“You’re the asshole that brought me here?” Grace demanded stepping back down quickly from the stairs towards Max and Lelu. The suit of armor walked down the steps with clacking plates before kneeling down before Max and the girls, the helmet turning to face each one while Max held Lelu and Grace back behind him.
“Are you shielding them from me?” VelRyan questioned. His only answer was Max watching him carefully with the two girls sticking close behind him. “It seems you are. It must be true then, these two fine young ladies are your friends, aren’t they?”
“Who are you?” Max asked. “Why are we here?”
“I’m the master of this particular establishment,” the man declared with a graceful bow. “My name is VelRyan Avelrian. And you three are here for reasons unknown it seems.”
“Reasons unknown?” Lelu repeated.
“Yes. I’m actually speaking with the two who brought you here to my estate and was hoping you would be so kind as to join us so we can figure out this mystery together. How does that sound?”
“What do you mean you’re speaking with the two that brought us here?” Grace asked. “You’re standing here in front of us right now.”
The man laughed before removing the helmet, showing that the suit of armor was actually empty. Max and the girls jumped back in surprise as the headless armor stood up and chuckled amusedly while holding the helmet under its arm.
“Why can’t I do both?” he jested. “At any rate I sent down this little trinket to fetch you as it seemed you were having trouble finding your way. Did my trusted companion lead you astray? My dear, was there a problem with escorting them to me? It’s not like you to get lost here.”
“N-N-No!” Syliandanchevas quickly stuttered in a panic. “T-T-There was n-no p-p-problem! We- we- we were m-m-making good t-t-t-time coming h-here, b-b-but I’m af-f-fraid that-”
“Syliandanchevas,” VelRyan kindly said. “Please calm yourself. There’s no cause for alarm or any reason to panic right now. Take a slow breath and speak at a pace that suits you.”
The fey took a few deep breaths while fanning herself then nodded with a weak smile at the armor.
“I’m sorry, Master-”
“It’s just VelRyan,” the man sighed. “Please, don’t call me master. Call me VelRyan.”
“R-Right, of course,” the fey replied with a few nods. “Anyway, um, we were on our way up to see you, uh, and we came to the stairs and, well, I’m afraid our young centaur friend here isn’t able to proceed. It seems she isn’t able to climb stairs so this is where we stopped, and now you’re here, um, and, uh, well, we, oh dear. I’m sorry to have kept you waiting, uh, yes. I am.”
The suit of armor faced her for a moment then turned to the children.
“She just avoided saying my name entirely, didn’t she?”
“I’m sorry!” Syliandanchevas squeaked out as she started shaking.
“Haha, I’m only joking around with you,” VelRyan laughed before the suit put on the helmet. “Now then, we really do need to get this whole situation sorted out. I do have plenty of other matters to attend to still. If you children would be so kind as to accompany me to the observatory we can get this whole thing rolling.”
“We can’t,” Max argued shaking his head. “Lelu can’t climb stairs, she’s a centaur. And I’m not leaving her down here alone.”
“I gathered as much, which is why I’m here to help,” VelRyan humbly spoke.
“What are you going to do? Carry her?” Grace mocked.
“Yes.”
“What?” the children exclaimed.
“There may not be a man inside this suit of armor but I assure you it’s quite strong,” VelRyan answered while having the empty suit flex its arms dramatically.
“I really don’t think I want-” Lelu started to say before she was lifted up into the suit’s arms with a loud yelp. The steel armor held the young centaur under her legs which curled up near her body out of fright, the girl shaking slightly with a terrified expression while staring straight ahead.
“Max? Help,” she squeaked out.
“What are you doing?” Max yelled. “Put her down!”
“It’s quite alright, I assure you,” VelRyan laughed as the suit began walking up the stairs. “Don’t worry, young miss. You’re as light as a feather being carried by this enchanted armor.”
“That’s not what I’m concerned about!” Lelu cried out shaking her arms around. “Put me down, put me down! Max! Help!”
“Stop it, you’re scaring her!” Max shouted as he and Grace ran after the suit.
“Not to worry, we’ll be upstairs in no time,” VelRyan proudly stated.
“I’m already worried!” Lelu sobbed. “I’m scared! Max! Help me!”
Syliandanchevas smiled amusedly and shook her head as she watched the laughing suit carrying Lelu up the stairs with Max and Grace following close behind.
“You always were great with children, Master VelRyan,” she gently praised before calmly walking up after them.
Lelu covered her face and cried loudly as she felt the suit of armor carrying her up to a place unknown. She heard the echoing laughter of VelRyan, the shouting of Max and Grace, and the clacking of each step the armor took up the stairs. After a while everything around her stopped, with the centaur slowly peeking between her fingers to see the helmet facing her and tilting slightly.
“You’re perfectly safe, miss,” he gently spoke. “I promise you’ll come under no harm while in my home. And welcome, to my observatory.”
Setting the young centaur down Lelu lowered her hands and looked around in awe with Max and Grace standing beside her. At the top of the grand court within the estate was the master’s observatory, the rounded hall having numerous tables and benches set about with tomes aplenty scattered atop them, various parchments and scrolls, several crystal orbs and shiny gemstones that glittered in the light, and many lamps with pure white flames burning steadily hung around the walls. Stein glass windows showed some moonlight coming through while others had only darkness seen in their artistic designs. A second floor was set above and around the main level, reachable by two ramps on opposite ends of the room and having bookshelves lining most of the walls. To the left was an archway with fine blue curtains that allowed a glimpse of the night sky behind them. The right side of the hall had a finely crafted wooden door with the image being a split design of the sun covering the left half and the moon being on the right. Looking up the children were even more awestruck at seeing the dome ceiling having what at first looked to be curved windows to see the sky above, however what was seen instead were stars and floating cosmic clouds that slowly drifted by as if the heavens themselves were right outside.
“What is this place?” Grace asked.
“My observatory,” a man spoke up. The children turned to see the master in person walking up to them. He wore black boots with white straps at the top, dark blue leggings, an auburn sweater with a black belt around his waist, red shoulder covers with white embroidery edgings, and a black cape that flowed behind him with dark blue lining the edges. A gold ring was worn on the fourth finger of his left hand while silver bands with blue gemstones were worn on both middle fingers. Around his neck a silver necklace was worn that sported a round brass locket that dangled over some noticeable muscle he had on his build. His brown hair was mostly combed and went down to his neck to meet with the very light beard he had on his face, while his blue eyes watched the children stare at him in silence as he calmly approached them and the fey who finished climbing the stairs behind them.
“I thought that was stated a few times now,” he mentioned rubbing the back of his head with an amused smile. “Anyway, it’s a pleasure to meet you all in person.”
With a wave of his hand the suit of armor behind the kids saluted him before walking off to the side where it stood near the wall and resumed its position of standing at attention.
“You’re VelRyan?” Max asked.
“The one and
only,” the man replied with a graceful bow. “Nice to make your acquaintance, Max, Lelu, and Grace.”
“You know our names?” Lelu worried. “How did you know that?”
“I’ve been listening to you since you woke up. Couldn’t help but overhear your names in the process. Sorry to take away your chance at introducing yourselves to me, hope you don’t mind.”
“Who… what… where…” Max bewilderedly said looking around at the hall then back to the man. VelRyan chuckled and walked past while waving them to follow. He led his guests over to where a few chairs were set with a round table that had a large glass square within it. Sitting down on her legs at the table Bermuda had her head hung low while standing on the bench at the spot next to her Vale was gazing up at the stars in the ceiling. The two girls noticed VelRyan approaching, with Vale quickly bowing in respect to him while Bermuda hastily skittered over to the man and hugged him, burying her face in his chest while whimpering nervously.
“I’m so sorry, father!” she whined hopping up and down. “I didn’t mean to make such a horrible mess of things! I really tried to complete my mission, I really did!”
“Father?” Max, Lelu, and Grace exclaimed as VelRyan tenderly held the young arachne with a gentle smile.
“Now, now,” he said brushing her hair. “I already told you I’m not faulting you for this. There was a mix-up and you misunderstood what you were out there for, yes?”
Bermuda nodded while keeping her face buried in his shirt.
“The important thing is you’re safe. C’mon, let me see those eyes and smile of yours again.”
The arachne slowly peeked up at him with her two top eyes, with VelRyan chuckling and brushing her hair before she looked up at him with all eyes blinking a few times. Ever so slowly a smile started to come across her face, her hands tenderly holding his as he appeared to admire his daughter, something that prompted a certain reaction from a certain someone.
“What the fuck?” Grace shouted out. “This guy’s your dad? Your daughter is an arachne?”
“Yes,” VelRyan calmly admitted with a smile at them. “This is my daughter, Bermuda.”
“She’s… but you’re… how…” Max again bewilderedly stuttered.
“I understand your trepidation towards arachne,” VelRyan solemnly said while holding his daughter, the girl again burying her face in his shirt while a few of her legs skittered a bit. “I know they’re commonly malicious and dangerous monsters in the world, and I know they’ve caused your people much harm in the past.”
“They ate my fellow sisters!” Lelu cried out as she hid behind Max. “They killed both mothers and children without any shred of a soul!”
“They helped take over my home with other fucking bitches!” Grace yelled in anger. “They’re all fucking demons! She’s a goddamn abomination!”
“Enough!” VelRyan announced, with the children falling silent as he slowly shook his head. “As I said, I understand your hatred towards them. But I assure you they are not all evil. There are some that do not follow the wicked ways of their sisters and instead walk a separate path in life. You’re free to reserve judgement on them however you wish, but while in my home you will treat my daughter with respect. She is nothing like the ones you’ve seen and heard about and does not deserve your resentment or ridicule.”
“Bermuda is an angel,” Syliandanchevas agreed. “She and her mother have been nothing but good souls to walk this world ever since I met them. She’s not dangerous, I promise.”
“Her mother?” Grace repeated. “There’s another fucking arachne whore here?”
Again a streak of blue light streaked through the air before stopping right before her face to reveal Vale again having drawn her unique blade towards the elf with a stern glare.
“Don’t you dare speak about Lylyian like that!” Vale shouted. “Nobody says such harsh words about her, you hear me?”
Grace stepped back with her hands held up at her sides, a nervous glance being made to the knife then the pixie who had small cubes of blue light flickering around her in the air.
“Take it back,” Vale growled. “Take back what you said right now.”
“Not after what those monsters did to my people,” Grace retorted. “Every arachne I’ve ever seen has only tormented and treated us like dirt. Those monsters helped throw my beautiful home into hell itself, and not a single one ever showed the slightest fucking remorse for doing so. Every one of those things needs to die!”
Vale growled heavily through bared teeth before VelRyan snapped his fingers. The pixie glanced back to see him shaking his head then slowly sheathed her blade while floating back towards him. VelRyan held in his sigh then nodded at Grace while stepping closer to her.
“As I’ve said, I understand your hatred towards them. I really do. There are good arachne in the world, but sadly they are few and far between. Your anger towards arachne is understandably justified. Even so, please do not take the name of my wife in such harsh tones while in my home.”
“Your… wife?” Grace repeated. VelRyan knelt down before the girl and lifted his hand to show the gold ring on his finger. The elf stared at it in disbelief then him while he slowly nodded.
“If it will put your fears at ease, you should know she’s not with us anymore,” VelRyan explained. “She passed away quite some time ago. However her spirit still lives here and with me, always. All the good that she had was passed down to Bermuda, my beautiful daughter that I love and raise to be a wonderful woman in this world just like her mother was.”
Grace opened her mouth to speak before VelRyan held a finger to her lips, silencing the elf who froze from the touch.
“You are more than free to curse the arachne that hurt your people and caused you such fear for them. That’s understandable and something I cannot protest. However, my wife and daughter are nothing like them. They never have been, and never will be. So I’m asking you kindly, please don’t curse their names, at least not in front of me in our own home.”
Grace remained silent as VelRyan stood up and walked back over to his daughter. Bermuda held his hand while resting her head against his side, the man gently brushing her hair while Vale and Syliandanchevas smiled kindly at them.
“You really loved an arachne?” Max wondered. Everyone turned to him as he showed a cautious look at the man.
“I still do,” VelRyan answered. “I’m never going to stop loving my daughter, and of course I will always love Lylyian. That’s why I wear this ring still. My heart was and always will be hers.”
Syliandanchevas slowly nodded and lowered her head, holding her hands together before her with a remorseful smile to that.
“You don’t have to understand,” VelRyan continued shaking his head. “You don’t have to accept that I care for them if you don’t want to. I know hearing such things would cause most people to think I had gone mad. After all…”
He turned to smile knowingly at the boy, glancing to Lelu at his side then back to Max while cocking his head slightly.
“It’s very uncommon in this world to see a human caring for a monster, right?”
Max jumped a bit and turned to Lelu, seeing the centaur watching him curiously now, then back to VelRyan while failing to form a response. The man chuckled and held a hand to his chin while observing the boy closely.
“You surprised me, Max,” VelRyan said walking closer to him. “Downstairs you not only shielded these two girls behind you but you looked ready to fight me if pressed further. You protected a centaur and an elf, despite you being from a family of monster hunters, and were ready to fight a fully armored opponent all to keep them safe.”
All eyes turned to Max as he remained quiet, the boy lowering his head in thought while Lelu and Grace were watching him attentively. Max questioned what had come over him earlier then noticed VelRyan resting a hand on his shoulder.
“Good man,” VelRyan commended with a pat on the boy. “That’s exactly how I would have acted in your situation as we
ll.”
“It is?” Max asked.
“Of course. Protecting a fine young lady from danger is a gentleman’s duty,” VelRyan agreed with a wink. He walked around the table while casually running his fingers along it then pulled out a chair and tapped on the bench’s glass a few times.
“I believe that’s enough introductions for the time being. We’ll have plenty of time for getting to know one another later, but for now how about we get to the bottom of the mystery as to what the heck happened tonight?”
He sat down at the table with Bermuda quickly skittering over to remain by his side. Vale hovered down to her spot at the table and merely stood upon it without moving the chair behind her. Syliandanchevas sat down next to VelRyan and lowered her head with a timid smile and hands held in her lap. The man motioned for Max and his friends to sit, with Lelu and Grace exchanging curious looks before watching Max for his decision. After a while to think Max came over to the table and sat down across from VelRyan, with Lelu quickly trotting over to stand at his side while Grace hopped onto the chair next to him.
“Now then,” VelRyan said leaning back with an amused smile. “Who wants to go first and tell the tale?”
“I’ll do it!” Vale announced holding her hand up. She hovered over to the middle of the table while showing a serious expression to those around her. “Okay, so this is how it all happened.”
*****
Inside the cottage at Trixton Pass the evening sunlight rays made their way through the windows of the shop area. Standing behind the counter Lelu, Max, and Grace were smiling happily at their two newest customers who had casually come in through the front door without causing any trouble or showing the faintest sign of intent to cause mischief.
“Good day,” Vale said, having a wobbly mustache loosely secured to her upper lip that matched the same one Bermuda had on at her side. “We are two casual and completely harmless travelers. We’ve come here for-”
“Why are we wearing fake mustaches?” Bermuda asked. “That makes no sense.”
“Shh!” Vale shushed her. “Who’s telling the story here? Besides, we totally had those amazing disguises on so as not to raise suspicion with everyone there. We were all sneaky like, like pros!”
Chronicles of Eden - Act XI Page 22