The interrogation was thorough.

Not only did we have to explain how we got in the castle, what we did, how we knew where to go etc... but also we had to reveal all we could about Nutusi. The others knew very little so it was left to my discretion. I didn't fear revealing her status as a priestess of Shinpilo, she knew it was bound to happen and her status as a senior priestess of the Temple should protect her.

The former lord took the time to have Shizu check our revelations, they had a list of Temple's members. The fact that a Shinpilo priestess knew how to get us in the castle annoyed him greatly, “Damned plotters, I only like them when they work for me,” he mumbled.

He then tried to learn as much as he could about us. Who we were, what our parents were doing, where we grew and when I taught them etc... My comrades didn't dare lie to him and I understand them, the man's eyes could strike fear at will. Whenever they were unsure they would turn at me to call for help and I would just incite them to keep telling the truth. Something was telling me that lying to this man was a bad idea, it wasn't a warning from Shinpilo but more a gut feeling, his eyes were wary and dead serious: this was somehow of prime importance to him.

Once he felt satisfied with our background and convinced that there was very little chance that we were hired assassins or other troublemakers, he finally satisfied his curiosity.

He had the kids read and write various texts in different tongues to test the limits of alphabet and had to admit that it was really good at transcribing even unknown tongues. The strength of phonetic, you don't need to understand what you are saying, you just need to recognise the sounds.

All of my students were able to more or less read aloud whatever he had another one write down, even when not understanding a single word.

After all this testing the day was already getting late and second evening bell rang nearby. Meaning we should have been home since long. But when I asked about a release:

“You are all staying in custody here for now.” declared the old lord. “I still want to discuss some things but I'm getting too tipsy for that now.” He did end up emptying more than three bottles during the course of our interrogation.

“Our parents will worry. Please let my friends go at least. I'm the only one who needs to be punished here.” I pleaded.

This didn't reach the old man's heart and he lectured me again. “I already told you that this was the risk when involving friends. My saying is final but I'll allow Shizu to send a message to your families.” He turned to her “Tell them they committed a crime against the Shieldlord and are under his custody for now.” He mercilessly decreed.

This was going to bring a lot of troubles for my friends, alongside a night full of worries for their parents.

Melodi was the one that got infuriated the most, she didn't want her daddy to be worried about her. “We didn't do anything wrong. We helped a friend because one of your friends was starving him and his family!” she objected while pointing an angry finger with her claws drawn out. Shizu pulled a dagger out of thin air, ready to stop the cat girl at the first sign of aggression. Seeing the threat Gel was the quickest to grab Melodi's arm to make sure she won't o anything she might regret.

This somehow reminded the old man of the purpose of our break-in: the troubles with Duarch.

“True. Well spoken little kitty.” He teased my friend. I had to pull her by my side to refrain her from leaping on the old man. “And courage and loyalty will be rewarded in due time. But they do not excuse everything,” he concluded with a more lenient tone. He then spoke to Shizu “Have them stay in the aquamarine servants courtyard. Light guard.” This probably meant something clear enough because his bodyguard was a bit surprised. She still bowed to accept his orders.

Without another word the old lord went back to sipping his drink while skimming through the stacks of paper on the desk.

Shizu guided us through the palace and to another courtyard still in the innermost part of the castle. We were assigned two small servants' bedrooms. Before Shizu vanished she appointed an armoured guard to look after us and one of the servants was tasked to see to our needs.

The servant was a young lady with twin braids and wearing an aquamarine robe with the lord's crest on it.

She only spoke to us if needed to, clearly keeping her distance once she saw that we were under custody and that a guard was assigned to us too.

We still managed to get some water to wash ourselves from the remaining stink of the kemcha and a light dinner made of bunta bread and some cheese-like brown paste.

We recounted our respective experiences while dining, keeping our voices low to not be overheard, although I doubt this would hinder a Chi enhanced guard to pry on our conversation.

Balout had the funniest one, he barged like a mad man in the kitchen and managed to eat a whole roasted lizard before the cooks finally reacted. He then barfed on them when they tried to restrain him, which caused a greater commotion.

Gel also did well and was treated more like a victim than a troublemaker. Duarch must have quite the number of enemies seeing how quickly Gel was able to attract the attention of many officials looking for ways to hinder the first blade.

Melodi was mostly in hiding the whole time. Only carefully advancing towards the stables. She got found by Shizu before she could cause troubles. She explained how she felt someone was watching for her even without seeing the female lord's aide. She had her fur stand on end and knew someone was looking for her. My best guess is that her other Beastkin's senses caught Shizu somehow, be it smell or movement of the air.

The guard finally ordered us to go to sleep, tired to have to listen to our stories. Gel had to sleep with an excited Melodi who was going to talk to her all night long while I would share a room with the serene Balout. I just hope he does not snore.

* * * * *

On the next morning, we saw many servants passing through our courtyard, going to fare to their occupations. The twin-tailed girl from yesterday came back to bring a platter of bunta and dried vegetables that were quite rubbery to chew on. We then had to wait without purpose.

I took the time to have us all do the gym routine we hadn't done all together since more than a year ago. After that Melodi and Gelcaria took a nap, their night was restless, while Balout asked me about geometry and we spent our time talking about mathematics. Without anything to write on it was somehow a limitation to what we could do, the paved ground couldn't even help drawing simple forms so the lesson got shortened. I was quite glad because he was asking me how to calculate Pi and I had no idea as to how this was to be done. I just learned a few decimals but never cared about how it was precisely calculated.

Shizu walked inside our courtyard a bit before noon. She was wearing the same light leather armour as yesterday. She looked less annoyed when meeting us than yesterday. “The elder lord is requesting your presence. All of you, follow me please.” Her tone wasn't friendly, just professional but it was still better than yesterday's defiance.

She led us to the same garden as yesterday. The fat old man was seated at the low table, already having a drink.

He smiled when we approached him “Oh, the fun can start again. Great, thanks Shizu.” he gestured for us to sit around the table. “ah. You'll be happy to know that the lord had a talk with first blade Duarch this morning.” That was faster than I expected. “Your family should be given their money back shortly and if he ever troubles you again just tell an official to pass on the message and we'll deal with it accordingly.” He tossed me a small metallic seal wearing the waves and horns symbol of his family. “Now that I took care of my end of the deal, time to talk about how you are going to pay me back.” He foxily added.

We didn't come to any agreement yesterday but I would wait to hear his request before complaining. Taking my silence for acceptance he followed up “I want you to teach your reading method to someone, starting today.” This was quite easier than I expected. “Your student is somewhat difficult to deal with,” he was looking a bit embarrassed, “Some even say she is a slow learner but I know she is smarter than they think.” he looked annoyed and waved his old fist at an invisible foe.

He took a sip of what looked like barok, his breath was already smelling of alcohol this early. “Anyway she won't be easy to deal with since she has quite the temper, it runs in her blood I think.”

I was now starting to feel that this was going to be more trouble than I thought at first “And who is it that I have to teach?” I carefully asked.

He looked a bit embarrassed, his green eyes were avoiding mine, nothing like yesterday's dominating aura he had. “It's my granddaughter. My little treasure, the second princess of the Shieldom. You'll have to call her my lady, princess or lady Moatimu thought.” This was quite unexpected but I had steeled myself as he was hinting that it was going to be someone important.

“Will she be fine with being taught by a kid?” I wondered.

He almost spat his beer out before heartily laughing. “That will prove complicated indeed but have fun trying to have her call you [teacher], I'll gladly watch.” he mocked me. “My little princess can be quite picky when it comes to her teachings but you'll see that soon enough. Just do your best to prove me that your writing can be taught to anyone.” he pointed at behind me with his bearded chin.

The princess and her guard were passing through the garden's gate.

I guessed she was the aforementioned princess because the girl had the eyes of her grandfather and the look of a royal.

She was beautiful. Not just cute like Gelcaria or Melodi can be. She was already showing the promises of becoming a beautiful woman.

Her face could only be the product of generations of selection. Her nose and chin were finely chiselled like a delicate porcelain statue. She was looking no older than ten yet she had the presence and poise that only absolute confidence in oneself can grant.

Her ink-black hair that was tied in two buns and adorned with two golden hairpins, was making a sharp contrast with her pale skin, yin and yang meeting on her head.

If her grandfather's eyes were the green of an ominous jungle, deep, dangerous, full of hidden dangers. Hers were the light green of a young sapling, full of growth, brimming with energy and shining with the clear green of a healthy leaf bud.

Seeing her walk hurriedly yet with restraint made me feel like she was a kettle, the lid of her poise hiding the burning energy in her, looking to be funnelled out through the steam jet that were her eyes.

She was wearing a strange mixed attire both practical and ostentatious. A dusk red-orange silk martial robe split on the side with a light golden scale armour on the top half covering her chest and shoulders.

Even the neophyte that I was could tell that those weren't mundane scales, there was something unsettling about how her outfit was supple and tight-fitting.

There were two silvery sais strapped in the large green silk belt tied around her hips, needle-like daggers with curved side-prongs, every rose has its thorns.

Her pace was quick yet her back was straight and her movements were seamless, the hurriedness not altering her aura of mastery. She passed beside me without sparing a look at me, not even to look down at me with scorn; the contempt was somewhat even harsher.

She stood in front of her grandfather with her arms crossed in front of her and a scowl: “What was so urgent that I had to interrupt my training grandfather? You know how important my morning training sessions are to me.” She was complaining at the elder but still with enough respect in her voice. Her words were harsh but she showed some restraint in front of the former lord.

The old man laughed. “I was eager to see my lovely little princess of course.” he teased her with a smile while pointing at a cushion next to him.

The princess didn't respond to the invitation and instead chose to keep standing. “Of course that is a heart-warming reason. But couldn't that have waited for after my training?” She was pouting cutely acting more like a child her age for an instant.

The old lord laughed “You're right. I also have an ulterior motive. I found a new tutor for you. An exceptional one, blessed by Shinpilo himself. I'm sure he'll be able to teach you a lot with his unique technique. And this time you'll learn the art of writing once and for all.” I could sense some irony in his statement.

The girl was displeased, her nose frowning in discontentment and she even slightly blushed in shame, her pale cheeks turning to a slight pinkish complexion “Not again, please. I don't want to spend my time in dusty books with old men again. You scholars all smell mouldy and of dust.” Well, she should have come yesterday: I was smelling of alcohol and rotten fish that would have been quite the new experience.

She kept complaining with annoyance while shaking her two tiny fists: “I'm not that kind of princess, you know it well. I'm not like elder sister, I'm a fighter.” She proclaimed with defiance, resting her hands on her sais to emphasize her point. The two silvery needles were her weapons of choice.

The old man sighed in lassitude before downing another cup of beer, this obviously wasn't his first time arguing on the matter with her: “Even the strongest fighter can learn much from books. I was taught this lesson too late. I don't want you to make the same mistakes I did. Won't you please give this tutor a chance? For me? For your old, venerable, loved grandpa'?” He was begging her with puppy eyes. Although those puppy eyes were still full of authority and power, not the kind of pleading eyes anyone could ignore.

The precious lady pondered for a minute, probably looking for a way to dismiss the demand without making an issue out of it. She must have given up on the prospect as she relented: “Fine. But only for this afternoon. Blessed or not, if his teachings aren't up to par I'll just ditch him out and you'll owe me a gift.” She was trying to make the best out of this unavoidable task.

The old man found this to be a satisfying outcome. He raised a hand to pat her two ink-black buns. She tried to evade the attempt with some quick as lightening footsteps but the man was a trained veteran and before I could see him move he was standing beside her, his hand patting her precious head anyway. She smiled but a bit bitterly as she had to acknowledge the man's strength. “So, where is this famous teacher? I would like to end this as quickly as possible.” she haughtily said.

The old lord laughed once more before pointing at me: “Perfect. He was right here from the beginning.”

The beautiful princess finally deigned to take a look at me when her green eyes followed the direction her grandfather was pointing at.

She was at least dumbstruck enough to not react with contempt immediately. After shaking herself out of her daze she even looked behind me to make sure she wasn't mistaken. “Are you drunk?” She asked her elder with an eyebrow raised in suspicion, “Is this another prank of yours?”

This made the old man laugh even more. “Yes, I am a bit tipsy,” he shamelessly confessed “We are having a nice afternoon in the garden and my precious princess is visiting me, so of course I celebrated with a drink.” To make sure everyone got his point he emptied another cup of barok before clapping his tongue in satisfaction in a very un-noble-like manner.

“I'm sorry grandfather I don't have time for your jokes right now. I'll take my leave then.” Despite the harsh tone she still bowed slightly before turning to leave. But before she could walk a step further the old lord's emerald eyes flashed with an eerie green light and she froze mid step.

“My dear Momo. This is no joke though. The kid is a genius blessed by Shinpilo. It would please me greatly if you gave him a chance.” Whatever power he was exerting completely restrained her and his voice was carrying a subtle threat coated under the affectionate overall tone.

The strange aura in his eyes dissipated and the princess regained mastery on her body again and she stumbled as she lost her balance for a second.

There was respect and a hint of fear in her own leafy green eyes. “Fine. Of course venerable grandfather,” She meekly accepted, “But he is just a kid. And he only looks like a free citizen.” she complained in disbelief while frowning her cute nose. I was quite sure I wasn't smelly but it could be that my olfactive receptors got burnt for good yesterday.

“He is just a commoner in fact.” stated the lord. She was left speechless.“But it doesn't matter much. You'll stay here this afternoon and listen to his teachings.” He then turned at me: “Treat her well, I will not tolerate any misbehaviour from any of you.” The warning was for both me and her, but also extended to my friends and her bodyguards for sure. “There is paper and pens in the left drawer of my desk. You are allowed to use it at your own convenience, teacher.” He insisted on this last word to make it clear for his granddaughter that this wasn't to be taken lightly. “I'll be taking a stroll near the west gate and will come back later. I expect for great progress.” He left us on this last wish that sounded like a threat aimed at me.

When my eyes met the jade stare of the princess we had a mutual understanding for a second, she was also under threat here.