After searching the entire first floor for Sir Chiron without finding him, we asked the nearest servant for help. While being helpful in telling us where to find him, they were very shocked at being approached by both Grimwald children and the Substitute of the house.
Making our way to the second floor through the main foyer stairs, we slowly made our way into uncharted territory.
The Upper South Rear Wing Hall.
In other words, the hallway to Sir Chiron's room, and more importantly, Lord Elgin's and Lady Phia's room.
In more words, a restricted area for me. While being a heavily incentivised 'Don't go there' for Leo and Lavinia.
Standing just at the fork, at the edge of the hallway, the three of us stared down the corridor with grim faces.
"So, uhhh, who wants to go first?" Leo asked hesitantly.
After a moment of silence, I spoke up, with the phoniest smile on my face, "How about I just drink a recovery potion? Then all shall be merry."
"That won't do," Lavinia said. "You still have training today, so you'll need your essence. Being at Initial integration means your essence is less potent. And with your injuries, it'll take a lot."
"Right. Well then, after you, my lady."
"Why me?" Lavinia yelped.
"Because you're the cause of this!" Leo said ahead of me. Snapping his head at his sister.
Remorseful at causing my injury, she took the first step into the hallway.
In reaction to this, Leo practically bolted down the hall with haste. "Well, since you took the first step, may as well!"
Standing just before Sir Chiron's room door, the three of us stared at the handle with grimer faces.
"So, who's going to knock?" Lavinia asked.
"Just don't let Rin do it." Leo quipped.
"I couldn't even if I wanted to."
Lavinia tilted her head in confusion, not understanding the meaning behind Leo's joke.
Exhaling tiredly, Leo rose his knuckle to the door. "Let's just get this over with. We've got a friend to heal, right?"
Leo knocked rhythmically three times. "Sir Chrion, are you there? We require some assistance."
As Leo's voice flattened out, we were only met with silence.
No shuffling from behind the door, or the ringing out of a voice.
"You think he's still asleep?" I asked.
"No way. He gets up earlier than Lavinia to help the other servants in the morning."
"Then where could he be? The servant from earlier said he was still up here. In fact, he seemed uncertain, like he hadn't seen him yet."
"I'm unsure." Leo spoke. "Perhaps we should ask father?"
The three of us slowly craned our necks towards the only other door down the hall.
Lavinia responded. Dragging out each word slowly. "Bother him… this early in the morning… genius…"
Stepping towards the menacing door of Lord Elgin's room, we moved through the hallway with zero haste.
As we drew closer, the sound of faint mumbling of voices rose. Instilling us with more fear.
This is just a great idea! Bothering possibly the scariest man I know–the Lord of this estate–so early in the morning the sun hasn't even risen; asking for the whereabouts of his personal assistant; all because we decided to have an unsanctioned duel; in which his feisty daughter decided it would be a stellar idea to test out a new technique on an untrained punching bag!
Fantastic!
Just fantastic!
Drawing closer to the door still, my feet moved on their own. More out of obligation than actual will.
The closer we came, the louder and clearer the voices became. It was definitely a man and a woman's voice, and they sounded… agitated.
Are they having a fight?!
Fascinating!
Truly fascinating just how crap this morning has become!
We are about to barge in on an intense conversation, between a husband and wife, about a matter that doesn't even concern them!
What are we even supposed to say at that point?!
'Sorry your love's being strained right now, but my arms don't work.'
Wow! I am really worked up today?
Close enough to make out the voices, confusion settled over the three of us.
"Am I hearing things, or is that Sir Chiron's voice?" Lavinia pointed out.
"That's… definitely his…?" Leo stumbled through his words.
Waiting another moment, a new realization came over us.
There is no third voice. Lord Elgin… isn't in there.
Standing before the door, my heart beat felt like it was going to rip through my chest. And a lump formed in my throat.
I couldn't speak.
Without discussion between us, Lavinia raised her hand towards the door. Only to stop mere centimeters away, frozen by the words from Lady Phia.
"Come in, you three." Her voice was a mixture of hesitation and exactness.
Wrapping her hand around the door handle, Lavinia slowly twisted it until the door popped open a crack. Light shone through the slit in the door, casting a line of light into the dimly lit hallway.
Pushing the door, she released her grip, letting it swing open to reveal the contents of the room.
Lady Phia was sitting at the foot of her bed, which was situated at the centre and against the opposite wall of the room. The bed sheets were a deep, dark blue. She was still dressed in her nightgown, which did not do much to conceal her prominent, lean figure.
Sir Chiron was standing off to the side of the bed, halfway between Lady Phia and the right-hand wall. He stood with his arms crossed, with his right foot kicked out ahead of him, and slouching in a lean. It was the least elegant I've ever seen him stand since I've come to the estate. He was already in his formal attire, but his hair was a little unkempt.
It felt deeply wrong to be staring inside the room. Like I've committed a sin and should be struck down.
"Come in, close the door behind you." Lady Phia spoke softly. A hint of weariness in her voice.
The three of us glanced around the room, searching for abnormalities. When the only abnormal things seemed to be the two of them, we stepped in further, Leo taking the lead.
"What's going on? Where's father?" Leo asked.
Lady Phia's eyes widened upon noticing my arms, before looking down with a shake of her head.
Her reaction was screaming, 'Of course.'
She nodded her head towards Sir Chiron. Without hesitation, he speedily made his way over to me, his essence already unleashed in preparation to heal.
As Lavinia closed the door behind us with a click, Lady Phia's eyes narrowed.
"It's… about last night. Your father… my… stupid husband," she laughed to herself with a pained chuckle. "He… has yet… to return. We don't know where he is. And based on the way he stormed off last night… we're assuming the worst."
"What's… the worst?" I asked hesitantly. Wincing slightly from my muscles mending themselves.
She gave me a slight smile that brought a chill down my spine. "Well, this family is made from a long line of spiteful men. My guess, he's killing someone. Or… planning too, at least."
Crap!
It's not me is it!?
I couldn't help but have that thought flash through my mind. Along with a bunch of different ways he might kill me.
Strangulation, a stab through the heart, a ray of death, burning to death, ripped apart in his Transformation as a sick joke, tortured, having my core ripped out of my body.
Quite frankly, there are thousands of ways he could go about it.
But one fact would stay the same.
A twisted smile and crazed laughter as he happily purged the disease infecting his family.
What does a crazy man's laughter sound like?
My mind spun trying to imagine.
I might find out?
"Quit your lurching, Disciple Rin. Or the longer this shall take." Sir Chrion held me steady, knocking me out of my thoughts.
"There's no need to worry, dear." Lady Phia reassured. "It's very unlikely you will be his target. Besides, I wouldn't let that happen. Simply think of this as his way of calming down."
So… he's done this before?!
"The best thing to do is to carry on with your day, and await his return." Lady Phia finished.
"I agree," Sir Chiron added. "Why don't you three head down for breakfast? Disciple Rin, we shall continue your training after that." He held a gracious smile for a moment before speaking again, "And someone go wake Noble Kuno."