x
He could see her mulling over her answer. As if she had a hard time expressing exactly what she was feeling. The frown on her face eventually relaxed and was replaced by a sad smile before she replied.
“I know it sounds silly, but I never realized how ignorant I am. As a noble, I always thought myself to be better educated than most. Now it seems as if I was taught complete lies and half-truths at best.
How could my tutor, my father, hell even my mother, let this happen? Didn’t they know better? Or did they willingly let me live in a false reality? Bloody skies, how do I even know if you and Crystal are telling the truth!?”
Agitation crept into her voice as she seethed, making the words sound increasingly shrill. He tried to put himself into her shoes, and could almost imagine how out of control she must feel. Still, he couldn’t help but smile before cutting her off.
“Well, nothing to do about that now. Luckily for us, time is still moving forward and we have food and drinks. I’m sure you will figure something out.”
Lidea grew deadly silent as she looked at him dumbfounded. Her reaction caused him to laugh with abandon which earned him a glare from the woman in front of him.
“How can you be so carefree!?”
“Don’t bother asking. Through the years I have learned that he is insane.”
Both of them looked up in surprise as Crystal came to sit across from them, planting a basket in the middle. In her usual fashion, she had managed to not make a single sound as she approached them. A habit formed through her years working in service of the God of night.
“I thought I had told you to start wearing bells. One of these days, you are going to cause someone a heart attack with your sneaking.”
She rolled her eyes at him, a grin still on her face before she turned to Lidea. Pointedly ignoring him.
“Are you all right? I heard you shouting?”
The difference in the tone she used for her compared to the one used for him, was almost startling. But then again, Crystal always had a weak spot for younger beings. No matter their race or kind.
Lidea visibly relaxed again in the healer’s presence and Warchief was happy to see them getting along well. The woman could use a friend.
“Everything is fine. I was just worrying about how I don’t know enough of this world and that grinning bastard kindly informed me that ‘I would figure something out’. I don’t get how his brain works.”
Crystal snorted unladylike at the woman’s obvious annoyance. Probably delighted that someone else complained about his attitude for once. Warchief smiled as well, glad to hear her using foul language once more. For a moment there, he had worried that he had saved the wrong woman.
“I just don’t see the point of fretting about things that you can’t help. Anyway, you are young and can learn from now on. I fail to see the problem?”
He could hear Lidea grunt in exasperation and saw Crystal’s grin grow wider. Yes, she was definitely pleased to finally have someone on her side.
“Do you always think as if everything is so simple? Yes, I suppose I can learn. But who will teach me and how do I ensure that I don’t get lied to again!?”
Warchief thought for a moment before he shrugged his shoulders. In his eyes, there was little purpose to try and discern the absolute truth. Opinions would always differ between people and even history books were written by someone with an opinion. To him, it was a meaningless endeavor and he rather focused on what he could observe with his own eyes.
“You don’t. But if it makes you feel better, nobody else is sure of that either. Unless you can find a seer I suppose, but they are so rare that even Crystal has never seen one.”
A confused frown crossed Lidea’s face due to his statement, and he eagerly awaited her following question. That was before the clever demoness decided to interrupt.
“Don’t mind him. He is a hater of all things history related. If it doesn’t have anything to do with fighting, then he doesn’t care.”
Warchief almost felt offended but Crystal’s mischievous smile signaled to him that he was being messed with. After all, Crystal knew all the demons that haunted him.
“Speaking of history. Maybe she can get some use out of the dust pile that sits downstairs?”
“Dust pile?”
Lidea looked at him in confusion and Crystal tilted her head as she considered what he meant until her eyes lit up in understanding.
“The library? I suppose so. The book collection might be a tad outdated, but maybe that is even better if you want to understand how Lynoës used to be.”
As she spoke, Crystal started to unpack the basket in front of them. Warchief’s stomach growled as she took out a platter of triangular pastries that he had recognized to be his favorites. As she kept unpacking, it was obvious that there was far too much food for only two people and he silently praised Crystal for her thoughtfulness.
“Can we go now?”
Lidea’s eagerness surprised him somewhat. He hadn’t expected her to care much for books but clearly, he had thought wrong. His eyes lingered on the food, and he was relieved to see Crystal shake her head.
“I can bring you something to read while you rest. There is no way that you will make the trip down to the cellars and back. Besides, you need to eat, and based on the noise that he is making, he hasn’t eaten yet either.”
As if to prove her point, his stomach grumbled loudly. Prompting a laugh from both Crystal and him, while Lidea smiled as well.
“How many times have I told you, not to skip breakfast?”
Crystal accused him in a mocking tone and it lay on the tip of his tongue to ask her whose fault that was. However, he knew better than to annoy the person holding the food.
“I know, thankfully you are here to save me.”
She rolled her eyes at his dramatics but smiled brightly while she reached the platter to Lidea. Taking one of the pastries, she thanked the healer and started munching at it in silence. That was until she paused. As if her thoughts had caught up with her.
“What did you mean when you said that even Crystal hadn’t seen a seer yet? Aren’t they very rare, as in ‘not one in existence for centuries’ kind of rare?”
Warchief’s grin grew wider, thanking Lidea for her tendency to not let anything slip by. He quickly grabbed a couple of pastries before Crystal would decide otherwise as he could already feel her glower at him. He ignored it as he innocently Lidea's question.
“As the oldest, she would have had the greatest chance to meet one by now.”
Confusion colored the young woman’s face as she looked at Crystal. Clearly questioning how she was supposed to be older than Warchief.
“I thought you were around my age?”
He snorted and took a bite out of his pastry to help hold back his mirth. Only to burn his tongue on the sweet and spicy meat filling inside. With teary eyes, he tried to cool down the food in his mouth and he could see the demoness' glee at his momentary misery.
“I am flattered that you think so, but remember that I’m not entirely human. My life span is far longer than the ones that you are used to.”
Lidea seemingly hadn’t noticed Warchief’s mishap, as she focused her eyes on Crystal. Trying to see whatever she had missed.
“So, how old are you then?”
The demoness turned her eyes upward as she tried to recall the years that had passed.
“If the moon of Lunday has not eclipsed yet, then I should be somewhere between three and three and a half centuries old.”
Her statement had caused Lidea to stare at her in utter shock. To Warchief, her expression was priceless and he consoled himself that he was now not the only one to have reacted in that way.
“See what you have done Warchief. Now the poor thing is broken.”
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