With the sun quickly setting over the trees in the forest outside, little light made its way through the windows. Vladimir had one of his servants strike a warm fire in the large fireplace. In front of the warm flames, Aridean and Rana sat on a luxurious sofa. Vladimir sat in a grand chair of leather and detailed woodwork just a few feet in front of his guests.
Vladimir had directed both Aridean and Rana into his lounge room to continue their discussion from the dining hall. The lounge contained several large bookcases, each entirely filled with large tomes. Not a speck of dust could be found anywhere near the miniature library. Even the floor, like in the main hall, appeared to have been polished to a degree that left the tiles looking reflective. A single, round rug covered only part of the floor between the sofa that the minotaurs sat upon and the chair Vladimir was reclining in. Another one of Vladimir’s silent and masked servants was playing a light tune on a harp in the corner of the room. After entering the room, Aridean’s eyes had taken note of the large portrait of a woman hanging just above the fireplace and something about the image kept her eyes glued to it even as she moved to her seat.
The woman in the portrait was blonde and young looking. Her posture and attire in the image portrayed a certain air of elegance that left Aridean thinking that she should be bowing courteously. Even so, the woman in the portrait had such a warm and inviting smile on her face which was entirely unlike any other of the portraits hung around the manor. She held a bouquet of white flowers in her lap and was seated in a regale chair similar to the one Vladimir occupied. Aridean could not help but analyze the painting for an extra moment; her intrigue had not gone unnoticed.
“Beautiful, isn’t she? That is Carla Impalivik, she was one of the Impaliviks that managed to concoct a cure for the Flare-heart Plague that ravaged the Empire over one hundred years ago,” said Vladimir as he too looked to the portrait over the fireplace. After a second longer of examining the portrait of Carla, Aridean turned her attention back to Vladimir. Her host deeply sighed before looking to Rana and Aridean with his usual kind, if tired, smile.
“Count Impalivik, you said there were things you wish to discuss with us?” Rana asked as the light tune of the harp continued to play. When no one was speaking, the only interruption to the gentle tune was the crackling of the fire. Vladimir nodded and brought his right leg up, resting his right foot on his left knee. A sense of purpose in his one visible eye, Vladimir appeared to be contemplating what to ask first.
“Before we begin, I’d like to ask Ms. Gray her story. I must admit, you have my interest piqued,” Vladimir replied while his eye shifted over to Aridean. Despite the man’s courteous and noble countenance, Aridean could feel her muscles tensing up somewhat.
What about me could have him so intrigued? Aridean thought to herself as she shuddered slightly. She took a deep breath before locking anxious eyes with Vladimir’s one confident eye.
“I-I’m just here for Rana and Vidor. They’ve been good to me since we met and I owe them a lot. To be honest, Maggie still scares me a bit at times, but we agreed to help one another,” answered Aridean with another deep breath. She noticed Rana looking toward her with a gentle smile on her face while she heard Vladimir let out a quiet laugh.
“Oh, do forgive me, but that was not quite what I was asking,” Vladimir said through his quiet amusement. The man recomposed himself, cleared his throat, and then spoke again, “I would like to hear about your life outside of minotaur society, as a minotaur child to humans.”
Aridean’s jaw dropped slightly and Rana now looked to their host with a curious expression on her face. Vladimir had an unreadable expression on his face that did little to tell Aridean what the man might be thinking. She could feel her own face starting to warm up a bit, though she was not certain if that were due to the hot fire or the anxiousness she was experiencing. As she took a deep breath, Rana rested a hand on her leg and leaned toward Vladimir.
“How did you know Aridean was daughter to a human?” Rana asked curiously. However, Vladimir did not answer. Still smiling, his eyes shifted from Rana to Aridean. The man stretched out his hand as though to give Aridean the floor in the discussion. Rana turned her attention to Aridean.
“V-Vidor mentioned how we buried my father in front of the cemetery earlier… He probably figured it out from there,” Aridean answered for Vladimir. Rana let out a sigh as she leaned back in her seat.
“Well, that did confirm things. But to be honest, there was something far more peculiar that told me there was more to you than meets the eye,” Vladimir responded as brought his hand back to its armrest on his chair.
“Her name, right? You quickly figured out Maggie this morning from her name after all. Hmm… perhaps we should consider giving you a cover name, Aridean,” guessed Rana. She crossed her arms over her chest as she began to think to herself about the suggestion she proposed. Vladimir let out a quiet chuckle.
“Oh, no, no. Her name, odd for a minotaur perhaps, was not quite what revealed to me that there was more to her,” Vladimir confessed. The man focused his eye on Aridean, “Ms. Gray, that family heirloom of yours, might I see it for a moment?”
Simon’s axe? That’s what told him I was daughter to a human? How did that tell him anything? Aridean thought to herself. Confusion painted her face and Rana’s expression seemed just as puzzled by Vladimir’s request. Both minotaurs looked into one another’s eyes wondering what Vladimir had in mind.
Aridean waited a moment for Rana to gently smile and nod before looking back toward their host in his opulent seat. Somewhat reluctantly, Aridean grabbed the large weapon from its holster strapped to her back. Firmly gripping it, she looked over the decorated battle axe before standing. Aridean hesitantly approached Vladimir, who stood as she neared and held out his hands. Delicately, Aridean handed the heavy weapon over to nobleman.
“My, it’s much heavier than it looks! To think I would be gifted the opportunity to so much as lay eyes upon it… but to have the fortune to hold it, ohh…” Vladimir seemed to speak to himself as he eagerly inspected the large blade. He continued to ramble quietly and to himself, Aridean could not make out what the man was saying despite standing right in front of him. Frankly, the crackle of the fireplace and even the light harp music nearly drowned out the low rantings of the nobleman entirely.
Aridean stood patiently, and anxiously, awaiting Vladimir to return her father’s axe to her. The man was entirely enthralled with the weapon he held, it seemed he no longer registered he even had company in the room. Aridean brought her nervously shaking hands up and began to worriedly rub them together as Vladimir mumbled quietly to himself. The man ran his fingers all along the silver-lined haft and across the design on the bladed edge of the deadly tool. He studied it the same way Vidor had the menu to the inn’s dining room the previous evening, albeit with slightly less drool. After what felt like half an hour due to her uneasiness, Vladimir glanced up to Aridean for a split second before realizing he was not alone. The man cleared his throat as he returned the battle axe to its owner, some relief washing over Aridean’s mind as she returned to her seat beside Rana.
“Do forgive me, I tend to get overly invested in my interests,” Vladimir spoke with a smile on his face as he sat back down in his grandiose chair.
“I’m sorry, Count Impalivik, but why are you so interested in Aridean’s axe? You were asking about it back at the inn as well,” Rana asked as Aridean was seated beside her again. Vladimir raised his one visible eyebrow, the expression on his face looked somewhat surprised by the question.
“Ms. Stonehoof, do you not know what it is Ms. Gray holds?” Vladimir responded. Seeing Rana raise her brows in confusion, Vladimir looked to Aridean, “I’ve only just considered some this: Ms. Gray, surely you know what that is which you carry upon your back, yes?”
“I-it’s just my father’s axe… I-I don’t know much else about it,” Aridean answered nervously. Vladimir seemed entirely taken aback by her response. He leaned back in his chair and quietly hummed to himself as he began thinking.
“Ms. Gray, might I ask what tribe you are from? I understand that you may have been daughter to humans, but do you know your blood family?” Vladimir asked suddenly. Both Aridean and Rana were a bit surprised by the question.
“Uh, I-I, uhm…” Aridean stuttered. She took a deep breath, “I-I’m I-Ithlaum, sir.”
Vladimir’s one visible eye went wide with astonishment after hearing her answer. For only a few seconds, only crackling of the fire and the melodious tune from the harp could be heard in the lounge room. After processing Aridean’s answer, Vladimir began to boisterously laugh. Rana and Aridean, once again, were left entirely confused by the bizarre reaction their host seemed to have.
“I must apologize. Oh, for a moment, I thought you said you were of the Ithlaum minotaur tribe,” Vladimir spoke as his apparent amusement died down. “But that is not a possibility. That tribe had been eradicated almost twenty years ago.”
“She really is though; she even has the mark on her back to prove it,” Rana immediately followed. Whatever had been entertaining Vladimir about their answers had entirely vanished, the man’s mouth slowly fell open and one eye went wide. Vladimir appeared to have been overcome by such disbelief that he had been rendered speechless. Aridean felt a little uneasy by the awkward otherwise stillness in the lounge between the three.
“Y-you… you bear the mark? You… really are Ithlaum? Yet you know not what it is that you carry?” Vladimir asked inquisitively while leaning forward in his chair. Aridean could see her own reflection in the man’s eye.
“U-uhm, I-I--,” Aridean uneasily began to reply.
Simon never told me much of anything about this axe… Wait a second! Mr. Watson said something about it and Simon’s sword! What did he say about it again? Something about it being imbued with holy magic, I think, Aridean began to remember with a quiet gasp. Upon remembering her discussion with Finn back at the farmhouse in Thellia, Aridean’s eye slowly widened somewhat. She looked back to Vladimir, the surprise still having yet to leave his face.
“I just remembered: this axe was enchanted with holy power at some point,” Aridean finally announced. Vladimir attempted to recollect himself before clearing his throat and sitting back in his chair. However, Aridean could still see a hint of his unmistakable interest in his expression.
“Yes! So, it truly is as I thought! I knew I could feel the faint warmth of holy magic lying dormant within as I held that blade!” Vladimir excitedly responded. He stopped for a moment as his rested his chin in his right hand. With eyes darting back and forth while looking downwards, it was clear Vladimir was deep in thought. When he finally brought his eyes back up to Aridean and Rana, he spoke with his normal and noble tone, “Ms. Gray, you carry the legendary war axe of your people. While the true name is known only to the Ithlaum, legends refer to it in English as Heaven’s Edge.”
“Heaven’s Edge…? Simon never mentioned any of that…” Aridean said quietly as she removed the axe from her holster again. She looked over the massive weapon again, seeing her reflection in the shining and well-maintained metals. Vladimir, however, raised his eyebrows again as Aridean finished speaking.
“Simon? As in Simon Gray? The Crusade Captain Gray?” Vladimir asked sounding particularly awestruck by the reveal.
“Aridean was raised by Simon in the village of Thellia. Being that you are a noble and that he was a high-ranking military official, did you two know one another?” Rana chimed in. Aridean glanced toward Rana before returning her attention to Vladimir. Their host had finally fully recomposed himself, his gentle but tired looking smile appearing on his face as he reclined in his expensive looking seat.
“I’m afraid I never met the man,” Vladimir answered whilst shaking his head from side to side. Aridean felt a chill run down her spine as he continued, “How interesting… your relation to Mr. Gray would certainly explain how you’ve come into possession of the Heaven’s Edge. But this news begs the question: Ms. Gray, your adopted father served the Empire that you oppose as a member of the rebellion. What has become of your relationship with the Crusade Captain?”
“I-I…” Aridean failed to respond with a voice quickly crackling up.
Her entire body felt cold just hearing the question posed to her. Her throat felt dry and tight and her legs weak with anxiety. Rana, having noticed Aridean’s distress, rested a hand on Aridean’s shoulder. Aridean could see the concern in Rana’s eyes as she simply shook her head. A tear formed in each of Aridean’s eyes; Rana leaned in and held her close in a gentle embrace. Vladimir watched the exchange with curiosity.
“I see… so you hurt one another. I had heard news that Thellia had been razed recently and that the Crusade Captain had fallen. Might I hear your story?” Vladimir proceeded to ask boldly with a serious look upon his face. Rana looked to the man with disgust as Aridean drew in a deep breath.
I killed him… I killed the man I call my father… why the hell do you want me to say that? Aridean internally began to panic. Despite Rana’s efforts, Aridean’s anxiety was quickly overwhelming her. With her breathing quickly growing erratic, she stood from the couch, “P-Please e-excuse me.”
Without another word, Aridean began to make her exit from the lounge. Her erratic breathing had elevated to the point that she was practically panting like a dog in the middle of a hot summer day. As the door was quickly shut behind her, Rana focused her worried-turned-aggravated eyes on Vladimir. Vladimir looked toward the fireplace as the warm flames continued to dance and pop.
“Count Impalivik,” Rana called out sternly, expecting some kind of explanation. The man let out a tired and depressed sigh.
“Forgive me. I… know that pain. The pain of hurting a loved one… I know it all too well,” Vladimir replied as his dispirited and sorrowful eyes shifted upward. Rana’s expression softened, if only slightly as she stood and exited the lounge. Vladimir depressingly sighed as the door shut behind his guest.
Cool air rushes past Aridean as she pushes open the door to her darkened guest room, the window had been left open and the curtains were riding the gentle breeze. A small, bright stream of moonlight illuminated the floor but not much else. Her eyes covered by her hands, she quickly enters and shuts the door closed behind her. Raspy breathing and stifled sobs, Aridean feels her entire body growing warm. Leaning with her back on the door, she slowly slides down to the ground.
If he knows I hurt Simon, why does he want me to relive it?! What would he gain having heard how I killed him?! I’m so, so sorry, Simon. I’d undo everything if I could… Then, maybe, you wouldn’t be--, Aridean could not even finish her own thought. Her throat grew tight as she continued to only depress herself further and further. Eventually, the flow of tears begins to end and the pitiful sobbing subsides. Taking deep breaths, Aridean slowly lowers her hands from her face.
She moves her hands to her necklace, fingers gently wrapping around the locket. She looks into the small copper and silver trinket with grief. Opening the small memento, she looks sorrowfully and thoughtfully into the portrait of her younger self as she continues to take deep, raspy breaths. Breathing eventually becomes normal again and she speaks aloud, “I was a horrible daughter… I’m sorry, Simon.”
“I told you he’d be heartbroken to hear words like those, you know,” a familiar voice calls out with a knowing tone. Aridean drops the locket held between her fingers and jolts upright in her place on the ground by the door. In a rush, she stands on her hooves and throws the light switch located beside the door.
Looking around, she takes in the guest room. It was lavishly furnished with various amenities of intricate and meticulous detail. A large, curtained bed that had been expertly made and sat, slightly elevated, by one wall. The number of pillows at the head of the bed was staggering; an entirely unnecessary number of pillows were available. On either side of the bed were short tables with vases of white flowers taking up the entire tablespace on top. There was a smooth, wooden wardrobe that had quartz handles and shining silver lining the doors that took space near the open window beyond the bed. The carpeted floor had a single, circular rug covering space in the center of the room. There was also a dresser that was similar in design to the wardrobe; it looked as though someone had just finished polishing the wood. Finally, there was a small table near the window that did not have a vase of flowers atop it, instead it was surrounded by two cushioned chairs.
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Aridean’s eyes went wide as her eyes landed upon it. Sitting comfortably in one of the chairs beside the window was the strange creature that keeps finding her. It looks in her direction as Aridean’s face fills with shock. With its bony chin resting on one of its clawed hands and both legs crossed, the monster was certainly making itself at home.
“W-who a-and what are you?” Aridean asked hesitantly. The beast chuckles quietly to itself while still maintaining locked eye contact with Aridean.
“It seems you’ve finally worked up some nerve. That’s good. Perhaps you won’t be fatigued after this meeting as well; you are acclimating quickly,” the monster spoke as it rose from its seat. It moved to stand in front of the open window, its boney-back turned to Aridean.
“A-acclimating? What?” a confused Aridean inquired. Her guest did not answer, merely gazed out the window to the moonlit yard below. With shaky legs, Aridean was unable to move. A moment of silence ensued, which was ended by the beast drawing in a deep breath and letting out a long-winded sigh.
“I thought I told you the count could not be trusted,” the entity reminded Aridean with an unusually stern sounding tone. The creature turned to face her; Aridean felt as though it was looking through her very being despite the empty eye sockets. A chill crept up her spine when it took a step closer.
“I-I-I--,” Aridean began but found she was unable to respond. The monster sighed again as it shook its head. It then returned its attention to Aridean, head cocked to one side and backed arched forward as it continued to approach.
“We haven’t much time but I am growing increasingly impatient. I already know you yet you do not know me,” the monster started explaining. Surprise in Aridean’s wide eyes, her ears perked up slightly as it continued, “I am a guardian spirit. As I told you, I am here to act as a guide throughout your life as you journey across the Empire. As for my name, Simon had always referred to me as Vici. You are welcome to do the same.”
Aridean was surprised to see the monstrous form bow courteously before her. The abominable form standing in front of her was not at all what she thought a guardian spirit would look like. Despite the polite gesture from the creature, Aridean’s muscles in her tense shoulders could not relax. If anything, she felt more on edge than before as it got closer.
“A-a guardian spirit? What are you talking about? Where did you come from and what do you care what happens to me?” Aridean asked as Vici looked her over from horn to hoof. Aridean could not tell at all what the creature was thinking as its lack of lips over its large fangs and empty eye sockets meant there was no expression to read in its white fur and bone face.
Vici finished his examination of the frightened minotaur standing by the door to the hallway. His lower jaw fell open slightly and a forked tongue ran its way over his bottom fangs. Aridean could feel her heart racing ever faster; she was immediately reminded of the time she was running from rabid wolves in the forest just by watching the beast. As the tongue retreated into Vici’s mouth, he took a breath. Before anything made its way out of his mouth, a crow could be heard cawing from somewhere outside the open window.
Vici turned and gazed out the window, brows over his empty eyes furrowed angrily. Snarling, Vici returned his attention to Aridean, “I must leave you for now. Keep your distance from that cursed human.”
“Cursed human? You mean Count Vladimir?” Aridean responded with confusion. Vici refused to clarify, the monstrous spirit turned its back to Aridean again as knocking was heard on the guest room door behind her. Aridean turned around as the doorknob was rotated and the door pushed open.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I thought I heard you talking to someone and thought maybe Vidor was in here,” Rana apologized as she entered the room. Entirely stumped by Rana’s mundane statement, Aridean spun around again. Vici had vanished yet again before Aridean could show him to someone else.
W-what? Why does it always leave when someone else is around? Aridean wondered to herself as her heartrate was coming down. Turning back to Rana, Aridean could see a worried look in her friend’s eyes.
“Aridean? Are you alright? I understand that Count Impalivik was crossing a line but you look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Rana asked as she took Aridean’s shaky hand in her own. After a few deep breaths, Aridean pushed a nervous smile onto her face. She knew she was not going to be able to fully convince Rana but she also knew that telling her about the ‘ghost’ would likely make her seem insane.
“I-I’m okay. I’m sorry for worrying you,” answered Aridean as she finally stopped shaking. Rana, still holding her concerned expression, let out a short and quiet sigh.
“You were thinking about Simon on the way into Cortonne and after our talk with the count… Do you want to talk about it?” Rana asked. Aridean’s eyes went wide again and her ears perked up. She had always known Rana to be caring and considerate of her feelings but found the question rather bold and unexpected. It did not help matters that Rana was using her older-sister tone that made the question sound more like she was demanding Aridean speak to her rather than offer a choice to talk. As Aridean processed a response, Rana continued, “Let’s sit down for a minute. Tell me what’s on your mind, okay?”
Of course, I never really had a choice… I already don’t like where this is going, Aridean thought to herself. She already felt her throat tightening as Rana ushered her over to the small table that Vici had been seated at when she arrived. The two female minotaurs sat in the chairs around the table. Aridean looked out the window and into the dark night. She heard the caw of a crow again somewhere in the darkness outside. Shaking her head, Aridean turned back to Rana whose eyes were firmly focused on her.
“Where do you want to start? I’ll listen to everything,” Rana told Aridean with her usual kind voice. Aridean looked downward to her hands in her lap; she took a deep breath.
“I… I…” Aridean began to speak. Her hands were brought up to cover her face as tears began to stream down her cheeks. Through raspy breaths, “I killed the man I call my father! His last words to me… he called me a monster, just like everyone else!”
“Aridean, those villagers you saved told you what your father really thought of you. He loved you,” Rana replied softly. Aridean shook her head as she gasped for air through her quiet sobbing.
“How the hell could they know what Simon really thought of me?! Why the hell would they care if I’m happy or not?! They had always hated me, what the hell would have changed their minds?!” Aridean sorrowfully retorted. She took another deep breath, “I lived with Simon for almost seventeen years and even I could never tell what he was truly thinking!”
“Do you really need that to know you two were happy together?” Rana asked, her voice was filled with patience and understanding. Aridean lifted her face from her hands.
“What? I-I may have been happy,” responded Aridean before planting her face back into her wet palms. “But how could Simon have been happy living with a monster like me?”
“Aridean, don’t talk--,” Rana began.
“Whenever I think about him now, all I can think is that you and Vidor should never have saved my life back in the for--,” Aridean continued to weep. However, she was cut off by a loud popping sound and sharp pain in her left cheek. Stunned, Aridean’s hands fell from her face and she cautiously looked up to see Rana standing over her. Rana had a disappointed expression on her face and clenched fists at her sides. Frightened and still taking in shaky breaths, Aridean realized that Rana had just slapped her.
“Don’t you ever even think to say something like that again, do you hear me?!” a forceful Rana snapped with authority and sternness in her tone. Her eyes glared at Aridean with powerful disappointment. Aridean could feel her entire body shaking again; her thumping heartbeat seemed to move her entire being. Nervously swallowing, Aridean just looked up to the minotaur in front of her with fearful eyes.
“R-Ra--,” stuttered Aridean. Rana leaned in and gently wrapped her arms around Aridean’s neck. Aridean, both frightened and now confused by Rana’s actions, sat in her chair as Rana now held her in a kind and warm hug. Her eyes were wide and face wet with the tears she had shed; her hands remain in her lap.
“I don’t ever want to hear you say something like that again. Don’t ever tell me we were wrong to rescue you that day,” Rana spoke softly. The older minotaur heaved a sorrowful sigh, “It breaks my heart to see you like this.”
W-what? W-why? Why does she act like she cares? pondered Aridean as she listened to Rana.
A cold wind howled its way into the room from the open window. Curtains were sent upward where they danced as the wind blew. Aridean’s wet face felt almost frozen as the breeze assaulted her tears. Yet, through it all, Rana’s arms still wrapped around her neck in a warm and comfortable grip. The howling winds settled down and the two minotaurs’ manes that were whipped up had fallen back down onto their heads and backs.
“R-Rana… w-why do you act like you care?” Aridean asked anxiously. She could feel the snug embrace Rana had on her tighten slightly. Rana took a deep breath.
“Aridean… it hurts to hear you ask me that. I remember so clearly you asked that when we first met… at the time, we were strangers to one another. But now?” Rana began to answer. Aridean felt the older minotaur loosen her grip, Rana shifted and brought her face to Aridean’s. Her eyes were filled with determination and conviction, “Now, two years later, we’re something more, aren’t we?”
“We… are?” Aridean pondered aloud, confused. Her entire body felt warm and she was having a hard time keeping her hands still in her lap. A gentle smile crept across Rana’s black furred face.
“I meant what I said at dinner tonight: I’m going to protect everyone that I love, that includes you,” Rana continued as she wrapped her arms around Aridean again. “Do you remember what I said back in Byrden? I said I think of you like a little sister. But… I didn’t mean that. I don’t just think of you as a sister; you are my little sister.”
Aridean held her breath as her vision blurred through the mass of tears that welled up in her eyes. Slowly, nervously and uncertain, her hands rose from her lap. Practically panting, Aridean’s hands reached over Rana’s back. Aridean began to quietly sob as she hugged Rana back. She could not see it, but Rana’s smile had grown wider and her expression was so calm and looked so kind.
“I know how hard it is to have lost your father; to feel so lost, scared, and lonely in the world. But I promise I won’t let you be alone. If you ever need me, just ask,” Rana spoke as Aridean’s quiet sobbing slowly faded. Aridean’s grip on Rana tightened as she took in a deep breath and nodded her head. When Aridean had finally calmed down, the two released one another and Rana returned to her seat. Several minutes of silence passed in the room, just the wind blowing outside could be heard.
“Are you okay now? It’s getting late. If you need me to, I’ll stay,” Rana offered gently. Aridean wiped her wet face clear before turning to Rana. She managed to muster an anxious, but sincere smile.
“I-I think I’m okay now… but if I--,” Aridean started to reply.
“If you need me, I’ll always be there for you,” Rana finished with a kind smile of her own. Rana took a deep breath as she rose from her seat, “I’ll be just down the hall. Goodnight, Aridean.”
Aridean continued to sit in silence as Rana moved toward the door. She watched as Rana grabbed the doorknob, pulled the door open, and gently pulled it closed again. With a deep breath, Aridean’s lips began to move, “Goodnight, Rana.”
Even though no one had heard her, Aridean could feel her face warming with embarrassment. Alone in her guest room again, Aridean let out a tired sigh as she stood from her seat. She moved toward the open window. Dim moonlight bathed the extravagant yard outside but there did not seem to be anything noteworthy at the time. Aridean gently closed the window before removing the harness carrying her axe. She looked thoughtfully over the weapon again, as she did every time she held it, before shaking her head and setting the massive blade to the side.
Just as she moved to turn the light switch off before climbing into bed, a knocking was heard at her door. Aridean was a bit surprised to find out she had another guest at her door. From the other side of the door, she could hear Vidor, “Aridean? You still awake? I, uh, kinda heard some of what you and Rana were talking about.”
Aridean moved her hand from the light switch to the doorknob. She turned the knob and pulled the door open to see Vidor standing in the hallway. It looked like he was also getting ready for bed as he was only dressed in a white shirt and some loose-fitting pants.
“Vidor, I-I’m sorry, did we wake you up?” Aridean asked. Vidor shook his head as Aridean motioned for him to enter the room. He quietly closed the door behind him as he joined Aridean in the bedroom.
“Nah, you two didn’t wake me. But… I kinda wanted to talk to you,” Vidor replied. He smiled to Aridean; it was not the same goofy smile he always had on his face, this one seemed more thoughtful, more genuine. “I don’t know what is always going through your mind, Aridean. But I want you to be happy; you’re my best friend, remember?”
“Vidor…” Aridean called softly. Her fingers reached up to the necklace around her neck. The cool ivory disc sat on top of one of her fingers as she held the attached locket between the finger and her thumb. Her eyes widened slightly as Vidor’s smile quickly faded. He let out a depressed sigh.
“It’s my fault you’re always thinking like that… If only I had just listened to you about sending your dad a letter. Then everything that happened back in Thellia… I-I’m so sorry,” a gloomy Vidor apologized. Aridean looked her friend in his upset eyes for a second before shaking her head. Her hands quickly moved to grasp Vidor’s.
“You couldn’t have known… I-I’ll never know the truth about whether Simon really cared, but… I like to think he’d be happy to know I have you now,” Aridean spoke. Vidor’s expression began to slowly fill with a hint of relief. Aridean gave a gentle smile, “Thinking about him… I do feel lonely. But that’s why I’m so grateful to have you and Rana, too. You two have always made sure I wasn’t left alone.”
Aridean leaned in close to Vidor. Each minotaur could feel the warm breath of the other being exhaled onto their faces. Her face growing warm and nerves tingling with embarrassment, Aridean kissed Vidor. Vidor’s eyes went wide, “Wow…”
“Eheheh… Vidor… I’m still… thinking about Simon. Will you… maybe, stay the night in here with me?” Aridean nervously asked after a quiet giggle. Vidor’s jaw dropped but near instantly reformed into one of his goofy grins after he processed the question. He nodded to confirm his decision. With locked eyes and hands gently held together, the couple began to move toward the large bed.
On one side of the bed, Aridean was removing most of the overly abundant pillows. Vidor, on the other side, pulled the sheets back. Before either could climb on top of the large mattress, the duo heard a knocking on the guest room door. Both minotaurs turned to the door; Aridean was left wondering who it could be now.
“A-Ari… are you still awake?” came Magdalene’s, oddly frightened sounding, voice from out in the hallway. Vidor let out a frustrated grunt as Aridean moved toward the door. Pulling the door open again revealed the young girl standing in the darkened hallway wearing her sleepwear. For whatever reason, Magdalene was looking down the hallway toward her own guest room with concern in her visibly distressed face.
“Maggie? Is everything alright? What are you still doing up?” Aridean asked softly. Magdalene shook her head, as if waking herself up, before looking up to the minotaur that towered over her. She managed to muster the usual forceful look in her eyes as she took a breath.
“I-I… I was going to ask…” Magdalene began to speak but stopped for some reason. During her pause, the girl looked beyond Aridean and noticed Vidor standing by the bed in the room. Her eyes widened slightly, “Hey, what’s dummy doing here?”
“She invited me in. What do you want already?” Vidor retorted impatiently. He raised an eyebrow as he more closely examined Magdalene, “And what exactly are you wearing? That’s what you sleep in?”
Magdalene looked over the shirt she wore before crossing her arms over her chest. A light tinge of red colored her cheeks. With furrowed brows, she answered, “What you don’t like it? Ari picked it out for me. You make fun it and you’re making fun of her.”
Vidor’s eyes widened with astonishment. He began to scratch the back of his head, “Oh… it, uh, it isn’t that bad.”
I really don’t have an opinion one way or the other on the shirt she’s wearing… I only picked it because of the little flower design on it, Aridean thought to herself. She deeply sighed before returning her attention to Magdalene. A bit nervous, she spoke, “Maggie, is everything okay? You wanted to ask something?”
Magdalene let out an anxious groan. Both Aridean and Vidor were shocked to see Magdalene’s cheeks now flushed red. The young girl had balled up her hands into tightly clenched fists at her sides. She looked as though something had angered her as the fists at her sides began to shake slightly back and forth in a rather vigorous manner. She forcefully expelled the air in her lungs in an impatient sigh.
“Can I stay the night with you, Ari?” Magdalene asked suddenly and bluntly. Although Aridean was entirely dumbfounded by the question, she could see it in Magdalene’s expression that she was serious.
“What? Why? What’s wrong with your room?” responded Vidor, his tone did not mask his annoyance in any way. Magdalene, face still bright red, looked back down the hallway again.
“S-shut up, dummy… I-I heard some strange noises coming from the room beside mine,” Magdalene answered, both embarrassed and anxious. Aridean leaned out into the hallway and looked toward the room that sat beside Magdalene’s guest room. Without someone’s voice, the stillness in the dark hallway was only occasionally disrupted by the caw of a crow from somewhere outside the manor walls. Aridean turned back to Magdalene, her apparent concerns still prevalent on her slightly freckled face.
“I don’t mind Maggie, but what kind of noises were you hearing? Do you want Vidor and me to go check it out?” Aridean offered with as kind a tone as she could manage. Magdalene seemed to sigh her relief as she moved past Aridean and entered the guest room. Vidor, still standing by the bed, rolled his eyes and grunted.
“Thanks Ari. But I don’t know what it was… it almost sounded like a pack of wild animals eating something in the next room,” Magdalene answered as she grabbed one of the numerous pillows that Aridean had set aside from the bed. The young girl nervously swallowed, “A-and you don’t have to go check it out… I actually did myself. The room was empty b-but the noise didn’t stop.”
An empty room but she still heard sounds? I wonder what that may have been about… I’m overthinking things, aren’t I? No way that monster was serious about Vladimir being cursed or anything, Aridean thought to herself whilst looking down the dark hallway once more. She could hear a crow cawing from somewhere close outside the manor; perhaps just on the roof over the windows in the hallway. She shook her head back and forth in disbelief.
Vidor’s eyes slightly widened and his ears perked up a bit. As Aridean closed the door to the room, she heard Vidor begin to chuckle. Both Magdalene and Aridean looked to Vidor as his laughter quieted down, “Ahahaha! You’re just scared of sleeping in a room by yourself, aren’t you? You act tough, but you’re such a scaredy cat!”
“What?! No! Ugh! Of course, you wouldn’t believe me! Rgh! I knew asking this was a bad idea when I saw you in here…” Magdalene furiously returned as she made herself comfortable in one of the chairs in the room.
Aridean sighed as she flipped the light switch. The darkened room was only lit by the dim moonlight pouring in from the window. She carefully navigated her way back toward the bed. Both her and Vidor could be heard moving the sheets and Magdalene turned over in the chair she had claimed. After a moment of quiet, Vidor could be heard muffling another laugh.
“This building’s pretty old according to that Count Vlad guy. I’ll bet it was a bunch of rats,” snickered the minotaur.
“I-I hate you, dummy,” Magdalene’s voice nervously replied. Vidor’s muffled laughter escalated somewhat in volume for a period while Aridean just sighed again. As she turned over in the bed, back to Vidor, she closed her eyes with a gentle smile on her face.