"Where did you get it from?"
"Are there more?"
"Can I have one too?"
...
...
..
.
A series of questions and requests were thrown his way when he finally sat down for breakfast with his family, the clatter of plates and the aroma of fresh bread filling the air. Only Ginara, Sibyl, Minami, and Kashish had an idea where he got Anakin from, but they kept quiet about it.
"It was a gift, and Anakin has a sister, but she belongs to Mother," he informed them, telling the truth without lying.
"So it's a pair?"
His words excited Kiara, and he could already see her plan.
"Since the mare belongs to Mother, you'll have to ask her about letting you have any foals in the future." He replied straightforwardly, prompting a few of them to pout at him, but it wasn't going to stop most of them from approaching Venessa later.
"I'm happy with mine. I don't want another horse," Qingyue rolled her eyes as she watched her sisters incessantly talk about the Alkaynian horses.
She felt really bad watching them desire another mount after they had already received a Zaverian horse. Wasn't it being a little ungrateful?
Her words made Celine and Keith smile.
The grey-eyed Eldeilyon was ecstatic when her sisters gifted her the pair of grey Zaverian horses. From them, she decided to keep the stallion for herself and gifted Celine the mare, and she was very fond of her horse now.
"Some of us don't have one," Ayesha said teasingly, and sure enough, soon everyone turned on her.
"You're the one to talk? Keith gifted you such a beautiful flying mount!" Helena reminded her, not hiding her envy. "Besides, even though I love my Xena, it doesn't mean I can't have another horse, especially if we're talking about an Alkaynian horse."
"Right!" Reina immediately agreed with her words, and a few more nods were seen at the table.
"I don't care if I have a Zaverian or not. I want an Alkaynian as well," Kiara simply said.
"You're being greedy," her grey-eyed sister was quick to say, but her sister just shrugged her shoulders.
"I am greedy."
"Is that something to be proud of?" Qingyue rolled her eyes.
"She's just being honest," Ayesha quipped, and Kiara grinned at her words.
"Correct."
And with that, Qingyue started bickering with her.
Keith smiled amusedly as he watched Ayesha enjoying the commotion she had just created.
Years ago, no one would have thought she would show such a playful side, but now, she displayed moments of mischief that could even put the little Mourntale to shame.
"So, what's the plan for the day?" he asked everyone curiously, and almost all of them had decided to form groups to explore the mountains, go on a hunt, and forage for some fruits and vegetables.
Amira, Reina, and Helena planned on going fishing in the nearby stream, and since it was an activity that Amelia enjoyed a lot, she decided to tag along with them.
Kiara, Alana, Ingrid, and Ingvild wanted to find a suitable place where they would spend the next several months training their guild's forces. So, they were going to be away for the rest of the day.
The only ones staying behind were Ayesha and Qingyue. The latter had to ensure that things remained orderly in the Zurk camp. She had been their administrator since the day she met them, and the Zurks liked her a lot because of her compassion.
She also had a great interest in the stories that the Nemeron Patriarch had to share. As a man who had lived for centuries, he had much to tell about the world and the cultures of Amaya, and the grey-eyed Eldeilyon was fond of these things.
However, the real reason she had to stay back was to take care of young Thea. Even though she had found a wet nurse among the Zurks, she still took care of the baby herself.
A few days ago, her sisters had started teasing her about having a daughter, and she had not denied being Thea's mother.
In her own words, she had made it clear to them that she would raise Thea as her child, and this finally put all the teasing to rest when they realised how serious she was.
Keith knew she had done it to curb any ideas of her sisters taking Thea as their future sword or servant.
"Master."
Keith turned to look at Yingying, who entered the cabin again after having excused herself from the table earlier.
She was one of the few who had finished their meal early to get back to training.
"Yes?"
"Victor wants to see you," she informed him.
"Excuse me." He stood up from his chair and walked out of the cabin, and he met a sight that made him raise his brow.
Victor was standing by the side of the steps, blushing like a maiden in love, and he was even refusing to meet his eyes.
"Yes, Victor?" He asked and noticed the smile that crept on Yingying's face.
"Master..."
"Yes?"
"Can you ask the Zurk Patriarch for his daughter's hand in marriage for me?" He mustered up all his courage and voiced his thoughts.
"His daughter?" Keith looked at him with surprise. "Elsa?"
"Yes, Master." The muscle-head nodded his head, blushing some more.
"She's a Martial Master, nearly a hundred years old. She's also a widow who lost her husband and her two sons in the last war," he said lightly, gauging Victor's expressions.
"I know."
"You like her?"
"Yes," he resolutely nodded his head.
"Why?" Keith asked seriously, and Victor's smile froze.
"She's strong... and beautiful," he answered meekly.
"She's been beating him relentlessly in their last few duels, and he likes her warrior-like nature," Yingying informed him, still wearing her smile. Keith sighed in his head when he saw Victor nodding to her words.
"She's not worthy of becoming your wife, Victor," he said straightforwardly. "Maybe you don't realise it, but the blood in your veins is very noble."
Hearing his words, the muscle-head's entire mood deflated, and he kept his head lowered, looking very sad.
"Keith."
Behind him, Qingyue, who had overheard their conversation, exited the cabin with a few other girls, and she looked at him critically.
She did not like how he was being so blunt that he seemed to hold no regard for Victor's feelings.
"Elsa is a nice person."
"I'm aware." He met her gaze, and seeing the seriousness in his eyes, she wisely kept herself from saying anything more.
Everyone knew that if Keith refused it, Victor would never go against his order and marry Elsa, and quite a few of them felt pity for him.
It was the first time the muscle-head had shown interest in a woman, and by the looks of things, he was going to get his heart broken now.
"I will speak to the Nemeron Patriarch, but not for her hand in marriage for you." His words surprised some of them, and even Victor looked at him again, feeling very nervous.
"Then, Master?"
"You can have her, but only as a concubine," he said, and some hope returned to Victor's eyes.
To him, as long as he could be with Elsa, whom he felt would prove to be a great companion, he was fine with any arrangement.
"However, I have a condition that you must agree to before I make this arrangement for you."
"Please say, Master." He smiled excitedly but watched Keith turn to look at Qingyue instead of saying something to him.
"You will pick a girl from the Nemeron family to serve Victor as his second concubine. Both Elsa and she can serve you as your maids," he told her meaningfully.
Hearing his words, the grey-eyed Eldeilyon frowned at his intentions, but after seeing the pleading look that Victor sent her way, she nodded her head.
"Okay."
"Do you have any objection to taking another concubine?" Keith turned to look at his servant.
"No." The muscle-head immediately shook his head.
"Good. In the future, you will be taking an official wife that I will personally arrange for you. And you will do your noble duties to your bloodline."
"Yes, Master," he nodded his head, even though he did not understand or know what his noble duties were going to be.
Seeing Victor happily leave after being promised Elsa, the girls curiously turned to look at Keith, and Qingyue could not hold back her curiosity.
"Why?"
"Because Victor is too naive."
It was Kiara who answered her, and the grey-eyed Eldeilyon turned to look at her sister for an explanation.
"He can easily be manipulated in the hands of a smart woman. And being too attached to a single woman would ruin him," she said, smiling. "Pick a girl whose nature is in contrast to Elsa. It will be the best for him."
"Not the same?" Alana looked at her quizzically. "I think he only likes women who are strong-willed and... controlling."
"No. Victor is already too much of a masochist. He needs someone submissive by his side to balance things out," Kiara shook her head. "Right now, he doesn't even realise what kind of women he likes. It's just an infatuation for Elsa at this point. It will take him a while to understand what true feelings are. You shouldn't forget that he has divine blood in his veins now. And divine beings are inherently prideful."
Her words forced her sisters into deep thought, and it was the same for her grey-eyed sister.
"You don't need to worry about it," Keith suddenly said, putting an end to their discussion and thoughts. "It's Qingyue's headache, and none of you are allowed to help her out in her decision."
"Okay." Kiara smiled and shrugged at his words before walking back inside the cabin with Alana, Ingrid, and Ingvild.
She had already helped her sister enough by telling her what she needed to do.
Only Qingyue and Yingying remained by his side.
"Is it a good thing to control his life?" The grey-eyed Eldeilyon was unconvinced.
"He is my responsibility," he told her and then met her eyes. "And yours too. You should plan the best for him."
She lowered her head at his reminder and then nodded.
"I will talk with the Nemeron Patriarch."
Keith watched his dear daughter and wife silently walk towards the Zurk campsite. A moment later, Ayesha exited the cabin and planted a kiss on his cheek, then quickly followed her master, the soft rustle of her steps fading into the morning air.
Her action made him smile at her. Then he turned to look at Yingying, who was lost in her own thoughts.
"Do you have any plans for the day?"
His Shadow immediately shook her head.
"Iseul is going with Lady Kiara and the rest to help them find a suitable place for the guild's secret hideout. I will stay back and continue practising my sword."
"You will be guiding Gigi in her sword training today."
"Yes, Master." She unhesitatingly accepted his order and smiled when he pulled her chin up and stole a kiss from her lips, the warmth of his touch lingering briefly.