Episode 15

Life went on smoothly in the Order. Tamie often trained, and her ‘sisters’ took jobs. Tamie felt that here, in Rosenweld, in Rose Cruce Order, she was home. Whenever she missed her parents (which happened rather often), she would call them and have long chats with them, telling them about all sorts of things she and Nick had undergone on those days. It felt amazing.

But one day, Tamie and her friends understood that happiness was not eternal. It could often give place to obstacles and difficulties, then to be felt doubly as strong again… On that particular day, the difficulties started. It concerned Riza’s past, which the girl didn’t like talking about, so her friends knew nothing of.

The members of the Order were chilling in the hall as usual. Yuri – a blond guy of Singer Class – was singing on the stage, while Riza and her ‘sisters’ – Tiger and Tamie – were drinking juices at one of the tables. The two Elders – Lord Nick and the Magister – were discussing some philosophical matter at another table.

Someone knocked on the door. Everyone started and looked at it – if it were their member, they would’ve let the system know of their presence and enter without knocking.

“Who can it be?” Yuri asked through the microphone.

“I don’t think our brethren would need to knock,” Edmund furrowed his brow.

Shiba – the guy who had cured Astra before – stood from his chair and walked to the door:

“I’ll open”.

Blizzard, Tiger’s dog, wagged the tail and rushed after Shiba, excited to see the new guest.

“Hey, Blizzard, don’t run off so carelessly!”

Tiger scolded him, but the dog didn’t listen and tagged after Shiba, wagging the tail. He really loved Shiba, as it seemed.

“Ugh…” Tiger crossed arms, displeased that her dog tagged along with some other person than her.

Shiba smiled at Blizzard and petted him, rendering him even more excited and crazy. Then he took the handle, moved it down and opened the door. Once he peeped out, his eyes widened – a middle-aged woman of long brown hair and beautiful grey-to-blue eyes stood at the threshold, covered in a cloak to stay hidden.

“Um, what would your desire be here, madam?”

“Excuse me, sir. I’m looking for my daughter, Riza Wagner…” the woman answered in a tearful voice.

“Shiba, what is it?” Edmund asked, his frown getting deeper.

“Riza, come here for a minute!” Shiba called.

Edmund blinked – what was it all about? He stood up to investigate the case. Riza too raised an eyebrow – why was Shiba calling her out of all people? She ran up to him and looked out the door, only to freeze in shock:

“Mother?”

Edmund, as well as all the other members, gasped once heard Riza’s exclaim – ‘mother’?!

“Riza, so good you’re alright! I was so worried!” the woman hugged her.

Riza was confused – why was she worried about her? She was always perfectly safe in Rose Cruce Order! There was clearly something bad going on.

“Magister, may my mother come in?”

Edmund adjusted his glasses:

“Generally, it is our policy not to let strangers in, but… our member’s mother wouldn’t be considered a stranger now, would she?” he gave Riza a benevolent smile. “Of course she may come in, Riza Wagner. We all are a family here, and our brethren’s families are also our brethren. You and your mother are no exception”.

Riza returned a grateful smile and grabbed her mother’s hand:

“Come in, mom!”

The woman hesitated, but then sighed and walked into the mansion. Shiba closed the door. While they led Riza’s mother to one of the tables, Tiger and Tamie joined the company, as well as Lord Nick. Shiba, on his part, went back to his place. Riza introduced her mother as Danielle Wagner. The woman took a seat at a table and took her hood off. Her eyes were swollen with tears.

“Mom, what happened?” Riza grabbed her hand in her palms and squeezed it.

“Riza, it is a disaster,” Danielle wiped off her tears. “Your father and I… we divorced”.

Riza gasped – her mother had nowhere to go now?!

“But that’s the least of it. The court decided to leave you to him! They demand you to return to the estate. Your father desires so…” Danielle covered her face with her hands and wept. “I’m sorry. He’s got all the power in his hands as the Aquarius Lord. I could do nothing, so I came to you”.

Riza’s hands trembled – her father had gained authority over her?!

That man… I don’t want to see him ever again!

“Oh no, sis, we don’t want you to go!” Tiger grew frightened.

“Huh? It’s nonsense!” Tamie was stupefied, “Isn’t Riza already an adult? She’s twenty-one years old, turning twenty-two later this year! It’s impossible for her father to just take her away as he pleases!”

“Aquarius Lord, you say?” Nick furrowed his brow. Everybody looked at him – if there was anyone who knew a lot about the Aquarius Celestial Lord, it was he, the Cancer Celestial Lord. “He is said to be one of the most powerful Celestial Lords, as is fit for the Aquarius sign. If we also consider he’s the Dragon spirit and the Battler Class of Emperor rank… clashing with him would pose a problem to our entire order and mainly its reputation in the Zodiac Council’s eyes”.

“But Riza cannot be sent back to the parent she doesn’t want to be with!” tears gathered in Tiger’s eyes – it seemed that such a feeling was quite familiar to her.

“Riza…” Danielle clutched her beloved daughter’s hand – to just imagine she was to be sent back to that gruesome estate of the Wagner!

“W… Why does he want me back? Why now?! He clearly has some purpose!”

“You are a powerful Sagittarius sign, already Enchantress rank of the Singer Class. He apparently needs you to magnify his powers,” Danielle replied.

“Ugh, I hate it!” Riza gnashed her teeth, “How he dares insult us like that?”

They all were in indignation. They had a heated discussion and expressed their complaints when a deep, majestic voice, which sounded too familiar, stated in its authoritative tone:

“Whatever the reason it is for claiming Riza Wagner back, and no matter the fact he is her very own father and the court has given him the full authority to do as he sees fit, he is not allowed to take Riza Wagner back to his estate”.

Everyone looked at Edmund, who was the one to have spoken.

“B… But how does he not have the rights to claim his daughter back, after the court has officially approved it?” Danielle was confused.

“Rose Cruce Order is not a game. It is an official house, a lodge, where all the members are brethren. Every order is a family. The Rose Cruce is no different. Like all families, orders too, have their heads – the overlords, or the magisters, name it how you will. The main point is that overlords are the heads of orders, thus fathers to all the members. In the Rose Cruce, we Jaeger Clan have been patronizing the members for centuries. That tradition stands even today. I am Edmund Jaeger, the current owner of this order, its overlord, its magister, and its absolute ruler. As I am the Magister, I am a father to all the members this order has accepted. The day Riza joined, she swore to accept this order as her family, so this order is her family now. It matters no more what her blood father says, for by the name of all the laws of Zodiac Masters, I am Riza’s current father and whether Lord Wagner takes her or not, is a decision of mine and not his. Thus said, if Lord Wagner wishes to claim Riza back, I’d be willing to accept his request of meeting me. Let him discuss that matter with me as a man to a man,” he clenched his fist he wore the Order ring on. His eyes shimmered like the ones of a hawk from behind his glasses. “But let him be sure – I am not giving up on my children so easily. The only way for him to settle things with me is a fist to a fist”.

All of the friends, including Riza’s mother Danielle, were stunned – so this was the true face of Edmund Jaeger! A fierce and protective leader of the Rose Cruce…

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