Chapter 9: Anecdote Broadcast (IV)

Astrid said it in one fell swoop. 

Despite the sudden change in weather and the heavy snow outside, Astrid was sweating profusely. 

There were still some confused faces who did not totally get it. 

"She means a stitch. Like a torn fabric being stitched back. It isn't seamless like before and you have to overlap one side of the fabric over the other to perform a stitch. If that makes sense to any of you. Just like how a stitched piece of flesh is tighter than before the dissection."

Disregarding my statement, Dotun turned towards Astrid. I was sure if I wasn't here, he would be bowing down to her. Crazy nerd. 

"W-Wow. Totally splendid!" He remarked, his eyes glimmering. "Thanks for enlightening us."

Where is my encouragement, huh? Are you sexist? Or do you just want an excuse to talk to a woman?

"Enlighten my ass." Michael grumbled, running his fingers haphazardly through his white locks. 

He clearly is too dense for all this. 

"Ignoring my rude friend's comment, I think this should be enough for today." He directed everyone this time. "Is that agreed?"

"Yep."

"Yep."

Zara and Trisha answered in their usual synchronised manner. 

"I suppose so…" Maria seemed sceptical, stealing glances at Astrid. 

"I am much more informed than when I initially entered this room, so I am satisfied." Yuki spoke with a smile and then walked over to Astrid. As she looked up, Yuki held both of her hands in her own. 

The difference in their hands was a lot. Astrid had much bigger hands, slim fingers and long nails. They still seemed soft, don't get me wrong, whereas, Yuki—who was around 20 centimetre or 8 inches shorter than Astrid—had small chubby hands with small but light purple painted nails. 

"If you are free after this, we can hang out." She spoke with a smile. "I am new here so it was good to get along with everyone. Especially if you are a girl and almost my age."

Astrid looked back at me. 

I guess I should give her the permiss—

"I'll go, alright?"

What the hell happened to taking permissions and being anti-social?

"Uhhh- Ok." I replied. 

Did I even need to reply? She was just telling me. 

Maybe I should lock her up from any human interaction. 

"Errr, if you are free—"

"She's tired, so no." 

I interrupted Dotun before he could ask her out to discuss. Since I am damn sure this crazy lifeform is going to pull her to the laboratory. 

He looked down at me and then left without saying a word. Finn and Michael were already waiting for him in the door frame.

Michael's arm was flung around Finn's shoulder who had a sullen look on his face.

Once Dotun joined them, Michael placed his arm around Dotun's neck as he pulled them out with himself. 

The sisters joined Yuki and Astrid as they were excitedly talking to each other about doing something… oh goddess. They're gossiping already. 

Gross. 

Standing up, I placed my hand on her shoulder. 

"You know your way around the place, right?"

"Eh, I don't." She replied with such confidence that I could've sworn that I heard that she does know her way around. "But I'll find you. Don't worry." 

As she smiled, I shook my head and then looked up at Yuki who was already waving bye at me. 

I don't really doubt the sisters since they're neutral but this new girl… her sister was a good person but something about her cuteness scares me.

You know the feeling where something is too good to be true? 

Yeah, she gives off those vibes. 

Or maybe my lonely self has never encountered such a good person.

I felt reluctant for a while, but pushed the thought to the back of my head. Before I went away, I turned my head to her once last time.

"You remember what I said when you ran away from the mountain?"

"Hmm? Yeah, I do."

Yuki looked at me sceptically. 

"Be sure to do that when you're returning."

"Gotcha." 

There was a subtle undertone to her words. 

I didn't want to do it... but well. I think I can give her an explanation later on. It's not a reliable method, but it's better than nothing. 

As she turned back to her newly acquired "acquaintances," I stepped out of the room. 

Time to get an ice bath and a sauna right after. It can't replace the joy I would've received from going out in the sunlight, but whatever. At least this place isn't as suffocating as back home in Bergen. 

—-------------------------

I think either the old elf or the dark elf cursed me with 10 years of bad luck. 

What are the chances?

I want to have some sunlight but suddenly these unserious, selfish idiots get serious about solving world problems. 

I want to have a sauna, but those three have already beaten me to it. 

I wanted to take an ice bath in the lake nearby. Guess what, it's rock solid. 

This definitely has to be a curse. 

I did read about it in a book, but not much is known about curses.

After all, Arcane Arts are inherited using one's lineage or race. So humans can't know much about it. 

Just like how white elves can use Light Magic and dark elves have dominion over Shadow Magic. 

From my fight with the two elves, it was quite clear that they were young. Really young. Same goes for the Frost Giant. 

I am not sure about all races, but as far as I remember, Elves grow at a halted pace. However, it's not halted, it's just super slow. They grow at a human's pace—physically—until they're 7 or 8.

However, their brain development and by extension their critical thinking and emotions develop at a different pace. 

A good example would be how human kids start to perceive strong emotions in the age range of 3 to 5 years old, Elves start to feel emotions after 18 years. And from there it's an extrapolating effect in regards to everything. Same goes for frost giants. 

Ones would normally expect elves to have nature's power but that were just fairytales that got modified with time. Although they do act like monkeys. Swinging on trees and all that. 

Why am I even talking to myself about things I know already? 

Hahhhhh— I think I might be going senile. 

As I walked with slumped shoulders towards the corridors which led to my room, I heard a footstep behind me. Even her way of walking is different. 

"Maria." I spoke, more to myself than to the one tailing me. 

"It's like you've got a pair on the back of your head." The voice that reached my ears was unmistakably hers. 

"Hard to not notice when you make it so obvio–"

My words got stuck in my throat, like a wedge lodged in a narrow crevice, refusing to budge as I felt her locks frolicking near my face due to her throwing herself at me before her arms coiled like serpents around my waist.

The turtlenecks we were wearing did little to mask the warmth of her body that permeated into me like the gentle rays of sun. 

Not that I can remember when was the last time I felt them. It wasn't particularly sunny when I went out with Astrid.

Ahhhh— I've lost track. I am getting old.

NOOOOOO. 

"Thank goodness you're okay..." She whispered, her voice muffled as she pressed her face against my chest. I quickly shifted my weight, planting my left foot behind me and wrapping my arms around her shoulders just in time to break her—our fall.

"That was close." I murmured under my breath. 

"Mmm~" 

She said something incomprehensible, something I didn't quite understand. She was on her tiptoes, her chest pressing against mine while she snuggled her face against the soft fabric. 

"What's with the sudden show of compassion?" I asked, raising my voice barely so only she could hear. "Also, get off me. Someone will see us."

As she looked up, the usually serious and stoic demeanour that was her trademark was nowhere to be seen, replaced by a small smile.

"You worry too much." Peeling herself away, her hands traced along my back and then against my chest as she finally broke the embrace but still stayed close.

"I am just happy you are in one piece."

"It was just one juvenile frost giant. It would've been quite shameful if I was not able to deflect even that much trouble." I spoke as a matter-of-factly. 

She looked up at me with wide eyes. Although having the same eye colour, hers was much more mesmerising.

So full of life.

Almost glittering with emotions.

It made me want to gouge them out. Place it in a fixative solution as a decoration. 

You know, like one of those expensive bedside decorations. 

"Still—" She got even closer. 

I don't remember when it all started.

But she had always shown these odd shows of compassion to me.

 "—you were strong." 

"I suppose so." Taking a small step back, I saw her gasp at the realisation that she had been sticking close to me for too long.

She took a step back as well, creating a comfortable distance between us. 

"Ehm–" She coughed, looking at the floor as she played with the curly end of her blonde hair, wrapping it around her index finger. 

"Is something the matter?" I asked, turning around, ready to leave. 

"No-" She replied almost instantly, and then sealed her lips and looked at the roof, as if pondering over something. "-actually, yes. But since you look so bored, I think I won't tell you."

Oh damn. 

"As you wish. Take care, Maria." Bidding her farewell by waving my hand once, I turned around completely. 

"H-hey!" She called out after me. 

"What?"

I wish I just ran away at that moment… 

"Take a joke, geez." She sighed, facepalming. 

"You know I am not very good with jokes." I defended myself. 

Maria and I had a peculiar relationship.

I was close to her, yes.

But not in a way that most people around us assumed us to be.

It was not that I liked her, and she liked me back.

That would be weird if she liked someone like me.

As for me, I was close to her because she was not as unbearable as the others.

Minus maybe Yui, but she is no longer a part of the little group the heirs have. 

Even before I became an heir, my father would often bring me alongside him at these meetings.

And Maria was the first one to open up to me, based on the very little I can recall. 

I wonder if she still feels obligated to hang around me because she thinks that I am a loner. 

….which I am.

I have no friends. Astrid perhaps?

Hmmm- But she's different. 

But does that make me pathetic on top of being a loner? Do these come in a jumbo pack?

By all means, no. 

Maybe... 

No. Definitely not. 

"Arthurrr?" 

"Oh, sorry. You were saying?" I saw her sigh once again. "You're going to turn into an old lady if you continue to sigh so much."

"Can you blame me though?" She snapped. 

"Of course. Sighing is a controllable action." 

"No, it's not."

"Just don't sigh. Simple."

She looked at me as if I had lost my mind. 

Sigh "Whatever. Are you free?"

"Not for long-"

"Are. You. Free?"

"For the moment, yes."

"Mind accompanying me somewhere?" 

Taking out my phone, I looked at the time on it. There was still time before the tea. I guess it won't harm me listening her out. 

"Can you at least tell me where we are going?"

She leaned forward, and a chill ran down my...

Ehmmmmm—

"You'll find out." She spoke with a flushed face before turning around.