Chapter 655: Chapter 656: Legacy Of Cowards
The feeling of a deep coldness spreading was an unfamiliar sensation to Renata. However, without knowing why, she suddenly saw something that looked like an actual expression on the face of the taciturn Matia Faldren.
It was almost a glare. Renata was certain the gaze wasn’t directed at her, so she turned around.
There, behind her, was a man. A fairy man. His presence was cold like winter, his expression even colder. His gaze passed over Renata as if she didn’t exist.
He was like winter itself harsh, unforgiving.
This man was Matia’s father.
"You’ve really grown bolder, girl... to think you would dare ignore my summons."
Matia’s expression remained almost still, but Renata noticed a subconscious tremble in her hands, one she had never seen before.
She had died and been brought back as a shadow, but even death did not erase this fear.
In the depths of her memory, in her fogged mind that looked like a frozen ruin where fragments of Matia mixed freely with the ruined fairy, she remembered.
Right. This was her father.
"Speak when you’re spoken to, girl."
She opened her mouth... but no words came out. She closed her lips again. She said nothing.
He narrowed his eyes. With a single step he crossed the distance. Renata only felt the cold wind rush past her, blowing her hair.
Matia stood still like an ice sculpture.
He reached for her dark hair with clear disgust.
"What is this... what is this disgusting thing? Did I permit you to grow your hair out?"
She didn’t react, only standing still.
The loud cheers from outside reached her ears, but none of those people had any business with her, nor could they see her. Even if they could so what.
"Hah... how audacious. You killed your brother, the least you could do was keep his memory alive. But instead, you became this."
He gestured at her with disdain, the coldness in his gaze shifting toward her wings. The weight of it made her lower her head slightly, a surge of emotion stirring in her chest.
Memories began to flood her mind of a frail twin who resembled her, her weaker, sickly sibling who had always been there to comfort her.
The one who had given her his wings.
"Disgusting. Do you see how disgusting you are, girl?"
Faldren shook his head with a sigh.
"You understand I must punish you for what you’ve done. You decided to join that reckless, wild vagrant commoner. What can I expect from a woman? You spread your legs for the first fool who gives you the slightest attention."
He slapped her, sending her stalwart form flying into the wall with a heavy thud.
Renata moved to attack him, but he waved his hand, freezing the very air. She was suspended, as if time itself had halted around her.
Snow flakes flying in the air.
"Stay out of this."
Matia stood up. Her face, pale as snow, now bore a red mark. But her expression remained taciturn, as if she hadn’t just been struck. Slowly, she walked back to where he stood and faced him once again.
".... Did you fancy yourself a knight? You are a wretched woman. A lowly creature. What else can you be? You cannot carry the legacy of generations of warriors. So what if you have a little ability with weapons? If you were a man, your meagre tricks would be better. Your nature as a woman is the reason you are trash."
He slapped her again with the back of his hand, her head snapping to the side. But this time, she didn’t fall. She stood her ground.
Slowly he closed his eyes with a sigh, as though weighed down by disappointment.
"It is unfortunate that the world saw that you are a woman. But... I, we, can improvise. You will continue to dress as a man. Cut that filthy hair, and dye it back to its original color."
He turned away, his cape swaying as he moved.
"Come."
She didn’t move. His brows twitched.
"Are you deaf, girl? I said come."
Her mouth opened and closed, as though struggling to put her grievances into words. Finally, after a moment, she said all she could her voice carrying the storm in her heart the fear, the anger, and the desperate desire to be acknowledged.
"No."
Her cold voice was gentle, like a snowflake falling slowly from the heavens. It was like waking up to find the world blanketed in snow after a storm.
"What did you just say?" His voice was furious.
Snow after a storm was beautiful... but it was also deep and cold, burying the world beneath it.
"I used to think you were a great man. Powerful. But now... all I see is how small you are. You are strong, but strength that does not know how to be gentle is weak."
This was the longest string of words Matia had spoken since becoming a shadow, since she had died.
No this was the longest she had ever spoken to her father.
Still, she forced her soul, her shadow, to burn. Memories and personality traits fused, forming faster and faster.
Her eyes glowed blue. Her wings carried the chill of winter.
"I’ve met someone who is strong, and broken, but he still has the strength to smile at those he cares about. He is strong enough to be gentle. How could I ever have thought someone like you was strong?"
Her father’s eyes grew colder.
"You dare speak back to me?"
Matia did not back away. She stepped forward, standing directly before him.
"You think because I am a woman, I am inferior. I only have one thing to say to you and to the ancestors who left this legacy. I want no part in a legacy of pathetic weaklings."
She raised her hand, pointing it at him.
"Remember this. I am not yours to command. I am not Matia Faldren, the weak daughter who only cowered. Maybe not today, but someday you will fall before me."
He chuckled, though anger burned beneath it. The beating she would receive would be out of this world. He would correct this behavior.
"And who are you supposed to be, then?"
Her pale face disappeared under the dark metals of her armor as it surrounded her body.
"I am Ruined Fairy."
She waved her hand. Ice spears formed and shot toward him.
With a casual sweep of his hand, he destroyed them, the ice shattering into fragments.
When the frost cleared, she was gone. He couldn’t sense her anywhere nearby.
"Hmm. It seems the girl has learned a few new tricks."
He turned to find Renata glaring at him. She had finally forced his power to zero.
She chuckled coldly.
"It seems you want to create a political blunder, your excellency. The journalists outside would love to hear how a Norrath-based noble assaulted a noble of the Empire."
He waved his hand dismissively.
"I was just leaving."