Capítulo 5: Fjellborg - Ⅲ
"What's the meaning of this, Albert?"
The person in question was a tall man, around 7 inches taller than Arthur. His short black hair was combed neatly to the side. With a pair of slit eyes, he had a charming smile on his face as he blocked Astrid's way. Despite the sudden chill in the air that made Albert's lungs sting like hot needles being stabbed inside his breath, he maintained his sly smile. Meanwhile, Arthur kept an indifferent expression on his face.
"Ahaha…I am sorry Lord Arthur—"
"Formalities are unneeded." Arthur cut him off as Albert removed his arm from in front of Astrid.
"It has been my designated duty since time immemorial to be of service and be totally subservient to what remains of Adam's children."
Albert spoke with pride, however, the empty greys of Arthur made him shift uncomfortably.
Coughing, Albert's lizard-like slit, amethyst eyes looked down at Arthur. "It was a recent development so I think this matter has not been brought to your attention—" he paused, letting Arthur turn around. "This time for the 「The Seven Syndicates」 Annual Meeting, anyone other than Family Heads and Heirs are to have their 「Arcanum」 sealed." Albert looked at Astrid from the corner of his eye, flashing his fang like canines. "For reasons that are to be disclosed in the meeting." He explained, raising his wrist. A metallic band was strapped to it, pulsing as it restrained his arcanum.
"Hmm." Arthur hummed. "Fine."
"If you would please accompany me." Albert turned his head to her.
Astrid looked at Arthur, who merely nodded. Gaining permission, she went away with Albert.
"Oh, if it isn't Arthur san!" A voice, soft as the light at dawn spoke.
Arthur looked back. It was a petite girl around his age—15-years-old—with twin black ponytails and a pair of gradient red eyes. She was wearing a long dress with a white high-neck sweater that was two sizes bigger than her actual one. The sleeves covered half of her palms, giving her a rather cherubic, yet cute look.
'Yuki Watanabe from Japan representing Asia.' Arthur noted and then he looked to the side. There was another girl with rather brown-ish skin with dark blonde hair and almond shaped grey eyes. 'Maria Miranda from Brazil, South America..'
"Ehhh, when did ya get here, eh?"
Just behind them were three boys with rather wild auras around them.
'Finn Anderson representing Australia, Michael White from the USA and Dotun Olaniyan Ife of Nigeria, Africa.'
As Arthur took in their features, he let out a deep breath.
'There were only three helicopters outside. From the looks of it there are already groups forming between the families. That would make sense given the approaching situations.' He thought, the locks of hair that framed his face forming a shadow over his features. 'If that is so, it would put only us—Olvasens at a disadvantage.'
Arthur turned around, a barely perceptible, yet an unsettling—uncanny even—smile forming on his face. The smile, although seemingly perfect and attractive, felt odd from a perceptive human's perspective. Almost as if it was practised beforehand and not something that he actually meant.
"I'm not sure if we had the pleasure of meeting before." He turned around to the first girl who called out to him, his dialogue and thoughts at conflict with each other.
The girl in front of him gave him a deep bow, her ponytails moving in tandem. As she straightened her back, the corner of her eyes creased as she smiled back at him. "Oh, forgive me." She spoke, her voice unusually soft on the ears. "I am Watanabe Yuki. You can just call me Yuki!" She introduced herself in a rather excited way. "Since you were not present in the Annual Meeting of the 「The Seven Syndicates」 last time, you are bound to not recognise me."
Arthur tilted his head. "The younger daughter, yes? You replaced your older sister, Yui Watanabe."
"Ah, yes!" She exclaimed. "Her." Biting back a dark, humourless chuckle, she spoke. "She did talk about you back then. A lot."
"So she lost the succession battle?"
It was a rhetoric, posed in a way that made Yuki narrow her eyes at him. She tried to look him straight in the eye, probing for something. Anything at all. In the deepest corners of her mind, she wanted to know what was the effect of this information on him, however, despite the welcoming smile, all she saw was a harrowing emptiness.
Nothing that could allow her to read him.
Without waiting for an answer, Arthur spoke again. "Congratulations on being the Heir despite being the youngest. I suppose you are already aware of the decorum of the 「Annual Meetings」, yes?"
"I am, thanks for asking." She bowed her head once again. However, her gradient red eyes remained glued to Arthur, following every micro-movement. "I hope you don't mind."
"Pardon?"
"I mean, from the looks of it, you seemed close to Yui."
Arthur shrugged, feeling a pair of eyes snap at him. "We knew each other, yes, but it doesn't really bother me. If she lost, she lost. It would mean that is all what she amounted to. No hard feelings."
Yuki chuckled. "You sound just like how I imagined you to be!"
"Uhh, right. Good to know."
The conversation died out. Although Yuki kept gawking at Arthur like a lost artefact in a museum.
Arthur looked beside Yuki, at Maria. She was wearing a stylish yet comfortable long tunic consisting of a vibrant array of deep greens, rich blues and musty earthy tones. Paired with a knee length skirt, her attire seemed quite unbefitting for the harsh, frigid climate of Norway.
"Hi."
"Mhmm."
An awkward silence ensued as Arthur stared down at Maria.
"Oye, oye. Don't ignore us!" A rather gruff, cruel voice spoke. It was as if a demon had crept up from the pits of hell, his voice carrying a screeching, discordant quality. It was Michael White. His long white hair was tied back in a small ponytail as two long locks framed the side of his face. His jaw was as sharp as the edge of a blade as he pulled his chin up and looked down at Arthur with a condescending expression. "It's been a while, Arthur." He spoke, a vicious grin forming on his face. "I missed ya so much last year. I hope ya weren't too scared to come."
Just as Arthur's lips parted to talk, a swirling black light materialised in the middle of the grand hall. As the grey wisps scattered everywhere, the figure flicked its longcoat to the side.
It was Albert. However, this time he was dressed rather neatly. His slit-eyed amethyst gaze bored down on everyone and no one at the same time. Lightning cracked the sky into two, permeating through the glass windows as it further illuminated the eerie hall, putting a deep emphasis on Albert's pale skin. His cherry-red lips fluttered open, revealing the same fang like canines. "The Lords have summoned the Heirs in the 「Hollow Sanctum」. It's time for the prayer and then the meeting."
Arthur's eyes flicked towards Albert. "Where's Astrid?"
"Hah!" Michael let a patronising scoff out.
Albert looked down. "She will not be attending. Guardians are not allowed. Not this time."
An intangible tension pulsed through the air, like twigs crackling in a bonfire
"Very well."
PENSAMENTOS DOS CRIADORES 
Reprobate
Reprobate You can support the story here
https://ko-fi.com/repro
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder