Chương 4: Clueless

With the buzzing of cicadas upon the land, radiant rays of light pierced the young boy's eyes. Releasing a mournful grown, he turned his head, covering his head with the blanket upon his body. Yet unknown to the young boy, a deep set of golden eyes found its prey. Drawing closer on all fours, its steps silent, the preditor mischievously arched its lips. Hidden under the shade of the Gazebo, it clawed its way closer.

Narrowing its eyes, it pounced, leaping upon the lord of this manner, "WAKE UP!!!!!"

Tearing the blanket from Lord Zireael face, light tore into his eyes as the young demons leaped upon his body.

"WAKE UP!!! AURELIA IS UP, SO YOU HAVE TO BE UP!!!"

"TALIA!!!!" Zireael screamed, his silver pupils glimmering with cold fury as his loyal servant appeared in a hurry, her eyes popping in surprise. Never had she seen her lord like this before.

"Get this dirty child off of me!" He coldly yelled as Aurelia snorted, hugging his neck.

"No!! You have to get up!" she screamed, unaware of her still filthy body that had not seen water in days.

Covering her mouth, Talia giggled, shaking her head, "Young Master, come now, she is only a small child. Unlike you, this is how they behave."

"Aurelia never had a friend before!" The young ball of life shouted, hugging the boy his her filth body. "You will be Aurelia's new friend!"

Zireael was many things, a killer, a bastard, a stain upon the earth, but a dirty soul he was not. Everything within his life was meticulously placed within a certain spot, cleaned by either Talia or the manner itself. He had even taken months simply to find the perfect spot to sleep in.

The organs of his enemies, the crimson stains of battle, the debris of war, were all things he could deal with, but this! Viciously pushing the girl from off his body Zireael shot away to the bushes vomiting his stomach out.

"Fucking shit, TALIA CLEAN THAT THING!!!" He roared, releasing another mouthful of vomit.

With her mouth wide open, Talia gasped, staring at Aurelia, who seemed a little confused and taken back. Taking her by the arm, she rushed to the restroom. While Zireael quivered in tears, "I need a shower."

Turning his nose away from this disgusting aroma, the young lord rushed into his estate. Stepping past the threshold of his manner, a world of gold and silver consumed his vision. Azure crystals that glimmered with mystic energy were all but visible as the boy shot into an empty bathroom.

Glaring at the open Hotspring Zireael clenched his teeth, "Damn that brat! Anima destroy these clothes and prepare me something new. Also, make sure that brat is clean; she is not allowed to leave the bath if she is not within my spectrum of what clean should be like."

"Affirmative" Anima, Lord Zireael's personal AI, acknowledged in its robotic voice.

Leaping into the air, Zireael's clothing quickly began to disintegrate, turning into ashen particles in the air as he splashed into the searing water overflowing with steam. Watching his skin slowly turn crimson, a metal sponge appeared within his hands as a cold light consumed his eyes.

"I will be clean!" he roared with determination.

Scrubbing his skin with a heavy bloodlust, Zireael ignored the blood oozing from his skin. When something strange began to occur, no wounds could be seen, yet blood began to fall endlessly into the spring.

"Warning! Lord Zireael, you are losing too much blood," Anima informed.

Gritting his teeth, Zireael turned to the spring of crimson, sighing, watching as the ruby-red blood began to fade away like a dream.

"This may have been a bad idea, not even twenty hours in, and I am already covered in blood. Thankfully Zero placed an Ether Spring within this manner," he whispered, allowing his body to float aimlessly.

The Ether Springs, as Zireael called it, was a powerful relic that was said that could not be formed by man or beast. It was a natural source infused with holy properties. A single drop could cure blindness, two drops could restore a severed arm, and a vial was said to mend the broken souls of gods.

Yet, it was now used as a tool for the Young Duke to bathe with. Releasing a sigh, the voice of Anima responded once more.

"Lord Zireael, you have a meeting with Governor Cor today."

Groaning, the young duke cried, "Damn it, I forgot about that. Can Talia go?"

"Afraid not, my lord, you have been ducking all of Governor Cor's advances. Any more, and you may start losing privileges around Valmor." Anima robotically informed,

Pursing his lips, Zireael sighed, "The things we do for fun. Fine-fine," he said in a lazy manner.

Pulling his naked body from the Ether Spring, Zireael entire body began to dry on its own. Suddenly a large tray magically appeared before the young lord displaying a white button tunic, black trousers, black socks, and a pair of casual dark blue dress shoes.

Not bothering with underwear, Zireael quickly got dressed. Without the need to fix his wild silver hair flowing to his back, the lord waved his hand as a sheathed longsword appeared out of thin air. Staring at the ancient black dragon roaring upon his sheath Zireael sneered in disgust.

"How long must I wait to rid myself of the past."

Strapping the blade to his back like one would a bow or a quiver, Zireael left his bathroom with steam overflowing from his body. Feeling the cool air, he smiled in comfort, standing still, enjoying the cool sensation pressing against his skin.

"Lord Blackwater, your actually going to the meeting with the governor?" Talia suddenly asked in shock, "By the Stars, this might be a miracle.

Hearing her mocking words, a light chuckle sounded from his mouth as he turned around. Opening his mouth wide, an audible gasp resounded as he stared at the untouched golden goddess with large tears in her eyes.

Wearing similar attire to Zireael, the Lord in question turned to Talia, " Why is she dressed like me? Wait! Are those my Friday clothing?"

Rolling her eyes, Talia groaned, "So your question is about the clothing and not why she is crying?"

Not realizing his mistake, Zireael nodded, "She could be crying about many things, but that is no excuse for her to wear my Friday clothing. Now I have to use my backup!"

"Zireael, they are all the same!! You wear the same thing every day," Talia screamed in annoyance, glaring at the foolish boy, still confused, "She is crying because Anima forced her to scrub her body till blood ran. Not that you even asked."

"First off, I have other clothes, yesterday I was in a white robe that complemented my eyes... As for the bath situation, why cry over it?" Zireael cluelessly questioned. " The Ether pool numbs ninety percent of the pain. So all she should have felt was a sting sensation you-

POP~

Ruthlessly chopping her master Talia swiftly kissed the teary eye, Aurelia, upon the cheek, "No crying, ok. Zireael is just a clueless asshole."