4 Town

"Moonlight"

Lizabelle spoke without pretense.

"My quintessence summons the power of the lunar goddess, out of the trinity, it would be recognized as binding"

As her words rested in Blake's mind, a sudden gust of wind picked up from out of nowhere. Belatedly, Blake held his glass tightly before he noticed that an invisible cyclone had started to form with Lizabelle as the center.

The colorless became saturated as bright flecks of silvery-grey light collated around her, brightening as they flew closer. A buzz would have occurred if it had been daytime, but luckily the only witnesses were Blake and the nearby family guards.

A few seconds that seemed like long minutes later, the storm disappeared as if it had never happened and what was left was the young woman with her eyes shut in concentration.

"Brilliant"

He whispered, keeping the scholarly gaze he had when she first named her quintessence. The next few seconds didn't last for long as more of the same light began emitting from Lizabelle's back, albeit this time a tinge more silver, as if had been refined. The lights melded en masse and formed what appeared to be the beginning of some shape. Four protrusions became stumps, then the stumps gradually grew shaper and elongated. Before long, four magnificent tendrils of light had grown from her back, a beauty that could only be described as angelic yet alluring.

"Young master?"

Lizabelle opened her eyes.

Blake suddenly had the impression that he was looking at a fox-like being before recovering from his stunned expression. Though that was not until she had started explaining, misunderstanding his stupor as an inquiry.

"I can collect essence from the moon, the brighter it shines, the more I can acquire"

she taught.

"The essence can be used like a manipulation type quintessence, the difference being that I have more control than an average non-binding type and stronger power. The only downside is that my ability is limited when my essence runs out leaving-"

"leaving you defenseless?"

He interrupted, not letting her continue.

"I'm grateful that-"

Unfortunately, what happened once, happened again as his words were cut short by a sudden ghastly scream from the town. The duo exchanged a look of concern, before Lizabelle abruptly stood up with her essence withdrawn. Her face spelled duty, in contrast to her young master turning to her with a concealed frown. Any other person may not be able to tell, but his maid knew very well that her young master was rather annoyed at that moment.

"Why are you leaving? Did I allow you to leave?"

Blake shouted, uncaring for her explanations. Yet, she didn't hesitate to speak out her intentions.

"I ask for forgiveness young master, although I live here and my work is paid from this house, I cannot repay the kindness young master's family has shown my pitiful self unless I do more than that. And the guards will require my power even more at night"

"Alright, fine, leave"

The young master instructed, displaying his foul mood. Though the second she thanked him and turned around, his bitterness transformed into a smirk as he took his final sip of grape juice. It was a rather valuable conversation, he thought to himself. He had never truly intended to hold her from leaving but because of what he did, he had a chance to witness her valiance and loyalty, a display that was rare in their time spent together.

Blake gently put his glass down. A mysterious power left the object to no one's vigilance and the glass shattered, crumbling into a pile of fractured crystalware. He lifted his hand that was holding onto such a glass before placing it on his heart.

"My heart rate felt like it increased a little when she showed her quintessence.

I was surprised enough to even break my glass

Was my heartbeat truly affected or was it just an illusion?"

He walked back to his bedroom in the glow of the night sky, discarding those thoughts he was unable to answer.

---

The next day.

Not far from the Quills Mansion's gates, Lizabelle accompanied her young master and his sister towards the Jackstown. Her exhaustion was evident as she yawned and it was loud enough that the two escorting guards and Joanne gave her a glance.

The street they walked on was a tiled brick road, it was the main path to the manor and was only populated closer to the center of the town, civilians rarely visited the lord's residence, and as they walked past the guard post, the soldiers did their best to look vigilant, perhaps to not displease his sister. Blake thought.

This didn't stop their gazes from meandering to his maid though, no less because of her beauty than her privileges. Nonetheless, their looks were complex enough to give Blake some thoughts.

"You can take a rest if you're tired"

Blake told her, without turning around. His nonchalance to her actions was something Lizabelle had long adapted to. Though she had forgotten about the people around them because of her tiredness.

"Escorting young master around town is this maid's duty and with the threat of the unknown murderer last evening, you - I mean, the young master cannot be left alone"

Her words left a trace of envy when they traveled through Joanne's ears, more so from the fact that Blake had a close female companion he could rely on every day rather than her dedication. The two guards gave each other a quick look, gone unnoticed by all except for the individual that hadn't even turned around.

"Liz, I'll stay with Joanne so there's nothing to worry about"

He spoke with the smallest amount of effort to convince her. There was little point in countering someone so strong-willed, but he cared enough about her to give her a choice.

"Young master, Lady Joanne is moving to investigate the crime scene, which will leave young master by himself which is unacceptable"

"Suit yourself Liz-"

"YOUNG MASTER!- YOUNG MASTER!, I do say little brother, you think very highly about yourself, don't you?"

Blake was interrupted the second time since last evening, thanks to his sister. He winced a little from her outburst, not knowing how to reply, and luckily or unluckily he had no time to reply.