The Stonehearted Knight-Chapter 449: Meeting her again (1)

The Simmering Broth

Hex found the shop in the high end of the market district. Despite the late hour, and the expensive prices, quite a lot of people moved in and out the street. Based on the clothes and mannerism, or better, the several varieties of them, Hex believed them to be foreigners.

The inside of the shop surprised him. He had expected a messy display of packed tables, shouts and cries, a disarray of hurrying waiters...basically a place he would rather avoid. Instead, he found himself in a nicely-decorated, clean and orderly shop.

"Sir, can I help you?" A beautiful girl, he guessed his age, approached him. Her smile and eyes sparkled, improving his mood at once. Her hair, tucked behind her ears and rolled over her shoulders. Aside from one strand. That one hung just at the side of her eye, begging to be placed behind the ear, just like the others.

’Wait. Why am I thinking about a strand of hair?’ The thought helped him gain clarity. She was a beauty he could appreciate but it was out of character for him to focus on hair. Unless it was black, he held no interest in a person’s hair.

"I am here to visit a girl. She works in the kitchen I believe." Hex said with a polite smile. He noticed her pupils dilate. A little. Others wouldn’t have noticed. He wasn’t like others.

’She is using abilities to create good feelings in guests. A nice skill. Good for her.’ Hex didn’t like being influenced but he wouldn’t hold a grudge against a hustling girl trying to earn her bread.

"I am sorry. No visitors allowed during opening hours." She recovered fast from the surprise. It might not be her first time meeting someone she couldn’t charm. She was still polite but a little wary. After all, she knew he was strong.

"I realize this might be inconvenient for you. But if you point me in the right direction, I would appreciate it." He said, slipping her a small pouch, filled to the brim. His hand moved so fast, no one noticed it. Not even she noticed.

"Huh," her eyes widened, while her hand clenched even tighter around the pouch. Good reflexes. Hex doubted anyone could wrestle that pouch out of her possession. It was now hers.

"The restroom is that way. You will see other doors a bit further but don’t enter the last door on the right. That’s the kitchen. Staff only. Please help yourself sir. I will be waiting for you to serve if you need anything else."

She spoke a bit louder and all business-like. A bit overkill but who knew what went inside her pretty little head. Hex nodded and brushed past her, tugging that strand behind her ear. By the time she would notice it, he had reached the door of the restroom.

Veil of Death.

Hex masked his presence and approached the door leading into the kitchen. The corridor toward the door wasn’t lit. They depended on the glare from the surroundings to provide some visibility.

The door flapped open and a group of people exited, pushing trays of bowls – some large, some small – out. Hex waited for them to pass before continuing. The corridor was wide enough to allow three people to pass side by side. As such, no one brushed against him.

The waiters joked about their heart beating loudly when entering the kitchen. They joked about how they, grown men and women, felt spooked being alone with that girl. She wasn’t normal, they said.

’Mother.’ Hex sighed inwardly. Even now, as a fragment of her past self, she managed to scare people from doing their job. ’She could try to be a little normal. Sheesh.’

Hex slipped into the kitchen.

’Huh. No one?’

To his surprise the kitchen stood empty.

’Don’t tell me. They are forcing that little girl to cook on her own?’ Hex frowned. He knew Cyantha was possessed by his mother. The others didn’t know that.

"They are too afraid of me, so they left." A voice said from the other corner. Cyantha, or rather, his mother, stepped out from the shadow.

Hex narrowed his eyes. His mother detected his presence. Even now, he couldn’t surpass her mastery. He hadn’t sensed her.

"Can’t say I blame them." Hex replied.

"Me neither," his mother replied with a soft chuckle. "I tried to be...normal. But old habits. Centuries of solitude rendered me incapable of socializing much. Don’t have the patience or will for it."

"And what will happen to the girl once you leave?" Hex knew in the grand scheme of things the fate of the little girl didn’t matter a lot. But if he stopped even trying, what was he fighting for then? If he started to differentiate, why not join the Divine Lord or Althea.

"Don’t worry. By the time I am done and ready to leave, people will have forgotten about her."

"Not if you plan to do something using her appearance."

"True. But like I said. Don’t. Worry. Not about her." Her tone indicated she wouldn’t discuss Cyantha any further. Hex didn’t like it one bit. Not only the things concerning the girl. She pretty much confessed having other plans.

"So, what’s the plan? I am sure you know what’s happening on the outside."

"Oh I know. And the plans are set in motion. You just focus on winning." She said with a smile as she ruffled his hair. It would have been funny and warm, if he wasn’t irritated by her behavior.

"That’s what worries me the most...mother," he seethed. "You and your plans. They usually end up costing a lot of lives. Lives that matter."

He looked right into her eyes as he spat the last words. Her eyes weren’t dark yet they appeared to be so. As if they were an endless abyss, devouring everything. Not a single emotion or thought could be read from them.

She gazed into his eyes. No words were said for a while. Then her lips curled. A smile. Soft and cunning.

"My plan is simple, my son. I plan to flip the table."