(Continuation of Leven's Story)Part I: https://ift.tt/2H33AJ5 II: https://ift.tt/37b5ke7 refurbished lodge was more like a slightly damaged estate, the work the caretakers must’ve done in the short time after the monster’s visit had to have been immense. The three boys came up the busy walkway to a yard of people with concerns, confessions, questions, and prayers. A girl around the boys’ age was doing her best to appease the crowd, offering snacks, drinks, and preliminary counsel.“What’s your name,” Kydele asked.“I’m Reeva Maton, of course, heiress to the east. That’s what they say. It’s not really true though. What’s your name?” Kydele quickly became bashful towards the charismatic girl. Her hair was also green, but darker than her fathers, tied in a ponytail. Her aqua summer dress was enchanted by a large white sash and silver chain necklace displaying an antique coin on her collarbone.“Kydele. This is Leven and Roland,” he pushed them forward.“Nice to make the acquaintance of each of you. Master mentioned three boys coming along, you know. Kydele, Leven, and Roland, right? If you’re looking for the master, he’s inside.” She moved along down the walkway. “Hey, I’m Reeva. Would you like some water? I have iced berry cakes too.”“She’s nice,” Roland and Kydele said together. Leven looked on ahead.“Hey, we’re basically working now, let’s just cut the line and go in,” he suggested.“Yeah, come on Roland.”They left the line’s path, cutting across the lawn and into an open side door of the main house. The inside was less crowded but still bustling with servants, occupants, and clients. The three of them searched the base floor of the estate. Beyond the foyer was the common room, filled with people eating and chatting while they waited. The kitchen was headed by a large older woman with long arms and long pale hair. Smells from the kitchen seemed to fill every room, different smells than the food they had been enjoying during the festive days prior. One side of the common room led them to a hall containing a large dining room and a larger ball room among some smaller rooms. There were other places in the estate, several of them blocked off and guarded. Eager to meet the kind man again, the boys hastily walked around the estate avoiding the gazes of working adults.“Why don’t we just ask someone where the master is,” Roland thought, looking between the sets of stairs on either side of the room. “What if he’s upstairs?”“What’s through there,” Leven pointed. The others followed him through a door leading to a green room, live with plants the boys had never seen. It was apparent the room had been damaged in the attack, tears in the clear screens had been repaired with temporary plastic.“Hey, Mr. Maton,” Roland relaxed.“Hey, boys. I am the head of the Maton family, but you may refer to me as Master Calsemn. This is my favorite spot in the entire town. This greenhouse is where I come to find peace. Tending to plants may seem like a boring hobby, but the possibilities of these incredible beings are endless. I suppose you want to know why I asked you to come along today. Like my father and his father before him, I take on disciples every now and then. I wish to guide you three along with my daughter, offering you the knowledge and wisdom that has been passed on to me, that one day I hope you will pass on to others. What do you say, boys?”“You’re talking about magic, aren’t you,” Kydele grinned.The master laughed. “Which branch of the tekhna tree do you descend from?”“Tekhna?” Kydele had never heard the word before.“Knowledge that will come in time, my boy.”“What kind of work will we be doing? We all live in the village through the forest down the south road,” Roland explained.Calsemn trimmed and watered his plants as he talked. “I see. We would be traveling from here to North Heaven and to the capital then back. You three will be working directly under me. I’m sure you all have your individual interests and specialties. While you serve as my assistants, I will be training you based on your own preferences. I will be needing you with me most of the time, and you will have to stop eating meat, at least for a while. So, if you have no prior obligations, I will make arrangements for you to stay with us indefinitely.”Leven and Kydele were brim with curiosity, Roland worried.“What do you mean we’ll have to stop eating meat? I’m not sure ma’ would want me away from home for so long. She barely let me come along with you guys to the festival and look how that turned out,” he said.“When are you scheduled to return to the village,” asked the master.“We’re leaving after this meeting. Diona insisted we leave because of the you know what,” Kydele answered.“Diona? Perhaps I could have a word with her?”“Yeah, I can bring her by!”The master smiled. “Wonderful. Bring her here, I’m sure I can work something out with her. My work is important, and I need youthful, fiery boys like yourselves to help me carry it out. Please, help yourselves to anything we have to offer here before you go.”Roland’s face finally perked up. “We’ll totally be back,” he said, pushing the others along. Roland did not hesitate to ask a servant if she had any fresh fruit for the road.They ran out of the house, down the lively lawn and the road. Diona was talking with her neighbors as the boys darted to her side. They all took turns explaining that she needed to go talk to Master Calsemn. They convinced her to go, but only if they helped her with her with her chores.The boys waited in the Maton’s common room while Calsemn and Diona talked. Before long, Reeva came in, finishing off a glass of water.“Hey, Reeva,” Kydele shouted.She ran up to him. “What is it? Did you find the master?”“You mean your father? He told us we’d be working with you.”“Yes, of course. I always call him ‘the master’ when I’m with strangers. I guess I won’t have to around you three if we’ll be traveling together. Have you guys been to the basement yet? That’s where my office is.”“No. Why do you have an office? Will we be getting offices too,” Roland asked.She giggled. “Well, It’s less like an office and more like my second room here, but I have cool stuff I’ve collected from traveling with my father. Come on, I’ll show you.” She grabbed Kydele’s hand and his face turned red. The others followed.As she approached, the guard of the residential area stepped aside, glaring at the kids as if they were up to no good. They ran down the hall to one of the last doors which contained a stone stairway. The stairs led them to a well-lit bunker whose walls were lined with shelves containing a variety of things from books and toys to glittering rocks and shells. There was a great, designer carpet under them, with couches, chairs, and cushions for seating all around the room. Each of the boys was drawn to something different.Leven flipped through a few of the books while Kydele played with her small sword collection and Roland dazzled at her pet fish.“I can’t believe they let you have these,” said Kydele.“Some of this stuff belonged to my older brother. He got sick while he was traveling and died a few months ago,” Reeva explained.“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that,” said Roland.“It’s okay. I didn’t take it as hard as my parents or grandparents at least. Hey, you guys ever played Role? It’s not too complicated, I can teach you.”“What’s Role,” Leven asked, putting the books he’d skimmed through away.“Wait, no. There’s something more important,” Roland sprang up. “Your dad mentioned something about meat.”“Yeah, its something to do with latent abilities, father says,” she answered. “His apprentices have always observed a vegetarian diet.”“What,” the boys asked together.“Kydele, Roland, Leven,” Diona called from upstairs.“Aw, who’s that calling you guys,” Reeva grieved.“It’s my cousin. We have to go. I like it down here,” Kydele smiled, leading the boys up the stairs.“Yeah, you have some really cool stuff,” Leven waved.“Thanks, Reeva,” said Roland.When they made it up the stairs and back to the common room, Diona smiled. “What do you guys think of this place? I’ve lived in Mattica all my life but have never been inside of the Maton’s estate. You three managed to do it your third day here.”“I love it here,” Kydele confessed. “The master wants us to work here, with him. But not just here, he wants us to travel with him too. Please, Diona, you have to help me convince mom and auntie Elena and the others.”“I don’t think it will take much convincing. The big guy back there gave me a bag of gold to divide among our families. It’s apparent the guy needs you boys badly. But he was vague when I asked him what you three would be doing exactly. What do you think, Leven, Roland?”Both of their faces were lit up.“I’m with Kydele. If the old guy’s got traveling in store for us, it’ll be worth our time,” Leven said.“Maybe if ma sees that gold she’ll understand too. The food is way better here than it is in Loca.”“Right, then. Don’t worry about your family, Roland. I’ll make a trip to Loca on your behalves. I haven’t seen my aunt and other cousins in some time now. I saw how much you boys enjoyed working yesterday. I got a bunch of little men on my hands now.” She hugged and kissed them as they fought against her. “You three have to promise me you’ll stay safe and watch each other’s backs like always. Don’t go causing trouble like you do back home, either. And if that monster rears its ugly head around here, you stay clear out of its path, you got that?”“Yes, of course, yes,” they all droned, each veiling their excitement.View Poll via /r/getbetareaders https://ift.tt/2SUR8xB
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