บท 30: Etiquette instructor

To test her, I focused my gaze on her form scanning her from head to toe. The days I have been in this world among these air breathers--humans I had slowly become accustomed to their ugly appearances.

The weird blinking of their eyes did not make my skin crawl because I too, had to become accustomed to my own humanoid form.

'I really miss my gills, tail and fins,'

I pursed my lips thinking I must study more about the humanoid form.

"You have a master you know, that master sent you here with an order. Don't you think that what you are doing is similar to ignoring that order,"

I informed her. "The society is of servant and master, employee and employer. The highest being the ruler and his subjects. We all are aware of this, even I, an ignorant two-year-old child. You as my elder by over a decade should know better. Right?"

I stood from the chair. My moves had become much more fluid, each move natural. I felt that this air breather even though she should be given a boon and still lived even taking more than twenty percent of my aura; should suffer.

Why?

My thigh as her master, no matter what should be her first priority.

Slaves...what personal feelings of theirs meant anything? Their family, since when had it become more important than the master.

I felt that someone like this might just put my thigh in danger and in extent; myself. I really wanted to live, I had also planned so many things with him included. Someone like this, should I-

"Young miss, I know that with me begging I may seem like a betrayer but I am not. I am thinking as a Quai, servants from the Quai line had served as the right hand man for the Kai family for generations. I thought that since you are the young miss-"

"You may be right there but the final say is still for the old madam or the young master. As for myself, I am still too young to choose on my own, no?"

Raising a brow I looked down waiting for her reply.

For a while, there was only the noise of the small stream in the background.

The two maids that flanked me are not high enough in rank to stay permanently by my side.

I could ask for them to stay, but I felt that as maids they were simply a bit too weak. I could make them stronger, yes but I felt that they were still lacking somehow and could not really understand.

Perhaps it is because of comparison?

One must know those who served directly by the masters side--old madam and the young master are those who are much more refined.

Seeing them--including this servant kneeling before me, has raised the bar suitable only for standard servants.

"send the sister. I will judge if she is worthy,"

I said in a dismissive tone.

The air breather looked interesting the way her different emotions played out on her face. I suppose this is fear and relief.

As for the punishment of this servant, eh, I will decide at a later date.

" Thank you, young miss."

While she stood and quickly retreated I pursed my lips giving her my back.

While she walked away, the silent two began to clear the table slipping away quietly leaving one behind.

"Young miss, the suns are not too harsh today, would you like to take a walk around?

" No, I will return indoors, the instructor should be arriving today to begin etiquette class. Make sure the side courtyard has been prepared for her."

"Mm, the servants have already begun to prepare it."

"Then it is fine."

A few hours later~

Just after the mid-meal, the etiquette instructor appeared.

From what the old madam has mentioned, she will be by my side slowly teaching me everything a young lady should know for the next two years.

The other will be a general lecturer... Well, I should get back to that later.

I stood with my two maids by side directly behind me as the female air breather was led inside.

"Greetings to the young miss Kai. I will be your etiquette instructor for the next two years. My name is; family name, Zaki, given name Hamiya,"

I blinked at the woman who appeared, you can tell she had an aura about her that is unique. Her stature is tall, slim in her attire of a simple dress, pleated skirt, long-sleeved circular collar in a plain dark grey paired with a white calf-length coat and heeled shoes.

even if her style was modest, she was still an air breather that looked--from what I had learned while browsing my wrist band--quite elegant

once I was finished with looking over this air breather, I concluded that the reason she caught my eye to notice her attire and aura is perhaps because she is an etiquette instructor and did not pay it much heed.

Either way, I greeted curtsying and then accompanied by my maids I led her into a small seating room.

"Greetings instructor Zaki," I said taking a seat once more while gesturing for her to do the same as well. "As you know I am quite young and without parents, so I will be in your temporary care until then."

The older air breather smiled, she did not show her teeth but it was a smile, in fact, this seems to be common among air breathers but it is hard to replicate without showing my teeth.

I felt, that smiling with teeth exposed shows more emotion, like sharks. We would also nip at each other while circling.

The circling is usually because of the fact that sharks can not keep still, unless it is an extremely old Shark-kin then they would use their power to filter the necessary oxygen necessary through their gills.

Anyway, the female--etiquette instructor in front of me has a composed form, a form I am excited to learn about and put into practice without being stiff.

Well, it is the first day after all. I have enough time, diligently I will learn as much as possible.