My Demented Gentleman

Seer Aselsiel peeked over the hedges that bordered the garden. He didn't need to hide from the people who lived within the mansion. The servants and guards were not what he was hiding from. He backed into the shadows of the hedges. Aselsiel eyed his surroundings.

Unwanted eyes.

Unwanted Guests.

These were things worth hiding from. Aselsiel looked up into the room that Esthertia is supposedly to be in at this time. He squinted his eyes but did not see any sign of movement in Esthertia's room. Aselsiel had a bad feeling in his gut. He narrowed it down to two reasons why the lady wasn't coming to the gardens when daylight was to break anytime soon.

Firstly, it would be reasonable that the lady didn't trust the apprentice seer, or perhaps she hadn't planned on coming due to other matters.

Aselsiel considered this to be an understandable choice. Some nobles are quite skeptical of seers. Some of them say that they were not blessed, rather they were cursed with these abilities by the demons.

Aslesiel gritted his teeth at the thought of those ignorant nobles. They knew nothing about the trials and challenges seers have gone through to gain the favor of the God Pelagus. None of them knew the sacrifices that seers had to make...that he had to make. He looked down at her calloused hands and shut his eyes tight.

Aselsiel remembered the look on Esthertia's face. He never knew that nobles could look as heartbroken as seers who devote their blood and soul to their work. Esthertia's broken spirit was so well hidden behind that pretty face.

Aselsiel sighed. He knew genuine trust when he saw it. He saw that trust of Esthertia get greater when Esthertia entered the room and met his father. He saw the same trust shatter to pieces when his father rushed out of the room. Aselsiel wanted to help the lady in any way that he can. Not everyone has a soulmate. Some will never have one due to unfortunate events to the other. Some can't meet or find their soulmates due to responsibilities.

Some are responsible to sacrifice their soulmate to gain immortality. The young seer opened his frustrated ruby eyes. Aselsiel can help this lady, even if it means sacrificing his own immortality.

The second reason why the lady hasn't come yet might be because....something unspeakable has happened. The magic side of this world...is not something to be taken lightly.

A rustle was heard near Aselsiel's hiding spot. Aselsiel ducked lower and lowered his green cloak. Royal apprentices are gifted green cloaks as they are sent to numerous missions into the wild. Stealth may not be magic but it is needed in many situations where the seer isn't the only finder.

Aselsiel focused his concentration on his hand on the ground. Soft footsteps were felt a few meters to the right. They were quick and light as if they were sprinting. Aselsiel felt the footsteps becoming heavier. He gasped as he realized that he was too late.

The footsteps have stopped right behind him.

"Tsk. You still have much to learn, boy." A voice said behind him.

Aselsiel whirled around, clutching a small dagger he got from under his cloak. Aselsiel sighed in relief. "Father, what are you doing here?", Aselsiel asked, lowering his dagger. The royal seer ignored his question. "I'd like to ask you the same question but I already know your answer. So I'll ask anyway to test your integrity. Why are you meddling in this matter?", Lerfid asked.

Aselsiel sighed and put back the dagger in its harness. "Father...her situation...is pitiful. I wish to help." Aselsiel said slowly, avoiding eye contact. Lerfid sighed at his empathetic son. He shook his head in disappointment. "There will be many sad and unknown cases that may clench your heart and make your thinking hazy. You must know when to intercept and when not to. I've repeated over and over, boy. Pick the fights that are worth it." Lerfid scolded.

Aselsiel rolled his eyes. He has heard this scolding over and over again. He did agree that some fights are to be fought and some not but...there is something about Esthertia's situation that draws him. Perhaps it was her broken windows that showed her withering soul. Perhaps it was the way she carried herself, trying to stand strong though with no avail. Aselsiel pondered on what could be the reason he was so compelled to help/

"Aselsiel!", Lerfid shouted. Aselsiel took a step back. "Were you not listening to what I was saying??", Lerfid said with disbelief. Aselsiel shrugged his shoulders and turned away from his fuming father. "Father...I can not explain as of now, but there is something that pulls me to the lady. No, Father, love is not what pulls me. That has died with the holder of my other half. Love clouds our judgment. Do not worry, father. I am not falling astray." Aselsiel assured his father.

Lerfid sighed and patted his son's back. "You have much to learn. I have much to teach. Aselsiel, let this one go. We both saw what surrounded her ring. Dark magic is something that we do not delve into. Let the Fates decide on what will happen to the lady. We should not interfere. It is written in ancient code."

"But, Father," Aselsiel whirled around to meet his father's stern gaze. He gritted his teeth. There was nothing Aselsiel could say that his father would listen to. "Alright, Sir Lerfid", Aselsiel stained with disdain.

Lerfid shook his head. "Watch your tone with me, boy." Aselsiel pursed his lips and grunted. Lerfid sighed once more. "Aselsiel, I…" Lerfid's voice trailed off.

Aselsiel looked back up at his father. Lerfid stood still, hands at his sides and eyes staring forward. Aselsiel looked behind him but only saw the empty garden. "Father? What are you looking at?" Aselsiel looked back at his father. There was no sign of movement from the royal seer.

A wave of negative energy came from the royal seer's being. Aselsiel took a step back. "F-father? What are you doing?", Aselsiel stuttered nervously. Another great surge of toxic energy came from Lerfid. "Father! Please stop!", Aselsiel shouted at him.

"Run." The royal seer said in a low stiff voice. Aselsiel tilted his head. "What did you say?", Aselsiel asked with a concerned voice. Lerfid's red eyes fell upon his terrified son. "Run!" Lerfid grunted loudly.

Aselsiel took another few steps back. His scared face was completely visible by the dim light of the lights that bordered the walls of the mansion. A light shadow cast upon Lerfid's contempt face. A glint under Lerfid's cape caught Aselsiel's eye.

Chills ran down Aselsiel's eyes as his father unsheathed his dagger. "Habiti, Aselsiel!", Lerfid managed to shout. Aselsiel scrambled away as his father took a shaky step towards him, dagger pointing menacingly at Aselsiel.

"Guards! Lock the seer in the gardens! Bring him to the majesty's guards and tell them, Royal Apprentice Seer Aselsiel. Now." Aselsiel ordered the patrolling guards. They bowed and proceeded to the garden.

A blood-curdling scream came from the gardens. "Habiti!", Lerfid shouted.

Aselsiel grabbed his horse from the entrance of the gardens. Lerfid's horse neighed nearby, clearly sensing his owner in danger. "I'm sorry, Regiis. You will have to be going back home without him.", Aselsiel said, untying the horse. The horse nuzzled the apprentice. "Let's go.", he said, going up on his own horse.

The soft clip-clopping of the horses echoed on the granite walls as he exited the estate. The worried son looked back to the distant estate as the lights faded into the trees. He bit his lip and looked forward, determined to save his father.

"Habiti...Possessed...who could do such a thing to a royal seer?" Aselsiel mused into the night.