After the incident with the eye artifact, Mikael wanted to confront Siegfried about the issue, however, he never got the chance.
Later on that same day when Mikael went to see him, he was nowhere to be found. When he asked Marianne, he was told that he was picking up an associate of his and would be gone for a couple of days. Great. Just when there was an urgent issue like this, Siegfried was busy.
That was an experience he never wanted to relive again. It had just been one scary situation after another. First, the constant stress and self deprecation when he first arrived at the mansion, then meeting Belegor the dragon, which was terrifying at first, and most recently the encounter with the sealed crimson eye.
That "thing" had evoked a strong emotion, completely unknown to Mikael. An emotion that in hindsight made him feel disgusted. He had been in a trance-like state, holding a deep desire for the eye, almost as if he was worshipping it. He had acted in a way that was completely unlike him and that disgusted him. His willingness to throw away his identity for a complete unknown.
Trying to get his mind and his thoughts away from it, he focused on practicing his magic and the studies with Annerose. With her, he could feel safe, secure, far away from the bad things. When he was talking with her, Mikael could feel happy. Alice and Marianne too had grown on him, though they didn't often meet during the day. Most often during meals since Mikael spent a lot of time engrossed in his studies.
Out of the two, Marianne was the more reliable one, in charge of the chores and meals while Alice was more of an active helper. She was more carefree than Marianne, not so strict on the fine details and didn't fret over every little thing.
With Marianne the relationship felt more professional. Her words were cold, but it seemed like she cared, showing him an ordinary kindness here and there. For example, if she spotted Mikael having trouble with things such as reaching for something higher up or searching for something she would always help him and end it with a almost monotone "Here you go". Almost never smiling. Strangers would probably feel like she was rude or that she didn't care enough to put in the effort, even though she was the most diligent in the family.
Alice however, was way more casual and friendlier with Mikael, not concerned about politeness and such. Going at her own pace. This led to her having a foul mouth here and there in certain situations. Many would likely regard her as lazy, though she did her fair share of work in the mansion. However, she would often just disappear for multiple hours during the day. Nowhere to be found in the main rooms and the other normal rooms.
And while she didn't feel as reliable as Marianne, Alice did have an unusual air about her. With further inspection from his eyes, Mikael realized what it was that was unusual about her. Her magical energy.
With most, the energy would appear like a cloud of smoke inside and around the person. With mages, the aura was more refined with varying degree. Appearing more and more like a thick outline instead. Siegfried had more magical energy than most, but still had it quite refined.
While Marianne and Annerose had quite refined auras as well, Alice's was on another level. This form was the peak that mages strived for. A thin outline of aura around the body, almost becoming one with it and almost impossible to observe. Was she also a mage? Even though she worked as a maid?
While observing her aura for so long, Mikael felt the strain on his body after just a few minutes. It became clear that it was not just his magical abilities he had to train. His body's innate abilities had to be further refined as well. Both his eyes' observation skills and the effectiveness and speed of his regeneration had to improve for them to be truly useful.
...
On the second day after Siegfried's trip, Annerose and the others came to Mikael with a proposal during breakfast. Out of the three, it was Annerose, the one closest to him who spoke up with a slightly concerned look.
"Hey, Mikael?"
"Hm?"
He looked up from his plate of food, still munching he responded and awaited whatever it was that Annerose was going to say. And steeling herself with a deep breath, Annerose continued.
"You know. Ever since you got here you've been working hard and diligently in your studies. But, you haven't really gotten any real breaks from it. Even the times we tried to do something fun and even during the weekends, you're still focused on your studies. Perhaps too much. I don't want to to have another experience like that ever again."
That was true. Mikael had been quite immersed in studying and recently exploring the mansion. Never getting any real breaks. And during the few times they had done something together before, he was too depressed and stressed to enjoy it. A more proper break would be nice.
"And the three of us also need a break as well. So we thought that it could be fun to all go together to the summer home where you and Siegfried went fishing once. How does that sound?"
Mikael vaguely remembered the place. He and Siegfried had only gone past it and went fishing in the nearby river, and Mikael himself wasn't to focused on it as well. What he did remember was the sunlight that gently brightened the nature in the area. A nice and relaxing view. This break, or rather vacation would be very nice indeed.
"Well, okay. But why? Why are you guys suddenly proposing it?"
Posing that question, it was now Alice who answered.
"We never really see each other other than mealtime. Isn't that kinda awkward? Living together with people you don't really talk to."
"I suppose that's true..."
Yeah. It was really awkward to hold conversations with people he knew little about. While he knew Annerose and Siegfried and felt comfortable around them, Marianne and Alice were a different case. He knew how they acted and behaved, and knew that they only mean well as family members... But. It's still really awkward.
Pondering these thoughts silently, Mikael adjusted his line of sight towards the three, all sitting on the opposite side of the table. Annerose was quiet and expecting, Alice was eating her food while waiting for an answer, and Marianne who hadn't said anything so far was sitting silently, elegantly and-
No, wait. She was nervous. With her hands on the table, she was fidgeting and intertwining them. o. Her eyes were wandering around the room, unable to find a place to stop. Her mannerisms screamed that she was on edge and restless. What could be troubling her?
"M-Marianne?"
"Y-yes!?"
Surprised, she responded in a shocked and unsure fashion, her voice grew unintentionally loud. The usually professional head maid of the mansion was currently in a dire crisis of her own. Restless and struggling to calm herself. Unable to confidently speak up during this specific conversation.
What's going on?
"Is everything, okay? You seem quite restless..."
"Yes! Of course everything's okay! I'm just a little sleepy."
What a horribly obvious lie. Was she concerned about the proposal?
"Are you concerned about you guys' proposal? If so, don't worry, I'm happy to go with you."
"Really!?"
With those words, Marianne's inner crisis ended in an instant. Her azure eyes were sparkling with excitement. So even the cold and stern maid could show such emotions. To be honest, it was quite relaxing. Mikael felt as if he now knew her a little better and the tension he had talking with her a moment ago also eased considerably.
Annerose and Alice were also happy about Mikael's desire to join them on this vacation. Annerose breathed out with a relieved sigh while Alice's mouth broke into a white flashing smile. The type of smile a bandit would show after robbing someone of all their valuables. She then pushed her chair away from the table and quickly stood up. The action took Mikael completely off guard.
"Okay then! Let's go!"
"Right now!?"
"Yup."
She really did go at her own pace, ignoring everybody else's thoughts on the matter. And so it was decided that the four of them would have a short vacation to the family's summer home.
...
They packed some essentials with them like food and clothes and went to their vacation destination via one of the many magical doors in the mansion. On the other side was a grassy field clad in golden rays of sunshine. A thin forest not that far away, the trees gently moving in tandem with a summer breeze. Further beyond was a river perfect for fishing and bathing.
The summer home itself was made from white stone, with a roof of clay tiles and a beautiful red door. It was a decent size with two stories and a cramped attic. Outside there was a terrace holding a white roundtable, multiple black chairs with flowery patterns and a white parasol shielding them from the sun.
The three maids had also changed into new clothes that Mikael had never witnessed them in. Marianne wore a white, sleeveless linen dress, a straw hat with a dark violet band and slightly heeled, white sandals. Her brown hair which she always had in a ponytail was now flowing freely like a chocolate waterfall.
Alice had a sky blue top, a long white skirt extending to her feet and beige sandals. Her hair flowed freely as always in the wind, like a golden fire. While she was carefree, it didn't seem like she would wear just anything. It had be somewhat nice. Which the outfit was. Already complementing her beauty and slightly toned muscles.
And lastly, Annerose. She had most of her hair in a ponytail, leaving the two golden waterfalls in the front, and a small double braid going from each of those waterfalls and extending to the base of her ponytail. She wore a white blouse with sleeves extending a bit further than her elbows, a beige vest over the blouse, terracotta colored skirt that was just as long as Alice's and her own pair of brown sandals.
The three had transformed from beautiful maids into a stunning trio. While they had changed into these wonderful outfits, Mikael was still wearing his white frilled shirt and black pants. While he almost always wore them, it was also his favorite outfit.
The following two days, they enjoyed a well earned rest in the nice summer weather. Walking along the river, walking in the river, feeling the wonderful cold water, enjoying meals outside by the roundtable and relaxing in the evening inside the house.
Alice was very active and wanted to eagerly show Mikael the many things they encountered on their walks and explorations of the surrounding area. Although new and awkward at first, the tension soon lifted and Mikael followed her lead with great excitement. Together they had so much fun. Growing much more closer.
During those walks Annerose and Marianne walk a little behind them, watching the two acting like friendly siblings. Marianne kept her composure, maintaining her professional feel but was still enjoying the vacation just as much as the others. Feeling relaxed surrounded by the sounds of nature together with them.
Annerose would accompany the rest on whatever they wanted to do. Watching over them like how a mother would. Helping Marianne prepare the meals while Mikael and Alice were playing together.
While he spent most of the time with Alice, doing various things, he didn't neglect Marianne. They were also together during meals and afternoons, everyone together, just talking or relaxing. Enjoying a life with no obligations. A life of freedom.
This vacation would become the happiest time Mikael had had so far in his life. It enabled him to temporarily forget about the incident with the eye and rather enjoy this together with the others as a family. Growing closer together and beginning to sever the awkwardness that was between them.
But even while on vacation, Mikael did keep up with some magic practice. Creating different shapes with Light. Siegfried had said that the fundamentals were the most important part of magic, and by believing those words, Mikael was able to cast aside any doubt about his skills with Light magic and was making steady progress with the shapes.
Visualizing the shape and then create it with magical energy was a lot simpler than it first seemed. The hard part was holding the shape in its proper form. But with time that would soon be something that Mikael would master.
...
Before they knew it, the two-day vacation was over and it was time to go home.
They packed up the little leftovers of food they hadn't used and some used clothes and went home to the mansion via the front door. That was all the luggage they had brought with them since when you have such a short way to go home you really don't need that much on you.
From outside the house, Marianne stood in front with the others at her back, holding a bronze key. She put it into the keyhole and twisted it, resulting in a small white light emanating from the keyhole.
While they only needed their rings to enter a door from the mansion, they needed a key to get back. The bronze key was one such key. Functioning to only open a doorway to the mansion at specified points, while the golden key Siegfried had was like a universal key, able to use any door to return and unlock every door inside the mansion.
Upon returning, they each went their respective ways, Mikael towards his room and the others probably going to theirs. While walking, he spotted Siegfried, closing the door to one of the many rooms in the mansion. So he was back? And besides him was another man dressed in an unusual manner.
He wore a wide, dark-blue pleated pants that went as far up as a little below the chest. It had a grey geometrical pattern that was star-shaped and six-pointed, and a cloth belt of the same dark-blue color. Instead of a shirt, he wore a bright red robe which seemed to be an underlayer for the pants. On his back there was a picture of a fiery bird in gold.
While he looked to be around fifty, he had long sleek pitch-black hair in a ponytail that stretched all the way down to his lower back. He had black eyes, some wrinkles and a little bit of facial hair. Not enough for a proper beard, but it was still there.
This was the "associate" that he'd been told Siegfried was picking up. A very interesting person indeed. Who was he and what was his relationship to Siegfried?
Not long after Mikael had spotted them, Siegfried had also spotted him. With a slight smile, Siegfried raised his right hand and called out to him.
"Hey! Mikael!"
The man beside Siegfried turned around towards Mikael, eyes slightly narrowed. Actually those narrowed eyes seemed to be his eyes' neutral position. He had never heard of people on the central continent having such features or wearing such strange clothes.
"This here is a friend of mine. Meet Daiji Iiyama."
Daiji bowed his head slightly with a "Greetings". He raised his head and stared intently at Mikael. As if sizing him up like a peace of meat, with a faint hint of bloodlust. That look sent shivers down his spine and felt a cold sweat forming on his brow. Siegfried noticed his discomfort and hurriedly stepped in to disperse the tension, waving with his arms a little while explaining.
"Ah-yes, he looks very unusual to you, Mikael, yes? He's from the east. A place called "Azuma". And these are traditional clothing there. The pants are called "hakama" while the robe-like garment is a "shitagi"."
Daiji's eyes moved with surprise towards Siegfried, who was failingly trying to clear the awkwardness in the air. A sight he had never seen him display. Siegfried, a powerful mage on the same level as the world's "Saints", talking like some sort of introvert trying to clear up a misunderstanding.
"We were actually just headed to my study to have a talk. I'll hopefully see you at dinner later. See ya!"
And with a short wave, Siegfried turned around and led Daiji further into the mansion. Watching them leave, Mikael was curious what room they had just been in before he arrived. This door was also slightly different from the others. Just like the archive door. This one was a little larger than the normal ones and had a brass outline.
After checking that they were gone, Mikael held out his hand and the ring responded to the door, unlocking it.
Upon entering the room, all he could see was a star-filled night sky surrounding him. Walking among those stars and those fake constellations with awe. This was the "Star-Chamber". Mikael was standing there, completely still from the amazing spectacle. Unable to even twitch.
...
"~Sight~ Please don't do that again. He's my adopted son and is in no way related ideologically related to those monsters."
Siegfried and Daiji however, had reached his study, a room filled with bookshelves, a green carpet, and a pair of chairs and a small table. While Daiji sat down in one of the chairs, Siegfried went to a table by the wall that a set of teacups and kettle. He swiftly brewed tea for the both of them by heating the kettle with magic.
A serious mood hang over the study. Both of the members at this cozy, little "tea-party" deep in thought, preparing for what to say to the other, lightly sipping on their tea.
The one to break the silence was Daiji, putting down his cup immediately after a small sip.
"I'll cut to the chase. I held my silence before because of the ritual in the Star Chamber, but you have to know. Azuma is in a dire state right now..."
Siegfried watches and listens intently. Not dismissing a single word.
"A group of Dragon-kin has destroyed two of the five major clans. The Mejiro clan and the Zaō clan. Their leader singlehandedly brought down the clan heads and has taken control of their territory in the east and their subjects."
Daiji's expression shows how bad the situation is. He takes a deep breath and continues.
"He towers over men and uses his four arms to destroy anyone in his path. Those who try to slay him are halted by his thick dark-green scales. He slices a head open with a wave of his hand, and sentences those he hates to a painful and fiery death with his flaming breath. The Mejiro and Zaō clans' sacred treasures could only slightly injure him. And even those were seized after the clans' destruction. It's not enough with just the rest of us, Siegfried. We need You."
Hearing his friend's plea, Siegfried takes another sip of his tea and drinks it all in one go. He puts the cup down and raises his head, eyes gleaming of curiosity and bloodlust.
"What is his name?"
"!... His men call him, Kagutsuchi. A fire-god."
"Can't wait to meet him."