Keep Listening To The Melody

“Excuse me, you want to do what?”

“You heard me.”

Blitz stood defiantly in front of Gauche, who was unsure how to respond.

“I mean… Are you sure? I’m all for further learning opportunities, but a field study in the Eastern States? Tensions are pretty high with them right now.” Gauche’s arms were guarded, as he tried explaining in a way to softly tell Blitz off.

“If my father wants me to focus on my studies, why not send me somewhere where that’s all I can do?” He stepped forward, trying to emphasize his point more. Blitz could never do something like this with Droite or his father, Gauche was the only man present in the household with enough sway to make this happen, and enough familiarity for Blitz to confront.

“Well, I’ll talk to your father about it… But don’t expect anything!” Gauche was trying his best, but pleasing a teenager was one of the harder asks of his position. Wanting to avoid Blitz’s expectant gaze, Gauche made those words his last of the conversation and exited Blitz’s room as fast as he could.

Gauche’s steps echoed throughout the empty hallways of the Bolzen residence, trying to find a hint as to where Blitz’s father could be, so he could get this over with as soon as possible. As his search continued, he found a familiar face when turning a corner, his own. Or rather, his brother’s identical face.

“Fancy running into you, Droite.” He let out a pleasant reply, but his brother blew him off, walking straight past.

“I have no time, Gauche. There’s been a conflict in my schedule and I’m having Cora pick it up for me.”

“Oh, I could always—“

Droite turned around. “No, stop that.” He raised a finger, his face becoming fed up. “Stop making everyone else’s problems your own. Mind your own business.”

“Sorry if I set you off there.” Gauche laughed off his brother’s demands, wanting to change the subject. “You see, I’m actually looking for Master Krieg. Would you know where he is right now?”

“What for?” Droite threw back swiftly, turning his head downward as he looked up at his brother.

Noticing his altered demeanor, Gauche let his next words out carefully, hanging on each word. “Blitz wanted to ask about… a research study trip to the Eastern States…”

“Oh really!” Droite let out a small snort. “And you’re asking his father about this instead of him?” He wiped fresh tears from his eyes.

“Yes, I am.” Gauche puffed himself up, almost entering a defensive position. “His father would likely bite his head off if he asked himself, even if it was to help him study.”

“And maybe that should happen! Give the little twerp a kick in the pants! He doesn’t need you butting in and saving him all the time.” Droite’s finger drove into his brother’s chest just as his words drilled into his brother’s brain.

“Look, just let me convey this one thing to his father on his behalf. I know you’re always for making things harder on Blitz, and I value your unique perspective on the matter, but let me handle this. Gauche spoke with a seriousness his brother wasn’t used to. The stare he was on the receiving end was especially new to him.

“F-fine, I’ll take you to him. Follow me.” He lowered himself, not wanting to anger this new brother of his he seemed to actually be capable of being stern. “But only because I need to see how he reacts to this!”

The pair walked down the halls taking a series of turns down the same-y hallways, through a few stairways, and one ride on an elevator before Droite approached a metal door.

“This is the master’s personal workshop. I help him in here every now and again. He said not to bother him today, but I take it that won’t stop you?” He sounded like a tour guide, which fell on deaf ears to the man most familiar with the building’s layout. Even if this was Gauche’s first time hearing about this room.

“I wouldn’t deserve Blitz’s trust if I couldn’t relay a simple message for him after I say I will go ask immediately.” His hand reached out, placing itself on the metal handle. He pushed forward, letting the outside air flow into the sealed room. Almost immediately, the man in goggles tinkering at a bench looked at the entrance. He rushed over quickly, with a face that didn’t look very pleased that he had gotten visitors.

“Do you have a good reason to be bothering me, Gauche?”

“You see, sir…” Gauche trailed off, and looked to his brother. He let out a silent giggle back, retreating into the shadows to hide his expression from Krieg. “Your son, he wants to… enhance his studies.”

“Oh, good. Tell him to keep working hard for me.” Krieg moved his goggles back down, turning away to begin working again. “Is that all?”

“No, sir… He wants to…” His eyes kept darting around, but he was able to block out the view of his brother and continue his thought. “Do a field study in the Eastern States.”

Krieg paused, turning back to look his servant in the eye, removing his goggles to do so.

“He… Wants to what?”

“I said it quite clearly, sir. He asked if he could—“

“I know what he asked, my issue is the fact that he asked. I know my son, and this seems wholly uncharacteristic of him.” Krieg looked into Gauche’s eyes, not with malice, but pure intrigue.

Droite, in his corner, continued to laugh, not realizing the true nature of Krieg’s inquiries.

“Are you mad, sir?” Gauche only wanted a straight answer.

And so, he received it.

“He can go, I’ll make the preparations once I finish my work for today.”

Droite’s expression, still cloaked in shadow, changed dramatically. Mirroring his brother, Gauche did the same.

“Are you joking, or..?” Gauche, taking on his twin’s skepticism, couldn’t wrap his head around his boss’s strange response. Especially after his talk of being ‘uncharacteristic.’

“It sounds like an interesting experiment, that’s all.”

Without another word, Krieg retreated back to the depths of his workshop.

A sizable jet stood alone in a private airport. Blitz himself had never flown before, or at least, he didn’t remember it if he did. He was dressed in warm clothing, a decently packed suitcase in tow. Alongside him stood a girl about his height, also with some quaint things of her own, as well as two brothers in disparate suits. The twins entered the plane first, taking all the bags with them from the group. Once they had vanished, it left Blitz and Cora staring up at the iron bird before them.

“You prepared for this?” Cora turned to the side, addressing the boy who stood next to her.

“I don’t know what my father has in mind, but I can’t imagine he and I have the same goal here.” He didn’t turn, defiantly staring at the vehicle ahead.

“Did you tell anyone but me?” She changed to the subject of the plan itself, wanting to avoid the topic of Blitz’s father if she could.

Blitz looked towards where the butlers had entered the plane. “I’ll inform Gauche later, but for now we’re the only two who know.”

“And Droite?” Cora gave a side eye, knowing what his answer would be already.

“You know where he fits into the plan already.” Blitz fixed his gaze forward, making his way onto the private jet. Once she saw his legs moving, Cora joined soon after.

“Gauche and Droite are in their own cabin in the jet. It’ll just be the two of us while we fly into the city.” Blitz recounted part of the details for the trip he had memorized.

“And the other part, once we land? The girl ran ahead and opened the door to the jet for Blitz.

“I have everything, but we’ll get there when we get there.” He patted a small bag he had with him on his back.

The two entered into the luxury interior, looking around at the seats marked for them. Various snacks were laid around for them in the cabin. As the two sat down and got situated, Blitz took out a small communication device.

<The plan is going surprisingly smoothly, Armen.>

[Good. Even I was worried it wouldn’t go in your favor. Just remember, this is going to take serious conviction.]

<I know what I have to do. You were very clear in your instructions.>

[You flatter me too much, I’m no teacher.]

<I think you’re right though, this always had to happen. For me. For my family.>

[Everyone has to face it someday, Bolt. That pressing feeling of dread that weighs on you… But, it can be easily surmounted. All you need, is the resolve to kill.]

Blitz put down the device and looked at Cora, then back at the door separating them from the butler brothers. He thought about Armen’s words, and felt his backpack. He was able to make it out, the shape of the thing he made sure to pack discreetly. The archaic revolver he had found in his father’s things, and the one he would shoot in the next few hours.