72 Pillar

I walked through the still unfamiliar halls of this huge mansion, following right behind Mia.

I felt strange and unfamiliar with myself. How could I not when I was wearing clothes that I was not familiar with? I was wearing a white button-down shirt that was tucked into a pair of long black pants that came along with fancy black shoes.

"Um..." I said while straightening my collar. "What's the occasion?" I asked.

Mia, while walking, looked back at me. Her eyes scanned over me, and there was no doubt in my mind that she completely understood the hidden meaning to my question.

"Mr. Adams has ordered me to lead you to the dining room for breakfast," Mia explained.

"All of this for breakfast?" I asked.

Mia smiled and giggled as she listened to my remark. "Welcome to high-class society," she said.

I continued to follow Mia, and as we walked, I learned that she was a pretty cool person.

Apparently, she was born into the House of Bathin as a combat maid, which was pretty badass if you ask me. Her family had served Madelyn's family for ages, and just like her forefathers, Mia had every intention of following in their footsteps.

She also had one older brother who was doing his best as a butler, but apparently, he was studying abroad. What he was studying, I have no clue.

As we talked, we soon came to an open area filled with morning light from the glass windows. In the middle of the room was a long table that sat two individuals, Madelyn and her grandfather, who were eating, not saying anything to one another.

I looked around the room as Mia showed me to my seat. I saw more of the same, rich people things, like beautiful lamps and artwork, chandeliers that shined like crystal, and so on and so forth.

"Good morning, my boy," Madelyn's grandfather said with a smile as he put down his fork and focused on me.

"Uh, morning," I said.

I looked over at Madelyn, who was still busy eating her breakfast, which looked like an omelet. It seemed like all her wounds had healed; every scratch mark and bruise had disappeared, leaving only her pure white beautiful skin.

"What can we get you to eat, my boy?" Madelyn's grandfather asked, his elbows on the table and his fingers interlocked with one another.

"Um... pancakes?" I asked.

Madelyn's Grandfather looked over to one of the butlers standing at the side of the room.

The butler nodded his head and left the room as if he had had an invisible conversation with Madelyn's grandfather.

"So tell me, Ethan my boy, how do you feel?" Madelyn's grandfather asked.

"I, um, I feel okay..." I said awkwardly, but I soon began to realize that I was actually feeling really okay. I wasn't hurting at all, not even a little.

"I would be surprised if you were still injured," Madelyn's grandfather chuckled. "Your own unnatural healing abilities aside, we used high-quality ointments on you last night so that you wouldn't be in any pain."

I, like many times before, was confused. What unnatural healing abilities? What ointment did they use on me, and who applied it while I was sleeping? I looked over at Madelyn. "Could it have been her?" I thought to myself, blushing ever so slightly.

"Anyway, I would like to offer thanks to yourself , Ethan Brumfield," Madelyn's grandfather said, standing up from his seat.

"Thanks for what?" I asked.

"For helping my granddaughter extinguish that demon you faced last night," Madelyn's grandfather said, bowing his head.

Madelyn began to stand up and bowed her head as well, leaving me speechless.

"Uh... you don't have to thank me, I just did what I needed to do," I said, blushing. I wasn't used to being bowed to.

Soon, Madelyn and her grandfather sat down, and I was able to breathe again.

"The things you needed to do," Madelyn's grandfather said with a slight nod. "I like that," he continued. "Honoring duty and responsibility, that's something we understand all too well."

"In the name of duty and responsibility, I have to ask you a question, young man."

I looked at the old man who had both of his hands together, his elbows on the table, looking at me with sharp eyes.

"Would you like to officially become a Pillar?"

I sat there, looking at the old man, my mouth hanging open. "I can become a Pillar?" I asked, a little bit of happiness swelling up deep inside my chest.

"You can, if you wish," the old man clarified. "You see, Ethan, we have taken a great deal of interest in you."

"We?" I asked, pretty sure that he wasn't talking about Madelyn when he said 'we.'

"We, as the House of Bathin," the old man continued, ignoring my curiosity. "Welcome you to join our ranks. There is something inside of you, Mr. Brumfield, and we want to know what it is."

I suddenly thought of her, the girl with black hair and crimson eyes. I pictured her laughing, the madness in her eyes, the craziness in her laugh. Yeah, it just gave me goosebumps.

"I-I want to know what she is as well," I said.

"Then come, come and join our family. We will protect you, we will train you in our ways, we will make you a Pillar," Madelyn's grandfather said.

"A Pillar," I thought to myself, really wanting this with all my soul.

"What say you, my boy?" he asked.

I didn't say anything at first. I looked over at Madelyn, who for the first time wasn't focused on her food but on me. Her eyes almost seemed empty, as if she had no emotion, which wasn't a new look to me.

"Okay, I'll become a Pillar." "I said with determination, not that I really had a choice. I didn't have anywhere to go after all."

The old man smiled. "Good, very good. Welcome to the House of Bathin, Ethan Brumfield. I truly hope you survive the experience."

***

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