Chapter 6 Truths and News (part 1)

Passed leaf, upon the moss-softened rock, come the sun rays that were promised us by the starlit sky.

Waking up I realized that I've been sleeping for the past 12 hours. Being my most soothing sleep in the past several months. Slapping my cheeks I got up to wash my face, eager to have the much-needed conversation with mom and Alexie.

Washing my face I saw my frown easing a lot, giving back my baby-like expressions. Going to the dining room I could smell the aroma of freshly baked bread with eggs and coffee, indicating the return of Alexie since he was the only one in this household drinking coffee first thing in the morning.

Looking at the dining table I could see Alexie, Mom, our butler Sebastian and an unknown tall woman sitting beside Alexie.

She had a head full of white hair, a ghostly pale complexion, and a Stoic expression making her look frightening and charming at the same time.

Noticing my gaze Alexie cleared his throat, he got up to hug me.

"Good morning Jimmy. You have even grown taller since the last time I saw you. Oh, I've also heard about your frustrations and question from your mother, we will have an in-depth conversation in the afternoon."

While nodding my head he put me down. Then he started to introduce the newcomer:

"By the way, this is our far relative Carrie Armstrong, she has just graduated from the prestigious college of Ohara. Also she will be staying with us from now on. Helping us as a part-time maid, and manager of the Prosopon town as I've been chosen to be the new mayor."

I was feeling kind of shocked since I assumed that the town didn't have an official position and Alexie was already acting as the de facto mayor, but apparently, I was wrong in my assumption. Looking her in the eyes I said :

"It's nice to meet you ms. Carrie. I hope you have a good time here."

I sat down next to the dazed Sebastian as it was a rule made by mom in this household, to eat together with any available person regardless of their status or work here. Or as she says the more, the merrier.

But despite her own order. When taking a look at mom, I noticed her clear displeasure with Carrie's presence here while giving Alexie some nasty looks. Gears started to turn in my head as I was reminded of aunts blushing face and conflicted looks whenever she was mentioning Alexie.

Thinking back maybe the reason that mom and Alexie weren't spending as much time together or at home is that something had happened between them that I am unaware of. Most likely Alexie is a womanizer and cheating on mom.

"Humph..."

Even the thought of it made jimmy mad. How dare he cheat on his dear mom? Giving Alexie nasty looks. Jimmy was clearly showing his favoritism and a soft spot for his new mother.

...

After finishing breakfast jimmy couldn't wait till the afternoon to finally have the conversation with his parents and his first real class with miss Wednesday in the evening.

But before that, he had another pressing matter on his mind which was the dazed and scared look that Sebastian had this morning. So without wasting time, he went after Sebastian who was in the stables.

"Sebastian my man, how are you doing? Is everything alright?"

Looking at jimmy's concerned expression, Sebastian then said.

"I am doing fine young master, thanks you for asking. How can I help you?"

Shaking his hands, then went on to say.

"No no Sebastian I don't need your help. It's just I saw your weird look today at the dining table. So I was slightly concerned about it. You know you are getting older, and mom always tell me that I should take care of the elderly."

Hearing what jimmy said Sebastian didn't know whether to be happy with Jimmy's concern for him or mad. He is not that old just turning sixty.

{your father is old. You stinky brat.}

Putting those thoughts away, Sebastian was genuinely disturbed by Ms. Carries' presence. However, since master Alexie trusts her, there is nothing he could do about it.

But Thinking more about it, he decided to express his concern toward Carrie to young master jimmy since hearing about it from his son is different than saying it directly to Alexie's face.

"Master jimmy, as you already know I have the cursed power to sense auras of beings such as horses, bugs, etc... even communicate with them very vaguely."

Wiping his sweat the then said.

"Ms. Carrie's aura is very different than normal humans. Just thinking back on it sends shivers down my spine. Her aura felt more like the most ferocious beast in the northern jungle. Safe to say she is not a normal human at all."

He went on to add.

"You might not know this young master, but your father and the Armstrongs are the sole reason that we can have our peaceful and simple life on this island. I've heard this from my parents but before Louise Armstrong, the third came to urbanize this island we humans were living a harsh life being enslaved by the oni tribes and the monstrosities in the jungle. He was the one who civilized the oni, cutting down the forest, sending the ferocious beast to a corner of the island, giving us dignity, and improving our lives. So that's why we at Prosopon town don't want any harm coming toward the decedents of our hero from 100 years ago."

Finishing his sentence. Jimmy could see Sebastian's river-like sweat in the chilly weather of autumn.

...

Going back to my room I couldn't help but think back to what I've just heard from Sebastian.

It seems that Sebastian is really a simple individual and has never left to see the world for himself. Otherwise, he wouldn't think of his powers as a curse and would know that the aura that he was sensing from Carrie was most likely from a Zoan devil fruit.

Judging by how scared Sebastian was she might even be an ancient zoan or at the very least, a very strong zoan devil fruit user. It was also my first time hearing about the ancestor of the Armstrong family, and the history of Prosopon town.

Onis enslaving normal humans? Ancient ferocious beasts? This sounds so intriguing. It's also a wake-up call for me because my knowledge covers only what was shown by Goda. My field of data for everything outside the straw hats adventure and very major events is basically nonexistent.

Also, apparently, Ms. Carrie had just graduated from the college at Ohara. Meaning that it still hasn't been erased from the face of the planet. So if I have to guess the current timeline is somewhere between 22 and 24 years before straw hat and allies raid onigashima.

Sigh... perhaps I have to gather my memories and make some bullet point notes in different languages. Writing down events and information that might become relevant before I start forgetting them.