Chapter 4-Nico and Cecilia

POV: Firenze

I wanted to show off.

Yeah, I wanted to show Yeoui to Grey because I wanted to learn how to control this mysterious staff. So far, I have learnt how to make the staff expand and contract at will.

It all started after Director Maybell gave me this staff as a small stick at the age of 3. I tried fooling around with it until she told me to learn to love the staff. I didn't understand why she said that but I did as told.

A year later, on my fourth birthday, she asked me to tell the staff to increase its length by asking Yeoui to expand.

"Remember, see the length upto which you want it to grow in your mind. Then, ask it to expand." She explained in the most simplified manner possible.  I did as she told. Up until then, I was caring for the stick as a delicate showpiece. I wished it to grow as long as Director X. The moment I did, it grew instantaneously. I stared at it in awe. It was a metal staff with beautiful carvings looking like an ancient language of an old empire. I was amazed by its beauty. I was impressed. I fell in love with Yeoui that day. It was the first thing I chose to treasure after the director, since she took care for me.

The director, who was the previous owner of the staff, died on my sixth birthday, two months back. The orphanage faculty blamed me for her death and kicked me out. After that I was roaming around the streets and kept getting beat up. No one was wiling to take an orphan in and I was spat, used and trampled on, upto that day when I entered that neighbourhood.

Upto that day when Avier beat me up.

Upto the day I met Grey.

It was yesterday.

After two months, I finally got a comfy bed to live in. As I fell asleep, I heard a soothing yet almost robotic voice in my head: "Do you wish for my power?"

I tried to open my eyes but I couldn't. I couldn't get up. "It's me, Yeoui." It cooed.

"The staff can talk?" I thought in wonder.

"In your mind, for now, you ignorant peasent." It sighed.

"Very well, Mr. Staff. Show me the way." I groaned mentally.

"Congratulations on making it past the first stage. Time to progress to stage two. You will need to progress unless you want to die like her." It's voice became....baritone?

Wait.

What does 'baritone' even mean? When did that word come up in my head? What did it mean by dying like her?

"First off, I can share my past experiences and power with you, but I can't share everything at once since your body will crash with the overload of power and information." It explained. "Second, the last owner died before entering the second stage because she gave it to you. I serve as a lifeline so that the side effects of the first stage don't affect you. If youwish to die,  you may ignore my advice. "

It struck me now why I was blamed for the Director's death. They knew that she had the staff. They knew that she gave it to me. That's why she died.

Is it really my fault that she died?

"Yeoui, did she know that she would die if she gave you to me?"

"Yes, I even warned her, but she payed no heed. Hmpf! The sympathy!" I swear I heard it pout! "I don't why she chose you but whatever. The fact is that you have passed the first stage. You are now going to suffer bouts of internal destruction because your body is going to be rebuilt on an organismal level. So, tomorrow, we are going to try a spell of mine. Once your body has been fully reconstructed with Ananse's silk, we will move on to the third stage."

As he spoke, any words I didn't understand were made understandable. It was like my memory was being edited.

"Are there others like you?" I pondered?

"Yeah, there are ten of us. The others think they are the strongest. Hmph!" I gasped in surprise. No wonder she didn't want me to tell anyone about Yeoui. Nobles must have knowledge about these weapons.

"Ok, how do we start the second stage?" I exclaimed in anticipation.

"I'll teach you when we are awake. Tomorrow." It said before everything went black.

*

In the morning, when I was packing my bag, Yeoui spoke again. "Trust Grey, you brainless chimpanzee." It said. "Let's start stage two."

The first spell we decided to test out was a sonic boom. I did whatever Yeoui instructed me to do: First, expand him, let him send ki throughout my body which will activate certain runes on me. Then...

BOOM!

My ears were protected by Yeoui as I broke out laughing at Grey's shocked face. My joy was short-lived as I heard groans from downstairs. I headed down after Grey to find Vera groaning with blood coming out of her ears.

I felt disgusted. Disgusted with myself for hurting someone unintentionally. I know from what Grey told me about her last night, he cared for his master.

"Grey," I asked him back then, "How did you and Miss Vera meet?"

He gave me a grim look, implying that it wasn't a happy memory. "It was during a division examination when the judge tried to give me less than I deserved and Vera called him out before offering to be my mentor. "

"Then, I was kidnapped by an organization once. They tortured me with white phosphorus and left burns over my body." He removed his shirt to reveal burn scars all over his torso. "Vera saved me back then. I am grateful to master since then."

"I see....." I gave a small smile. I was grateful to Grey too. I decided to surpass Grey. I mean, it was the student's duty to surpass their master, right, Director?

I didn't want him to hate me. I wanted him to be my mentor.

 Extract his skills. Improvise. Adapt. Overcome.

Those words flashed through my mind as I made up my mind to face him. I took in all my anger at myself and focused it on my face to make the most threatening face possible as he turned around. My body moved on its own as the words came out of my mouth: "Do you hate me now?"

He looked me with suprise clearly written on his face for a moment before going back to his deadpan face. "Listen," he began. "It was an accident, so let's leave it at that." While his face looked worried, I let it pass.

I sighed in relief as I felt the fury leave me. Funny how a single person can be so calming. But I still decided to keep my guard up. I am not sure if this guy is putting up a front.

But Yeoui wasn't happy. It started screaming in my head like a madman: "Kill her! Kill her now!" God! I never knew staffs would give you a headache.

"Will you shut up?" I mentally groaned.

"She's dangerous." It growled.

"Well, so are pet dogs. Doesn't mean that they will harm us. She seems to be a harmless woman." I countered.

It sighed. "Fine. I will tell you later."

*

As I and Grey accompanied each other after dropping Aunt Vera off in an ambulance, he picked up a taxi for us to head to wherever Rudolf was. As we sat through the ride, Grey gave me a concerned look.

"Make a good first impression on my friends, okay?"

"I will, but is it just Rudolf?" I asked.

"Nope, I wouldn't even call us as friends. We have a rivalry with each other, that's all." He gave a low growl.

I wondered what made Grey so upset about Master Rudolf, but I didn't pry. "Anyways, did you say friends?"

"Yeah, childhood friends." He gave a sad smile for a moment, but it disappeared within a moment. "Nico and Cecilia. Two lovebirds. Just ask them about pull-out methods." The taxi immediately halted as Grey gave a chortle while I gave him a confused look.

"Sir, you have arrived." The driver sighed as the doors opened automatically. He then looked at me. "Boy, don't do it."

Imma do it, I thought to myself as I got out of the taxi. However, God seems to like killing me and decided to send a car hurtling towards and I would have been smashed by it if I hadn't leaped over the car and got down to Grey's side. The taxi left as soon as I landed. 

"Weird timing." The sentinent staff mentally whispered.

I ignored it as I turned to the building in front of us:  A majestic white bungalow. Grey caught my hand and pulled me towards the bungalow. As we approached it, three people popped out of the front door: one of them was Rudolf with a green tank top and blue trackpants. The second guy was a bit shorter than Rudolf, but he had black hair and black eyes, wearing a black dress. I would have called him the Grim Reaper due to his pale complexion and tired look. The third one was a woman with almond eyes and dusty brown hair, dressed in a sparkling white tuxedo.

"Nico, Cess, long time no see." Grey gave them a sad smile. They both gave Grey a stare before they jumped on him (honestly I would call it an assault because Nico punched Grey but whatever).

"Mmmpff! Leggo! Leggo!" Grey gave a muffled yell as they tried to crush him with an almighty bearhug.

"Anyways, glad you came, you fucking cockroach!" Nico grinned as he and Cecilia released their bearhug.

I decided to approach and ask them the question Grey wanted me to ask. I approached them and said, "Are your names Nico and Cecilia?"

"Err, yes. Why?" Cecilia gave me a puzzled look.

"He wanted me to ask you about pullout techniques. May I know what they are?" 

Nico and Cecilia gave me a mortified look as their faces turned red before turning to Grey, who had burst out laughing. Cecilia launched a blast of ki at Grey's head but narrowly missed him.

"It was worth it! You should *wheeze* look at your *wheeze* faces." Grey roared as he rolled on the ground laughing.

They both sighed as they turned towards me. "Are you by any chance his son?" Nico asked as he bent himself so that he could see my eyes.

"Err..no." I gave a deadpan stare. "He isn't even married."

Cecilia gave a probably fake gasp as she bent down to stretch my cheeks. "Aww! You have such good manners and you are so innocent." She turned to Grey and gave him a disgusted look. "Unlike a certain someone."

"You are a bad influence to him, Cecil."Grey sighed.

"I am not a boy, you ******** ****" She roared.

"LANGUAGE!" Nico roared.

"Anyways, what did you invite me for?" Grey sighed.

"Their engagement." Rudolf replied, arms in the air.

Grey's eyes were wide open for a moment before his face became a deadpan stare (I swear to God, I hate that expression of his). He then marched towards Nico before a blur appeared in front of Nico's face which left a red mark on both cheeks.

"Took you long enough! Hahaha!" Grey laughed as he slapped Nico's back. "Congratulations buddy."

"Promise me you will come for the engagement, please?" Nico groaned as he rubbed his cheeks while staggering.

"I believe it's going to be a registration, since they are after you guys?" Grey smiled weakly.

"Yeah. I will send the address by email." Nico then turned towards Cecilia. "Gotta go."

Cecilia caught Nico's hand and the couple ran away. When they were out of eyesight, Rudolf scanned the vicinity. "Ah, seems like there won't be any rats today. Let's get to business, shall we?"