Chapter X

Cinder was not particularly worried about meeting Nora.

As any logic-driven person would do, she saw nothing special in meeting her new acquaintance and mentee. There was no logical reason to worry about it, Nora had no way of refusing her mentorship or resisting her influence, and Jonathan approved of her actions. So, even if Nora refuses, she just has to 'convince' her.

At least what Jonathan did counted as 'approval'

After spending years living together with Jonathan, Cinder could understand his inner workings quite well. So Cinder knew that he wasn't exactly 'happy' with the decision, but neither is he repulsed by it either. Rather, he just needed some time to think and internally discuss this decision, to have yet another mental dialogue.

Cinder wanted Jonathan, in his moments of doubt and reflection, to also turn to her for her advice and opinion, but she was also aware that in this particular event, he naturally could not discuss such things with her. Conflict of interest and all that.

Jonathan just required some time, there's no need for Cinder to do anything.

In any case, there was no logical reason for Cinder to worry about what had happened and the meeting with Nora that Jonathan had allowed, it could in no way go negatively and end in failure. Likewise, there's no reason for Jonathan to be troubled by the outcome of this conversation, neither mentally nor physically, and so Cinder really has no reason to worry. She had no logical reason to be. She shouldn't have been worried at all!

"Why are my palms sweating so much! This has never happened before!" Cinder shouldn't have been worried, and yet she was.

She hadn't lied to Jonathan about the reason she wanted Nora, or more precisely the possibility of raising her, as her gift. She wouldn't even dream of lying to Jonathan or hide the truth. Maybe she skirted around some of the precise wording of her reasoning, but Jonathan caught Cinder's way of thinking perfectly well without needing to say it. There was no need to make him feel bad about reminding him of certain… thought patterns of Cinder that Jonathan himself saw as negative.

That was most likely the reason why Cinder was nervous.

She had built up many contacts with all sorts of people before, so what's wrong with one more? Jonathan had not been involved in all the previous ones. Whereas now, he had actually sanctioned her actions, and even promised to monitor their outcome. That's all the difference, and yet it was enough.

Up until this point, Cinder would see Neo worried about an impending test, and she would always scoff at it. After all, she's been prepared enough for the test, so why worry? But, to Cinder's logical remark that Neo couldn't have any significant problems with the test, she only got the inarticulate reply of 'I'm still worried'. Cinder herself never understood why Neo had such an illogical reaction… Until now that is.

"What if I screw up?" Cinder couldn't even think of a reason why she might fail such a simple assignment, but her thoughts kept coming back to that question anyway. And, no matter how rightly Cinder could think of a logical counter-argument, it still wasn't enough to calm herself down.

That was why, staying in a sort of waiting room in the orphanage, Cinder could not sit still to spend her time more fruitfully, like reading a book, but continued to pace the rather large room. From one end of the room to the other, she kept pacing around, trying to quiet her mind with reflection, only to return to the same worry each time.

Cinder wasn't even sure how long she had done so, before her scroll alerted her to the fact that Jonathan was not planning to come back home until later that evening. If only to make the situation worse for Cinder, the alert also coincided with the psychologist leaving his office, with their attention squarely on Cinder.

Really, it was as if the universe was conspiring to make Cinder even more illogically nervous.

Under normal circumstances, such a scene couldn't exist. No one sane would have allowed another child into the orphanage unsupervised, even less likely would they have let her near the psychologist's private office. Especially since the psychologist was currently still working with a difficult child who had just been admitted to the orphanage. They certainly wouldn't have let her, a random stranger, near this new child.

But, being related to someone as powerful as the national hero, the king, and the head keeper of the orphanage itself offered her considerable leeway in this regard. Besides, Cinder herself was aware of the impression she was making on people.

That is, it was not difficult for Cinder to play the role of the 'nice kid'. The kind of charming and excellent student who was loved by teachers and students alike. Cinder was also aware that the flip side of such an image was also useful.

If someone perceived Cinder as 'that weird kid acting out, the one with the scary expression and the weird hobbies', then Cinder would simply take advantage of that. Some things that might be taboo for a 'normal' kid would be perceived as much more normal for a 'weird' kid.

All of these factors combined allowed Cinder access to Nora. So, when the psychologist left Nora alone when he left his office, instead of being surprised or angry at Cinder's presence, just let her go inside while trying not to meet her gaze. It was a rather strange picture for a grown man with graying hair on his temples, trying to hide his gaze from a girl who could barely reach his chest. But, that's how it worked in the orphanage. At least that's how it works for Cinder.

Whatever the reason for the doctor's reticence, Cinder has free rein over the psychologist's office. Cinder first focused on a desk with a couple of notes strewn on it, seemingly placed somewhere conspicuous on purpose. Information that the specialist decided not to hide from Cinder herself, quite possibly fearing that she would simply start rummaging around his desk in search of his notes. She then focused on the furnishings in the study, which, in an effort to hide the seriousness of the situation from a child, had been decorated accordingly. Walls in warm colors, cheerful photographs of smiling children, some children's drawings, and a portrait of Jonathan. At least one detail of this interior pleased Cinder.

And the last detail she focused on was the girl in question, Nora, sitting on a low, childlike sofa in front of a low coffee table. She looked very uncomfortable, wriggling about here and there, seemingly quite nervous being placed in such an environment. But still, after talking to a specialist, a hearty lunch, a bath, and allocation of new clothes, a white T-shirt and trousers, at least she was no longer acting squirrelly, anticipating an attack at any moment.

That last detail, however, changed instantly at Cinder's appearance. Much of the relaxation the psychologist had managed to draw out from Nora vanished, making her tense at the sight of Cinder.

Cinder, however, just smiled at the reaction. "No need to worry, I'm not dangerous."

For a moment, the thought that the wording of her words was not entirely accurate slipped through her mind. In terms of danger, she was precisely quite dangerous to Nora's well-being, in the present and in the future. However, she wasn't planning on using her powers in that regard.

It was unlikely that Nora was capable of the same kind of thinking without Cinder's knowledge, but she still tensed a little at the other girl's words. But in the end, after a few minutes, she slowly relaxed her shoulders, looking at Cinder expectantly.

'Cute,' Cinder only noted Nora's reaction coldly in her mind. Nora's behavior reminded her for a second of… hmm, she never had pets before, but for some reason Nora's behavior reminded Cinder for a second of that of a dog. Perhaps a wild puppy? Wary and yet almost resigned to its position.

It was, however, nothing more than a small thought on the edge of Cinder's mind.

"I don't think we've been properly introduced." Cinder took a few steps up to the seat that the psychologist had probably occupied a moment ago. Taking a seat in his chair, the perspective made it appear as if Cinder was actually larger, especially in comparison to Nora sitting in a lower seat. "My name is Cinder, Cinder Fall. What's yours?"

Nora was silent for a moment, clearly still not pleased by Cinder's appearance, before she slowly let out her answer. "Nora. Nora Valkyrie."

There was no more response after that, but it would have been strange if Cinder had easily managed to start a dialogue with Nora. "Okay, Nora. Do you know where you are?"

Nora was pensively silent for a second more, looking into Cinder's eyes, before she couldn't stand it anymore and looked away, answering Cinder's question. "In an orphanage… Mount Glenn."

"The Kingdom of Glenn," Cinder corrected, hurrying to correct her new ward. There are people that might not look kindly on anyone calling the Kingdom of Glenn anything else. "Exactly. So, are you against being here?"

"Huh?" Clearly surprised by such a question, Nora finally lifted her face to look at Cinder in the eye, surprised.

Good, a listener's attention is necessary for the speaker.

"Do you hate being here?" Cinder asked, looking at Nora, "Would you rather be in your… 'shelter' right now?"

Nora blinked in confusion at the question before she lowered her gaze and answered. "N-no…"

"Okay," Cinder nodded slowly. "It's good that you like it here. I also think this place is more suitable as a home than Kuroyuri."

You just said it yourself that you like this place better, I'm just developing the idea that this is your new home, the home you like. Nothing wrong with that.

"Are you eating well? No problem with your clothes? It doesn't pinch anywhere?"

"Huh?" Nora blinked. "N-no… I mean, the food was good… There was a lot…"

Show some concern, but throw her off her game. The less she thinks, the less she analyzes, and therefore more vulnerable.

"That's good," Cinder nodded, keeping the smile on her face. "I think I'd be embarrassed if, after Jonathan and I brought you here, you weren't comfortable. I'm glad that you like it here."

You like it here, and that's a credit to me and Jonathan.

"Huh?" Nora, losing her train of thought, looked away before answering. "Y-yes… Thank you."

"You're welcome. Still, this isn't something that took much effort on our part."

You've just decided for yourself that it was my doing, and I've confirmed it, so the information is now accepted as fact.

"Have you made any new friends yet?" A question to which Cinder already knew the answer to.

"No…" Nora seemed to slowly get the courage to stop looking away, slowly raising her gaze to Cinder, but still not enough to look her in the eye again.

"Why not?" Cinder only smiled again, moving her hand slowly, causing Nora to involuntarily follow it to look into Cinder's face. "You've met me, we've even introduced ourselves to each other, so you could say that you've already made at least one new friend…"

I'm the one who brought you to this place that you like, and I'm telling you that I'm your friend.

"Huh?" Nora involuntarily questioned.

"You don't want us to be friends?" Cinder raised one eyebrow.

It's not psychological pressure and definitely not physical violence if I'm pushing her towards a certain decision, is it?

"No, I… I mean, if you say so, then… okay." Nora's confused words were giving Cinder some unexpected amusement.

There's something sweet about her panic. Like a little blind kitten poking her snout into every wall in her path.

"Nora, if you want us to be friends, just say the word." Cinder 'offered'.

And acknowledge the fact that we are friends. And that we became such on your own initiative.

"I…" Nora was confused, her mind in utter chaos, so she grasped firmly at the line offered by Cinder. "I mean… If you don't mind, I would like to. But I have… nothing."

"Hmm?" Cinder blinked. "What are you talking about, Nora? Friends aren't made for profit, are they?"

You shouldn't look to me for profit, I've already given you plenty. So my actions towards you are not, by definition, looking for profit.

"Truthfully, I just wanted to see how you were doing in this place. Maybe check on you… It's just that when I asked Jonathan to bring you to this orphanage, I felt a bit guilty… What if you don't want to be here? If you don't mind, I'd be happy to, of course…"

As might be expected, Cinder took complete control of the conversation, turning it easily in her favor, forcing Nora to follow along the 'dialogue', in which she was assigned the role solely as a nodding dummy. "Well, I… Ahem, I mean…"

"Oh, don't worry, Nora," Cinder nodded, "I understand. Such unexpected events can be very confusing."

I've just pointed out to you that you are in a subordinate position to me, I demonstrate more skills that you don't possess. But I am demonstrating complacency and support.

"Maybe you'd like to take a little walk?" Cinder offered, "I don't know if you've seen your new bed and room, but, I can at least look at how you've settled in here."

You're here for good, and now must obey me and carry out the instructions I gave.

"My room?" Nona blinked before nodding slowly. "I… Of course, Cinder. Come on, I've been shown my new room… Um, I think I remember the way there."

"Don't worry, you don't have to be so afraid of me, I'm not some scary monster…" Cinder jokes.

I'm showing complacency, and I'll say it again about you being in a subordinate position, about you being afraid of me.

Nora, hearing such a thing, only swallowed, averting her gaze in embarrassment, before still raising her gaze to Cinder. "Okay… then…"

"Then let's go." Cinder rose from her seat, glancing once more at the psychologist's notes that she'd been studying out of the corner of her eye all this time.

Low ability of socialization, can't count or write, shy, not aggressive, poor orientation of the world around her… So much useful information.

"Let's go," Cinder took a step, forcing Nora to follow behind her.

I lead, and you follow.

"Maybe I can even convince the caretakers to let you out for a little excursion? Would you like that? Have you ever tasted ice cream?"

"I…" Nora hesitated to answer. "One time… When I found it… on the ground."

"No need to be so sad." Cinder just kept smiling with all her facial expressions, except her eyes. It was always as cold and appraising as it always was. She has always failed in making her true intentions that way. "I think the day of the beginning of our friendship is worth celebrating…"

Because you have no idea how happy we both are to have found each other…

Nora really was like a cute little puppy in her actions. Completely brainless, but only lovelier for it.

She didn't even know how to use cutlery, which negated any possibility that she'd only recently found herself on the street. Still, Cinder couldn't tolerate messiness around her, she had enough of it with Neo, so a demonstration of the minimal etiquette required of the princess' protégé was needed.

She watched as Nora, puffing desperately while clutching a spoon in her fist, tried her best to avoid pouncing on the strawberry sorbet in front of her in an effort to imitate Cinder's table manner. However, judging by the drops of melted sorbet on the table and Nora's smudged cheeks, it was not going well.

Still, such behavior was in a way… flattering to Cinder.

I mean, sure, she served as a role model for all the Glenn kids, at least in her school. But, seeing the girl in front of her trying her best to imitate her was even more satisfying than when other people admired her. Because usually every one of them would utter something like 'I still can't achieve the same' and give up, while Nora, even for its impossibility, still tried to repeat after Cinder.

Cinder hated weak people, but she hated those who just give in and don't even try to do anything about it. Even if a person was weak, if they at least tried to do something about that fact, at the very least Cinder could give them some respect for their effort, no matter how pointless their efforts and endeavors were. In part because Cinder saw herself in such behavior, and it would be strange not to favorably view one of the traits that defined one's personality.

In any case, as she took another bite of the sorbet, Cinder was busy evaluating Nora's actions. Nora, trying to live up to the trust placed in her, and perhaps in fear that it would never happen again should she not live up to Cinder's expectations, made quite the sight. The both of them certainly made for a strange sight, a twelve-year-old girl along with a five- year-old girl in an upscale restaurant. In a private room to boot!

Well, to this, Cinder could only say that being a princess, Jonathan's adopted daughter, had opened many new horizons and perspectives for her.

Even her position being as it is, it didn't make sense for Cinder to treat Nora this way… No, not Nora herself as her own little project, but Nora herself. Who would gainsay a princess who she hangs out with?

In theory, Cinder could have chosen any other orphan who had lived in the orphanage before, without having to find a new one, as a protégé and then do all the same manipulation. In fact, it might even be more convenient, and perhaps not needing the 'sacrifice' of her birthday gift. Was Nora special in any way?

As far as Cinder knows? No. It was more a matter of the fact that until they first met, when Cinder first saw Nora, the idea of such a thing had never crossed Cinder's mind. A matter of serendipity, really.

She was already starkly aware that she was reaching the limits of her school's usefulness as a place of socialization. There were only a limited number of people at school and only a limited number of actions that she could perform while remaining within the school paradigm of 'friend from school' or as a 'model student'. And she was already reaching that limit.

Cinder had not thought about what exactly she was required to do to push past those limits, until she met Nora. It seems that Nora had appeared at the best time.

She was just the perfect subject as well! Very young, inexperienced, without extensive socialization or any social connections with any other people, without basic knowledge of the world. The perfect canvas for her to paint on.

She was so vulnerable, and therefore virtually perfect for Cinder's first attempt to push her skills. And lastly, she looked just like Cinder did in the past. Metaphorically speaking, of course.

A wild child in dire straits, unexpectedly rescued by someone immeasurably more powerful, finding herself in actual paradise at the behest of luck and thanks to the unexpected.

As she fully internalized this unexpected resemblance, Cinder was a bit wistful. A strange sensation suddenly arose in her mind. It was a feeling of… satisfaction?

Some kind of strange satisfaction, all because she had… helped Nora?

While Cinder has enough self-respect to admit that she perhaps has some streak of narcissism, something that she views as unfair. After all, taking pride in your achievements is just normal, isn't it? Still, she does feel 'pleasure' as she watches others view her as an example, as something to aspire to.

And perhaps that was why Cinder suddenly realized that she was 'satisfied' with her decision to help Nora. Because Nora had reminded Cinder of herself, and in a way, Cinder had played the part that Jonathan did in her own life.

Cinder blinked, shifting her gaze to Nora once again. She wondered if Jonathan had seen her like she did now see Nora, in the past. A silly but charming little puppy poking her face into the walls? A ridiculous and silly creature, who didn't want to be brutalized though, but rather played with, wanting attention and praise? Maybe, even wanting a flick on the nose once, just out of curiosity as to how the stupid creature would react to such a thing.

Though, the last part was more on Cinder's part rather than Jonathan.

Cinder was deep in thought at the intriguing idea. Maybe it was this strange sense of 'satisfaction' that drove Jonathan to do what he did with Cinder? Does helping others have to do with the fact that he was, um… experiencing 'empathy'?

I mean, of course Cinder has the capability to feel empathy, but only to a very limited circle of people, like Jonathan and Neo. And that was it. She wasn't in denial about human emotion, it's just that up to this point it hadn't arisen for her in relation to other people, except for the two. Or, if it had, it had been qualitatively and quantitatively assessed to death, that no one would call it being 'empathetic'.

She had always done 'altruistic' things based on pros and cons. Up to this point, although certain things had evoked certain emotions in Cinder's, she never did anything based on them. They had eventually found themselves measured and accounted for.

Of course, unless it involved Jonathan. In which case, the very idea of measuring her emotions versus the benefit of taking action was ridiculous.

Cinder had once attempted such a mental experiment, where Jonathan would be inconvenienced somehow, but it would be a net benefit for herself. The result? She had barely stopped herself from hitting herself for even daring thinking of such a thing.

It is funny that such an attempt only made it clearer to her that she could not clearly determine the emotions she felt towards Jonathan in this way. No matter what situation she could think of, there was no way for her to even contemplate sacrificing Jonathan in any way.

Even when, in one of her imagined scenarios, perhaps coming from her over indulgence of fairy tales, where she has to consume Jonathan's aura or die. In that scenario, the only option that she would accept, outweighing all others by a hundred times, was to somehow try to merge her mind and aura with Jonathan.

At that point, Cinder could only give up, and conclude that any mental exercise in that regard would not give her any answer.

Still, she was not really troubled over it. After all, even in the most logical of systems, there has to be a little bit of chaos in order for that system not to degenerate into nothingness.

In any case, observing Nora made Cinder think that, after all, Jonathan's ideas did indeed carry an, albeit illogical, tangible grain of truth to it. Helping others in distress, could indeed be not only pleasant in terms of usefulness, but also pleasant in terms of satisfaction.

Hmm, 'try to find out more about his hobby and try the hobby itself, maybe you'll like it', I think that's what she was told on how to get closer to Jonathan?

Nora, finally finished with her sorbet, looked at Cinder with quite the nostalgic look. Whatever it was the emotion that she was conveying, Cinder had missed it. She was suddenly deep in remembrance of the time Jonathan himself had once been extremely annoyed by the fact that there was no such thing as 'sherbet soda', whatever that is.

So, it came to be a surprise, that when Cinder returned to the land of the living, she saw Nora looking up at her, muttering something slowly. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Cinder smiled, and for the first time in her time with Nora, the shadow of a small smile slipped into her eyes.

If a law enforcement officer were to observe the man emerging from the Mistral-built airship right now, it was safe to say that the man would lose all his driving and flying licenses at once.

First, judging by the way he was swaying, seemingly hesitating before he took a step, the man was so drunk that the breathalyzer would have broken down rather than reveal the alcohol content in his blood.

Secondly, judging by the way the ship had crashed into the ground, the pilot of the ship either did not know how to fly it or did not care at all about the safety of the flight. Which, in any case, was a suitable reason for depriving him of his license.

Thirdly, the pilot did not land in the designated place, Glenn Harbor, which was several tens of kilometers to the west, but in the Grimm wilderness near the settlement, landing on a small clearing in the forest.

Not that there are any Grimm anywhere near the clearing.

No Grimm had been seen in those heaths for years. The Glenn Tragedy had amassed an unimaginable number of Grimm from the vast area surrounding the Kingdom of Glenn, which were consequently cleared by King Osmond, they were all wiped out. And subsequently, thanks to a government backed by the army, the people of Mount Glenn were united around the figure of their new king and national hero. They then eliminated all corruption and discrimination of the faunus thanks to the decisive actions of the army and blah blah blah, Glenn is heaven on Remnant, our King is so perfect that his farts smells like perfume.

Cutting through the propaganda short, there was no significant number of Grimm for miles around Glenn. In fact, it was so safe that the army did not even have to conduct periodic sweeps, so the man himself did not have to worry about falling into the clutches of the Grimm.

Although, this particular man really didn't need to worry about the latter anyway.

In any case, having fallen out of his ship and nearly tripped over his own feet a couple of times, the man slowly raised his slightly cloudy gaze up towards the trees. With a carefree yawn, he squinted forward, towards where Mount Glenn was.

Of course, if he simply arrived at the main gate of Glenn on foot, it would raise a huge number of questions. But fortunately, his semblance, well or not quite his, made the question of entering Glenn trivial.

Still, there was the question of his next move. But first, Marcus Black planned to sneak into Glenn, crash at the nearest motel, drink to quench the hang-out in the morning, and only then plan to kill Osmond Vale Something.

Indeed, professional assassins had their own principles and priorities which they were not prepared to violate, even for a million lien.