Since Observe is now bound by Level, I took out everyone's Statuses, as they would just read ??? at this point. With that taken out, the story is continuing!
*
I saw Matteus crack a rare smile, who was known for being a stern man, even to his own family. I didn't know of the weapon's origin apart from that it once belonged to Mother. I mean I knew it because of what I saw in my Status, but it was nice to hear it being brought up like this. "Up until now, I believed this blade was to be lost. Thank you for letting me witness it once more, young one.", Matteus continued while smiling.
"Glistening Moonlight...", I uttered, feeling amazed at his explanation. If there's time, it might do well to have a little chat with Matteus Vander too, on top of His Imperial Majesty. It was possible that Mother once learned swordsmanship under him, he might know a few things about her. I didn't think Mother would call this weapon such a name for that matter either. It sounds flashy, but I bet she held the strength to back her weapon up. Yet to my surprise, this conversation was taken for a different spin, catching me off guard again. Once he sheathed the blade back into its scabbard, I heard him continue his words.
"It is decided.", Matteus declared, drawing all of our attention to him. Aurelia was full of curiosity, wondering what he was about to say. "I feel that it was Aidios's will who led you here, young one. This blade fell into the right hands once again. You shall become my disciple, and learn the way of the Vander School.", Matteus continued, causing a lot of us to become wide-eyed. Me included. He wants me to become his personal disciple, on the same level of Mueller!? Even Aurelia had her mouth open, contrary to her usual aloofness.
"Now isn't this an unexpected twist? It is rare for you to offer a position to become a direct disciple, Sir Vander. I know how strict your school is.", Olivert mused, not expecting him to say that. I also saw Victor chuckle, responding to this.
"Haha, it is clear you have some sort of past with this blade, Matteus. How about we up the ante a bit?", Victor suddenly said, drawing our gazes toward him this time. I was already surprised by the offer Matteus gave me. Does Victor have something too? Thinking that, we heard Victor continue. "Naoto, was it? Why don't I follow suit with your declaration. Are you perhaps interested in learning the Arseid style?", Victor questioned, causing me to get surprised a second time.
Aurelia sucked in a cold breath of air. Even Crown Prince Eugent laughed hearing the two strongest swordsmen start fighting over me.
"You really want this brat to learn both the Vander Style and the Arseid Style? How precocious. This blade isn't that important, is it?", Aurelia scoffed, not expecting to believe what she had just heard.
"It is. It has quite the history to its name, and its own legacy. It caused quite the amount of destruction during the War of the Lions---?", Matteus tried to answer, but he couldn't even finish his explanation of where this weapon came from. All of sudden we all heard a cold voice reach our ears, almost as if this voice spoke directly into our minds. I was the one who was the most surprised out of the bunch. It was a very familiar voice. I didn't think I would hear this voice again so soon.
"Hmph, Matteus you brat. You dare try to steal my apprentice from me so brazenly?", An angry voice spoke out. Perhaps it was Aurelia who was surprised the most this time. A look of anger flashed in her eyes. I bet she didn't expect anyone to address Matteus like that.
'...Master?', I uttered to myself, immediately recognizing this voice. THUD!
Before we could do anything, a loud thud struck our ears from up above. It seemed to have come from the car's roof on the outside.
"The hell?", One of the secret agents who was sitting beside the driver said, letting out a curse. He quickly realized where the sound came from, and rolled down the nearest window. Beneath his black shades, his eyes turned wide, only to spot a figure actually sitting on the roof of the car.
"Hey! Get off the damn car! You're standing on a privately owned vehicle. You have until the count of three before I open fire!", The agent exclaimed, yelling out in anger. The other agent beside him continued to drive, so this agent had free hands to pull out his orbal pistol, aiming it right at the figure who landed on the car. And yet, the newly arrived figure didn't bat a single eye seeing a gun pointed directly at them.
Upon a closer look, this figure appeared to be a girl with very unruly hair, letting it drape down the side of the orbal car. It could easily touch the ground in several places if we weren't inside the car. One thing to point out here was the large red crimson-like staff she currently held in her hands...
"Try me.", The girl declared, responding in a playful manner.
"You...", The agent responded, mouth agape at the challenge, before it soon turned into anger. "Don't you know who it is that's inside this car!?", The agent exclaimed, still angry.
"Don't know, don't care. I couldn't give a single shit about who it is that's inside this car. No one touches my apprentice, let alone steal them on my watch. Those two brats think they can one up me.", The girl retorted out of anger herself. Her eyes remained cold, and a hidden pressure escaped from her body. A powerful one. The agent taking aim couldn't help but shudder.
'This girl does know who it is exactly who is in this vehicle, right...? Did she just call the War God and the Radiant Blademaster a couple of brats? Just who in Aidos's name is this girl!?', The agent thought to himself, remaining silent after that remark. Yet he was quick to resume the situation at hand, realizing what was going on.
"I don't care who it is you are. Stay on there any longer, and I'll open fire!", The secret agent yelled out again. His orbal gun remained cocked, ready to unleash its bullets. It made a clicking sound, and he took aim.
"Good luck with that. I honestly doubt you'll even hit me. Instead, why don't you be a dear and let those two brats know that Naoto is taken already?", The girl responded, revealing a playful grin.
Sure enough, it really is Master. It's only been a day since we've met, but did I forget to mention that she made me her unofficial disciple? That's right, on top of learning the way of the sword from Father and his military tactics, I decided to become a Witch, and learn under this woman. The Crimson Roselia!
To make sure things didn't escalate further, I decided to roll down one of the bulletproof windows beside me. Lo and behold, the first thing that greeted me was that unruly hair of hers. I saw her act so nonchalant being held at gunpoint like this. I just stared wide-eyed at her, at a loss for words.
Roselia decided to show up out of the blue like this. Just great.
Then again, she does tend to do that a lot, doesn't she? I let out a low grown seeing Roselia now on the car's roof nonchalantly. Might I add that we were currently driving at a fast pace toward the capital that was now in view? Her hair was fluttering around in the wind. She straight out ignored the gun pointed at her.
And while that happened, going backwards in time for several moments...
Eryn Village.
A rather lovely and mystical village, as if it came straight out of a fantasy world. It was a very, very secluded village, and you either need godly luck to find it, or through invitation. A gigantic barrier stood erect around not only the village, but around its entirety inside the forest it resided in. The Great Isthmia Forest. This barrier obscured the town from view, and normal humans couldn't even wander into it, unless they had that godly luck.
This town was located in the western edge of Erebonia. It didn't include too many homes, only a handful at most. And yet, there were dense blue particles scattered everywhere, floating around naturally as if it was air itself. This was visible Mana. The closest place to this area was to the southeast, a region governed by one of the Great Houses, the Hyarms Family. They looked over the city of Saint-Arkh, and it is none other than the same family that Patrick Hyarms hails from, who you can meet in Cold Steel.
For the time being, Eryn Village lived in seclusion, away from the public populace.