Saving My Duke

chapter six

"so, miss. i was wondering if i could join you in the library?" velvet gleams as i begin to walk towards said library. "okay then." i grin as she skips beside me. the halls drag on as usual, but today they look airier, more spacious. the curving structure doesn't overwhelm me anymore, instead it fuels hope. i open the dusty library's doors, taking a step in as velvet clammers on about something my brain tuned out of. i sigh, walking over to where i left the goddess' book. it's strange. i dropped it on the floor, but instead, it is propped up on the book stand. i curiously walk over. "velvet, has anyone cleaned the library recently?" they couldn't have, the dust is practically piled on. books that i have read scattered across the floor. "not that i know of, we are quite short staffed, my lady." i smile. i stroke the cover of the book, wiping off the dust. an extra line of title reveals. the 5 goddesses of britannia, and the holy maidens passage.

i flip the pages to where i left them, now reading about the goddess of wind and water, marina. a pure, thoughtful goddess, full of a mystic airiness about her. the aura of blue, a blue i remember from the cold room i was locked in. did not only sylvia, but did marina help me too? mother is said to be the one and only saintess, the child of sylvia. no one is visited by the other 4 goddesses. so, why? why did marina help me?
"my lady?" velvet whispers as my hands slam harder onto the table. i ignore her words as she mutters about leaving the room. i read on, captivated by curiosity as my eyes scan every word on the page. marina, the woeful goddess of the ocean and sadness. said to have been tossed away by the other four goddesses, as their union had no use for feelings of sorrow and pity. she was left alone, only her own tears to comfort her. she's just like me in a way, alone, sorrowful, waiting for a certain certainty that is approaching at the click of time. but still, despite her never changing nature, she was the most beautiful of the goddesses. and they envied her.

sylvia, with magical golden yellow hair and piercing green eyes. always wearing a white robed dress, elegantly modest with her appearance. a glowing orb always floating above her left hand, and a long pale gold staff in her right.
angelica, with beautiful pastel blue hair and marigold toned eyes. beautiful white wings that dragged behind her as she walked, and a stunning halo that would blind you if you stared for too long. she truly looked like an angel.
the piercing goddess scarlet, with black eyelashes and red eyes matching her deep burgundy hair. her black horns and seductive features framed her lustful appearance, being almost irresistible to most men.
allura, the attempted most beautiful of the bunch. pale lilac hair and the most light shade of violet eyes. always wearing a flower crown, and of-course her signature magical fan in hand. but still, all four never compared to lady marina.
glowing silver hair, eyes that traversed like the deep blue sea. and a calm look on her face, at all times. nothing special about her, she wore nothing but a blue rag around her body. she walked bare footed, and she has no wings, nor horns, nor staffs. she was just simply breath taking, and they didn't know why. they envied her for it. and so, they cast her away. into exile, away from the land, and away from the heavens. she plummeted deep into the sea of blue, and there she stays, for all eternity.
the only goddess with a sense of regret in her heart, was none other than sylvia, the founder of it all.

i hear the door clammer as i awaken from my trance, i have been reading for an unknown amount of time. it must have been a lot, as the sky is oddly dimmer, and the rain is falling more than before. i look over to the deep wood doors to see who has entered, gazing at the white haired mage in the doorway. damien, the great mage of seibert. and also, my good friend in the past. "hello miss." he coldly sighs, walking over to the magic and wizardry books as usual. i close the large cover on the novel, stepping out from underneath the table. "yes, hello." i coyly smile, taking the large book and dragging it towards the lecturn. it's heavy, so i struggle as i throw it onto the stand. i hear him chuckle from behind the bookshelf. "you really are foolish." he smiles brightly, stepping over to my side and straightening out the book. i scoff. "yeah, thanks." i sarcastically snicker, turning away dramatically to pick up some stray books.

"i never knew the famous shy mistress of the duchy was so crude." i hear his voice echo from behind me as i am bent down sliding the books beside on another. i jump, turning my head around to see him leaning on his shoulder against the book case. "well you do now." i annoyingly mutter, scooting past him.
i hear him snicker as i exit the library, stomping out of the door. we always conflicted, but that was the fun part of our friendship. the sound of him giggling from behind me grows quiet as i walk down the hall, towards the garden.

i stare at the beautiful arch way that leads to a stone cold forest. it's freezing. gently, i take a step into the snow, my slippers growing damp. the cold stings as my second foot leans on the floor, and i begin to walk away from the side entrance of the manor. i walk towards a tall evergreen tree, stroking its coarse bark and admiring its strong nature. i wish i could be strong like a tree, sturdy and resilient against the cold. not like me, ofcourse.
my cheeks flush up as i rush to take my numb hands against my mouth, breathing into them in attempt to warm myself. i kneel down and lean my back on the tree, my winter cloak protecting me from the blustery weather. i used to do this, and i've missed it. sitting against this same tree, in the same cold weather. the same manor, the same never ending thought. ryuuji. ryuuji, ryuuji.
ryuu-