(A deadly piece of chess.)
3rd person POV
Crestale castle
*Hwooo!*
The sound of the wind blew violently outside of the castle. The storm is raging, many leaves and dust are flying around.
*Crack!*
"You bunch of useless beings!"
A man throws a glass cup at one of the men who's kneeling before him.
"How dare you come back without the Floor relic!"
*Crash!*
He then kicks a stool nearby furiously. Then, he beckoned the man who was hit by the glass of wine to come.
The man quickly obeyed and stood up, then walk to the man with the blazing red cape that was swaying by the mighty gale.
*Shhwing!*
The man with cape pulled out his sharp long-sword from his waist, then swing it at the man standing before him and severed his head.
"Clean this mess and feed the remain to the sharks!"
*Clank!*
He throws his sword to the corpse and walks away, leaving the rest to clean the bloody mess he made.
The man was old.
He's lived through countless war and battle, and the scar on his left eyes was one of the proof. His greyish hair is the sign of his old age, yet it remains lustrous.
His face fills with anger and disappointment. The treasure was stolen under his nose and not able to retrieve it yet.
He walks along the dark hallway of the castle. He's on the third level above the ground.
He stopped as he reached the end of the hallway, the giant metal door was the only thing in his
way.
He pressed his left hand on the metal door, then the red light shined around its edges, and shortly the door opened itself inward.
Behind the door was a spiral staircase that leads downward. He stepped inside, and take a stair down which each step echos through the emptiness.
He stopped at the particular floor and greeted with a similar door he met.
Once again, he presses his left hand on the surface, and the door opened itself outward.
He finds himself in the large hallway that decorated exquisitely. He walks along the red carpet and passes many doors along his left side.
Then, he takes his turn around the corner, and there he takes the first door on his left and enters the room behind.
*Cleak!*
*Bow bow...*
The men in the room feel his presence and form a parallelled line and bow as he walks past them.
"Greetings, your majesty."
One of the men who stand on the left side of the dark brown table located at the very back of the room greeted him while doing a bow.
The man who walks around the table and takes his seat, and then he takes off his cape and hands it to the one on his left side.
"Your majesty, the prince is here, waiting for you at the door."
"Let him in."
The man permits in an authoritative tone.
*Cleak!*
The door opened, and the young man in the red blazer comes.
He bows briefly.
"Greet your majesty. I've come as ordered."
The young prince faces the older man before him.
He's not intimidated by his aura.
"I expected you to come and beg me my mercy."
The young prince stood still while he smiles slightly at the man before him.
"no, father. I don't think that you will ever hear that from me."
The prince walks around the room while keeping his eyes on his father.
His father displeased with his son's answer. He gestures the man on his left, and then he handed him the jet black dagger then throws at his son.
*Wizz!*
The dagger flew so fast the candlelight flickered. The prince grabs it by its grip while it's in mid-flight.
"Chuckle~ You still alway used the same trick, father."
He then throws the dagger back at his father, who did as he did before.
"This son... After I been away from my home for too long, you let the enemies in my home."
"And what is this? How is the Floor relic is stolen?"
He then leans forward slightly, displays his smirking face.
"I don't raise you to be incompetent!"
Ralies was pacing back and forth stopped. He's a chuckle and looks at his father with the same smirk.
"Do you think that it's the result of my incompetence?"
Raise slowly walk to the right of his father, and walk pass until he's at the wall behind.
He looks at his father while his back still facing him.
"Everything from the beginning was staged by me... I've made good use of our nation's tradition."
"The blessed one has appeared. So what if the Relic is missing when we have a better weapon?"
His father raised his eyes brow. He looks at his advisor on his left and gives him a signal.
"Scram!"
His advisor ordered the guards present in the room to move out. Later, the room was occupied by the three.
"Continue."
He ordered his son. His son's smirk grew wider as he turns back and faces his father.
"The reason I let those filthy Forleanians slip into our great nation. It's because we can exploit their plan against them!"
The king was interested as he kept silent as he let Ralies explain.
"Also, the recent attack of Khan makes a window for us to execute my plan secretly!"
"I already prepared everything! That Estatec wouldn't expect this plan."
"This is the only first-half my grand plan, as the second half is easy."
"The blessed individual, she held power greater than a tier-eight spirit stone."
Ralies smirked as he thinks of that particular person.
"Capturing her alive is needed for us, to able to restore the great Monarch stead once again!"
"After all, she's just a maid who knows nothing about fighting and magic. She's an easy target!"
"Only if it's not that filthy Estatec meddles in my plan. It would be the end by now!"
"But don't worry father. I already make up for that miscalculation."
His thought of his perfect come into play make him cannot resist the urge to laugh.
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"Haha! Wouldn't you think that was way better than retrieving the Relic?"
His father pleased by his son's plan as he laughs loudly.
"Hahahaha! This ambitious plan of your better work out! Otherwise, expect no mercy from me!"
Ralies smugly look at his father.
"Well! Well! If you could lend me help, then It'll be easier."
His father stood from his chair and then slammed the dagger on the table.
"Haha! The fact that you dared to look down on me, I'll remember it! If you failed, only the Hell is willing to welcome you!"
He then signals his advisor, and he then hands him a golden stone with seven-edges and tosses to his son.
"Use it to your heart's content."
With that said, he left the room, along with his advisor.
"Hahahaha! The power of spirit is once again, in my hand!"
He looks at the flickering golden stone in his hand. Its power was so numerous that Ralise could feel its pulse in his hand. With every beat, the world around him seems to tremble.
***
Somewhere in Roland.
"Come in! Come in!"
Rose invited her friend along with her daughter into her mansion.
"Chuckles~ Cordy? Pleased don't be so polite~ It feels not like you at all!"
Crissy speaks as she jokingly punches Claudia's arm. Mei was following them behind, watching they tease each other as if they were a child.
The three of them were lead into the magnificent garden in the back of the mansion. The garden is home to many different floras in many different colors.
"Here, take a seat!"
Claudia beckons the pair of mother and daughter to take their seats.
Both of them gratefully sit.
Shortly a servant comes out of the building with a cup and a porcelain teapot on the stain-less tray.
She gracefully set the cup and pour the tea for them.
"Thank~!"
Crissy thank the girl, and then gently takes the cup and blew the steam away before drink.
"How is it?"
Claudia asks her friend as she takes a sip from her cup.
"W-What is it~? I never drink this before~!"
She surprised. While Mei silently sips the cup, Claudia looks at her then smiles.
"She's the one who introduced this to me. And later, she gives the recipe of this tea to me to pass it to the cook."
Crissy was confused as she looks at her daughter.
"Y-Yes... I give them the recipe..."
She speaks demurely while slowly bringing the cup close to her face.
"Oh, Chukle~! Then, what do you invite us here for~?"
Crissy takes another sip while waiting for Claudia's answer.
"I never know that Mei is your daughter. No wonder she's like you."
Crissy smiled. She takes a glance at her daughter as she thinks about the day earlier.
"Yes, She takes after me a lot. The apple never falls far from the tree~."
Claudia sighed, then she places the cup down on the table and speaks.
"Mei, you're about to depart to Suran, right?"
Mei flinched and almost coughed the tea. She places the cup on the table and wipes her rosy lip before reply.
"Y-Yes... This weekend to be precise..."
Crissy sips another tea, and then Claudia continues.
"About Suran... There is something I must remind you beforehand."
Claudia gesture the maid. The maid bowed, and she disappeared into the building, and then come out again with the small package.
She handed the package to Claudia.
"You know what is this?"
Mei doesn't have any idea what's inside the package.
"The master of the Estatec household is fond of you, so he ordered me to deliver this to you."
That moment, Mei cursed the certain blond in her mind.
"Here, he said that only you have the right to look at the content."
Claudia passes the package to Mei.
"Mei-Chan~, I wonder what did you do to make your master like you to this extent~?"
Crissy asks her daughter out of curiosity. Mei is sweating hard, trying to find the reason.
"Chuckle~! If you not willing, then I won't force you~."
Mei sighed internally.
"Cordy~! I'm hungry~! Do you mind if I use your kitchen~?"
Crissy whine as her stomach growled.
"Crissy, no need to bother yourself. I can have the maid here prepare it for you."
Claudia beckons the servant girl but, Crissy pauses her.
"Wait, Claudia, as a fellow maid. Cooking is part of my life, please, let me do it~!"
Crissy begs her friend with teary eyes that seem to be bigger than they were before.
Rose sighed.
"Alright, If you insist..."
"Yay~!"
That moment, Mei thinks.
"My mother is formidable."
Crissy looks at Mei and grasps her hands in hers.
"Mei-Chan~! Come and help me in the kitchen, will you?"
She feels slightly embarrassed. She still not used to close affectionate feelings.
"Nod nod* Y-Yes..."
A maid then led them to the kitchen and left the two alone.
"Woah~! Cordy has such a spacious kitchen!"
Crissy, she is excited and feels the need to take a tour around the kitchen.
Mei can't help but sigh. Deep within, she feels happy.
She then wanders around the kitchen.
"Mei-Chan~! I'll make the main dishes. Can you make the dessert and an appetizer for me~?"
Her mother called for her, asking for her help from the other side.
The kitchen is big. There are four stoves, two on each side. The pantry located in the middle of the room, and there is also a fridge next to the sink located on the southern side of the kitchen.
"Okay!"
She answered her mother. Cooking with others is not new to her, but this is the first time she's cooking with her mother.
"Alright... Let's get start~!"
***
Mei starts to look for the ingredients for making appetizers and desserts.
She opens the fridge and sees that there is are raw chicken wings. She takes them and goes to
the pantry next.
"Hmmm... There should be a fish oil here..."
"Oh! Found it!"
She takes one bottle of fish and olive oil then she heads back to the stove.
"For dessert... I'll make the Soaked Sweet Cronet then."
As she thought of the golden sweet making her drooling.
She has been addicted to it since she first tasted it.
She proceeds to the pantry, and luckily, there is a pile of fresh Cronets there.
"Oh! This kitchen has everything I needed~! I can say goodbye to my old garden~!"
Her mother happily takes the ingredient.
Mei looks around, and then she found her last ingredient.
"Good... There is a salted butter here. It's saved me some mana on making it."
She walks back to the stove, where she placed her ingredients there.
She starts with the marinate. She takes off the lit of the box, then she pours the fish oil into the box, filling it up slightly.
She used her hand to mixed the chicken wings and later, wash her hand and let it marinate.
*Chop! Chop! Chop!*
She looks at her mother and sees that her mother is slicing an onion skillfully into fine dice.
She feels a bit of competition.
She gets the pot and filled it with water, then place it on the stove and lit the fire.
While waiting for it boils, she looks for the decoration. But then, she has an Idea come up. She walks to her mother.
"Mother! Can I have some of your onion?"
Her mother stops her action and looks at her daughter, warmly.
"Sure, Here you go~!"
She playfully tosses the onion to her daughter.
"Thanks! Mother!"
Mei, hastily moves back to her stove as the water is slowly starting to boil.
"Oh, Just in time!"
She washes the Cronets and boils them in hot water.
After a moment, she chops the onion into many rings as she dips the rings into the flour.
Then she takes the pan and pours the olive oil slightly. As the pan starts to heat up, she then dries the chicken wings with the cooking towel and places them in the hot pan.
*Sizzle!*
The smell of the oil fish rose from the hot pan.
"Nice smell!"
Her mother speaks as she sautés the onion.
The fragrance of the chicken wings and the onion collided, making the most aromatic smell ever.
After a few minutes, Mei starts to flip the chicken wings and cooks the other side while her mother adds other vegetables and sauces into her pan and continues sautés.
Both of them deeply pay attention to their cooking.
After a moment, Crissy takes the fish and crab meat she prepared and add them into the hot pan.
*Sizzle!*
The fish and crab meat were easy to cook and also hard at the same time.
It needs to be cook just right.
Crissy, she adds a cup of rice into the pan and starts to fry them, then an egg followed shortly.
On Mei's side, she's done with the wings and now moves on to the Cronets.
She takes all the Cronets out of the boiling hot water as she places a stainless bowl with salted butter in it above the boiling pot.
The butter has a low melting point so It starts to melt as soon as the bowl is heating up by the hot steam below.
It takes only twenty seconds until the butter completely melted.
Mei takes the towel land to warp her hand then she takes the hot bowl of butter.
She set the bowl on the counter and she then takes Cronets and extracts its seeds into three glass cups.
She then pours the butter into the glass cup and followed by the hot water. She then mixed the three ingredients and stop until all the water was absorbed.
Back to Crissy, she finished her cooking, and she pours all the fried rice into one big plate and she decorated it with three slices of cafcas.
"Hehe~! Mine is done! What about your~?"
She called out to Mei as she lifts the big plate from the table carefully.
"Yes! I'm also done!"
Mei panicky set the wings and sweets on the stainless tray.
"Umph!"
She lifts the tray, and both of them slowly walk back to Claudia that was waiting outside.
"Oh, It looks delicious!"
Claudia claps her hand when she saw both of them come out from the kitchen.
"Here~!"
Crissy places the big plates on the table as she then gestures the servant girl to come.
"Please, get three plates for us~!"
She whispers and the girl bow as she walks into the kitchen.
Mei places the tray down on the table as she takes her seat.
"What is this? It's not a salted wing for sure."
Claudia asks Mei about the wings as she makes a guess.
"It's fish oil fried."
Mei answered. Claudia was surprised. She never thought that she could use fish oil as a substitution to salt.
After a while, the servant comes with three plates and three pairs of fork and spoon. She set the table and go back and stand behind Claudia.
"Stomach growl* Uhg~! Let's dig in~!"
Crissy takes both of the utensils and starts to eat.
"Sure..."
Claudia chuckled at her friend's behavior, then she gracefully grabs the utensils and only takes a small bite at a time.
Mei silently starts her lunch...
***
"Yeah~! I'll come and visit you sometime later, Cordy!"
Crissy waves at Claudia before she entered the carriage prepared by Claudia.
"Mei, please do not forget the gift."
Claudia reminds Mei for the last time before she sends her off.
Both of them are in the carriage. After a chat and eating, both of them feeling dizzy and soon, fallen at sleep.
It's a warming sight. Mei was sleeping in her mother's lap. Her form was peaceful but, within her mind, there is a fight going on...
(Stupid goddess! You can't even win me a single time!)
'Who do you think you are, Turtle~? I let win so you would appreciate the beauty of playing
chess~!'
(Admit it that you are bad at it!)
'Sigh~! Another game~!'
(Hehe! I like your resolve! let's see how many moves I take before annihilate you!)
Their form could not be seen. Only their voices could be heard only to Mei.
***
Soon they both reached their home. Crissy was waking up halfway ago.
She looks at Mei and smiles. The carriage stopped at their house and the driver comes and opens the door for them.
Crisser sees the driver about to speak but she put her finger on her mouth, indicating him to not speak.
Crissy, she then carries Mei and walks into the house.
*Click!*
She managed to open the door somehow and later proceed to Mei's room and open the door to go inside. She approaches Mei's bed and she gently places her down before she left her room.
"Good night~!"
She then closes the door silently.
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