Without giving her a chance to even think about who had caused the sound. The door clicked open and the man entered the room. Cecillia’s head whipped around to face the intruder, her pulse quickening while her eyes narrowed slightly. The angle of the sun cast a shadow across the man’s silhouette which only served to deepen her unease. Behind him in the peripherals of her vision, she spotted the trailing flutter of a white coat and she assumed that the man’s visit was sanctioned by the nurses.
However, just because the man had clearance to enter before anyone else, didn’t mean that she would inherently trust him. After all, the only tidbits of information she had on her current situation was through reading Doran’s letter, and even then, the contents written in ink could have been falsified as well.
Cecillia’s eyes flashed with the familiar skepticism that had been built through the years of war, and now, her gaze never left the man’s face as he advanced. On the outside, he looked normal enough with just his slicked back bramble brown hair and the black suit he wore, he couldn’t be any more unremarkable. But Cecillia didn’t quite so trust his appearance.
She observed the way he walked, how his footsteps would pad against the wooden flooring without making so much as a single sound. While his eyes, yellow orbs of silence held not a single shred of emotion within them.
Cecillia matched the gaze with a hollow stare of her own. Though, the suited man didn’t reveal any outward thoughts of her reaction and only continued forward. When he finally came to a halt next to her bed, he didn’t do much else other than glance over her body.
“...”
Cecillia wasn’t quite sure what to say. She felt rather small beneath the stare of his yellow eyes, and it was odd that she did in the first place, but perhaps the fact that she had lost her arms exemplified the strange feeling. Without them, or anything that could wield a weapon, she was left in a state of defenselessness that she hadn’t found herself in for many years. Sure, some would say that her magic was available, but she had lost the instinctual understanding of the man that had only struck her in the heat of battle.
Now, she was truly useless.
With both remaining like so for several painstakingly long minutes of silence, the man had seemed to have run out of his limited patience and shifted his hands into a folded position behind his waist. The sight Cecillia saw, with the man’s chest out wide, broad shoulders illuminated in the sun’s glow. It was almost too strange to see someone who resembled a butler look so regal.
But of course, this was a magical new world. With system screens that resembled video games of the 21st century, monsters that could tear into your mind and bring out the worst of nightmares, and provide such wonderful food in the form of a job class. Something so trivial as a peasant looking like a king shouldn’t have been so jarring.
Cecillia raised her head—at least, not to her knowledge.
“Cecillia. Black.” The butler-like man intoned in an uncharacteristically deep voice. His words were punched out, like the keys on a typewriter that had long ceased to function.
Cecillia took a moment and frowned. There were only two people that knew her name in full, Doran and Laen. She didn’t think that the boy would’ve had any connection to someone such as this, but if Doran had something to do with it, then the earlier line in the letter made more sense.
I have made arrangements with an acquaintance who is willing to grant you a place to stay.
‘Does he know Doran? She stared at the man again, scrutinizing his face with blinking eyes. The presence surrounding him was uneasing in a way, but she didn’t think that he was anything compared to the depressed archer. If a fight broke out, she could at least survive.
‘A place to stay hm?’ Cecillia narrowed her eyes.
Whether he really was the acquaintance that Doran had mentioned, there was only one way to find out.
“Who are you,” Cecillia stated bluntly. Her words ended sharply, and the question came out sounding more like a demand than a question.
Instead of replying with his lips, the man raised a brow before bringing out his hands before him. With them, he brought a small, ornate box that was wrapped in a delicate, silk red ribbon. Slowly, he pulled the band away from the box and its top half raised to reveal a plush cushion.
There upon seeing the sight, Cecillia immediately found her gaze hardening while the cold glare of her blue orbs resembled blades of frost. Inside, and resting on that miniature pillow was an eye. An eye that was blue at its irises, a beautiful eye that had once belonged to a human. A numbing feeling emerged in her chest, her throat tightening as the air whispered of the crackles of ice. Condensation formed on the windows, turning into dew beneath the sun’s watchful warmth.
Though, the man didn’t seem to be perturbed in the slightest and only formed a charming smile. His eyes shifted away from her face, seeking the floor as if he couldn’t dare glance upon her innocence.
“My lady, you can be at ease,” the man declared, pushing his hands towards her slightly. “This is but a gift granted to you by my mistress who has extended her gracious generosity in adopting you.”
‘Adoption?’
Lost in thought with her knees unknowingly coming to her chest, Cecillia paused for a moment with her eyes seemingly searching for an answer. After several more furtive blinks, she scowled and shifted towards the edge of the bed.
“Who are you?” Cecillia demanded, this time though, with a cold glare. “Tell me what your name is.”
Whether she called for it or not, the temperature in the room started to decrease rapidly. But the man didn’t seem to budge nor waver at the challenge, and instead of answering, the man simply waved his hand dismissively. His expression remained eerily calm, while the same charming smile he wore slowly became more and more unsettling. Even as the air between them grew denser, and colder with the power of magic, the hollowness of his eyes seemed to be that more frigid in nature.
“My lady, I understand your curiosity,” the man continued in that same chastising manner, “But my name is of no importance. I am only just a butler.”
He once again gestured to the box in his hands, raising it until it was up to her eye level. Cecillia ignored the sight of the box, even as the eye resting on the cushion stared back at her, daring her to look closer.
“Don’t be scared. This is but a mere token from Mistress Wisteria. It is an offering of… let’s say, goodwill as you would prepare to take your place within her household.”
Cecillia almost released an audible scoff. It had only been about half an hour since she had woken up, and when faced with a scenario such as this, her annoyance was just beginning to turn into anger. She wanted to get up and leave, to turn away from this man who had barged into her room in the wee bits of the morning. Yet still, if her pets Blackie and Bluey really were in this so called Mistress Wisteria’s care, then it would be best if she would tread lightly in this situation.
Cecillia drew a sharp breath, allowing the brittle air to enter her lungs which left a cold sensation washing over her body.
“What is your relation with the man named Doran?” she asked as the magic in the air all but subsided. The image of Doran floated into view before the strange suited man’s face, based on the man’s answer, she would at least understand just a bit more.
For the first time, the man’s expression wavered and a flaw appeared in his stature.
“...He,” the butler’s eyes flashed with something Cecillia couldn’t recognize. Whether it was a good or bad thing, she would never know.
“Master Doran,” The man continued with a wistful air in his voice. “Is someone that I have had the good fortune to grace my sights upon the broads of his back.”
Cecillia stared at the man deadpan, whatever words he uttered made absolutely no sense. But at least with the honorifics, Doran didn’t seem to be regarded poorly.
“Now then…” The butler erased all the imperfections in his visage, and assumed that same creepy smile. “Where were we? Ah, yes—” he waved the box gently. “Of course this isn’t something that you need accept. Mistress Wisteria isn’t a person like that, you have no need to worry. Gifts are only what they are, gifts. Anyone who would hold their recipients by the neck for refusing would be crazy! And the Mistress certainly isn’t that.”
Cecillia wanted to retort, because the notion of gifting someone else an entire human eye most certainly crossed the already large enough line of madness. But instead of saying something that would lead to nothing, she only studied the man carefully. She watched for any sudden movements as really… something was off about him. The air around him didn’t seem to cling against his body, and his movements were glitchy in a way, like a blade slicing through space itself. Perhaps it wouldn’t have been a regret if she had used her identification skill immediately which would then allow her to discover if he was a spell caster, or a user of martial weapons. But even then, those details wouldn’t really help to reinforce what she already knew. Because one thing was for sure, that he was dangerous.
“Well, now!” The man announced suddenly, spreading his arms to the sides in an almost cheerful display. “It seems that we’ve gotten a little sidetracked on our conversation. Don’t you agree that this isn’t the time to talk about such trivial matters?”
His eyes then darkened, and a ghost of a shadow passed over his face. The sunlight was momentarily eclipsed in the room, and he appeared to be a demon.
A dangerous demon at that.
“As for your adoption… the process has not yet been completed. The laws within Windhaven state that an officiary of the city must witness and acknowledge any noble family affairs. Quite a hassle if you ask me, but it is what is required for you to be fully recognized with the Wisteria family name. Just know that…”
He leaned forward, his voice lowering into a chilling whisper. “Mistress Wisteria doesn’t offer such opportunities lightly.”
A tense silence filled the hospital ward and the words of the sentence never disappeared from the air.
“Are you…” Cecillia narrowed her eyes. “Threatening me?”
“No, of course not. I meant no offense,” the man replied smoothly. Though his smile only widened, his lips curling upwards into an unsettling grin. “All I meant to say is that you should consider it… a courtesy of sorts. After all, you are to become the daughter of the Wisteria household. With the privileges that come with such a title, many would kill to be in your position.”
Cecillia didn’t immediately reply, and her eyes fell to her bandage wrapped legs. With the life she was left, every aspect of just living would be an arduous journey. A home with an… awfully odd butler had to have some unnatural form of wealth, but…
Cecillia bit her lip. She didn’t like this. Not one bit. Even the sole word of adoption made her think back to the days where she had been a child. A family wasn’t something she wanted, rather… it was the last thing she wanted to be reminded of. Still, rationality had led the charge of her path for many years, and this time it told her that this indeed was the best option she had.
“...Alright,” Cecillia eventually muttered. “As long as I will retain the freedom that I have.”
The butler smiled and for once, it seemed genuine.
“Certainly. Any wish you may have will be granted,” he nodded, “As the Wisteria’s family heir, I am honored to even be offered the opportunity to grace your presence.”
The butler then suddenly lurched forward and Cecillia flinched backwards. But the man didn’t even attempt to reach for her or make any threatening moves. Rather, he kow-towed to the floor, his forehead slamming against the wood, causing a sound so loud that would’ve drawn blood from any normal person.
“Please! I offer you my humblest apologies,” The butler almost screamed before raising himself and straightening his posture as if nothing had happened.
Cecillia frowned, then shook her head. Whatever situation she had found herself in, there was only Doran to blame.
‘Some acquaintances you have…’
She stole a glance outside the window. In all this time, there never was an opportunity to look out into the outside world. Yet the sight of the autumn morning was comforting in its own way. Cecillia held the sight for a minute before a breath left her lips. She returned her gaze to the man and nodded—the butler nodding deeper.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
“Let’s go.”
“Of course my lady,” The man replied, “Do you require assistance with your items?”
Cecillia turned to look at the table, eyeing the necklace and the blade before returning her eyes to the man. She only nodded.
“Your will is my command.”
The man sprang into action immediately, gathering the scattered letters across the bed in an instant before appearing on the other side in seconds. He glanced at the necklace for a brief moment, a brow raising when his eyes settled upon the ring nestled in the coils of the chain.
“It appears that Master Doran has left you a dimensional device,” he stated and met Cecillia’s gaze. “Have you established ownership over the object yet?”
Hearing the question, a puzzled expression came across Cecillia’s face. She knew that it was a storage device, which served like an inventory of a video game. But never once did she take the time to think about how it generally functioned.
Cecillia shook her head, indicating that she did not yet do as he had said.
“Well then, young mistress,” he said, picking up the object. “Allow me to come to your aid.”
The butler gestured for her to come close with a hand and Cecillia soon scooched to the edge. She looked at him, meeting his eye with a hesitant look. Though, he returned a calm smile and lowered his hand towards her.
“A dimensional object can only be accessed to someone it has bonded with,” The butler explained, “And only when that someone had released said bond, will the item become available to its next wielder.”
Cecillia reached out to grab the necklace, but stopped just short an inch away from the cold metal. Her downcast eyes met the butler’s gaze and he returned a soft smile.
“It is alright to be eager. Not many in the world will ever even set their sights upon a tool of this caliber,” he said gently. “Now then, please forgive my insolence.”
The butler moved forward and brushed her hair to the side. He leaned over her body and Cecillia even felt his breath against her face. It was warm, and strangely carried a pleasant aroma. Though, she was unable to dwell on that as his fingers pressed against her nape and his touch caused a shiver to run across her skin. Cecillia forced herself not to recoil from the sensation, and only when the necklace wrapped around her tender neck, and the ring that formerly belonged to her sister fell into her bosom, did the man pull away.
Cecillia glanced down at the ring and her heart pounded with a murmur. At that moment, she wished she still had her hands, so that her fingers could become clasped around the piece of jewelry. Still, for the situation she was in, the necklace was something more than anything she could ever wish for.
“To create a bond with the device, please insert your mana through the metal,” The butler said.
Cecillia’s gaze raised up to the man’s eyes and he gave her a reassuring nod. She had used mana once before, it shouldn’t be difficult to simply channel the energy through the item. Slowly, she turned her awareness inwards onto her core. It felt as if her body was made from circuits, each flowing with cold opalescent energy. Although this time, the flood of power coursing through them poured out like a river rather than a trickling stream. Whatever effects the mana corruption had inflicted upon her, it seemed that in raw output it had turned out for the better.
‘Here we go…’
Closing her eyes, she willed the power forward and the magic in her body rumbled to life. Immediately, a deep aching seeped through her veins, the mana swirling around within her before coalescing into a formless mass of energy. In the abyss that she saw, blue light erupted into the world of darkness.
Her eyes opened to find the butler standing before her with an impassive expression, but there was a slight twitch at the corner of his lips that she caught. She met his gaze, then, without warning—
A sharp, needle-like sliver of energy pierced out from her chest and shot into the necklace like a key fitting into a lock. In her mind, an instinctual clicking sound resounded out, and soon after a blue screen of light came to life before her eyes.
[Would you like to establish ownership over the ‘Vault?’]
Cecillia read the sentence with a frown, finding the name of the necklace somewhat odd. But she soon sent her confirmation through her mind whilst at the same time nodding.
[Congratulations! You are now the owner of the ‘Vault.’]
[Displaying inventory information below. Please wait…]
The screen started to flicker, the corner edges pulsing with a humming light. It wasn’t long until the system panel shifted to reveal the next message, but the words written weren’t… normal?
[Error detected. Code XX-XX/XXX. Information is currently unable to be display—
[...Please wait.]
[...Please wait.]
[...Please wait.]
[...Please wai…
[Alternative compensation will be supplied. Apologies.]
Cecillia’s eyes sharpened as the ring attached to the necklace started to burn. The chain around her neck became scalding, but also at the same time it provided a refreshing coolness against her skin. The conflicting sensations crackled and the mana within her core was swayed by a wild raging force.
Though Cecillia only stared at the screen, stunned. The once blue screen was now pulsing with a silver light, and the dull chain around her neck mirrored the flickering on the screen. An eerie hum filled her ears, and the light emitting from the ring tore apart. The luminance didn’t seem to affect the outside world, and a quick glance at the man made her sure that he wasn’t witnessing anything that she was seeing. Still, something was most definitely wrong.
The flashing screen then started to shudder, blurring just as a new line of text began to be typed out. It took a while though, with each single letter being pushed through painstakingly slow, as if there was some kind of interference involved.
[...System breach detected. M…a…n…u…a…l override deemed unnecessary.]
The line passed over her eyes, but as soon as she finished reading the text, blood washed over her pupils. The current screen disappeared, only to be replaced by one shimmering in a deep crimson glare.
[C-can… you hear me?]
Cecillia’s blood ran cold. Only once did she have a conversation with a being behind the system, but that time it felt artificial. Like it was an intelligence designed for problems; a customer service robot. However, this time, the voice calling out to her behind the system’s veil almost seemed to be human.
It was… desperate.
‘Who… who are you,’ Cecillia whispered in her mind. The ring against her chest flashed in response, and a strange warmth spread around her being. Her senses were flooded with strings of information, dissonant, disconnected scenes that surged with an intense pain.
First, she found herself in a garden, walking almost a handsome tall man with children trailing behind her. Then almost as suddenly as she appeared, she was whisked away into a world of flames. Fire raged all about, trees came tumbling down and screams of anguish were heard in the distance.
[No… N-no time. B-be careful. I-I sorry…]
The words ended there and Cecillia found herself back in the hospital ward. Though, a second later, more messages came in the form of a steady beeping, just like the machines in the hospitals back on earth.
[Sorry.]
[Sorry.]
[Sorry.]
…
They continued to incessantly ring out for some time until suddenly the crimson flashing screen sputtered. The view of the notifications distorted as an arcing fracture ran across the system panel. The letters twisted, breaking and ripping apart, but even through the glitch-like static, the lines of text continued to be typed out.
Cecillia wanted to shut her eyes, to block off the sound blaring in her mind. But anything she tried to do was out of her control, it was like she was a prisoner trapped in her own body, unable to do anything but spectate.
The blaring beeps and chimes continued to increase in sound, as well as acceleration. It was to the point where it created the distinct, sorrowful sound of a flatline. Although, unlike the death that followed a flattening line, the beeping didn't stop.
‘Sorry…?’ Cecillia felt a hollow shiver run down her spine as her eyes raced after the text.
The screen itself expanded vertically, shooting through the ceiling, and piercing through the bed. The contents started to scroll downwards, accelerating at a speed so fast that it soon became an unreadable blur. Still, the general shape of the sentences never changed, which meant that the same message was repeated over and over again, till the point where it felt as if eons had flown past.
‘For what?’
[Sorry.]
The scrolling came to a sudden, dizzy halt, and with that the system screen went dark. The humming flatlining noise ceased immediately, yet the sound remained in the back of Cecillia’s mind. The ring linked with the necklace stopped glowing too, and silence fell over the room, leaving only a single, regular system screen.
[Congratulations! You are now the owner of the ‘Celestium Chain.’]
[Displaying inventory information below. Please wait…]
[Total Inventory Capacity: 450/500kg remaining.]
[Query: Access additional detailed inventory contents?]
Cecillia blinked, just trying to process everything that had occurred in the span of… minutes? The item had seemed to have changed its name, but that was the least of her worries. Just who was that voice, and why was it warning her?
‘Be careful. Of what?’
However, her thoughts were soon broken as the man’s voice entered into her ears.
“Young mistress. Have you formed a bond with the necklace?” he asked.
Cecillia looked up at the butler, she had almost forgotten what the goal was in the first place.
“...Yes, I have,” Cecillia murmured.
“Very well, then would you like to try storing an item within the necklace?” The butler raised the shattered Crimson Death. “Perhaps this would suffice as a first experience.”
Cecillia glanced at the blade, remembering how it had offered her the strength required at the cost of its own life. For a weapon to contain even a shred of sentience, it was unbelievable.
“Alright,” She nodded slowly and the man smiled.
He swept away the blankets and placed the sword upon the mattress right next to her.
“If you had established ownership over the dimensional device. It is even simpler to call an object into the item,” the butler explained. “If you need a hint. Think of it as the opposite of the binding process.”
“The opposite?” Cecillia echoed.
The man nodded patiently. “Mana exists in every part of the world. It is extremely rare that you would find a situation where mana isn’t prevalent in any form. To call the weapon, or any item within the device’s limitation, focus on drawing its energy inwards into your core.”
Cecillia tilted her head in confusion, but the man offered a reassuring smile.
“A rope is used for pulling, is it not?”
Still, Cecillia frowned and her confusion deepened into puzzlement.
“But… why are you asking if a rope is used for pulling? Isn’t that common knowledge?”
The man’s smile never faded and he replied whereas another would scoff.
“Because, just like a rope. Mana is something that you can grasp. It is something that exists in the conceivable forms of the mind. With this, you simply need to pull.”
“Okay.”
Trying to understand what the butler said, she imagined invisible threads linking from the necklace to the blade’s pommel. And as she drew those threads inwards, as if tugging a rope, a flicker of mana was ripped from her core.
For a moment, nothing happened, then suddenly with a pop a faint shimmering outline encircled the weapons’s edge. Cecillia released a gasp as the blade vanished into thin air, the necklace around her nape seeming just that much heavier. The mattress shifted from the sudden disappearance in weight, and just like that, the number upon the screen decreased by a single kilogram.
“Well done young mistress,” The butler nodded approvingly. “Many nobles find themselves unable to achieve such a simple task.”
Cecillia glanced down at the necklace and a slight excitement sprang up in her chest. Back when the Crimson Squadron or Doran had displayed its use, it hadn’t been too special in her eyes. But now, with a device of her own, there wouldn’t be any need for a backpack or pouch for simple coins.
“Now then,” The man suddenly raised his head, staring into the wall intensely. He narrowed his eyes and a frown appeared for a split second before disappearing. “Shall we get going? The mistress is awaiting your arrival.”
Cecillia followed his gaze, but didn’t think much of it before nodding.
“Excellent,” The butler said and placed the letters on the bed. “And feel free to store the letters in the device as well.”
Cecillia nodded again. In no moment’s time, the papers were swept up by the stream of mana before safely being placed into the necklace.
The man gestured to the door with a hand, the other behind his back.
“If you will young mistress, please wait outside,” The butler said. “Give me a moment to clean this room, I assure you, it won’t be long.”
Resisting the urge to frown, Cecillia looked across the sparse room. It was empty, with not a single item misplaced. By no means did it need any tidying, and in the end, a frown did appear on her lips.
“Why?”
“Why?” The butler repeated with a smile. “You have been staying comfortably in the hospital’s care for over a month. And I, as your butler, find it upon my duty to avoid tarnishing the Wisteria’s name.”
Cecillia shook her head, there was no reasoning with this crazy butler. With a defeated sigh, she scooted to the edge of the bed and gingerly stretched her legs out. A dull ache immediately surged through her muscles, which if the man was right about the time, were weak after an entire month of unuse.
Tentatively, she stepped on the floor where a pair of slippers were next to the foot of the bed. But in the next moment, she found them already slipped onto her feet, with the man pulling away from her a second later.
Cecillia’s eyes widened slightly, for him to move that fast, and her to not even notice. Either his stats were beyond compare, or he had some sort of skill that allowed him to escape her detection. Thankfully though, he really did seem to be dedicated to his role as her butler.
“My lady. Do you acquire assistance?”
Of course, he had noticed her trembling legs, but she ignored his voice and forced herself upright. Each step was an awkward stumble, and it didn’t help that the man was watching her struggle with that same unreadable expression. Cecillia almost shot him an irritated glare, but it wasn’t long until the numbness dissipated and her body began to remember the strength it once had.
“Careful, young mistress,” he murmured. “Recovering from injuries is never easy.”
Cecillia nodded, not bothering to glance back at him before exiting the room. Although, only after did she step across the line, did the man spring into action. Cecillia turned around, almost immediately choking on nothing when his figure turned into a rapid blur.
The bed was made in an instant, the blanket not even able to settle before the windows were spick and span spotless. In the sun’s light, they even seemed to be more radiant than the stars themselves.
In the end, even if he would somehow notice, Cecillia decided to take the risk and activate her identification skill. Though the result that returned was somewhat underwhelming.
[Butler of the Grand Hall]
Cecillia clicked her tongue.
‘Truly, a marvelous butler.’