Cruent

"As I thought, Like Father Like Daughter." The gruff voice of Ivan rumbled through as he stroke his moustache.

He calls from the outside as soldiers came in with food in their hands.

Ivan looks to Egon with a grin, "See friend, what did I tell you?"

Egon sighs as he picks the girl up by the nape lifting her back to a seat.

Mary's face remained crumpled in pain, as the cooked food was served at her table.

The smell enters her senses, the succulent taste forcing her eyes open.

She sees the food and immediately stuffed herself with food, unaware of her surroundings.

A few moments pass like this, she looks up as she took a bite of bread, only to see two men watching her.

She shouted back, "Kyaa! What are you guys doing here?"

The fond smile forming from her Vice commander was more than enough of an alarm.

Ivan heartily laughs, "Haha, a hungry stupor would certainly explain such."

Mary suspiciously looks up to Ivan, less from his imposing height and more to do with his change in demeanour.

Mary swallows her food before clearing her throat, "What's the problem?"

Egon coughs, capturing her attention, she looks to him in question.

He replies to her question, "My friend Ivan,"

The words make Ivan smile, something Egon chose to ignore, "Thought you needed help after such a performance."

Mary looks to them both in shock, "H-how do you know that?'

Ivan laughs as he sat at another chair, "Well, you're not the first one to perform such magic."

Mary looks to him in curiosity, "What magic?"

Ivan sighs, "I guess you truly do not know."

Egon shakes his head in sorrow, "Maybe he never had the time to do so."

Mary speaks with a bit of force, "Can you both elaborate?" annoyed at their conversation as if she wasn't there.

The two men looked at her, Egon coughs, "Well, we probably know what happened."

Mary then leans back to her seat, she looks on in interest, "Then tell me."

Egon nods as he then asked, "Do you know Frederick?"

Mary furrows her brow, "Frederick?" She looks at him with suspicion, "How do you know that name?"

Ivan heartily laughs, "That is because we were friends."

Mary's expression turns to shock before her eyes turned to them, eyes filled with suspicion.

She then mutters, "Then how does he looks like?"

Ivan strokes his moustache as he thinks, "Red hair, red eyes and a pale face with a goofy smile."

Mary looks in shock as she unintentionally nods, "H-how?"

Egon spoke beside her, "Your father was a friend of ours."

Ivan shouted, "YES! A good friend,"

Egon nods along with him, "We fought together on our early days."

Mary looks to them both as she lowers her head in a dark mood, "I see, I haven't really asked him what his job was,"

Mary looks down as she holds in her tears, "We never really had the time to talk about it."

She shakes her head as she mutters, "It's fine."

Ivan laughs, "It is fine young one! I'm sure your father would be more than proud of the woman you have become."

Mary looks at him in shock before smiling at the compliment, drying the tears the almost escaped her.

Though she realizes something as annoyance enters her features, "Wait, aren't you the one insulting me back there."

Ivan laughs, "Why yes, It was I. It was me that challenged you. After all."

He slams his hand to his chest, "I'm not one to bow so easily,"

Egon shakes his head as he mutters, "Yet, he came in for the money, ridiculous."

Ivan sheepishly rubs the back of his head, "That- yes, there was a chance I would have followed you even if you lost. After all, even for a man such as I, eight gold a year is quite a lot to pass up."

Ivan then grins, "No matter though, I am glad I have found my friend's daughter."

Mary shakes her head, to clear her thought.

She leans back to her chair as she takes a bite of her bread, she spoke with her mouth full. "Then what exactly happened to me?"

Egon then spoke, "I can answer that." He points to his eyes, "Have you noticed your eyes turning red? Faster reaction? Increased power? speed?"

Mary shakes her head, "No, not really."

Egon nods, "I see, then is this the first time you saw blood in battle?"

Mary was about to retort against her inexperience but stops herself before she continues, "Yes, I guess it is."

Ivan shouts as he slams his hand on the table, "There is no shame in your first battle."

He stood up as he raised his fist, "The great rush of metal and blood was the most beautiful thing I've seen."

Ivan tears up and spoke as he wipes it away, "It reminded me of old times."

Egon pushes Ivan away, "Disregarding the idiot, I believe that we can help you in properly using your abilities."

Mary then nods as she looks to them in question, "What exactly is my ability?"

Egon looks to the seated Ivan, they both nod to one another before Egon spoke, "It's called the bloody eyes of Cruent."

Mary stops in thought, "Based on the name, I'm assuming that it has to do with blood?"

Egon nods, "The sight of blood activates the magic,"

"What does the magic do then?"

Ivan continues, "Earlier, you performed feats with a great deal of speed and strength."

Mary mutters in shock, "I did?"

Ivan nods, "Yes, though I believe your perception of time slowed to the point that such feats seemed normal."

Mary nods, "I guess, I did jump around and dashed faster than I did before."

Egon nods, "Yeah, that's the thing though. Your body doesn't do that normally."

Ivan interjects, "That is why it requires an enormous amount of food to make up for the strain."

Mary nods in contemplation, "Ah yes, thank you."

She bows her head, "I couldn't have known this if not for you both."

She then realizes something before asking them a question, "Can I have a few minutes, to take it all in."

The two men nod as they leave her tent.

She sighs as the name Cruent makes her think before a ring goes through her head.

She accepts the call, "Are you alright!?" and two worried shouts follow.

She smiles to them both, "Ive been better." she shakes her head, "Nevermind that, do you know House Cruent?"

Michael nods, "Yes, I have read about Margrave Cruent." He taps his chin, "I believe they were one of the few bloodlines that survived the fall."

Madelaine interjects, her worry never leaving her face "What happened, why does this matter?"

Mary lowered her head, "I am apparently part of House Cruent," She rubs her arm, "I unintentionally used my bloodline, so I needed to eat more than I usually did."

Michael nods in understanding, "I get it, I believe your eyes increase your physical capabilities?"

Mary meekly nods as Michael continues "Then it's understandable that your body would ache as such."

Madelaine sighs in relief as she rests back down to her bed, the fatigue from worry making her tired. "I'm just glad you're alright."

Mary grins as she clenches her fist, "Yeah, it seems I have something new to master.."