An Aberrant Gift

The children were anticlimactically silent for a while, then burst into varied cheers of their own, bringing the usually harsh Anabella to tears. The nun fidgeted left and right as if unsure how to conceal her emotions, but ultimately resigned herself to their admiration and wept.

"Our gratitude aside, I have prepared 500 tari and a special gift for you."

Walking over, he stuffed a sizeable velvet pouch in her hands. Then, sharing an earnest smile with her, he faced the crowd again.

"Next up is Bruno, who worked hardest among all of you. He hauled in excellent pieces of wood and also found several herbs I need. He will be rewarded with 250 tari!"

Tossing a pouch over to the brawny kid who accompanied him to the market, Leonardo gave him an encouraging smile and a thumbs up as well.

"Lastly, there is Yukiko, who took charge over everything. It's best you lot don't know her prize, lest you die of envy, hehe. Rest assured that I'll spoil her rotten."

Beaming with pride, he gave Yuki another hug amidst the children's cheers, then dragged her over to the end of the table.

"Everyone, enough words. The food's getting cold!"

And so the feast started, causing the wolf pack to finally abandon themselves to their instincts. Having salivated over the food for half an hour, they could finally relish everything on the table.

Leonardo smiled from the side, seemingly unhurried as he picked a few dishes for Yukiko. There was plenty for everyone so he didn't bother to call for manners and what not.

Anabella fumed red with wrath as basically all of her rules were stepped on, but Leo silently pushed her shoulder down and shook his head.

"It's fine. Let them have it. It's a special day."

- — ☯ — -

The feast carried on until the night, with the children stuffing themselves full, groaning in pain for a few hours, then trying a few more dishes. Leonardo didn't bother trying to stop them. Whether doubtful if he could even succeed, or simply to let them learn the lesson on their own, he watched the show in amusement.

Other than Yuki and Anabella, the only one with a modicum of self control was once again Bruno. The boy ate until he was full then ran out into the woods. At least, that's what they thought until he returned in the middle of the night with a blatant smirk he couldn't conceal even if he wanted to.

Where his triumphant grin came from, only men would understand. Leonardo shook his head as he noted the youth's pouch slimmed down by at least half. It was an expensive first conquest.

When the dishes ran dry, the crowd finally dispersed to sleep. As Leonardo and Anabella tended to cleaning the mess, Yukiko retired to her room to check her presents at last. Despite usually being timid, she was rather expectant of her gifts, and it was almost torturous to have her wait for hours.

She returned sometime later and ran into Leo's embrace, giving him a wordless tight hug. Whether because she wasn't very good at expressing herself, or was worried she'd burst into tears — she just hung to him like a koala for a bit.

No words were needed to begin with. Feeling her happiness surge even without activating his Animus magic, he knew the celebrations were a success, and had his spirits uplifted as well.

Displaying her pristine white kimono dress, she spun around them — her wide sleeves fluttering before Anabella's envious eyes.

"Oh, Leonardo, didn't you say you had a present for me too? What is it?"

Noting Anabella's anticipation, Leonardo grinned mischievously but didn't answer.

"Hmph!" She snorted in displeasure, much to Leo's continuous amusement. He didn't quite understand how she could be envious of a child's presents, but perhaps women functioned differently. His demesne memories certainly didn't explain it.

Shrugging his shoulders, he finished cleaning the tables then smiled at Yuki who had run out of energy by then.

"It's best you go to bed, little fox. Don't stay late. I'll teach you how to play the zither tomorrow, alright? Sleep well."

"Good night, sis Bella. Good night, big brother."

Having dismissed the child, Leonardo shot Anabella a provocative look. "Didn't you say you wanted to see the gift? It's in your room already. Want me to teach you how to use it?"

"Nonsense. I'll figure it out," she scoffed. Though, a glimmer of excitement sprouted in her eyes and she hurriedly left the hall.

Grinning, Leonardo blew the candles and locked the hall doors, before finally retiring to his own room to meditate. It had been a long day, but unfortunately he couldn't afford to rest.

Loosely meditating, he was planning for the urchin gathering tomorrow, when the door to his room burst open suddenly.

'Can't they fucking knock!?'

Groaning with displeasure, he was just about to open his eyes and voice his complaints, when something hit him straight in the face.

A blunt slapping noise echoed in the room, disorienting him along with the recoil. He felt his face sting as the phallic outline of a bruise started to redden on his skin.

"What the—"

Before he could use some modern expletives to vent, he found Anabella next to his bed fuming with rage. Her face burned just as red, though for a different reason. She had the same hands-on-hips posture she assumed before she beat him up, prompting Leo to do a double take.

Touching his cheek in confusion, the reason finally dawned on him when he looked down and identified the projectile that struck him.

"Guess you didn't like the gift? Pff—hahahaha."

Bursting into laughter, he jumped off the bed and ran before Anabella could catch up and vent further. Embarrassed and angry, the woman gave chase out of the dormitory and seemed adamant to beat him up. Fortunately, the children were asleep, otherwise they'd lose all respect they had for the nun.

Seeing her sprint in a night gown across the hallowed corridors with a purple silicone rod would not only spoil their imagination, but also damn them to hell in the process.

"Ayyo—! Sister Anne, stop beating me! I truly thought of what's best for you. You can't marry, so you might as well make the best of it."

Feigning that he was cornered, he decided to let the woman vent before she woke the kids. Alas, he could not control himself try as he might. Despite her best effort at silencing him, Leonardo seemed unhurt and continued to laugh even louder.

"Stop squealing, you miscreant pig! You'll wake everyone!"

"Ahh... The injustice. The harsh blame. I truly care for you! See, I remember clearly that one time I caught you in the chapel, even with three fingers inside you seemed unsatisfied, so I—"

"YOU BASTARD!"

Seemingly about to collapse from sheer anger and shame, she finally gave up on teaching this brat a lesson and fled in retreat. Slamming the door to her room shut, the monastery finally seemed to regain its silence.

Grinning as he rubbed the visible strike mark on his face, Leonardo too returned to his room. Halfway through the hall, he realized Anabella actually brought the gift to her room and guffawed with anticipation.