'Just great, now where in the heck did she go.'
Godmother was sitting at a glowing table, whilst the rest of the group she attended with, had sat beside her. A few other guests she noticed would come by now and again, giving small talk, speaking about the world, and so on. She was most perplexed because she couldn't see nor sense where Yaffa was. Trying not to cause another scuffle, she limited her sensory skills to a simple meter radius. It's not huge, but no one in her party had seen her.
Just as she began to worry she took a peak at what the family took little pride in, that being their illustrious garden. In total ruin, complete and utter shambles, fountain heads, and broken stone walkways littered the colorful plants that flourished in a sophisticated design. Shrubs and other greenery were all pulled from the ground, and torn to pieces.
'How did that... How could I not sense such destruction, has no one else looked out...'
Before she could finish her thought, she saw a simple torn piece of cloth, a beautiful cloth that even at the height from which she looked, could only be of the finest materials. Materials only her sect monopolized.
'That damn brat!!!'
Her blood was practically boiling, steam was seen bubbling off her open skin, getting up immediately. She jumped to an already fast-paced walk, rushing through the tables.
A few in her party were trying to speak, but she blew past them so fast for her to even notice. Darting about, she ran into Father Xyken.
'Just great.'
"Ah. Sir Xyken, apologies for the bluntness as I'm in a hurry, but you wouldn't have possibly seen my daughter anywhere?"
"Hmm, which one?"
His curled eyes pointed to obviously he knew which, for there was truly only one.
'This damn man! Cool just get this over with, it's an emergency.'
"Oh you know, the youngest, she's quite small in fact."
"Now that you mention it, I did see someone walking out the back, she was very colorful, and the dress was gorgeous. She might have headed into the garden. Though why would...?"
'Shit! I already know all this, I need to get moving before he continuously stalls for time.'
"Well thank you, I think I'll head over there, I wouldn't want to just wander around your estate."
Her voice gave a tingly sweetness that upset the stomach. Her quick pace accelerated her strides as she wooshed past Father Xyken.
"Hey, call the 'Lion Guard Squad,' keep an eye on her, but from afar. To close and she'll catch you. And send the 'Dogs' as well, we need to catch a little pink-haired girl."
He said in a low, but the direct tone, quietly pulling up his watch to his face as he gave out the orders.
'Well, that's done. I will make sure to get rid of you one day, today will just be the beginning of those plans.'
***
Outside in the side courtyard stood the gorgeous Godmother looking up and down with the most enhanced sight she could use. The clear moonlight made it all the easier, truly infuriating her.
'It shouldn't be this damn hard to find her. Fuck it, I'll just have to go with that.'
[Tania are you there]
Godmother rang out to her subordinate.
[Godmother, you're using mind speech, what's the problem!]
Tania was complete, in a setting such as this, using mind speech is like declaring something bad enough has happened to warrant creating a plan. A plan would only be needed if war was to break loose. Tania may have to go to battle tonight.
[Worry not, it's nothing too frightening, Yaffa has gone missing. I need you to send all who are keeping watch around the perimeter of the estate, and make them locate her 'immediately']
[Of course Godmother]
Cutting off, Tania set out to find the child, soon being in disbelief as the second she was announcing orders. One of her 'Owls' relayed a message, in a mere blink she began hopping from tree to tree.
'Damn, why is this estate so huge.'
Tania had just been informed that one of the scouts located around the perimeter had seen Yaffa and two other individuals go into a side mansion separate from the main estate building where the banquet was being held. Near the eastern portion of the estate. Tania figured she was still somewhere on the property, for if she had tried to leave, one of the scouts would have informed her a long time ago. The only problem is who are the two other individuals with her.
'Yaffa's not weak, so I can't imagine anyone around here could've taken her and kidnapped her. Especially considering Godmother is here.'
[Have any of you gotten any more information, who are the two with Yaffa]
[Ah...Ta...Shit! she's too strong, ah... Miss Ta...]
'The transmission cut off, damn. This is why I suggested we teach all trainees that come into the Owls should learn at least the basics of mind speech. I knew I was right. Those stupid old-timers. Well anyway, this is a problem, from what I could hear on the other side, it seemed the majority of everyone was out. Even if Yaffa is strong, she's still just barely '12'. I can't imagine her taking out half of them. Not just that, my communicators keep shutting down, meaning someone is going out and hunting my subordinates. This for sure isn't Yaffa. Should I just call Godmother, she left this task specifically to me. If gets involved, then a real war could start. Alright, think, if not all the Owls are dead or incapacitated. He said 'She's too strong.' It's a woman. But this estate only has a few women.'
[Godmother do you read me]
[Yes, do you have Yaffa]
[Not yet, I'm getting to her, but just in case, can you see if the two daughters of the Xyken are anywhere]
[Why... Nevermind. I can see both of them, they're talking with some young gentlemen. Something better not be happening. Tania]
That last part was especially menacing as it gave Tania a sharp headache, making her slip from one of the branches on a tree. Crashing her back into the ground.
[N-no need to worry Godmother, I'm handling it] 'Ugh, shit that hurts.'
[...Hmm. Okay]
'I got to really hurry, if my assumption is right, then it has to be one of the nine head maids of the Xyken. Each one is specially trained to face off against at least a '6-star Martial Practitioner.' Which in my case would be extremely dangerous, I've barely hit the 5-star. If this is all the case then it makes sense why she could beat all the Owls. The only problem is why. This is truly confusing. Well as long as it's not the main three, we were told if, in confrontation with any single one of them, we must run immediately or slit our throats before they can do anything.'
***
At the beginning of when this was all taking place, Lull, Jimi, and Yaffa were heading into Jimi's secondary mansion.
"Don't worry, no one even comes around this side of the estate, so we'll be fine."
"We better be, I can't believe we almost walked an entire mile just so we can be in another mansion that looks exactly like the other one."
"Oh stop complaining, Lull's not having any issues."
"Ya! That's because he's about to pass out, he has no time to complain!"
"Well you know, maybe you wouldn't be so damn tired if you didn't try beating the crap out of us!"
"Hmph!"
"Seriously. Well whatever, Lull you can take a bath or shower first. Though we call it a mansion, it's more of a really large one-bedroom apartment. Built entirely for me, there is a powder room, but you obviously can't take showers in there. So we'll each take turns."
"Ugh! Seriously, why must I have to take a shower after him, are you gonna try to make me take a shower after you too."
"Yep."
"Urgghh!"
'Damn him!'
Just as they were about to open the door a bright light clicked on and the door swung open swiftly. In front of the three was a simple-looking woman with sharp glasses that gave her a stoic vibe. Her skin was clear and simple, her brown hair was tightly bundled into a bun, and her maid uniform was just as simple and clean as her presence.
"Welcome home young master."
"Mildred! W-what are you doing here."
"The Patriarch doesn't need every maid to assist in the banquet, especially me, it would simply be what you like to call 'overkill' sir Jimi."
"Ah."
"Welcome sir Lull, and whom may this sweet-looking young lady be."
"Sweet! Maybe your glasses are broken, there is nothing sweet about her."
"Is that so, well come inside. Shoes off please."
As the two boys walked in first Mildred would look over at Yaffa. Quickly noticing this Yaffa began to introduce herself.
"Oh. My apologies for the rudeness," with a light curtsey and bow, "I'm Yaffa Vintraliastor."
"Oh my. Well, it is nice to meet Miss Yaffa, you can simply call me Mildred."
"Why thank you. It is nice to meet you as well, Mildred."
'Why of course I need no introduction to who you are. Mildred. It's shocking how the main family who orders these people around, is severely weaker than them. It really makes no sense. Though I'm a bit scared. Sure she's a tad weaker than Godmother. But even Godmother said not to piss off a specific three people, and she's one of them. I could stab Jimi's father for all Godmother could care about, the thing is I can make him mad, I can't make three "maids" mad. How ridiculous. As silly as it is, I'm not gonna be stupid this time. I'll die if I tried to fight an 8-star martial master. So I'm not gonna.'
Finishing her thoughts the three finally made it to Jimi's bedroom.
"Haaaaa!" Jimi let out a deep sigh, face-planting into his oversized bed.
"Why is this room so big?"
"Why? Don't you also have a room the size of this?"
"No. That's stupid, Godmother would be pissed if we wasted money like that."
"Waste money!" Jimi quieted down for a second and then muttered to himself, "If this is wasting money, then what do you call the main house bedroom or Father's bedroom? That isn't wasting money, that's like burning it in front of the poor. Well, it doesn't matter, not like we'll ever run out." Jimi then shrugged his shoulders as he began to properly sit back up.
"Lull you can go first, it's the same type of shower system in my other house."
"Okay. Can I borrow one of your shirts and shorts?"
"Ah ya sure, actually you can just keep, it'll be a bother trying to remember all that. So just forget about it and keep um."
"Alright, I'll be out in a bit."
"Alright, now we get to you."
"Me, what about me huh?"
"You need some clothes too don't you?"
"Ya and?"
"I'm trying to be nice, but whatever. Mildred comes to help. You know that box full of Theia's old clothes she had. Well, help her pick something out. Considering the type of person she is, by the time she picks something, Lull and I will already be done cleaning up."
"Type of person? What type of person am I, huh?!"
Jimi simply responded with a point and Mildred firmly grabbed Yaffa's shoulder and directed her to the secondary room where all the boxes were.
'Damn him, when I get the chance, I'll properly finish you off.'
'She turned extra annoying real quick. I hate saying it because it makes me sound like a freak, but I preferred her when she was just kicking our asses.'
In the other room, Mildred and Yaffa were sifting through clothes.
"UHHHHH! This is so boring, also these clothes suck. Why are they all so frilly, most of them are all white or light yellow? Who would wear this?"
"The eldest lady of the house, and you shouldn't worry too much about Yaffa for you'll look pretty in anything you wear."
"Uh, thanks."
Yaffa clearly responded with a rough smile that twitched ever so slightly.
"You're welcome. Oh how about this, I remember when the young miss would wear this everywhere."
"Hmm it's not bad I suppose, but why the heck does she have a t-shirt like this? Plus these short jeans, I've never even seen shorts that can be, well, to put it bluntly, short."
"It's quite blanking on me at the moment. Maybe when I see her sometime, I'll ask," Mildred mumbled.
"Well I got what I needed, so let's head back."
"Alright let us do that then."
The two left the room, shortly arriving back at Jimi's bedroom. On the bed, they could see Lull laying by the side of the large bed staring at the wall with a remote in his hand. Hearing the shower turn on, Yaffa figured that Lull had just gotten out, so in fashion, she took up a chair. Not jumping on the bed of course for she wouldn't want to soil it, as much as she hated Jimi, she wasn't that petty.
Being about a few inches apart, Yaffa could smell the sweet scent of Lull's wet hair and the crisp ocean scent that exuded from his body.
'What the hell, why does his hair smell so good? Hmm, he looks cooler with his wet hair. The wait is that plum, what guy uses plum-scented anything, let alone for washing their hair.'
"Umm, not like I'm completely bothered, but you're kinda bli=ocking my view of the television."
"A-ah, oh, sorry."
Yaffa without realizing had stood up and was continuously sniffing his hair. Once she jumped back into her seat, she would begin to scoot it, putting about a foot of space between. She then turned her back to him and burrowed her face into her knees as she clenched them tight.
During the entire event, both Mildred and Lull kept completely blank faces, Lull was slightly flush. He chalked it up to the fact he just got out of the shower.
As quickly as it ended, Jimi hopped out from the door, shirtless and with a towel around his neck with simple black shorts. Jumping onto the bed, Jimi turned up and sat, seeing what Lull was watching, then he noticed something.
"What the hell happened to her?"
"Well, she bega..."
"Shush!" Covering Lull's mouth with her hand, her face was like a tomato and she began to tremble.
'This is seriously the worst. I think I may cry from embarrassment.'
"Well if you're already up, hurry, I want to go play some games. So take your damn shower already."
"Fine." As she walked past the two she then got an odd whiff of another scent, 'Mango, now they're just messing with me. I thought that guys wore really bad-smelling cologne and crap like that.' Just as she was thinking all this she looked in to see two bottles of shampoo and two bottles of conditioner. Both had a mango scent and a plum scent.
'Is this for real, that's the same brand I use, can this day get any worse? I thought this was gonna be fun, but on the walk here, I was messed with and insulted. And anything I said just flew by them. Then I encounter one of the most dangerous people I could possibly meet, so I can't do anything to them or I could anger her. And now the past minutes, however long, were probably the most embarrassing thing I've ever done.'
"Well let's just get this over with."
Pouting Yaffa began to undress and then turned on the water.
"Finally, it seemed like she was taking forever before she turned the water on."
"Hmm, Jimi, why are you helping her out?"
"Why? Because I know we can't get rid of her, so might as well just try to be nice and let her assimilate into our group. Though it's just the two of us, I feel she'll most likely meet everyone else someday."
"Hmm, Okay, I guess I didn't think that far. Ya, you're right."
"Well I do wish she would hurry up, I didn't care too much for your long shower, but I purposely took a pretty quick one so we can hurry to the basement."
"She'll probably not take too long."
"I hope so."
"So we're going to the basement."
"Ya, considering I wanted to leave the land, I found it easier to just use this place."
"Makes sense now. I also found it quite odd that you would drag me on such a long walk, knowing I have zero athletics genes in this frail body. But now it makes sense."
"You ain't mad, r-right L."
"Of course not." Lull gave a faint smile.
'Holy **** he's pissed."
Whilst the two boys were chatting, Mildred noticed something outside the window.
'So they're here. I knew they put scouts out, but I didn't think they were gonna be so fast coming from the border outside the estate. Should I grab my sword, no it will only scare the kids, I'll handle this quietly with my fists.'
"Hey, wasn't Mildred just there."
"I don't know I wasn't looking."
"L. come on man, you can't be that upset. Come on, once Yaffa gets out we'll go straight downstairs and have some fun."
"Ya, I suppose. But I'm getting sleepy. HUAM!"
"Urk! Did you need to yawn so loud?"
"What time is it?"
"Ugh, uh let me check. Says it's 24:52."
"Ah man, why is it so late? Is that party still going on?"
"Well it is a night banquet, and it started about two or so hours ago. It probably ain't over yet."
"Hey, do you hear that?"
"Hear wha... Wait, I think I do."
***
"Shit! She's too strong! Ta... Argh!" The man flailed about dropping to the ground in a spray of blood.
"Oh my, well wasn't that intense. I should change quickly and head back to the children... Or not. Why are there so many of you."
***
"It seems to have quieted down, I can't hear much else anymore," Jimi said looking perplexed.
'I definitely heard, but there shouldn't be many people or any people over here. So it couldn't be that.'
Whilst Jimi was contemplating all these things, Yaffa finally came out of the bathroom, rubbing her hair with a towel and she began to look at the two boys that seemed to be quite frightened.
"Geez, am I that scary to you guys."
"Huh! Oh no," responded Jimi as his thoughts were broken.
"Well anyway do you have a hairdryer, I hate just having to dry with only a towel."
"Uh ya It should be somewhere on the left, top or bottom cabinet, can't remember."
"Alright, thanks."
As Yaffa was walking back into the bathroom, Lull spoke in an unusually meek voice.
"Umm, Jimi did you not just see..."
"Not right now, I'm trying to think."
"B-but she's wearing the b-birthday present."
"Stop stuttering, I know the outside is a little... Wait what did you just say?"
Jimi gave a shocking shower over his face. Looking at Lull as if to say, 'If you're wrong or trying to play some trick, then you're dead.'
Lull's face stiffened. "She's wearing the clothes we picked out for your sister, five or so years ago."
"Damn her, how dare she, out of everything she could've... FUCK!" Jimi's face was pulsing red, his hair began to stand and his veins bulged aggressively across his arms and neck.
"Well it's really just the t-shirt which is a bit too big for her, so she tucked it into these short jean shorts. She definitely didn't know. Should we just ask her to change?"
Jimi said nothing, his face solely looking to the ground.
Yaffa in turn did not hear the later stages of the conversation, with her blow drying her hair, but Jimi's yell was loud enough to overtake it. She then swiftly turned the dryer off and ran out the bathroom door.
"W-what happened, is everything okay." 'That yell was intense, the amount of bloodlust and rage almost made me vomit. Oh shit... Why is he looking at me like that?'
"YAFFA."
"Y-ya."
"You finished?"
"Uh-huh." She could only nod as she answered him, the boy whose face showed the purest of anger.
'Holy! He's scary, really scary like he's gonna kill me scary.'
Whilst all this was going down, Mildred leaped through the window, the glass shattering everywhere as she rolled in clenching her hands on Jimi's shoulders and swiveling her head like a possessed parrot.
"Young master! Are you alright?!" Mildred could be visibly shaking, but her aura kept calm.
"It's fine I just stubbed my toe a little," Jimi gave in a somber tone as he put on a shaky smile.
'That was no type of reaction one would give to simply stubbing a toe. Her. I see now, how could I forget.'
"Hah, Well young master shall we head down, you brought your 'friends' for a reason."
"Yes alright, Lull turn off the telly. Yaffa we're going down."
Lull clicked the off button, hopping up and following Jimi's side, Yaffa was purely silent as she slowly walked behind them.
'Why is he so mad, what did I do?'
"Mildred, are you not coming?"
"Ah, well, young master, it seems I have an urgent matter to attend to, it will be quick. So worry not."
"Okay."
As the three kids headed to the hallway elevator, Tania came jumping through the already broken window.
"Now who could you be?"
"Where's Yaffa?"
"The girl is going to play games with her friends."
"Bullshit! What friends, huh? Where have you hidden her? I won't take any more stupid excuses."
Mildred sighed softly as she formed a crystalizing sword, its multi-reflective blade clashed with the moonlight. Creating a glittery rainbow effect.
"The 'Sword of Damocles.' Your..." Taking in a small gulp, "Mildred."
As if timed to a beat of a drum, a rapid current of thunder erupted in the distance, the lightning too far to make a noticeable change in the lighting.
'I'm screwed, an 8-star. I'm dead no matter what. How should I handle this? How can I save the Princess?'