Goddess' Debt

-•-

"Luo Jiang, look at the world...what do you see? See anything interesting" A soft voice asked a man with reddish black hair.

"None. People are slowly getting more liberated...and soon they'll use their freedom to do incorrigible things...they are pathetic as usual" A stern masculine reply was heard. The woman in black hair chuckled.

"Luo Jiang....humans are but a bubble suspended in air. Compared to us they are but a speck of dust in sand... they seek to transcend from their own limitations and capable of change.. that's why they are interesting" She said, emphasizing the word interesting with exclamation.

"Astreia...why do you love these mere insects? Soon, you'll disappear because of their actions" The man, Luo Jiang asked and looked at the woman with a crestfallen face. Astreia, the woman with black hair, donned in a pink petal-like dress, took his face by her hand and gave a full smile.

"Don't be silly Luo Jiang.... I'll always be here" Her otherworldly white eyes boring to his molten red ones.

"I'll protect you for as long as I live Astreia" A kiss that landed on the woman's forehead seemed as if a droplet of water disturbed a serene spring.

Her lashes fluttered open as the dream she just witnessed was erased from her mind as if she never dreamed at all. Linthea stared at the galaxy themed ceiling of her room and blinked thrice, a resonating pain from the back of her head made her grunt in pain as she scrambled to stand up and alert her siblings.

Her vision spun when she took her first step from her bed and almost fell if not for a pair of slender and firm hands which steadied her. Linthea looked up to see Kale with his brows furrowed, she gaped for a short while before she shook her head while he guided her back to the bed with him sitting on the edge with her.

"What are you doing out of bed, princess?" How she missed that mocking voice of his, nevertheless, he helped her up so she just went for a different approach.

"My, my, how long was I out?"The dark brown haired woman asked him, caressing her head with her slightly long nails.

"You missed my question" that's when a nerve bulged imaginarily from her forehead and to add in her annoyance his hold of her didn't cease.

"Please let go and answer my question" Linthea looked at him with a close-eyed smile. A thin smile that could send other people fear but Kale just shrugged it off and looked at her with a smug one.

She wanted nothing but to wipe it off if she had enough strength.

"Always the dominant one, princess..."His hold of her loosens as he relaxed his back, "Apparently you were out for 5 days" Kale answered simply as he stood up from the bed he's been sitting and walked to the sliding door, opening it, "I'm going to call Miss Amidala to check on you" He looked back and saw Linthea's quizzical look.

"They entrusted me with you?" She almost sounded like she's going to laugh anytime soon. It sounded more like a taunt than a question.

"A lot has happened while you were out cold darling and we....were pretty worried" And he slid out before she could utter another word.

"Kale-! Great, he's gone"She exasperated and muttered under her breath. Linthea cleared her throat and prayed the blush on her face was not seen.

-•-

"Jiejie! Are you sure you're okay now?" Xiuying hugged her stomach after Adrianna departed, noting that Linthea's condition must still be monitored as she's not yet fully cured while at the same time not in a critical condition.

"I'm fine now my sweet Ying, don't worry about me. Your big sister is strong!" Linthea pinched Xiuying's cheek and played with them like a dough, their sounds of happiness brought a smile on Soren's face. He sighed in relief and silently thanked the gods.

"I'm glad you're back, Theang" he walked towards them and ruffled his sister's hair.

"Ren, are you crying?" Linthea asked with a snort. Well, she doesn't know what's at stake.

"No, I-.... I'm just glad you're okay" Soren covered up just in time when his voice was about to break, "Stay on your bed Lin, we'll prepare breakfast"

"But-!" Linthea protests, attempting to sit up when Xiuying gently pushes her back down.

"Come on Jiejie, you rarely take a good rest. Depend on us for a while" Her little sister smiled and eyed Kale.

Without a word, she held her hands in a pleading way. Kale rolled his eyes playfully and nods.

"Alright, I charge extra for this"

-•-

"Stop right there!"

Linthea froze upon hearing an authoritative voice, she eyed Kale with pure contempt.

"Or what?" She sneered, "Both you and I know I'm getting out of this room no matter what" Linthea already tossed her blanket while Kale sighed, his wing covering his face.

"Babysitting. I'm babysitting a grown-up" He pinched his nose while the woman before him guffawed.

"Let's not forget who's in-charge here Kale... that's right, I am" Kale crossed his hands to his chest and rolled his eyes muttering incoherent words.

"Did you know how worried everyone was for you...Soren was restless and Xiuying kept looking over your cubicle...rest for a while" Linthea was taken aback. Her ferocity dissipated, leaving a flustered woman at his words. She reconsidered her actions.

"Alright....30 minutes"

-•-

"So what do you think of my cooking, it's an Esgardian cuisine introduced to me by a random girl I met at a restaurant of the kingdom"Soren proudly said, taking off his blue oven mitts while wearing an apron with a label 'Kiss the good looking cook', Xiuying ran to take her seat. She rested her head on her hand and gave her brother a smug look.

"Ain't no way I'm going to believe that!"

The door upstairs suddenly opened with Linthea striding downstairs as if she was never in a critical condition in the first place. The two looked at Kale behind her who pointed back to Linthea which meant to say 'I'm not the boss of her'

Soren and Xiuying shared a look and shook their heads with a smile.

"Can't sit still for just an hour?"

"You know full well brother what's the answer to that" Linthea smiled and sat on one of the dining chair while Xuiying was watching Soren cook. Kale took plates and utensils to prepare for their breakfast.

"Glad you guys became friends" Linthea comments as Kale places an empty plate in front of her.

"Easy peasy. My sister's friend is my friend as well" Soren announced as he opened the lid and stirred his cuisine's sauce, checking for its consistency before adding spices for taste.

-•-

Loud barking from the door echoed in the whole house as a big fluffy white dog entered. It's fur long and poofy, looking like a walking cloud.

"Snowbelle!" Linthea shifted her attention to the dog as she wags her tail at her master, putting his front legs on her thighs. Soren cleared his throat while Linthea looked at him with a nervous smile, focusing on her plate as Snowbelle encircled them, sniffing the newly arrived guest.

Utensils clacked against porcelain as the four ate their breakfast. "This is good Soren, where did you learn this?" Kale complimented as he took a bite of the potato, Linthea and Xuiying giggled to each other.

"You'll get used to it. With Soren, you can taste other country's cuisine without visiting them"Linthea chuckled as she drank from her glass.

"Even from Kayunta?" Kale asked. Soren shook his head, "Can't. Kayunta is a very special country...even I haven't got into that place since it's protected by a mist"

"Huh?" Xuiying inquired him to proceed while Linthea listened intently.

"Kayunta was locked from the mainland by their Goddess, Goddess Maamyon...the mist that surrounds the country prevents newcomers from entering..only those who are with the residents can only pass" Soren reiterates what he has learned from his master.

"So..."Linthea leaned in a bit, "What would happen if people went to Kayunta without a guide?"

"They'll be lost in the mist and be eaten by corrupted mermaids or whatever the Vast Expanse (ocean) accommodates.... I'm not sure if it's true, I'm only listening to my master's stories"

"What about their affairs? Abyssal attacks?"

"Ah..the Sandatahan can handle those or if not, the Quatro Asuncion will" Kale uttered, adding up information to what has already been stated. Linthea scoffed with a smirk, "Seem like we have our tour guide here,"

"Unfortunately princess, I'm not a resident of the country myself... I've only stayed there for a year" Linthea grew flustered at the given nickname to which her siblings shared a knowing look.

"Don't call me that again or I'll drown you in your country's seas myself "Linthea gave an irked smile, "No wonder your country's regent hasn't sent for an escort yet" She gave a snarky comment to which Kale's smirk grew larger.

"Enough you two" Soren cleared his throat as Xuiying snickered, Linthea's smile subsided but she flashed a glare at Kale which he returned with a wink.

"I'd rather stay with a dog than with you" the dark brown haired woman gave her last comment haughtily, gracefully standing up to deliver her plates to the sink.

"Thanks for the meal~" Soren could only shake his head at their useless banter.

"You're not thinking of reporting are you?" He glanced back at his sister who played with the family dog.

"Of course not, you guys intend me to rest ....so that I will do hehe~"Linthea smiled, ruffling Snowbelle's head before Xuiying joined her.

"Who's a good girl? Yes you aree~" They cooed as the white dog rolled on her stomach. Kale looked at Linthea while she was cuddling her pet, enamored by her smile and little laughs before Soren pulled him out of his trance.

"She can be quite a handful but she's really soft inside... she's just putting on a brave front" Soren turned to wash the dishes, Kale's lip pulled upward and back to a thin smile as a gesture to that idea before he proceeds to help Soren in the kitchen.

-•-

"She snuck out, has she?" Xuiying inquired Snowbelle with her hands both to her hips. The dog only looked at her, panting with brown eyes looking as if she was smiling for helping her master escape.

"Brother! Thea snuck out!" The brown haired girl hollered. Soren shook his head with a smirk.

"That's not new" He scoffed before he opened his phone, "I'll report later and will try to find her"

Xuiying sighed, Soren looked at her with concern, "She'll be fine... this is not the first time she did this"

"That's the thing brother...she always carries it to herself " Xuiying crossed her hands to herself, pinching her nose bridge.

-•-

"Lin! How are you feeling?" Shigemi called for her successor as she arrived on her techno-bike, her master's long silvery hair is tied in two buns leaving some of her hair down, she wore a long easterner dress of pale orange color underneath a transparent apricot shawl. Linthea smiled at her warmly, "I'm feeling much better now master....no need to worry"

"Do your siblings know where you've gone?" Shigemi asked, her hunch tells her that her precious apprentice snuck out again and as Linthea gave a nervous smile, Shigemi chuckled.

"Come, come, I'll comb your hair. You must be in a rush that your hair's still frizzy" Her master urged her like how a mother would to her child. As she finished setting her techno bike, she walked up the stairs, her black heeled sandals tapped as she stepped. Linthea wore her usual clothing: A short sleeved attire reassembling a wisteria hued qipao with short slits on each side but instead of a bell bottom pants, she wore a long pale violet skirt underneath with flowery designs of similar colors

"But-"Linthea raised a hand to intercept.

"Shush! Let me take care of you for a while" Shigemi hushed her and wrapped her hand around her apprentice's arm, dragging her to the building.

-•-

Shigemi is like a mother to her. The moment Linthea stepped inside the building, underwent training, and trials to be an apprentice of the fan, Shigemi was always there for her, cheering her like a mother she didn't have. Linthea always tries her best not to serve her any failure to return her kindness but the strawberry blond always assures her to be herself. For Linthea, Shigemi is a keen woman with a sharp eye for everything, consequently asking her of her well being and providing the emotional support she needs.

Nobutaka Shigemi was alone the moment she was torn from her mother and younger sister by their father and sold her off to the Yoshinori estate where she became the royal siblings' attendant. Not knowing what happened to her family, she remained optimistic about her life and sought to buy them off the moment she had enough money but things never went to her favor which led her to serve the Aureole with her potential; she had no choice but to leave since she had no one to return to.