Theitus went on for what felt like hours, as he pummeled me with papers, one after another explaining his grand plan, every last detail as if he had already memorized it that day, and his loud laugh certainly did make it easy to forget just how long he was going at it.
Regardless at the end of it all.
"... I understand," I simply replied as if I was merely accepting some sort of request for him. Or maybe I had the life just sucked out of me from his endless barrage of papers.
And yet his grin was still wide as he replied, "good, good, if any of this changes or needs to be adjusted by further reports from the Red Manes, then I will take the liberty to change it, to ensure this goes as well as possible.”
Although our conversation went on for hours, I couldn’t deny Theitus’s hard work to plan everything so thoroughly. And in that time, I learned just a taste of what Mythral’s Red Manes offered Theitus, it was like he was some grand schemer with connections everywhere in the mainland, eyes that saw everything.
To put everything into perspective, the plan was Mythral’s Red manes would escort me to the mainland, where I’d be acquainted with two individuals who’d become my party, in order to enroll as an Adventurer. However, my stop wouldn’t be just anywhere. I’d arrive in the heart of The Adventurers guild, the Dynasty of Sura within, Vectus. Many of Theitus’s red manes infiltrated the Adventurers Guild and held many influential positions within it, but more importantly the head of the Adventurers Guild needed to be convinced, and one of the individuals who’d be in this party was close to the GuildMaster, and they would vouch for me and ultimately, I’d become a Benefactor for the Adventurers guild, although that step certainly depended on me as well. I’d need to go through an interview process in order to obtain a rank for my skills and abilities, of course that wasn’t an issue. Theitus made it clear to not show too much of my true power, or I risk myself being caught up in inconveniences of The laws Monarchs had enacted.
But it seemed The Adventurers guild, was rather a different organization, with its own hierarchy and rules.
Regardless it was expertly thought out, and I couldn't deny that it had potential for a good future.
As the thoughts lingered in my head. I noticed a deep sigh escape Theitus's lips. "I should go into more detail about one of your potential companions. I don’t know much about the other but this specific man I’m referring to, is known as The Hound of Black flames, I’m surprised how he managed to maintain such a influential position in the guild, with his rather problematic attitude, and the destruction he leaves behind." Theitus said with his arms folded on his desk clearly irritated about it. “… I just wanted you to know about this beforehand, these potential party members are important, but don’t be afraid to keep them on a tight leash if they end up being trouble." He said with a grin and sharp silver eyes now staring at me, implying I was capable of doing that.
“…Isabelle won’t be coming with me, is she?” I asked the obvious question which caused Theitus to shake his head at me.
"That’s right, she won’t be joining you just yet, surely you can understand, she’s still a daughter to me, and I don’t doubt you can keep her safe out there. But I want to finish her training and teach her all she needs to know. She certainly is strong enough to protect herself and her powers are much more advanced than the others here. But you're the one who needs her protection out there, so she will need to confidently provide that," he said with laughter, I couldn't exactly disagree with that, in our fight in that Mana Art she lacked the composure and control of her powers, even a confidence that was there but needed to be perfected.
Theitus would be able to do that for her, I knew myself he was a remarkable teacher in that regard.
“… I see, that's good, I feel it'd be easier for her that way." I said which only made him grin even more “… I’m still going to give it some thought. Rushing around the world, being surrounded by strangers and the unknown is rather… boring." I said which only made Theitus laugh at my attempt at humor and yet he nodded agreeing to some extent.
"I don’t think the word you’re looking for is boring.” He chuckled before getting up from his chair with a stretch, “you can stay as long as you like, Kazu, the choice is yours. Anyways how about we get a bite to eat, and who knows maybe Isabelle is waiting for her hero to come back," he said which clearly was some sort of tease that Altear would have added in.
I did still feel the intent of humor linger in the back of my mind, and he knew it. Regardless I followed in his towering shadow. Relieved to take a break from all we went through. Not to mention, a break from the thoughts that lingered in my mind.
The hours of the day seemed to pass slowly, it didn’t seem to matter if Theitus and Altear provided their pleasant company to me. I still found myself waiting for Isabelle to wake up after the events of the day.
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When the evening sun of the next day washed over Mythral I was still seated on the desk in Isabelle’s room with my gaze staring out the window, watching Mythral’s citizens finish preparing for the festival of the Golden lantern rite. Where the citizens of Mythral would celebrate the end of the year, and some historical reminiscences.
But I still sat there, waiting for her to awaken.
I felt my thoughts becoming rather sluggish and I wondered if that was because of my lack of sleep. Regardless, it didn’t bother me much, my thoughts often entertained me with the pointless ramblings of my mind.
But it was then that I sensed her presence. And the moment I did, I felt the blood rush to my head and my core churning within me like a storm of emotions.
The room was quiet, and her soft moans of drowsiness whispered into the air. I heard a small murmur of "Kazu" escape her lips before she seemed to slowly open her eyes and adjusting them to the light that shone through her window.
“K-Kazu? What are you doing?" She murmured with a soft voice still heavy with sleep.
I was silent and simply remained where I was, watching her from my spot.
However, Isabelle suddenly seemed to have come to some sort of realization, one that washed over her features as her eyes went wide and her cheeks flushed a deep red as she averted her gaze. “K-Kazu?!? W-What are you doing in my room!?!” She squealed while she hid herself with her covers as if she were nude.
But her reaction was enough to draw a light snicker from my throat, “… morning sleepyhead, how do you feel?" I asked thinking nothing of her reaction that seemed to carry on for several moments.
"Y-You can’t be serious! My bedroom?!? Wh-what were you doing here?" She squeaked and even threw the pillow from her bed at me with an unexpected strength.
It was only after her barrage of words and me explaining what had happened to her before she huffed in defeat, and yet her red cheeks never seemed to fade. "O-Oh well that's good, I guess. But you didn’t have to wait by my bedside… really it's embarrassing." She said shyly but seemed to carry a hint of glee.
“Huh… I couldn’t help it,” I remarked, not seeing the big deal in my actions. "You know everyone probably wants to see that you're alright too, or do you plan on throwing more pillows at me?" I added to which her scowl and red cheeks pouted a bit at my remark.
"S-Shut up… dummy,” she replied with her cheeks puffed out, before gathering her strength to crawl from her bed, “… if you’re not going to leave, can you at least turn around, Kazu… so I can get dressed." She asked shyly clearly thinking about something as her cheeks were still a bright red.
I didn’t say anything to that, instead I merely complied and turned away and waited with my back turned.
"I-I didn’t miss much, did I?" She asked while I could only hear the sounds of clothing being pulled from drawers.
"Nothing too important, it only has been three days," I said wondering what was taking so long before she quietly muttered,
"T-Thank goodness,”
As if she were relieved about something. “The festival is in a few days, then… if you still wanted to go with me,” she added nervously for some reason.
“Why does it sound like you’re asking? If we’re going, then we're going together," I remarked plainly before she took a deep breath, clearly relieved about something.
"R-Right, I know! I was just wondering…dummy” she said with her usual pouty face.
"You've certainly become quite a fan of calling me that," I said with a slight smile.
"Because you still don’t get it…” she muttered, still clearly embarrassed.
Regardless, not long after we left her room and found ourselves wandering toward Theitus and Altear within the Palace, while they were discussing something together, but were soon overjoyed to see Isabelle was back.
It wasn't long after that, when we all shared a long evening together with laughs, drinks, food, and some friendly competition of a game consisting of numerous tiles, in which winning required, an individual to have three sets of the same tile and a pair in the same suit.
I lost terribly alongside Isabelle, as Altear and Theitus laughed in victories at our failed attempts, but it didn't really matter, we were all enjoying ourselves, and the night went on for quite some time. Which left my core full of laughter and warmth.
A day or two passed by and the Golden lantern rite was hours away.
Of course, my conversation with Theitus still lingered in my thoughts, but I simply found myself enjoying life in Mythral. Even Isabelle got a break from her cultivation and training, whether that was because Theitus wanted her to enjoy the days leading up to the festival, or to spend more time with me, he didn't say and I didn't bother asking, but in a way, it was like he knew the choice, I’d inevitably make about leaving.
And perhaps that was true. I enjoyed it here but this gnawing feeling inside of me never left. I began to wonder if what he said, was something that would one day be a reality.
"Kazu?"
I was pulled from thought as me and Isabelle took in the warm spring sun of the courtyard where we were relaxing and apparently waiting for the festival to kick off later this evening.
“Hmm? Yeah, what's up?" I asked as she sat beside me and stared at her feet for some reason.
"A lot of the times… er- people build lanterns for the festival. and I wanted to know if you wanted to build a lantern with me?” She asked with her usual shyness she had when she was nervous.
But as always that little act of hers always seemed to draw some form of amusement from me. “Sure, if you want to, I don't mind,” I said which seemed to cause her to prop up in excitement.
“Really?!?! Great! I have some experience building them, I’ve decorated some when Theitus and Altear would take me to build one! We have to go into town, they have everything we need for it!" she exclaimed proudly venting out all this energy that had built up in her, with a bright smile on her face.
It wasn’t moments after she was practically pulling me by my hand toward the plaza, eager to start making our lantern.