Chapter 4 - Part 18 (Book 1 - Fantasy World)

Valessandria thought about her position as the head of the Disciplinary Committee at Illumin Academic City as though it was some talisman to give her strength to add to the tea. It was a desperate attempt for her to not feel overwhelmed.

Lifting the cup back to her lips, she took another sip, hoping it calmed her nerves. A sigh left her mouth as she felt the energy travel throughout her body, helping to restore her. She was grateful for the tea.

"Thank you for the tea," Valessandria bowed her head to the young noble.

"Please, feel free to call me Yi," Yi reminded her.

Taking in a breath and slowly letting it out, she couldn't help but think about how ridiculous it was to be in her current position. "Yi...," Valessandria hesitatingly said the young noble's name, finding it to be alien on her tongue.

Yi simply sat in his chair while waiting for her to continue. The one named Brittany stopped massaging his face and simply stood behind his chair, feeling a mix between a maid and a sentinel.

Even with the woman standing there, Valessandria couldn't see any openings. In her mind, any attack made on her part would be instantly stopped by all the surrounding attendants, and even if she were able to break through, the one named Brittany would cleave her in two.

"Yi, please tell me what you were doing there. We had received a report of the Empire invading the Kingdom and immediately left the City to provide aid. While everyone else in the village was evacuating, your carriage had appeared through the same entrance the Empire forces would have entered." Though she felt frustrated, Valessandria kept a tight reign on her emotions, not even daring to reveal a frown or hint of her actual thoughts.

All around her, she could feel the eyes of the young noble's attendants on her as though waiting for her to step out of line.

Valessandria took another sip of the tea, her eyes widening upon finding out that she had finished the tea. Her stomach dropped slightly, finding out the liquid courage which allowed her to question a being like the young noble was gone.

As if sensing how Valessandria felt, the bunny girl maid approached the couch with a new metal tray and a new cup of fresh tea.

Seeing the tea was like feeling comforted by her parents after having dealt with bullies. There was a sense of reassurance that things would be fine, making Valessanria smile shyly at the maid. With such emotions, she placed the saucer and the empty cup on the metal tray before taking the new saucer and cup.

Grabbing the handle of the cup, she could already feel the comforting warmth of the tea.

"I am pleased that the tea is to your liking," Yi's eyes were playful as they looked at her like an adult would view a child impressed with something simple. He then turned his head to look at a nearby maid. "Prepare a tray with various teas and accessories for Lady Knight, so she can take it with her when she leaves."

The bunny girl that had served her curtsied, "Yes, Master." She walked several steps back before turning around and making her way to the side room where the tea had been prepared.

For a second, Valessandria imagined a flicker of blue light or some shadow, making her blink. Trying to think what could create such light made her pause. Still, she couldn't help but internally chuckle, thinking she had allowed work to catch up to her and make her hallucinate from exhaustion.

Valessandria could hear William nagging her about not getting enough rest.

"I do not know what I can tell you," Yi shrugged and raised his hands. Placing a hand on his chest, "I was just as startled as you to see what was in front of the pyramid, though I thought the structure was always there."

Hearing Yi say that they thought the pyramid had always existed there made Valessandria raise an eyebrow and look at the young noble. But the young noble's expression didn't betray anything, as though he genuinely believed his own words. Yi was either a skilled liar or unfamiliar with this part of the Kingdom. This only made her confused about the young man's origins.

Sensing her confusion, Yi said, "My family has been in isolation for quite some time, so we lack a lot of common knowledge." He laughed, "I admit to being surprised with how things have changed from what I was told growing up."

"My Master's ancestors preferred to keep themselves away from political conflicts, wanting to keep their people safe." The black-haired woman calling herself Helania said as she took another sip of her tea.

"Forgive my late introduction. I am called Queen. My Master's security is under my purview." The white-haired woman in the leather outfit that seemed to hug her body just a tad too much placed her hand on her bountiful chest. "We owe everything to our Master and his family, who have provided us with everything -- even our mind, body, and souls. So I hope that you understand our circumstances."

Valessandria couldn't help but feel a little enthralled by the appearance of all the beautiful women, though now she knew that underneath their looks held a deadly power. It helped to keep her mind from not being distracted by their ethereal beauty. She knew they wouldn't even give it a second thought to tear her apart if she stepped out of line. Despite wearing armor, a cold sweat covered her body.

Pulling her thoughts away from the two women, Valessandria turned her attention back to the young lord. He was now being fed fruit by the red-haired attendant. "Yi, did you see anything that could help explain what happened?" She tried to block out the memory of what she witnessed, the twisting of limbs and faces forever displaying ghastly horror never meant to be seen by mortals on this plane of existence. Valessandria took a quick moment to pray for them before taking another sip of tea.

Valessandria knew she'd need to speak to those in charge of Leaf Village and warn them not to allow the villagers to see what lay beyond the foreboding pyramid.

Yi slowly shook his head as he chewed the grape.

"We were equally appalled by such a sight," Helania continued to sit with the regal grace of a noble woman recounting their day at a tea party.

Valessandria nearly laughed at Helania's words because of the woman's calm demeanor. The woman's mannerism was a stark contrast to Valessandria's frazzled and erratic control over her body, which felt like it would crumble at any moment. Even now, she could feel manic laughter bubbling up from deep within her, kept at bay due to her training and professionalism.

Moving the tea close to her mouth and breathing in the smell helped her from emptying her stomach -- flashes of what she saw invading her thoughts. Suppose someone told her everything past meeting the young noble and all the bloodcurdling events that transpired afterward was a nightmare. In that case, she'd believe it in a second. She wished for all of it to be a fabrication of her imagination but even then, it was doubtful that the smell would ever leave her mind.

"Whatever performed such an act was never meant for this world," Valessandria shuddered, praying that they didn't have anything else to worry about besides the Overflow.