As always, I had my common sense questioned once again upon seeing the Duke not only stay calm in the face of a second assassination incident within the confines of his 'fortress', but also act appropriately.
What was I doing right now? As a 'shadow' who the Sword Servants were only vaguely aware of, I was doing some veeeeerrry bad stuff those like killing children... Hehe, nah~! I'm just messing about. The reason we 'shadows' were mobilised was due to our Duke ordering us to stabilise the 'Timedark Mana' that managed to find its way into our Household.
From what we know, the assassination attempt on Merilin was a distraction so that the true assassin could infiltrate our 'home' and kill our Duke without being spotted. After all, one glance is enough to become a 'recorded target' in the Duke's eyes.
I can understand their goal. I mean, our Duke has always used those eyes to defy common sense. Like that time he killed a Queen of the Blood Nation the day his wife was taken several years ago.
Even from his home, he took revenge on the Blood King that declared war on the world...
Ah! I'm straying off topic. My point is that us Sword Shadows (or just me at least) were surprised when we were told that not only was our Young Mistress within our reach, but she was also displaced into a separated flow of time thanks to a certain Dark One.
Again, I was filled with admiration at how the Duke could probably still find a way to erase his enemies even if they travelled to another dimension. His eyes had changed a little though as he mobilised the Sword Servants to support us in trying to bring back the 'Young Mistress', or was it 'Young Miss' for them? Either way, the Duke's eyes were too scary.
"Ummm, Duke, won't using up the Dark Attribute Treasured Swords and your only Time Attribute Treasured Sword cause the the Blood Annihilation to fail?" I spoke up as the others worked diligently.
Hah... It's hard being one of the only few Sword Shadows who retained emotions despite the training we went through. Just looking at their dead eyes makes me think of how they call themselves some sort of 'legion' that would do anything for the Duke.
"Plans are meant to adapt to changes. Also, sort out your priorities: Blood Annihilation has never mattered more than my daughter." The Duke spoke while fiddling with a very intricate Spell Circle formed with Sword Shadows and Treasured Swords.
He didn't seem to mind being questioned. This was actually a pretty common occurrence as the Duke was actually much more forgiving than he let on. The reason Servants liked him was also due to this.
I don't know what the Duke was seeing, but I'm sure that he could see the 'ghost' of our Young Mistress walking around the Household. Normally, people would ask the help from the Royal Family once Time Magic was involved. However, there was a lot of restrictions we were under right now. It was natural that he'd only involve them if they could actually help instead of wasting his time with useless words.
In the two days after the incident that severed the Young Mistress from the world's time flow, we had been combining all our powers to try and use what knowledge we had on Time Magic to 'reconnect' her to our time flow. Our efforts leading to success!
There was many problems though. The first being that Timedark Magic was fundamentally different from the magic of regular Time Specialists from the Royal Family. In fact, one could even say that it 'defied time' rather than manipulating it fully.
Confirmed abilities like 'Broken Clock', a movement technique based off the Royal Family's Inner Clock movement technique, has shown that there is hope for those who had been severed from the normal time flow to return from the 'Shadow Dimension'.
The next problem also connected to the first... While the Duke had Treasured Swords that could help him skip the requirement of having high comprehension of Timedark Magic, there was no changing the fact that it might even take years to retrieve her.
Other problems had a lot to do with this specific circumstance... For example: How was the Young Mistress supposed to eat while her body was unable to interact with the outside world in the slightest?
"...She might die of starvation before we can save her. Even Anna, she too won't be able to hold out."
"Wrong again. They will be perfectly fine." There wasn't an ounce of doubt lingering in those words.
What is this feeling...? I can't put it into words but that overly strict father who put his daughter through hell actually looked... handsome. Wait wait wait, this is the Duke we're talking about. Even a woman like me has nothing on his grandeur.
"You're certain... Even though they have nothing to eat and can barely exist within the range of our Household. You aren't even phased." Why isn't he at least showing some worry as that little girl's father?
"Of course, it's because I know my daughter well. A situation like this won't drive her to despair. She is a lot stronger than you think... After all, I am guessing she is sustaining herself right now using her flesh."
"What?!!" My eyes bulged but my body refused to show sloppiness as we shadows worked together.
"That's crazy...! And also not enough to-"
"It is. Have you yet to understand her potential? The moment she gained the ability to conjure her own Astral Sword was the day her Light Mana purified to the point of becoming 'Sunlight Mana'. As the only Sunlight Specialist of the Swordwick Household, she is able to do a lot more than controlling light. For example: The ability to even restore her limbs using a Healing Art." The Duke spoke to everyone bluntly.
The Sword Servants in the area shuddered as they increased their pace in building the TimeDark Spell Circle Formation needed stabilise her situation. The scene they could imagine in their head of their Young Miss choosing to 'eat herself' filled them with grief. They were powerless despite being powerful individuals who could beat most people their age.
After a few minutes, the formation started functioning and the Treasured Swords installed into it faded away before becoming part of the extremely intricate Spell Circle... bringing them some hope.
"We've finally finished the formation. Now what?"
"We wait until the day she's strong enough to return home. That's the only thing we can do... Put Blood Annihilation on hold for now, we will only keep the Blood Nation at bay by supporting the Royal Family until she returns. Scout trustworthy people to become Sword Servants in the meantime to fill up the empty spots. Also, keep me informed about Jordan Darby. This man is more important to Cerberus than he seems." The Sword Maids and Sword Butlers left, leaving only the two Heads of the Sword Servants and we Sword Shadows still waiting.
"...How is that kid taking this?" After a moment of hesitation, the Duke asked Fredrick and Martha.
"Not good... He's caved in and started talking to himself lately, something about how he has lost someone really important." Fredrick immediately answered, causing his wife to give him a good slap.
I mean, I know this is because of your loyalty, but you should keep a lid on your mouth. There's just some things you don't tell even your Master. Though his words made me curious...! Could his relationship with the Young Miss have really reached this far?
Tell me the details...! Just tell me the details! Don't look at me like that, Martha. Just tell me already!
"They were close friends." She rolled her eyes.
"Close friends? You know a girl and boy can never just be 'friends', right?" She looked to me, annoyed.
"That wasn't what I meant." The Duke interrupted our extremely rare girl talk with a clap of his hands.
He looked at the two loving parents momentarily with deep meaning before deciding to leave... I didn't understand what he was getting at and looked at the two, my inquisitive nature sprang up immediately.
"What does the Boss mean?"
"You mean House Master, right?" Martha lifted a brow while Fredrick was still reeling at the side.
"Don't change the subject!"
"Enough. I'm more curious of YOU. This is probably our second meeting, and you're acting too close."
"Come on~ You're overthinking our friendship~!"
"We're friends?"
"We are. Now as a fellow close friend: Spill it!"
"May enter this conv-"
"No, you can't." Martha didn't seem to forgive Fred's previous mistake of honestly replying to the Duke.
"..." He choked on his words and fell silent.
"Since I know Sword Shadows are incapable of gossiping, I'll give you a hint: The Blood Nation might be 'hibernating' at the moment, but there are still smaller troops not part of their main force that are causing disasters all over the place. Even though the Union of all Kingdoms have found this to most likely be a strategy to spread out our forces, we can't help but to bite the bait." She shook her head lightly.
"Isn't it great to protect the people?"
"That's only one of the reasons. The other is because it's hard to form viable strategies when we're completely blind of the Blood Nation's inner working and system. No spy has ever been able to even get close to their borders, so our only option is beat out information from these barbaric cannon fodders."
"...Isn't that REEAAALLLYYY unreliable?"
"It is..." She didn't seem to disagree. It was only then did we notice that Fredrick seemed lost in thought.
"Are you seriously depressed right now...?" Martha seemed amazed that her usual antics affected him.
"It has nothing to do with being left out."
"Then what is it?" My great 'friend' voiced what I was thinking. Fredrick didn't seem the type to sulk.
"...I talked to Simon before. I don't know why... but I feel that he's changed considerably. It's almost like he's become like conceited Nobility. Of course, the Swordwick Household excluded." He explained without batting an eye to the fact I was still here.
No, it was probably a pretty common occurrence to ignore Sword Shadows now as they usually observed Sword Servants for any signs of disloyalty when placed on stand-by. The only reason an assassin could infiltrate in the first place was due to the Duke sometimes having no choice but to focus the Sword Servants on specific task only we were capable of completing without making a commotion.
Now that two incidents have occurred one after the other, the Duke has re-evaluated the internal defences of our Household and has even decided to make the strategic defences so thorough that it would probably take a hundred armies to destroy it.
I'm not kidding whatsoever... Not even a leaf carried by the wind would be able to enter this place anymore. Intangibility, Invulnerability, even someone who has reached true Invincibility wouldn't be able to do anything now that the Duke was being a spendthrift with the Treasured Swords he has been trying to protect. Well... It's not like I don't understand the intentions of my Boss. What's the point of treasures if they can't even help his family?
Oh, my mind wondered again...! Teehee~
"Aren't you overreacting too much?" Martha's voice woke me out of the daydream I had momentarily.
"I wish I was. Not too long ago, Simon even shared his secret in exchange for more freedom when following us on missions. Merilin has gone adventuring with Mom, so I don't have to worry about her, but what I DO worry about is how he seems to have completely become like... Mark. I feel like I failed as a father...!" Fredrick said in emotion.
"Hey, Fred. I can call you Fred, right? Anyway, why are you opposed to his personality? It's not like he's become a bad person." I felt confused since people like Mark were always good at getting what they want without causing any problems for others.
"It's different." Martha was the one who answered.
"What is?"
"..." She displayed a complex expression that showed her difficultly in finding the right words to express herself. I don't get 'emotions' in interpersonal relationships, why can't she just speak honestly?
"People who grow up too quickly tend to become lonely later on in life. Even teenagers are able to form pure and unbending relationships built off of trust once in a while without having to overthink things like us adults." Fred replied in her stead.
I looked back at Martha:
"He's right. Even my older brother could tell that they were very alike." She nodded at his opinion.
Ah, I see... A little sister, a natural mindset suited for a nobleman at a young age, and both were able to overcome their mediocre talents. Technically, they both also come from a fallen bloodline of Nobility as well. Could this be a coincidence or fate?
"I agree with your opinions but... what are you going to do in response? There's no way to get a friend if you don't basically... erm... do what I do!" I spoke with confidence as I was ending that last sentence.
"You mean... just arbitrarily call someone you only met twice your friend?" Fred rolled his eyes at me.
"You're such a meanie! I only call those closest to my heart a close friend. How could you doubt me?"
"..." Fred avoided my gaze after I rested up for dramatic effect and passed the hot potato to the side.
"We ARE NOT friends." Martha put her foot down yet was inevitably unable to resist my pitiful gaze.
This lead to her ending her words with:
"But I'll consider the offer."
"Yay! I knew we'd be good friends."
"Why me, anyway? There are other female Sword Servants in the Household besides myself."
"Meh, who knows? I feel like we'll along. What's your reason not to be my friend? Scared?"
"Hardly, your 'friendship' is a little too sudden."
"You're overthinking~ Have a nice day today."
"You too."
"Also, stop calling me Fred...!"
"NEVER!!!"
And with that out of the way, the Swordwick Household returned to its former peace. A lot of things have changed over time. However, that's only natural to happen as the next generation grew up. I hope these days last forever... quite and peaceful...