Chương 49: Telling the family

VANESSA Little birds woke me from sleep, and a large man peacefully snored beside me. After watching him for a moment, I left the bed as I do every morning.

"Now that's a sight I would like to see every day." Tarion lay on his side, scanning me up and down. I looked down at what he was glimpsing and saw myself totally bare. I tried to hide myself with my arms, but slim lines of mana held my arms. Using that inhuman speed of his, he appeared before me as bare as I was. Beauty is nothing to be ashamed of." The wires of mana untwist, and his hands interlock with mine.

"Especially with your husband." I looked away, or I would have been blinded. His alluring body was too much in the darkness of the cover. In the morning light, it was almost impossible. Perfect. But up close I could see signs of battles, scars badly healed, and slight burns. Tarion gently pulled my chin towards him, grinning. A kiss stole my senses for a second.

"Are you ready?" Ready for what? I thought, then I remembered. A small chill went down my naked spine. I didn't know I would be this scared.

"Yes…"

"What's wrong, Vanessa?"

"I-I… can I really do this… Can I really save the Friedland?" I finally spoke of my fear. From across the room, my robe was delivered by a mana wire onto Tarion's hand, and he wrapped it around me.

"Can I tell you a little secret?" I nod.

"You already succeeded."

"I-I did?!" I asked, thoroughly confused.

"Indeed. I foresaw that you would be able to quell the forces of the curse and seal the demon away with ease. You were formidable. Supplying thousands of troops with holy energy. You led from the front and by example. You earned the title 'Saint'.

"But you say things have changed."

"True…" Tarion placed his heavy hands on my shoulders.

"But you are the same formidable woman who saves cities. The land above does not give power to those who cannot wield it well. You will become successful once again. With my aid. You are not alone."

"Again…" I jumped, hugging Tarion tight.

"With you." I hugged my hope close. Tarion leaned in, hugging back, and kissed the top of my head.

"Vanessa?" I looked up, stuffed in his warm chest.

"Um?"

"Happen to have a towel I can wear? I'm feeling a bit chilly." JOSHUA I woke up in a steaming mood. Yesterday was a marathon, as I walked everywhere with crutches, and no one gave a damn. Even sleep, my only escape, was horrible. But at least one thing went well last night. Holly was safe. My little lady of the night and Kern were the only ones who would listen to a word I said. I didn't know she was taken by the fatty until I saw her amongst the filth-covered girls.

Remembering the times I promised her I would take her and Kern out of the brothel, I experienced shame I never had before. But with a man like Fjord around – how could I do anything? I could have done something but was too much of a coward to. I didn't say hi to Holly, worrying she may scorn me for lying. But I will make that lie reality. On my tiny honour, I will. Tarion pissed me off by asking us to make our way to his office. I limped from an open door and found many servants with serious faces.

In our family, we do not hire run-of-the-mill servants; rather, we hire members of branch families who are also strong in their own right to serve for a limited time. Usually second or third sons or daughters of a branch are recommended, but sometimes an heir wishes to serve the duke. The scowling Beatrice was such an heir. The rumour was that she gave it up to her brother out of piety to her father, but if you saw her now beside Bieye, guarding her like a feral cat, you'd realise the rumour was off by a mile.

I sat at the back, whereas Tarion still swaggered in like a king. All servants rose from their seats at attention, and a single wave made them relax. To think this is the same Tarion that would cry in his bed. I slowly sat down, refusing help from servants buzzing around me. In the corner of my eye, I noticed a darker-skinned fellow leaning on the wall. Tarion cleared his throat, and his partner stood just behind. There was something different that I couldn't work out. A barrier was broken between them.

The awkwardness had disappeared. Tarion leant over his nice desk. Fine, I am here, brother. What rubbish are you going to preach to us now? JENNIFER WALTERS"My best friend is the saint! MY BEST FRIEND IS THE MOTHER FUCKING SAINT!" Everyone turned their shocked faces my way. I forgot to keep my inner thoughts in. But how could I keep it in that your bloody best friend is the saviour of the bloody world?! Imagine the free dresses, the mounds of marks, and the chest of rare jewels sent to get her favour.

The Hodges will never look down on her again! She could get anything. Control everything. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it. Vanessa smiled not-so-innocently. To her, my thoughts were as readable as the alphabet. She saw the evil plans spinning in my mind. But Osberg is dirt poor! We haven't got the choice to be a good girl and make money the correct way. The correct way is slow. The right way is dirtier.

One of these days I will convince the goody-two-shoes. But, as I was organising my mind, my plans ground to a halt as I heard more of Tarion's tale. KURT Possessed? The shaved? I couldn't believe my ears. And Jen couldn't either. Standing behind her friend, she stared at me. That scared look – I couldn't tell if she was scared of the shaved invasion or scared of me. But at least that's the reaction I expected. When I told her the truth last night, I hoped she would be enraged.

At least it would be a reaction I could expect after telling her the truth. Even though she said that she was thankful that I told her, she went straight to sleep and said nothing else. However, there was nothing in her voice that could say what she truly felt. For the first time in Osberg, I felt lost. Not in direction but in emotion. Over a girl. Life was simpler as a nomad. But simpler wasn't a thing I wanted. As Tarion continued to explain the shaved, I desperately looked in her eyes for anything.

She mouthed something. Stop staring? You look stupid? Then she grinned and giggled like always. That was when I realised I was stupid to worry. JOSHUA I squatted on a completely healed leg. My body was like new; I felt like bouncing like a rabbit. I looked up; golden light illuminated from my sister-in-law's fingertips. My eyes widened as she went to Beatrice. A single touch healed her arms in an instant. Bieye embraced her lover with tears of joy as Beatrice stared at her arms, stunned.

Tarion called for the frost knight, and Uncle Loran stepped forward. The weird-looking lady still followed like a fickle cat.

"Please, Your Grace." He held out a hand, and Vanessa gracefully accepted it. An old man sighed with relief while gold mana floated from him.

"I feel amazing!! HAHAHA! You married the right one, Tarion! Don't you dare disappoint her!" Tarion in front.

"I won't…" fist to chest. As I positioned myself to the side, Tarion stood in front of the servants and let his voice out.

"I have brought the men and women I trust most in the world to bring my vision to life. A vision where the world escaped disaster. A vision where the cursed will disappear from the land. A vision where the saint brings peace to these troubled lands!" His voice reverberated in my heart. The room gazed upon the master of the manor, engrossed in his every word.

"Whether others may think we are mad or foolish or tyrants. We must be of one mind, focused on the goal. The saint's safety. Understood!"

"YES, YOU GRACE." Tarion gestured to the dark-skinned man, his smile bending his scar on his admittedly handsome face. Hands in pockets, he walked to the front next to Tarion.

"Those that target her are still on the run. But we know the plan to act soon." Tarion nodded to the man from Sika.

"The name's Drac. A seeker in training. I am here to catch a mage, and here is how we do it." KURT A most important meeting ended. Servants and workers left the office energised. Filled with purpose, they were ready to storm out and complete the work. However, they peered at me with suspicion. Word had spread, it looked like. The trust I gained all these months with my fellow workers was now lost. But I will never hold it against them. Their resentment of the Shaved and me is reasonable.

Many of their clan members lost their lives to my people. I know they will plan to pressure me out, yet I was invited to the same meeting they were. I am a trusted man. Without His Grace's say so i will not leave. I also went to leave, but Jen rushed to me. Wrapping herself around my arm, she pulled aside.

"Can you believe it… A shaved army possessed…"

"I can believe it. Remember the cursed humanoids. Never before have they moved with such intention. Veil the mage not only could be creating but directing their action like…"

"Like Ibis, oh dear." I hear the sadness in her voice. I do remember they were old friends.

"Then you better guard her close, you hear?"

"Um?"

"If the spirit thingy comes out and controls you, I will get my best friend to zap you with her holy powers." I almost laughed.

"Ok, I will guard her with my power." I saluted my lady. JIMMY I stayed behind. Totally befuddled. A normal lad like me should hear any of this shit. I know my place. I know my strength. And this isn't my kind of job. Wait till the lady hears of this – I can't even tell her! OH MISERY! With everyone off to do things, I was alone with a duke. I asked him a question.

"What kind of bullshit did you bring me into!?" The duke smiled like the jerk he is and patted my shoulder in the condescending way he always does.

"It's the kind of bullshit you can deal with." TARION I see Jimmy off and make it back inside the manor, as everyone has returned to their work. They ran about with a different rhythm to their movement. More motivated. More driven. Feeling glad, I found my wife. Above the foyer on the balcony where Vanessa first met the staff, she read a letter silently. Her eye narrowed. She wasn't hard of sight, so what she was reading must have been absurd. I poked her right shoulder and teased her from her left.

"What are you reading?" She handed me the letter, sweating with a half smile. There is only one person she gets like this with. I read the letter.

"An invitation to meet. By Lea Trak? She's not one to invite friends to her abode."

"Exactly! I need Jen now!"

"Vanessa, wait!" And she was already running down the corridor to her friend's room. I read the letter again, recognising such neat handwriting. Before the sickness, I received a letter like this almost every week. I had to put my curiosity aside for my ex-fiancé. That fight is for my wife. Seven days to train. To prepare. Master Zhi snuck up on me. Her fist tapped my side.

"Dead. Is my student this weak?"

"A student that is not educated is not weak but ignorant. Call me weak when you taught me everything."

"What nonsense are you yapping about?!" Zhi kicked my shin, and I held my cry to the heavens.

"Head to the training hall now!" 7 days till the ball.