347 The Deity-sent man!
(A/N: Bonus Chapter).
In a certain living mass that had a bold and domineering design that expressed the might and wealth held by the House, a brief meeting had been organised to initiate a glorious new beginning that was expected to bring forth a new path that couldn’t be forged by the power of the Imagining Technique alone.
A red carpet was laid over the dark tiled floor that led up to both ends of the hall, creating a rather sacred look that demanded remembrance and the preservation.
A man and a woman were standing behind a young man that was evidently their son, the man looking at him with fervent eyes that showed pride while the woman’s eyes were calm with just a little bit of trepidation.
The young man before them was kneeling respectfully in the opposite direction, with his head lowered.
He had dark hair with blue fringes at the bangs that draped over his forehead, combed over to the left, a round face with large honey-coloured eyes and a button nose that had a faint natural brush at the bridge.
As he knelt, his left arm which touched the ground to support his entire body could be seen with a dark, thick bandage around it that hid its appearance in a curious fashion, but everyone in the room knew what was hidden.
In fact, it was the very reason that the figure this young one was kneeling to was here.
As for who this figure was, a green mask with a half white side over the face spelt all about his identity. The shivering hooded figure at his side merely watched without revealing who they were as well, curious as to what the strange man in the mask intended.
“Rias EverSword. Do you have any words to say that guarantee that you, as the next heir to the EverSword Household will remain loyal to me, my consorts and ideals?” Actuass spoke in a demanding tone that did not emit desperation or haste but authority.
The older man behind this young man who had been identified as Rias, wore a grin as he expectantly waited for what his son who was merely sixteen years of age would say to express his allegiance.
His talent and mannerisms had allowed him to reach this point.
He had faithfully observed the years of solitude required for one to completely hone the House Technique and his power was vastly superior to even his when he was of this age!
He brimmed with joy at seeing that the House had not yet failed Actuass.
The young man with a straight face raised his head and faced Actuass who donned a long simple brown robe tied with a rope at the waist and spoke.
“My words would mean nothing nomatter how bold they are. My actions however, are and will be a better indication of the firm belief I have in your ideals. I’m different from Reon. I have completed the tasks required for the sons of the House and I have the power required to back the House. I will not stray. Take me and use me as your own.”
Rias’ father trembled with joy while his mother could only smile weakly.
Seeing her son wholeheartedly pledge his fealty to this… man…
She felt a strange mix of emotion.
A part of her was glad that Reon had run away and done what he believed was a better fulfilment of his life, though he gotten entangled in this snare still.
Even further, it seemed he had died a lonely death.
Her thoughts and sombre emotions were her own however, as she watched Actuass walk up to Rias.
“Good. You have much work to do,” Actuass said before turning to the older man who looked to want to leap up. “The Premium Age Royale?”
“Everything is set! Many of the registered Families have already arrived in Genhuis City. In a few days we will begin and at the end, you will have what you seek, Master Actuass,” the man hurriedly said.
Actuass nodded and turned to the hooded figure behind him that kept shivering.
“Do you understand a bit of it now?”
The figure hesitantly nodded much to the masked man’s satisfaction as the glow of his hazel eyes gleamed behind his facial cover.
***
There was a vast region as one went on up North within Pelian from any direction.
There would be a chilly breeze at first, a stifling cold next and then colossal glacial structures that were constantly slapped by dangerously cold winds which carried flakes of snow.
These extreme conditions were not the current focus however as the main point to follow at this moment was a certain large town called Harifrast.
At this time, thick blankets of snow could be seen all around covering most of what could be seen in a beautiful white camouflage that made everything pristine.
Not a single soul alive was not donning something to warm their flesh as the slightly vicious winds would blow from time to time.
This did not stop the many people who lived in Harifrast from going about their businesses though, as the hawkers sold their products, carriers carried their customers and the baths… oh the baths enjoyed the year long rounds of customers who would come to the fine establishment to dip themselves in warm currents.
Some men and women with well maintained appearances that were identified as attractive to the opposite sex would entertain the customers in various ways, the weight of the pocket dictating the limits of the treatment these customers would receive.
This was a high tier business in the Harifrast indeed.
Yet, it was only one of the more prominent ones in this town as there was another one that had the potential of grabbing quite a bit of coin with many being none the wiser, if the ‘enterpreneur’ so desired.
To the west of the town, where less of the more economic activity thrived, a crooked wooden shed could be seen, thickets of snow cementing the space between the logs that made it.
Icy blocks mixed with the white completely covered the roof that looked to want to fall at any moment, but this did not dissuade the column of dozens that waited patiently for their turn to enter this gloomy shed.
There were those with missing limbs, those with grievous injuries, those with illnesses among many other conditions that required medical attention all looking to the front anxiously.
The Deity-sent man in there….
They all hoped he would serve longer.
Within this shed which currently had its door closed, a woman was looking in awe at her own hands, turning them in all possible ways.
She suddenly started to tremble with tears rolling down her face as she looked at the figure before her, seated on worn stool with a tender smile.
This man…
She could swear she wouldn’t forget him ever in her entire life.
His long, auburn hair, his glistening silver eyes and rich skin that seemed unaffected by the snow…
He… he was too good a man to be true.
She knelt as she bawled out and gripped his hand.
“Sir… sir… thank you very much! I can’t… I can’t… my hands… I thought I would never be able to hold anything again! <Sniff>… May the Deities bless you bountifully sir!” she said in a sincere voice.
The man cocked his hand in a disgust for only a split second but retained his kind visage again for her sake.
He nodded at her words and patted her hands.
But it seemed this woman was not done.
“Oh kind sir! You have done something too grand for me to simply walk out and forget! Is there anything I can do or he—”
“SHSHSHSHSHSHHHHH!”
The man suddenly planted his index finger on the woman’s lips, halting her sentence with a smile that made her blush.
“I need nothing for my service, fem- woman. My duty is to help where I can,” the man said, making the woman nod silently as tears kept flooding down her cheeks.
Deep within however, the man’s thoughts were not so kind.
‘I already got what I wanted from you. Having you melt on me will get me into trouble you sockethole.’
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