Chapter 9: Oath Under the Moonlight.
Daemon looked at her without expression. Then he shrugged. "I wouldn’t say no. Anyway, what worse could happen to me."
" Huh? "
" You can go ahead. " Daemon entered the basin without adding another word.
Luna sighed as she left the bathroom. She was frankly exhausted. She who thought that this bastard had fallen for her, that she would be able to manipulate him easily. What an idiot. This dog Daemon just needed a maid to traumatize.
In the hallway, a maid crossed paths with her. "It must have been tough today." said the maid with a sympathetic smile.
" He is really unbearable. " Luna let her frustration explode. " If every day is like this, I won’t last. "
The maid laughed softly. " Don’t worry. The young master usually treats his employees well. It’s just that... today, like every year on this date, he is quite bitter. "
Luna raised an eyebrow. " Hm? "
" Seven years ago, today exactly, he learned of the old Patriarch’s death. " The maid lowered her voice. " And his chi core was sealed the same day, by his own mother. These painful memories make him quite irritable. "
Luna nodded slowly. " I see. "
She went out into the courtyard. Night had fallen, and the moon was beginning to rise in the sky. She walked to the back of the garden and found a small isolated building, a sort of stone chapel with the appearance of an altar. She sat down behind it, leaning against the wall, and took a cigarette out of her pocket. She lit it with a silver lighter, took a deep drag, and blew the smoke toward the sky.
" Irritable my ass. " she murmured. " This idiot has a gift for fueling my hatred. He’s doing it on purpose, it can’t be. "
She continued smoking, cigarette after cigarette, until the moon was high in the night sky. The courtyard was silent, only the crickets breaking the calm.
It was at that moment that she heard a noise inside the chapel.
She got up silently and looked through the dusty stained-glass window.
Daemon had entered the chapel.
Indeed, it was an altar in memory of the old Patriarch. In the center, there was a framed sketch representing a man with long black hair and blue eyes, with a slight well-trimmed beard. The man looked noble and proud, one hand resting on the pommel of his sword. It was the old Patriarch: Lloyd Lancelot Dagon.
The altar was adorned with many fresh flowers and incense sticks.
Daemon approached slowly. He raised his hand and touched the sword placed on a wooden stand, in front of the sketch. It was the only thing left of his father after his death.
" It’s me, father. " Daemon said in a strangely calm voice. " Your pathetic son. "
He looked at the sketch with an unreadable expression. Luna could not see his face from the window, but she could hear his voice.
" It’s already been seven years since you abandoned me. " His voice trembled slightly. " You really are the worst father. Why did you choose that mission? Why didn’t you stay home that day? "
He paused, gripping the pommel of the sword.
" If you were still here, Persephone would never have sealed my chi core. " His voice became more bitter. " All of this is your fault. "
Daemon remained silent for a long moment. In his heart, only melancholy and anger remained against this situation he could not change.
" Look at me... Even now, I blame someone else. In reality, I know that I am the one who is pathetic. "
He released the sword and took a step back.
" I have never been as talented as Kristian. I have never had your charisma, your strength, your courage... Maybe I didn’t deserve to be the heir of the Sword Clan in the first place. "
He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.
" Everyone tells me to stay here, to live my life as if nothing happened. And here I am, playing the fool. Whereas if you were in my place, you would have already found a way to unseal your energy center. You would have shut the mouths of all these hypocrites. "
He raised his head toward the sketch.
" But unfortunately, I am not like you, father. " He exhaled slowly. " Your son is weak. "
A silence fell over the chapel.
Then a voice echoed from the doorway.
" It’s true that you don’t look like Lancelot’s son. "
Daemon turned around abruptly. Luna was leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, her extinguished cigarette between her fingers.
" Ah... Master. " Daemon quickly wiped the tears flowing down his cheeks. " You saw me in a rather embarrassing situation. "
" Now I’m your master? " Luna sneered. " Even though you just made me live through a shitty day? "
Daemon scratched his head with a sheepish look. " It was necessary, master. No one must know our true relationship. If everyone thinks you are my maid, they won’t suspect anything about your true identity. "
Luna stared at him. " You really have some nerve. "
Luna shook her head and entered the chapel. She examined the sketch of Lloyd for a moment. " Anyway, why exactly did Persephone seal your chi core? "
" How should I know? " Daemon shrugged. " You should ask the hysterical madwoman who served as my mother. "
Luna remained silent. They left the chapel and started walking side by side in the garden, under the moonlight.
" So you needed me as a master to open your chi core? " Luna asked.
Daemon nodded. " Only you are capable of it since you don’t care about setting all the clans against you. "
Luna took out a new cigarette and lit it. She took a deep drag, then blew out the smoke. " Well, even if I wanted to, your uncle severely damaged my energy center. Right now, I am not so different from a normal human. "
Daemon turned toward her. " I can help you heal your chi core. In exchange, you take me as your disciple. "
Luna thought for a moment. " So, this relationship will end when I have helped you reach the First Sense of the Sword, and my chi core is restored. A fair exchange? "
Daemon smiled then hugged Luna.
" Thank you, master! "
" Let me go! " Luna tried to free herself. " And wipe the snot running from your nose first! "
" Ah... " Daemon stepped back and wiped his nose with his sleeve. Then he bowed deeply.
" This disciple greets his master. I will not disappoint you. I will be diligent. "
Luna nodded. She threw her half-smoked cigarette on the ground and crushed it with the tip of her foot.
" We’ll see about that tomorrow. " she said in a neutral tone. " For now, let’s continue this master and servant masquerade. "
She turned around and began walking toward the manor.
Daemon watched her walk away. And under the moonlight, an oath had just bound two destinies forever.