Gilded Cage~ Shapeshifter Rebirth

Chapter 23 |Past~Arina|

"Wow that last technique was good!" Lilian exclaimed. Our evaluation was just over. It ended with me jumping out of her hold like that time with Carlisle and an attack at her waist. But of course I tuned it down, so I did not stay in the sky. It looked like a simple jump. 

"Your new technique was really cool too. That flaming circle." 

"Hehehe... Finally evaluation done, we can have a rest." 

"True. Did you have fun with your mission?" 

"You mean did I have fun accompanying a spoiled noblewoman from one town to another? What do you think?" Lilian rolled her eyes. "She demanded an all girl military protecting her. As if she's that important."

"Well at least you got a mission."

Most apprentices who graduated would enter the military. Cregan was a military based society. To work in the government, one had to be competent in fighting in some way. Each sect or manor groomed their apprentices to be competent in some way, no matter with a sword or a bow, and the apprentices in turn served their manor or sect in the government. They represented that sect or manor, they became the power of that sect or manor. 

Of course some apprentices remained under the manor to become personal guards of important people of the Manor or work as hidden soldiers of the head family. While most apprentices future would be determined by Master Fu, some who had potential would be selected by the head family. That's why Master Fu always arranged his star pupils to work in missions that involved the head family, so they could be selected when the time came. 

I shifted back into human form in the empty corridor of Jade Garden. Master Carlisle sent me a note this morning and asked me to meet him here. I avoided to crash into his room as a bird to avoid spending time with him in my bird form. I was about to knock on the door when I heard giggles drifting from inside the room. 

"Thank you so much, Master Carlisle. Your compliment made me blush," Georgia said sweetly, no doubt smiling sweetly again.

I lowered my eyes and before I could knock again, words drifted from inside the room again, "Georgia, eavesdropping is really a bad etiquette, isn't it?" 

I quickly knocked on the door and entered the room. "I am sorry for being late, Master Carlisle."

"No, you're not, Arina. I flew over in my eagle form, of course I arrive earlier than you." 

Was it for you to judge if I was late or not? Even if I was not, if the master said I was then I was. Sometimes I just didn't know if Georgia was clever or stupid. And did you have to rub it in again? We all knew you could turn into a mighty eagle. I continued to keep my head down.

"Since Arina said she was late, she should be punished. Don't you think so, Georgia?" Carlisle smiled like a sly fox.

Why was it worded this way? Did what I think matter? The point was if you thought I was late or not! Not me! Why did I think he was waiting for me to fall into a trap again?

"Huh?"  

"How about this plate of pastry. You have to eat them all as punishment." Carlisle pushed forward a tiny plate with a slice of cake on it. Was that punishment? Pastries in Jade Garden were expensive and the tastes were impeccable. What type of punishment was that?

"Huh?" Georgia asked again, clearly not following. I didn't understand his logic too.

"We're just talking about how pretty your family's bird form was. Georgia's eagle form was magnificent." Carlisle suddenly switched topic. This was weird, what was he planning?

"Huh? Oh yes." Georgia blushed. "But my bird form is nowhere near as pretty as Arina's."

"Really?" Carlisle looked at me with untamed interest gleaming in his eyes. He was smirking. 

I knew what he was planning to do. I quickly said, "I accept the punishment, I will eat them now."

At the same time, Georgia said, "Yes, Arina has such blue feathers. The feathers are all in different shades of blue." 

I was doomed. 

"Blue." He was smirking. "It's a pity, but I don't think time allows you to watch the punishment takes place, Georgia. You get on with with your mission first."

"Huh? Oh, of course, Master Carlisle." With a confused look, she shifted into an eagle and flew out. 

"So you have blue feathers. But why did I remember you having gray feathers?" He was smiling like a cat who had caught its pray and was toying with it.

 What should I do? At least control the damage.

"Master Carlisle, I actually had two powers. One is to shift to a gray finch which you have seen. The other is to a blue finch."

"I see. But your family didn't know?"

"You see the power to shift into a blue finch is much weaker. And as the saying said we should not show all our cards. So Georgia did not know the stronger one." 

It's actually the other way round. Please believe it. 

"I see." He nodded like he totally understood. "Now don't worry, I didn't forget about the punishment. Eat this slice of pastry in your bird form. Oh... not your gray one, but your blue one." He was still smirking in that annoying way.

"But... that power is really weak..."

"Your cousin, Georgia, has seen it and didn't comment on it. So I doubt it'll be as weak as you said. Or are you hiding something?" His eyes gleamed dangerously. 

Should I beg for his forgiveness? 

"Arina, we don't have much time."

Maybe he wouldn't recognize me, birds all looked alike. Who was I kidding? He looked like he had won already.

Dejectedly, I shifted into my blue finch form. As soon as I landed on the table, I was caught by Master Carlisle. 

"Caught you, my escaped blue finch." That annoying smirk hanged on his face all this time. 

Such a devil. 

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Author's note

Exposed! What's Carlisle planning this time? 

See you next time :D