NoGift

Chapter 23: departure and an unexpected (or rather unwanted) visitor

"SO HOW was your first week at school?" asked the voice coming from the defaro crystal.

Aurum looked at the image of the boy inside. He has red hair and a pair of bright russet colored eyes. One look at him and anyone could tell he's often up to mischief. "It's okay, I guess," she answered Mishla.

This was the time of their weekly communication. Mishla always contacted her every Saturday. He never missed a Saturday ever since she and her family left Albion. Honestly, Aurum was a bit annoyed at first but then she got used to it. And now she could admit that she quite enjoyed their weekly conversation.

"Just okay?"

"Well, a lot of my classmates do admire me," she boasted.

"Of course they do! They'd be blind idiots if they don't," Mishla said rather indignantly. Aurum smiled. This was what she liked about being friends with Mishla. He always boosted her confidence. "How was your classes? Are they interesting?"

"They are. Our homeroom teacher is kind. I like her subject the most. And oh, I'm also in their advanced Mana class. It's my second favorite subject."

Because there, she's properly learning how to control her Mana. The whole week has been very educational. The instructor in-charge of the class could be hands on because there was only seven of them to teach. There were only two girls. The other one was already on her last year that's why she immediately acted like a big sister to her. The others also couldn't help but dote on her. The only thorn in the whole situation was that that pretentious Finn McAllister was also there.

Seeing him smile and act like a prince to everyone gave her the strong urge to punch him every single time. The only consolation was he probably felt the same way every time he sees her act all kind and sweet. By evidence of the tick of the muscles on his face. The only thing she could do was to endure. So she did her best not to look at his direction. Lest she couldn't really help herself and ended up punching him.

"Is there any boy in your school you, well, fancy?" Mishla asked hesitantly.

"Fancy?" she scoffed. "Of course there isn't. No boy could ever be more magnificent and excellent than my brother."

Mishla seemed to be relieved by her answer. "Yes, of course. Speaking of your brother, did he misplace the defaro crystal I gave you? Winter has been trying to contact him but it never connected."

Aurum suddenly remembered the defaro crystal she purposely broke. Then she also remembered that talk she had with the king. She couldn't help but be annoyed. "Tell that prince my brother doesn't want to be friends with him. I don't want to talk anymore. Good night." Then she ended the call.

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She put the defaro crystal on the bedside table and sat in front of the dressing mirror. She started fixing her hair. The mention of that prince really put him in a bad mood. It's a really good thing that she destroyed that defaro crystal. She couldn't take it if he really ended up befriending her brother.

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in!" she called.

Felicia came inside. "Young Lady, do you need help dressing?"

"I'm already dressed. I'm not a baby. But you could fix my hair."

Felicia smiled and excitedly ran to her back. She picked up the brush and started combing Aurum's long golden hair. "Young Lady, what hairstyle do you want?"

"Hmm... a braid will do. But make sure it's pretty."

"I'll try my best, Young Lady."

"Is my Brother already outside?"

"Yes, Young Lady. The Young Lord is already with the Duchess."

The three of them together with Felicia would go to some of the famous places in Warrshaw. It's the last day their mother would be here with them. She's going to depart back to Albion tomorrow. And then she'd start her journey looking for their missing father. Aurum really didn't have any opinion on that. If their mother found their father, then good. If not, then that's fine too. But for their mother's sake, Aurum does hope that she find him. Because it's pretty obvious that she still loves him very much.

Once Felicia was done with her hair, both of them went outside. She smiled when she saw her mother and brother. She held her brother's hand and then looked up at their mother.

"Mother, let's go."

Anthea smiled down at her daughter. "Someone's happy."

"Of course. I'll get to spend the whole day with you and brother. Why wouldn't I be happy?"

"Perhaps you're happy because you'll get to buy anything you want today," Argent teased.

"Well, there's that."

Anthea's smile widened at the interaction of the twins. "Come on, you two."

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Early the next morning, the twins, Felicia, and the McAllisters were in front of the mansion's gate bidding farewell to Anthea.

"Thea, are you sure you don't want me to at least accompany you to the dock?" Jaxon asked his friend.

"No, Jax. That would be too troublesome." Anthea crouched down in front of her children. "So, I must say goodbye for now. But I'll contact the both of you at least every other day so be sure to always keep a defaro crystal near." She hugged the two. She's still reluctant to leave her children in this foreign land. But she needed to embark on this journey. She needed to know what really happened to her husband. And besides, she has no doubt that Jax will take care of the twins. "Study hard and take care of each other. I love you both."

Aurum hugged her back while Argent gently pat her back.

"We also love you, Mother," Aurum said.

"Take care on your journey, Mother."

Anthea stood up and looked at Felicia. "You too, Felicia. Be sure to take care of yourself and of course, make sure to take care of these two."

"Yes, Duchess. I'll do my best for the Young Lord and Young Lady," Felicia said, tears welling up in her eyes.

Then Anthea looked at the other two children. She knew the twins has a bad relationship with Jax' nephew and niece but she still hope that they could all get along. After all, Argent and Aurum will stay here for the next seven years. It's not good if you always quarrel with the people living with you. "I hope you two could be Argent and Aurum's good friends."

"It would be our pleasure, Your Grace," Finn said smiling like a little gentleman. Of course he didn't mean any of what he just said.

Ruby did not hesitate to cling to Argent's arm. "Don't worry, Aunt Thea, I'll take care of Argent. But I couldn't say the same with the other one."

Jaxon shook his head and sighed. Sometimes he really worries for this niece of him. Maybe because of his spoiling, she might not grow up into a proper adult. "Ignore this little lady. I'll take care of your twins, Thea. As long as they're in my care, nothing bad will happen to them."

"I trust you, Jax." Anthea crouched down again and hugged her twins. Then she immediately boarded inside the carriage before her tears fell off.

And thus, the Duchess of Hanover started her new journey.

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Argent was on her way to the small gymnasium. Last week, her sword instructor, Hattori Shingen gave her a small paper containing a set of exercises. He told her that he wouldn't start teaching her anything unless he deemed her strong enough to take it. Apparently her body strength was too weak that she didn't even have the right to hold a wooden sword. Then he left her to her own devices. After that first meeting, she'd never seen him since. But she still went to the gym everyday and did the exercises her gave her diligently.

Argent was not worried that she's doing all these things for nothing. After all, most of the exercises strengthen her arm and upper body strength. She guessed that if she did enough, then her sword instructor will show himself to her again.

As she walked, there were many students who stared blatantly at her. It looked like even after a week, they still hadn't gotten their fill. Well, at least most of them were not like the students in the original owner's former school. Even though she's a NoGift, none of her new classmates showed extreme disdain towards her.

The difference could probably be attributed to the two countries culture. In Albion, the two most important things were one's heritage and one's level of Gift. Being a Duke and yet being a NoGift was like bringing dishonor to the whole peerage of Albion. But here in Amexem, they really don't give much credit on those things. Most families only care if your rich or not.

That's why this country was perfect for her plans.

"Staring at you so openly, I really want to dig these children's eyes out," said a very familiar voice.

Argent looked up and saw the face of her home room teacher. But that voice, it could only belong to-- "Viper."

Viper - with miss James' face - smiled. "Hello, my dear Argent. Did you miss me?"

*****

Mini-theater:

Viper: Did you miss me? Did you? Did you?

Mishla: I had a small appearance! Yey! ()/

Winter who hasn't shown himself for ten chapters: (- )