Olive: Servitude 4

My nostrils fill with the scent of lilacs and I can feel wind gently caressing my cheeks.  My first instinct is to return to my station as I had been before I passed out but my head will only allow me minimal movement. 

"Lay still my child," Ayame~sama's tender voice reaches to me.  "Lay still and drink."

The chill of cup prepares my lips for the cool water making it's way into my mouth by the hands of my mistress.  I feel at peace; be it because of the water or because the gentle and caring Ayame~sama has returned with her son.  Tao'xin and Swamimi Daishin's presence in the room have been replaced by Ayame~sama and General Kaoru.  General Kaoru's body curvy like the fans she's rotating.  Her fan's movements causing the lengths of her white hair to rise and fall across her face, billowing the lavender fabric that clings desperately to her body.  Any extra gust and we would all see more than we intended of what should remain hidden by cloth.

"If the girl is better now," General Kaoru's sing-song voice floats around the room.  "Then I shall be returning to my eastern warriors."

"I'm sorry ma'am," my voice rasps desperately as General Kaoru leaves.

"No apologies needed," her voice soothing in each syllable. "I take it you saw them on their way?"

"Who ma'am?"

"Swamimi Daichin and my son."

"They left?"

"They were gone before we heard the sound of your fall my child."

Olive: Servitude 3

I can't feel my feet anymore.  I've been sitting on my knees with only the comfort of a cushion below me.  The tray, the cups, the pitcher of water all rest next to me as I wait for their need.  Tao'xin's cloak occasionally glowing with the symbols of St. Cuthbert then fading away as he's been meditating across from the girl-child, Swamimi Daishin.  Her sandy hair long enough to cover her hazel eyes when her head lowers for meditation but not long enough to touch her shoulders.  

Tao'xin might not show much respect to many, but he certainly demonstrates it to this Swamimi.  She hasn't opened her mouth once since her arrival but he's still been responsive to making her needs met.  From doors opened to these hours of meditation.  

Swamimi Daishin arrived partnered with General Kaoru making her reports to my mistress.  Arriving simultaneously, looking in total opposite of one another.  The Swamimi Daishin a sight of youthful innocence while the General Kaoru a vision of womanly beauty.

My head begins to feel light as his cloak glows once again.  The room spins towards Swamimi Daishin as she suddenly flashes in my eyes in the form of an ancient white dragon before my vision blacks out.

Olive: Servitude 2

My hand trembles as I attempt to pick up broken pieces of the water pitcher that I had been carrying.  It shouldn't startle me, but I does.  

My mistress is hugging him and talking to her son as though he never passed.  As though his time never paused, as if she never mourned.

My muscles stiffen as the soft touch of the mistress touches my shoulder.  

"Do you need help picking this up?" her soft and gentle voice hums as the sting of the broken pieces in my palm have cut me.

"N-no ma'am," I stammer as I begin tossing the pieces into my apron.

"Allow me," the deep voice from Tao'xin looking into my face freezes me to my core.

I can do nothing but to look into the depths of his face as he gracefully picks the remainder of the vase into my apron.  His grey eyes a sharp reminder to me of his passing.  He drops the last piece into my apron with a smile that quickly disappears into a look of concern.

"Are you alright?" He asks sincerely. "You aren't hurt, are you?"

"I-I'm alright," I say shaking my head and rushing to my feet.

"Why are you crying?" He asks as he grabs my wrist.

I don't have to try to escape his grip.  He being as gentle and loving as his mother.  I simply remove myself from the room as quickly as my feet will move me.  I hurry to the dispose, bending my face right after dropping the broken pieces in to release my stomach's tension in as well.

Olive: Servitude 1

The heat from the sting and embarrassment swells in my cheek as I force my arms to remain still at my side.  I try to hide the swallow of forcing down the urge of nursing my cheek as she continues yelling obscenities towards me.  I lower my eyes to the floor in silent apology though I don't truly feel as though I was in the wrong.  

It doesn't matter if I really did wrong or not, my mistress believes that I have and that's all that matters for her.

She hasn't always been harsh to me like this.  Ayame~sama is genuinely a good soul.  I don't have to look up from the floor to know that she's crying with her rage towards me.  I've only seen her behave like this once before, right after the still-birth of her son.  She spent all of those days in her room, her only actions were actions such as these.  

It wasn't until the fourth day of Growfest, St. Cuthbert's Day, when the priests arrived.  When they left with her newly-risen son, none of the staff dared to ask a word of what happened.  We simply accepted that now he lived and her gentle demeanor returned once more. 

I don't mind taking her upset for the moment.  I know it isn't her, it isn't me, it's only what she feels for the loss of him.  His renewed body was lost once more.  Not only has this burdened the lady, but the temple as well.  

The Swami Chen-Tao of the Prāna Monastery was the one to return Tao-xin to our mistress when it happened.  His white hood hanging from his head as the child-man lay lifeless in the Swami's strong arms.  Our lady shrieked and screamed until she herself passed out.  Chen-Tao stayed at her bedside until she awoke.  The priests of St. Cuthbert retrieved her son's body before she awoke.  Probably for the best that they did it so for her heart.

I could hear the deep and gentle voice of Chen-Tao as he explained the events of what happened upon her awakening.  I stood still as a statue in the corner as Chen-Tao comforted the lady, never lifting my eyes from the foot of her bed as I awaited her need.

It has been nearly a month's time since this event.  We're a day from celebrating St. Cutherbert's Day now and I grow curious to see if Tao'xin will return to Ayame~sama's life once more.