Xenomia copies Anelotta's training methods, hoping they will be beneficial. She doesn't cling to her too much, but she also avoids being distant.
In the evening, she tries to dry out her notebook… If all the ink has bled and nothing can be read anymore, at least she should have tried to prevent it from getting moldy. Maybe it will still possess some non-zero value in a museum…
***
The morning of the 27th.
Talia and Alons stopped in the capital, either with relatives or old acquaintances, having arrived by train last night. Xenomia managed to find this place after some time.
The girl hesitantly knocked, and an unfamiliar woman opened the door – was she one of the servants? Then Mia was led into a room where her mother and brother were waiting. Talia critically examined herself in the mirror, while Alik clearly expected his guest and immediately ran up to her.
– Sister! You came!
– Mia, I haven’t seen you in so long! – Talia turned around, looked at her daughter, and then clapped her hands together. – Great dragons, what did you do to your hair?
Xenomia hugged her brother at that moment, lifting him up, but blushed when she heard the remark.
– M-Mom, this is how it's fashionable now... They just seem messy; actually, I take care of them...
– Fashionable? – Her mother shook her head. – A long braid for an unmarried girl has been a tradition for centuries, and you… What happened to your hands? – She approached closer, taking her daughter's elbow.
– What about them?
– You used to have such beautiful, delicate hands; what have you done to them?
“Here we go,” Xenomia thought. “She loves me, of course, but it’s still so hard to communicate with her… Wasn’t it her who constantly said that I needed to carry on my father’s legacy in his military career? I can’t combine the incompatible…”
– Mom, let us go, please, – Alik’s angelic voice intervened. – Otherwise, we won’t make it anywhere!
– Yes, it gets dark early these days, – Talia sighed. – And I need to be somewhere for lunch… But I will talk to you later, Xenomia. And don’t forget who you are – you are the daughter of Vomir Neriss!
“I knew she would say that at the end…” – The girl thought with mixed feelings.
– Bye! I’ll return him safe and sound...
– Of course, you will!
***
Mia and her brother walked down the street, while the girl checked her notebook, which contained fragmented information about where they should go.
– Well… We should be close to the center now. Is the palace over there?
Alik simply ran around, completely delighted by everything he saw.
– Look, Mia, here are pigeons of a different color! Did you notice?
– Ah, no, but you're right...
– Mom is right, by the way, – Alons approached his sister and touched her shoulder. – It feels really firm here! That’s cool…
– No, Alik, what are you talking about? I am one of the weakest in my class… You should see how strong some of our guys are.
– But you can still beat them all, right? You are very strong! I told everyone at school, and how you won competitions and killed bandits in the forest!
– Well, I… A little bit… Not exactly…
– I imagined it: you walk up to these scoundrels, point a gun at their heads, and say, “Remember my name, Neriss! This is what happens to anyone who messes with Neriss’ friends!” And then bang!
“Scoundrels…”
– Listen, brother, don’t talk like that… I actually tried not to let them die. I’m not a judge; there are other people for punishing those kinds of people.
– I don’t understand why mom says you have to be like dad… She gets upset often, especially when she found out you weren't a mage. But, you know… Even if Dad was so strong, you are already stronger than him, or soon will be! You are really cool...
“And indeed… When father died, Alik was four years old. I remember Father being tall, broad-shouldered, and having such a confident gaze… That’s why I strive so much to become like him. Also because – and because I inherited his legacy on my hand, which reminds me of the responsibility I bear. As for Alik… He doesn’t remember Father at all. And for him, I am the only person he looks up to...”
***
– Here we have an amphitheater! I haven’t been inside before, but my friend said they hold interesting performances there. There was a time when warriors gathered here regularly and fought to the death, – Alik’s eyes lit up after hearing these words from Xenomia. – But now they just host various competitions, someone gives concerts… Maybe even girl idols, have you heard of them?
– Boring, – The brother lost interest. – What is this?
– A martial arts guild. They practice unarmed combat. This style used to be called “serenity,” but I don’t know what it's called now. I took lessons once.
– Mia, can you fight with your fists?! Really? Will you show me?!
– I only learned the basics, honestly...
– Let’s go there! I want to see that!
Xenomia resisted, citing the time and the fact that she didn’t know if they would let Alik in; he was still too young. But eventually, she gave in.
– But only if it’s not too late and if they let us in.
Happy Life
Ment
