Dance with the Nightingale-Chapter 66 - 65: The Kids Meet.

-Click.

With a click the door opened as the Magus walked into the room, his flair and majesty making the occupants of the room to involuntarily stand up.

Nodding, the Magus came to a halt. His gaze meeting Raniel’s as he spoke, "Good job. You can take tomorrow and the rest of the day off."

Adding through a mind link.

’Go take that grumpy wife of yours on a date.’

The Knight Commanders eyes flashed again. This time with delight as he replied.

’You don’t need to tell me that, Reynold. Just handle that feisty wife of yours. Besides, that green haired kid is quite good. Your eye for people is still great, I guess?’

’Not me, Rayne found him.’

’Young Master did?’

’Yes, now get going already.’

"Yes, My Lordship."

Raniel replied out loud as he bowed and left. His full plate armor clinking as he did.

Not many people know this, but almost all powerful magic users of the empire were once schoolmates. So, they were all well acquainted with each other having a minimum level of familiarity between them. Hence whenever the situation asked for it, they could seamlessly coordinate with each other.

In this case though, Reynold Von Ellsworth and Raniel Shin Devart both were known as the impish duo.

As for how that name came to be... that was a story for another time...

After the Knight Commander left, the Magus finally turned to look at his two little guests.

"As for you two, follow me." He said.

His words borderline hypnotic as both the kids started following him without even knowing it themselves.

"Um-Earl-I mean, My Lordship, what should I do?"

The extra with the red robe asked.

But just like it happens with extras, the Magus didn’t even glance at him as he left the room with the duo in tow.

***

-Tap

-Tap

-Tap

Today, in the corridors of Ellsworth Guest Mansion, an unusual, almost comedic scene was playing out.

The Earl, the absolute ruler of the Estate, who was normally never seen with kids other than his own, was roaming around with them!

And though, he was walking with his usual stride, his long legs were making it very difficult for the kids to keep up with him, as both Valen and Tiara were literally running just to keep up with him making the scene borderline comedic.

As funny as that was, that detail was completely ignored!

Only the fact, that the Earl was walking around with kids, registered in people’s mind.

How shocking was that!!

Shocking enough for the maids to gossip.

All sorts of gossips ranging from simply how unusual it was, to how the kids could even be Earl’s illegitimate children flew around the Mansion, and then spread throughout the estate.

Meanwhile unbeknownst to the ’side-effects’ these rumors will be having on his sleep tonight, the Earl followed by the two kids reached a normal looking building, that had a simple wooden name plate with – Potion Factory, carved on it.

A name that gave the kids a lot of misgivings.

Why?

Cause as someone who have been living in Ellesmere their whole life, they had at least heard about how the great and majestic the potion factory in the Ellsworth Estate was.

But now, as they stood in front of this seemingly unimpressive two story building, they couldn’t help but feel like the reality was turning its tail on them.

What they didn’t knew was that they were going to experience a shock of the same magnitude as Rayne’s party did when they first visited the arena.

***

[Ellsworth Estate]

[Evening]

After their grueling day of being directly thrown into work, Valen and Tiara were walking back to where their dormitories was supposed to be, with noticeably tired steps.

Their shock and excitement being completely washed away by excessive fatigue.

Walking slowly, Tiara muttered disheartened, "We have to do this for the whole month."

"Yeah."

A reply came from her side as Valen answered with a voice just as tired as hers.

"But we have to do it anyways. So, let’s think like this, we have to do this just for a month."

’You are the only one who was complaining.’

This content is taken from fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm.

Valen thought inwardly while actually saying.

"Actually, you don’t need to Tiara. That one month work thing was only for me you know."

"Yea, surely you will grab an advance training course then, and I won’t. You just think I am incompetent don’t you!?"

The girl asked, truly incensed, as her voice got louder by a few magnitudes.

As for the training course thing, it was the Magus’ condition.

He wasn’t going to train his disciple for free. If they want to learn they have to pay.

As for how they will pay? By working in the potion factory for a month.

This wasn’t anything new. In fact, there were many working students in the Ellsworth Estate.

They were the people who couldn’t be accepted in the magic academies due the lack of their talent or someone whose circumstances forced them to work but now they wanted to learn and improve themselves.

The only difference between them and the other people was the length of their work term and their teachers.

Instead of one month like them, the students normally had to work for six months, and naturally they were taught by work professionals or seniors instead of the head of the estate.

’You are talented but surely not in making potions...’, Valen thought wryly, but kept his thoughts hidden. Instead he asked, "Huh? But weren’t you gonna hide?"

"Hmm, not anymore. With me being accepted as an Ellsworth estate’s working student, my previous identity has already been cleared!"

"Now, I am only Tiara. Tiara, an orphan working student!"

She said giggling. Her giggle with crimson rays in the background felt as fresh as the morning dew, making Valen almost forget his fatigue.

Almost.

The throbbing in his head still reminding him how exhausted he was.

But even then this wasn’t a topic that could be postponed. So, he asked.

"Then why didn’t you try to get in the Estate earlier."

"That..." she paused for a bit before continuing with a thoughtful look. "I was told that someone super important recommended me, so my background check was actually skipped..."

"Oh! You too then."

"Huh? What do you mean? You got an recommendation too?"

"Well, yes. After we separated from you, the Earl told me that his eldest son recommended me."

"What!? You too got recommended by Young Master Rayne!!"

The girl exclaimed in surprise, before she whispered.

"Wait, before that, don’t speak of nobles without honorifics Valen! You can literally be arrested if you do so!!"

"But there is no one around."

"In an noble estate even the walls have ears, remember that! So don’t go saying stuff like that!!"

"Okay... I won’t."

Valen said dismissively. But it was then that both of them heard.

"Hmm? Were you two talking about my brother?"

""Kiyaaahhhhh!""

Both of them shouted, utterly shocked that someone had heard them.

After all, didn’t being heard meant getting arrested?

Taking a few steps forward, the duo gulped before the slowly turning around to finally see who it was.

And what they saw definitely relieved Valen. So relieved that he blurted out, "Oh! It’s just another kid."

But it looked like he was the only one relieved here, cause as soon as Tiara saw the boy with blonde hair and green eyes, wearing a training uniform with an Ellsworth crest, she turned as pale as a sheet of paper.

And as if things weren’t bad enough, Valen’s comment came as a sucker punch that squeezed the air out of her.

That coupled with her previous fatigue, Tiara fainted.

...

..

.

[Half an hour later.]

Faint voices of someone talking entered her ears, that along with wintery cold gust of wind woke Tiara’s brain up.

"Oh, looks like she is waking up!"

"Yes, she is."

She heard as she opened her eyes. Only to see a scene that made her question herself, ’Was she really awake?’

Her angel, gulp, her angel Valen was giving her a lap pillow!!!

’Kyaaaaa!!!’

She screamed in her mind, only the desire to witness this scene for longer keeping her from fainting again.

"Hmm? Her face is getting redder Valen. Are you sure she is okay?"

"Well, that..."

Valen seemed a bit embarrassed, scratching his cheek as he said that.

"Nothing. She is okay."

Then before things could get more embarrassing, he picked up Tiara’s head and – plop, unceremoniously dropped it on the grass bed.

The girl had her eyes wide opened, too distraught having her heaven stolen, as she felt the soft grass bed on the back of her head.

It was only when she heard, "Wow, that was rude.", that she noticed they were not alone.

And that brought the girl out of her fantasy. The gears of her minds spinning as she recalled what happened before she fainted, or rather she recalled why she had embarrassingly fainted.

Sitting up, she slowly turned around. Only to see Valen, sitting on the grass with another unfamiliar boy, whose identity she had only dared to guess.

A guess she had to confirm, and that’s what she.

Looking straight at the boy in question, she said seriously, trying not to be rude, "Hello, my name is Tiara, a working student here...You are?"

"Oh hi! I’m Reonald, nice to meet you, Tiara." The boy replied, waving his hand at her in a cherry manner.

"Reonald? Correct me if I am wrong... But you are Reonald Von Ellsworth, the second heir of the estate?"

"That’s right?"

Reonald answered his emerald green eyes saying, ’Does knowing my full name change something?’

Faced with such clear eyes, Tiara was suddenly at a loss of words.

His gaze and Valen’s laidback expression had already told her that the boy wasn’t going to get them punished. So, now was the time for her to consider her options.

Should she apologize for something the other party didn’t mind and make their relationship purely professional?

Should she be polite, flattering, submissive?

She had to decide.

Cause whatever she says next, would be defining their relationship and probably their life.

So, in the end...

"Wow!! That’s so cool! You know, I am seriously jealous of you now. I heard that everyone calls you second young master here. How does it feel to be called like that? Does it feel good? Giddy? Or just uncomfortable? Oh! Also, the food! I heard the food is great too! Do you actually eat magical beast’s meat as they say!? Is it good? Is it delicious?"

She said what her inner self wanted to say.

After all, she knew those eyes. She too was a noble once. The feeling of your friends treating you differently after you tell them your identity is one she never wanted to experience. And she figured Reonald wouldn’t like it either.

So, she just decided to be herself.

Reonald’s reply though, had her stumped.

"Oh? You never had those?? Hmm, guess you really aren’t my father’s illegitimate children then, dad won’t treat his children this poorly..."

"Huh?"

Was she missing some context here? She deadpanned as she looked at the boy.

"I told you, we aren’t."

Valen interjected casually, causing her to look at him. Seeing her out-of-the-loop-expression Valen said, enlightening her.

"Oh, its actually nothing. There were just some stupid rumors going around the Estate that we are Earl’s illegitimate children and whatnot. So, Reonald just came to find and ask us if that was true."

"Is that so...?"

"Yes, that is so."

"Okay then guys, see you later, I have my magic classes now. Oh! And Valen, see you in the classes from next month."

Reonald said, waving a goodbye as he ran deeper into the estate.

"Yeah, see you too." Valen waved back, with a tender smile on his face. So tender that it activated Tiara’s yandere mode.

So, with a smile that was not a smile she placed her hand on Valen’s shoulder and whispered, "Now, tell me. Just what happened that you two became so close."

Poor Valen, despite being tired he had to give an hour long expression before Tiara finally let him off.

***

[On the Road to Lueurre, Late Night]

Meanwhile, on the same night, just as I ended my call with Reonald, who was going all about how he met his new classmate, my faction amulet buzzed.

Picking up the amulet all signs of drowsiness disappeared from face as I stared unblinkingly at a single notification.

[Mission Assigned to XXXX Complete]

-Click

Clicking on the notification, I saw the mission summary.

[Designated Target Travis Miller has been confirmed dead.]

[As the request specified, the target has been assassinated with the main suspect being Arsenio-Etherfleihm faction.]

’Now everything is in place.’

Time for the next scene.

With that I got up. I don’t think I can sleep after seeing that notification.

Under the moonlight, I took out my sword from my bracelet and practiced the thing I rarely did.

[The Ellsworth Sword techniques]

Just like that another night in the world of Rowen, passed sleeplessly, meanwhile....

***

[A few hours ago]

In an unknown place, quite a few people were gathered. All kneeling on one leg, with their heads down as they prayed piously with hands on their chest.

Thanks to the devotion of the crowd, that consisted of poor and lesser gifted, and faint beams of light that lit the dark space as if giving them a ray of hope, a solemn atmosphere was created.

Slowly, but deeply, the man in front of them, dressed like a priest, chanted, "You, who stand eternal, witnessing the ebb and flow of time, we seek your guidance in our moments of doubt and fear."

And the crowd perfectly used to this joined him in his chant.

"O Tree of Light, we offer our reverence and trust. Nurture our spirits with your wisdom. In your light, we find our connection to each other and the world. In your embrace, we find solace.

With each breath, we draw in your light, and with each step, we carry your grace. Let us live in harmony with your essence, always mindful of your eternal glow."

The crowd said piously, before the priest turned around and bowed, assuming the same position as them as he said deeply, "Let the light guide our souls..."

"Let the light guide our souls...", the crowd repeated as they bowed, towards the shimmering ’Tree of Light’, that stood behind the priest.

And as they did, the silently glowing ’Tree of Light’, that looked more like a graffiti of a unreal tree rather than a real one, swayed slightly, just like a tree in summer wind, and with the did the beams of lights that tricked into the hall.

Slowly the beams of light moved and coalesced, as if drawn by the ’Tree of Light’ as they gathered, turning the hall darker. A tendril of light also emerged from the ’Tree of Light’, inching closer towards the ball of light.

And as soon as it did, the ball exploded. Into countless tendrils of light that flowed and seeped into the devout believers.

Seeing their prayers acknowledged by their God, the crowd felt a profound sense of relief. They became even more devout, bowing their heads lower and reciting their prayers with renewed intensity, some even kneeled on the floor as they felt the warmth of their god soothing their body.

Satisfied with the crowd’s reaction, the priest, nodded secretly and was about to preach the believers when he noticed a man of tall stature standing by stage.

The tall man, finally having the priests attention gestured him to disperse the crowd and follow as he walked out of the hall through a side door.

More than a little angry about the tall man’s behavior, the priest’s lips twitched as he tried to maintain his kind smile.

Then, with a kind tone on his face that went well with his brown gentle eyes and a few grey hairs on his head, the priest made an excuse to disperse the crowd

"Stand, my pious believers of light, the lord is happy about the trust and faith you place in him. Unfortunately, these are dangerous times. And as much as lord wishes for you to be under his grace he also wishes for your safety."

He said slowly.

"Those servants of council are watching our moments like hawks, searching for any weak link to be picked upon. So, the lord wishes you to return quickly, while those hawks are still drowsy."

And then he topped if with, "Let the light, guide our souls..."

"Let the light, guide our souls...", the believers responded as they started dispersing.

And the priest after waiting for them, followed behind the tall man, with heavy steps as mannerisms of a priest disappeared from his person.

"What the hell happened that you called me out of a session!?", the priest asked as soon as saw the man.

But instead of an answer the man directly asked him in all seriousness, "Do you want to die?"

A bit shocked and overwhelmed under a magic user’s gaze, the priest asked nervously, "What really happened, Ziek?"

"Travis was killed by someone.", the man called Ziek answered as he observed his surroundings.

"What!?", the priest gasped, thinking, ’If Travis, that important figure got killed then what about me?’, as he looked around varily.

As if reading his mind, Ziek continued, "We don’t know for sure who did it, but it may be that Council is cracking down on us."

"We... we have to hide!"

"Yes, that’s why I am here. It’s hard to find a good illegal actor nowadays you see.", Ziek said as the priest, no, the actor gulped and followed him quietly, behind them, the huge graffiti of the ’Tree of Light’ slowly lost its glow and flickered, as the mana stone powering it depleted down to dust.