Chapter 5 (04/01/2024)

Yuki’s room was simple. Dark cobblestone walls with matching floors made the room dark and
menacing, save from the large window that allowed a burst of sunlight through and the white sheets
of Yukine’s beddings. At the corner of the room was a large bed that swallowed Yuki up. She slept
gently completely consumed by her white covers.

The large bolted door burst open, causing a quaking thud to resonate through the room. Yuki,
terrified woke up pulling the covers up to her chin, shaking like a leaf. Blossom walked in with a
bright and eager smile.

“Yuki! How are you? I brought you breakfast.” in her hands, was a tray of food from Yukine’s
homeland. A few she had taught Blossom and the others how to make. Yukine’s heart pulsed rapidly
in her chest, she lowered her covers and took large breaths to ease herself.

“Blossom, you scared me.” her voice slightly shaky.

“Oh sorry, I was just so excited.” she waltzed into the room, setting the tray of breakfast on her
bedside table.

“You’re going out with Master today.” She sat on the bed next to Yukine, she patted down the few
stray hairs of Yukine’s now short hair. It fell just above her shoulders barely grazing them, Evey had
gotten rid of her thick bangs, showing more of her face which made her look quite vibrant compared
to the expression of pure terror she carried on her soft features

“M-me? Alone?”

“Then with who Yuki?” Blossom laughed, the noise soft and pure.

“There’s nothing to worry about Yuki,” Her tone suddenly serious “Master would never do anything
to you that would put you in danger.”

Her head fell in a defeated stance, “Alright.” barely a whisper. She had lost cunt of the times she’d
trusted a master only for him to betray her in the end.

“Plus, you’re the only one who can. I have to go to Master’s school to drop off the relic he collected
recently and Master doesn’t allow us to go by ourselves, so Evangeline is coming with me. Evey is
going to the temple and Leeya has finances to work out here.”

“Can’t I take one of your places?” Yukine tried to persuade Blossom. Maybe she could let me go with
one of them instead of going with Master, she thought.

Like a mothers caress, she ran a soft hand down Yukine’s check resting her fingers under her chin
“No, you can’t. Now eat your breakfast and be ready to leave in a quarter of an hour.” without
leaving room for argument, Blossom set a chaste kiss on Yukine’s forehead and left her room.

Yukine sat in the silence of her room. The thought of being alone with her tall and intimidating
master filled her mind with worry. She was going to try to not be afraid and try to see her Master the
way the others did.

A determined frown sat on her round face, she was going to push her fears aside and get to know
her Master. Her breakfast gone cold from all her thinking was delicious as she gobbled down the
meal.
Yukine hurried down the spiralling stone stairs. Her body clad in one of Ryvel’s old clothes. She’d
managed to make a beautiful summer dress, with thin straps for the shoulders, a bodice that hugged
her ample bust and flared to the knee. Her hair adorned in delightful hair ornaments and her feet in
simple flat pumps.

She felt Ryvel’s over-whelming presence as she neared the end of the stairs. His large body was
turned away from her, he stood in the middle of the parlour dwarfing most of the things in the
parlour with his size. His broad, hard back decked in a long sleeved black shirt, hugged his solid form.
His legs clad in the same black.

Ryvel’s chest pulsed with warmth indicating Yukine was near.

“Morning Master.” her voice rang.

He gave a slight nod. He turned his head and took small glance in her direction, his gaze going no
further than her feet, he dared to go further. Her dress stopped just above the knees of her thick
legs. Ryvel was surprised but not as much as he was curious, his hooded eyes risked to travel up her
full frame. He took a quick look at her, committing her image in memory before she’d notice.

“Let’s go.”

The market wasn’t anything like she’d expected. It was large and noisy, the path was large enough
for three whole carriages to pass through. On each side of the path were multiple stalls of a variety
of things, things you’d be surprised to find at a market. Yukine pointed out the stall where the
flowers were fresh and bright. Ryvel told her that it was only the entrance, that there was more to
see.

“What do we get first?” came his voice.

Yukine fumbled to take out the parchment of paper Evangeline had given her from the empty wicker
basket. She stared down at the paper, some of the words were strange to her, the language had
changed ever since the last time she read something. She run her eyes through the list trying to
catch something on the paper, she worried Ryvel would notice but tried anyway. Yukine heard a
sigh, she was taking time. Suddenly the paper was taken away from her, Ryvel held it in his hand and
looked down at her with his hooded eye.

Yukine feared she’d be punished. What type of Weapon didn’t know how to read.

“Can, can you not read this?” He puzzled.

Yukine’s head slumped, she shook her head. From the side of her eye she saw Ryvel raise his hand,
in fear he’d strike her she flinched.

Ryvel’s heart clenched. She thought I’d hit her. He believed, he rested his large hand on the top of
her head and patted it softly.

Ryvel truly didn’t want to take the lead of the shopping neither did he want to be out, in the sun,
standing in the middle of a busy market. He sighed and looked to the first thing on the list, fruits.

“Come.” he grabbed her wrist but held firmly enough not to hurt her. Their walk to the fruit stall was
not long one, as they passed the wares Yukine couldn’t help but marvel at everything. She couldn’t
remember the last time she’d gone outside and she cherished this moment.
Ryvel brought them to a stand owned by an elderly woman, a woman he visited often. She was grey
with age, her skin tan, her silver hair tied back with a white kerchief but a few strands escaped their
bonds and fell over the sides of her face. Her face had many lines Yukine had never seen before.
Yukine thought she was beautiful especially with her bright blue eyes. Her stall was full with fruits of
all colours and sizes. Some Yukine herself couldn’t tell.

“The usual.” in a rather cold tone, he thrust the empty basket her way. The elderly lady chuckled
shaking her head lightly and took the basket with frail hands and started filling it with fruits.

“I see you have a new friend.” she hummed, Ryvel grunted “she’s quite a looker.”

Yukine blushed, “You’re quite beautiful yourself.” softly she praised, the elderly lady laughed.

“Why thank you. What’s your name?”

“Yukine.” she smiled, she couldn’t help the little sway her body subconsciously took over.

“How beautiful, and such a polite thing. You can call me Granny.” she finished off piling the basket,
Yukine looked down at the basket and so just how little variety there was. She pouted, her hand
came to her forearm and she rubbed it. How was her Master going to getting stronger if he was
eating so little?

“What’s wrong dearie? Is not to your liking?” Granny’s faced morphed in worry.

Yukine’s large eyes shot up to meet Ryvel’s. “I’d like a few more things.”

Ryvel was taken aback. Being the first time Yukine stated what she wanted from him was a
something he didn’t expect to see so soon.

“…Sure. Do whatever.” he tried to gain back his composure. Yukine’s lit up.

“Granny, please add figs, gooseberries um…and two hands full of dates.” Granny shocked at her
outburst, burst into a smile and packed her what she requested. Yukine received the full basket and
looked to Ryvel for the payment.

“Thank you.” Yukine sang. She waved Granny goodbye and wobbled away with the full basket. Ryvel
smiled a small smile, he took the basket from Yukine’s hands and continued onto the next stall.

“Where next Master?” Her step was lighter and she smiled more, Ryvel preferred her like this. He
took a look at the parchment, meat was next.

The butcher section of the market was Ryvel’s least favourite place to go to. He barely went there by
himself, always opting for a home delivery and never allowed the girls to go by themselves. This part
of the market housed the rowdiest, most foul mouthed people in the country.

Ryvel pulled Yukine closer to his side as the acidic smell drew closer, he held her hand and didn’t
plan on letting go. He didn’t want to think too hard on the stark difference between their hands. His
were large and calloused from years of practise whilst hers were soft and chubby.

The meat market was very different to the other parts of the main market, raw mounds of flesh
hung from hooks of the stalls. Blood dripped down from them to the ground, dying it a deep red.
Some stalls had the severed limbs and heads of the animal displayed for sell. The acidic smell
intensified and made Yukine’s stomach turn. She pressed her herself into Ryvel’s side, she didn’t like
the blood and she didn’t like the smell.
“M-master c-can we hurry up, p-please.” her face buried into his ribs.

“Uh…alright.” she squeezed his hand firmly.

“C’mon sweetie, give us a smile. What’s got you hiding?” a hearty laugh burst through the noise of
the market, in a stall opposite them a burly man no older than Ryvel called out to Yukine. Ryvel
couldn’t help but notice how tense Yukine’s body had become.

“Hey sexy, why don’t you want to talk to me? I’m a good guy, better than the Lord of Abenel I bet.”
he laughed again. Ryvel’s jaw ticked, he turned and faced the man in the stall in front of him. He was
as tall as Ryvel, his white shirt rolled up to his elbows was covered in an apron, displayed the blood
stains of his trade. His face tan, jaw sharp, his eyes crudely ran over Yukine’s form, he smirked and
Ryvel wanted to do nothing but knock his teeth in.

“If you don’t mind being visually impaired for the rest of your life I suggest. You. Stop.” he seethed,
he was willing to kill the man if he didn’t stop. He was that close. Ryvel didn’t drop the fierce glare he
was sending the butcher. A crowd started to form, whispers about Ryvel being a thoughtless Lord
reached Yuikne’s ears. She didn’t want the people to think that way of him. She mustered courage
and tried to pull Ryvel away.

The butcher’s eyes dropped to Yukine’s full bottom, his eyes full with hunger “Nice ass.”

Ryvel ripped away from Yukine’s grip, he saw red. He stomped towards the evidently pleased man.
He grabbed the collar of his shirt, his fist connected with his nose before the butcher or anyone else
could react. He infused lightening in each deafening punch, the cracking sound resonated through
the quiet market. Blood marred Ryvel’s fist, the skin on his knuckles burst from the broken bone of
the butcher.

“Master!”

Ryvel stopped his hit mid-way, his mind instantly cleared. He hadn’t noticed the damage he’d done,
the man had already been knocked unconscious. His face no longer recognisable as the blood
dripped down his broken face. Ryvel released his collar, his body dropped, lifeless onto the ground.

“Yuki!” he met her in a few steps, “are you okay?”

Fat tears welled in her eyes, she cried when he finally snapped out of the haze he’d been in.
“Master!” she wept.

The crowd silently watched, they feared moving. They’d heard about the Lord of Abenel being a
quiet and unseen Lord but not of his temper and protectiveness against his Weapons. New rooted
fear set in place.

Ryvel feared touching Yukine with his bloody hands, in fear of ruining her face. He stood awkwardly
as she tried to calm herself.

She wiped her tears, little hiccups escaped her mouth, “Y-you d-d-didn’t have to d-do that.” Ryvel
didn’t see the point of her cleaning away her tears when more fell, he chuckled lightly. She’s so cute.

“Let’s go home. Yuki.”