Suddenly vacation.

[therealkaichan]

Chapter Seven

Recess.

Part one.

It was the fifth dream this week and it was getting on her nerves. Once more she reported, and today she chose to wear long sleeves even though it was warm, if only to hide the scratch marks on her wrist.

Kael looked worried, and not even the fact that the score on her exams had been the best score to ever come from her was enough to change that. Kana knew that it wasn’t just the dreams or the exams, she could tell, because she knew him better than anyone.

In just two days it would be the start of summer break. That meant the students would get two months of doing nothing, the largest break they got during their studies, and since most people just went back to their families during those dates, it also meant that Kael wouldn’t be that needed in the Academy.

It also meant it was time for her to take action, and Kana was one to be quick to do so. Because of that she had finally been successful on getting Kael to accept to go to the country house at least for a week.

The country house never failed to make him relax, after all. She didn’t know all the details, but she knew that in that place was were he had grown, and that it was filled with good memories from his brother, and those things always made him feel a little less tense. It was more than enough reason for her to always be so insistant on getting him to visit the place at least once or twice a year, and so she had done even before she joined the Academy.

Kana herself had many fond memories of the place, as she had lived there for a long time with mom, and that only helped to make her look forward to a visit a little more.

“Kana!” And that was Aileen. She was always ready to chat a little, after all.
“Hey.”
“Are you all ready for summer break?”
“Pretty much. I’m planning on sleeping a lot, and doing nothing. After that study rush I don’t want to see a textbook until the next batch of tests, thanks.”
“Alyssa said that mom and dad are okay with us taking a vacation to the beach, so we will do just that. I can’t wait to see the water and the sand and the children playing!”
“It sounds like your ideal type of vacation, that’s true.”
“Yes! I’m so excited that you wouldn’t believe it! So so! How about you? Is everything okay?”
“Yes. We’re going to the country and stuff.”
“Remember to call me from time to time, okay? I’m going to call you a lot!”
“I know, I know. I’ll try.”
“Oh look, look! It’s Hans. I wonder what his family does during vacation?” Aileen was pulling on Kana’s left hand, and if she noticed the long sleeves (which she probably did, she was Aileen after all) she didn’t say a word. “Let’s ask him!”
“Hell no.”
“Hey Hans!” She was waving now, and Kana was starting to forget why she even liked Aileen in the first place.
“If it isn’t Ivers and my surprisingly responsible partner.”
“Go die.”
“And then you’d need a new partner.”
“We were wondering where you are planning on spending summer break. I’m going to the beach, and Kana is visiting the country, so how about you?” Aileen didn’t even stop to care about the discussion the other two were having.
“My family usually travels, though I’m not certain it will happen this particular year.”
“Oh? Why?”
“They will probably want to get me up to date with the things they care about.”
“I see...”
“It will be annoying. I’ll probably try to get some paperwork to do here just so I will take as long as possible to finally leave.”
“You are probably the only weirdo that wants to stay here instead of leaving.” Kana frowned.
“I agree.” Hans smiled. “But then again, so would you if you were engaged to my fianceé.
“If she’s half as detestable as you, sure I would.”
“I couldn’t tell. But I can tell she’s boring.”
“That’s good enough for you, I guess. As close to ‘detestable’ as it gets.”
“I’m glad to learn that you’re finally getting to know me, partner.” He smiled with that, of course. Kana rolled her eyes.
“Probably knowing you more than I would like, that’s for sure.” Aileen chose that moment to interrupt the discussion with a small laugh.
“Watching you two discuss never gets old. It’s like watching television.”
“I sometimes worry about which side you are on, Aileen.”
“Aileen seems to always be on Aileen’s side.” Hans chuckled.
“Well, she sould be on Kana’s side, and thinking that Hans is an asshole.”
“I try, I try, but you make it so difficult with your discussions!” Aileen couldn’t stop the small giggles at the whole discussion.
“But shouldn’t you two be moving now, instead of discussing your vacation plans? Getting late to miss Freeman’s final speech would be a terrible idea, wouldn’t it?”
“I know that, okay? I’ll ask you for reminders when I need them.”
“Then I’ll see you in two months, partner. Ivers, take good care, enjoy your vacation.”
“I will! Take care as well!” Aileen, who was still was excited as she had been five minutes ago, was full of exclamation points today.
“Have fun with your crappy vacation.” Added Kana. At least she could tell herself that even if her life was hell, Hans’ vacation was a lot suckier than hers.

It was the smallest things that made her happy.




Kana was sure that mom had waited awake for her. It was the kind of things mom did, after all.

Major Penelope Ahlgren, was now fifty seven years old. She had been doing administrative duties since eight years ago, because her health was not good enough for her to work with magic. She had taken Kana in after she had been found more than eleven years ago, was probably the best mother someone like her could have asked for, even if she tended to sometimes be a bit too overprotective.

And now she had, just as Kana suspected, waited awake for her daughter to come back. It didn’t matter that she was adopted, or that she was so different to her, little Katherine was her daughter and nothing less.

“Hey mom, I’m home!” It was five in the morning and Kana pretty much barged in, with no more luggage than a few things in a small backpack, knowing full well that the Major would be there.
“Katherine!” And there she was as expected, running up to her daughter.
“Hi!”
“Welcome back, my girl!”
“You shouldn’t wait awake, mom.”
“What are you talking about? Your mother is in her prime, she doesn’t have any trouble staying awake.”
“Of course, of course... My mistake.”
“Now come in, come in. I prepared you something to eat, you must be starving.”
“I am, yeah.”
“Then let’s go, I’ve heard a little about you from the Lieutenant, but I want to hear it from you!”

And before Kana knew it, it was mom and daughter time, and there she was, speaking. There would be no sleep tonight, but it was fine.


Kana and Penelope spoke for hours and hours. She told her about the incident, and about Evie. She told her about Aileen, and Hans. She told her about Mariam, and about Adir and of course about Kael. And she told her about the trip to the church and about the weird priests and the Duke and everything she could come up with.

It was mom, after all, and Kana knew that she could tell anything to mom, except obviously for high security affairs, but those weren’t things that Kana was aware of, so it was okay for her to talk about everything.

Morning came, and neither had moved from the kitchen. At some time between story and story, Penelope had prepared some coffee for them and both had resumed the chatting. Kana talked and talked and from time to time Penelope asked some questions, which always got an answer.

They went to bed late in the afternoon, both drained but more than satisfied with their catching up.


Kana was overjoyed to find that she had no strange dreams this time.

She didn’t care if it was because she was really tired from all the talking, or because she felt good for being back at home, but she wouldn’t object to it. The dreams were tiring, and really annoyed and always ended up with her doing something stupid, so a little respite was welcome.

She got up from bed, and found Penelope already in the kitchen, working on lunch.

“Mom? Don’t you have to go to work today?”
“I asked for a day off, so we could hang in the house and maybe watch some movies like we used to.”
“Movie night sounds awesome, yes. Do I get to pick?”
“One and one, as always.”
“I’ll pick one with lots of explosions.”
“That is good, I’ll just pick one that sounds nice.”

Somehow mom always picked the most violent movie.


Vacation was something that Kana enjoyed probably as much as she enjoyed beating bullies up. She could stay up late, watching tv, then get up late, do her training exercises, and help mom with lunch. Then in the afternoon she would hang around the house, maybe talk to Aileen (who somehow managed to know everything about everyone’s whereabouts even when she wasn’t meeting them or talking to them), and do a little housework to help out.

It was nice, though it wasn’t something she would do every single day. There was a reason why vacation was just a few months each year, after all.



The first week of the second month of vacation was the time chosen for the visit to the country house. As they usually did, Kana and Penelope arrived a day before to make sure everything was into place. The maintenance crew did as much of an excellent work as usual, which was expected since Kael himself had chosen them, so there wasn’t much to do, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

Kael himself arrived the next day.
“Hey Kael!” Kana had been pacing around for a while now, and she was all smiles when he arrived.
“Kana. You look well rested.”
“Yeah, I’ve been sleeping a lot, and no weird dreams at all.”
“That’s good to hear. Where is your mother?”
“Mom was checking on the kitchen personnel. I’ll call her.”

As usual, she was gone before he could even agree. Kael chuckled and waited. Penelope came in, a little behind her quite hyper daughter.

“If it isn’t the Lieutenant General! It’s surprising to see you actually on time for vacation.” She smiled.
“I can go out and come back a little later if you want to, Major.”
“Wouldn’t that be impolite? This is your house after all.”
“I don’t mind it.”
“Kael don’t be mean to mom.”
“She was mean to me first, if anything.”
“Hmm... Then, mom, don’t be mean to Kael.”
“But he seemed like he was having fun.”
“I was, I was.”
“Welcome to your home, then, Kael.” Penelope smiled, greeting him in a more relaxed way now.

Kana had learned to do the petty bickering from the best teachers a girl could have.


That day, Kael and Kana went to check on the horses in the stable, and have a little run with them. They stopped close to the small stream that ran close to the borders of their territory, in the same place where they used to stop all the time when Kana was younger.
“Hey Kael.” Kana called out, while hopping of her horse, the horse that had once belonged to Kean.
“Yes?”
“Do you remember when I told you about that dream, with the strange, eager feeling?”
“I do.” Kael came down from his horse as well, letting it go to the stream for some water.
“Okay... That’s been going around my head a lot. I’ve been waking up with that same feeling, but there is no dream with it.”
“And why do you think that is happening?”
“I dunno... It’s weird.” Kana sat in the grass, looking at the horses not too far away. She frowned a little, but said no other word.
“You always said your instincts were good. Haven’t you thought that maybe they are trying to tell you something?”
“Something? Something like what?”
“Well, that’s not a thing I know. It wouldn’t be ‘instinct’ if it came with an instruction manual, right?”
“Yeah I guess... But it would be much more useful if it did anyway.”
“And it would be boring too. Then you would be like your partner.”
“Eww... No thanks. I’d rather keep my useless instinct then.”
“Is it that bad? You two seemed to be getting along just fine.” Kael stepped a little closer, looking at the stream.
“It’s not that I dislike him or anything. It’s just that he’s really weird. He’s not happy, but he’s not unhappy either...”
“You are driven by ‘want’. For people like you it’s really difficult to understand one who doesn’t care much about anything.”
“But how can one not care about anything? I can’t imagine that.”
“It’s complex... But we could say that he doesn’t want anything because he thinks that the things he is getting are already decided.”
“Yeah... I’ve heard something a little like that from the nice priest.”
“In short, there is no point in trying to understand him, because there isn’t anything too complex to understand.”
“It’s too complicated anyway. Why can’t people be easy to get?”
“You always complain about the exact same thing.”
“Well, that’s because it’s just like that!”
“Maybe... But wouldn’t it be a little boring if everything were handed to us?”
“I guess...”
“So don’t bother too much with complaining, and just learn to enjoy the intricacies of human nature.”
“I try, I try... It doesn’t always show, and I sometimes forget about it, but I try most of the time.”
“It’s better than nothing, I suppose.”

They both fell silence, and for a moment the only sounds were the sounds of nature itself. The wind, the grass, the water, even the horses... Kana found it really relaxing, and she was sure that Kael did too, even if he didn’t say anything about it. It was always good for his health to get his mind out of work for at least a moment.

“Hey Kael.”
“Yes?”
“It’s cool that you came all the way here... You never take care of yourself.”
“I’ll be fine. You know I’m not the kind of person who would put their health in danger for no reason.”
“Yeah, Kean’s spirit would so kick your ass if you did.”
“That he would... So I do my best so there are no angry little brother ghosts running around and messing with my things.”
“That sounds complicated to deal with.”
“You have no idea.

They both fell silent once more, and this time the comfortable silence went on until they both decided to go back.



Part two.


Hans was, as expected, really annoyed by the lack of things to keep him trapped in the Academy during summer break.

He even considered to pull a Kana and do something very, very stupid that could earn enough detention for him to completely miss his vacation time.

Yet, in the end, and as he did every single time since he had arrived, Hans did nothing and just went back home. Actually making an effort was absolutely beyond his motivation.


He smiled at his mother, who was fawning over him so much, and nodded at his father, who was oh so proud of his boy still being the best student. He barely gave a look to his younger sister, who was apparently angry at him for some reason or other, and went to lock himself up in his room.

Mother was most understanding, of course. Their perfect little boy was just tired from his life in the Academy. Father, who had been in the Military himself, recognized that it was a tiring job, especially since Hans was working so hard to make his family proud.

Elisabeth of course was still angry. So she wasn’t taking this. She may not be allowed to be angry at her classmates, but she was so allowed to be angry at Hans...

“Hans!” She was knocking on his door now, small fists beating repeatedly and quickly, with the energy that only an eleven year old girl full of righteous anger could muster up.
“Elisabeth, stop knocking, you look ugly when you get angry.”
“Hans!! Open now!!”
“Your face is probably all red, too.”
“Hans!”
As she was going to knock again, the door opened.
“Yes, all red and ugly. I knew it.”
“Shut up! You’re the worst brother ever!”
“No, I think I could do much worse.”
“You didn’t call for my birthday! That’s so mean!”
“I already explained to you that I can’t go making personal calls in the midst of work, didn’t I?”
“But it was my birthday! And you never call other than in birthdays!”
“All right... Then how about us making a deal, so you will stop being all red?”
“Like what?” The little girl’s blue eyes were now fully paying attention, the tears and drama pretty much forgotten, even if her eyes were still a little puffy.
“I’ll bring you a belated birthday gift from my next trip, if you stop crying.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“But you never do belated birthdays.”
“And that is why this is special.”
“Okay!”
“Now go clean your face.”
“Okay!”

Elisabeth was gone in just a few seconds. She looked happy for an easy price, and that was good enough. There was no point in having to deal with an angry little sister for two months, when just conceding a little would keep her happy and satisfied, right?

Hans was fine with conceding. After all that was what most of his life was all about.



His life went back to the usual routine, the routine he had tried to escape back when he decided to move to the Academy and try his luck there. He usually didn’t mind that much, after all it was just two months, but this time it was different.

After all, he had found something fun for once.

The only non routine thing that happened, happened around the third week of the vacation period, when the High Priest for the Central branch of the Church of Remm decided to visit.
Hans was quick to get out of his room. After all, whatever thing had caused that man do actually do something that was not being creepy inside of his church, was worth the time.

The priest was sitting on the living room, far too distracted with a book. He had probably brought it, since it didn’t seem to be the kind of books kept around in the house.
“Welcome.” Hans smiled. “Is this visit some kind of payback for my own?”
“Things would be quite easier if it were.”
“As usual.” Hans took a seat in another of the armchairs. “Then, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?”
“I come bearing a warning.”
“Is it so bad that it managed to get you out of your church?”
“It’s enough of a bother, at least.”
“I’m listening, then.”
“The High Priestess at the southern branch has her eye on you. She has for a while now.”
“Well, that’s something.”
“She both wants your family’s prestige and of course she wants you either removed from the military branch, or as their little spy.”
“And she really thinks she can get me to do that?”
“She has been working on this for much longer than you think. She has been here a few times in the past, talking to your parents.”
“Who is that woman, anyway?”
“Some Priestess Irene. I can’t say I know her much nor care about doing so.”
“You should’ve brought Darius.” Hans smirked a little, and Attis chuckled.
“I’d rather keep him out of these political affairs. I already give him enough work as it is.”
“But at least he knows his way around the church’s hierarchy.”
“He’s also far too decent for these underhanded strategies we hollow people enjoy so much.”
“He does look the part, at least.”
“Anyway. I’m not really interested in her getting a hold of you.”
“I can’t say I’m interested either. She sounds like a normal church person.”
“She seems to be that, too. I would’ve heard about her otherwise.” Attis finally closed his book and removed his glasses.
“Then, what do you recommend?”
“That’s more than clear is it not? Let’s make a deal.”
“It sounds like a bit of fun, yes. What are the terms?”
“I pretend to have you under my protection. You pretend to be fine with it. Then none of us do anything different.”
“Why does it sound so easy and convenient?”
“Because it is. I have no interest in you at all, but I do have interest in annoying that Irene woman.”
“I didn’t expect you to be that much of a bastard, mister High Priest.”
“There is no need for the Southern Branch to gain any more power.”
“And there is something else, isn’t there?”
“Of course, but you don’t expect me to tell you about it, do you?”
“No, not at all. The information I have now is more than enough for the time being.”
“Then please, consider it.”
“I will consider it.”
That was probably one of the most insincere requests for consideration Hans had ever heard. But it was fine, because his answer was just as insincere.

After all, his choice had been made for a while.

Annoying that Priestess sounded more entertaining than letting her get away with this. Hans wasn’t one to take well to manipulation attempts, after all.

“I take my leave then.” Attis stood from his seat, walking towards the door, not even waiting for one of the maids to open it.
“Have a good trip, mister High Priest.”
“Have a good return to the Academy as well. Send my regards to your Acting Director.”
“I will.”

Hans smiled a little on the way back to his room.

Maybe, just maybe, things were about to get even more interesting.



Part three.


Aileen loved vacation time like only a teenager can love it, and she was of the ones that believed that anyone who didn't love it was probably a very weird person. It was nice to spend time with her sister, and see Alyssa not be that mean to her, and doing all the things she totally loved to do.

She did miss the gossip from the Academy, mostly because it was really easy to get information back there and it was a little more complicated when she was on the beach, belly up and waiting for the sun to do its job, but this was fine anyway.

Work was just so tiring and time consuming... It drove her a little nuts.

“Aileen.” And there she was, Alyssa herself.
“Siiiis, you’re covering my suuun!” She whimpered like a little girl, and continued to complain until Alyssa finally stepped a little to the side. “Ah! That’s much better...”
“It’s almost noon. You should know better than sunbathing at this time.”
“But it’s so nice and warm...!”
“Nice and warm you say. You won’t be saying the same once you are all red and shedding skin like a snake.”
“Alyssa that’s mean...”
“It’s the truth, let’s go back to the shade.”
“Okay...”

Aileen slowly (very slowly, mind you) got up, trying to take up every little sunbeam she could catch, and walked behind her sister to the small cottage her family had rented.

“The High Priest from the Central Branch has been to see that classmate of yours.”
“Ah... Hans?”
“Yes. I’ve heard that he has been repeatedly getting in the way of any political attempts of any of the other branches.”
“It sounds like he wants to keep the power balance as it is now.”
“Why would he even do that? He hasn’t attempted to win any power.”
“The inner politics of the Church are a little out of our jurisdiction.”
“But maybe checking just a little would be nice. It’s not that terrible is it? And it could come in handy.”
“I’d rather not deal with the people there. You know our contacts in the church are really weird.”
“Just a tiny bit won’t hurt any.”
“Fine. Then I’ll leave it in your hands, little sister.”
“W-what?! That wasn’t it!”
“You wanted to check on it, you deal with it. Those are the rules.”
“B-but the old guy is really icky...”
“Yes. Take good care, Aileen.”
“A-Alyssa, no...”

There was no need to say that Aileen was now effectively stuck with the ‘find information in the church’ mission. Maybe someday she would get revenge on Alyssa for leading her in, but that day certainly wouldn’t be that day.



That was how Aileen missed three days of her beach vacation for being too curious.

Now, as she was going back, Aileen wondered just why she had even been curious at all. It would have been better to stay innocent and ignorant of that man’s weird weird weird weird past. And those weren’t enough mentions of the word ‘weird’. She was missing scary and creepy too... And she didn’t even know how much worse it was...

“Welcome back!” That was Alyssa’s sing-song voice, the one she only used when she was being really really mean to Aileen. “How did it go?”
“It was the worst...”
“Did the geezer give you much trouble?”
“No, not that...”
“Then?” Alyssa looked at her sister from the edge of her large sunglasses.
“The things I found. Those where ickier than the curch guy.”
“Well, that sounds like something big sister would like to hear all right. Tell me all about it.”
“W-what? I’m barely getting over the trauma!”
“Yep. That’s exactly why you have to tell me while it’s still fresh.”
“Okay...”
“Come on, come onnnn!”
“I heard that before that, he was in the Investigations branch of the military. There wasn’t much more, really. Some linked him to the dissolution of division 13 so I went to check and ewww. If he did work there, there was something wrong with him.”
“Division 13, huh? It’s been some time since I last heard from them.”
“Do you think you know who that is?”
“Well, very few people worked there by the time it was dissolved. There was the doctor and then his two assistants... One of them was a girl so she’s out of the question. The assistant was brown-haired, and worked under an alias.”
“I still don’t know why you didn’t go! He totally seems to be your type and not mine...”
“If he worked with division 13, then he absolutely is my type! I can’t believe that the man could be him...?”
“Him, who?”
“Gabriel Rhodes.”
“Uh. Who?”
“You know? The head of investigations there? The one I just keep on ranting about?”
“Oh. Oh! The scary one!”
“Yes, that’s right!”
“D-do you mean it’s the same guy?”
“It makes sense. There are very few descriptions of the man, since he was rarely seen outside of his laboratories, and his few living subjects rarely ever came out still living from there... But it does match the Priest. I thought it couldn’t be him because the priest looked far too young, but maybe...”
“Isn’t that too big a leap?”
“That’s why I’m saying maybe!”
“You’re far too excited to be finding a man who liked to open people and make them do magic.”
“Are you kidding? We owe half of our knowledge on magic to his investigation.”
“He opened people in half and made them do magic.”
“And he studied how it affected the organs!”
“Opened people in half.”
“Aahh! I can’t believe it, I’m so lucky! I have to check further on this!”
“In half...?”
Alyssa was running off now, looking pretty excited, and Aileen was left there.

Creeped out beyond words.




---

Notes:

I'm done with trying to understand this stupid novel.