A Tale of One Deviant (Book One)

Chapter 181: Worrying Demons

"...Stream."

     Genuinely tired.

     The lord's pen stopped in place, one clearly commandeered from his son. Whether it was by loan, gift, or tactical acquirement, the familiar wasn't sure and didn't care to find out.

     "To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" The lord turned up a slight smile to the familiar, one that he seemed to have become more acquainted with in the past better than that of his own beloved youngest granddaughter.

     "May I ask about the state of the children returning back to school? I'm aware they're currently in Koraco, but I again encourage you to bring them back. As it is now, they will not become acquainted with staying away for long periods of time, and rely on spoiling to mentally and emotionally get through the tension of the house. While your doting is unrivaled, it's not the solution."

     Kiki, this better not be some sick apostle hierarchy crap. I better not have to sympathize with them for whatever-

     "..."

     Lord Markov stared into the brown eyes of the murky Stream, one that still had uncomfortable standing in the family of the de Libellules. Though the youngest's familiar and, in the mindset of those strange nobles, family, he was still a lord, and her direct commenting was not to be tolerated. And though a lord, he was sure he had to be careful of the one that stood in front of him, since her race was, without hard evidence, unknown...but almost certainly dangerous.

     So they formed a tentative relationship. The well-being of all the children was informed unto him who worried and couldn't keep eyes on all at even most hours of the day, and the familiar was respected, her words heeded, her actions appreciated, and her stay accommodated.

     Then what the heck does Keir do...and Lucia. I've never once seen either of them work, or really do anything. And, Teria. Isn't she the Goddess of Ventures? Shouldn't she be super busy? What happened there?

     Long stories, Master, that you should ask each person yourself.

     Kiki was not the only one with answers, and it would be appreciated if she was not treated as a walking encyclopedia, sometimes.

     Shutting the line between her and her master off almost completely, to maybe for once focus on a conversation, Kiki listened intently to the matter directly considering the trio of mischief and their welfare that was hanging in the balance.

     "I'm aware of that."

     Mana light flickered where the fixtures stood on his desk. Just behind Kiki, she could feel the swirl of mana signatures left behind from the rambunctious folks that bounced through it more and more, as of late. Especially the dull scent of her master's squashed aura, as she always unwittingly silenced her own presence.

     "But while I do have a say in their welfare, I am not their father or mother. What Earl and Ana decide to do with the children is ultimately up to them, and I have faith that the course will right itself by the end of the year. It's been a difficult one for everyone, I can imagine." The light dimmed, before flaring brighter again. It caught his green eyes, so like his son's, but not at all like his son's, that it was disturbing. To be alike, yet so different. To be of the same blood, but be such different, unexpected shades.

     Kiki could only imagine the utter shock the previous earl had experienced when his son's eyes had turned out to be such a startling color at birth, and could imagine the crushing guilt that came with telling his blind wife that their future would not be as it seemed.