Chapter 4: The only person who can open my Chi Core...
One hour later, Daemon was clean, washed, combed and dressed in a blue tunic that brought out the golden color of his eyes. He was waiting for his cousin in the manor’s grand living room.
The door opened and Kristian entered, accompanied by two armored guards.
"It’s been a while, Kristian." said Daemon while laughing. He stepped forward and shook his cousin’s hand warmly.
Kristian nodded, a slight smile on his lips. Even though it had been some time since they had seen each other, they remained cousins and friends. Daemon felt no jealousy toward Kristian. If someone had to be blamed for ruining his life, it was his mother, and no one else. Kristian had nothing to do with it, and Daemon had always known how to make the distinction.
"Daemon, you are still full of energy." replied Kristian with a slight smile. He examined his cousin from head to toe. "You look good. Mallory feeds you well, it seems."
"Greetings to you, Lord Kristian, heir of the Spring House and of the Sword Clan." Mallory bowed deeply, her hands joined in front of her.
"Greetings to you, Steward Mallory." Kristian bowed in return, with respect. "I thank you for having taken care of my cousin all this time. Without you, I do not know what would have become of him."
"No need to thank me." added Mallory. Her eyes suddenly became watery, and she brought a handkerchief to her eyelids. "I only did my duty."
Kristian looked at her, surprised. "You are crying? Has Daemon really caused you trouble?"
"No, that is not the case." Mallory sniffed. "I am just emotional. I feel like I am seeing the late patriarch Lloyd and Lord Dorian reunited when I look at you two. Time passes so quickly..."
"Ah..." said Kristian, not knowing quite what to answer.
Daemon rolled his eyes. "Steward Mallory is just hypersensitive, Kristian. Let’s go, leave her to her emotions."
Kristian called his guards, who brought several chests. There was rare tea, wine, precious fabrics and others. Then the two cousins settled around a low table in the dining room. A refined feast was served.
"So, how is my uncle doing? I thought he would come too."
Kristian drank a sip of wine. "Hmm, he has had way too much paperwork lately. He sends his regards."
"Hmm, okay." Daemon chewed his bread with a thoughtful look. "I heard that you are close to the third sense of the sword. Congratulations, that is impressive for your age."
"With you no longer preventing me from training with your crazy ideas, I have much more time to perfect myself." Kristian smiled.
"Ahaha, that’s true." Daemon burst out laughing. "At one time, I was always dragging you into my delusions. I don’t remember how many times we got punished because of that."
"Yeah..." Kristian smiled with a nostalgic look. His blue eyes seemed to see those distant days again, when they were two kids running in the corridors of the domain while hiding from the maids.
There was a comfortable silence between them.
Then Kristian put down his glass. "Anyway, how are you really doing, Daemon?" His voice had become more serious. "I think that if I ask my father, he will let you come back to the main domain. You could at least visit."
Daemon shook his head. "I feel good here. Apart from you and my uncle, everyone in the Sword Clan would prefer to see me dead. I prefer to stay here, far from their contemptuous looks." He paused, then his voice became more bitter. "It’s bastard, by the way, they don’t even want to help me reopen my energy center."
"It’s not really their fault, Daemon." Kristian lowered his eyes. "Even I, even if I were at master level, I could not do it. The Sword Clan would be very poorly regarded if it violated the order of a Matriarch. No one would take us seriously anymore. And besides, if other masters tried to take you as a disciple, it would be a lack of respect toward our clan." He raised his head. "I am sorry, but no one can open your chi core."
Daemon remained silent. Then he spoke in a lower voice. "There is one person."
"Who?"
"Someone who fears no clan and has no accounts to render to anyone. Not even to the Imperial family."
"The Sorcery Clan? You know very well that they are neutral. They will never intervene in the affairs of another clan, it is their rule."
"I am not talking about the Sorcery Clan." Daemon looked him straight in the eyes. "But about Blood Moon. He does not fear the Sword Clan. If he took me as a disciple..."
"Shh!" Kristian raised a hand to interrupt him. He glanced toward the door to check that no one was listening. "He is a criminal, Daemon. Do not talk about this kind of thing out loud. It can cause you serious problems."
"Yeah, but I don’t care." Daemon crossed his arms. "My whole life was ruined by a hysterical madwoman who blocked my chi core. And no one wants to help me fix what she did. I myself don’t even know why Persephone hated me so much." He shrugged. "Anyway, now it no longer matters."
Kristian drank a glass of wine while observing his cousin over the rim of his cup. "If you want my opinion, even if you were a chi User, you would never have gone beyond the first sense. Anyway, you would be as lazy as you are today." He burst out laughing.
"You are calling me lazy?" Daemon planted his fork in the table. "Dude, have you seen how flourishing the Thirteenth District is? I am the one managing all that."
"Thanks to Steward Mallory." Kristian chuckled.
"Yeah, that’s it, mock my fate." Daemon stood up to take another bottle of wine from the buffet.
Kristian put down his fork. "Anyway, I have something that will please you."
"What is it?"
Kristian searched in his pocket and took out a small box. On the lid, the crest of the Sorcery Clan was engraved in silver letters: an eight-pointed star. He pushed the box toward Daemon. "She has been harassing me for months to give you this."
Daemon looked at the box without opening it. He remained silent for a long moment. "Why didn’t she come herself?"
"You know how protective her mother is." Kristian sighed. "She made me a list of questions she wanted me to ask you, and a questionnaire to fill out about your current situation. But it is way too embarrassing." He got up from the table. "Just send her a letter. Stop playing the distant guy, it doesn’t suit you."
Kristian glanced out the window. "Anyway, I have to go..."
Daemon nodded, the box still in his hands. His golden eyes rested on the crest of the Sorcery Clan.
"Luci’El Daeth..." he murmured with a nostalgic look. "It’s been a long time."