CH 9 - A Gift for a Friend

Eifa

The day was here, and as Eifa walked up the road leading to the Hera Estate, she checked the bundle she had brought. It was her first bow, old but well maintained. She hoped it would be a good enough gift for Lady Emilia, because she wasn't exactly rolling in coins. That three gold the kid gave her had been a huge help, and honestly she had fully expected him to haggle her down to one at the very least, but it was long gone. She had used it to pay off some debts she owed, and that was great, but she hadn't been able to take on any good quests due to needing to stay in Vatica for this job. She couldn't risk injury before she carried it out.

She sighed, thinking how that troll near Asylum was probably claimed already. Even the smallest troll earned a single gold.

Eifa slapped herself gently to get ready. This was going to be simple. Just an hour or two of bow practice. They would skip some of the basics to ensure Emilia got to actually shoot some targets, but all in all it should be a fun event for the Lord's daughter.

Eifa gave a bashful smile, thinking of how this all started. "That little mage cutie! He's going to score big brownie points with EmEm the Adorable!" She gave a sequel and a tiny jump in glee. "I can't believe I'm going to get to meet her! Ah! It's a dream come true!"

She soon reached the main gate, where there was a guard posting, but currently it was manned by four people, three of whom were adventurers from the Guild.

"Eifa?" The man that spoke was human, tall and lithe, with two daggers at his side. Sedrik the Slicer, Dagger Paladin. He was a B-rank adventurer. "They hired you too, huh?"

"Well, sort of." She looked at all the adventurers in attendance, seeing none were lower than C. "I was hired by the Lord's ward. He wants me to give the lady Emilia a bow lesson."

"Suave kid," he said and chuckled, swiping his hair back.

Eifa swooned. "I know, a real gentleman! I can't wait to see everything unfold," she sighed. "But enough about me, what's going on here? Are you doing security work?"

"Yeah, but not just me. They hired my entire party, the Crimson Hilts, and the Water Whips, and even the Yanxa Hounds."

"Three entire advanced adventuring parties to guard one birthday shindig? Wonder what's going on?"

Sedrik smirked. "Apparently Lord Hera is planning to embarrass Lord Ares, for old times' sake. They both got some prodigious young wards, and there's gonna be a duel. Hey wait, that must be the same ward that hired you, huh? So tell me, what is he, a Royal Blue, a Chosen Silver?"

Eifa smirked right back, "Actually, he said he was technically a Royal Rainbow. And I believe him."

"Shit, really? Sucks I won't get to watch."

"Miss Eifa, I presume?" The voice came from behind Sendrik, on the other side of the gate. An elf butler with his head held high bowed gracefully as the gate opened. "I am Bartleby of House Hera. I welcome you, and ask that you follow me."

Dainn

I walked downstairs early on the big day. Emilia was still getting ready upstairs, changing into her day wear. Apparently Bartleby was in charge of picking something appropriate for the occasion.

I was told that the archery range was actually set up on the back patio, so I headed there immediately. I was dressed in a simple white dress shirt tucked into casual pants and a nice leather belt. My boots were black and broken in. Nothing fancy, and perfect for a few hours outside. Besides, I did pay for all this, so I was fully planning to join in, though I was going to use it as magic practice as well.

Eifa was already there, dressed in long black leather pants and a similar, though greener shirt to mine. She came without her leather armoring, what small amount it was, but did keep her furlined cloak and boots. She had her white bow with her, but she also had a bundle with her, laying on the small round table where Lady Sila drank tea.

She bowed before me, and I waved her off. "No need for all that. I'm no one of importance here. Just the Lord's ward. Besides, it's not me I need you to impress."

She nodded, and gave a warm smile. "Of course, I wouldn't dare make you look bad, Master Dainn. I'd hate to be blasted unconscious."

I cringed, realizing that maybe I had been a little too final with my directions. "Sorry about that. I just didn't want to have the surprise ruined, you know?"

"Oh trust me, I know," she said, so coyly even I could tell she was implying something.

"Ma'am, I'm four."

She suddenly learned how to stop. Just in time too, because at that moment, Emilia arrived.

She was dressed in a loose fitting blouse shirt with the sleeves rolled up. She wore ranch style jeans with pink and brown suspenders, with the legs stuffed into girlified boots. However, the thing that caught my eye was her hair. She usually had it flowing free in curls that bounced and caught the sunlight like no other, but now she had it in two pigtails that went back into a braid. My jaw dropped, but I quickly recovered.

With her was Lord Henry and Hannah. They were dressed in their normal nobility attire, clearly here to watch and not participate. Hannah was looking happy for her sister, whilst Henry looked like he wished for this to be done and over with. It caused a pang of hatred to pass over me.

However, it went away when Emilia saw me and came running up, jumping with excitement. "Dainn! Everyone has been saying you were ready to give me my gift already! I mean, I was hoping for… but I'm sure it'll be great! Uh," she saw Eifa for the first time, and then the bow in her hand. Slowly, realization dawned on her face.

However, to my surprise, I didn't see her smile, or laugh, or hug me. I saw tears. Her lip trembled, and I heard her whimper as she started to shake. My heart dropped.

Had I misread the situation? Had they all led me along to a great failure? But why? I had just wanted to do something nice for my first friend.

She turned and looked at Henry, and I looked away, down at the ground. I had messed up. I had made Emilia cry on her birthday.

"Daddy?" I heard her ask through her choking sobs. I could feel my own eyes starting to fill. How could I be so stupid?

"Yes, dear. I am permitting it."

I heard her stop crying with a gasp, so I looked up. I was caught off guard when she wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me tight. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, Dainn! I'm so happy!"

I felt as light as a feather when she said that. I hugged her back and felt tears run down my face. I couldn't explain this feeling. Relief? Joy?

I had never felt something like this before. It was strong, overwhelming, just like the urges had always been. But where those feelings carried with it nothing but darkness, it was as if this feeling brought with it light.

"Why are you crying, Dainn?" I heard her whisper into my ear. Her voice was soft, and I could hear concern. It made me happy.

"No reason. I'm just so glad I could make you happy, Emilia."

She giggled and she sank her head into my shoulder. I felt her hand stroke my hair as we let our emotions out, together.

***

The lesson went fantasticly, if I did say so myself. Eifa started by giving her first bow to Emilia. It was a beautiful thing, made of yew and with intricate carvings of vines and leaves along the shaft. I summoned a bow using Purple magic.

Emilia actually caught on fairly quickly, hitting eight out of ten shots near the end. I even made her laugh when we found out together magic control didn't help much in terms of archery. I could create a bow and fire an arrow, but aiming was another issue. It was as if my magic control surrendered to my martial ability, which was non-existent.

Still, Emilia certainly had fun, and more than that, proved she did have a talent deserving of nurturing. I was proud of her.

After the lesson was over, Eifa was permitted by Emilia to dote on her, and they were both laughing as Eifa hugged and spun her around in glee.

I felt a hand on my shoulder, heavy and firm. I turned and saw Henry looking at his daughter, a slight, genuine smile on his face. I saw a tear in his eye as he turned to look at me.

"Walk with me, boy."

I did. We headed upstairs, to my bedroom. He sat down on the bed, and asked me to join him. I did.

"What is this about, sir? If you're worried about my duel later, there's no need. I will make you proud."

"Emilia is my third daughter."

I felt the world come crashing down. He had just said the one thing I never suspected. I sat in silence, but kept my eyes on him so he would know I was listening.

"Serenity was her name. Sila and I had her when we were still in our early twenties. She was excellent with the bow. An Executioner, and maybe one day, a Demon. We had Hannah when Serenity was just twelve. She died before Emilia was born.

"I had taken her out on a hunt. There was an ogre rampaging in the Nubian Forest, and Lord Artemis asked for me to deal with it. It should have been nothing for a Bow Executioner. I hadn't heard that the ogre was a shaman, or that he had a horde of goblins serving him.

"I watched my Serenity be cornered, violated, and murdered by those monsters. I was too busy dealing with the Shaman at the time. I couldn't save her, and she didn't have the knowledge of healing magic to help herself. I decided never again."

He paused, looking me in the eyes with determination, "I swore my daughters, my children, would never see danger like that again." His determination faltered before my eyes, and he started to heave with sobs. "I made sure they knew how to save themselves by teaching them cowardice. I sheltered them from reality because I couldn't accept the past. But you, Dainn, you showed me something else."

Surprise sprung unbidden to my face, and he smiled. "You showed me my dear Emilia, truly happy and free. Free from my expectations and pressures, for just a while. What I saw was my folly, Dainn. I wasn't protecting my daughters. I was simply caging them…"

I waited a second to be sure he was finished. "Maybe, but let me ask you something. Did you ever tell them about their oldest sister? If you wish to keep them from doing something they enjoy, you need to explain and validate your reasoning. Otherwise, they'll just grow to resent you."

"You misunderstand me, yet again, Dainn." He was quiet, but I heard humility in his voice. It was odd to hear from a Lord and killer. "I will not try to stop them anymore. In fact, I've already asked Bartleby to offer Miss Eifa a full time position."

I smiled, approving of the decision.

"With that said, you are still right, Dainn. It is time they learned of their dear sister. I only hope they won't hate me for keeping her from them for so long."

"Don't worry, my Lord. Those two adore you more than anyone else in the world!"

He looked at me, then gave a knowing smirk, "Maybe so, but these days, I'm not entirely sure."