Kismet’s Tale

Chapter 76: The Lady of the Pact



      Elea was told that her big brother had given the responsibility of rule to her Dada. Dada was always so busy with his work that she had to attend her classes with Sister Elna instead of her parents. Dearest Mama had always been busy too, and although she was always busy entertaining guests and helping Dada with his work of the regions. Mama always comes to her every afternoon, then Dada will visit her.

Knowing that her parents were busy because they were rulers. Elea might not look like it. But Elea was proud that she had good grades. Her Big Sister and tutor, Elna, had always been with her. So Elea was looking around when she finally found Elna preparing the feast. It was then that she finally led Big brother and Sister Natalya to the dining room.

“Big brother!” she turned towards the big brother who she had been wanting to see. They said that her big brother fought the scary war until it ended. She might not have all the brain, but Elea thinks that she at least understands how scary it was.

“What is it?”

Her big brother had a sweet gentle smile. Big brother was really cool and his eyes reminded Elea of the pond near the great manor! It was very steady and reflecting on his eyes was Elea!

“This lady has made sure that the preparation is successful! You can feast without worry!” Elea, as usual, decided to lift her chin, pat her chest, and placed feet wide apart.

“Haha, okay, thank you little lady,” Big Brother bowed his head with his palm on his chest. “Hmm, but it’s nearly night, shouldn’t you be sleeping?”

“N-no, I don’t. Mama said that I can stay up for tonight,” she said.

“Oh, I see. Then let the way, okay?”

“Okay!”

Elea led Big Brother Mavin to the feast. Sister Natalya stuck to Big Brother. She looked at the food, wine, and the feast. The servants of the family had a separate table, but everyone that was living in the great manor were her big brothers and big sisters. The Aunties and Uncles were part of the family and Mama had warned her that treating them badly would make Mama spank her butt.

Elea didn’t want that so she had been doing what a lady does! Elea liked the servants and when Elea doesn’t see her Mama and Dada when they work. Sister Elna, and the rest of the servants would cheer her up. As long as they were around, Elea didn’t feel lonely. And Elea was a lady of Tomas! So she understood that she must act like her Mama!

Big Brother received a plate from one of the servants. Big Brother had not been home for many years ever since he left home to study. After staying in the Capital, Dada said that he went to war to protect our home.

War is scary. Elea didn’t like it, and she didn’t understand why anyone would go to one. But even Big Brother’s wife went to war? And Mama had been telling her stories of the Lady Bellatrix who everyone was afraid of in the field!

But Elea realized that she wasn’t scary.

“What are you staring at, little girly?”

Elea looked at the big sister who squatted next to her. She was holding her chin up with both of her hands. Elea found it rude, but the eyepatch that was covering her right eye piqued her interest.

“You're staring at my eyepatch?”

“T-this lady didn’t mean to stare.”

“Oh, then don’t mind me,” she pressed Elea’s nose with her cold silver hand.

“That’s cold!” she held up her hand. “It’s not delicate to do that to this lady!”

Big Sis Natalya kept staring at Elea that it made Elea wonder. Big Sis Natalya then sighed. “Forgive me, little girly. Come on, how about we take a seat, no?”

She was dragged to one of the seats. Elea was about to take one of the seats when she was lifted easily into Natalya’s laps. Before Elea could tell her complaints, the Big Sis has trapped her into her clutches.

“W-will you kindly let this lady sit?”

“This lady is cold, milady.”

“But you have a coat!”

“I do. But look around you, they might need more seats, no?”

“They will understand if this lady asks!.”

“Oh, but that can’t be now.”

“Why?”

“Because this big sister decided that she really likes you.”

“Eh?”

Elea’s mind started to work. In the end, she could only proudly raise her head, and said. “It can’t be helped if you are charmed by this little lady! But I must insist that you let me sit, big sis!”

“Fine,” she was lifted like a gunny sack and placed on the next seat. She stared at the big sis who easily lifted her like it was nothing.

“Big Sis is strong!”

“Am I?” she flexed her arm. “I think I’m average. You should have seen your Big Brother. He’s pretty strong, like a hero.”

“A hero?” her big eyes widened. “Is he really?”

“Yes,” Natalya dragged her seat closer.  “Remember this, little girly. If there is any trouble that you faced, and when you are lost. Don’t forget to call your big brother, okay? He’ll carry you through anything and would even hold up the world for you.”

“Then I don’t want to!”

Natalya raised a brow. “Why?”

“Wouldn’t that be heavy?”

Natalya opened her mouth slightly. She raised her lips and then gave a chuckle. “Perhaps, but your big brother can take care of you, okay?”

“What about big sis then?”

Natalya cupped her chin. “Hmm, I’m more of a villainess, no?”

“Eh, big sis is kind though?”

“That’s sweet, but compared to your big brother. He is much more amazing.”

“This lady doesn’t get it.”

“I know,” she grinned. She patted her head. “One day, hmm, you’ll get it, okay?”

Elea felt like the big sis was being silly. Her tummy started to ache so she ate her food, while also making sure that she wouldn’t disturb the guest.

The feast became loud. Big sis was sipping on the red wine while the servants started to play ‘mountains and clouds’ which they really like. One of the servants even started dancing so well.

“Not going to watch closer?”

“This lady is fine,” Elea took the glass of juice and drank it. Her little hands shivered at the glass. Big Sis held the glass with her. “Would you mind showing me the balcony, my lady?”

“Hmm?” she tilted her head at her. “Why? Do you not like our song?”

“I just want to watch the stars. Ah, but make sure that you ask your parents, okay?”

Elea nodded. She strutted to where her parents were. “Mama, Dada, the big sis wants me to take her to the balcony for fresh air!”

Mama eyed Elea. She nodded her gently and went back to talk with Dada and Big Brother. Elea went back to Big Sister, and then crossed her arms. “Be glad, big sis! Mama allowed this lady to accompany you!”

“Do you have your coat?”

“Hmm!”

“Good, come now, little girly. I want some fresh air.”

Elea strode to get her coat, buttoned it, and led the big sis to the quiet but well-lit halls of the great manor. Though sometimes the halls scare Elea.  For some reason the Big Sis being with her made her braver. They clambered up the staircases and finally arrived at the balcony.

Elea liked the balcony. It was just too bad that her Mama always scolds her when she tries to stay here all night.  She was about to speak when she saw big sis staring at the stars as if charmed.

“Little Elea, do you know?” she started. “They said that if our world continues to go on like this. We would see the stars less than less?”

“Eh? I don’t understand.”

“They said that the more machines we build. The more our skies are covered by the smog.”

“What is smog?”

“It’s the black thing that comes out of cars and factories.”

“Ah, I know that!”

“Although we are getting more advanced, the more we stray from nature. Yes, we have alternative resources that power our factories through oil and charcoal...but we cannot abandon them.”

Elea didn’t really understand.

“Oh, I doubt you’d know this, right?”

“I-I do! When I study I get to know this.”

“It’s okay, little girl. You don’t have to worry about that for now. You should take time to enjoy yourself.”

“B-but…”

“It’s fine isn’t it? There should be days like these where you don’t have to worry about playing as an adult.”

Elea looked down. She held her hands.

“I was just like you. You remind me so much of my time, trying to act like my Mother. She always told me how to act like a lady. But in the end, I ended up like this.”

“Big sis?”

“It’s nothing. Anyway, what am I even trying to do?” Big sis looked up and leaned on the railing. Elea walked up near the balcony and looked up as well.

“Whoa!”

“Aren’t you lucky?” Big Sis chuckled. “You saw a shooting star.”

Elea smiled beautifully then grew worried. “Oh no, I didn’t make a wish!”

“You still can make a wish.”

“Really?” Elea joined her hands for a wish.

“What did you wish for?”

“T-this lady isn’t telling!”

“Oh, then that’s fine.”

“Are you okay Big Sis?”

“I just needed fresh air. You see, this reminds of home. It’s close to the stars, and there are warm people as well,” she turned and placed her hand on Elea. For a moment, Elea thought that there was a sudden glimmer on the big sis’s hand.

“B-big sis!” Elea said. “Your hand shone!”

Big Sis looked at the back of her hand and widened her eyes. Then she squeezed her eyes and said. “It’s nothing. The stars must be quite bright today, isn’t it? It’s probably my silver hand reflecting it.”

Her silver hand reflected and shined. Elea nodded her hand and felt that it was really shining for a moment.

“Sis, is it fine if I ask?”

“About my hand? Or about my eye?”

“Eh…”

“It’s okay,” she lifted her eyepatch. “I can see just fine in my right eye, my darling. But it’s just that because of an accident, I can see sharper lines now, and looking at it would take a toll on me.”

“W-whoa! So it’s like a power!”

“Perhaps,” she kneeled in front of Elea. “Little girl, do you want to see a neat trick?”

“W-what is it?”

“Right now, I told you that it was the stars. But actually, forgive me for lying, but it was indeed my hand.”

“I know it!” Elea crossed her arms. “Elea hates liars!”

“That is why I apologize by letting you see this,” Big Sis smiled and then on her right hand, there was something that shone. “It is said that the world came from a spark in the dark, and in select souls blooms the ability to control the very spark of life.”

Elea stared at the dots of lighting forming into the shape of a flower. “You can simply call it, magic, my darling.”

“A-amazing!”

“Isn’t it? Though I used to be able to do much more than this. Anyway, it was far easier a long time ago, but there was a troubled man who saw the evil that it can bring to the world and those who used it for their gain. I didn’t really understand at first why, but now I know why this man severed the very hands of fate and sealed it from the world.”

“Eh, but if it’s sealed...then why can big sis use it?”

“I said that it was easier before, right? It was because there were marks and symbols that made it easy for them to do it. But without that mark, they have to relearn what they know and understand how to take in the from the world once more without relying for marks and symbols. They are clinging to catalysts, a way to give them power, when they forgot that they draw from the very world itself.  Even if the source has been sealed, the many decades that this power has flowed into the world would still last a lifetime. It’s just harder for them to use now, no, it would be impossible if they weren’t me.”

“Big sis, why are you sad?”

“Oh, am I making such a face? No, it’s not that I am sad. Anyway, since I brought you here out of sight, you must promise me, with your heart and soul, that you would not speak a word of it? Especially, to your Big Brother, since he doesn't like it,” She raised her right pinky finger.  "It's going to be a secret between us."

“If Big Sis teaches me, then would I be able to do that?”

“Yes, you would. But you must use this for your own good. Actually, although right now, we are only two. You must not use it openly and never about evil...because a Ghost would come to hunt you if you use it for evil. Do you understand, my dearest girl?”

Elea nodded her head and wrapped her pinky on Big Sis. “I promise, Big Sister Natalya!”

“Good, the pact is sealed,” Big Sis said. There was a light that came out of the back of her right hand and landed on Elea. For a moment Elea saw a mark that looked like a crown with a lighting streak across it. Then the mark faded into the back of her hand.

“Now, my dearest disciple, what should be our first lesson?”


Thank you for reading.


Tip: You can use left, right, A and D keyboard keys to browse between chapters.