In this world, Magic is Everything. All people, all races, are granted with the power to perform mystical and magical feats via grimories, mystical tomes granted to each and every child on their 15th birthday. Those blessed by the mana can have their names written down in legend.
Shattered Grimoires is the work of the mind(s) of Ardere & Shattered Grimoire's staff. All characters and content are copyright their creators, and may not be replicated without their creators' permission. Black Clover is owned by Yuki Tabata and published by Viz Shonen Jump. All images belong to their original owners. The theme you are currently viewing was made by Eliza of ElizaCodes exclusively for Shattered Grimoires.
To call the yuiee estate beautiful would be a monsterous lie. It was beyong beautiful, filled with pink ever blossing cherry trees and heavily magically constructed waterways and bridges. Massive golden Carp mana beasts live within the waters and keep it clean of anything not meant to be kept. Jirou himself found that the only time he was ever at some symblence of peace was when he was in the protective fog of the estate. He knew he was safest there and didn’t need to worry about possibly being hurt. Everything was as his family wanted. It didn’t hurt that he was also in charge of his own palace and servants, given free reign to treat them as he liked within his own palace. But even Jirou could only Marvel at the thing he had under the palace. [break][break] Far beneath his palace was the dungeons of the Yuiee family. No longer used except for extreme cases of danger to the family, the hidden cells were now mostly used by Jirou for his training and meditation as well as…well Jirou thought it was the perfect mood lighting for his midnight reveries. He smiled to himself as he stood in the cell, making sure all the instruments of his trade were there. He may not be an occicial Purple Orca, But he was skilled in information gathering through pain and Espianage thanks to his extra training with the only other man he might consider a father figure in his life. The tools he ahd were special made, bought on the black market and designed to heal any trauma they cause to their… participants. He tested the sharpness of his favorite knife on his own arm, cutting deep against his veins and even before blood could be spilled the wound healed, but the pain was real. He shuddered as he tried his best to keep himself standing from the sudden sharp pain. [break][break] As he finally recovered his senses, he placed the knife back on its leather blanket and made his way to get presentable, as he walked to the changing room he smiled as he saw his servants hard at work, but his most loyal was busy preparing the special tea for his guest. He wondered how formal he should be, and decided to grab his formal yet relaxed outfit, it was fit for the emperial citys night life, but he enjoyed the colors and feeling of the clothing. He would sit in his den and await his visitor, the letter having hopefully arrived, his servants would silently walk her in the ones he left at his palace were, besides his favored servant, without exception unable to speak for various reasons. Jirou smiled happily knowing this meeting would be entirely secret.
words[break]0458 [break] total[break]0458 [break] SP Earned[break]0000 [break] Stat Earned[break]0000 [break]
It had been a little bit since the magic knight exams and she had met her brother, it was a strange reunion she had to admit but not completely unpleasant. Her mind had been put at ease that she had indeed been sent away for her safety because the kingdom wasn't deemed safe. It made her wonder however why she was sent away without any of them but that was too much of a can of worms for her to want to even attempt to open up. She had met some new friends while at the exams and one self-important pompous jerk she hoped she'd never had to deal with again. It would turn out the gods had a different agenda as she received a letter with a box, as far as she knew no one knew where she was staying she hadn't even told her brother so this was off-putting.
She took both as she looked to the servant who delivered them, setting the box to the side she opened the letter and read it over. Her eyes went wide when she saw who it was from and how he wanted to make peace through a tea ceremony. She wanted to tell the servant to take the parcel without looking at it and just leave, but, she was caught in a bind as making peace to create harmony thus preventing ripples was something she was raised to want even if she was opinionated at times. Setting the letter down she opened the box and pulled out a luxurious crimson and gold silk hanfu, there were even hairpins and makeup. She looked at it as if it was some sort of foreign object "What is he expecting me to do with this?" she asked with a confused tone.
"My master hopes you would wear his gift" the young woman said "I could help you dress if you don't know how to wear it." she said moving to stand as if ready to do so "Um... no." she said bluntly "It's beautiful I can't deny that but I will not wear such a thing, I will make peace but in my own clothing." she said putting everything back into the box and wrapping it as it had been. "Let's get going, I would hate for his lordship to have to wait on me given he wishes to make peace today." she couldn't help but feel there was something wrong with all this but perhaps he had only acted like an arrogant jerk because he was trying to gain access to the Silver Eagles. She would push that feeling to the back of her mind and give him the benefit of the doubt.
She had no idea just how much that would cost her in the wrong run, it seemed as if the servant had been given a carriage to deliver the message and gift quickly. Picking up the box she moved into the carriage after the servant and sat down, the woman looked tired like she hadn't rested in a while so she insisted that she rest some. The woman was reluctant at first but thankful and she laid down on the seats to rest. Hotaru just looked out and watched the world go by for the few hours of the journey, when she saw the mist she woke the woman as she had been requested to do. She had no idea why the woman had been so adamant about it but she wasn't about to ask questions as it was their business, not hers.
Upon entering the mist she couldn't help but notice how thick it was, she would have easily gotten lost within it if she didn't have a guide but then she guessed that was the whole point of the thing. Eventually, there was a break in the mist and what came next was breathtaking, it was like she had been sent back to a place she was taken as a child to learn how trading worked. She would ask the woman if Jirou was a kind person but, she didn't want to put the woman into a situation that could make her lie or get her punished for saying something that she wasn't supposed to. When the carriage stopped in front of a regal-looking building she stepped out and looked at it for a moment. She couldn't exactly say anything, the home she was raised in wasn't exactly a shack either. The woman quickly looked at her and she nodded.
The woman would show her up the stairs without saying a word, it was eerily quiet which was a warning sign for her, but then, she guessed he wanted privacy. She knew it was a tea ceremony so perhaps that had something to do with it, it was supposed to be a more quiet thing so pushed the thoughts to the back of her mind. Entering the woman instantly kowtowed to Jirou "Master, your guest has arrived." she said quickly not wanting to incur his wrath. Hotaru walked in not dressed in the beautiful hanfu he had sent but dressed in red hakama and plain white kimono her hair done up in a white and red cord. She bowed a little before kneeling next to the woman and helping her up. "Please, don't kowtow you have done nothing wrong. You delivered the message and brought me here." she said her voice was calmly
She looked to the master of the palace and his servant "So we are on a fair playing field, I wish this woman to serve me while I am here; if you decline my request I will leave this moment." she knew the woman wasn't her servant and so couldn't fully trust her but at the same time she was worried that the woman would be hurt so wanted her close. "I want to talk you for your gift also but I must decline such generosity, it is not my style nor my taste. A more delicate flower would be worthy of such a fine outfit." she was polite and respectful, she knew that the world outside the mist didn't exist and so she would need to step carefully until she passed through the mist once more.
Jirou smiled happily as the woman entered followed by his expected guest. She was annoyingly beautiful. Her appearance was… to say quiet amazing. Her truthful and brustish tone with him made his heart skip a beat and his blood boil with something other then anger. He hadnt ever felt the way she made him feel and it… both disturbed and pleased him. He wondered why her actions made him feel that way. Was it the Love he had been told he needed to find by his father and mother? Was their emotions so strong that he could feel the anger and romantic streams crossing and mixing just by looking at her? He didn’t understand it, but he knew she made him feel things he enjoyed. [break][break] The Servant Kowtowed like she had been trained to, and Jirous most loyal servant stood near by holding the platter with the tea ingrediants, the pot was special, holding two seperate areas, one with a highly effective sleeping agent, the other with good quality tea. He would motion for her to sit as he also moved his hand to indicate it was time to pour the first cup of tea, his favored servant nodded and approched kneeling and not looking. But he poured each cup with a practiced ease. He didn’t add any of the sleeping agent to the first tea cup for her, she would be weary of it and Jirou knew it would make it harder to get her to drink if he tried to do it on the first cup. Not only that he didn’t want to waste the good tea he had bought. It would be a shame to get to the action so quickly after all the trouble the merchants went to to bring it after all. [break][break] He smiled and looked her up and down as he chuckled. His own outfit had been designed to mimic the one he had sent her, but he knew she would reject it. The image it would cause in her mind alone would be more then enough for his purposes. He enjoyed her outfit however, and wondered if she had chosen it for a reason. [break][break] “Hahahah, you are as direct as you were in the exams Hotaru Kasai, She may stay, but…she will remain Kowtowed when not directly serving you, My own servant will serve the tea and she may handle any other tasks you may have need of so Long as you remain within my palace.” He would smile more as the Servant sheepishly thanked her lord, without once removing her head from the ground. He enjoyed the site of seeing her grovel and he chuckled once more. “You showed yourself to be able to handle yourself well during the exams. But your insults to my family wont be allowed. I myself don’t care if you insult ME, but bringing my sister and family into it was uncalled for. “ he cared greatly that she had insulted him, but he would hold off on punishing her for that for the moment. But, Before we begin discussions on how you and I can make peace between us, let us enjoy a cup of this fine Da-Hong Pao Tea and some sweets I had prepared as well.” He motioned to the treats his servant set down, his head never lifting showing just how well trained Jirou had his servants. He smiled softly. [break][break] “I had this tea imported from the imperial city, a gift from one of our ancestral family friends. I assure you once you taste it you will know why it is the Imperial Crowns Chosen tea.” He would gently lean forward and pick up the tea softly, skilled and practiced, his movements were assured and confident. He made a noise of satisfaction as he tasted the tea, The tea was peaty with earthy notes hiding hints of stone fruit, brown sugar, and molasses. It had an almost woody fragrance with mild notes of tobacco and the body was velvety smooth with mild notes of sandalwood. He very much enjoyed it.
words[break]0684 [break] total[break]01142 [break] SP Earned[break]0001 [break] Stat Earned[break]0001 [break]
Hotaru remained knelt next to the servant attempting to get her to stop kowtowing, that whole practice made her feel uncomfortable, in her opinion, it was dated and needed to left-back in the stone age. She looked at him her eyes narrowed slightly that he would be sat in a lavish position while having someone at his feet as if they were begging for their life. It didn't sit well with her. It was then she noticed the crimson and gold male hanfu he was wearing, it was like it was designed to be worn with what he sent to her. She couldn't lie it was kind of creepy to her and made her skin crawl, she hadn't shown it though as she was taught that a true woman could drink serenely from an empty cup. That had made little sense to her up until recently when she started to understand.
It was a way to describe a woman who was going through hell but no one would ever know due to just how calm she was to the world outside. Then again it didn't really make a lot of sense given that where she came from people had three faces, the first was the face you showed the world, the second was the face you showed to your family and those closest to you and the third... the third was for you alone, the truest version of you that was hidden out of sight of everyone. This face was often the most dangerous as no one could see it. She found herself worried about his hidden face and feared she may actually see it at some point if the exams were anything to go by. He had motioned for her to sit but she hadn't moved from the servant's side.
It was then he began to speak as his servant poured the tea for them, the fact a servant was pouring the tea for them when it was them who were meant to be making peace made her cautious "This is very odd for cha no yu" she said simply still trying to get the unmoving woman to come out of her position but she stopped feeling her shaking and hearing the almost inaudible sobs. 'She's frightened of moving.' she thought to herself her eyes moving back to her host "Little good comes out of sugarcoating things." she said as she moved to stand "If she remains kowtowed I'm leaving, you don't the ego boost I'm pretty sure it's too big for this place already." she said turning to start walking towards the exit "And no, your servant wouldn't be serving the tea. You wanted to make peace so you pour the tea." she said simply as she started to leave.
She stopped in her tracks as he spoke once more "You are shameful due to your actions, how you treat this poor woman is proof of that." she said calmly "I brought your sister into it for good reason, most if not all brothers will protect their sisters no matter what it calls for believing them to be delicate dolls that need that protection." she said her voice not showing emotion one way or the other, just that this was a fact. "You ran off on your own and it could have caused a lot of issues, you really don't play nice with others and it shows." with that said she began walking once more, she had better things to do than stroking his ego, she would turn and bow slightly "I will have to decline your offer as I am uncomfortable with things here, perhaps we should try again in a more neutral setting with a lot of people around." without waiting for a reply she moved again towards the door
Jirou simply smiled as with a wordless gesture his favored servant set the tea down as Hotaru spoke. She was indeed a strong figure. He wondered who had raised her like that if she was from the old country, No doubt it was the damninable Kasai Blood within her vains. He felt their status was only secured due to the fierocity of Ardere himself, though he would never be so disrespectful as to say that to her face… not yet anyway. The Game he was playing required a calm hand. He had almost forgotten the lessons of his Fuqin, about hiding his true nature behind layers and faces. He was safe and hadnt needed to practice it for a very long time. But he realized shortly after his encounter with Lydia that he needed to rediscover his faces. He had made sure to punish himself for that failing with his own tools down below. [break][break] But as she stood in defiance after trying to get HIS servant to stand, he slammed his hand upon the wooden table and barked an order to the servant, who despite her tears and sobbing now growing loud enough to be heard in the room proper, she pulled a dagger from her outfit and placed it to her neck causing a crimson bead of blood to drip down her neck. He then turned to look at the defiant Kasai female and his mask had fallen, for a brief second she could see the monster that lay behind his multifaceted mask and his hatred flowed like warm water over hot sauna stones. [break][break] “I SAID SIT!” his voice was filled with venom, and his mana surged before he calmed it down once more. He took a deep breath and exhaled before smiling softly. No, this is not a Normal tea ceremony. We cannot make peace until we have understanding. And that is why I bit down my pride and invited you here, someone who made a fool of me so that we could make sure we understood each other and make some semblence of gods forsaken peace.” he lifted his hand and annoyed at his sudden outburst he rubbed his now stinging hand as the servant sobbed waiting for a command that might end her life, but with a glance from his favored servant she grew quiet once more now on her knees. Please…sit and let us try to make our differences no longer matter. If you would insult me in public and then refuse to hear my reason why then I will be forced to show you just how cruel any noble who is slighted could be…I wasn’t lying when I said youd have to protect shitty nobles if you joined the knights. I assure you I am not the only one, nor am I the most cruel….That being said….Do not test my patience further.
words[break]0484 [break] total[break]01626 [break] SP Earned[break]0000 [break] Stat Earned[break]0000 [break]
She paused near the door hearing startled as there was a loud bang behind her followed by an order being given. Then sobbing growing, this confused and worried the young woman causing her to turn around her eyes going wide as she saw the scene before her. Without a second thought, she ran towards the servant and once again knelt beside her, her hands going to the young woman's a smile on her face in an attempt to reassure her "Shh, you aren't going to die today... be at peace." she gently spoke to her "Close your eyes and imagine the blossoms falling." she said the woman was shaking, she couldn't blame her she was at the end of her dagger and with a single word her life would end. This wasn't fair on the woman, she had done nothing wrong and yet here she was being used as a tool.
As he made his demand she sucked in some hot air through her teeth "I will sit when that blade is away from her neck not a second earlier." she said her eyes glaring at him, she wanted to beat the ever-loving fear of the gods into him but she knew this woman's survival was dependant on her actions. It wasn't what she expected when she was requested to come to make peace with the scum at the bottom of her sandles. "So, please allow her to drop the dagger and sit at my side as a maid should." her view had turned towards the woman who seemed to have stopped trembling as her eye was closed and had put her mind within the gardens, the tears were still flowing but she seemed a bit more at peace and that at least was better than her being frightened.
It was a delicate struggle for power and it wasn't one she wanted to be in, it wasn't her life that was on the line but an innocent person who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. "This isn't making peace, you are making me conform using someone who is completely innocent in our verbal battle as leverage." she said knowing exactly that was what this was "And no peace will be reached if she dies, so, we are at a stalemate. I have made the request that she is able to sit at my side as my maid and I will sit and we can talk as you wish but if she dies well things get a bit more tricky in that department." she said allowing him to decide what he wanted to do. If the woman was allowed to lower the dagger she would stand helping the shaking woman up and lead her to the table.
Keeping her hands on the woman he would sit alongside her with a gentle smile "My name is Hotaru it is a pleasure to meet you even on this turbulent path." she said calmly her amber eyes keeping eye contact with the other woman "I'm Lanying mistress." she whispered quietly "Please never call me mistress, it very much makes me uncomfortable. I understand that you need a title to call me and so chan would be best." she said, she doubted this woman was much older than herself but she didn't want her into trouble but while she was serving her, Lanying was her made and it was her orders that would need to be followed even if Jirou was her master. She listened to Jirou and turned her attention to him "I did no such thing, you made a fool of yourself. I just pointed it out." she said looking at the cup in front of her.
Lanying seemed nervous about the conversation but the solar mage knew exactly what she was doing. Lanying was a piece that was brought onto the board by Jirou to try and tame the young Kasai's fierceness, but, that was a two-way street as he needed Lanying alive and unharmed for Hotaru to comply with him. The Kasai weren't exactly a family to be taken lively as her brother's merits showed. She was still at the beginning of her journey but she was just as much a lion as her brother. "Does your hand hurt? I've heard not hitting tables helps with preventing such things from happening but it still happens if you hit other hard things." she said noticing how he was rubbing the side of his hand, he was chaotic that wasn't good.
"I had completely forgotten about you until Lanying turned up at my home and gave me the letter and..." her eyes moved back to the box, she could feel her skin crawl once more "Your gift." she finally said after a long second. She looked to him "I was raised in a society where not bowing could end your life, I know how slighting works, please don't insult my intelligence." she said her tone flat showing she was already wanting to get this over and done with because, in honesty, she would rather be anywhere but there at that current moment in time. "I am aware that not all nobles are like myself, you are living proof of this by using an innocent woman's life as a tool because you can't talk to another as an equal." she said her voice hadn't changed its tone at all.
"I have no doubt you aren't the only one but I need to ask, do you have a clubhouse with a secret password and handshake?" she smiled as she said that, it honestly was a serious matter but she couldn't resist. "I have met far crueller people than yourself, it has never ended well, they usually get what is coming to them in time as the gods will it." she said at the last part she placed her elbows on the table clasping her hands "Or what? Use your only leverage against me yet again, you forget that is a two way street as her life and safety is dependant on me staying and listening but if anything happens to her then what? Do you have a backup plan because we both know I am faster than you and at this range, I would hit you before you or your servant could move." she was obviously well taught in tactics.
"So, let's try everything again." she said picking up the teapot refilling his cup "Will you do me the honours of filling my cup so we may enjoy the tranquillity and harmony so we can make peace and separate balanced." she said knowing this was far from a normal tea ceremony but she was at least going to play nice for now. She would need to wait to see what he did next because that is what would decide everything going forward.
His outburst had done exactly what he wanted it too, not only had she broken her conviction to place someone elses safety upon a pedastil above her own, she did so without a second thought. The truth of the matter was that he didn’t care if the servant lived or die, she was, like everything else in the world of Nobles a singular pawn on a life long game of Chess. The young noble let them exhange their speaking without interruption. It was another ploy, to let her feel she still had some leverage. No doubt she thought she could turn his piece into something useful against him, but Jirou always expected this. It was why he so quickly had her threaten her own life, such soft ideals would cause death for the Magic Knights. Ardere did not train her well enough, she should have struck him first if she cared for the servants safety. But he understood why, it was HIS palace, HIS rules… HIS playthings. [break][break] He chuckled as she made her demands, he would simply nod and allow it, the other servant being given a calm snake like word of allowence from her Master, and as she fell into the control of Hotaru Jirou smiled once more, it spoke of venom and lies and danger…But the look in his eyes was admiration. At that current moment he new his choice had been right. As she made her jokes and did everything she could to weaken what pride he had he could only smile as he let the words wash over him like a cold stream. He even in good faith calmly directed the female servant to discard her knife far away from her, and she did so. He then drank his cup fully and set it down to clear the slate as he took the teapot and he smiled placing a thumb on the handle in the secret location, no sleeping agent yet, he wanted more time with her as she was. [break][break] “You are truly magnificent. Of all the women of the old country I have met you are the only one with enough inner fire to fight back when you think it right.” he would offer to pour her cup, and without breaking eye contact if she allowed him to pour he would make sure she had a full glass without overflowing. He truely enjoyed the expensive tea not jsut for the expense, but because of how wonderful it tasted. “What if I told you there were a secret Noble Club? But even I am not cruel enough to be allowed to join?” he chuckled once more, but then after setting the pot down to allow her to pour his, he would look her in the eye and for the very first time tell her nothing but the truth. “I act this way to protect my family. Should my brother fail…should my sister be lost to our blood…I will take the blame as a Monster for doing what must be done to avenge our Families honor. Ive spent every day since the age of 5 hating my weakness. But I learned I had strength in other ways. I learned I had the will to be what my family needs most…a Monster.” [break][break] “For all his other failings… your brother is the truest thing a noble can be… Strong with rightious purpose. He has no need to be evil, or monsterous. The world respects his strength without question, and to say hes less then a god of healing would be insulting. But this world NEEDS monsters, your brother simply lived longer then the ones who called him Monsterous to begin with. That is the Burden I must bear as the Second Born. To be forever ready to let my head be taken from me so my family may be able to clear their name of wrong doing. Do I enjoy it? Yes…. yes I do…its all ive ever known. But… He chuckled once more and if offered he would hold his tea cup for her to fill. “If I could have been born common filth… I feel I may have been a happy person…who aspired to be a good man. Isnt that strange? The people I hate most are the ones I envy the hardest.
words[break]0793 [break] total[break]02419 [break] SP Earned[break]0002 [break] Stat Earned[break]0002 [break]
She could tell by his movements that he believed that he was the one who had all the power, this just wasn't the way of things. She hated that this woman had been dragged into their argument to the point she felt physically sick but there was nothing that could be done about it. Normally she would be enjoying the back and forth with another but the stakes were too high for her so where she could protect her one wrong move could also end her. It was not an enviable position to be in and yet here she was sitting within the calm eye of the storm drinking tea with someone she would rather knock out, that, however, wouldn't have gone over well. She was a guest in his families estate and so she would need to be more tactful or it would have consequences on her own family.
She was glad that Lanying was put into her service and even instructed to move the dagger away from her, before she could throw it the solar mage took it and placed it by her side after binding it. "A weapon shouldn't be disgraced by being thrown, the soul within would become vengeful and when truly required may fail you in spite." she said placing it at her left side. Yes, it was close to the brunette but at the same time being bound there was no way she would be able to use it efficiently. As Lanying was her maid currently that meant Jirou had no power to demand that she take the blade away, he would have to use the servant he had used to pour the tea originally if he wanted it away from her. This was fine by her because getting him out of the picture meant there was less to worry about.
"I wouldn't say magnificent is a way to describe me." she said humbly, she knew there were plenty of other words to describe her and not all of them flattering. "I am not the only woman from our backgrounds that would do such things, I'm sure your sister has the same sort of heart." she said unaware of his sister's personality having never met her and not having enough time since coming to Clover to find out a lot about the nobles individually. This put her at quite a disadvantage but it was one she was attempting to remedy slowly. She watched as he drank the tea fully to allow her to pour, it was clear she had been taught the traditional role of her gender by how she held the teapot and poured. She would almost seem delicate at that moment.
She didn't prevent him from pouring her tea, in fact, she calmly watched "Thank you." she said picking up and taking a sip. The tea wasn't overly bad, she was enjoying the flavour until that subtle hint of tobacco was tasted. That she didn't enjoy at all and so put down the cup. She turned to face Lanying "Could you please fetch me some peach blossom honey?" she asked the woman instinctively turned to look at Jirou. "Lanying, you are not serving him and so do not need his permission to fulfil my request. Currently, you are my maid remember?" her voice showed patience and understanding knowing she had been conditioned to be this way. She bit her lip "I... I'm sorry mis- Hotaru chan" she quickly corrected herself feeling like she was going to be struck but it never came "I will go fetch the honey." she said in a whispered voice.
She was going to kowtow but Hotaru had shown it to be something she hadn't liked so stood and bowed like a normal maid, her hands going delicately to her side as she twisted slightly and bowed at the knees before she moved quickly off to to the task that had been asked of her. It was strange but the solar mage could tell that Lanying was both frightened to do what she did but also excited that she could. She hoped that Lanying would find peace and be able to bow properly once more and not be like a frog to someone slimy. "Then I'd say you're better off without them because you can still be saved." she said calmly her eyes going to look out the window as she felt the warmth on her face from the sun. Her eyes closed as she thought over what had transpired so far.
She opened her eyes as he once again spoke "Then you are more a fool than I originally believed because this path leads to the ruination of your family name." she said her tone stern in her beliefs on that matter. "From what I understand your brother is a competent heir, you shouldn't have such worries and this is an issue for the head of the family to worry about not you." she said truthfully, she honestly didn't understand why he believed that he was a fail-safe for such things. "I'm sure your sister will one day be married to a wonderful man worthy of her." she said softly, she disliked the whole betrothal thing, she actually feared not having control over who she married because they might be cruel or neglectful. She wanted someone who she could cherish and would cherish her equally.
"You are delusional. All children have weakness at five years old, you are still a child so coming to that conclusion is a terrible thing and your family doesn't need a monster, it needs a strong and loyal son." she said but her eyes almost glared as her own brother was brought up and how he had 'many failings'. She couldn't say if this was correct or not she had only met him recently but everyone had flaws so frame it as only her brother did, did rub her up the wrong way. "My brother is strong and has conviction, this is what I have found out in the short time I have known him." she said, this would have shown up until recently she had never met him and so was still finding out about her brother. "The world does respect strength but it also respects compassion which my brother shows in equal proportion." she said calmly.
She shook her head when he said that the world needed monsters "With constant daemonic threats that even put those you love the most in danger, do you truly believe we need more darkness?" she would ask her voice a mix of confusion and disbelief at what he had just said. She stood up at hearing him insinuating that her brother would have been called monstrous at any point. He was a virtuous man and she wasn't going to sit and listen to him being spoken about like this. "Peace can not be found, you have disgraced your family and slandered mine." she shook her head before bowing slightly walking towards the door "May you one day find peace and your sanity Jirou." she said showing she was done, Lanying wasn't in the room so there was no leverage for him to use against her now.
He allowed the servant to leave, knowing he no longer had the power to stop her. In fact he wasn’t even angry at that fact. It was strange… how she made his fear hardened heart beat like a war drum of the old country. He wondered… was she right that he could be saved? Was he truely going about things the wrong way? As thosequestions began to grow within his head, he wondered just what she ahd done to him to make him feel this way. Had she cast some spell? Was she just that… unique to him? He wondered what made her so special. But as she stood up after speaking, and seemed insulted his servant would move in front of her at high speed as Jirou himself moved the table forward and for the first time in his life he placed his forehead on the ground and asked for her forgiveness. [break][break] “This one humbly asks your forgiveness, I did not mean to slander your family name, only to comment on your brothers dedication to protecting it.” He would wait until she either responded or sat back down and would then explain himself more without leaving the kowtow, even though he hated doing this. For the first time in his life he had felt the NEED to preserve their conversation. “Monsters are not evil darkness…Even angels may be seen as monsters in their service to a greater good. Your brother has likely taken lives to protect this country and for that, I must be grateful. Even with my prideful soul I would never slander what he has done, But I also will not sugarcoat it. A captain must always be ready to take an enemies life, even if they are only doing what they need to to survive. I humbly and fully ask that you forgive my wording, and please return to our talks.” he would wait and then after a moment he would slowly sit back up. His mask having fallen entirely and the tired exaugsted boy he was showed through. “I do not understand why, but for the first time…. for the first time I do not feel like I need to hide my emotions from someone. Even with my loving sister and competent brother I must forever hide myself from them…I am a monster who cannot be redeemed, and that I have accepted. But for what ever reason… I do not see you as just another victim… after what you and the others howed in our dungeon exam… for the first time there are others outside my family I respect.” [break][break] Even his favored servant was shocked, and the look on his face showed it before he quickly turned away not to emberrase his master with his shocked face.But Jirou didn’t notice, he himself didn’t understand why he vomited such words out, and for a moment he wondered if he had gone insane, but try as he might he could not get his mask to return.
words[break]0501 [break] total[break]02920 [break] SP Earned[break]0002 [break] Stat Earned[break]0002 [break]
Hotaru continued walking but stopped mid-stride as the servant blocked her way she narrowed her eyes "I would ask you to move to the side but I doubt that is going to happen without his permission." she said her voice showing she was over it all right now "I would tell your servant to get out of my way before I kick him down the stairs, I do not take being trapped well." her voice was showing she didn't want to do it but she would make the obstacle in front of her move one way or another. She could hear movement behind her, she noticed it wasn't getting closer so ignored it so had no idea that he was kowtowing. "My brother is a lion at heart and will protect what he holds dear even with his own life." she closed her eyes knowing that is how she lost her father.
"Monsters are misunderstood? Is that what you are saying?" her voice sounded angry at that, she clenched her hands so tight her knuckles when white and her nails pierced the skin drawing blood. "This is something I can not and will not believe!" it was clear she was irritated, the normal calm solar mage was more than a little irritated "The divine are not monsters and for you to say such a thing is sacrilege." she said It seemed with every word she was getting more and more irate with him. "Just because he may have doesn't make him a monster, a monster is someone who takes pleasure in another's suffering, pain and death..." she said she closed her eyes as she tried to calm herself, it wasn't coming so easy. She needed to pray and meditate to balance herself once more but right now that was impossible.
"My brother feels a heavy burden for every life he has needed to take, feeling that burden keeps him from being a monster." she said, relaxing her hands and sighing. She honestly felt sorry for Jirou, there was no other way to explain it, it was like he didn't understand what did and didn't make a monster. He was right that currently he was a monster but she didn't believe it would always be that way if he had the right guidance. She, however, wouldn't be that guidance she would end up killing him before the end of the first lesson no doubt. "No, a captain must not be ready to take a life; they must be willing to protect their kingdom and those they love. They only kill if there is no other option left." she said finally turning to see him kowtowing on the floor.
She couldn't deny it was nice to see him humbling himself on the floor like a toad after how he had made Lanying do it. "I can not forgive you." she said simply, even he must know how bad insulting another noble house; to make it worse it was the head of the house that he was insulting so she had no right to forgive him, that would have to come from Ardere himself. "But I have to ask, how does it feel to be in the same position you had Lanying when she did nothing wrong? Does it feel good to be treated as less than an animal?" she said her voice showing she wanted an answer for her question, she knew that he would hate it and her words would be like adding lemon to the wound. "If the answer is no, then I would suggest that you don't have people kowtow unless they really deserve it." she said coldly.
She turned once more to look at the servant "Please don't make me kick you, it'll hurt." she said as if asking him to move out of her way. "You don't need to be a monster, you just enjoy being one." she said calmly "And you don't see me as a victim because I am not one, I will call you out on your behaviour." he said before stepping around the servant in front of her and started walking once more. "I hope you find your peace one day." she said as she got to the steps she saw Lanying returning with the honey. This really wasn't good. She moved quickly to prevent her entering but it was far too late "I have the honey requested, I'm sorry it took so long." she said bowing 'fuck' she thought to herself.
"You didn't take long at all, thank you for retrieving it." she moved with Lanying back to the table and sat down, without a word 'her' maid would begin sweetening the tea "Thank you Lanying, that is enough for me." she said bowing her head in thanks, with the woman back in the hall it changed dynamics once more and not in her favour, the playing field was once again even. Picking up the cup she took a sip but her nose scrunched "I... is there something wrong?" Lanying asked in a whispered tone "It's cold." she said. Lanying moved to take the cup emptying it quickly before returning with a new one. She moved to pick up the teapot with the intention of pouring a new cup for the woman she was serving and would do so if not stopped.
As Jirou lay Kowtowed, as she did not rejoin the talk, his smile grew as through the floorboards he could feel the subtle vibrations of the servants return. Once Hotaru was once again distracted threatening to kick his favored servant in a way that would hurt and no longer looking at him, he would quickly and quietly extend just a fingerwidth of mana from his body and stretch it toward the teapot, once his mana touched the alabaster plaster the hidden compartment would open, causing the sleeping agent to pass from the secret slot into the main tea mixture. Her pity was her weakness, she should never have turned her back on him for even a second. The servant of Jirou moved aside and went to grab the pot before the other servant could, But Jirou would bark an order not to touch her. [break][break] “You are absolutely right…I am sorry for making her kowtow without reason… to lower myself to the floor… I feel like a squatting frog.” he played his hand calmly, as lanying paused for a moment, then gently picked up the teapot and complimented her master for having such wonderful teaware, the tea was still fresh and warm thanks to the properties of the pot. Jirous favored servant bowed his head while holding his arms infront of him, hiding the devilish smile growing behind the cloth of his clothing, Jirou would lift his head and his face would still remain tired, but in truth it was his deepest mask. The mask he only ever showed when he needed something so badly he could not control himself. If his Fuqin could see him he would be proud of the devilish thinking of the young man. [break][break] He would then turn and as lanying tended to pouring Hotarus cup, he would bow deeply and apologize for his action earlier. But it was clear to Hotaru and lanying he was fighting to do so. But for once he was lowering himself below someone he had slighted and it was… progress of a sort, though only Jirou knew it was yet another piece on the board, a piece he only played when his back was against the wall. His favoured servant would then rush to him and beg that his master need not bow so low, his little sister would understand if he had not apologized, but Jirou pushed him off in a mock show of frustration. [break][break] “I will do as I must!…. Hotaru is right… She did nothing wrong, and I was only doing it to boost my pride.” the servant gulped nervously but then sat down and nodded softly in acceptance. “forgive my outburst Hotaru… he would drain his now cold tea andwould hold his cup up to her, his head low. “Ket this cup be the first of many, but the last of our peace talks. I, Jirou Yuiee, beg and ask forgiveness for my rudeness and ill temper at the exams and now, I ask only that you truly forgive me, and allow me to attempt again under your watchful eye as friend, and it not that, aquantence.”
words[break]0531 [break] total[break]03451 [break] SP Earned[break]0003 [break] Stat Earned[break]0003 [break]
The solar mage's sensory wasn't at all strong and being as distracted as she was she had no idea as to what the man had done with the teapot. She didn't see her wish to protect Lanying as a weakness, the woman was all but bullied due to her status and gender it was pathetic in her mind. Women were just as strong as men regardless of their social status, people like Jirou just were caught so up in the old ways that they kept them at their feet making them believe they were lesser. She couldn't stand it, but, for now, at least the woman playing her maid was being treated respectfully and that was better than nothing she supposed. It was at least progress. She watched as Jirou's favoured servant attempted to take the teapot from Lanying but was ordered to leave her be from Jirou, this made her happy she had to admit.
She listened to his words as he apologised for having her kowtow without just cause, that even he felt like a frog having just done it himself. She smiled softly believing that he was starting to understand things and how he viewed things was just wrong. "You just have a dated way of looking at things. Your family is powerful but it should look after those lower than themselves, doing that will make people love and respect you; they would be more productive." This was how she viewed things but knew that fear was also a huge way to make people work, they just would be no were as productive because of the feeling of walking on eggshells. "I'm glad you are understanding there are other ways of doing things." she said her voice warmer towards him than it had been since they had met.
She looked at Lanying as she spoke and tilted her head "You have never seen this teapot before?" she seemed curious and suspicious at that moment. "I have not, but, I am not the one who normally serve my master's tea." she said looking to Jirou's favoured servant. "A male serving tea, that is quite unusual. You are more enlightened than I gave you credit for." she said her suspicions abated. Lanying knew there was something wrong but she had no idea what and dared not to attempt to speak out about those suspicions as without proof she would be put to hard labour or death for accusing her master like that. She moved to add honey to the tea silently a worried look on her face as she saw how her brother's movements. Hotaru noticed the movements herself but believed that he was attempting to prevent himself from sneezing or yawning.
"Do you find it hard to bow when you have done wrong Jirou?" she would ask the other noticing just how hard it was for him to apologise to Lanying, watching what happened next she narrowed her eyes at the servant "It is important that a person realizes their wrongdoings, takes responsibility and reflects... it is how we become better people." she said her voice cold towards the man but she turned to Lanying "He is your older brother?" she asked the young woman who nodded "He is my elder brother Enlai" she confirmed to her "My sympathies." she said in return not liking someone who wouldn't allow someone to show growth, she understood that here he may have been viewed as being able to do no wrong but Jirou was still flawed like any other person and needed to understand that. A bit of humility wouldn't hurt him.
She watched the theatrics happening, they seemed sincere so she didn't question it and it truly did look like Jirou was wanting to make a change for the better. This made her happy and she would be more than content to be his guide on the road in becoming a righteous man. "I can completely understand why you did, you want to show you can take on criticism and it's admirable." she said her voice gentle as she raised her cup in her own hand "I forgive all that I can, what I can not, will be up to those you have hurt and slighted." she said "I am more than willing to help you grow and prevent you becoming the monster you're on the road to becoming." she said as she drank deeply from her cup. It was then that she realized that something was wrong.
The cup fell from her hand as she began to feel weak, her hand going to her head as her vision blurred and she started to feel dizzy. She tried to speak but it was like her mind was filled with cotton balls. She looked to Lanying with a confused and panicked look on her face. Lanying done her best to support the woman she was serving but even she looked between her master and brother in a panic. "Master... Enlai... what is happening?" she said in a whispered panic. It was clear even in her current state Lanying was by no means complicit in what was currently happening. Hotaru tried to stand up and with Lanying's support she had managed to, she needed to find a way to purge her body of what was in her system before it was too late. Lanying though struggling started to help Hotaru towards the door as if anticipating what she would ask.
Lanying didn't know if she would get in trouble for doing this, she was worried of course but she was told to serve Hotaru and that was what she was doing. She doubted it would change the outcome due to the humiliation her master had felt but she held a small glimmer of hope that she wouldn't be punished. Eventually, hear the exit of the room the deadweight was too much and both women landed hard on the floor. Lanying cried out as she used her own body to break the fall of Hotaru most certainly breaking her arm due to it. She got up nursing her arm but checking over Hotaru she was forbidden her grimoire near her so she could only the most basic of things. "Please Enlai allow me my grimoire so I can help her, I... I promise I won't heal myself." she begged him, she knew her plea was futile but she had to at least try.
By the time they had reached the door, Jirou had stood back up and was now making his way toward the two as they stumbled and fell. He could hear and feel the break of Lanyings arm through the floor mats and he smiled wide and happily as her brother Enlai followed behind him. Jirou approched the wounded Servant and with a bare foot he would roll Hotaru off her and order Enlai to pick his sister up. The servant nodded and did so without hesitation, even letting her broken arm fall to the side painfully without helping her. Though Jirou wondered if he would harbor feelings of revenge afterwards. He may have been his most loyal servant but even Jirou understood the power of family. That was why he needed the next parts to go exactly as he wanted. [break][break] “You’ll get to heal her eventually Lanying now quiet before I remove your tongue as well, the only reason I havnt is because your sweet brother begs me every night to keep you whole and unharmed. You may only heal yourself and then Enlai will go and get you from your bed chambers. If you leave from there before he arrives once more to retrieve you the guards stationed there WILL, kill you, understood?” She would be dragged away by Enlai before she could respond and along the way he would repremand her for her actions but would not bring further harm to her. Jirou himself knelt down and turned to check Hotarus face and her vitals. “Good, you didn’t die from such a simple poisonous treatment. You really are something unique Hotaru Kasai. Something any collector as myself would want.” For Jirou, lovers was an easy thing to get even at his age, money went along way in brothels. But Hotaru was something more… she was like the perfect Hino, beautiful, strong, and without master. He didn’t want to just marry her, he didn’t even care if they married, but what he wanted was to possess her in heart and mind and soul. [break][break] He would gently bend down and lift her up softly like a bridal carry and upon Enlais return, he would have him open the passage way to the secret chamber far below them. Using his Servants magic the two would make their way down with his new doll. “Go to Fuqin, and ask for 12 Flowers of Lotus Weed, and 1 small vial of sake. When we are done with her reconditioning, I don’t want her to remmeber everything that happened. Ask if him he reccomends any other plants and herbal treatments to handle it.” Enlai bowed and quickly left, Jirou would chain Hotaru by her wrists and ankles, through the chains were designed to not cause undo damage and he even left her laying down, though anything besides attempting to stand and sit would be unable to happen due to the length of the chains. He gently moved the hair out of her face as he placed the mouth brace against her teeth and secured it with the small key in the back, making her unable to use her spells as just like him she needed verbal activation for her spells. He sighed and upon finishing that he sat in the chair at the far end of the room and would wait, watching to see how long it took her to awaken from the narcotic.
words[break]0578 [break] total[break]04029 [break] SP Earned[break]0004 [break] Stat Earned[break]0004 [break]
Lanying was feeling the pain through her left arm even as she nursed it trying to tend to Hotaru the best she could, the problem was where she could use healing magic without her grimoire she was quite useless. She looked panicked seeing her master and brother approach but dared not move for fear it would garner more punishment aimed towards her, the fact her master was smiling so widely added to her fear. She couldn't kowtow as she had Hotaru's head resting comfortably on her knees as if a pillow. That was short-lived as her master used his foot to roll the unconscious woman onto the floor fully knocking her head against it, before she could say anything she was grabbed by her good arm and dragged up by her brother. Due to this she couldn't support her broken arm and cried in pain as it fell to her side.
It was agonising, tears were falling from her eyes as she was unable to do anything to even make the pain ebb even a little. Hearing what would happen if she didn't remain quiet she trembled, she was thankful for her brother's protection and reminded him daily for the gift he allowed her to have. Before she could even show she understood what was said and the threat that came with it Enlai had dragged her off to her bed-chamber, she would have to wait for him to give her, her grimoire and would wait until the order had been precisely given to heal herself as she wouldn't dare to do it even a second earlier. The young woman couldn't help but worry about Hotaru and wanted to ask her brother so many questions but she knew what it would come down to, it was because their master willed it.
Now alone, the unconscious Hotaru wasn't aware of what was going on or what was being said to her. Her breathing was steady and she looked peacefully asleep. Lanying had done what she could to temper down the effects of the poison before the two men had approached, she had been very careful on just how much she had used not wanting to raise suspicion. It had been nowhere near enough of course. As she was lifted would wince a bit as she let out a small gasp of discomfort but lay limp in his arms otherwise. She was carried down into what was believed to be his personal training area, well, it was for training just not the kind his family knew about; had they known he would have surely been disowned and handed over to the magic knights. It was a dangerous game he was playing and he must have known that.
After giving Enlai orders he lowered Hotaru on the floor quickly chaining her ankles and wrists, they weren't the most comfortable but they weren't designed to do anything more than artificial damage at most. With that done he put in a mouth brace against her teet that suppressed her tongue. Like Jirou her own spells required speech to activate them. It had been around forty-five minutes before she began to stir, even when she opened her eyes she had to close them again as everything was so blurry and the room was spinning. She was about to say something but she found that she was unable to do so. Her hands went to her mouth where she felt the brace, sitting up as quickly as she could was no good as she became dizzy and light-headed collapsing back to the ground once more.
This was not a position she wanted to find herself in, it was hard but she saw a shape sitting in a chair on the far end of the room, it took a few moments but she recognised him. She tried to say his name but it came out as an unintelligible mess due to the brace, her eyes narrowed at him. She wondered what he was playing at, she tried to stand but the chains barely allowed her to move comfortably on her knees. She would need to wait to see what happened next because right now she was fully at the deranged noble's mercy and she knew it. It wasn't where she wanted to be but at the same time she couldn't do anything about it at that moment. She knew he must have been pleased with himself but he must have known that this was insane given who her brother was.
Jirou had smiled the entire 45 minutes as he waited for her to awaken. He wondered what her first thought would be, would it be that she was in danger? She was… of a sort, but not the sort a woman would normally fear. Would she think him crazy? He would disagree with her but he had no reason to see her point as truly invalid. But that was fine as well. He knew his mental faculties were different then others, but he wouldnt allow that to cloud his mind any further and he pushed the idea of insanity deep down. He was Nobility, he was a higher being then the common rabble. She was as well, but she lowered herself to their disgusting level as if it was the right thing to do. He watched her sleep, and as she stirred he put his leg up onto the other. [break][break] As he watched her awaken, but struggle due to the after effects he would chuckle and laugh as she finally got enough strength to sit uncomfertably on her knees and legs. The young, deranged noble clapped his hands as from a side entrance, a fully healed by her own magic Lanying and Enlai walked in. Lanying was shaking as her brother seemed unsure in what he was doing. If she was away why would he need to bring Lanying. But even as he forced her to kneel next to Jirous throne like chair he whispered into her ear that he was sorry over and over and begged her forgiveness. But Jirou would grow angry and kick him off her before commanding him to stay silent. [break][break] “Do not misunderstand Enlai, I may favor you but I will not be denied what I ask. Speak out of place again in my presense and you and your sister both will find yourselfs back in the brothel I found you both in.” he gently pet Lanyings hair and smiled as he looked at Hotaru. “It must hurt your heroic soul, not to be able to help these people. But you forget that they are mere servants, to us Nobles they are nothing but animals to be bought and traded. Thats what gets me so angry about you, that you refuse to recognize your place above them!” he grabbed Lanyings hair and pulled her up making her scream in pain. “in the old country her family sold her and her brother to a brothel owner for their fathers debt, and it was only by my dear Fuqins grace that I was there to see their potential. Each day I remind them of that. I want Lanying to be more then just a pretty face, I want her to be the best damn servant she could be, as well as Enlai who until today I have had no issue with. They are like my favored pets, which is why I allow them to keep their tongues out of all my servants.” [break][break] But just as he was about to continue speaking, another male voice could be heard as the only man Jirou deemed as his father stepped out of the shadows, his face displeased, but not surprised. Jirou let go of her hair and sat in his small throne, a single drop of sweat broke his calm mask. [break][break] ”Fuqin…I did not think you would bring the herbal medicine I requested yourself… Enlai himself had caused that, he had been too specific when he asked if he knew any other drugs that could help in his masters task. ”what do I owe this honorable visit too?…”
words[break]0610 [break] total[break]04639 [break] SP Earned[break]0004 [break] Stat Earned[break]0004 [break]
