?Are you alright, sweetie??Na’at gently probed Peter’s mind while he walked down the hall with Traya. After the altercation in the dining hall with the soldier and a quick ge of tunid jerkin.
Fine enough.Peter thought to the Chaos Goddess, his stride not breaking as he walked down the hallway with his aide, practig having two versations at once, as Traya was having a simir versation — sort of. “If you get in trouble with the soldiers, and Shepherd d’Zaier hears of it—“ Traya whispered desperately, rubbing one of her forearms through her sleeve. “—He’ll beat me like he does you? Or have someone do it on his orders?” Peter asked softly. “I— Well…” She blushed, stammerier frowned, “If I’m wrong, I apologize.” He whispered, “But I’ve just… noticed you rub your arms when you talk about getting him upset.” Peter nodded over his shoulder, “And ba the dining hall, Broseff didn’t seem too keen on it either.”Traya frowned, looking down at her slippered feet as they walked, “Shepherd d’Zaier is a stern man, but he is fair in his judgment.” “If you say so.” Peter said, holding up a hand, not wanting tue, “I just said something because you seemed awfully scared of him.”Traya remained silent, biting her lip. “So, I will just say I am sorry, for assuming, and offer a sincere apology.” “You are fine, Peytr.” She whispered, “Just… please be careful.”Peter sighed, “The fact seds at a meal aren’t allowed…” “It’s because Shepherd d’Zaier doesn’t want us to be gluttonous, and always be mindful of the food, and other things we are blessed and lucky to have.” Traya expined. “Naturally.” Peter nodded, “Though I’m sure he follows the same strict routine he keeps you and the Church’s soldiers on.” “Of course he would.” Traya said, sounding aghast at the less-than-subtle implication, “Why would he order us to do something he, himself, would be unwilling to do or follow?” “Why indeed?” Peter asked the question, but his tone sounded just agreeable enough to slip past Traya’s mental defenses.
?Whatever you’re pnning, you have my support, Peter.? Na’at gently replied mentally.
Right now, I’m not pnning anything. As far as I tell I haven’t been here for a full day. However long that is…Peter thought in reply
?It’s twenty-five hours; so, weirdly enough, you shouldn’t have too much trouble getting used to it. But hours and minutes are different.? Na’at expined, ?Every hour has one hundred minutes, and every minute has one hundred seds?
That expins why the times Traya gave to that nice baker dy seemed off to me.
?Exactly. Time is just ‘off’ enough to feel familiar to you, yet… almost alien-ly different.?
Alien-ly?Peter snickered.
?Oh, hush, you? Na’at sounded like she outing.
“Ah… Peytr?” Traya spoke up, “You got lost again.” “Sorry about that, Traya.” Peter sighed, rubbing his face, “At least I didn’t get lost following you.” “You’re angry.” “Not at you.” Peter frowned, “And I apologize if I did or said anything that made you think that.” “No, no. Just… you’re quiet.”Peter shook his head, “Just thinking. There’s some things I’d like to talk about to… someone in charge. But I don’t know who my options are, outside of Shepherd d’Zaier and… what’s his name…” “Swordbearer Havengard?”Peter shrugged, “The one who seemed to get pissed at me for being asked by someone else to get something for me.”
“That would be Swordbearer Elbert Havengard.” Vaunn’s voice was heard down the hall, “I was looking for you, my d. I heard there was a minor scuffle in the dining hall this morn?” “No.” Peter said, “Someone bumped into me, making me snort hot keffe, and spilling half of it on my clothes.” “Oh.” Vaunn’s eyes went wide in shock, “Hoould…” “The soldier iion said he hadn’t noticed me… but sidering Broseff was warning me about having seds at breakfast… I imagi was his being jealous that I, a person summoned from another pne of existence, was given ‘special treatment’ since I am not actually uhe auspice of the Church Luminous and, as far as anyone knows, Shepherd d’Zaier’s new minion, or pet, or whatever.” Peter answered dryly.
Vaunn frowned, rubbing the stubble on his , “My most sincere apologies that happened.” “I wouldn’t worry about it. I didn’t do anything if that’s what you’re w.” Peter said, “I do hope you help with something though.” “What’s that, d?” He asked curiously.Peter looked around, “Well, it occurred to me that if I am to be mentor and guard of the young dy being o her would be a smart idea. My room is… in one pd I have no idea where she is. If she were to be in trouble, I would be at a loss at what to do.” “No, no that is a fair point.” Vaunn agreed, “Santis inte someone, you, here to be her bodyguard and guide, and, indeed, how you do so without being close to her.” He nodded, “Further, how your aide help you if she is not near you as well.”
At that, both Peter and Traya blushed, “Sir…” Peter began, “…That is unnecessary. She needs, deserves, really, her privad some personal time. I mean, so does Ennalyssa.” He shook his head, “I was merely thinking that I should be close to her in case of emergency.” “Your is clear, my boy.” Vaunn spoke gently, holding up a hand to forestall any argument, “But my point stands. Where one goes, so does the other. Right now, til you find your feet in this new world, Traya o be as close to you as you do to Ennalyssa to keep her safe.” “I… that does… make sense…” Peter admitted.Still blushing Traya Vaunn’s logibsp; “So, I will see to it that you three shall be moved into the visitor’s suite.” “S-Shepherd Vaunn, sir.” Traya gasped, “Surely I— we— ’t live there. That’s for important visitors: dukes, princes, high-ranking church members and their retainers and the like.” “And what, my dear—“ Vaunn asked with a straight face, his tole with just a hint of ‘stern grandfather’ along the edge, “— Do you call the Chosen Heroine, her guardian, and said guardian’s aide to help him navigate a world he doesn’t uand?” “Well… w-when you say it like that…” Traya said, “We… do sound important.” “More than sound, my child.” He gently took her hand in his, putting his other over her forearm, “You three are important, and should be looked after… protected.” He whispered, “Treated well.” “I… thank you, Shepherd Vaunn, but I… we, Ennalyssa and I… are treated very well.” Traya whispered, slipping her hand away aing it fall to her side. “I hope you are, ss.” Vaunn said gently, “You two should hurry, you’re headed to the young dy’s csses, yes?” He asked, “They’ll be starting soon. Then you’ll have a long day of training in the courtyard.” “I… pardon?”Vaunn nodded, “Of course, d. How you be a bodyguard to the Chosen Heroihout training yourself?” He asked, a small smirk curling at the edge of his lips. “Right. Of course.” Peter nodded, “How could I have figured else?”Vaunn pat his shoulder as he passed, “I shall go make the proper preparations for your new aodations.” “At least I won’t have a lot to move.” Peter muttered, watg the older man leave, waving to them without looking back.Wordlessly Traya nodded as she stood o him.
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With no further distras, Peter and Traya made their way through the tiled halls of the Church Luminous with Traya expining things to him, and Na’at staying silent… for the most part.There would be the occasional grumble, or muttering under her breath, when Traya said something she obviously did not care for the tone of but it was otherwise peaceful.
That was, however, until Peter got to the room where Ennalyssa was taking her lessons: It was a small pce, with the young man thinking it was a re-purposed ste closet.Ahing was that it was only Ennalyssa and an older woman that Peter assumed to be the teacher. She did not give Peter much sideration beyond a ptuous-sounding haughty sniff as he settled himself into a chair in the er of the ‘room’ that served as the ‘’.Without so much as a sed gowards Peter the older woman turo Ennalyssa and rapped at the table with a stick that was as thick as one’s pinkie finger as well as supple; Peter seeing it bend under pressure. To her credit Ennalyssa barely flinched, keeping her gaze straight ahead and hands under her desk in her p, not meeting the ‘teacher’’s gaze as the older woman leaned in and sneered, her voice low and even, “We will be going over the ‘Hero’s Litany’ today again.” She whispered, “Your recitation of it yesterday was abysmal — You stammered six times and took too long in answering three times. If you repeat such a horrid dispy…” she paused, meetier with a scathing gre, “And you? What are you?” “Oh, I’m Peter—“ “I didn’t ask that. I asked what are you, not who you are. That is unimportant, and a waste of my precious time.” She motioo Ennalyssa, “Time that is speirely too mu trying to teach this one.” “Human.” Peter answered dryly, frowning, “Or did you mean ‘I ulled into this world by Shepherd d’Zaier to be her bodyguard aor’?” He asked, giving a nod to Ennalyssa. “Watch your toherworlder.” The ‘teacher’ returned, swishiick to point at him, “I will brook no backtalk or sass. I don’t have time to waste and I’ve wasted enough on you already.” She sneered, “You will be allowed to watly if you do not make any sound, say anything, or distract me. If you do I will see you removed, and be lucky it’s not all the way off Church grounds.” Peter’s only answer was a raised, questioning, eyebrow.He also noticed that Na’at had been quiet the st while though he figured that she had other things to focus on — he had no idea what her full domain was as a Goddess of Chaos but he was fairly sure that she did not have time to just hang out in his head and be a ‘shoulder demon’. “You.” She frow Ennalyssa, swishiick to point, “Begin. From the Beginning.”Swallowing, the young teenager began to speak, “Jhohyn, the first Chosen of the Goddess of Light, defeated the DaiMaou ohousand-one hundred-forty-seven years ago; taking the Sword of God-Killing—“
CRACK
Both Peter and Ennalyssa jumped as that pinkie-fihipacted against the table that served as the een’s desk. “Wrong!” the teacher snarled, “The proper name of the most holy relic is ‘God-Killer Sword’. Again.”Swallowing again, Ennalyssa repeated, “Jhohyn, the first Chosen of the Goddess of Light, defeated the DaiMaou ohousand-one hundred-forty-seven years ago; taking the God-Killer Sword, which was infused with the soul of the Old God of… of Justice… and… and sacrificed his life in battle.” She swallowed once more, nervous, as she recited the litany, “Hi- His panions, all Champions summoned by the Old Gods, found his body and the holy relic kelstrides from the battlefield a-and it was there that Jhohyn was id to rest. Rather a shrine was built around the fallen hero and reli remembrand from there other buildings were built — to house the other Champions who retired to care for—"
CRACK
The teacher struck her baton against the table once more, “Don’t waste my time with pointless yammering. It is the Heroes who are important; they fought the DaiMaou.” “S-Sorry, Mistress Reva.” “Yes, you are.” The teacher scoffed, “tinue, and try to be cise in your rambling.” “I-It was one-hundred and forty-seven years after that first battle t-that the DaiMaou returned due to an alig of astral resonand this time not just a Chosen Hero rose up, but the armies of Freiholm, uhe prote and guidance of the Goddess of Light.” She swallowed, flexing her hands uhe desk, “The Heroine, Madlynhe forces against the DaiMaou, defeating it after a week-long battle when she used the ey of her life-energy, casting a spell of sealing and sacrifig her life — which has been keeping the DaiMaou at bay since.”
Peter had been doing his best to not be nosy, to let the lesson go on as it was intehough he had no idea what, exactly, that meant. He was trying very hard not to interrupt, not wanting to make things worse for Ennalyssa.He did not have much of anything to distract him: No globe — so there was no studying the world he was now living on, no books — so no reading anything about any subject to learn anything… not even a motivational poster on the wall to ence the lonely, loudent.
“Stand.” The and spilled harshly from the teacher’s lips aer’s gaze so her and Ennalyssa just in time to see the young teen jump at the order, squeezing her eyes shut as she pushed her worn stool from the table and staween it and her ‘desk’ while the older woman rounded on her, snapping the rod in her hand across the table to punctuate each of her sentences, oblivious to Ennalyssa’s fling each time she did or, worse, not g, “I have had enough: as if your scratchy voice wasn’t grating enough on the ears you mishe most holy relic the Church Luminous holds! You dishonor the memory of the first hero by taking so long to recall the name of the Old God who sacrificed itself against the DaiMaou. And you stammered five times during your pathetic attempt at reting the great history of the past heroes, including on your meaningless apology.”“But I am sorry, Mistress Reva!” Ennalyssa whispered fervently, hands at her side, Peter could see her gripping at her pants as she squeezed her eyes shut. “A point you’ve made abundantly clear over the year I’ve been forced to waste my time trying to make you something you are not — intelligent.” She raised the fihick rod above her head, “I am tired of your uselessness and stupidity!”
As Mistress Reva swung her arm down, the thick switch cutting through the air with a swishing slice, Peter moved.
CRACK
Wood met flesh filling the room with an eg smack; Ennalyssa jolted irying to brace herself for a strike that never hit her and an impact that didn’t nd on her.“Ennalyssa, dear—” Peter’s voice was a whisper, “—I think you o step into the hallway. Mistress Reva and I need a little time to talk between ourselves.”
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