The ride for the rest of the trip was silent. While Valentine had hopped he could get more information about the attackers or the situation, he felt it would be inappropriate to ask so soon after the incident. While no had died, this attack has shook many of the students as well as professor Roxanne. Valentine was already used to the violence of the strange new world, but in this life the others had not adapted yet. The attack by the bandits was like the first battle with goblins, a wake up call that they were no longer safe. However this was different from the goblin attack, and that difference was what made even Valentine uneasy. The goblin attack was monsters, and while it was a shock to be in such danger, most of the students had at least seen a fight between monsters and humans, for the older students they may have even killed some during the early years of the monster invasion.
But humans were different, even to Valentine who survived basically by himself most of his life after the monster invasion. Humanity had united almost completely, no longer troubled by the differences they saw between themselves after such a big change. It was a requirement of survival for people to understand each other and cooperate, places with tension that could not be resolved became barren as the monsters ripped through lack lackluster defenses. Valentine and the rest of the students with him had been lucky enough to live in a country that was united in its survival. So, the sight killing another person for survival was something that could never be unseen.
It seemed to Valentine that this unease about killing another was not only shared by the humans of the group, as he could see the look on Zylphia’s face. Her eyes wandered through the landscape outside the window, each passing tree or sight only catching her eye for a moment before rushing out of view. Zylphia’s composure was solid, not showing a tear or solum look, however Valentine could recognize that was simply the mask she showed to the world. Her reasoning was as clear to Valentine as the feelings themselves, if she showed guilt or unease as a leader, how would those she lead react.
Compared to his sister, Quinzel was much more hard to read. After the attack he told the group that he regrets the events turning out as they did. Empty platitudes about how it was unfortunate that there could be no reasoning with the attackers. While it seemed to calm down the rest of the human group, Valentine could see past the show put on for appearances. While it was true the attackers had clear intentions of harm after the fight started, Valentine couldn’t trust he fact that Quinzel had started the fight when it was still unclear. What Valentine was more concerned about however was the look that Quinzel let slip at the end of the fight. The worry he had in his eyes was concerning as to Valentine, there was no reason why he should worry. Valentine could only infer that there was some greater threat that Quinzel was not letting others know about.
However Valentine had no more time to think about such things a the moment, as the group had finally arrived at the destination they had set out for. Peering out the window Valentine was met with a sight he could not help but get excited for. In the past several months to him he had not seen any signs of civilization. However in front of him was something he could recognizably call a city. The wide open streets let enough room for both carriages and people alike to walk side by side, and lining the streets were row after row of buildings both big and small. When seeing the run down shabby village from before Valentine worried that he might not get to see such a sight, but the city in front of him vanquished that fear.
The carriage rode smoothly through the city streets, making its way down several roads until it finally arriving a large gate with several guards standing outside. The guards spoke to the driver for a moment before opening the gate and allowing the continuance of the convoy. Past the gate was a large well-maintained lawn that could fit several buildings of the same size as the library transported in the crossover. Even further past was what Valentine could only assume was the mansion Quinzel and Zylphia came from, though mansion was putting it lightly. Not only was the building large, it was well defended, closer to a castle than a mansion. The building was made up of 3 wings Valentine could see, with a central circular building connecting the wings. 2 wings were directly opposite each other, with the same design and size making them mirror opposites each other. The last wing jutted towards the road leading from the gate, it was smaller, half the height of the other wings and approximately 2/3 the width. In front of the last wing was a courtyard and road that allowed for the caravan to park.
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After the carriage stopped in front of the mansion Quinzel was the first to exit, walking out the door that was opened by the driver. Valentine looked outside the door of the carriage to see a small group formed at the front entrance of the mansion, though he was not sure of the nature of the group. The second to exit was Zylphia, stepping out soon after Quinzel, though looking back at Valentine with a slight hesitance. After Zylphia exited the carriage Valentine gestured for Professor Roxanne to be the next to exit, making himself be the last inside.
Stepping out of the carriage, Valentine found that the mansion was as grand up close as it had looked from inside the carriage. Its eloquent and grandiose design made it clear that it was the home of an affluent person. At the entrance of the mansion stood the small group Valentine had seen before, though now he could make out who was part of the group. At the front was a man who looked very similar to Quinzel and Zylphia, though along with the golden hair and pointy ears was a similarly gold beard. Though the kind eyes shared by the siblings were not present on the older man, his were closer to that of disappointed, though not mean. Along with the man in the front was another younger man, similar in age to Quinzel, striking an even greater resemblance to Quinzel than Zylphia, though he similarly did not have the kind eyes, his filled with arrogance and disdain. The final members of the group Valentine could guess were related to Quinzel and Zylphia were what he could assume were their mother and little sister. The older lady had the same kind eyes that Quinzel and Zylphia seemingly inherited from her, though not the golden hair of the rest of the family, hers being a deep brown. The one Valentine assumed was the little sister looked no older than 15, she shared the same brown hair and eyes of her mother. Behind the small group stood another group of what Valentine could only assume was the servants of the household.
“Quinzel, Zylphia, it’s good to see you are safe, I assume these are the people you spoke of?” The first to speak was the older bearded man Valentine assumed was the father.
“Thank you father, yes, these are the victims of a crossover I spoke of before.” Quinzel answered his father respectfully.
“I see, first the servants will show them their rooms. I want you to bring the one who speaks for them with you to my office when they are unpacked” After speaking briefly Quinzel’s father turned and left, followed behind by the young man.
After the 2 family members left the servants began to unload the carriages of both the students and their belongings, guiding the students to their respective rooms. Valentine began to make his way to the rest of the students, assuming that Professor Roxanne would be the one taken to Quinzel’s father. However, before he could leave he was stopped by Quinzel.
“I want both you and Ms. Roxanne to join me in my father’s office” Quinzel spoke, then turned towards the 2 women who had been left behind by Quinzel’s father. “These two are my mother and younger sister.” Quinzel gestured at the two in front of him.
“Nice to meet you, I’ve heard that you are the one who helped my son save the kidnapping victims, thank you. I am Quinzel’s mother, Duchess Rose Von Brecket.” Rose spoke, extending her hand for a Valentine to shake.
“Valentine, it is good to meet you, Duchess Brecket.” Valentine returned the handshake while speaking. “This is my teacher” Valentine gestured toward Professor Roxanne.
“I am Roxanne Alacosta, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Professor Roxanne greeted the Duchess with a smile, extending his hand to shake.
“Roxanne Alacosta, you must be the beautiful woman my son described when he told us about your situation.” Duchess Brecket spoke, chuckling slightly. Her comment made Professor Roxanne blush slightly, as well as making Quinzel turn away from embarrassment, both making Duchess Rose’s laughter slightly louder. “As you’ve both met my son Quinzel and daughter Zylphia, I would like to introduce my second daughter.” Duchess spoke up as her laughter quieted down, gesturing towards the young girl standing next to her.
“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, I am Kierston Von Brecket.” The girl spoke, her smile and speech being mature and eloquent made Valentine wonder if she was really the daughter of the woman who had sold out her son’s secrets for a laugh.
“Duchess Rose, if I may be so rude as to interrupt, the rooms have been prepared and the guests moved in.” Before the conversation could continue further a servant spoke to Duchess Rose.
“Oh, it seems that the conversation will have to continue another time.” Duchess Rose sighed before turning to the servant waiting for her order, “Please show Ms. Roxanne and Mr. Valentine to their rooms.”
“Right away Madam, please follow me.” The servant looked towards Duchess Rose and bowed, then spoke to Professor Roxanne and Valentine.