Chapter 7. Restraint

Her hands caressed the delicate flower that didn’t blossom yet. Perhaps it would that night. There was a legend that the souls of Celestial Guardians rested in those flowers. Lyra thought it was a really beautiful resting place, and wished that she, too, could live like that after dying. Just a flower without any other worries in the world.

However, she was born an ordinary human, could she have this kind of pretty ending?

These thoughts were interrupted when the maids came in to tell her about the arrival of an important visitor.

“My lady, Master Aldrich is here to see the Lord.”

Nox rarely received visits from other masters at home. This must be something unexpected, since he wasn’t home yet.

“Did you take him to the waiting room?”

“Yes, my lady.”

“Then prepare some refreshments. I will just go and greet him, the Lord must be back soon.”

Lyra didn’t involve herself much in matters of the Celestial Guardians, except when her role as Lady Chevalier required it. Still, she knew a bit about this 10th Master, Ler Aldrich.

Nox held him in high regard because he was one of the few masters who actually cared about human lives.

It was no secret that Celestial Guardians held their mission in high regard, but it was more a matter of pride, a sense of being born special. Nox was the rare case that one had to ponder if he was human at all: he’d always belonged to the Cloud City, and had been known to be a future celestial guardian since he was born. But most of the others walked a different path to get here: they’d keep some of their human vanity once they stood higher than others. Lyra could understand that feeling very well. She’d felt it too, sometimes.

Celestial Guardians protected humanity, but because they cared about the importance of their own roles, not about the people they were supposed to protect.In consequence, some tasks like destroying demons would take most of their attention. Wasn’t there glory in eliminating the true darkness? But they would worry less about repairing the damage these demons had caused.

Nox, a disciplined person, was adamant that his men would do things properly in all aspects. It seemed this 10th Master was of the same mind.

“Good afternoon, Master Aldrich.”

“Good afternoon, Lady Chevalier. I’m sorry for coming without invitation today.”

“You’re always welcome to our home. My husband must be here shortly, I’m just afraid I cannot entertain you today. My health is not the best these days.”

As if to confirm this truth, Lyra felt a sharp pain in her chest.

“I’m sorry to hear that. May the Heavens bless you and allow you to get better soon.”

She tried her best to smile and hide her bitterness. The heavens blessing her?

For some time, she’d even thought meeting Nox was that blessing, but even that feeling had disappeared after meeting her younger sister and understanding the circumstances.

Heavens blessing her? It had never happened, and it would never happen either.

***

So Master Chevalier would arrive at any minute.

Ler sipped some tea. It was too bitter for his taste, but he’d rather freeze the whole city rather than admitting his weakness and asking for sugar to the servants.

Of course, he knew very well Nox Chevalier would be busy, and if he had any urgent matter, he’d gone directly to the West Wind of the Chevalier Manor, where official issues were discussed.

However, since the problem involving her new disciple was related somehow to the internal affairs of the House Chevalier, Ler thought it’d be best to come and see for himself.

He understood as soon as he met Lady Chevalier.

Many people talked about her in the Cloud City, where few events outside the norm occurred, Nox Chevalier’s marriage to an ordinary human had been quite the hot topic back in the day. She was Lord Chevalier’s soulmate, they said.

That woman was almost identical to Ayla.

Ler sighed.

Such a complicated situation.

One would think having the face of the person you are supposed to be with was the easiest and unequivocal way to recognize her, yet this kind of thing happened to the 4th Master, how misfortunate could one be?

He also couldn’t comprehend how something like loving someone just because of a predestined mark would work, but there were many things about this life that he still didn’t understand, and therefore didn’t dare to judge.

Before he’d finished the pastries, Ler felt Nox’s presence approaching. How fast.

“Good afternoon, Master Chevalier.”

“Master Aldrich. This is an unexpected visit.”

“I just came to inform you about something that might be of your interest.”

Nox frowned and walked towards the other side of the table to take a seat.

“Today, Ayla is moving to my manor and becoming my student.”

“Moving… to your manor?” He’d been caught off guard. “ But she has just started her training under Master Rabi.”

“You probably know, trust between master and disciple is crucial until one manages to create his sacred weapon. Since you are related to that, you might know the reason why Ayla feels Master Rabi isn’t really on her side.”

Nox clenched his fists.

He wasn’t used to others pointing his fingers at him, and without using those words, Ler Aldrich was telling him he’d made a mistake and wronged Ayla again.

“My only interest is in her safety.”

“I’ll take care of her well-being from now on, since I’ve accepted her into my manor.” Ler said calmly. “ So you might be at ease.”

“I see.”

Ler Aldrich was one of the strongest masters in Cloud City. Soon he’d probably become stronger than Master Brenna or himself. This time, Nox could only trust his word.

However, as the white-haired youth stood up and excused himself from his house, Nox felt a strong feeling of frustration.

It was something that he should be saying, not some Ler Aldrich.

***

“This is going to be your room from now on.”

“Thank you.”

Ayla was led to her new dormitory by a tall woman with a long ponytail.

Master Aldrich’s manor wasn’t different in structure to Master Rabi’s place. It was, however, even more quiet and empty.

The woman, Rania, told her there were only twelve people (already counting her) living there besides the Master.

“At six, come to have dinner and then use your time to meditate. You should also go and check the chart with the schedule for making meals and cleaning, add your name there.”

“Ah, I understand.” “But most important, meditate. Master put a lot of emphasis on that.”

Ayla blushed and nodded once more.

She’d lost control again, this was her shame. It didn’t happen to her even since she was eleven years old, and even then it had never been to the point of affecting the weather in the city. However, Master Aldrich told her that was what she’d been doing for days.

Once she was alone in her bedroom, Ayla started unpacking her things again. From the start, she wanted to be under 10th Master’s guidance if she had the chance, but he didn’t select her (in fact, he hadn’t chosen anyone at all) and she comforted herself thinking it was fate.

Could this be considered making her own way?

‘You also admired Master Chevalier, didn’t you?’

She scolded at her own inner voice reminding him of that person again. The sky turned gloomy once more.

“It’s not like I am in love with him or anything” she said to herself “I just thought I would love him.”

She convinced herself of that with the same strong belief she placed at her own duty as Celestial Guardian.

But he was married to her sister. Lyra.

Lyra Chevalier.

‘I have no sister.’

Except that she had, and she even looked like her. That sister had abandoned her, and then tried to solve everything with a lame apology.

But it was time to stop thinking about that.

“Control yourself, Ayla.”

Someone knocked at her door.

“Come in!”

It was Rania, carrying a cup in a wooden tray. The woman smiled at her.

“It just started raining, and Master Aldrich always says, a cup of hot chocolate always helps to cheer someone up.”

“I-I’m fine…”

“Just drink it.” Rania winked “ I promise, no one else knows. It’d really affect everyone’s self-esteem to know they cannot control the weather too.”

This brought a smile to Ayla’s face. Even if it was a lie, because she had no control whatsoever, that was the problem in the first place.

“Thank you, you are very nice.”

Ayla breathed in deeply when she was alone once more.

“I can do this.”

‘I can do this.’

She repeated it to herself until it started to sound like truth.