Sapta’xahr, Hames’zien
Blue Dormitory
A familiar ceiling with stripes of sun rays entering from the gaps in the curtain is the first thing she sees when she opens her eyes. The room is painted white with a classic feeling around. Judging by how bright it is, she can assume that it is already late; perhaps, past nine in the morning. She raises her right arm gazing at her backhand. For the next few minutes, she stays in bed not doing anything.
“I woke up… It seems that I didn’t die in my sleep.” She utters quietly, her lips curves with a bitter smile.
“Good morning, Milady.” A gentle female voice greets her. “I’m glad to see you alive.”
She has shoulder length light brown hair that contrasts with her sapphire blue eyes. She is wearing a reserved navy blue and white dress while she sits on her floating chair with poise. She controls the chair with magic to come closer to her young lady who is just sitting up the bed.
“Thank you, Athena.” She smiles at her.
She gracefully nods once and then smiles back at her young lady. “What do you want to have for breakfast, Milady?”
She fixes her night robe while she ponders. “I’d prefer something easy to eat.”
“As you wish.”
“Athena,” she calls again before her aid could turn. “Lemon balm tea.”
“I will prepare it right away.”
The moment Athena turns to leave the room, three consecutive knocks echoes.
“Come in.” She orders with a firm voice.
The door opens and a young man enters the room. He bows to some extent before facing the ladies without going too far inside the room. His dark violet hair sways charmingly as he straightens up his body. Both of his hands are kept behind as he stands with dignity in front of his master. He fixes his cloudy gray eyes at the lady who is still sitting on her bed.
“I have prepared your bath, Milady.” He says while showing a reserved smile.
“I see,” she answers casually.
The young man bows modestly before leaving the room. Athena follows soon after, leaving the young lady alone in her room.
She looks around her room. The windows are wide but it is covered by a pastel blue curtain. It seems that it has been left untouched for a long while. There is a lamp shade on top of the drawer beside her bed. A few books are stacked beside the lamp shade. The walls are plain white with no decorations hanging. On one side, her closets and bookshelves line up. One the other side, her dresser with a large clear mirror is placed reflecting her appearance with disheveled silver hair. Her furniture is painted a light shade of blue that almost blends in with the white interior, giving her room a pale and cold feeling.
She flips her white blanket and comforter away. She fits her feet on her indoor slippers that are finely placed beside her bed. She stands up leaving her now slightly messy double bed. She is about to leave her bed when something starts ringing close by. She turns her head around wondering where it comes. Then she remembers her phone. With slow movements she reaches out to her drawer and then pulls the top shelf. She grabs her phone to check who might be calling her at this time.
“Ignore No. 4,” is what the screen displays. Without any thought, she puts her phone face down and then leaves while it still rings on top of the drawer.
She starts walking towards the bathroom connected to her bedroom. Her movements still slow; her steps are heavy. When she enters the bathroom, the bathtub is already filled with hot bath water. The air is filled with the fragrant scent of soap. Her bath robe is hanging behind the door. She chuckles under her breath before entering the shower.
The rooms in the blue-zone’s dormitory are made to be huge and spacious in order to accommodate the nobles’ luxurious lifestyle. Each room is designed to have their own bathroom, a living room connected to the kitchen for receiving guests and preparing meals, and two to three bedrooms; one master bedroom and two bedroom to accommodate two people each. The aids are students of the blue-zone as well, but they prioritize assisting and protecting their master. The high rank nobles usually take two to four aids with them in this academy. They are members of the sub-clans that serve higher ranked nobles, and most of them have been in the service for many generations. They pride themselves for being in assistance of the person they serve, especially if that person is a descendant of the Seven Noble Houses. Many take this as a sign to display their power, or show off their social standing. However there are also a few who disregards having aids for their own reasons.
After taking a bath, the silver haired lady returns to her room. She is wearing her bath robe and a towel is wrapped over her hair. The bed that she left untidy a while ago is now organized neatly. The clothes that she is about to wear for the day has been put at the side of the bed. She removes the towel constricting her hair, and then leaves it by the dresser’s chair. She casually pust her clothes on. As she is buttoning up her light blue blouse, three consecutive knocks echoes across the room.
“Milady?” A male’s voice rings.
“You may come in, Rio.”
The door creaks as he opens it slowly. “You look great today too, Milady.” He smoothly compliments her while walking farther inside. When he reaches the dresser, he takes the towel that is left hanging on the chair and then proceeds to move to take the bath robe that is left lying on the tiled floor. “Please, take your seat over there, Milady.” He smiles before leaving to hang the bath robe and the towel inside the bathroom.
While Rio is gone, she takes the seat in front of the dresser. She stares at her reflection in the mirror. She has pale blue serpent-like eyes; it reminds her of the icebergs that faintly reflects the blue of the sky as it floats alone in the ocean. At the base of her neck, two moles stand out. She touched her silver hair that is still slightly wet while getting lost in her own thoughts. She notices that her phone has been placed on the dresser, but she simply turns her eyes away. She then pulls the drawer and then takes an earring. The design looks like that of a single-winged serpent. She wears it on her left ear before she blankly stares at her image in the mirror. This earing is the insignia of the House of Strange.
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“Milady, you should have waited for me to dry your hair.” Rio returns. He pulls one of the drawers and takes out the hair dryer. “The preparation for your breakfast is almost done. Now, if you could just be a little more patient while I’m fixing your hair.”
“You took too long to get back.”
“My. We can’t have Milady looking unstylish.” Rio retorts while continuing to dry his lady’s hair.
“Why does it matter? I’m not going out today either. You simply like doing these things.”
Hearing those words, he chuckles as he grabs the brush. “You know me well, Milady.”
“How could I not.”
Rio Snyder has been her aid for almost four years now. On the other hand, Athena Shanti has been by her side for as long as she can remember. They know her so well as much as how she knows them in that same way. As the first daughter of the House of Strange, there had been many candidates among the sub-clans who wanted to stick close to her. She is born with her ability as a mage already awakened; through and through, a prodigy. As she grows up, the people around her formed different opinions about having her become the House’s heiress. Her environment does not allow her to ever let her guard down. Aside from Athena, who grew up by her side, she did not let herself form a close bond with other kids her age. Few months after that calamity that took her parents’ lives occurred, Rio reached out to her. That same calamity also stole Athena’s ability to walk. At that time her one and only personal aid is recovering, so Rio managed to convinced her to let him become one of her close aids. For her, more than anyone in the world, these two are the people she trusts the most.
“There. We’re done, Milady.” Rio says after braiding the lady’s hair on the left side so that her earing would be easy to recognize and stand out.
She nods pleasingly.
Rio then goes ahead towards the door. She follows casually as Rio opens it and waits for her to pass. After having a considerable distance between them, he follows her to the living room. From the moment they step into the room, the fragrance of their freshly cooked breakfast greets them. The place has been arranged to look more like a tea room more than a living room.
Athena has prepared an open faced fried egg sandwich. The plates are placed on a small table in front of the couch. On the kitchen counter, Athena lifts the tea pot using her magic and then pours the lemon balm tea on each cup which is arranged in a tray.
“The scent alone increases my appetite.” She says while taking a sit.
“I am pleased to hear that, Milady.” Athena responds. She then uses her magic again to lift the tray with the cups and bring it over. “Here is the tea as you requested.”
“Thank you.” She is about to take a sip of her tea when her phone rings again. “You two may join me.” She says ignoring the ringing sound.
Athena moves closer to the small table while Rio takes a seat at the chair beside the couch. They proceed to indulge with their breakfast. The ringing stops for a minute or two before ringing again. She then picks it up. The screen displays the same name, Ignore No. 4. Since it seems that the caller does not have any intention of stopping, she decides leave it on the table.
While in the middle of their meal, this time, Rio’s phone rings. He looks at it and then answers politely.
“Yes, hello.” He says with courteous tone. “Milady does not feel like attending class today as well. Later, I will deliver yesterday’s homeworks and pick up the new set of work for today.” He pauses to listen to the person on the other line. It seems like this person talks a lot due to the length of Rio’s silence. “Yes, I shall convey your words, sir.”
“Who?” She asks after Rio ends the call.
“Professor Kabalyero,” he answers casually.
“What was that about?”
“It’s the usual. Nothing to be worried about, Milady.”
“I see. Persistence is not a bad thing, however most of the time it is quite irritating. Athena, another cup please.”
“Yes.” Athena then fills her lady’s cup with tea. “I need to make more.” She mumbles after seeing that the teapot is almost empty.
While Rio is cutting another slice of his open faced fried egg sandwich, his phone rings again. He checks on it immediately and the screen displayed a name that they are quite familiar with, “Third son of Dentu.”
“Good day,” Rio greets after picking up the call. “Snyder speaking.” Rio remains quiet while listening to the other. “Are you sure about that?” He then turns to the lady who is comfortably eating her meal. “Milady, Mr. Dentu seems to have found a freshman with great premise. He believes that getting this person on our side is very advantageous. He requests that Milady looks into this subject.”
“Recruiting new subordinates is his job, is it not?” She replies, her tone is deep and unamused. “I do not wish to waste my time on an incomplete job.”
Rio nods. “Mister Dentu,” his voice is firm. “Is this person really worthy of Milady’s consideration?... I do not doubt your ability, however, do submit a detailed report. I will look into it personally. I do not wish for you to disappoint Milady.”
Athena returns with the tea. She casually fills the lady’s cup and continues on her meal. Rio ends the call shortly. Then again, just when he picks up his utensils, his phone rings. He pauses for a while; staring down at the glowing screen of the phone. It is displaying an unregistered number. Taking calls from unknown person is not their habit.
“Answer,” she says while taking a slice of her meal.
Rio nods and then picks up his phone. “Snyder here.” As he listens to the person who called, his smile starts to fall flat. The expression he is wearing now pours tension into the silence that follows. “Milady, my apologies. It’s Mister Heins.”
She stretches her arm. “I’ll take it.”
He passes the phone modestly.
“Your master is speaking,” she says while wearing a cold smile. “Be quick with whatever it is that you want to say. My breakfast is getting cold.”
“B-break-…” The man’s voice trembles from the other side. “At this time of the day…”
“Mister Heins,” she replies with a tone that could freeze someone even if they are on the other side of the world. “Did you disturb my morning to deliver an urgent message, or are you simply planning to criticize the time I should be eating my breakfast?”
“N-no. My apologies, young mistress.” Mister Heins croaks. His breathing is fast and shaking. “I wish to ask for y-your h-help. Mister Davies and Mister Taylor p-passed away yesterday.”
“They died? How?”
“Ha-how… W-well, it was made to look like an accident… b-but, I am sure that they were… assassinated.”
“I see. Everything’s fine then.”
“Huh-? F-fine…” He gulps. “Y-young mistress?..”
“I am amazed that you lasted this long.” She continues; her tone never breaks away from its cold demeanor. “For a moment, I considered letting you go. However, since it also took you this far before you could realize what’s happening… it only means that, you are not that smart after all.”
“No, p-please-! Give me another ch-”
“Condolence.” She ends the call and then returns the phone to its original owner. She continues with her meal normally. “Rio, I do not want to hear from that man again.”
“Understood.” Rio blocks the unregistered number.
“Also, investigate how he got your number. It is quite troubling when people don’t know what they should and shouldn’t do.”
“It shall be done in no time, Milady.”
“You can choose their funeral flowers. Reward Mister Heins’ effort by sending him most grandiose arrangement.”
“Yes. Milady is very generous.”
Afterwards, they have finished their meal without further disturbances. Athena then cleans up the table and then she brings the laptops along with some books. While the lady is working on her laptop, Athena proceeds to wash the dishes. She then returns to make sure there is enough drinking water close-by while the lady is working. She puts the pitcher and a clean glass in a different table beside the couch. Rio is also working on his laptop. It seems that he is inputting a lot of stuff. After making sure that everything is in order, she stays close to the lady before she starts flipping some books to review the data inside.
All three are busy with their own stuff when the lady’s phone starts ringing. The ringtone is different from the previous one. She grimaces upon hearing it. She finishes typing into her laptop before glancing at her ringing phone. It displayed “Ignore No. 1.” She stares down at it for a while. When she realizes that the ringing is about to end, she finally picks it up and then casually answers the call.
“Yes, dear Uncle.”
“What did you do?!” An old man’s voice roars from the other line.
“Hm. Which one?” She replies with an indifferent expression.
“Stop playing the fool.” He retorts. “You ordered a hit on three of our men.”
“Ah- right.” She sets her laptop aside and then relaxes her back on the couch. “I just cleaned up their mess. My honorable uncle should be grateful.”
“You can’t just dispose of our people the way you do with your old clothes. They are not nobles but they have pledged to support the House of Strange, and that puts them under our protection. If you continue being like this, how will our supporters respond?”
She rolls her cold eyes to the side. “We do not need such incompetent subordinates. Those three did not only conspire to embezzle a large amount of money, they also let the condominium building they built to collapse. Their incompetence and greed killed hundreds of lives, uncle. Naturally, their life is nowhere near enough as payment.”
“That decision is not for you to make.”
“I see. My bad. So, will I get punished?”
“Don’t do something like this again.”
“You’ll let it go?” She scoffs.
“Herneihmys!”
“Fine.”
The call ends. She puts the phone back on the table. A frown is clearly visible on her face. Silence follows for few minutes. She takes a deep breath and then relaxes her back.
“Milady,” Athena calls while using her magic to pour water on the empty glass. “Please have a glass of water.”
“Thank you,” she says while reaching out for the glass of water. “I sure am getting a lot of calls today. How unpleasant.”
“Would you like to take a rest, Milady?” Athena asks with a worried expression.
She stares at her for a bit. “No need. I do not intend to let all the clean-up for the blunder of those three to pile up and be left unattended later on.”
“I’ll prepare the chamomile tea.”
“I sincerely appreciate it.”