Liana urged her pekko forward, feathers whipping in the wind as the bird charged across the open plain. Gloria followed beside her, Peanut keeping perfect pace, their faces set with determination.
They didn’t know exactly where the battlefield was, there were no banners or smoke to guide them. They moved by instinct, guided by the bond they shared with Javier.
Inside Liana’s mind, a storm of thoughts swirled.
Why? Why didn’t you want us there, young master?
Her grip tightened on the reins.
We’re not weak... and you know that. You know exactly what we are.
The mory of Garius sealing Ari and Aria within their bodies flashed in her thoughts.
The celestial harmony buried deep inside them, a gift and a burden. That power wasn’t for show or pride. It was for this mont: to fight by Javier’s side, to shield him when the world turns against him.
We can fight.
We trained for this. Erinette pushed us through hell in that special training chamber. We endured it for you—to stand beside you, to protect you.
Wind rushed past, but it wasn’t enough to drown the frustration simring in her chest.
Why, young master? Why leave us behind? Why force us to stay away when you’re the one who needs us the most?
She glanced at Gloria, who rode with a calm face but equally sharp eyes. The two of them didn’t need to speak—the anger, the worry, and the unshakable loyalty burned in their hearts.
But before they could reach the place,
Their pekko suddenly stopped.
The pekko shifted nervously, claws scraping the dirt, feathers puffing as if sensing danger ahead.
"Pikko? What’s wrong?" Liana leaned forward, stroking her mount’s neck.
"Peanut?" Gloria whispered to hers. "Why did you stop?"
Both pekko let out uneasy squawks.
From the path ahead, a shadow appeared, graceful, composed, with an aura of calm authority.
The two maids froze, still holding the reins of their pekko. Pikko and Peanut lowered their heads nervously, feathers ruffled as if even the mounts could feel Erinette’s presence.
Liana swallowed hard. "M-Mrs. Erinette..."
The head of all maids, Mrs Erinette , rode her own pekko, standing tall. Her smile was gentle but unmistakably firm.
To others it might look warm, but to Liana and Gloria it was a smile that said no disobedience would be tolerated.
"Now," Erinette said sweetly, "where do you two think you’re going?"
Gloria tried to speak, her voice softer but trembling. "We only wanted to—"
Erinette’s smile stayed, but her eyes carried the unyielding authority they’d learned to fear during training. "I didn’t ask what you wanted. I asked where you’re going."
Neither dared answer. Their throats closed, their bodies stiff under that calm, terrifying tone.
When Gloria finally spoke, her voice was small, almost pleading. "We wanted... to assist young master Javier."
"Assist?" Erinette tilted her head, her braid sliding over her shoulder.
"Do you think charging headfirst into a battlefield is assistance? Or is it reckless disobedience?"
The silence pressed down like armor.
Then, in that sa honeyed yet unbreakable voice, Erinette issued her verdict.
"No. You two are imdiately summoned back to the Armand Estate."
"But... young master—" Liana began, desperation in her eyes.
Before she could finish, Erinette’s expression shifted slightly, her voice turning calm but sharp.
"Young master Javier has finished his mission. He does not need either of you at this ti. Now, you will return with ."
Her tone hardened, the sweetness vanishing into steel.
"Or should I drag you back myself?"
The air grew heavy, and even their pekko shifted uneasily.
Both Liana and Gloria lowered their heads, their pride burning but their discipline saying to obey. They bowed deeply, right fists pressed to their chests.
"Y-Yes, Mrs. Erinette." They spoke in unison, voices low and restrained.
Silverwind’s feathers shimred faintly in the light as Erinette stroked its neck. The great pekko lowered its head in acknowledgnt of her command.
"Now you both, guide your pekko to follow ," she said firmly, leaving no room for argunt.
She gave one last pat to her mount, then leaned close and whispered, sharp but soft,
"Silverwind... if those two brats try to stray from the road, you know what to do."
"Cuquawked!" Silverwind barked a deep, commanding squawk, its eyes narrowing as it glared at Pikko and Peanut.
The two smaller pekko froze under that gaze. Feathers puffed nervously as they answered with timid, low squawks, soft and apologetic, as if admitting their submission.
Pikko shuffled its talons in the dirt, lowering its head, while Peanut pressed closer to Gloria’s legs, letting out a quiet whimper.
Liana and Gloria swallowed hard, straightening their backs and tightening their grips on the reins. They didn’t dare et Erinette’s eyes, but they could feel her weighty presence on their shoulders.
"Good," Erinette said, her sweet tone returning as if nothing had happened. "Now, follow."
They slowly nudged their pekko forward, Pikko and Peanut falling in line behind Erinette’s mount.
Silverwind, the massive silver-feathered pekko, let out another sharp squawked.
It’s eyes flashing back at the two smaller mounts. The glare alone was enough to make Pikko and Peanut tremble, their heads bowing in submission.
Liana glanced at Gloria, who kept her eyes straight ahead, lips pressed into a thin line. Both of them knew, neither Pikko nor Peanut would dare defy Silverwind’s will.
Erinette patted her mount’s neck lightly, her tone sweet but edged with authority.
"Good boy, Silverwind. Keep those two in line. I don’t want any detours."
The large pekko let out a satisfied squawk, wings twitching as if to remind the two smaller ones of the punishnt waiting if they strayed.
With that, the group began moving down the road in formation, Erinette at the front, Silverwind towering over the younger mounts, and Liana and Gloria trailing quietly, their frustrations buried under obedience.
They knew Erinette’s command wasn’t to be questioned. Not here. Not now.
"Now, I’ll tell you both in advance," she said, her eyes never leaving the road ahead.
"Yes, Mrs. Erinette?" Liana and Gloria answered in unison, their tones respectful but strained with worry.
"When we reach ho, your duty is clear,"
Erinette continued smoothly.
"Make sure Young Master recovers his health. That takes priority over everything else."
The words hit like a spark.
"What—!? What actually happened to him?!" Liana burst out, panic rising in her voice. Gloria’s composure faltered as well, her eyes widening and her lips trembling as she echoed Liana’s fear.
"Nothing serious," Erinette replied without missing a beat, her tone steady and her expression unreadable.
"He rely overused his mana."
( End Of Chapter )
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