Maid Mira

She really is willing to answer my questions just like that? I am not going to let the chance slip by. Maybe she truly does care if she wants to answer all this. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been waiting; I hope.

“So, Mira, I learned a bit of history about how it came to be. And I want to know your involvement.”

Mira took a sip of her tea before giving Sorin a subtle nod. “What do you know so far then? I want us to be on the same page, Master Sorin.” She then stared into his eyes, scanning them before giving a small smile. Her thoughts seemed to be validated.

“The east sent you to take care of me, to make sure that there was some peace between the two sides. Having them take me into this city but having you take care of me was made.” Sorin put his hands together onto the mug tighter; his hands were about to crush the mug.

She didn't answer back, just waited a couple moments, letting his thoughts wash over whatever they were. She dealt with him for his entire life; it was easy for her to know when and when not to talk at this stage. "That's correct, but I do want to know what it is that worries you specifically. I want to ease my master's mind after all.”

“I suppose.” Sorin looked towards her now too, looking at those piercing red eyes. Trying to find anything that could be of use to him in this situation, but he couldn't; there was no other intention behind them. “Our bond- I would consider you almost like a mother figure to me. I don't want that to be fake. Something you did to control me in the future.”

Mira just nodded in response, her eyes wandering down to her lap where the portable table sat. “What do you think about the east?”

“The east? I mean, I have fought Capolot, and they tried to take over this small village I was in. I did stop them with the chief, however. I know we're at war, but I don't think any side is correct. I think both of them are just causing suffering for their own gain. That's why I want to take over the west and put an end to it.” His eyes burned passionately towards her. She could only bring a small smile to her stoic face.

“I raised you well. I shouldn't be saying this as an eastern meditator. But I can say this as my Master's maid. I do think both sides are terrible; I do hate the fighting. That's exactly why I'm here.” She looked back at his stare. “I fought against both sides the only way I could. By raising a hero who doesn't support either. Isn't that the most someone like me without magic could do? I would be killed if I went back by Arabel. That's not a choice anymore now, and I knew it the moment I took you in.”

So it wasn't a lie; she actually did care… I'm glad to have her as my maid. To have her raise me in a way where I made my own choice, she always ignored politics or talking about either side; I thought it was just her being unknowledgeable or perhaps just scared of speaking out. How wrong was I?

“Mira, I'm glad to see you again after all this time. I really am.” Sorin leaned to his side, wrapping his hands around her. She slowly returned the gesture, holding him tightly. “I really was scared that you didn't care.” Sorin's amber eyes teared up as he buried his face into her slightly. “I didn't want it to be true; I wanted there to be at least someone other than just a girl I left to care about me, really.”

“Master Sorin, this is unsightly for a future leader, but I will keep it a secret between us for today.” She held him even tighter this time. Just for a moment before letting go, allowing him to go back to sitting next to her, “I'm so ashamed as a maid to make my master think that I betrayed him.”

Sorin just shook his head, “No, it's just I discovered too much too fast. That's it, I do want to know something about the day of execution. When I was saved.”

“That was my part of the plan. I actually offered Ino the chance to save you. Because I know she has her own motives, and she most likely used you a lot already. But the cost of letting you die in front of me- I didn't want that. So I told her that if she would save you, she would gain your trust. That's when she and I cut ties completely with the east.” There was a slight guilt in her eyes, knowing this was somewhat all her fault too, but she would bear that for the cost of seeing Sorin again and again, even if a hundred times.

He just nodded. “She did a lot of things; she didn't betray me yet, but we were going to fight eventually against her and my plan. We have the same goal, for everything to be peaceful, but her method is not justified in my view. But without her, we wouldn't meet, and without her we wouldn't be able to fight back today.”

It was my trusting nature; it was my indecision after Capolot told me and warned me about her. It was all of these decisions that led to me being used. Even when I was forced to follow her, when I was forced to accept her chaotic method of nearly killing a thousand people. She's too much, and I wanted too much. She knew that.

“Mira, I won't let chaos ruin anything today. I will make that certain, and I will have to rule this place with a firm grip, but I want every common person to live a normal life, and I want everyone to be equal.” He stood up from the bed, taking a couple of steps towards his massive door. “I won't let you or anyone down.”

“My master has grown too much. Am I talking to the same person? He even had a warm smile talking about a woman.” She looked down, deep in thought.

Did my face really slip up even at the slight thought of Claya! Damn, I'm too easy…

“Mira, just stay here until everything is over. I don't want to lose you either; I have to go take down the rest of the council and Boyle. Then we can see how to go from there. I also want to talk more about Arabel once everything is over, but we already have been here for more than five minutes. That's too much.” There was a slight hesitation at the last that Mira noticed, but she didn't push.

“I will be waiting for your return, Master Sorin.”