《The Rise Of A Matriarch》Trash management
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--------///----Reina's POV----\--------
The kids didn't move much and just laid down around me. My basilisk curled around my waist and laid his head on my lap while the other two were by my legs. They didn't really have much opprotunity to do anything, considering Eclina was more then capable of doing everything by herself, so they must've felt bad. Though i couldn't blame them, even i felt bad at having Eclina do everything. The best thing for them, for the time being was to wait till our next quest, or actual fight so they could show what they could do then. They were still growing so they had their chances to get stronger.
After a bit of relaxing in the office, Ava came back with some candy the kitchen staff gave her and shared it with me. She didn't seem worried over the kids and let them climb her arms or coil around her waist. The kids enjoyed it since she wasn't being aprehensive with them anymore and let them play as much as they wanted. She indulged them and took some time to pet them as much as they wanted, and after a bit more, i was about to head out and look for Mina. My basilisk stayed with me so it was just going to be the two of us for a bit. He even seemed to like it since he started to rub his head against my hand.
(Reina) " Try not to scare too many people, ok? "
He bobbed his head up and down and that was all i needed. I opened the door and started to make my way out of the mansion. I ended up passing by a bunch of the staff, who waved at me with smiles on their faces, and then made it out. I passed by Eclina and Espiral and saw them sleeping seemingly without a care in the world, and kept going, but silently so i wouldn't wake them. I felt my kid shake a bit, which made me feel bad for him since it was probably like staring at a dragon up close, though i couldn't change anything about it so i just quickened my pace so he wouldn't be scared for too long.
After leaving the mansion, i thought about where i should go for now, and decided to check the guild hall. Withe what we did earlier, it wouldn't be surprising if they knew where Mina went. And that's what i needed. Though, i did get some skewers for my kid while we were going there. Some people would look over to me and i could see them either, happy or a little worried. The happy faces were probably for what we did to the lord, the worried ones were probably for seeing a basilisk around my waist. There were still some people worried about them.
It didn't bother us since we were used to those worried looks however, they left me with a bitter taste in my mouth when i was reminded of how Eclina and Espiral took them. I could tell Eclina didn't mind and was solely looking at how Espiral was taking them. It was nice to see that side of her, it really felt like seeing a sister taking care of a little brother. But then that made me curious about how that happened in the first place. He wasn't with Eclina and her family when we first met so it must've happened in the forest. But i didn't exactly know how to bring the topic up.
(Reina) " Guess i'll just have to wait till Endis brings it up. "
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After i said that, my kid just tilted his head at me since i did just say that out of nowhere. Our kids couldn't read our minds so it was normal he wouldn't know what i meant by that. I just smiled at him and scratched under his chin.
(Reina) " Don't worry about it. "
He just let out a few soft hisses and rested his head against my body, essentially turning into a belt. Unless someone looked closer of course. I smiled at him and just kept going. After another twenty or so minutes, i made it to the guild. I opened the door and started heading towards the main desk. There was a line so i just waited, though when i came in the guild members had started to get a little quieter, which made those in line turn to look at the reason. The people in front of me ended up seeing me and started to move a bit out of the way.
(Reina) " It's fine, i can wait. You don't have to move for me. "
A few people tried to talk me into going ahead, though i kept denying them since i didn't want to get used to that kind of treatment. If i did, i would end up expecting it, and if i ended up expecting that kind of treatment, i might end up being a pretentious ass. The members trying to persuade me, seeing that i wouldn't budge, stopped and went back in line. After another five minutes of waiting, i was at the front since in the first place, the line was short. The attendant recognized me so that would help shorten things.
(Guild attendant) " How may i help you? "
(Reina) " I'd like to know where Mina went. "
The attendant nodded and gestured for someone to come over. The person seemed to be one of the lords guards from the plaza, and told me that Mina went to the guards quarters. Probably to talk with the head guard about something, which saved me some time of having to check over there to make sure Endis didn't make a mess.
(Reina) " Thank you. "
(Guild Attendant) " Excuse me! Ms Kurusu, there's a message here for you. "
(Reina) " Huh? "
I wasn't expecting a message so hearing that i had one was a surprise. The attendant went over to a different area and then came back with a small box containing the message crystal.
(Reina) " Who's it from? "
(Guild attendant) " ... The empress. "
If it wasn't for the fact i had a good grip on the box, i would've dropped it! There was no reason i could come up with for auntie Ulderria to send me a message out of nowhere.
(Reina) " Wait, how'd she know i'm here? "
(Guild attendant) " This message was sent to every guild... So, she does not know where you are exactly. Now that it has been recieved, the other guilds can clear the message crystals they have reserved for you. "
(Reina) " Cause that makes it better... Anyway, thank you for your service. "
I took the box and put it in my satchel, not thinking about whatever stressful event that would make auntie send a message to every guild on the continent. It wasn't something i could look at on my own so i needed to wait till we were all together before looking at it. I shook my head and tried to put the message at the back of my mind as i kept going towards the guard captains post. Though, i'd be lying if i said i wasn't curious about the contents of the message.
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I wasn't paying that much attention to everyone else, only thinking about getting to Mina and then looking at the message in a safe place. I didn't even notice that i ended up where i wanted to be, until a guard called out to me. The guard recognized me so the process went by smoothly. I found out that Mina was still talking to the head guard so i just asked to be brought there. The guard was an easy going guy so he helped take my mind off of the message. Then we made it to the head guards office.
I could hear some talking and i recognized Mina's voice, though there was another voice aside from the guard captain coming from the office. I couldn't make out who that voice belonged too so it was probably from someone i hadn't met. I looked over to the guard that was with me, and looked for an answer.
(Guard) " Not sure. The captain told us that someone important was coming. We were told not to bother him unless it was for something important. Though, he didn't say much aside from that. "
I nodded at that, since it's not exactly normal for a low ranking person to always have the answer. I knocked on the door and waited for an answer.
(Head guard) " I thought i said i was not to be bothered? "
(Reina) " I'm here for something important, so i'm pretty sure it counts. "
(Mina) " Rei? "
After hearing Mina, she came and opened the door. I saw the head guard with a confused look on his face while Mina just raised a brow at me. She dragged me in and closed the door.
(Mina) " Did something happen Rei? "
(Reina) " Yeah, though... Who's that? "
I already knew the head guard, it was just the stranger that i was curious about. He seemed to be wearing a guards uniform, except his armor looked sturdier and a bit more heavier then the normal guards. He had a greatsword on his back and no helmet, which let me see his brown eyes and brown hair. Considering all of that, i already had a sneaking suspicion about who this stranger was. I only needed Mina to confirm it. Though the headguard did it for her.
(Head guard) " Hey, Yori introduce yourself. "
Yup. Though i didn't see the medallion so he either didn't have it with him, or it was underneath the armor. I was betting on the latter though i'd probably be annoyed if it was the former. Though, now was a good time to figure out if i could get a reaction out of him. He turned to me and started to introduce himself.
(Yori) " As you've heard, my name i- "
(Reina) " You wouldn't happen to have a small golden medallion with a gold eagle on it, would you? "
He flinched at that, either because i interrupted him during his introduction or because i mentioned the medallion. Though it was starting to look like the latter since he looked towards his chest for a split second. That split second confirmed that he had it on him! Though how was i going to get it from him?
(Head guard) " Any reason for that question? "
It looked like he didn't mind my interruption, he seemed more interested in why i asked about it. I could even see Mina interested, since she didn't know about the stuff that happened at the mansion.
(Reina) " People that have those are "close associates" of the lord. And we just took out a garden of lusteria blossoms he just happened to be growing. "
Mina and the head guard both turned to look at Yori, who seemed to be sweating like a pig.
(Yori) " C-come on cap, you know i wou- "
(Head guard) " You've showed me the medallion before. You said it was from your woman, at the time i didn't think much since we were drunk... However, if what we just heard was true... "
(Yori) " How can you believe people you've just met! We've worked together for years cap! Yo- "
(Head guard) " Yori. Take out the medallion. If they're wrong i'll kick them out myself and spread how the Moonlit Wolves are a disgrace. But if you keep making an issue of this instead of simply taking out the medallion... "
The head guard was focusing on Yori, who seemed to realize that he was screwed, and kept pressuring him. Yori kept looking between the head guard and us, and started to grit his teeth. The ground we were standing on suddenly shifted, almost knocking us off balance, almost. The head guard was the first to react, since he was already the closest, and reached out and grabbed Yori before he could move. Yori then tried to shift the ground so he could fall through, but i stomped and offset his use of earth with mine. Seeing his first two attempts fail, he essentially gave up and stopped trying.
The head guard sat Yori down and looked over to me, since i brought the situation up in the first place, and gestured for me to explain more. I didn't have any issue with that so i went over to a seat and told him about what we heard from the butler. It didn't take long, and the head guard just started to rub his chin.
(Head guard) " ... I think i've heard about that before... However, i never knew the context of the situation. "
After saying that, he looked back at Yori, who looked away from him, but he couldn't avoid him forever.
(Head guard) " This'll be a matter above my pay grade so i'll leave it to the other officials. "
(Mina) " If you don't need us then we can get out of your hair. "
(Head guard) " That'll be appreciated. I'll send any information your ways later. "
And with that, we left. There wasn't much else to do there so me and Mina just started making our way back to the mansion.
(Reina) " So, what's the deal for the lord? "
(Mina) " Willful negligence, reckless endangerment and some other legal issues that'll bury him. The local officials will handle who the estate is going to fall too. Hopefully the estate ends up in good hands. "
(Reina) " Couldn't you put a good word in for someone? "
(Mina) " Rei... We don't know anyone here. Who am i going to put in the good word for? "
(Reina) " Ah... "
(Mina) " Exactly. "
Hearing her say that did make me feel a bit stupid. We really didn't know any of the officials or if they were clean or not. So saying that helped me realize it. We were just going to have to leave it to the locals.
(Reina) " Anyway... I got a message... From anut Ulderria. "
After i said that, Mina stopped in her tracks and just turned to me. I could tell that she wanted me to repeat myself in case she heard wrong, so i did. And then she still gave me the look to repeat myself. I shook my head and just took out the box that held the message crystal. Mina looked at it and didn't say anything else, i could tell she was waiting for us all to be together so we could hear it. So i put it back in my satchel and walked with Mina back to the mansion. We would have to wait for a bit to figure out what it was. Though, i felt like i was forgetting about something.
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