022: Shield ramifications, heartfelt words

September 25, 2020 - 9 minutes read - 1910 words

“Silvio? Hellooo?” Al

I cheerfully knock on Silvio’s room.

“…” Silvio

However, Silvio didn’t reply as if he wasn’t there. However, I had just seen him enter with books and snacks. He’s graceful like a real aristocrat. Hmm, if I listen carefully, I can hear the sounds of him turning the pages of a book. It’s proof that Silvio is hiding in his room.

Silvio is a magnanimous brother, he can’t help but play with his little brother. Even if he’s started on another activity, even if the book has a good story, he’ll at least reply. He’s a good brother, maybe he can help me with Eleanora sometime…

“Silvio? Aren’t you in there?” Al

Anyway, Silvio still doesn’t respond. Maybe he’s still traumatized from yesterday?

Yesterday, Silvio invited me to play Shogi. In my previous live, I was mediocre at Shogi, so it was easy for the studious Silvio to catch up to my skills. Now he’s slightly better than I am, at least on a good day. Soon, he’ll be much better and I won’t win anymore. Usually, my strategy against him is to harry his king’s escorts while eliminating his pawns.

I recall our game of Shogi from yesterday evening.

“Silvio, you’re a good protector” Al

“…” Silvio

Silvio is looking resentful…

“Hmm? What’s wrong?” Al

“Nothing… Make a move, Al.” Silvio

“Hmm…” Al

I put a bishop piece in the middle, the followed it up by bold attacks with a rook, lance, and a gold general.

Silvio used his silver and gold general to protect his pawn pieces so they are out of the range of my bishops. Even when I use a decoy strategy, Silvio doesn’t go for it. Is he using a bodyguard strategy?

In movies, there are scenes where the bodyguard uses a gun flashily, or there are scenes where he beats up a dangerous person. After that, he usually gets disqualified as a bodyguard due to his actions. It seems the bodyguard must give priority to the escort’s safety and sticking around to let the target escape, but can’t be too good at fighting. You have to observe the surroundings, predict how other people will move, and escort your target to safety. It’s like a timid person will do better than an experienced fighter.

My strategy went awry, and Silvio’s Silver and Gold generals serve their purpose. His pawns also escape like water through a sieve. His gold and silver generals stick around like a barrier.

“Ah! Silvio, you’ve made a good barrier with your generals!” Al

“Barrier… Silvio… Barrier…” Silvio

“Hmm? What’s wrong?” Al

Silvio is looking more and more despondent.

Eh? What’s wrong?

Oh… is it because I said barrier?

After that, he puts too much into protect his pawns. The formation collapsed. The pawns were taken by my bishop. Once the king is taken, the game is over.

“Al, I’m going to go to bed now.” Silvio

“Hmm, I’ll clean up the board. Good night” Al

Silvio left the study room to go to his room.

Now that I think about it, I may have unsettled his heart with my words. I didn’t mean to, and he’ll get over it by tomorrow.

I worked on a homemade baseball ball this morning. Well, I just put a suitable cloth over a core and secured it with some string. Silvio has retreated to his room and isn’t coming out, so I’ll head to the dining room for a snack. When I was trying out the bounciness of the ball a few days ago, the maid Mel told me off.

Behind me, Mina is acting fidgety. It looks like she wants to play with the ball some too, I guess I’ll leave it in the break room for her to enjoy later. I passed by it for now headed to the dining room, which disappointed Mina. Recently, Bartolo and I have increased the snack types available, so more people come by to get a snack. The main reason we have more snacks is that Bartolo was able to secure more sugar than expectations.

Eleanora was sitting on a chair in the dining room with a plate of cookies.

“Huh!” Al

“What is it?” Eleanora

Oops that came out wrong, you shouldn’t look at someone’s face and say Huh. That’s just rude. I should reflect on my action.

“I’m sorry. What was I saying? Weren’t you going to visit the village today?” Al

“Well, but… no, not today. It just doesn’t work. What’s with the Huh?” Eleanora

“I’m sorry, Eleanora. I won’t say that anymore.”

Perhaps I was able to convey my sincerity, Eleanora seems satisfied. That’s good, it looks like I’ve been forgiven. It looks like I’ll survive til tomorrow…

“I thought it would be better to stay home today, so I’ll visit tomorrow instead.” Eleanora

Eleanora explains her plans while eating one of Bartolo’s fresh cookies. Wow, what an odd reason.

“Are you complaining?” Eleanora

“Not at all. Alfred loves to have you around.” Al

Eleanora looks to have seen through my sarcastic reply, but she’s in a good today I guess.

“That’s a weird way of speaking. Why don’t we play around some?” Eleanora

“Why?” Al

I was surprised by Eleanora’s sudden invitation, I made a stupid reply. Usually she will just want to practice swords at this point.

“Is that a ball?” Eleanora

“Yes, it’s a ball” Al

“Then let’s play with that today.” Eleanora

“Eh? Isn’t it dangerous to play here with breakable things around?” Al

“Do you want to do sword practice instead?” Eleanora

“Ok, we’ll toss the ball around.” Al

I make a quick reply and toss the ball at Eleanora, we’re playing catch now.

“What are we playing with the ball?” Eleanora

“Let’s just throw the ball back and forth for fun.” Al

“What is the point of it?” Eleanora

She tossed the ball back, she’s good. It’s almost a fastball. We’re in the dining room, it has enough space for a whole family to eat and maids to move around behind the family. There’s plenty of room for two children to toss a ball. I throw the ball gently back to Eleanora.

“Can’t you throw any harder, Al?” Eleanora

Eleanora punctuates that remark with a quick ball.

I hurry to catch it, but it’s pretty fast.

“I’m just warming up.” Al

That being said, I’m only six. I’m not going to be pitching fastballs anytime soon. I wonder if I can mix in a little magic?

I circulate magic energy around my body to give me a little more power.

“Catch! Eleanora!” Al

The ball containing my magic and feelings heads right for Eleanora. This is my ball of feelings, the voice of my heard. It should be closer to an Eleanora-speed ball. However, she easily catches it with one hand.

“What? One hand?” Al

“It’s a little faster” Eleanora

“I’m full of pep! The ball will convey my feelings.” Al

“Hmm, conveying feelings using a ball…” Eleanora

Eleanora glances at the ball with tempestuous look

“Then, I should put my feelings into the ball…” Eleanora

Eleanora tosses the ball with a cute “Eh”

Hmm, what did you put into it?

Maybe “Can I bully you?”

“Augh” Al

I avoided it unintentionally, probably because it would curse me or something.

“Why did you avoid it?” Eleanora

“It’s too fast, maybe?” Al

“I’ve thrown it that fast before” Eleanora

“I didn’t think I could catch it.” Al

“Well, that happens sometimes.” Eleanora

I managed to assuage her worries, then I pick up the rolling ball.

“It feels nice.” Al

“I’ll take whatever you can do, Al” Eleanora

Oh, is that how you want to play this?

“Ha!” Al

I think “Don’t bully me” as I throw the ball at Eleanora"

Please receive my feelings…

“Oh, a bug!” Eleanora

“A bug?” Al

“Sorry, a bug flew by my ear” Eleanora

“Really?” Al

“Not joking” Eleanora

“Ok, that’s fine.” Al

Occasionally, weird coincidences happen like that. I doubted my wish would be accepted that easy. Eleanora tosses the ball back at me. There’s nothing weird about this toss, right?

I reach to catch the ball with both hands, then Eleanora yells something right before I can catch it.

“Libra fruit” Eleanora

“Huh? I caught it!” Al

I’m stunned by this turn of events. The ball whispered to me to get back at my sister, it’s likely she’ll force me into picking more Libra fruits soon no matter what I do. I’ll throw the ball while cursing my fate, but since I didn’t throw it properly, it didn’t go towards Eleanora.

“Ah, I’m sorry.” Al

I’m worried about this, I thought Eleanora wouldn’t try to catch it, but she dashed to where it was heading. She jumped to catch wayward ball and held it to her stomach. In the end, she displayed great coordination in order to catch the ball. It’s a beautiful scene.

“I don’t think I could have caught that…” Al

“I think I need to give you something difficult to catch after that toss.” Eleanora

“What are thinking?” Al

While she laughs my concerns off, Eleanora seems dissatisfied with my trepidation.

“Then I’ll throw a ball that Al can’t help but catch.” Eleanora

“But I’m not a dog.” Al

“Oh, come on.” Eleanora

An easy toss of the ball flies from Eleanora’s hand. I don’t want to catch it even if it is easy, it might be troublesome to catch her feelings.

“I won’t call on Al anymore.” Eleanora

Damn! Now I have to catch it!

“Ah!” Al

I’ll rely on my instincts to lead me to the ball, which is flying towards the table. Uh oh, Elna’s favorite cup was left there, and is in the path of the ball. Before I can catch the ball, the cup is knocked to the floor…

Crash!

Elna’s favorite cups is now in pieces.

“Uhh, that’s mother’s favorite cup? I think she said it was fragile.” Eleanora

Yeah, it seems that cup was give to her by our father Nord, who purchased it in the royal capital. Elna is always careful with it, it must have sentimental value. I just broke it…

“I heard a worrisome sound just now, what happened?” Al

“Oh no, uhh” Al

“Al broke mother’s favorite cup” Eleanora

Mother freezes when she hears those words.

Hah? I can’t believe Eleanora just blurted out those words. Did you immediately throw your brother under the bus?

“Is that true? Alfred?” Elna

“No, we were both playing around here.” Al

“I told you to stop…” Eleanora

“Wait, did that happen? I did break it though.” Al

“Alfred broke it? Elna

It looks like it was a big problem for mother’s cup to be broken.

“I’m sorry…” Al

“Go stand outside and reflect on your actions. I’ll let you know when you can come back in.” Elna

“Yes” Al

I’m not allowed to object. Mother is clearly angry. I’ve been thrown out of the mansion. I recall my times as a naughty junior high student. It’s embarassing to be punished with standing in the hallway, so I would pretent to play with the clock or be waiting for someone. This feels nostalgic.

“Do you have anything to say?” Elna

Hmm, what should I respond with?

“Can I come in?” Al

“Wrong!” Elna

A door that was immediately closed again.

Eh? Why?

No one will answer my questions, though Silvio is looking from the second floor with pity.