Chương 1709: Conflict
Though Endorsi was pulled from the ground without much difficulty, there was still a perfect mold of everything below her waist left in the commissary's ground. This included a flawless impression of her butt and another, more intimate, region, so, shortly after being liberated, Endorsi ended up destroying a large section of the floor before anyone else could see it.
Despite having forcibly calmed herself moments prior, Endorsi immediately glared at the person responsible, her face redder than an apple as she exclaimed, "I swear! I'll make you pay for this you cheeky little furball...!"
Realizing he had probably overstepped his bounds, failing to account for the fact that Endorsi was wearing form-fitting tights and thin silk bottoms, Gandr didn't hesitate to lower his head, his voice sincere as he stated, "Sorry. I shouldn't have resorted to such an extreme method. I'll make sure the Admins know this event is entirely my fault."
Not expecting the usually boisterous brat to suddenly apologize in such a solemn manner, Endorsi felt as if all the wind had been taken out of her sails. She even began to feel a little guilty due to the fact his ears were drooping slightly...
Holding her head, Endorsi released an exasperated sigh, all the anger draining from her body as she said, "Yeah, yeah, apology accepted. I know I'm also at fault so we'll split the bill, okay? I don't want people to start accusing me of bullying mischievous brats."
With that said, Endorsi began making her way over to the section of the cafeteria where you could order a variety of hand-made foods and fresh produce. After five steps, however, she turned her head back and added, "Save me a seat. I refuse to sit at the end of the table like yesterday..."
Though he was tempted to leave the second-furthest seat open for her, Gandr knew Endorsi would pout if he didn't empty one of the spaces next to him. One of these positions was reserved for a certain green-skinned Princess, so, after offering a wry smile and seeing Endorsi on her way, Gandr turned his attention to Shibisu.
Without requiring an explanation, Shibisu just grinned back at Gandr before making enough space for Endorsi to sit down. At the same time, however, he went out of his way to teasingly remark, "It seems like we have a real Casanova in our midst. Anak is going to be jealous when she sees-"
Interrupting Shibisu's comment, Anak, seemingly appearing out of thin air from the perspective of many, asking, "When she sees what?"
Feeling like the Grim Reaper had just appeared behind him, sweat began to pour down Shibisu's face as he turned his head in a robotic fashion. There, nearly matching his gaze perfectly despite the fact he was sitting down, Anak could be seen glowering at him with an unamused expression on her face.
Deciding to place Shibisu in his debt by throwing the man a bone, Gandr offered a disarming smile as he asserted, "Phae baked a mountain of cookies and told me to share them with my friends. They have to sign this paper first. Here, I saved the first spot for you."
Though it wasn't immediate, Anak eventually stopped glaring daggers at Shibisu before shifting her attention to the piece of paper with a doubtful look on her face, asking, "What is this?"
Reacting with a wide smile, Gandr happily explained, "This is a special assignment that was given to all the Scout candidates. We were told to make ten friends by the end of the week. Though it might be a little bold of me, I'd like to think we're already friends. It would make me happy if you were the first person to sign my sheet."
Hearing Gandr's explanation, Anak couldn't help but furrow her brows. Her mind compelled her to refute his claim but the words wouldn't leave her mouth. Gandr and Phae had both treated her very well, and, though she still felt like they were hiding something, they also helped smooth things out between her and the other Regulars.
Similar to when she was glaring at Shibisu, Anak hesitated for a few seconds before accepting the piece of paper and plainly remarking, "I don't have a pen..."
Without missing a beat, Gandr produced a rather fancy-looking pen out of thin air, presenting it to the conflicted-looking Princess with a toothy grin.
Eager to be over and done with the awkwardness of this situation, Anak quickly signed her name in bold letters at the top of Gandr's friend list. Her letters even bled over into some of the other boxes a little, loudly asserting itself on the page.
Though he was tempted to tease her a bit, Gandr could tell Anak was swiftly reaching her tolerance threshold. She likely had a bad day during Fisherman training, so, after finishing her meal, she was bound to return to her room in order to decompress.
Realizing that Endorsi's presence was bound to exacerbate Anak's condition, Gandr accepted the piece of paper from her hands before adopting a genial smile and suggesting, "You should head back to your room if you're feeling tired. I'll either convince Phae to bring you some food or I can bring it myself after I grab the cookies from my room. We still have twenty-nine days of classes so don't overexert yourself..."
Furrowing her brows at Gandr's suggestion, Anak shifted her attention to the cooking station where Endorsi was waiting to receive her food. She might not be the smartest person in the room, but she wasn't an idiot. The crater on the ground wasn't exactly discreet so it wasn't difficult to understand what was going on after accounting for Shibisu's words and actions.
With her hands forming into tiny fists, a rather dangerous aura began to emanate from Anak's body as she shakily asked, "Are you trying to get rid of me...?"
Hearing Anak's words, it was Gandr's turn to frown, his tone becoming firm as he said, "Never think that, not even for a moment. I know you have a difficult time trusting me, but you should have also realized that my concerns are genuine. Come, even if you want to beat me up later, I think it is best that you get some rest. I'll take you to my room to pick up the cookies and then escort you back to your room. Shibisu can explain the situation to Phae when she arrives."
Though her anger began to gradually fade, Anak didn't stop glaring at Gandr, or, more specifically, his outstretched hand. She got the impression he was treating her like a child, but, just as he had previously stated, she could also tell he was actually concerned about her. This caused her a great deal of confusion, her expression gradually morphing into one of conflict until Gandr directly took her by the hand and pulled her away...
---
Well aware of the incidents occurring within the commissary, Phae altered her course to intercept Gandr and Anak. The rooms were pretty spaced out from each other but they were still in the same long corridor, so, by pretending to return to her room, it was a simple matter to cross paths with the duo.
As if he was surprised by her presence, Gandr's ears perked up when he 'noticed' Phae at the far end of the long hallway. Then, while pulling along the surprisingly obedient Anak, he waved his hand, calling out, "Heeeeeey! Phae, over here! I need to talk with you!"
With her palm just about to open the biometric lock on her door, Phae showed her own version of surprise as she shifted her attention to the duo, smiling as she said, "My, this is a pleasant surprise. Did the two of you have fun during your first day of class~?"
Having reached Phae's side in a relatively short period of time, a massive grin spread across Gandr's face as he answered, "I had a blast! I played tag against the instructor and was almost able to catch him a few times!"
Chuckling in response to Gandr's words, Phae reached out her hand to gently caress his head as she mused, "It sounds like you will do just fine..." before shifting her attention to Anak, her voice suddenly sounding worried as she tentatively inquired, "Anak? Are you feeling unwell...?"
Raising her head, Anak stared directly at Phae, her expression turning serious as she said, "Tell me the truth. Why are the two of you so nice to me? It doesn't make any sense...!"
Following her sudden outburst, Anak pulled her hand free from Gandr, adding, "And I told you not to touch me! If I was a normal girl, you would have yanked my arm out of its socket! Show some restraint you stupid jerk!"
Feeling awkward to have the same words he said to Endorsi thrown back at him, Gandr was unable to prevent his ears from flattening as he averted his eyes. At the same time, Phae shook her head in exasperation, a sigh escaping her lips as she said, "You're letting your anger cloud your judgment, Anak. Hurtful things said in the heat of the moment hurt even more so when the passions have died down. Come, I'll answer all the questions you have. Gandr, I want you to go to your room and think about what you've done. I'll let you know when you can come out."
Since he really did want to reflect on his actions, Gandr nodded his head in understanding before dragging his feet to the opposite end of the hall. Men and women had separate residences due to the Tower incorporating a communal bathing system. Though there were private baths, it required you to pay points to gain access to them. The only exception to this rule was if you were one of the many races who required a special grooming station. Then, so long as you formalized a request to the Test Administrators, they would allow you access to the special baths tailored for your specific needs...
After watching Gandr walk away with a sullen expression on his face, Anak's own began to show visible conflict. Then, after turning back to face Phae, a sour feeling spread through her nose as she saw the worry and concern hidden visible within the woman's gentle blue eyes.
Seeing Anak's face scrunch up, Phae offered the kindest smile she could manage before extending her hand to the girl and softly stating, "Let's go...even if you don't want to talk, I will stay with you until you calm down. Tomorrow, I'll help you apologize to Gandr. Don't worry, he isn't the type to lay blame on others. He might be a little mischievous at times, but he is a caring boy..."
Though she didn't like being pat or pulled around by someone like Gandr, Anak had developed a weakness against the woman standing before her. Phae had always treated her kindly, and, when everyone else was blaming her for the failure of the Crown Game, she was the person to treat her wounds, carry her body, and fix her clothes. She also helped style her hair, and, though she always defaulted back to her pixie-bob cut, Anak enjoyed the feeling of being doted upon...
Forcing back the urge to sniffle, Anak ultimately reached out, grasping Phae's hand with her own and allowing the woman to gently guide her the remaining distance to her room. It might be a little silly, as her room was only a few meters away, but Anak always felt a little better whenever she was around Phae. If not for the strange feeling she got whenever she was around the kindly duo, Anak felt like she might have even been able to open up to her. There were a lot of things she wanted to talk about, but, after experiencing the loss of her mother, Anak had always felt like the world was a cold and dark place...a place filled with countless people who would not hesitate to kill her just for being born...
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'That's quite the impression~','Gandr seems to be following in his Master's footsteps...','*Sad Cucumber Noises*')
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Chương 1710: Safeguard
While Anak was changing into her pajamas and getting comfortable, Phae was waiting quietly near the side of her bed, a cup of tea in hand as she silently sat savored its contents with her eyes closed. It was only when she heard a pitter-patter of footsteps, followed by a shuffling of fabrics, that she opened her eyes to find the peculiar glowing pupils of Anak staring back at her.
Seeing the adorable creature just out of arm's length, a touch of affection could be seen in Phae's smile as she set aside her tea and asked, "Do you want to talk about it? Like everyone else, there are some secrets I cannot divulge. However, if my intuition is correct, it shouldn't be an issue to answer the questions weighing on your mind..."
Anak had frowned when she heard the part about everyone keeping secrets, her own rising to the surface of her mind. She had more secrets than most, many she was even willing to die for, so it was difficult to find fault in Phae's words. Still, that didn't stop her from asking, "Why are you and Gandr so nice to me...?"
With her smile turning somewhat sad, Phae took a slow breath through her nose before answering, "It is the will of our Lord that all children be safeguarded and given a chance to seek the happiness they deserve. No person should be held accountable for the circumstances of their birth, so, even if you are far older than a traditional child, it is our instinct to protect and care for you..."
Sensing no falsehoods in Phae's words, Anak scrunched up her nose slightly as she didn't like being treated like a child. In the current group of Regulars, she was easily one of the oldest, so, while she knew the significance of her current appearance, she wouldn't let people look down on her.
Noticing the displeasure visible in Anak's countenance, Phae tilted her head down slightly, her eyes turned up in the characteristic way that mothers used to warn their children before they said or did something regrettable. This caused Anak to frown even deeper, but, rather than refute the previous statement, she broke eye contact, head hanging as she muttered, "I don't need anyone's pity..."
Surprisingly the green-skinned Princess, Phae nodded her head, asserting, "True..." before following it up by adding, "What you really need is unconditional love and affection, the things you lost in the past and yearn to reclaim through your vengeance..."
Grasping the covers in a death grip, Anak glared at the calmly smiling Phae only to find herself at a loss when the latter added, "His Imperial Majesty also lost his mother when he was very young. The incident haunted him for a long time before he was finally able to put it behind him with the help of many others. Since then, he has always done his best to create an environment where children, and all within his dominion of protection, can live happily. You see, Anak, he wasn't always the man that people refer to as the Sage Dragon Emperor. There was a time when Vahn was nothing more than a frail boy, suffering injustices at the hands of others by virtue of nothing more than his birth..."
Though her first instinct was to deny the similarities between her situation and the Emperor's, Anak found it hard to speak after seeing the overwhelming emotion contained within Phae's eyes. All she could do was continue listening silently as the former went on to add, "None of us will try to get in the way of your revenge. We can, however, help you bear the burden while showering you with love to the point revenge no longer seems important. Even with all your hatred and resentment, you are the most aware of the fact that your mother would have wanted you to be happy, not seek revenge at any cost..."
With Phae's tone turning even gentler towards the end of her statement, Anak felt an excruciatingly sour feeling in her nose. It was impossible for her to deny the woman's words, as, whenever she fell asleep, memories of her mother pleading for her not to seek revenge haunted her nightmares. The Jahad Empire was simply too powerful to oppose with an individual person's might, but, unable to move forward since the moment she was separated from her mother, this was the only course of action that Anak could think of...
Surprising the Princess what a bit, Phae's expression turned tender as she asked, "Can I sit in your bed? I'm not your mother, but I promise you will feel better if you cry it out. Then, once you have calmed down, I will continue answering your questions until you are satisfied..."
Rather than answer Phae's question, Anak tucked up her knees, hugging them as she hid her face from view. This made Phae consider sitting in the girl's bed and giving her a hug, but, before she was able to make the decision, Anak broke the silence by muttering, "Tell me...why do I always feel like you and Gandr are deceiving me...?"
Having already expected this question, Phae exhaled a tired sigh and simply spoke the truth, albeit without the specific details, saying, "Gandr and I are extensions of our Lord. While we are real, living and breathing people, our existences are fundamentally linked to his. You could say we are one and the same, extensions of himself that help to fulfill a specific purpose. This might be difficult for you to understand right now, but His Imperial Majesty carries his Empire with him. Soon enough, there will be more people like Gandr and myself appearing in this world. The first will be a woman named Fenrir, the big sister to Gandr and the most faithful companion of His Imperial Majesty. After that, a group known as the Four Sacred Beasts will follow suit...in the end, this Tower is fated to become an extension of my Lord's desire to protect the things that he believes must be protected..."
Anak wasn't able to understand everything Phae was trying to say but there were a few key parts that stuck with her. To that end, she revealed her tear-stained face to absentmindedly mutter, "So you are three parts of the same whole..." before going on to ask, "Is the Emperor an Irregular...?"
Without denying it, Phae nodded her head, explaining, "We hail from an impossible distant world, a living planet known as Gaia. There, trillions of people live relatively peaceful lives...it is a place with no systematic racism or political corruption...a paradise where people are allowed to freely pursue any path so long as it is not at the expense of others..."
Though she felt like Phae was embellishing things, Anak couldn't sense any falsehoods contained within the woman's words. In fact, from the moment the woman had professed to be an extension of the man known as the Sage Dragon Emperor, the uncomfortable feeling that had been plaguing her seemed to disappear in its entirety. It was like an obscuring veil had been removed, allowing her to see the woman before her clearly for the first time...
Noticing the subtle change in Anak's gaze, Phae offered the closest approximation to a motherly smile she could manage before saying, "It is fine to build walls around your heart. We won't try to break them down. Instead, we will just fill the surroundings with people who can understand your pain and show you the affection you deserve. When you are finally ready to come out, we will be here waiting for you..."
Feeling another sour sensation spread through her nose, Anak adopted a rather adorable pout as she, once again, concealed her face from view. With the feeling that she was being lied to gone, it was a lot harder not to be influenced by Phae's words. This made her feel slightly resentful, but, in the most protected regions of her heart and mind, Anak felt a bit of warmth take root in places she had long closed off to others...
---
While Phae was systematically breaking down the walls around Anak's heart, Gandr found himself in a far more troublesome situation.
As could be expected, Endorsi had taken exception to the fact he departed the commissary before she even had a chance to sit down. As a result, she currently stood on the outside of his door with a visibly annoyed expression and a plate of food in her hands, shouting, "You had better open up this door! I'm already going to lose points for breaking part of the commissary! Don't think I won't kick down this door next...!"
Fortunately, while Endorsi's presence was more than a little troublesome, Gandr was spared by the fact that Shibisu, Hatsu, Nare, and Hong Chunhwa had decided to follow after her. The latter was a rather handsome man with brown hair, brown eyes, and, though he was currently wearing nothing but a tracksuit, he always carried around a sword with him. He was the man Nare referred to as her Knight, and, though it caused quite a number of people to tease him, the man was pretty smitten with the rather 'youthful-looking' young lady.
After failing to deter Endorsi be saying he was 'grounded', Gandr ultimately keyed open the door to allow five entry into his room. Before they could enter and make themselves comfortable, however, Endorsi didn't miss the opportunity to haughtily remark, "You've got a lot of gall to break a promise with a Princess. I decide to sit next to you and you run off? There are people who would pay just to be in the same room as a Princess of Jahad? You really should consider yourself fortunate...hmph!"
Seemingly finished with her criticisms, at least for the time being, Endorsi was the first to enter into the room, her golden eyes shifting around the relatively empty interior before promptly deciding to sit on the bed. There was no way she was going to sit on the floor while wearing a skirt and tights, so, with the only table being the one near the bedside, she decided to claim the position near the headboard for herself.
Taking the opportunity to roll his eyes the moment Endorsi walked by him, Gandr turned to the four standing outside the door, smiling as he said, "Feel free to come in. I'll probably get in trouble for having company right now, but I'm sure I can convince Phae not to be too mad. Here, let me grab some cushions from the closet so you can make yourselves comfortable while I make tea."
Accepting the offer of entry, Shibisu walked past Gandr with a wry smile on his face, patting the boy's shoulder as if to say, 'you have it rough, kid'. Following immediately after him, Hatsu just gave a curt nod while Nare and Hong Chunhwa just offered understanding smiles. Then, with the former grabbed the latter's hand, Nare impishly stated, "We just wanted to make sure everything was okay. Since you're grounded right now, I'll see you in class tomorrow. Come along, my Knight~."
Though it made him slightly embarrassed to be pulled along by someone nearly half his size, Hong Chunhwa didn't really resist as he rubbed the back of his head and said, "See you next time, Gandr."
With a simple wave of his hand to see the duo off, Gandr closed the door to he room before setting about to do as he had previously stated, Before he could grab the pillows from the closet, however, Endorsi interrupted by asking, "That 'grounded' thing wasn't just a lie to chase me away? What did you do to get placed under house arrest...?"
Rather than answer, Gandr just shook his head before making his way to the closet as he said, "It isn't something I should talk about. If you want to know, you should try to get along with Anak. I can tell you don't actually hate her so the two of you should talk it out after you set aside your pride."
Frowning in response to Gandr's words, Endorsi was tempted to remark that she had no interest in a false Princess, but, remembering the boy's previous reaction to such words, she ultimately chose to remain silent As for Shibisu and Hatsu, they were already beginning to feel out of place, but, as Gandr was their friend, they did their best to tolerate the growing awkwardness. Shibisu even pulled out a deck of cards, his expression turning serious as he stared at the returning Gandr and stated, "I will avenge my fallen points..."
Understanding Shibisu was just trying to break the tensions, Gandr snickered in his characteristically mischievous manner as he said, "Don't worry, even if you end up going broke, I'll make sure to buy you the cheapest meal whenever we're in the commissary~."
With visible tick marks appearing on his head, the upper-half of Shibisu's face became a little red as he indignantly shouted, "Oh, you're so on, you little brat..!"
(A/N: Even if it sometimes feels like you are alone, there are others who have also suffered similarly. Find people you can share your burdens with, as, united, we can overcome all adversity~")
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