Kitsune of the Blue Sun

Chapter 91- Pram and Freya- Learning from Emma

[Pram POV]

The day after we met some of Keeno’s old acquaintances, their group and us packed up camp and started to head to their base. Their leader Sigurd was leading the way while Keeno walked with him while discussing something. Freya and I were a little ways behind them while the woman named Emma walked beside us.

“Um…” (Pram)

“Yes, Lady Pram?  Is there something I can assist you with?” (Emma)

“You don’t need to call me Lady. And I was wondering…if you can tell us more about Okami when she was little. I know she grew up for a few years here, but whenever I asked her about it, she only ever told me the bare minimum. I just want to know why she hates this place so much since I’m a bit worried about her.” (Pram)

“Yes, she’s seemed more…angry than normal.” (Freya)

“Hmm.  Well, first off, I only met her when she was about four or so, before that there was another maid named Saki who died.  So, if you’re fine with what little I can tell you, then ask your questions.” (Emma)

“That’s fine with me.  Now, what was her usual day like?  I mean, you can skip the normal things like what she ate or how she slept and stuff, but I want to know what she had to do, and what the people around her thought of her.”  (Pram)

“Hmmmm.  Well, in the beginning, there was only ever one person in that entire mansion that actually cared for her.  She was the maid named Saki.  She was an old lady that was more a mother to her than anyone else could possibly imagine in her situation.  She cared for her, made sure she learned what she needed, and so on.  And, this is probably not known to her, but she even advocated for her position in the family so that others would treat her better.  It didn’t work for a lot of people, but for the few it did, we came to respect both Saki and my Lady.  One for her persistence, and the other for her dedication to not being broken by her environment, though ultimately, only Sigurd and I ever got truly close to my Lady.  And personally, it took me a while before I actually came around to Saki’s words.  In the beginning I was like most of the other maids in the mansion, disliking my Lady due to the poisonous things her…birth giver said.  But, once I actually was around my Lady more often when I was chosen to take Saki’s place when she died, I came to realize that my Lady was just as Saki said.  But enough digressing, mostly, her days started before the suns even rose.  She would get up, study, then after eating what amounted to scraps compared to what most children of that age should have eaten, she would train for most of the day with Sigurd.  After that, she would be thrown to the wolves, per se, her birth giver and ‘trained’ in the ways of nobility and how a woman should present herself.  This training, though, was 10 times worse than what I’d heard other noble children went through.” (Emma)

“Yes, I do recall her complaining a lot about that.  She never went into details but said that was one of the things she hated the most.  And, while I hate to say any of it is a good thing, I think it did help her a little.  I mean, you can see by how she carries herself that it helped make her into who she is today.” (Pram)

All three of us looked over at Keeno.  Walking in front of the group, her every move looked like it was calculated to make her seem like a ruler leading her people.

“If I may, what were the two that…um…how do I even word this?” (Freya)

“Are you asking about the Fafnir family’s head and his wife?” (Emma)

“Yes.  What were they like?” (Freya)

“Utter trash.  Probably still are or worse, though my money is on worse.  I mean, I may not know what the two of you from outside consider trash, but even with how…behind Falheim apparently is, those two are considered absolute trash.  Or at least to normal, non-noble born people from what I’ve heard.  Now, if you want to know more about them as individuals…Lucius is the head of the Ducal house Fafnir.  That family is second only to the royal family and are privy to every single secret of this country.  To the residents here, even being able to glance at someone from the Fafnir family is said to grant you a lifetime of good fortune, and working for them is basically like being set for life.  Same with the royal family.  He is a prideful, vindictive, stubborn man whose only purpose in life is to serve himself, his interests, and the interests of the royal family.  His wife is one of the king’s many daughters and a princess of the country.  Due to some circumstances that I don’t know, she still has a claim to the throne, though it’s highly unlikely she will ever actually manage to take it.  She is just as vindictive as her husband, but on top of that she is spiteful.  When my Lady was born, she was scarred so much that, even with the country’s best healers, was unable to ever produce another child.  That’s what led her to treat my Lady as horridly as she did.  Also, from what I remember, Lucius tried several other times with concubines to have other children, but all of those ended in failure.” (Emma)

{Of course, they did.  I made sure to make him, and anyone related to him by blood or not, infertile.  Of course, Keeno is the exception, though neither of us will ever have a child.}

‘Thank you for your commentary, though that last bit was unnecessary.’ (Pram)

{…I didn’t realize I said that out loud.  Sorry Pram, Freya.}

‘It’s fine, though I’m surprised Keeno isn’t chipping into this conversation now that you’re involved.’ (Freya)

{Well, I was making sure of that much.  If Keeno overheard this conversation, she’d be very mad.  She didn’t want the two of you to know all this because she thinks you’ll start to pity her, and she doesn’t want that.}

‘Ah.’ (Pram)

‘I see.’ (Freya)

{Well, that’s enough from me, Emma is still talking, so just act like you know what she was saying.}

“…Honestly, it was kind of hectic getting out of the capital after all that.  Though, getting to push a Duke’s wife down a staircase was a novel experience.  But that’s about all I can tell you.  If you want to know more details about what kind of training and stuff she had to go through, ask Sigurd later.  Now, can I ask some stuff?” (Emma)

“What do you want to know?” (Pram)

“More about my Lady’s life once she was out of here, where she lived, the friends she made, what her love life with her special someone is like.” (Emma)

“Well, I’m at no liberty to comment on that last thing, since, aside from bragging about how close they are, she doesn’t like to share their private moments with us, though they both sometimes let some small details slip, but that can be talked about later.  I’ll start off on the other stuff, though, and then Freya can tell her side.  Sound good?” (Pram)

“That’s fine by me.  I just want to know how my Lady has been since we last saw her.  We got some details last night, but nothing more than just absolutely worldview-shattering information, she didn’t say much about her life growing up.” (Emma)

“Then, let me start on the day I met her.” (Pram)

For the rest of the day, and even a bit into the night, Freya and I spoke at length about our time with Keeno while Emma listened to everything with rapt attention as she absorbed every detail.

Chaos Realm:

…*Sigh*Everyone, hold onto something.

Luna: Is something about to happen?

Just a Chaos Quake.  Honestly, it’s been a long time since one happened, so it might be a big one.

Order: Astraea!  Get in here!

Astraea: I’m…here…why’d…nap time…over…?

Order: Just come here and you can go back to sleep.

Astraea: *Sleepily walks over to Order and enters into her embrace* Hehe…mamma warm.

Tamamo: Should we head home for a bit?

No, it’s too dangerous for anyone to come or go right now, so just get comfortable and hold on tight.  Things are going to get rough for a little while.

Luna: Shouldn’t you do the same?

Why?  I’m the one that has to make sure the house doesn’t get damaged too badly, so I have to go fight the damn thing.

Tamamo: It’s a sentient thing?

Tamamo, you are a goddess, are you telling me you’ve never tried to beat up a natural phenomenon before?

Tamamo: …

Luna: Eh?  That sounds so fun.

Tamamo: It is…though it depends on what kind it is.

Luna: Tell me about it later.

Thanks for not yelling all that.  Now, I’ll be back in a bit.  *Poof*