*Creak*
Shoulder length black hair fell to the side of the child's face as she peered out the scantly ajar door.
Her brown irises with accents of a bit of amber shined with drowsiness, insinuatating her suddenly awoken state.
With a height barely reaching 3 feet, she was an adorable sort. Plump cheeks formed from healthy fat. Signs of having a full stomach at morning, afternoon and night.
This child has been a heavy sleeper most nights, but this day has been of an exotic nature. For her eyelids were closed yet her mind remained awoke.
And in that time, w inhen the 2nd moon loomed directly above, she heard the voice of her father along side another man's. Thus her expedition at the dead of night having lead her to this moment.
???:"—Your wife was of the most exceptional case Mr.Edwan Margret. Not only is this a case of late awakening of a soul core. But it was the emergence of a bloodline Mark appearing outside the family line."
Those words were uttered by a man with black hair, similar to the child. Except...that man's hair seemed way darker. To the point it felt as though it feeds on light.
It's kind of like mommy's? Is he mamma's bro?
The child thought innocently, she and her family were not too much of notable characters. Her father was a practitioner of Monster analysis while her mother had lived her life as a housewife. Markless.
—Except...Her mother remained not as a markless woman. She had turned a philosopher merely a week ago.
Edward:"—I understand Lord Severa. But you must understand that we do not wish to be inculcated into the ducal family politics—"
Lord Severa:"Your Wife Will be a Severa. I, As the head of the Severa family, cannot allow outsiders to get the chance of learning anything about our Severing blood."
The talking man spoke in a calm and confident manner, his face was etched by scars that made him look scary. His eyes were blue—they seemed to carry a dusted and dull look.
Why is he so paranoid? Can't he just let mom be? Meanie!
Thinking so, that young child continued to evesdrop without a conscious of privacy for her father—
Lord Severa:"—Since were in the topic. We should discuss about your daughter as well, since she is here anyways."
Shit! He caught me!
As the child wallowed in embarrassment in her mind for being caught, her father glanced once towards her unhidden face and turned towards the Head of Severa and—
Edward:"—With all due respect Lord Émsadall, my daughter will not participate in the shit show you call politics."
—He uttered such words of disrespect, without any regard to the titanic status held by that man before him. Now known to the child as Émsadall the head of the Severa duchy.
The dark haired man—Émsadall heard such words and smiled.
Émsadall:"I understand your concern. But...your arguments are futile."
Not a dip, not even an inch; formed on the edges of his amused smile as he spoke such arrogant words—Nay, they were words confident in the consequences of their actions.
Émsadall:"No matter if you choose to join the family or not. Your life will be in peril. For there are many who seek the secrets and weaknesses of the Severa Mark."
The man looked at the child and bent his knees to come to her level.
Émsadall:"Tenurry...yes?"
Ah? He knows me?
The Child nodded with slight warriness. Choosing to fully come out of hiding.
Edward:"—You!"
As Edward began to march forward, his arm raised to cause fatherly violence—Émsadall flicked his wrist.
Within that instant, Edward's fist came down to meet The Head of Severa's head, unquestionable a great offense towards a noble of Émsadall's standing——
——This had not come to pass.
Edward had suddenly stood a step or so away from Émsadall. His fist unclenched.
Edward:"Huh?"
Tenurry:"...Dad?"
The child had not seen any form of violence happen before her eyes. Yet she felt a certain sense of fear as though her father had indeed commited such violence.
Standing dazed with lightly paining knuckles, Edward felt immense satisfaction and a sense of acceptance of his fate. As though he had finalized his act of violence upon Émsadall. But he himself felt that such a thing did not occur. Truth be told he felt rather unclear regarding this matter.
As Edward clenched and unclenched his hand, Émsadall continued to speak in a clear manner.
Émsadall:"i hope that was to your satisfaction."
Said so the Severa Head Action disector, Émsadall Severa while he smiled understandingly.
Émsadall:"I understand your protective nature. Back at home I also have a loving ☐☐☐ and daughter that i love and protect..."
He didn't choose to elaborate any further.
As he raised his right hand, Tenurry took note of his concealment glove. It was rather over the top for her.
The glove was of mainly black background but there were many-a golden patterns covering it. Not to mention the gem stones on it.
She also took note of how bland the glove on his other hand was.
Émsadall opened a few fingers as he continued, only this time it seemed to be more directed towards Tenurry instead of Edward.
Émsadall:"I only wish to be informed if she ever gains a Severance mark the same as her mother. Any and all children of the Severa family are to be protected."
While he spoke so with a well-meaning manner, it was understood clearly by Edward that Émsadall's intention was simply to observe and sanctum Tenurry. So that the Severa Bloodline's weaknesses remain un-exposed.
Edward:"...!"
Edward could only grind his teeth, he did not harbor a lack of understanding. The Head of Severa wasn't unreasonable, Edward's Wife and daughter both would be in peril no matter the case. His only fear was the fact that being inculcated into the family draws definite attention. Not only from general no-gooders. But from the main families.
But he had no choice but to remain silent.
By this point in time, Tenurry had been struck cold and unmoving by the jarring dissonance within her emotions.
She understood for a fact that Émsadall had done something she could not comprehend with her eyes nor general senses. But further more, she was feeling this Dichotomic brew of both Relief and Anxiety.
As she was pondering so about such complexities—
*Click*
—the window to the right of the house had been opened.
???:"About time I say."
A deep and grating voice spoke out.
A Crow, feathered abundantly with black pinnae; was perched on the window stool. It donned a particular top hat and a monocle.
It's most prominant features would be the excess length and volume of it's wings and a plethora of elegent golden linings floating milimeters from its wing pinna.
This Crow didn't bother unfirling it's wings nor did it choose to hop down.
???:"Do ye'r thing master Émsadall."
It's deep and grating voice resonated respectfully.
Without any Altercation Émsadall flicked his hand and The crow was suddenly perched on the outstretched fingers of his.
And in lieu of Émsadall, The crow bowed with one wing outstretched; This wing carried immense length to it as it did—And introduced it self.
???:"Greetings, little miss. My name is Crownilius Maximus the 3rd, I find it a mouthful so please refer to me as Crown. And fer ye'r clarity. I am your personal informant from now on."
Although there was still some shock from the Dichotomic feelings in her, Tenurry in her childishness: had her eyes glow in a sense of excitement.
The Crow—Crown. Hopped of Émsadall's hand elegently and gently landed on the child's head.
The sudden weight on her head made her neck slightly hurt but she was excited nonetheless.
Tenurry:"Will you really give him to me?"
She asked while looking at Edward for permission, though she found it exciting to have a Crow for her self. She knew that her father probably knew better.
Edward looked conflicted still. Despite so however he gave a nod of affirmation, much to Tenurry's delight.
Seeing this, Émsadall also gave a nod towards Edward. He understood that this was a silent agreement from Edward.
Standing as he picked out his phone, Émsadall spoke.
Émsadall:"I will make sure there will be no problems Mr.Edward. Now, there is some menial formalities that are needed....sign here and..."
As the adults discussed the situation by themselves. Tenurry began talking to Crown and started getting to know him better.
A point she took note of was that Crown had an easy-going yet strict butler feeling to him. And also that calling him fat ruffled his feathers.
This day had been the day she became a Severa.
^^^~~^^^^^^~~^^^
The sunlight of Dalumen pierced through the gaps within the curtains. Landing upon her face.
Her vision was first unclear, and the bright light was blinding her. So she had close her eyes again.
With light blinks to get accustomed to the sun light, Tenurry Margret had woken up in her bed.
Tenurry:"....Why hadn't Crown come yet?"
Although the man she was told to kill had destroyed her tracker, she hadn't held much worry regarding being in emergency situations. For she knew her trusted Crow can help her.
But...
It has been more than enough time for him to reach her, yet he did not. That Crow's mark allowed it to traverse within a myriad of Environments both structured to obstruct and naturally present obstacles.
That did not mean Crown was invincible, hence why she hadn't been too worried at the start of her hunt near dalumen when Crown had gone away and had yet to reappear.
Yet...even so. More than three days have passed since she woke up. At least a week or so since she had arrived at dalumen...
There...was no sense in him taking this long to randezvous with her.
Tenurry:"...hiss....!"
With a weak wince, Tenurry hefted herself up and made her back lean on the raised bed to sit herself up. She was barely able to move and so such menial actions themselves were pretty painful.
It's not just odd.... It is quite terrifying. Had the head family decided to abandon me?...No that doesn't seem right...
The Severa family can do many unsightly things but abandoning a fellow Severa was not one of them. She knew that well.
This principle was not born of any well-mannered good comraderie. But instead, it was born from caution. No matter how dead a person can be, the Mark has time to remain engrained on their body until the fuel—that is the soul core—runs out.
Within this time frame, it could be possible to access the mark using a mark reader and possibly deduce a weakness.
Precisely because of this possibility would the head nor the elders ever abandon a Severa in the wild.
Is it possibly due to some form of obstruction?
Although Crows and Ravens are one of the most trusted transports of information and messaging due to their innate ability to hide from all sorts of detection systems, they were not perfect. It was simply so that online communication and filing are rather treacherous comparatively.
So Tenurry understood this prospect.
Tenurry:"....*Sigh* I hope Crown is alright. That old man's temper could lead to his own perils way too much!"
She huffed in a self-comforting manner, it had lightened the pressure in her chest that was bothering her.
Beyond this, she was baffled by another Exotic Character. Her target.
That man has apperantly brought her to the Dalumen Healer.
I don't understand his motives, the only possibility I can think of is him wishing to gain information or undressing my mark....hm...that's unfortunate, i don't have much info to give him.
Being an unofficial Severa, whose ancestory was not of the Severa bloodline as well. She did not carry much of a presence within the family dukedom. Hence forth she didn't carry much secrets with her, perhaps her mother could have some within her sleeve since she got recognised as an official a few years back but Tenurry herself and her father were still unofficial.
Too bad I don't carry a severance mark for him to get a clear look at.
She didn't find it improbable that her target would seek to learn of the Severance mark. As she was told to hunt him specifically because of the fact that he was a mole.
That was the jist of what she was told. She didn't need to bother looking too deep into it as she had her own problems.
But this speculation was for naught in that regard, as the man must have already known that she didn't have a severance mark. As he has already seen her state after she tried to use healing. Which instantly makes it clear that she lacked that major Severa trait.
In the end, she couldn't think more. As she had grown tired.
It was also true that it wouldn't be fruitful to think any further for now, she is still recovering after all.
With a difficult inhale she reached out towards her side. There was a small panel there that can be used to call a nurse or any other needed service—though th in the current case it would simply be the head doctor.
Zipp
As she tapped itgently, the transparent panel with no colour displayed a plethora of symbols regarding different aspects of the services.
Then a voice not-unlike The doctor's own spoke out.
System:" Good Morning, What do you wish Mrs.Severa?"
Tenurry:"—Refer to me as Tenurry, I would like for you to call Dr.Selera and tell her to prepare some food"
The panel spoke once more.
System:"Understood, notifying Mrs.Selera."
The panel then went blank after those words were spoken.
She had a lot to ruminate on within her head, but for now she needed to recover. Lest she be too weak to hunt down her target.
Im sorry, but your death is necessary to keep the Duke's family safe...mine too.
With that motivated thought, she nuzzled the back of her head into the soft padding used for back support to get more comfortable before her food arrives.
It was at that moment that she took note of a minor detail.
Hm...I don't know the target's name do I? He didn't introduce himself to me either...or did he? I only talked to him once and my head wasn't that clear....
While she was able to be lucid enough for a normal conversation. She was still drowsy not to mention her highly paining head at the time as well as her Mark's passive effects being dampened.
Either way, she decided to learn his name from Selera when she brings the food. Or whoever else that may come in her stead.