“It has been three years already. Are you ready to go home?” I looked over my shoulder to see aunt Lily stepping in through the door.
“Aunt Lily." I turned around, "I wish to stay here for another year or so. But you know about the situation of father. Vincent left earlier too. I do not wish to be away when he is ill.” I attempted to smile but it did not reach my eyes.
“Then you must promise me to at least visit again. You remind me of my sister. Selena will also miss you.” She held my hands and squeezed them lightly.
“I will come again soon. Who knows this time I convince my father and come again for a longer period. After all I am not the one to give up, you know that now.” I gave her a knowing look and we both fell into a bout of chuckle.
Not much had changed in the st three years. Except I had become taller and my face more mature. My dark hair though, still tied in a bun, just as always.
“Oh! I am going to miss this pce.” I looked at my room with longing, “I’m already nostalgic.” Swallowing a teary lump, I forced a dry ugh.
“You are always welcome here honey. We shall be meeting at the annual banquet too.” She said falteringly.
Before I could reply, there was a knock on the door.
Lily patted her moist eyes. “Yes?”
“Sir Gabriel was wishing to see you both in his study my dy.” The handmaid bowed her head.
“Shall we go then?” She gnced at me with a rueful smile and linked my left arm with her right one.
************
“…It’s an honour to be here.”
When I reached the door to library, I heard a very familiar, deep voice filled with reminiscent. Before I could turn away or make any excuse, Lily had already knocked on the door.
Upon permission, I got no choice but to enter the chamber. It was even cosier than the one at my pce. I breathed in the familiar scent of old papers. Accompanied with it was the smell of a vanil candle. A clear indicator of the presence of Sir Gabriel.
The first face I saw has been etched in my memory for longer than I would like to admit. He was facing Sir Gabriel about to say something but stopped upon meeting my gaze.
“Oh! Dear Xavier! How have you been? It has been so long since your st visit.” Lily started gushing about how he should pay more visits to them.
“You must remember Yvonne, don’t you? She was here the st time you came too, just a beginner then. But now my best pupil of archery, just as much better as you, might I add.” Gabriel formally introduced us with pride in his eyes. My mind recalling the first time I saw him, and for some reason I couldn’t get his face out of my mind till now.
I had briefly met him an year ago. It was not an incident I would like to recall. Embarrassment crept on my cheeks.
“Pleased to make your acquaintance, Lord Xavier.” He merely nodded his head in return without so much as looking back. It was calcuted ignorance.
“Since both of you are leaving tomorrow. Who knows when will you return together. I want to see my two best students giving me a one on one.” Gabriel proposed proudly.
“I am still a mere student Grand commander. While we all know the reputation of Lord Xavier as the Arrow of Azrael in battlefield. It will hardly be a match.” I offered a polite smile.
“But it is my wish as well to see a student in action, that Sir Gabriel speak so highly of.” Xavier on the other hand seemed interested with the proposition.
“It is settled then. Tomorrow you both will meet me in the training ground right after breakfast. That way you can leave right after lunch or else you will be te.” Gabriel made pns with in a snap as if he was waiting for this moment.
“As you wish Grand commander.”
“Now let us get back to the game. Lady Yvonne come join us. You learn just as much from these small pieces as you do with your training equipment.” As expected, chess was never enough for him. Specially, now that he had a worthy opponent in front of him.
“It will be an honour to learn from two war masters.” I sat down on the sofa at Gabriel’s right, by the rge window. The seat across me was empty.
“How can I win against you now that you have gone and gotten such strong support? I should be allowed to bring in my support as well.” He got up and guided Lily to the empty seat by her hand.
“May the best team win.” He smirked.
It appeared like a perfect family straight out of a fictional world. I was happy I came here. Witnessing memories and scenes I could not even dream about back home.
Outside in the open sky, birds were singing about the pairing the universe just made. A game was ongoing in the mansion. Unbeknownst to us another game was being conspired up in the heavens.