Liza: “Young master!”

 

Fate: “...Hm?”

 

Liza: “All I get for doing all this for you is a ‘hm?’ Well then, maybe I’ll just not tell you the rumors that I’ve heard floating around today!”

 

Liza was, once again, standing in the doorway of Fate’s room the next day, this time, however, she was pouting at the apathetic responses of her master. She repeatedly stomped her foot on the floor while frowning and puffing her face up, making quite the huff. 

 

Fate, however, responded to her pout by abruptly standing up and dropping himself to the floor on one knee. If someone else had seen this, they might have wondered who seemed more likely to fit the bill of a servant in disgust, but Liza just responded by ceasing her stubborn exasperation at Fate’s attitude 

 

Liza: “Hmph! Fine, since you’re willing to go that far, I suppose I can graciously perform my duties as your servant...as long as you don’t have a problem with that, young master?~”

 

Though she spoke playfully, Fate could sense a form of seriousness in her tone. It was minor, but over the short time that they’d known each other, he had become able to differentiate certain things about her, in reference to her mood.

 

-Sometimes I can hear it in her voice, how much...I want to say perfume she uses, foot movement, how much of her smile is real or not...though I’ll admit that she usually just outright tells me. Quite frankly, it’s been the only way I’ve been able to learn all of this.

 

Fate: “Haaa…I…!”

 

Liza: “Young m-a-s-t-e-r!”

 

Fate cleared his throat and stiffened his pose to make sure that she knew he would pay attention.

 

Fate: “Yes ma’am.”

 

Liza put her hands on her hips and presented him with her trademark grin, much to his internal annoyance, but he didn’t show it. 

 

Liza: “Now then, young master...The most popular of the word around the servants of the manor is that your brother, young lord Atlas, has perfected some...new extension of his 『Wind Magic』!”

 

Fate gave her a questioning look, to which she shrugged her shoulders since she knew he was most likely wondering what it was, however, she had only heard rumors of it. After all, it couldn’t be expected that the heir to the family would be willing to give away all of his secrets, for fear that someone may steal them. 

 

However, this didn’t seem to concern Fate too greatly since he appeared almost completely disinterested, despite his earlier ‘determination’ to pay attention. Though from the tone of her voice, Fate surmised that she was holding some other, more important news that would grasp his attention.

 

Liza: “...No one can know that I told you this, alright, young master?”

 

This time her voice became lower and her tone more serious, implying that whatever she was about to tell him wasn’t simply some servant banter that she just ‘happened’ to overhear. Fate nodded and prepared himself for what he was about to hear.

 

Liza: “...Lord Jacob...asked me to deliver a message to you, from himself, that he...My young lord, he intends to visit you this evening as soon as I am to be finished with my duties.”

 

The message was short and concise, but it’s meaning hit Fate like a wrecking ball, instantly making his face turn pale. However, even without Liza having to comfort him, he seemed to be able to steady himself enough to ask her something important…

 

Fate: “Does...Mother know of his intentions... or of his coming here?”

 

Liza immediately shook her head at him nervously when he asked the question, meaning that Jacob had bothered to tell Liza, yet hadn’t informed the Lady of the manor...perhaps out of fear that she might reject what he was considering…

 

-Hell! What’s he planning on doing that even Mother wouldn’t approve of it if he asked?! She’s nearly killed me too many times for my tiny ass brain to count and I’m a disowned son to boot! Whatever he wants, I don’t think she would stop him, she’d probably encourage him like some violent Canadian hockey fan!

 

Though the description seemed rather unfit for a noblewoman, it was just that Fate’s view towards his mother was truly one of abhorrence. However, it did seem true that Agatha’s disdain for him would not inhibit any potential individuals who wished him harm. 

 

Liza placed his limp hand in hers and gently cradled it, waving it back and forth. Her smile was clearly forced and her gaze felt as if someone had drowned her happiness in an ocean.

 

Fate: “I guess...this might...be the end of me, huh?”

 

Despite the fact that he was trying his hardest to maintain the『Meditation』skill, his voice couldn’t help but break off slightly. Liza immediately let go of his hand and threw her arms over him...then he started to cry…

He hadn’t been trying to think about it...but he didn’t want to die or rather, he was scared of what were to happen if he died again. Would anyone care, would he go to some endless black void, heaven or hell, another reincarnation, or something far worse than anything he could even think of?

 

-I-I don’t want...to be forgotten...I don’t want to d-die!!! 

 

Fate shook in despair and sadness, feeling that there was nothing he could do to influence his own powerlessness. Liza held him, but could do nothing else to comfort him as she was dealing with her own feelings at the moment…

 

Before she had managed to get over her sadness by simply being allowed physical contact with him, however, she now seemed inconsolable. 

 

Fate: “I...don’t know...w-what...I’m…!”

 

Suddenly, Liza gave Fate a slap across the face! He immediately was plunged into greater despair. What if all of her attempts to be close to him were a…? Fate was given no time to ponder this, however, and was delivered a series of successive, crisp slaps!

 

The darkness and helplessness that had filled his heart just a moment ago were slowly beginning to be replaced with a new emotion...burning and seething...hatred…!

 

Fate: “THAT’S ENOUGH!!!”

 

He grabbed her wrists and tackled her to the floor, fiercely pinning her wrists with all the strength his enraged body could muster! At certain moments, clear cracks and pops could be heard, resounding throughout the small room…

 

However, Fate couldn’t hear anything right now, besides the despairing and pitch-black, hatred-filled cries of his own soul. 

 

-I thought she was...I thought that she at least...WELL NO F*CKING MORE!!!

 

Fate: “『Fire』!”

 

His hand was instantly engulfed by two different bubbles and lit ablaze! Even if he had some degree of resistance towards it, it still hurt and it still burned through the same, enormous amount of his mana, but he didn’t care!

 

Before he could, however, an odd feeling came to the hand that was burning...when he looked, it was Liza’s hand grasping the hand covered in flames. It didn’t feel like resistance or a plea for mercy, it still felt...comforting like it had all the times before…

 

Fate: “...Liza…?”

 

He gazed towards the arm, his vision clearing now that his rage had cleared somewhat...it was obviously fractured in several places and had also been bent. Tears, once again, began to fill up the corners of Fate’s bloodshot eyes…

 

-No...What did I just…?!

 

Liza’s hand fell to the floor, the skin charred black like coal, with puss and blood leaking unfiltered from underneath...Despite how much pain she must have been in...she had still reached out for him...and she was still smiling…

 

Liza: “Have you...calmed...down…….young...master…?”

 

She began to slow her movements and her eyes seemed to struggle to stay open, which prompted Fate to desperately scamper to the dresser to grab the salve! 

 

-Please, please, please!!! Please, God, save her, please let me make it in time!!!

 

However, by the time he had managed to obtain the salve from under the dresser and turned back to start returning...The door had been opened and there stood Jacob, with Liza having been lifted up, into his arms…

 

He switched his gaze between the child in his arms and the child covered in tears, blood, and in a state of utter shock and panic. Eventually, his gaze fixed on Liza, who was still unconscious in his arms, but didn’t seem to alter his neutral expression…

 

Jacob: “My, young master...It seems that you have indeed become just as the young miss described to me! Though I wouldn’t bother to bore you with the details, I’ll just say that it was...degrading at least.”

 

Fate had nearly recovered from the shock and began raising his hand towards Jacob to cast a spell. However, once he attempted doing so, he was delivered a swift blow to the back of the head, causing him to pass out on the floor of his room.

 

Despite the state of Liza in his arms and Fate, whom he had just knocked out cold, sprawled on the floor, he didn’t seem perturbed in the slightest.

 

Jacob: “Perhaps this is just what I need to draw your potential to the surface, young master! Oh...but I suppose that you probably can’t hear me, correct? No matter, I need to prepare for what’s to come very soon!”

 

His expression while he jubilantly exclaimed this, was an ear to ear, sadistic smile...

---

P.S. - Sorry I didn't post a chapter last night like I wanted, my parents turned off the internet for my devices so I'm having to use 4G to do this. Plus, I didn't want them immediately getting suspicious of what I was doing with said no-internet. Many apologies to all.