18 Creative Writing

Edwin was inside of the portal that connected the outside and inside of the mansion. Arvid admired it as they worked in carrying the tiles of the mansion floor from the outside. Ivar passed the tiles to Arvid, then Arvid passed it to his father. It's a very quick process of carrying materials!

As Gladios and Angeal were watching the three work, the old man smiled.

"I've been working here for 20 years, yet I still get amazed," he commented and Angeal nodded, witnessing other kinds of magic for the first time.

Once everything was already inside the mansion, all of them made their way to the dining room to eat snacks prepared by Martha. She made everyone a sandwich and gave them orange juice as their drink.

"Let's work on this for the whole day. We'll be done by late in the evening," Ivar suggested and Edwin nodded, whilst Arvid sighed, complaining.

"We've been working for three whole days! Now we're going to pull an all nighter? Why can't we hire humans for this," he asked and Edwin gave him a disappointing look.

"You be thankful that we have magic to do this quick! And you know well why we can't hire humans," Edwin scolded his son who's acting like a teenage boy and Arvid just gave another sigh.

As they were busy conversing, Angeal typed in her app then clicked read, getting her grandfather's attention.

"Enrollment's coming soon, Pops!"

Gladios looked at his granddaughter, slightly surprised. He almost forgot about her enrollment.

"Oh, the next semester is starting soon, right?"

His granddaughter nodded then typed on her app again. "I'm going to take 18 units for this semester. I don't want to be fully loaded," she answered then Ivar spoke.

"Oh! What degree are you taking again," he asked and Angeal smiled, feeling enthusiastic about what she's taking.

"I'm taking up creative writing," the app answered for Angeal and suddenly, Devin walked in, slightly startling everyone.

With his sudden appearance, everyone put down the things they were holding, stood up, bowed, then greeted in unison.

"Good afternoon, master."

Devin just looked at them without saying a word, then sat beside Ivar.

"Give me a glass of water," he ordered then Martha voluntarily prepared their master a glass of water then served it to him then bowed beside him.

Devin gave all of them a wave. "Sit. Continue eating," he said and everyone sat down slowly, feeling awkward than ever.

Since the incident that had happened days ago, they find being in the presence of their master very awkward.

The room fell into a deafening silence as the afternoon proceeded. It was so silent, that even Edwin who was eating his sandwich, felt uncomfortable for him to swallow. He feared that everyone might even hear how the food would travel from his mouth down to his stomach!

"So, why did you take creative writing, Angeal," Ivar asked, breaking the silence and Angeal respectfully nodded then typed quickly on her app to answer.

"When I was young, I've read some books inside the mansion's library and stumbled upon Edgar Allan Poe and searched about him. Despite his works focusing on dark themes, how he made them inspired me to write as well!"

"Edgar Allan Poe, huh," Devin reacted then Angeal avoided his gaze as she found his voice cold. "Tell me... what can you say about the story 'The Cask of Amontillado?' Have you read it?"

Angeal's eyes suddenly looked surprised as she heard of the familiar title of Edgar Allan Poe's story.

Of course! It was one of the stories she first read written by Edgar Allan Poe! The story, set in an unnamed Italian city at carnival time, in an unspecified year, is about a man taking fatal revenge on a friend who, he believed, had insulted him.

"Oh, you know about Edgar Allan Poe, master," the app spoke for Angeal and everyone looked at her with caution except for Devin.

Gwen, who was beside her, smacked her leg from under the table then whispered.

"I told you... don't speak to him until you were told so!"

Angeal suddenly felt scared as she bowed her head, embarrassed to look at their master.

'But he asked me what I thought about Edgar's story...'

Devin rested his chin on the palm of his hand as his eyes still hadn't left the human girl from across the table.

"Well, girl?"

Angeal was surprised when she heard him, waiting for her answer. She then looked at her grandfather beside her, looking like a child asking for permission. Gladios nodded his head, signalling that it's okay to reply to their master, then she typed in her app once more.

"Yes, I've read it, master. It's about the insecurities of a man who sought revenge on a friend who he believed, had insulted him. My take on this piece, master, is why resort to such devious actions, when Montresor can talk about his concerns with his friend, Fortunato? Maybe it's just a misconception between them."

After the app said Angeal's thoughts, the room fell into silence as they waited for Devin's reply. The Soul Eater just looked at Angeal, making her uncomfortable.

"A misconception, huh," Devin said then he stood up, not really giving Angeal any feedback.

Everyone stood up as they saw him make his way towards the door. After spending some time with them, they noticed he left so soon... but it did give them comfort, knowing that he's leaving them alone in the kitchen to enjoy their snack.

"Have a good day, master," everyone except for Angeal, greeted in unison then Devin suddenly stopped, without looking back at them.

"Ivar, get the original books of Jane Austen in my room and give it to the human girl."

When Devin left the dining room, everyone stood still in silence until Gwen spoke.

"Is he... giving Angeal a present?"

Everyone looked at Angeal, finding their master's sudden change of attitude unbelievable. Angeal in turn, also looked at them with her eyes opened wide. She typed something on her app then clicked read for everyone to hear.

"Did master just say original works of Jane Austen?"

To Angeal, that is the most surprising thing, compared to Devin's show of "kindness" towards her.