"Let me down. I can walk there on my own." Iva grumbled as Osmond profusely shook his head.
"No can-do missy. It's freezing right now, and those bare feet would get worse if I let you.." Osmond firmly denied as the cold wind blew around them.
"It's just a little windy though?" Iva tilted her head slightly as Osmond shook his head.
"Windy or not, you are going to stay with me until we make our way back." Osmond says as he turns into a corner. It was a cold yet peaceful night.
Most of the town's folk were fast asleep. The wooden houses spared little to no light as only abodes molded in stone have the privilege of its embrace. The relocated orphanage was one of those rare sanctuaries where the light burns amidst the cold darkness.
"Besides, how did you even manage to run this far away? Last I checked, the new orphanage is a considerable distance from here." Iva shrugged as she replied simply.
"I don't know. I just ran I guess?" Iva admitted as Osmond chuckled.
"Well, whatever the case is, you are getting an earful and I cannot help you with that." Osmond teased as Iva frowned.
"The sisters are not those types of people though... well except for one I guess." Iva grumbled as they turned towards another corner.
"Well, I suppose you will have to deal with her instead eh?" Osmond giggled.
"No, she wouldn't. She might be strict, but she does not have the guts to follow through with it." Iva mumbled under her breath. For all of the wrongs she had done to her, Lucy had never punished a child. It perplexed Iva to no end as the young lady would never flinch in the jaws of death yet struggle against mere children.
"Lass I don't mean to scare you, but you just ran away in the middle of the night. Without even wearing your sandals mind you. I'm afraid she would be pretty serious when you get back home." Osmond said.
"...Really?" Iva whispered a hint of fear in her voice.
"Oh yes. I did it once you know? My entire bottom was as red as an apple by morning when mother was done." Osmond relished the fond childhood days he had while Iva was beginning to panic.
"S-she wouldn't do that! I-I still have to get back to her!" Iva said, fury and fear intermixing with her voice.
"Oh? And who is this sister might be?" Osmond asked with no particular thought in mind, simply trying to keep the conversation running.
"...Lucy. Her name... her name is Lucy." Iva barely let out a whisper. The phantom pain and anger crept back once more as her eyes darkened ever so slightly. The knight could not help but frown at what he saw as he racked his brain for ideas to distract her. Luckily, an idea did arrive.
"Lucy huh? That is a pretty name. Do you think you can introduce her to me?" Osmond teased as Iva instantly frowned.
"No, why would I?" Iva said as a mischievous smirk found its way into Osmond's lips.
"I'll cut you a deal. If you introduce me to her, I will help you when she scolds you." Osmond smirked as Iva went into deep contemplation.
"T-that's... hmm..." Osmond could not help but grin at Iva's contemplative face. The way Iva seriously considered his offer just to avoid being scolded was way too childish. It almost made him forget the troubles the orphan has. Almost.
"...How do I know you won't betray me?" Osmond blinked at Iva's words.
Betrayal... at such a young age? Just what did you endure little one? Osmond thought as he smiled softly. "Lass, I am a knight of Larum. Death would find me before I could do so much as consider betrayal. Through broken iron and shattered cobalt, my word shall stand."
Osmond spoke one of the pillars of honor he grew fond of. He could still reminisce about the wonders of the past. Though it felt like ages now, Osmond would never forget the unknown knight who spoke the very same words before departing to war. He never knew what happened to him, but Osmond swore to uphold those words even now.
He tried to bring hope back into those eyes. Any semblance of innocence she once held. Sadly, it had a reverse effect. "L-Larum? D-did you s-say L-Larum?? A-as in-!!!" Iva's face was twisted into horror when her gaze landed on his insignia. It was as if it was the first time she recognized that foreboding seal.
"L-lass?” Osmond, alarmed at the sudden fear in her eyes. “Are you al-"
"I-I'm fine! I-I'm... fine. Y-you can let me down now; I will walk back from here." Iva said as she avoided his eyes.
"Lass I said this already, I-"
"N-no! I-I mean... it's ok now! I c-can walk back on my own so please put me down." Iva insisted.
Suspicion stirs within Osmond as Iva avoids his gaze. It was akin to a scoundrel caught red-handed in the act, but Iva had done nothing of the sort. It didn't make any sense to Osmond as he began to observe. "Lass I promised my liege, Elias Le Larum, to escort you to safety. There is no need to-"
Through trained eyes and careful observation, Osmond saw the little girl's pupil shrink. Iva did a commendable job of keeping her nerves under control until now, but in the end, she was still just a child. "Let me down now!" Iva shrieked in pure panic as it caught Osmond by surprise.
"C-calm down lass. What seems to be the-"
"No! Let go of me! Let go of me now!" Iva squirmed relentlessly from his grip like a captured Tresvin. Osmond was at a loss at what to do when a new voice suddenly called out to them.
"Iva?" The two turned as Iva desperately cried.
"Sister Ivy!" Iva cried as she frantically tried to reach out to her.
"W-what are you doing to her?! Unhand her now!" Ivy shouted suddenly, causing even Osmond to move in instinct.
"W-wait I think this is a misunderstanding, I-" Osmond could not finish his words as Iva ran like an injured Tresvin into Ivy's embrace. Her small frame trembled as if she had barely just escaped from a wild monster as the nun, Ivy, shielded her as if he would harm them.
Osmond felt a slight pang of injustice ripple across his heart beneath those gazes. The two stared back at him with fear in their eyes. Eyeing him as if he was going to murder them. It frustrated the cobalt knight, but he could do nothing.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
He did not even know what he had done, but he was already branded as a danger in their eyes. "Erm, w-well since little Iva there is back. I will leave her in your care, sister." Osmond said as he gave a polite bow before walking away.
֍
The two watch silently as the figure of the cobalt knight slowly withdraws from their sight. As soon as they made sure he was gone, Ivy bolted directly back to the stone manor without pause nor hesitation. Randomly turning directions at nigh unpredictable times.
"S-sister I-"
"Shh. It's all right. You are safe now." Ivy whispered softly as she dove into a moonless alleyway without missing a beat. The foul stench did not bother Ivy in the slightest as they moved.
"But I lead a knight to-"
"Shh. What's important right now is that you are safe." Ivy said as they returned to the embrace of the moonlight. "There's no need to wrack your little head child. Let the adults worry about this ok?" Ivy said.
"What about sister Lucy? Isn't she still young as well?" Iva said, slightly irritated at the unfair treatment as Ivy replied.
"Aye, she is one feisty young lass. Try as she might, she is still a child to me. Though she is one very problematic child. So don't follow her footsteps ok?" Iva flinches before nodding quietly. She knew what she had done had unknowingly endangered everyone.
While the children remained blissfully ignorant or simply could not comprehend what was going on, Iva's sharp observation of Lucy rewarded her with the understanding few of her peers could comprehend. Lucy was a noble and she was being hunted down.
It did not take a lot of convincing from Iva as she saw their treatment firsthand. Being a beggar has its costs and rewards. Avoiding from the gazes of those in power was an essential need for any beggar for their own survival. Wronging them would be their last mistake.
The gap between a vagrant and a highborn was simply that enormous. Though it did little to dissuade the child who had lost her father. The thirst for retribution was a potent drive. Given enough force, it could overcome even the most primal of fears. The fear of death.
Ivy abruptly stopped as she turned to another corner. With bated breaths and wary eyes, Ivy made sure no one followed them straining her ears to the limits to catch even the faintest of sounds. Still, it was not enough.
Edrak. Ivy mentally tapped into her reservoir, directing power into her hearing. For a moment, a faint topaz light sparkled across her eyes. It did not glow nor shine like stars but simply sparkled. After a tense moment of silence, relief seemingly washed over Ivy as her breathing slowly relaxed.
"I think we are fine for now. Let's take it slow from here." Ivy said as she slowly began the ascent toward the stone manor, the glow in her eyes died down as it returned to her natural brown eyes. What seemed to be a tense and terrible night returned to normalcy as Iva spoke.
"...I would never follow her footsteps." Iva softly whispered, making sure the nun would not hear her.
"…You really don't like sister Lucy huh?" Iva blinked as her heart quickened. She could feel Ivy's penetrating gaze despite hiding her face as she quickly opened her mouth to answer.
"I-"
"No. This is between you and Lucy so I should not meddle." Ivy said, acting as if she had heard nothing. Iva had the urge to sigh in relief but held it in fear of being caught again. Just as Iva was beginning to forget, Ivy forced her to confront her again.
"But lass I need you to understand. What you did to sister Lucy tonight… you should have never made her that sad." Iva flinches at the weight of her voice. It was not filled with hate as her father was, but one with disappointment instead. Something she found more frightening than a simple beating.
Sad? How can I make her sad? What is she talking about? Iva fell to ponder as she wracked her head for answers. Just what in the world could have made her sad? I did nothing to her! I only told her to get away from me! I didn't...
Memories slammed in like a hammer at the back of her head. Dazed before slowly coming to the dawning panic of realization. For all the promises of animosity she bore to the murderer, Iva did not have a single experience of actually doing it. Guilt slowly crept up on her as she replied quietly.
"...H-how is sister Lucy?" Retribution was strong but the spirit of compassion and guilt could rival such a drug. "...D-did I make h-her cry again?" Iva managed to croak out as she could now recall her screams intermingled with hers when she fled.
As they walked through the cold night, Iva was beginning to recall piece by piece. So, I did huh? B-but I did not lie! She was a murderer! She killed father! She-
I wanted to stop! I really wanted to stop!
...
Lucy's plea rang out inside Iva once more. Her hatred was burning. Her bitterness was rising. The only family she ever had was taken by her. Stolen from her! And yet!... and yet it was not enough to drown her guilt.
P-please I-Iva! I-I... I don't want to be abandoned again... Lucy's plea rang out once more as Iva grunted.A-anything but t-that!
Shut up.
P-please just anything else.
Shut up!
Anything else! I'll d-do anything else b-but that...
I said shut up!
I wanted to stop.
Shut up! Just shut up!
I really... really really wanted to stop...
SHUT UP SHUT UP! JUST PLEASE SHUT UP! You are a murderer! A filthy murderer! A-
PLEASE!...
mur...derer... Though Lucy had confessed her past to the sisters already and had been accepted, Iva could still recall those tired and pleading eyes.
It was soul-crushingly sad and guilt-ridden that it could not possibly have been the eyes of a murderer. And it was that fact Iva did not want to admit. If she ever admitted that one singular truth, then her father's death would have been meaningless.
A death that could have been avoided. The compassion and bitterness within her clashed. It had been at war for weeks now ever since she heard those cries. And so, she avoided her. She avoided Lucy for fear of finding a conclusion she would have to face... but it could not be avoided.
Making someone cry was one thing, actively striking an injured scar was another. Iva had seen her struggles firsthand. A woman who is broken and desperate to escape her bloody past. Even going as far as to beg for forgiveness from a beggar like her.
A noblewoman begging for her, a beggar, for forgiveness? If it did not happen to her, she would scoff at the blatant lies, yet it was all true. And Iva just yelled the worst possible thing she could have ever said to the traumatized young lady.
Though Iva was terrified to find that conclusion, it did leave a bile taste in her mouth. Life had been so confusing for Iva lately but if there was one thing she was sure of, however, it would be her blind hatred. This was certainly not a conclusion she wanted to end with.
No...not this. Not like this. Iva thought to herself. Forgiveness was a conclusion she never wanted to give… but eternal hatred? That was no better. Iva contemplated for a long while when the manor was finally within sight. As if she was reminded of the consequences of her actions, Iva began to panic.
She was not ready. Iva could feel it in her body when Ivy turned back to her with a forced smile, trying to calm down the lass. Though, for better or for worse, Iva's senses were simply a head and a shoulder above her peers.
"You feel bad about it huh? Ah, don't worry. So long as you apologize to sister Lucy, she will forgive you." Iva's eyes widen before trembling slightly.
"...A-and if she doesn't?" Iva meekly whispered as Ivy chuckled. The cold breeze blew in once more as Ivy whispered.
"Don't worry, she will. I could even go with you if you want that?" Ivy half-heartedly joked.
"R-really? Y-you would?" Iva, however, found comfort in those words.
"Eh?! W-well..." Iva's frightful eyes quickly cornered Ivy without an escape.
She nodded back in a panic when she saw tears forming around those tiny marbles. "S-sure! I will go with you lass, so no need to cry ok?" Ivy said much to her dismay and Iva's relief. The stone manor was clear now, a house of light beckoning to the two to its warmth and protection from the night.
"C-could you walk slower for a minute?" Iva urgently pleaded as Ivy shook her head.
"You are going to apologize to her sooner or later anyway. Let's not delay the inevitable." Despite her words, however, Ivy did slow down slightly for Iva to gather her wits.
"S-still!" Iva tried to reason but no words left her mouth. As if trying to stop a wave from moving, Iva pushed her hardest to stop Ivy from moving even if it was just a second. Ivy chuckled when she saw Iva squirming like a child for once. "Don't worry, I-"
The calmness of the night was seemingly shattered in an instant as a terrible familiar scream echoed across the world. Iva and Ivy felt their heart drop as they raced back toward the manor.