The one they call Vivienne Silvas

Back at the duchy Teiran told Gerard and Hugo to interrogate the black-hooded man we captured. However he didn’t speak no matter what, he kept his mouth tight.

Meanwhile my thoughts were occupied with the letter I held tightly in my hands.

That name, it couldn’t be right? But there couldn’t be anyone else besides her.

“Sherya?” Teiran asked me, realizing my nervousness.

“Here, please read it out, it must be important.” I handed him the letter. We were sitting in the main hall. Besides us there were Rusha, who spent most of her time with Carina nowadays, Carina herself, Dalton, Mirabelle, Luca and Mica.

“Sister, is it alright for me to be here too?” The later one asked.

“Of course, you are my partner in crime, remember?” I told him, while I ruffled through his hair. He smiled happily at me.

“Okay if everyone is ready I will read it out.” Teiran said. I held my breath in anticipation.

“Lady Vivienne, I wonder if this letter will be able to reach you. I am writing to you in utter despair. There were these men in black-hoods who came and attacked us out of nowhere. They said something about searching for people with high energy altitude? Especially young women and children who have one of a kind-powers. They want to eliminate them. What should we do my lady? I think soon they will come for us too. It’s been a long time since you last came to us but we need you right now! Dear Vivienne Silvas, no dear lady in the velvet dress, please come and save us before it’s too late! Everyone is dying. I don't know how long we can hold out. I don’t know when it will be my turn. With utmost respect and kindest regards, your old friend.”

“That’s all that is written.”

The lady in the velvet dress, the one Mica and I read about in the letter back at Sylth. The lady everyone desperately searched for back then. I see… so that’s how it is.

What a cruel fate life was bestowed on all these people? My hands trembled in fear.

“So if we find Vivienne Silvas we can find out more about the Black Obsidian?” Mirabelle asked.

“But where should we start?” Dalton questioned.

“A lady who wears a velvet dress, where would she be? That reminds me back then at the duchy they said, bring us the lady in the velvet dress, do you remember?” Luca realized.

“That’s true, there was such a message left for us when we arrived back at Vermonde.” Teiran nodded.

“What do you think about that lady in the velvet dress Shershy? Huh! Sister? What’s wrong with you? Your hands!” Mica whispered. Suddenly realizing me trembling he put a hand on mine and I held his hand tightly.

“I’m fine Mica” I responded in a trembling voice.

“Are you sure?” Mica asked. I nodded at him. No one else realized anything, they still kept on talking about lady Vivienne Silvas.

“Well we should send out searching troops so we can locate the whereabouts of lady Vivienne Silvas.” Teiran declared.

“That would be impossible” I replied in a rather silent voice.

“Why?” Teiran questioned with a bewildered expression on his face.

“Because Vivienne Silvas is… the name of my grandmother who tragically passed away ten years ago.”

With my words, silence filled the room. How could it be that I never realized about grandmother's abilities? Why didn’t I know that she was a heroine to other people, a saviour who would come to save them. Why did she stop helping people fifteen years ago, like the myths said, was it perhaps because of me? Because I needed her? While they desperately begged for her help she spent her last five years trying to protect me. Why did you do that grandmother?

Only by Rusha’s sudden exclamation, everyone came back to their senses.

“That’s right! Master's grandmother Vivienne, how could I forget about her? I even saw her back then! A bright shining human!” She came flying at me and landed on my shoulder. I however was numb by the truth. I couldn’t believe it.

“The saviour those people longed for isn’t here anymore. The only one who could stop them just as those people screamed out for help in their letters couldn’t save them because she was gone.” I said in a lifeless voice.

Ah, this world is doomed! Grandmother, they waited for you without knowing about your death! What should we do now? Without you, their heroine they desperately waited for, is there a way to take down the Black Obsidian? Is there a way to save and protect these people?

“Calm down, it’s alright.” Teiran said with a soothing voice. His hand was placed against my back. A slight comfort for my nerves that broke down and couldn’t process what exactly happened.

“My lady?” Dalton asked worriedly.

“Just a second.” I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. With Teiran’s hand at my back my breath slowly steadied itself. Then I raised both of my hands to ear level and slapped both of my cheeks. Feeling the pain I snapped back to reality.

“Hey!” Teiran pulled my hand away from me. On the other side Mica held on to the other one.

“I am fine, don’t worry! I just needed to collect my mind.” I told them.

“Still, now your cheeks are all red and they even seem to swell a little!” Teiran responded while softly caressing my cheek.

“I will be fine, really! It’s just it’s not the right time to lose my mind now, there is something else I have to talk to you all about. There is no time to dwell” I explained. It’s true although none of this made sense to me, if I started to fall into despair, this battle would be over before it even began. For everyone’s sake I have to stay calm and collected. I have to find a clue.

“Tell us, we will listen to you.” Teiran said while slowly putting his hand down and resting it above mine.

“I think if we want to find out more about what grandmother, I mean… the lady in the velvet dress knew about the Black Obsidian, I will have to visit the Silvas estate. It was abandoned a long time ago ever since the death of her. There might not be anything left at all but still, if it’s the grandmother I remember she would have left me a clue if she anticipated this situation even in the slightest. So…” I stopped for a moment and gulped, then I squeezed Teiran’s hand who calmly looked at me waiting for me to finish my words.

“So… I wanted to ask you to take me there Teiran.”

He looked at me with a fondly yet collected gaze, which made me calm down even more.

“Sister… I understand your intention but we only have five days left till the masquerade ball. It might be too hard to make it back in time!” Mira said.

“That’s right my lady I understand and support your resolve but it would take at least a week to make it there and come back!” Luca added.

“Shershy wants to go, then she should go! I believe in her!” Mica said.

“Master…” Rusha whined.

“Yeah my sweet lady! You should do whatever your heart desires!” Carina cheered.

“Not you too Rina! Still my lady it will be hard to make it back in time even with the young boy's horse.” Dalton worried.

“I …” I don't know how to respond. I can understand everyone’s worries. Still.

“Don’t worry Sherya, I will take you there and will make sure that we make it back in time!” Teiran declared in the midst of this tumult.

Then he stood up and reached for my hand.

“Let’s go! Let’s go to your grandmother’s home.”