What Makes A Monster - Chapter 14

“By the way, have you been through the initiation yet?” Nara abruptly changed the topic.

“You keep asking me about this initiation. But does it even exist?”

“Of course, it exists. Oh, poor girl, no wonder nobody’s been telling you anything. you still haven’t been through the initiation. See, that’s what happens when the girls don’t accept someone. They all pretend to be unaware of the initiation.”

Indeed, when Imyra had asked others about this initiation that Nara kept bugging her about, they all asked her what is was, unless they glared at her to get lost and not disturb them or offered information for some heavy price she wouldn’t be willing to pay. She’d even asked her wayward uncle, Zuran for insight. He seemed to know much and was treated like a guest of the Residence.

His was an amused smile when he told her that it could be a variety of things and that he could not be sure of what part of the initiation process Nara was referring to. He even suggested that perhaps the initiation induction would end only when she solved all the mysteries she was so curious about. Even her uncle, who she had always dismissed as inept, teased her.

Clearly, just as Imyra didn’t know what to make of her uncle, he didn’t know what to make of her either. Their interactions tended to be forced and awkward.

Speaking of Zuran, Imyra still did not understand what exactly it was that he did in Chennae’s residence and neither was anyone eager to fill her in.

One time, Imyra got sick of wondering and asked Zuran outright, “Why does Chennae keep you around? What exactly do you do here?”

He answered after a pause and with a smirk, “Just the odd job here and there.”

Zuran came and went from the Residence whenever he pleased and people spoke of him like he was a freelancer, albeit a much loved one. For a long time, she considered in earnest the idea that he was a wandering gigolo. He was the only male she had ever seen around the estate. She couldn’t discredit that Chennae would keep someone around for the mere merit of their looks and sexual favours.

But then she overheard mentions of ‘the other hermit’ who Zuran was supposedly affiliated with. Which was to suggest that apart from Chennae and her girls, there was another intelligent existence living in this perilous Lrustonian Forest. Chennae’s relationship with the other ‘hermit’, or ‘old man’ as he’s mentioned as in other times, was a complicated mystery nobody was willing to discuss nor make snide comments about in her presence.

Another time, she’d asked Nara. About Zuran, not the ‘old man’; she doubted even Nara would breathe a word about the other hermit in way of explanation. Although her answers may be riddled with white lies and untruths, as Imyra had long established, she was indeed one of the few who bothered answering her inquisitive questions.

“Zuran? Right now, his main job is to hmmI think he’s teaching Olivia again.”

“Teaching her?” that answer came as a surprise to Imyra, “Teaching her what?”

So that’s what they were doing locked up in one of Chennae’s labs, thought Imyra. Olivia’s schedule, apart from training and being trained by Imyra, consisted of sessions with many of the other attendants and sometimes with Chennae herself. Imyra had no idea what she was taught in behind those lab wall, but she’d always wondered what it was that the zorne disabled Zuran could impart on Olivia, Chennae’s favourite.

“Why so curious? Are you falling for him? I’d advise against it. I mean, I know he’s absolutely gorgeous and all, but chiiild,” Nara imitated Chennae’s way of saying ‘child’ as she chortled and mocked, “even if you Imperials have a thing for keeping bloodlines pure, he’s your uncle, you know? Your father’s blood brother. Pining for him is”

“Please refrain from making such sick jokes.” Imyra’s face distorted to make a disgusted face.

“Curiosity does not equate to ‘pining’ or even personal interest.”

Nara laughed like this was the funniest thing she’d ever heard before she gave a meagre attempt at explaining, “Weeeell, to answer your question then. officially he is Olivia’s language teacher. What they are unofficially? That’s been one of the Residence’s mysteries ever since they started getting along. Zuran isn’t known to be sociable, after all. Except when he’s manipulating you to do his bidding, of course.” she grinned mischievously, and lowered her voice conspiratorially, “I know it’s probably impossible but, many of us are low-key rooting for them. They’re so entertaining together and sometimes the tension that surrounds them” she made wild hand gestures.

“They are romantically involved?” Imyra asked doubtfully.

“That is the big question everyone wants to know.” she laughed. “But you know Olivia and Zuran a little better than most. What do you think?”

“I have no idea. We may be relatives, but I confess that I know less than everyone else about Zuran. As for Oliviano, I don’t know about her either. She seems to appreciate his looks like everyone else at the residence but she’s always talking about some grudge between them. She’s a vengeful woman, her.” Imyra said this remembering the training session she’d had with the woman that morning as well as the very dangerous physical fight Olivia had had three days earlier with Tona. An impulsive one that hadn’t taken place in one of the training halls.

Several trees had been razed to the ground, some craters had been formed and Olivia had not used zorne at all. Tona had managed to drug her to mute her zorne in advance, probably anticipating Olivia’s wrath. Imyra had no idea what had brought this about and the ones who were in the know found it amusing but were not willing to divulge the reason either. Common knowledge was only that it resulted in several broken bones in Tona’s case and no visible injuries at all in Olivia’s. Olivia was indeed a monster.

With the assumption that Olivia had romantic interests in Zuran, one may come to the conclusion that the girls were fighting over a man; Zuran, but Imyra highly doubted Olivia would ever attack someone over a man. She would consider it below her. It wasn’t always obvious, but the woman was very prideful.

Nara let out a peal of laughter. “What an amusing assessment. Ignorance is bliss indeed.” With those puzzling words, Nara left her, flying away into the forest, past the protective wards.

Imyra did not know what to make of her leaving statement nor did she understand what she had said that was so funny. But then, Nara along with a few too many of the others here found everything amusing. Shrugging and not giving it too much thought she returned to the Residence.