Destiny
Edrick fastened his belt, dusted his shoulders, and stretched before turning to look at the bruised mess left twitching and sobbing.
Fingmi was lying face-first against a handy little device he had first encountered when he had gone to experience his first proper Biesta alongside Wenxiong... A platform that could be made to change its elevation to offer the perfect position during extracurricular activities.
The uncrested servant had gotten to experience its greatness first-hand–Having been in the perfect position for each of her master’s little experiments using his newly upgraded innate ability... The increase of control, coupled with the ability to do the opposite of what Balls To The Wall was originally capable of, allowed for some very satisfying combinations to be made.
Fingmi had gotten to enjoy many combinations first-hand. Alas, it seemed like she lacked appreciation for having been of great help to her master. She was just burying her face against the soft surface, sobbing as her body twitched at times. All the while, great quantities of Cleansing Elixir flowed out en masse.
Edrick rang the bells a few times, calling Housemaids to clean the mess. As for Fingmi, Anoteros grabbed and flung her over his shoulder... He carried her into one of the maid-designated bathrooms and soon filled a bath himself, putting her in the water.
“Stop crying, will you? Ever since you’ve been brought here, you’ve been living far better than you used to. And for what price? Just a handful of services for me? You need to be rational for a moment and imagine what things would be like if I hadn’t brought you here”
“...My family would still be alive”
“Wrong. I was going to eliminate them all anyway… Do you know why, Fingmi?”
“...Because… Because you enjoy killing…?”
“Ahahah… You aren’t wrong on that, but no. I didn’t do it for my own enjoyment. Or at least… It wasn’t the driving reason behind why I did what I did. Listen, I slaughtered everyone inside that third-rate, patchwork clan of yours for a very simple reason”
“I did it because of Linfeng’s presence”
“Merely because he offended you and one of your wives…?”
“No. If he had been a mere idiot, I would have probably just broken both his legs, beaten him to near-death, and then instructed everyone else in the clan to make his life miserable. You know… Mercy... Alas, your Alrin is not a mere idiot. He is definitely lacking in brain activity, but he is a special individual”
“How… How is he special enough to warrant all of this?”
“Fingmi, do you believe in fate? In destiny?”
“Of course… Everyone has heard of ancient cultivators capable of altering the fabric of fate and other… And other natural laws”
“As I thought, you are quite the smart girl, aren’t you? Muxing told me you enjoyed spending time in the libraries of the residence… It is good to be intellectually curious”
Anoteros laughed lightly, placing his hands behind his back.
“Linfeng possesses a special fate. Why do you think his strength suddenly shot through the roof despite him having been a wretch for the entirety of his life before that? Your Alrin awakened a special system. You must know of the Universal System, yes? Then you surely heard of special systems as well. His is even more special than most, because it is associated with his great fate”
“I don’t know the details exactly just yet, but he was given one or more cultivation techniques adapted to him specifically. That’s why his power increased so suddenly. There is no need for raw talent when fate dotes on you, is there?”
Fingmi looked at her master, shrinking as deep into the water as she could without having to hold her breath. She didn’t get why he was suddenly saying all of this. He had taken her away a while ago now, and he had done terrible things to her many times, going as far as planting his seed within her body… The girl did not get what was different about this time to prompt him to reveal his true motivations regarding her Alrin…
She lifted her mouth above the water.
“I do not know if this is true… But if so… Why did you take me? Shouldn’t you have targeted him for his techniques? I don’t get it…”
The patriarch of the residence grinned.
“You don’t get it, indeed. Linfeng’s destiny is very specific. It should have gone in a precise way”
“Should…?”
“I am aware of his destiny, and my goal is to shatter it. Once his fate has weakened, grown distant and cold… I will swoop in at that time and claim whatever I desire from him. This is why you are here. This is why I eliminated everyone that day. I have sent him on a quest that diverges from the original destiny intended for him”
“The more time passes, and the more actions he takes, the more he harms the one thing protecting him from me. Eventually, he’ll come to get you. Do you understand now? You are both the tool damaging his defences, and the bait that will lead to his doom”
“Your Alrin–Linfeng... I will break and pillage everything he has to offer, and there is nothing you can do about it. As such, get used to your life here, and learn to obey and not talk back. Perhaps I might just consider giving you a crest one day, and you’ll be just like the others: Happy, blissful, and with a purpose driving you forward”
“...Your crests are nothing more than tools of enslavement”
“You are quite defiant today, aren’t you? No matter, you are mistaken about the crests. They don’t rob anyone of their autonomy. If that happens, it is my will doing so, not any crest. Wouldn’t you like to be joyful like the other maids?”
Fingmi didn’t respond.
“Think about it. If you do a good job as a temporary Bearing Maid, I might just consider making your position in the Nursery Wing permanent. You seem to enjoy it there better than when you worked with the Housemaids”
With these parting words, Anoteros soon went away.
He spotted Shu standing in front of the door to his office, holding a stack of papers close to his chest.
“Shu, seems like there is something you want to tell me”
“Master, I mentioned a project I had regarding Linfeng in the past. I have come to inform you of its success, and the resulting information gathered thanks to it”
“Interesting, come into my office”
Edrick let her go in first before he went and sat behind his desk. He made himself comfortable and motioned with his hand, telling her to begin.
“Tell me about this operation that you've built”