by Hickory Mack
“How did your first lesson go?” Mai asked, her hands clasped behind her back.
“It was good, actually. I’ve never had a one-on-one class before, I think I like it,” Chiori said. Their next class was among the classrooms on the other side of the garden. Chiori touched the barrier to let Mai through. They stopped to make sure the chicks had food and water and played with them a bit.
“Moscow for your next class, you’re so lucky! I’ve never worked with him personally, but I hear he’s got a lot of real-world knowledge to back up all the books he reads. I get to be there with you!” Mai said, the excitement creeping into her voice. Chiori smiled.
“You’re into him?” she asked, teasing slightly.
“Well, yeah. He’s crazy strong, and one of the oldest creatures here!”
Mai said. “Not to mention he’s smoking freaking hot.”
“Lord Makkai said he was young,” Chiori questioned. He certainly hadn’t looked any older than Nakia.
“Young for his kind, maybe,” Mai made a face.
“Cute,” Chiori teased, putting her chicks back inside the coop, noticing waxy tips on the edge of the wings of one. She pointed it out to Mai.
“Don’t worry, that’s totally normal. She’ll get her first baby feathers on her wings to replace the fuzz. They’ll all have it soon, wee babies,” Mai assured her. They crossed the gardens, taking their time to enjoy the breeze and sunshine. When they got to the other end, Chiori had to let Mai through the barrier again. They pondered why the barrier wouldn’t let her out when they’d both thought the barrier would only stop her from going in.
They chatted about it until they came to the room reserved for Moscow’s classes. His classroom door was left wide open, and he was already inside. The girls stopped at the door, hesitating to enter, Chiori was in awe of him. Moscow had wings. Wings so huge they dwarfed Mai’s. Instead of snowy white they were a deep, sooty gray. He turned to see the girls outside, his one red eye was glowing, and he had horns, the same color as his wings, twisted into a loop. He folded his wings neatly behind him, an impatient look on his face.
“Are you planning to come in, or are you going to gawk at me all day?” he asked. Mai gave a little squeak and Chiori dipped her head in apology.
“I’m sorry, Sensei,” she said, entering with Mai glued to her side, hanging on to her elbow. The classroom also had a desk but no other chairs though there were cushions on the floor and shelves filled with books and art supplies. There were two easels with paintings on them set up. Moscow’s gaze landed on Mai and he nodded in approval.
Chiori sat at the desk nervously, Moscow was every bit as cute as she remembered, but also kind of scary. Mai moved a cushion to the doorway where she sat in the sunlight, her hands in her lap.
“What sort of powers do you think Mai here has?” Moscow asked, taking Chiori aback. She fumbled with her words for a moment before admitting defeat.
“Honestly? Other than her ability to hide her wings, I’ve no idea,” she said. He nodded, curling his lip slightly.
“Well, that’s one point on your side, the willingness to be humble and admit when you don’t know something. Mai, if you don’t mind, come here, please,” Moscow said and Mai hurried to do as she was asked. “Do you know what species she is?”
“Yes, Mai, you told me you were a swan, right?” Chiori asked, earning her a frown.
“You do not trust your own memory?” he asked and Chiori had no answer for him. Mai gave her an apologetic look. “Mai is exactly that. What do you think that means?”
Chiori thought about it, thinking of her wings. Of the knowledge that swans raised their young in water.
“Is um, is water magic a thing? Maybe Mai can use water magic?” she asked, feeling kind of attacked. Moscow’s eyebrows scrunched together.
“It means, she has instincts similar to that of a swan. Her kind are generally shallow and vain creatures, attracted to beautiful people and objects, which happens to make a lot of them talented in a wide variety of arts. Mai’s kind are also fiercely protective and are prone to attack ruthlessly when those they care about are in jeopardy. Swans are territorial and will fight other bird types that may pose a threat, there are no geese in this household, for that reason,” he said, and Chiori scrambled in her desk for a pencil and paper, feeling like she should be taking notes.
“When there is nothing to protect, swans are typically graceful and serene, often they are very kindly. They are omnivorous, they’ll hunt and eat insect types, but typically stick to plants,” Moscow continued and Mai shifted uncomfortably. “Why do you think I am telling you all of these things?”
“To make it obvious how lacking my education has been?” she countered, tilting her chin up at him. Moscow paused, the corner of his mouth crinkling slightly.
“The reason I am telling you all this, is that until you have control of your magic, your best defense against an attack,” he stepped forward and lightly touched her forehead with one finger, “is your knowledge. If you do not know the most basic information, any demon, anywhere, can take you out effortlessly. Even one as placid as Mai.”
“Okay, message received,” Chiori said, leaning away from his finger.
“You were not wrong about what type of elemental power she is likely to have, that was good reasoning. Swans are more varied than many other species, they can typically have three variants of power. Water is one. I want you to figure out the other two by the end of class today. Another thing you noticed is the ability to hide her wings. Do you think that’s all she’s hiding?” Moscow asked, challenging Chiori again. She looked at Mai who studiously stared at the wall, giving nothing away, the traitor.
“Maybe? I’ve not seen anything other than her wings. When I first met her, I thought she was the only person here that looked human,” Chiori answered.
“Yes, Mai can easily pass herself off as human. It has nothing and everything to do with power level. Most lessers cannot change their appearance, those that can, are only able to manage a partial change, such as what I am showing you right now with my own appearance. Mai’s powers are balanced very well. She is strong enough to have three different ‘forms’.
Her partial form is her wings, because she is so good at hiding it. Her full form is quite different. Everyone here has a form that shows their true nature,” he said. Mai looked at him nervously.
“Almost all the demons I’ve seen here have had something that tells what they are. Fen has tusks, Nakia’s fangs came out earlier today, Lord Makkai’s tails and ears. I have not seen any that have not looked at least partly human,” Chiori said, but her mind replayed a large ferret, waving its paw at her through a red barrier.
“Mai, if you would turn, please. Keep it at a reasonable size, if you could,” Moscow said to her kindly. Mai ducked her head, her face red.
“She shouldn’t have to if she doesn’t want to,” Chiori said.
“It’s for demonstrative purposes, and it doesn’t hurt. For many, changing into their true form feels exceptionally good. However, you are correct. You do not have to if it makes you uncomfortable,” Moscow said, and Chiori knew he was manipulating her. Mai’s answer came in a burst of snow-white feathers. Chiori jumped to her feet in concern, but it was unwarranted.
Mai unfurled herself and stood tall, stretching her wings she beat them a few times before standing squarely. Her head was higher than Moscow’s and she looked like an oversized swan, with orange eyes and razor-sharp teeth on the edges of her bill. Mai arched her neck and put her eye at level with Chiori’s, inviting her closer. Moscow put a hand on her wrist, stopping her from moving forward.
“I wouldn’t suggest it. Her power is much stronger in this form, she doesn’t have to repress it, and accidents could happen. Those accidents wouldn’t hurt any of us, but you are fragile comparatively,” Moscow said and Chiori narrowed her eyes at the term Lord Makkai had used for her so many times. She pulled her wrist away from him.
“Please don’t touch me
,” she said, her eyes still on Mai.
“My apologies,” he said easily. “Now, as you mentioned, Lord Makkai is almost always in his transitional form. For many with higher amounts of powers, it is the easiest form to maintain. I have personally never seen him put his tails away and look entirely human. His tails are significant to the amount of power he has. As a fox grows from infancy to adulthood, he grows more tails, which bring him more power. The fox gods have nine, he is well into his maturity at six. Haruka is the same. His tail is always out, he is a very powerful being.”
“I personally find it difficult, almost impossible to hide my horns,” he said, and Chiori noticed his wings were gone. “Everything else is simple enough, when I need to. Thank you, Mai, that was very helpful.” Mai shrank back down, once more taking on the visage of a young girl with wide, white wings. Her dark eyes shone and she practically sparkled, invigorated from touching her magic. The wings were her next clue.
“Is…” she said, thinking. “Is air one of the elemental powers? Like, wind?” Chiori asked. Moscow nodded with a small twitch of his mouth. “Is that one of the other two options?”
“It is. You’ve figured out the two most obvious, and two most common of the swan’s potential abilities. Mai has command of the third ability. Put that notebook away please but keep the pencil,” Moscow instructed, bringing her a pair of plain white drawing papers and a handheld sharpener. “I am your Demonology instructor, which is the most important of what I will teach you, but, I will also teach you different art mediums, which is good for a creative outlet.”
Chiori set her palms flat on her desk, waiting for directions.
“Do you know the Kanji for the name given you, or only the Romaji?” he asked. Chiori blinked.
“Neither?” she said and he sighed.
“Maybe I should have guessed that,” he said. “We’ll leave that to Sen, for now. I want to see how you hold the pencil as you write. Print out your name, no title needed for this exercise. C-h-i-o-r-i.” She did as she was told, feeling weird that he was watching her so closely. After her name he had her draw basic geometric shapes. Finally, he told her to draw a picture of her favorite animal.
Chiori had not had many encounters with animals other than protection creatures and brief informational videos of the vast number of creatures that lived before the ancestral wars on nature. So she drew a chick, holding an image of one of her fuzzy babies in her mind and doing the best she could. Drawing had never been an offered part of her education before. Art was deemed an obsolete skill long before the nuclear fallout ever happened.
When she finished, she handed the paper to Moscow, who frowned deeply at her profound lack of skill.
“This looks like a child drew it,” he said critically.
“Everyone keeps telling me I am a child, so I guess that’s accurate,” Chiori countered, frowning right back. He leveled his duel colored eyes on her, holding her gaze long enough to make her squirm.
“You hold the pencil correctly, but you’re heavy handed and clumsy. Your lines are weak, and your detail is terrible,” he said. “I cannot make out what this is supposed to be. However, drawing is a talent that starts as a skill, and any skill can be improved with practice. Even the greatest artists in history had to start somewhere. Your homework will be to practice, every day. Imitate lines you see around you, find the shapes in common objects and put them on paper.”
Chiori held back a groan, she hadn’t expected there to be homework. Especially since her classes were going to be taking up the majority of her day.
“You will be here with me three days this week, and on those days you will be here within the same timeframe. Before lunch each day, you may ask me a question, anything you wish to learn about. After lunch we have an hour to discuss the answer to the question. It is time to have some quiet reflection and a meal, which you are not allowed to miss, per Lord Makkai’s orders.” His eyes flashed up at hers again. “I know you weren’t given time to prepare for this, but, do you have a question to pose today?” he asked.
Chiori’s mind raced at the possibilities, she had hundreds of questions, it was hard to focus on one. She saw Mai, sitting on her cushion, and knew what her question must be.
“What is the third magical ability of the swans?” she asked, realizing it was the only way she would be able to tell him all three by the end of class. Moscow grinned at her for the first time.
“Very good,” he said, as though she’d asked exactly what he’d wanted her to. Chiori squinted at him, wondering if that’s exactly what had happened. “I’ll see you in ninety minutes time. Long enough for you to eat and rest.” Moscow said, leaving the room ahead of them, her drawing still in his hand.
“I’m sorry that he was picking on you, Mai,” Chiori said, but the older girl shook her head.
“He would have done it to whichever of us were here with you. His job is to teach you Demonology, right? There are as many different demons as there are stars in the sky. I was a convenient starting place,” Mai said cheerily, then she shuddered. “Just be glad it wasn’t Nakia with you, or Ani. Her spider form gives me the creeps.”
“Hmm. If it didn’t bother you, then I guess it’s no big deal. I guess I don’t really understand why he’s my Art teacher, too, and why the two subjects are mixed together like that. Or why I have to learn Art in the first place,” Chiori said. “I’ve never drawn anything in my life.”
“Probably because it’s something a Lady should know,” Mai shrugged. “We live long lives, it’s important to find something you enjoy doing, something you have to work for.” They went through the barrier and into the hallway adjoining Chiori’s rooms. When they entered the sitting room, Ani was inside, wiping the already clean surfaces of the book shelves. She bowed deeply when they entered.
“Good afternoon my Lady, good afternoon, Mai,” Ani said, the hostility from earlier wiped from her voice and demeanor. Chiori sat heavily in her chair, flopping her hand over its arms with a sigh.
“Good Afternoon, Ani,” Chiori said, thinking of a nap.
“Hello Ani!” Mai chirped, taking a bell from one of the shelves, giving it a quick ring. She stood at the door, hands folded in front of her. Chiori watched her movements interestedly, a knock came at the door came within seconds of the bell. Mai opened it and spoke softly with whomever was on the other side. The door shut and Mai sat on the sofa, across from her.
“Lunch will be served soon,” Mai said, noticing how Chiori’s eyes drooped low. “Would you like a nap, first? I can call her back, and they’ll bring the food after.”
“No, I’ll be fine,” Chiori yawned, unwilling to admit that her inability to sleep the night before was getting to her. She pressed her hand to her chest and rubbed lightly, but it didn’t ease the ache that had settled itself there, thinking of the week ahead without Lord Makkai. He’d said he would be here for her if she needed and she wondered how he’d react if she called for him, as she had the night she’d blown out the side of his house. She’d probably get scolded. Chiori slumped down in her seat and pouted sullenly.
A few minutes later a knock at the door startled her, she’d drifted off to sleep. She looked around, Ani had slipped out at some point.
“Lunch is ready, Lady Chiori”, Mai said from the door. She came over and offered her arm but Chiori waved her away. They went through the back hallway to a room set up similarly to the one she’d eaten in with Lord Makkai earlier. Yuuki, Nakia and Ani were already there, along with one of the guys working under Milly in a kitchen uniform. Lunches were to be taken together, apparently.
Chiori sat at the head of the table, as directed. Nobody sat directly across from her, the girls sat two on each side with Nakia and Mai sitting closest to her. There were sandwiches, salads with avocado, pomegranate and oranges and sticky rice balls with tamari sauce. Tea was present, as ever. It was cool and refreshing, some fruit she didn’t recognize.
“I’m sorry we’ve all ambushed you like this,” Nakia started,
“but, we wanted to make sure everybody was represented.” Chiori gave her a sideways glance around her teacup.
“Okay,” she said.
“We do not want a repeat of what happened this morning, as none of us wishes to displease you,” Ani said, looking at her plate.
“Oh, I see,” Chiori said, understanding, at least in part, what they were looking for.
“Normally we would only gather in one place like this if you, or Silk asked us. If he treats us like a normal Lord would, Lord Makkai will generally not interfere with your staff, so long as there is no threat among us, and I assure you, there isn’t,” Nakia said, but looking at Yuuki, Chiori wasn’t so sure that was entirely the case. The sprite’s purple eyes looked into nothingness, avoiding contact with anyone.
“We’re asking you to trust us to do the right thing where you’re concerned,” Mai added, smiling in her sweet way. Yuuki finally looked at her.
“I can speak for everybody here when I say, we all want you to succeed and do well. It would reflect positively on ourselves if you do,” she said, and Chiori got the message clearly. Someone among them was there more for themselves than for her.
“I’m happy to hear that. My only concern is exactly what I said earlier. I don’t want to be kept in the dark with things that will directly impact my day. No sneaking around, it’s creepy and I don’t like it,” Chiori said.
“Agreed,” said Nakia. “In the spirit of the ability to make your own decisions, we thought maybe we could do a brief gathering like this each day, at least until we get a feel for which things you will want to know about, and which you find unimportant. For example, would it bother you to know if your towels were stored in a different space, when you consider that you’ll never have to fetch one for yourself?”
Chiori’s brow furrowed, not having thought of it before. She couldn’t even find the bath by herself yet, let alone know where to find a freaking towel. This was her life now and in some parts of it, she was expected to let others do things for her. She couldn’t even be alone. Yet.