Chapter 7: Pitiful  

It's been a week, he stayed with the humans. Gradually learning their ways. As a human himself, it became much easier. His body and heart, already costumed to their emotions and their way of thinking.

In many ways, it amazed him, and in some ways disappointed. They had capabilities that could change their side, their soul, and their spirit. Turning to the seven virtues or the seven sins. They could do both. But chose to accept none. Living in a vague mentality as they get controlled by their own emotions.

Dreaming of many things, as they get lost in the past and the future as they leave their present behind. The very present-day where they were living. Where they needed to focus the most. They also have desires like demons. But some turned coward, some would get lost in the way, swallowed by their own over-confidence. Interesting as it sounds, it was also sad in many ways. How they repeat the same mistake again and again.

In the week, he achieved plane things that the former owner of the body couldn't. some sang praises for him, some curses. Even now, when he was still walking around the plaza market. His head maid would scheme her useless plans. But how would the lovely Perl know? He was beyond such trickery.

If he wanted, he could swallow her in her own schemes, giving her the despair she was shouting for, but he found her amusing, watching her fail and fail again.

Not just her, he found the whole race amusing. Yes, they had their downfalls, and many errors in their ways. But something about them was different. Something mysterious that the demons and the many other races lacked.

"Uncle Lucifer once said the same…" he said out of nowhere. Surprising the old shopkeeper before him.

"e…excuse me?" she asked, handing out the bag of ingredients he asked for.

"nothing child…." He said to the old lady, feeling her withering soul. leaving her confused self be.

he opened the bag, sniffing the ingredients. "haaaa….good stuff." He said.

He kept walking, his eyes glowing a bit brighter. For the past week, he tried using some of his many skills, and for some reason. The powers only, relating to his soul worked. Which confirmed one thing. Even though the body was of a human. His soul was still his own.

He saw them, the vigilance of their soul burning bright. Some were minor, some were burning high. Each soul, having a different fire within them.

In the past, he could see the color as well, but it seems, it was too soon for his mortal eyes.

The burn of the fire showed their willpower, their capacity, and their future, and for his disappointment. All the souls here were like a match, in comparison to the many men and women, he saw within the Villa.

Which only turned his decision to stay as a slave even more reasonable. He wasn't one of the demons who would suck out the souls to get stronger. No, no. his trait required much more.

"As everything has a way, a path. If taken correctly. The outcome would only be more rewarding." He said, gazing at the gate of the Ruxnard Villa. "…and it's only the start. Aren't I right?.... Lady Perl." He asked, gazing at the maid waiting near the gate.

Perl couldn't help but look elsewhere, away from his eyes which were brewing with something unknown and mysterious and the unknown was always scary. Scary for her, who knew how to read people from the days of her childhood but this boy. the sixteen-year-old boy was something she had never faced. The foolishness and naivety that he once had, all gone.

"…where were you?" she asked.

The slave boy came forward, gazing at the blond maid even deeper. she wavered from his gaze and he liked it, her blue eyes which always placed his body cold, now trying to avoid him. "….just shopping my dear." He said, walking past her. Letting her nervous self be.

"…..wait, I have some questions…..how.." she asked, reaching to his quick pace. "..how did you do it?" she asked, trying to keep up with him.

"do what..?" he asked, his eyes still forward.

Perl gritted her teeth, he knew what she was talking about but refuse to answer. " about elder Tanya. How did you pile on her good graces? Did you beg? Did you lick her shoes?" she asked, her tone a bit angry from his ignorant look.

"…my dear Perl, you already know the answer…" he said, finally reaching the main door.

"you…." She said with a glare. "…I am not an idiot like the rest of them, taking care of her children doesn't just put you in her good eyes…tell me!" she now shouted.

They were already within the mansion. Many maids and butlers eyed what was happening before them in surprise. Their head maid, following the slave, and in such a hurried pace at the matter of fact.

"….Perl oh Perl. Being a woman, you still don't understand the values of a mother. Well, how would you? You are still single with your overly prideful attitude." He replied.

Such words wouldn't harm her stone-cold heart but for some reason. The same words coming from his mouth felt like acid. Like her heart was gripped by something tight.

"..... I will deal with you….later." She said, her eyes cold as ice, so much so, the entire lobby of all the maids and servants felt it to their throat, making them hard to even gulp. "….i can't delay lady Tanya's order any longer. You are to go to her apartment and follow her orders to a point." She said, like her temper would blast out any second.

Her steps were loud, as she turned away from him, walking the opposite direction.

Kraner only smiled, gazing over the far window, watching the tall towers of the elders.

"let's start…" he said, sniffing his ingredients once more.

.

.

.

"oh, boyya!" she called out in joy. "I thought she would never let you here." Lady Tanya said, standing up from her chair.

Her grumpiness was eased out, thinking she wouldn't have to watch the kids, like half of her problems just washed away. She loved her kids very very much, but she had other work to do as well. And to survive in this family. she needed to always stay on top, stay in power.

For her children, and for their future, she needed to step even further. While her husband was drunk on the influence of others and act like she and the kids don't even exist. She was the only one who could save their family, from falling any further from grace.

And finally, finding a person who could handle her kids, the person before her indeed felt like a god sent.

"The kids are still asleep, but you came at the right timing. They will soon wake up and you already know how they are." She said.

Kraner only nodded, his eyes still down. Following the unspoken rule, he couldn't see them eye to eye. As that would only mean disrespect for the elder before her and adding even more shackles, slaves like him couldn't even speak until given permission.

"oh, you are a slave, and here I was waiting for your reply." She said, gazing at the boy looking down. "no need to stare down, you can look up to me boy. as only you seem to be the only competent one, among these useless trashes." She said looking around her maids.

Her stare at all the others turned cold, forcing them to look down on the floor. While Kraner finally looked up, eye to eye to the blue eyes of the elder.

"wow…" He said, with genuine surprise. "…..I may be walking out of my league as a slave but, Lady Tanya is indeed a very beautiful woman…." He praised.

Everyone was surprised, hearing the slave talk. As the unspoken rule entailed to speak no further than their job description. Trying to act and talk with the members of the house was in many ways dangerous. As a single mistake in any words could mean the end of their job and possibly their life.

"...."

There was only silence. As Lady Tanya stared back at him, her stare turned kind once more. "….the slave knows how to impress a woman I see." She said, gazing at his genuine eyes of admiration.

She knew how to differentiate between, fake ones who only admired for her power and vestige, and the eyes of true admiration like the one before her. It was rare, very rare. As she couldn't help but smile from his loving stare, at her appearance.

"do your job well boy, I might reward you if you impress me." She said, walking to her room to change. 'I guess I still have my charms.' She thought, happy from the boy's compliment.

And with her followed the many maids, one of them being Jessica, Lady Tanya's very own personal maid, met eyes with Kraner. As Sparks of friction appeared between them.

'I misjudged you...' she thought, walking past him.

And for her glare, he only gave a kind smile, pacing upwards to the rooms of the innocent children of the Lady. The very children with who he liked doing experiments.

Thud!