by Aven Alveron 3rd August 2018, 4:52 pm
Aven spotted Nessa shortly after he arrived, he was surprised how fast she'd found her way through the maze: his Father was notorious for his brutal maze structure. With a small bow, and a big smile, he greeted her. "Indeed, it is." Straightening, he hesitated, tugging at his collar. He knew he'd have to knock on the door eventually, but they'd have a vastly different experience based on who answered the door. "Shall we... go in?" It was brutally obvious how nervous he was, perhaps even raising the suspicion that he'd brought Nessa along for a reason. Before she could wonder what that could possibly be, however, Aven summoned his courage and rapped the large, silver knocker, a clear metal sound reverberating through what sounded like a vastly empty space.
Within moments, the door opened, and a young woman in an expensively lacy maid uniform answered the door, perhaps a few years older than Aven. Clearly visible on her head were two incredibly soft looking dog ears, which drooped down over her short brunette hair, and at the sight of Aven, a fluffy brown tail wagged at light speed side to side behind her. Her eyes lit up, and a expression brighter than the sun beamed from every square inch of her face. "MASTER AVEN!"
Aven's face, on the other hand, paled, but he couldn't respond, because he was knocked onto his back by a massive, soul crushing embrace. Three words escaped his lips, and he struggled for air. "Lucie... it... hurts..."
At that, a giggle escaped Lucie's lips, and she hopped back onto her feet in a fluid motion. "Sorry, Master Aven, it has just been so long, and you have grown so much!" There was a glint in her eyes that made Aven instinctively heighten his guard. Lucie turned to Nessa and smiled, though something in her expression hinted danger. "You must be a friend of Master Aven's, welcome to the Alveron Family Estate! Follow me, I will lead you to Lady Alveron, she has been expecting your arrival, Master Aven." The tail continued the wag behind her, and as she turned, it thwacked Nessa decently hard in the thigh. It was easy to discern this was no mistake, as Lucie gave her a protective sideways glare that Aven couldn't see.
As they entered the ebony halls, Aven's heart almost stopped. The air of the foyer was thick with magic pressure, almost forcing them to wade as though in water, and the source was clear as crystal: before them, at the top of the balcony of the twin spiral staircases, stood a tall, menacing woman, dressed to the 'T' in military garb, a thin saber planted squarely between her feet as she seemed to tower over the entire world. Her expression was fierce, like that of a hardened warrior facing down an army of a thousand- alone. It was unwavering, piercing, and darted from Aven, to Nessa, the back to Aven, the feel of her gaze alone almost tangible. Her voice boomed from above them. "Four years, Aven Kilandre Alveron. Four years since you've visited home... and you have the gall to arrive, unannounced, bringing a girl, no less?" The thunderous voice filled the hall, almost parting the thickness of her magic aura with it's weight. After a deafening silence that lasted for what seemed an eternity, a light smile broke onto the woman's face. "You've really matured, haven't you?"