A servant quickly made his way over, bringing snacks and worms for Azure.
No words were spoken, Seon seemingly being too lazy to speak to the two children. Crio was looking at his sister with exasperation, thinking on how could she be so spoilt when he obviously wasn't. Seola had her eyes lowered, looking at the table without thoughts , lost. How could she have known, after all? The man looked so.. shabby. For him to be their parents old friend with his young looking face was just bizarre to her.
Seon took a worm between his fingers, bringing it to Azure's mouth then said: '' Well, this is awkward. How are you kids , still going to school?'' His long eyelashes fluttered as he spoke mindlessly, looking almost bored.
Seola instinctively scoffed before hurrying to put a hand to her mouth, She shouldn't be so bold towards this new uncle of hers!
Crio glared at her and answered Seon; '' No, uncle, we're too old for school. Seola is working under Father at the Mayor's Office, and I.. I'm trying to find my path.'' Seola snorted before saying, '' Yes, if hanging out with beggars and wild martial artists is finding your path, you sure are doing it well!'' Crio huffed and retorted swiftly; '' Like you know anything, sister. I'm collecting true world experience at the source! Those are brave people you're looking down on. They are very much..''
''Ah!! Quiet now,'' Seon suddenly said as he quickly stood up from his high chair. He lifted his chin and seemed to sense something in the air.
'' Smells like trouble. That county official is back , and she's not alone. Mmh, three men are with her. One of them is no weakling in these parts.
Go fetch your parents, kids, I'll handle it.''
Seon made his way out of the room, heading towards the entrance of the manor, where loud voices could already be heard from the inside.
Walking out of the door, he saw the the previously neatly arranged guards all blocking the way, County Official Yelena followed behind two tall men and one intimidating woman, all garbed in official clothings of higher ranks than Yelena's own. They walked with dignity and arrogance, the perfect picture of what corrupted officials surrounded by golds in the commoners' eyes was.
Seon approached them slowly, each step crossing ten steps of others, looking otherworldly as he went. The sun came just behind him, wrapping him in a golden glow.
The two men were flanking the intimidating woman, presumably her bodyguards, if she even needed some. She clearly was the strongest of their lot. The woman was named Silva, and she was a cultivator. Not just a martial artist who couldn't enter the folds of Qi, but a real Foundation Establishment cultivator. And in these small lands, this, was real status and power. She easily could have founded her own clan, but decided to follow the Empire to assure her safety, for there was always a bigger fish lurking somewhere. And she feared that her stupid new subordinate had kicked an iron plate today. And as she saw the majestic golden aura of the man approaching them, she sighed and made a quick decision; 'This is no normal man. Let's be courteous, and everything will be fine.'
And no later had she thought this, a shrill voice resounded in the air; '' You lowly man! You thought you were something special? Well, you're not! Kneel before us and we'll give you a quick death!'' Yelena yelled with all her breath, panting at the end. She looked delighted to have someone backing her up, before she suddenly coughed up blood and found herself to be the one suddenly kneeling on the floor.
She looked up at Silva, the County High Official, with clear confusion in her eyes.
Silva visibly paled and sent her killing intent to Yelena to make her shut up, who did this child thought she was to speak before she did, and to say such inauspicious words?! Silva bower her head toward Seon, saying '' Please forgive this child, sir, I am sure she meant nothing of this. Yelena! Come and apologize to the good sir.'' Two of the three men accompanying Silva and Yelena took a step to grab Yelena up of the ground, one for each arm, and brought her to Seon. Yelena looked shocked, words without sense coming out of her mouth as she looked vaguely to the distance. One of the man slapped her at the back of the head, telling her here '' Hurry and apologize! Don't you know how to speak?''.
The pain of the slap seemed to bring her back to reality, and she locked eyes to the glowing figure of Seon, the golden glow of the sun behind him, a shiny bird flying in circles above him, a gentle breeze from across sea flowing through his bright white hair and on his corse blue robe. Yelena knew she wasn't the brightest among her siblings, even across the whole of her outer family that weren't directly related to her, she had a certain air-headed reputation. That was the reason she was put under such a small County squad, she wasn't made for complicated matters and had to begin with the low of the low. But she knew, she really knew she wasn't supposed to act so rashly. That wasn't who she was. But each time she met this man, so disheveled and poor looking, she lost her grips. And that deeply scared her. She widened her eyes, opened her mouth and stuttered '' I.. I am very sorry, sir. I don't know what came over me. I really don't!''.
She looked left and right, unsure of why she was the only one losing her mind like this. Who was this man, to make a disciplined noble act like this without her knowing? The two men grabbing her arms still held her tight, and they looked at her as if she were crazy. '' I swear I dont know why I'm acting like this. What are you doing to me, sir, what did you do to me?!'' Her eyes rolled into their sockets, she frothed at the mouth and fainted here and there.
Seon looked on without really understanding what happened. Was she okay in the mind? Was she maybe a little slow?
Silva sighed and thought ' What a disaster this is. I'll have to
report this to the Magsitrate, without a doubt''. Silva approached
Seon and took a rather polite bow,
considering her station, saying '' We originally came to apologize
for this subordinate's rash actions, and to make light onto the
taxes matters. Is it possible to follow you into the Mayor's mansion?''
Seon looked at her with a slight smile on his face. This woman didn't offend him, and Yelena looked stupid and young. So, no grudges here for now, besides the previous affront of Yelena on Gareth, of course. Maybe he'll let her loose a hand, too.
'' Well come on then, Gareth is still being treated, so you will have to wait'' Seon said as he walked away, back to the manor. He was getting quite tired, the day had been way too exciting for his taste. He passed through the gate and followed a servant to a waiting room, where he told one to go fetch the Mistress and Master of the house, while sitting down with Azure on his knees. Silva, Yelena being dragged inside, still unconscious, and the two men all followed in the room, standing and keeping Yelena up.
'' Well why don't you sit down, now? Are you looking down on this fine furniture? '' Seon said jokingly, but the guests did not take it lightly and hurried with the most dignity they could muster to their sit. Silva coughed lightly and said '' We are certainly not disdaining the furnitures. Now, I dont think I quite catched your name, sir..? '' The young man looked down at his sweet bird Azure, gently ruffling her feathers, his eyelashes dropping slightly and catching the light like silk.
'' My name is Seon, no last name, at your disappointment I suppose.''
Silva widened her eyes and hurriedly said, '' Oh no, of course not, Sir Seon. We in the Empire do not look down on commoners, most of our Ministers are from common decent after all.'' She glared at the still unconscious Yelena, adding '' This girl is certainly no exemple to follow, and we are most sorry for what happened today.'' Seon stopped playing with Azure's feathers and suddenly sharply looked up at her; '' And what about my friend, the Mayor? Did you know, this girl as you say, took one of his hand for a verbal affront?''
Silva sighed loudly, pinched the bridge of her nose and said '' No, I wasn't made aware of this. Know that I will compensate the Mayor, your friend, with a Regrowing Pill.'' Silva had only two of these on her person, and they were given one each for five years in service of the Empire. But this man was not ordinary, and she'd better be in his good graces than to be his ennemy. She'd always had these hunches about people, and she believed this one to be of importance.
The Regrowing Pills were made by an Imperial Alchemist, each one of them at Peak Mortal grade. They were an honor to have, all worth a true fortune for wandering cultivators, even more for martial artists.
Seon's gaze softened and his thin lips lifted up. '' Then we have no qualms today, friend Silva.''
Cold sweat drifted down Silva's back, her eyes clouding over in an instant, looking lost.
Silva knew she didn't give her name to this man.