ACT II
MONAMI

Chapter 37
Meeting Chris and not so Friendly Elves

  Chris avoided answering about his origin and Hans sensed some story in his words but it was really rude to ask someone about their past when you have just met him for the first time. The two of them were walking out of the Grand Hall talking but three grey-hooded students stopped them. They were blatantly showing hostility. Hans had a short fuse so he avoided creating more trouble by changing his direction the three encircled the two of them again but instead of Hans, Chris stood up against them.

What is the meaning of this?

The three of them said simultaneously
This is not your business so move on.

Chris didn’t do as they demanded and said
But I am dead set on making this my business. Didn't one of you humiliate Lady Aredhel enough, you want to hurt her dignity more by ganging up.

One of the three responded,
That woman has no dignity left to hurt,

  And with his last sentence the situation got heated up, Hans didn't understand why Chris was reacting in such a way and lost it when Aredhel’s name was mentioned. He grabbed Chris's shoulder with the intent to stop him but the commotion was already seen by Martha. She was coming and Hans did not want to be a part of this nonsense anymore, his eyes welled up and tears started flowing out. When Martha came she thought Hans started trouble again but he was on the verge of crying out.

She asked him,
Mr Hans, creating trouble again are we?

  Her tone this time felt friendly, it looked to Hans that she was trying to bury the hatchet and he felt that way too after Walter told him about her. He burst into tears and pointed at the three of them and accused them,

They started talking badly about my sister like the other boy, and I can't do anything but listen because of the rules. This is not fair.

  Chris and the three accused were looking at Hans dumbfoundedly, he was blatantly lying. It was a good story in which the comrades of Romnick looked like ganging up on Hans. He was acting so natural that no one could doubt him but he missed one thing, these three were not the students here.

Martha said to Hans,
Stop fooling around.

Hans stopped his whining and asked nonchalantly,
Wasn't that convincing?

it would be but these three are not from here.

Ah then... it's not my mess, I didn't do anything this time. Hans said it like his tearing up never happened.

  Martha looked at the brat who was not even shameful after getting caught lying blatantly but he was not the focus here, the guest students invited by Aredhel were. The three of them removed the hood and Hans saw the three elves staring at him.

She summoned Aredhel here because her guests were creating a mess and the Sentinels' houseMaster came with her daughter. Delimira glanced at Chris and understood what happened here, she said to him,

Can't you just hold back, stupid?

She turned towards Hans and after looking at his face, she said with a warm smile,
Looks like this girl knows how to use tears too.

Hans mumbled,
Girl, girl...

  This was the second time she pissed him off so he was going to lash out at her but Chris was gripping his shoulder hard signalling him to not get involved with her. The situation upfront looked more troubling so he made a mental note to teach this high nose Elf a lesson in future. Aredhel asked the three elves,

Clandor asked me a favour to let you three observe the initiation ceremony. Do we have a problem here?

The three replied in unison,
No lady Aredhel.

  Hans noticed that there was no respect for Aredhel in their tone before but they turned their attitude in her presence. The trio turned back and started to leave but one of them turned towards Hans and said,

Your reckoning will come.

  Hans didn't even know these guys but it was not in his nature to take threats from someone. His will was turning Mana around him cold and he said to the trio with a chilling voice filled with murderous intent, spooking the high-level people around him,

Hey, jackasses, I can't go nuts here so find me when I am out. I will show you what it means to threaten me.

  The trio knew that they were stronger than him but an innate fear surfaced when they made eye contact with Hans, Chris and Delimra didn't feel the change of mana mixed with bloodlust that well but Aredhel and Martha understood what it was. Having this degree of intent was not possible for a child to carry. Hans sighed, he wanted to keep his emotions in control but people here were not helping him at all.

Walter came running before Hans could create more trouble but found the situation resolved. He patted his back and encouraged him,
You are doing fine, kiddo, continue like this, and we will have the second coming...

Aredhel stopped him,
This is why I asked them to put him in my house. You will lead him astray.

  Hans didn't know that sentinels wanted him and he was not the only one surprised here. Choosing someone before the omniscient stone made its decision was not unheard of but it was a rare occurrence.

Walter replied,
But his parents let his destiny take its course and we agreed on this, right Aredhel? Now hush, let the newbies find their own way.

Chris left for a moment to pick up his luggage and when there was no one around the boy, Walter turned to him and said,
You seem to make enemies quickly, kid. It's not a good practice. A certain someone lived like that and see, where it got him.

  Hans knew whom he was talking about and he was right because, in the end, Samson only had enemies but no friends around him. He understood and asked the one thing that had crossed his mind before the troubling events

Professor, why do you know... about me?

Your father saved me many times, I was a mercenary before coming to Concordia.

Hans didn't get his answer from that and his doubtful expressions were evidence of the fact, so Walter added,

I am a director here, kid, and so is Sentinel’s Aredhel. We choose to keep it secret but it's not hard to find out about you when you resemble your father almost completely.

He nodded and asked another question,
we have fewer members, three from two hundred doesn't seem right.

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Walter smirked and answered,
Our house is called the House of leaders. If we make everyone a leader then who will follow us, silly boy?

Professor Walter looked at Chris who just came beside Hans and asked him,
You are Bernard’s son, right?

Chris got alerted but Walter continued,
Don't worry, those pricks won't come here, as long as you are in Concordia that is. Now hush and go to your rooms. Let this man rest a little.

  Hans remained silent, he was curious about Chris but the mood suddenly sunk after their brief encounter with those elves. He looked like he knew Aredhel well and Walter seems to know his father too, but the thing that was making him most curious was that it looked like someone was chasing after his roommate.

Seeing Hans bottling up his curiosity Chris responded to his anxious gaze,
I carry a lot of baggage my friend, I will tell you if we get closer someday.

Yeah sure, no pressure.

Chris replied with a chuckle,
but your eyes do not agree with you, Hans.

Hans kept smiling and Chris added,
I hate to be the rude one when I asked you not to ask things but I have to ask, the duel seemed personal...

Yeah, it was, that prick was saying some shit about my sister.

Chris suddenly turned jolly about hearing that and asked Hans while smiling,
How old is she?

You just heard me say that I beat someone half dead because of her right?

Yes but I am not saying anything bad about her.

then why I am having the urge to beat you,

Relax I just asked her age, little Hans.

Chris, you have no chance, she is way older,

  Hearing this Chris's enthusiasm hit bottom and Hans suddenly felt good. she was eight years older than Hans but she was just six years apart from Chris. They were walking towards their allotted room, numbered 117. Hans had the privilege of being recommended so his stuff was already sent over to the room. He was helping Chris to carry his luggage and they were chatting idly until they reached the Foundation Castle.

  The castle was huge with a very big grass field right in front of it. It had four entrances in all directions. The duo entered from the south gate and found their room. Upon entering the room, Hans saw a familiar figure inside, waiting for him.  
  He jumped right in her embrace, and the words of Romnick came into his mind, he didn't want to be bothered with it but those words were pricking him. Vanessa said while caressing his back.

I didn't do those things, Hans, trust me.

Hans only heard these words from her and all of the shit that Romnick said about her vanished from his mind. He replied to her,
I am sorry that I have to hear those words from you sis. I should have unconditional belief in you, you are my sister after all.

Don't worry, it's natural.

  Chris coughed and the brother-sister pair separated, he was staring at his new roommate for lying to him about her age. He introduced himself as gentlemanly as he could and Vanessa said what was required of her in the situation. She asked Chris to take care of Hans and simply returned to the dean’s office without even giving her name.

Chris turned towards Hans who was glaring at him like he read his mind. so he said to him,
You have a pretty sister, my friend.

Yeah, and she has a very scary brother too.

MAGE TOWER GRIMGAR

  In some luxurious office, the Elves that warned and disturbed the peace of Hans, stood proud in front of a young man. He was staring at them for a while but all the elves stood in confidence. They are new recruits that took pride in being a member of Mage tower and right now they were in front of the Tower Master of Grimgar.

  The Tower Master was the one who sent these three in the veil of Clandor and now it was time for his actions to bear fruit. His Aide said to the three,

What did you three find?

One of the elven trio replied,
It's as you showed in the picture and the trashy attitude that you talked about was also identical.

These words put a smile on the Tower Master’s face and he saw all the conversation recorded in the memory stone in excitement. After learning everything he dismissed them and ordered his Aide,

Secretory,

Yes, Tower Master,

What do you see when you see these three,

they excellently finished the job, sir.

The Aide took a brief pause because he realised that the eccentric master of his wanted to hear something else, so he added,
Apart from the task, these three are excellent prodigies, Master.

The Tower Master got serious and replied,
But I see loose ends, tie them carefully, Secretory.

The Aide got flustered but could not question the Tower Master’s orders. seeing him disturbed, the tower master continued,
That brat threatened them, let's make it real like Parv retaliated to protect their prince’s honour.

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