The Two Empresses
Storms

A week after the Red Sun Festival

Heavy rain poured all over the city. People chose to do teleportation magic, but not with Saciel. He walked in the rain with an umbrella in his hand. His mind and heart were empty, not wanting to leave the mansion nor Kezia. Still fresh in his mind Kezia who whined asked him at home.

"Do I better go home? Ah, naw. I don't want to hear Erika's nagging. Today's work is quite a lot, plus the fucking Yorktown adds to things anyway," he said. He continued walking until he arrived at the central building.

"Hey, I heard there's more demi-humans coming into our territory."

"really? Where's where?" reply the receptionist. Saciel who was intending to pass straight through stopped and turned to the two receptionists who were engrossed in gossip.

"Where?" chirps Saciel. Both were stung and silent. "Hey, are you deaf?"

"No, Miss. It's just.it's..."

"I'm not punishing you, okay? Just tell me where you saw for human sake?"

"In.he's in a human village," the mouse-faced receptionist's great-grandson.

"Human village? Doesn't that take a day from here?" asked Saciel while frowning.

"S. My brother is a pure man. He said a demi-human youth was dying by the river, bordering the Holy Forest," he whispered.

"The stray? What is possible.." the sentence stopped as soon as he saw the elder of Yorktown walking into the building. The glare of his cold eyes frightened the two receptionists, but his gaze was directed at the magician who replied no less coldly.

"Have your wounds improved?" the question is half insinuated. Saciel giggled and gave a sly smile.

"Very well~ the best medical expert in the kingdom is under my control."

"So Claudia is still alive today? Hmph, whereas his life would be much more prosperous if he worked..."

"If you work for the royal family, right? Halo~ no more royal family still alive after yesterday's stupid war. You don't remember them dying from poison?" jeered.

"But the kingdom is now held by the 7 Eternal Wizards, who became the representation of the royal family," retorted Yorktown no less spicy.

"But Aunt is not happy under your rule. He's happier and healthier as part of the Arakawa family."

"Family disabled," he said. A cold chill suddenly escaped from Saciel. His face was flat, yet the look of hateful eyes implied was clear. Some people who passed by retreated slowly, afraid of two powerful people who were dissolved in the cold war.

"Disfoul yeah? This disabled family is stronger than you who can only cast a fire spell to light a furnace."

"Your mouth is really less educated huh?" ask the Yorktown Elders.

"Well, no one taught me this uneducated mouth" Saciel lured.

"Please!" the elder of Yorktown hurled a lightning arrow at Saciel, but quickly made a shield. The girl laughed out loud, a mocking laugh that was able to heat up the atmosphere. A few guards stood around them.

"Women don't know manners! You're completely inversely proportional to the Great Priest."

"Hm? You mean my little brother that you took away decades ago? What do you call him? Grand Priest? Your brain's busted?" saciel said half-compensating. "Is there really a God Oorun?"

"You're crazy! A woman like you is not a descendant of Arakawa!"

"Well, unfortunately how hard you tried to resist, I am still the noble girl of the Arakawa family. The strongest among the others. You can see how I fend off all your attacks."

"A snob for a boy like you" replied Elder Yorktown. Before Saciel launched her poisonous word, Parvati appeared alongside a flat-looking butler.

"We are civilized witches, so can't we cause chaos in this building?" ask Parvati while giving her respect, along with the butler beside her. Saciel just glanced at him and straightened his body back up.

"What are the heads of the royal maids and butlers doing here?" satirical Elders of Yorktown.

"We happened to just stop by to deliver an important guest from Solus City," Parvati casually replied.

"It just so happens that you're here Parvati. I need access to retrieve important files in the royal library. Code red dragon," Saciel said.

"Do you intend to run away?" yorktown Elders are pumping. The insinuations only shrugged their shoulders.

"If so let Steven drive Miss to access the library."

"Goodoo. Oh yes, this fight can be continued later in the afternoon. If your gout doesn't recur," Saciel quipped with a sneaky smile.

"You..."

"Chairman of Yorktown," reprimanded Steven softly, suddenly standing beside the Elders of Yorktown, "you should not continue this fight. Your health is the main."

"...you're right. It's a shame to fight a young woman like her" said the elder of Yorktown. Saciel was silent, his mind a little split with Steven standing next to the Yorktown Elders.

'Well, everything in Careol is a witch. But somehow, this person's aura was different. Even Parvati, ' he thought.

"Miss Arakawa, let's follow me" Steven chirped. Saciel nodded and walked after Steven like a chick following its mother.

Meanwhile at the Arakawa residence, Kezia hugged her doll and rolled on the floor many times. His eyes were red and puffy, his lips pursed, his tail shrunk and his ears dropped. Phillip and Aunt who saw him were confused to make the little wolf girl cheerful again.

"I want nee!" his screams.

"Saciel's still working, Kezia. Come here, I'll give you a sweet treat if you smile" Phillip said.

"No want! Huhhh!" crying loudly. Phillip immediately held her and swung slowly.

"Hiks, where's my nee?"

"Uh? a rabbit?" his tail swayed quickly. His face began to brighten and his eyes sparkled.

"Yes, macaroon bunny," seduced Auntie.

"Uhhhh! I want!" reply jolly. "You are cute!"

"Smart kid" Phillip said as he lowered Kezia slowly so he wouldn't cry anymore. Aunt thrust a plate of rabbit-shaped macaroons at Kezia.

"Wah~'s mine all?" ask Kezia.

"Yes, this is Miss Kezia's all."

"Dam!" chirps. He took the plate and ate one. His tail swayed back quickly and his ears were upright. "Enak! Sweet and soft!"

"Thank God Miss likes her macaroon" Auntie said calmly. Kezia nodded and sat down on the sofa, chewing and enjoying his macaroon. "I made a smoked meat sandwich for Young Master. Would you like to be accompanied by a cup of coffee?"

"Oh, that's an interesting offer, of course I would," Phillip replied. Auntie immediately went to the kitchen, while Phillip sat down and opened the newspaper sheet he got. "Aah?"

"What's the nii?" ask Kezia.

"There's a human being stranded in a human village."

"Maybe it's my brother?!" kezia asked half a scream.

"I don't know. It's not certain because there's no guard there, maybe we can go see him" Phillip said. "The teleportation magic to get there would be dangerous, considering the human village was a bit afraid of witches. Our only choice is to use the train."

"Come there! Comeing! Come on!" take her while pulling Phillip's sleeve. The young man restrained Kezia and shook his head.

"We can't be rash, sweetie. Wait for Saciel for a second. Don't let a witch in this town know you're a demi-human" Phillip said.

"Hiks, uhh," isak Kezia. Suddenly the front door opened quite hard and Saciel entered while half running.

"Republica, Kezia. What...I think you heard the news?"

"I just opened the newspaper. So is there any development on the demi-human?" ask Phillip.

"Umm there is no current. The royal party planned to send guards to make sure of it. But you know, Erika won't stay silent about this news."

"Then how? We can't..to get there, right?" Phillip retaliated.

"Impossible. Very strict guard at the station. I just got out of there, "Saciel said.

"Nee, I want to go" said Kezia. Saciel immediately grabbed hold of her and patted the little wolf girl's back gently.

"Yes, baby, be patient. Nee will find a way out."

"What about teleportation magic?" chirps Phillip.

"It is possible, but we must do beyond the limits of the village. But I'm sure the guards are already there" Saciel said. "And I can't possibly let them see Kezia."

"Nee! I'm going!" jeremy Kezia.

"Dear, a minute? Nee.." The sentence was interrupted when someone knocked on the door. "Take him to his room. Now!"

Phillip immediately carried Kezia and ran up to the second floor, while Saciel rushed to open the door and found Parvati standing there with her friendly smile.

"Good day, Miss Arakawa. I hope my arrival doesn't bother you."

"O-oh not at all. Come in, it's too cold outside to talk" Saciel said, letting the maid in and closing the door.

"So, what was the need to come all the way here?" saciel asked after Parvati sat down.

"This is about the rumors that are circulating. I want Miss to rush to the human village to meet the demi-human" Parvati said. Saciel was surprised, yet he only fell silent for a moment.

"What do you mean?"

"Miss, I know exactly Miss doesn't like war. Therefore, it would be wise if I asked you to go there instead of sending the elders. Moreover, I can feel the demi-human aura here," Parvati said. Saciel tensed up, his hand started to emit lightning.

"The royal family is different. Even a demi-human aura can be felt by you," said Saciel stiffly.

"Miss, I have no intention of reporting that demi-human to the elders. In fact, I'm helping you to be able to save for the sake of another human being."

Saciel fell silent, slowly the lightning that enveloped his hand faded away. He just sighed and stared fixedly at Parvati.

"You know what you're doing is the biggest crime here?"

"That goes for you too, Miss. We are both in a dangerous situation, including Steven. If you accept my offer to leave, I will try to hold the guard back from leaving" Parvati said.

"How long?"

"About two hours. Too long it only risks inviting the elders' suspicions."

"That's more than enough. I better get ready to go. Thank you for the help," Saciel relaxed.

"No need to thank you, Miss. It's not okay. The storm is still continuing, so I hope you're careful."