A Wholesome Ride

What bore to Anasthasia's sight were three men in prim silver trousers and buttoned coats, with an inner white wool fitted vest. Their statues were tall enough to cast a shadow before her. She could only notice their slick hair and a fair complexion.

'That's weird; they don't hold any animosity—'

"Good day, Lady Lucy. The Archduke of Aureole hereby summons you, and we have been sent to escort you."

"It's here," Lucy muttered under her breath, firmly gripping a handful on the hem of her chiffon dress.

From her subtle tremors, Anasthasia subconsciously reached out her fingers, caressing her back. She shuddered slightly but then took a deep breath.

"Let's depart."

Lucy moved, followed by the knights. Anasthasia prowled behind until they reached by the door of the coach. Her eyes dawned over the elegant golden accents carved and painted on every nook and corner of it.

While one knight did the honor upon opening the door, the rest moved to the side and gave a curt gesture. They took a peek as they wondered why Lucy stood by the door.

Anasthasia, without further ado, moved inside in one fluid motion. She then prodded her arm as a cue for a successful move. Lucy cleared her throat and went inside without any problems.

The knight closed the door. She adjusted herself to sit comfortably. They could hear the coachman commanded, moving the reins of the brown horses. When the rumbling motion felt, Lucy caught off guard and trembled once more.

Lucy could feel the warm touch laid on her hand, and the tender grip somehow soothed her tremors. She then could feel her hands glide nimbly in the air, pointing by the red brocade curtains tied well.

With a nod, Lucy got herself on the move. She undid them. The curtains unfurled and encased their area with comforting shadows.

"Sis-" Her lips felt her touch, which sealed her utterance. Her eyes only blinked as she realized the possible risk she would bring.

Anasthasia blew out her cheeks quietly, then slowly appeared in front of her. She sat upright, not moving an inch. Her eyes blinked a few times, and since then, she mouthed her words.

"We shall talk this way."

Lucy bobbed her head without breaking her intense eye contact. "Sister Ana, will things be alright?"

"I could only hope the best for the two of us here. We don't have much vision outside."

"Indeed. We must be meticulous with the sounds happening outside."

"Is the Aureole's Manor far from the abode?"

"More likely so, It will take a few hours. We'd reach there by sunset."

Anasthasia tapped her fingers on her lap as she focused her hearing from time to time. Right now, she pondered in her thoughts. 'This will take a long journey. I'm pretty sure there's something suspicious—not caught by my signal yet.' She rolled her eyes.

"Sister Ana?"

"Oh, don't mind me." She smiled, gesturing her hands in the air for reassurance.

"I hope my twin brothers are alright." Lucy clasped her hands as she drew her nose closer to it as though she prayed and prayed in good faith.

"I'm sure it's the other way around."

Lucy muffled a laugh, covering her mouth with her hand, as she realized the sound case of the scenario. She then took a peek outside, with a couple of flickers in her eyes and broke free as she noticed no peculiarities.

"Are you anticipating it?"

She trailed off her voice, "Somehow, sister Ana…" Her hands fidgeted and noticed how her voice croaked, "That day when I was chased away, I was only given—unknown address...—dragged and thrown into a poorly-made coach, which—the accident happened."

With her forlorn reminiscence, Anasthasia clapped her hands and noticed the surroundings turned dead silence. On the other hand, the little girl frantically looked around and watched her smile warmly.

This Time, Anasthasia shifted towards her side, and her arms wrapped around her so tenderly. Lucy did the same, snuggling so bad, as her eyes swam with tears.

"It must have been so hard for you, Lucy. Take it slow and easy." She gave rounds of head pats to calm her down, somehow.

"Sister Ana..." She arched her neck, and her cheeks shaded with a flush of pink, sniffing.

"I appreciate you for telling me that. I only waited for you to open things slowly. I'm all ears about your problems." Anasthasia raked her hair with her slender fingers.

"That sounds so refreshing to hear, sister Ana. Back then, I only had my twin brothers, but they aren't always there for me, so I feel so isolated."

Anasthasia nodded; never uttered a word.

"Now that there are two more important people in my life: You and Freid, who seemed to listen to my rants and prattles, despite him not understanding me. Whenever I talked about it again, he seemed to stop his actions and then drew closer to me as though he wanted to comfort me from my sorrows."

She gave a soft hum as a response, but her thoughts beg to differ. 'I guess they have developed quite thus far, and it's good news for all of us. I'm so happy.'

"Yes, Fried can be haughty at times, but when it comes to this, he seemed to act appropriately."

"I'm not lonely anymore, sister Ana. I have so many things I've been coping up. That's all because my big brothers provided so much for me. Even if I wasn't treated well, they could only hope and do their best to provide what they can."

"I concur. They're proud of you and love you with no reservations."

"Sister Ana, I'm so thankful that I found you."

Anasthasia flicked her finger, hitting her forehead. She whined a little as she kneaded.

The whole moment fluttered her heart that she couldn't take it anymore.

"Always remember that you are protected, cared for, and most importantly, loved by people who are close to your heart. Let those be your strength and somehow manifest them do your bidding."

'I'm starting to go in-depth about their lives, but I could only do one step at a time.'

Anasthasia patted her one more time, but she clapped back as she noticed the coach stopped the track.

'Concealment!'

'Refraction!'

Turning invisible, she could only watch Lucy fix her outfit, wiped away her tears, blinking several times, and sat with poise.

The sudden clops with rowdy neighs of the horses stopped. Not long enough, the knights opened the door and gestured to Lucy to move out.

Anasthasia, as usual, moved out from the carriage without a sound. She blew a breeze, rushing inside for Lucy to notice her sign. She twisted her heel, and she was amazed by what she saw.

Shades of sunset bathed the area with such splendor—Even the gates that towered afore her gave her an intimidating vibe, with every line glinted gold. Several guards, in silver-clad armor, guarded near the area.

Anasthasia's eyes ogled, and she couldn't be bothered by the knight's excuse as they could only stop from this point onward.

Before her eyes could wonder further, she heard the loud chatters of Liam, running while he waved his arm. Levi followed right behind him.

"Lucy! You've come back safe and sound."

"I'm back… Big brothers." She gazed—downwards, unable to face them with her puffy eyes and whatnot.

But she could never lie how strained her voice was, which caught the twins' attention. Liam instantly kneeled, hands on her frail shoulders, and Levi bent down, whose eyes glanced with deep concern.

"Any problem happened along the way?"

"There wasn't, brother Levi."

The twins looked at each other with a cast of doubt and confusion, but Lucy was quick as she spread her arms, giving them a tight hug. This Time around, she took the initiative as she patted their head while they were at it.

Meanwhile, Anasthasia glanced at them, and she could feel how wholesome it was. Her heart welled up with warmth and comfort on how cohesive the siblings are despite the tragedy—there could be more she never knew, or at least she thought.

'Time waited for no one and so, did the man who indomitably stood beyond there. I'm sure of that.'

It was Time for them to move onward. She blew a kiss, which brought forth a breeze, and got to their feet, strolling towards the Aureole's Manor.

Soon as Anasthasia entered, she could feel the cold gaze from afar and not only that she'd noticed but also the mana fluctuations—comparable to the training grounds, which further creased her eyebrows.

'I don't know what to say, but I have mixed feelings meeting this man.'

Liam gave a curt signal to the man, in a black coat and trousers with a fitted white vest, who stood upright by the door.

Anasthasia was never concerned about a wide array of maids and butlers. Only to the man on the staircase.

...The man with indifferent emerald orbs.