Polymath Redux

Chapter 43: The product of a strength that is not truly your own

Atop an isolated hill overlooking the village outside the capital's walls was the manor belonging to the new Xagontetian Minister of Defense. As heavy rain overtook the entire region and if one concentrated hard enough a faint outline of what seemed to be some kind of barrier could be seen surrounding the manor. Added to this fact and the isolated proximity of the estate, the entire area had come to be known as the 'holy ground' by the locals as it also housed their treasured saint and savior, Morgana Daltress.

In contrast to the chaotic rain outside that roared viciously the inside of the Daltress manor was as calm as ever. Morgana sat quietly in her study continuing to work on the countless number of paperwork that had piled up on her desk, yet as a professional she didn't let the tedium get to her. Gracefully working through in a near 'Zen' like state, the sound of her pen scraping against the paper created a very warm atmosphere when contrasted with the violent rain outside. The sounds of jealous winds tapping across the window as though to suggest that they wanted in, it accentuated the feeling of being 'safe' inside the manor.

Elegantly she picked up her coffee mug with three of her slender fingers and took a small sip. A homely feeling overwhelmed her stomach and throat as the warm liquid oozed down her body. She gazed outside at the unforgiving rain but offered a relaxed smile instead of displeasure like many would against such horrible weather. Many people enjoyed the sun, which was especially true for the inhabitants of the country of the sun; however for both Morgana and Mordred they much preferred the rain.

The rain washes away everything and drowns everything in static noise. Out of all weather conditions, the rain feels most alive and expressive, through its melancholic and depressing sound to the dampness of the atmosphere, like tears of the sky. It was such properties of the rain that Mordred had come to be fond of; though in truth it was the ability of the rain to ruin other's day that Mordred actually enjoyed. As other children played outside with each other, he had spent the majority of his time inside and alone. It was only when the rain came out that everyone had become like him and isolated inside; a comforting thought, it was the only time he could feel 'normal'.

"Did something good happen, Mistress?"

Yda who had been silently observing her mistress at work had asked. It's not to say that it was bad but she was slightly confused as to why Morgana was so pleased as she gazed out at the horrible rain.

Morgana responded by shaking her head in denial.

"It's nothing... just, thinking about the past."

'The past', as in Mordred's past. Of course Morgana herself knew by now that she was evolving everyday into her own individual but if there was one thing that still kept her from taking a step further, it was the past. Her past was Mordred's, she was Mordred, thus she understood very well the feelings he had gone through.

When she compared the situation from back then to now it was evident that this was far better. No longer alone, no longer trapped inside that prison; free but aimlessly hoping for an unsure goal.

"The... past?"

Yda repeated.

"Yda, I have a small task for you."

"Ah, yes! What can I do for you, mistress?"

"Could you go down to the basement and lower the defenses to the manor? We'll be having a guest soon so it would be unwell for our security to register them as the enemy."

At her orders Yda became a little curious as to how her mistress knew that they would be receiving guests. Having been stuck in this manor all day today due to the rain there was no real way for her to know that anyone would be coming. However Yda let go of such thoughts when she really thought about it; both Mordred and her mistress were unfathomable people. There would be no use in figure out what they were thinking since they seemed to be thinking on some higher plane.