Marked Ones: Advent of the Demon Prince

Their setup worked out quite well. Since Rena and Lyrah were out in public, they chatted to one another the entire time. As a maid, she was already pushing the line by sharing a table with her master, so she was able to avoid participating in the conversation actively.

She still listened to them on the occasion, but relished these moments where she could simply enjoy the wind in her hair and the fragrant scent of high-quality tea leaves. The specialty of this shop was these small, airy cookie-like treats with different kinds of fillings called macarons. Ever since Lyrah had introduced them to the girls, Natali had developed a slight obsession.

Once upon a time, that obsession was put towards crepes, but no longer did they hold a place in her heart of hearts.

"Natali, are you doing well?"

Rena\'s voice pulled her out of her little world. She kept a frown from forming on her face because she was enjoying her peace, but since she was directly addressed, she was required to respond, even in public.

"I am quite alright." She whispered.

Rena gave her a gentle smile. They had grown closer since the first time they met. With the odd shove towards each other from Lyrah, they developed a kinship of sorts. The red-headed girl found it odd that they both expressed interest in Lucius, but when Lyrah casually explained that growing up she had several visions about the boy and that led to a childhood crush of sorts.

Natali fumed, in her own way, when her secret was revealed to the lover of the very boy that had captured her heart, but Rena did not seem to mind. Nor did she give off any air of superiority for having been the one to \'seal the deal,\' as it were. Granted, the deal was not TRULY sealed, after all, they only kissed…

"Are you daydreaming about my boyfriend again?"

Natali scratched her last thought about the girl not lording her position over her.

"No. I was thinking how much closer we have gotten, but maybe I was wrong if you were going to act like that…" Natali answered quietly.

The response elicited a series of teasing giggles from Lyrah and Rena. Even Natali smiled warmly, though for only a moment.

"Well!" Lyrah said, clapping her hands. "Shall we go? Oh, there was a novel you wanted to share with me Rena, shall we go to your room?"

"Oh yes! The one about the commoner turned hero! Yes, come back to my dorm. We can continue our discussion there and Natali won\'t have to act so distant with us!" Rena giggled.

Natali quickly finished her tea, stood and dusted her apron before bowing and gesturing for the two girls to move ahead of her. The too stood and they headed together back to the academy.

When they approached the school, Thomas von Petra was there along with his most ardent supporters at the school. With him were sons of the Rolf, Arnold, Burgess, and Kirby houses.

"Ah, cousin, what are you up to this fine morning?" Thomas said to a concert of snickering from the other nobles.

"I am spending time with my dear friends. Why do you care?" Rena jeered. If looks could kill, Thomas would have been sent to his grave several times over.

"Don\'t waste your time cozying up to the next Oracle. It won\'t win you your spot back in the running for the head of the household you know… the best you could hope for is to listen to Uncle and marry into a minor noble family. Oh! How about House Arnold. Warren, what do you think of my cousin?" Thomas laughed.

Warren, who had both a non-descript personality and appearance, stepped forward while chuckling. "I appreciate your kind offer. I would love to cement an alliance between our houses. Though, Lord Petra, I am concerned about the diseases I might contract from having a Marked One\'s sloppy seconds."

"I\'m sure that\'s something several hundred castings of Terrance\'s light magic spells could cure. Or maybe we can have her purified by a priest?" Thomas chuckled. One of the other boys, Terrance Rolf, laughed along with him and mocked the movements of casting a spell. Though, he made no effort to actually use any mana.

"I would caution you against even acting as though you are casting a spell in the presence of Lady Lyrah." Natali glared icily at the boys. "I would hate to mistake it for an act of violence and need to protect her."

A few of the boys gulped because they had seen her fight in combat classes. The maid was seen as quite the formidable opponent and not one of them were interested in crossing blades with her. As the guardian and servant of Lyrah, the castle and crown would side with her for assuming that the next Oracle was under perceived threat.

"Besides." She continued. "We are all about to start as official first years soon. And we would hate for anyone to miss the senior exhibition as well as class assignments."

This time Thomas gulped. They were all considered \'early entrees\' to the academy. They were allowed to participate in some classes, though those available to them were limited in scope and space. However, they were old enough to be considered official students and could register as first-years in just a few weeks and would be considered true students.

Thomas needed to excel at the academy to get the recognition he needed from his uncle and earn his position fully as the next head.

Thomas spit. "Whatever… let\'s go."

After the group left, the girls simply shook their heads in judgement and entered the female dorms. Upon entry into the room, Rena had noticed a letter placed laying on the ground. Apparently someone had dropped a delivery under the door.

"Oh?" Rena said in surprise while picking it up. "It appears to be from my father."

"Open it." Lyrah said quietly.

For some reason Rena did not seem to notice the tone in the girl\'s voice, but Natalie did. She even perceived a slight crack in her speech, as if something was wrong. The maid stared at Lyrah, who refused to meet her gaze.

Rena, opened the letter without concern, though a bit apprehensive since she had not spoken to her father, nor been on good terms with him. Her green eyes slowly scanned the page and Natali witnessed her fingers slowly dig into the paper, crinkling the edges.

"N-no…" She whispered. Tears formed at the edges of her eyes.

"No!"

Rena collapsed to the ground; all the strength having left her. Her shrill screech attracted the attention of the other girls in the dorm and they gathered outside of the still open door.

Rena was sobbing uncontrollably, like a child who had lost their parents. Several girls gathered outside at this point and one spoke up to ask, "What\'s…"

"That is enough for the audience." Lyrah said with measured frustration as she closed the door on their faces. Though it was gentle, there was a firm finality to it.

"Lyrah… Rena?" Natali tried to get the words out, but she struggled to speak. Her voice quaked despite herself.

"No, no no no!" Rena continued to sob and had now collapsed completely to the ground. Her hands both clung to her hair, having pulled her hair accessories out. The letter had fallen to the ground beside her.

"It is best if you read it, Natali." Lyrah said while gently stroking Rena\'s back. "I cannot speak it aloud, lest all three of us become inconsolable."

Natali carefully picked up the partially crumpled paper and unfurled it enough to read the words. Each and every line was more painful than the last. Natali\'s world came crashing down around her suddenly. Though she had never met him, it was like a longtime friend suddenly vanished from her life.

While isolated in the Oracle\'s tower together, all she had around her were Lady Adelia, Lyrah, her own mother, and her father. Other than them, she had the stories of Lucius that Lyrah would share with her every day and every night. Now, that person was gone.

"Lucius is…" Natali stuttered. She locked eyes with Lyrah and remembered her warning a little while ago. "Together, right?"

Lyrah nodded affirmatively. "Yes."