Helena's Point Of View

The last couple of weeks have been horrible.

After we arrived at the Ice-Claw Keep with lots of attention, and I made sure that 'Lily's' letter reached Lionel Tepet. Of course I also asked about Jesmaine... if she'd been seen or if he had heard anything about her. When he said he hadn't with this grouchy expression I took a leap of faith and asked if I could join near the front line if she appeared. Without even considering my question he promptly answered 'No' and tried to send me on my way.

I unpacked and waited till the end of the day when he was returning and asked him once more if he had heard or seen Jesmaine, and once again he promptly answered no and told me he would make sure that I knew if she was found. Though this time he didn't face me properly and swiftly walked by me. I noticed a few glances by the knights as his side as well, and as they walked away I certainly heard 'Is she bothering you milord?' From their lips.

The next morning I approached him again, though a large scruffy blonde man got between us.

"The Lord is busy and will not be taking visits by commoners at the moment," he said, trying to keep me from approaching Lionel with a cold demeanor... Lionel didn't even look at me, but I knew that I'd already been labeled as a bother. I'd only asked twice! Furthermore just answering me would be faster than forcing me away! Still, I couldn't just give up either. Lionel was never fond of Jesmaine in the story, and even now she is an enemy. I can't trust him with her.

"Please let me join near the front line! I can do the sound stopping magic your soldiers do too!" I'm actually quite adept at air magic, though only to eavesdrop, stop sound and spread sound. It's magic that has good use in business as a journalist and as a musician... sadly I can't play an instrument well yet though... still! I could be helpful!

"No civilians on the battlefield," Lionel answered coldly and just walked past me without taking me seriously.

I tried to ask him again when he returned, but he didn't budge even a little. I tried to change tactics too and request that I could join the scouts, but that too was rejected. After a week of this a couple of soldiers grabbed me and pulled me into the Keep where they locked me into one of the rooms...

I've been locked into that room for a week now, and though they've fed me and given me my things, I am reaching my limit. I haven't heard any news of Jesmaine, only that the situation is bad. I try to eavesdrop on the knights and soldiers near the keep, but it's only bad news from our side. Lack of sleep, exhaustion, that their ears won't stop ringing or how they miss their families. Their cries in the night as they whimper names of guys and women leaves me anxious.

When we traveled here we passed through multiple villages that haven't been evacuated. If this point falls those villages will probably fall... but why haven't they evacuated those villages?

No, it's probably because of the huge amounts of food the villages take care of. Because House Tepet mainly has earth mages under them, the Tepet lands are incredibly fertile. The ground is soft and kind of feels like the stuff you'd buy for your greenhouse in my former life. I was shocked by this at first, because the Tepet lands aren't overgrown at all. They're flat and has crops as far as the eye can see with only a few natural fences and multiple rivers between the fields. It's a huge bread basket for Ristaze. If they lose that things could turn sour quickly.

—-*—-

I heard that 'Lily' and the Celeste knights arrived even before they got back, so of course I decided to make an escape. I sneakily picked the old lock with a pair of long needles like I'd watched someone do on the Internet when I was looking for ways to unlock my locked bike after I lost the key, and slipped out...

I never did get my bike unlocked until I found the key...

So with that here I am! I saw 'Lily' and Lionel enter the keep together from the window, so I just need to find them before anyone finds me. 'Lily' may be terrifying, but she let me follow along. Hopefully she will let me do the same again so that I can find Jesmaine... if not, I'll go on my own!

"For him to-... -do... so-....thing like -at..."

I pick up on Lionel's voice by using sound amplification at the sound traces through the keep. The maids and servants are chattering gloomily, but I'll ignore that for now. I head directly for the sound of Lionel's voice and almost immediately pick up on Lily's voice as well.

"It is ce-...-ly... un-.... be-...-vior ...-ver we ar-... po-...-tion to act... comp-...-ain. He is-..."

I move a bit faster to try to catch more of their conversation clearly, and it doesn't take me long.

"Isn't there a way to reduce the dishonorable behavior?" Lionel asks with hints of anger and frustration seeping through his voice. Lily just seems calm as she responds:

"You cannot unless he breaks the contract, though, you aren't in it just yet."

Contract? What contract? I focus on their conversation as I approach the room they're in.

"Our contract includes descendants...yours probably does too," Lionel grumbles irritatedly.

"Is there a way to make him break the contract?"

I reach the door and listen in closely. They seem to be talking business.

"The justice clause would be the most likely to be broken- who is there?!" Lily's voice rises towards the end with a spike in sound that nearly makes my ears ring.

"Stop eavesdropping and show yourself," she demands with hints of anger in her voice... I'm the only one here... I stare at the door quietly and wonder how I was found out... but step in...

It's sad I didn't find out what they were talking about, but I needed to talk with Lily anyway.

—-*—-

I take a breath and then open the door to feel the air freeze and my breath get stuck in my throat. Their eyes are cold like shards of ice, emitting the cold anger that... at least in 'Lily's' case will get me dead.

"I-" I try to start out, but my voice gets stuck as a chill runs through my body.

"It's just you," 'Lily' speaks irritatedly. Even Lionel frowns at the sight of me and turns his eyes away.

"We can continue this another time when the young woman has been returned to her chambers," Lionel says coldly. His arms are crossed and he is slowly tapping his arm with a finger. He's going to lock me up again! Doesn't matter! I have a trick up my sleeve!

I reach into the bag at my side and pull out the cat ears 'Lily' wanted me to make. With this she'll let me do what I want!... Hopefully...

"I have the cat ears you wanted me to make."

Her expression changes the instant she sees the bluish cat ears I made to match her hair. Her angry expression from before fades like snow in the sun and she focuses on the cat ears. My existence disappeared for an instant as she walks up to me, and takes the cat ears with a satisfied look. She actually appears to be studying them.

Lionel finally looks back at me with a less than impressed expression. He's still irritated.

"A present for your little sister?" He asks and... seems to calm down a bit... seems...

'Lily' looks from the cat ears and then to Lionel with this dumbstruck expression... it's not that surprising he figured that out... 'Lily' doesn't really do cute things... other than getting cat ears for her sister. 'Lily' should probably have been reborn a boy...

"Why in the world would she need war regalia?"

War regalia? So 'why would she need lavish war clothing' she asked... cat ears is not war clothing!

Lily appears to ignore the shock to her answer and takes it on herself, looking all proud like a cat that just pushed a glass off the counter!

"That is in no way fit for war, Lily. It looks cute, not scary, nor is it defensive." Lionel is rubbing the bridge of his nose with apparent exhaustion as he... seems to try to explain this to Lily... I don't know how to deal with this. No, more like, if 'Lily' says it's good for war, then should I speak against her?

"Haaah?" Lily half sneers back at Lionel.

"Cute? I receive the strength of the magnificent beast whose image I take upon myself," she argues back sternly.

...I don't know where in the world her logic is coming from, but it's... weird... if it had been a mane or something to make you look bigger then that would be something. I mean, the wolf mantle works... but the cat ears...

"That May be your intention, but you are quiet far from... from a body where you'd be close to intimidating with your helmet off."

No... that is taking it too far Lionel! 'Lily' is terrifying! How can you not be scared?! I look between them, and Lily is gritting her teeth a bit as her skin begins to flush red with anger.

"What?! I am scary enough to make you stumble to the ground, don't you dare forget that! The ears are scary and cool! I'll go ask the men then!" She puffs up and prepares to walk by me, only for her to be grabbed by a now awkward looking Lionel.

"No no no, please don't wear that outside Lily. The morale is low enough already, if it gets lower because they think they've started crushing on a cute guy it'll hit rock bottom."

...I see Lily's jaw drop at his words, and her face go even redder that it was before. Her hand clenches tightly... I back up a bit... there has to be a way to fix this before she explodes... think! Right! That!

I rush up to Lionel's side and plop a cat ears on him as well and watch the situation intensely.

"See, it can be a bit cool. Not cute at all," I try to agree with Lily to calm the situation down...

Lily takes off her own cat ears and looks up at Lionel with narrowed eyes.

"Exactly. They're not cute," she argues quietly, then turns and walks off hastily... oi! Wait! I didn't get to talk with her!

I hastily pluck off the cat ears on Lionel's head again.

"Yosh, she's in a bad mood but maybe I can still convince her," I end up muttering out loud and prepare to leave... when Lionel grabs onto my shoulder.

"Where do you think you're going?" He's smiling... sort of...

"Don't look at me! I'm not the one that ended up making her angry!" I burst out back at him.

"To your chambers. Now." As if to mark the sign of my doom for the day a few maids and a guard appears since Lily left so pissed... I got escorted back to my room... and the last thing I see is Lionel turning away from me and covering his mouth.