"This changes things," Blanc sighed, looking over the letter for the hundredth time as he and Alvin walked through the Metamorph campsite.
"I am quite sure it does, Lord Blanc," Alvin replied, lost in the two parchments he received from Blanc.
One was the list of things needed for the tea, and the other was their beast list, which they had made the day before.
They were talking, but both were lost in their own minds as they walked.
Many of the Metamorphs were staring, but none dared do something foolish as the memories of Blanc cutting off Heru's wings and Alvin decapitating a Spirit Bear were fresh in their minds.
But not all of them stood aside as Blanc and Alvin were slowly approaching the hearth.
"Blanc," said Georn, sitting on a log next to Allegra, "Why are you two in here?"
"Peace and quiet, Georn," Blanc replied, not taking his eyes off the piece of parchment.
"We might have different ideas about what peace and quiet is, but I will have to ask you to leave if that's the only reason you came," Georn stared at the two, getting to his feet.
"Not so fast, bear man," Alvin said, taking his eyes off the recipe, and looking at him, "You owe me answers, that as it happens, I want answered now."
"In the middle of camp?" Georn asked, his voice carrying surprise despite the lack of emotion on his face.
"I did not say I will make it convenient," Alvin shook his head, "Are you perhaps worried your daughter will be seen as a traitor?"
Georn took a step forward, "Who wouldn't think that? Is this your idea of revenge, you -"
"Enough, Father," Allegra interrupted, approaching from behind, "A deal has been made. One that cannot be broken, lest you want to burn your daughter's body."
"Smart woman," Alvin replied, "But no, not here, come with me."
To which Allegra nodded before they turned on their heels, with Blanc walking behind them, lost in his thoughts.
"Lord Blanc," said Alvin.
"Hmm?" Blanc asked, half focused on his hearing.
Alvin sighed, turning to look at Blanc, still lost in that damn parchment, "You will have your beasts by tomorrow, and by tomorrow night be out of the Domain."
"Good," Blanc replied.
"Yes, good," Alvin agreed, as he gave the beast letter to an approaching soldier.
Perhaps it was frustrating for others to try to have a conversation with him like this, but there was nothing he could do.
It has been over a month since the defeat of his Blood, a time in which many things could have happened with his older sister, Sera.
He remembered her face when she was younger, and how they used to play and enter forbidden parts of the mansion just for the sake of the thrill.
By the Vita, how the two laughed in those days, how much joy and love they felt for one another.
As they got older, though, their priorities drifted, making them argue more and more, but one thing did not change throughout the years.
They were still siblings.
He could only pray that she was still fine and able to hold on for a bit longer before he came to save her.
"Welcome back," Celine said to their approaching husband, despite the look on his face and the letter in his hand.
Blanc had attempted to offer them a smile before looking at the sitting Daughter, "Lord Certa is about to depart for the questioning of Allegra, Daughter. He has requested me to let you know you are expected."
"I see," the Daughter muttered, getting to her feet and wiping away the dirt from her white dress, "In that case."
With that, she bowed to all present before taking her leave and walking towards her horse.
"What has happened?" Celine asked softly, sensing the weight that had fallen over their husband's mood.
Blanc's gaze turned briefly to his younger siblings, who remained unaware of his eyes upon them.
One absorbed in the slow rise of new grass, the other buried in the second volume of a romance novel.
Seeing that his younger siblings were absent-minded, he took a seat in the grass in front of his two wives and offered them the parchment.
But before Celine could take the parchment, Blanc signaled them for silence, only letting go of the letter once both Celine and Miyanna nodded in agreement.
Celine's eyes moved swiftly over the contents of the letter, absorbing all the information in it, as if a sponge absorbing water.
Miyanna was slower in her reading, but not by far.
With each sentence, their eyes grew wider, a frown painting their foreheads as they read.
And although they were focused on different parts of the letter, they both had understood what had happened.
One carrying with her the knowledge of advisors to the Imperial Blood, the other that of a commander of armies.
They both understood the betrayal of Noble Blood Seraph and what it most likely meant for Blanc's older sister.
Not trying to comfort their husband with words, to not draw the attention of Kael and Lune, they got up and hugged their husband tightly, who, despite his stoic attempt, was close to letting the dam of tears flow freely.
"We will get Sera back, Blanc," Celine whispered, "She should be unharmed still."
"How can you be so sure?" Blanc wondered.
"She has political use," Celine replied.
Miyanna sighed, "And what does that mean?"
"They will not harm her if they can gain something from her presence, and at this moment, from what I can see, they plan to use Sera as a shield to defend themselves from the other Noble Bloods," explained Celine, "Meaning that as long as the situation stays the same in the Empire, your sister is most likely safe."
"Which means we have enough time to think about the steps ahead," Blanc muttered, "But it will take too long to get to the father-in-law's Domain like this."
"Not anymore," Celine replied, before kissing him, "I took care of that."