The Banqueted Panorama: Garland's Departure

A Joyous Outing
The newly-risen sun cast a shade of yellow from the quaint skies below the city of London. An open-top tour bus cruised the streets of a festive town, crowded with tourists along with mere joy-seekers, and upon its roof a young woman was seated, distancing herself from the chatty passengers beside her with a melodious pair of headphones, her lavender eyes sealed before the passing scenery. A faint smile graced her lips at the thought of venturing on her own, a rare opportunity under the care and protection of a certain high-standing covenant of hers.

As a hand reached to grab at her shoulder, the woman lowered her headphones and faced a cloaked man standing closely beside her. “Hm?” she asked, feigning an innocent smile.

The man closed his eyes, clearly containing his annoyance. “Are we there yet, Young Master?” he groaned.

The woman huffed in mild annoyance. “Oh, be quiet! Why do you think I'm still here?”

“But, Young Master, I must—”

“My name is Garland,” the woman interjected.

The cloaked man furrowed his eyebrows. “Young Master Garland, my impression was that you would be merely sightseeing before sunrise. The covenant has no doubt taken notice of your absence. And to think I was tasked to ensure your safety. Oh, I shudder at every conceivable consequence to follow!”

Garland chuckled. “Don't be such a baby. I'll only be a moment longer anyway.”

The cloaked man gave Garland a blank expression. “If I then may ask, Young Master, what are your intentions?”

“Didn't I say it before? I'm giving Ichchha a birthday gift.”

“It's the master's birthday!?” the cloaked man gasped. “Why did I not hear of this?”

Garland placed a finger on her chin as she mused to herself, “is yellow her favorite color? What sort of fabric does she prefer?”

The cloaked man gave Garland an unamused look. “I mean no disrespect, Young Master, but I do not believe the master would react favorably to such a shallow offering. Might I suggest—”

“And besides,” Garland continued, ignoring her companion, “have you seen her wear anything other than that dated outfit? Change is in order! Don't you agree?”

The cloaked man glanced at his own choice of attire. “No… No, I do not.”

Garland shrugged her shoulders before standing upright, a subtle smile illuminating her visage. “A dress… It'll be something intricate—flowery. I'll find something with yellow, just to be safe. I know she'll like it.”

More than a leader and a woman of great power, Ichchha was to Garland a mother and an inspiration. It was thanks to Ichchha's kindness that Garland found a home in Diluculum Aeternus and solace from her formerly isolated childhood. This was all despite her ties to the woman no doubt the covenant's greatest threat along with every Nefas left alive in the aftermath of the genocide.

With an energetic leap and a conspicuous exertion of energy to soften her landing, Garland disembarked as the tour bus passed by a crowded plaza with her guardian following meekly behind her.

“Might I suggest a bit more discretion next time, Young Master?” the cloaked man murmured, referring to Garland's blatant use of her powers.

But in truth, Garland's display of supernatural capabilities hardly earned her a few stares. England in its entirety had become well accustomed to the mavericks of Diluculum Aeternus for centuries following the passing of Silvio da Parma, the hero of France and the pioneer of the covenant's foundation. With a chance to venture on her own, Garland could finally appreciate being looked upon by common denizens as though she were among them—as powerless as they were. No longer in her mind was she isolated within a world she did not belong.

Garland acknowledged her guardian's comment with a wave of her hand before stepping into a busy boutique, frolicking through various displays like a curious child whilst her guardian stood uncomfortably at a distance.

“What about this?” Garland asked as she held up an ensemble comprised of a low-cut shirt and torn jeans.

The cloaked man placed a palm over his face. “Young Master, was it not a dress you were looking for?”

Garland held up a frilly, short-skirt pink dress. “Well, then… what about this?”

The cloaked man sighed. “Was it not to be something in yellow, Young Master? And wouldn't you call that a tad revealing?”

Garland held up a slender, intricate yellow dress. “Well, then… what about THIS?”

The cloaked man shook his head. “I believe that would be a tad tight around the chest.”

Garland blinked curiously. “Say… what are Ichchha's exact measurements?”

“If you must know, she is—” the cloaked man abruptly paused, flushing red with embarrassment. “No... NO, I do not know.”

As sunset approached, Garland leapt gleefully from building to building on her way back home with a box containing her chosen outfit. Her guardian, as always, remained closely behind her.

“Young Master,” the cloaked man breathed, barely able to keep pace with his energetic master, “may I again advise against using your power so brazenly?”

“You're doing it, too!” Garland retorted.

“How else can you expect me to keep an eye on you!?”

“Keep an eye on me? You and I both know you're just afraid of getting scolded by Ichchha!”

“As should you be, Garland.”

And before the frantic Garland could spot the source of the voice that had just spoken to her, she was caught midair by the arm of none other than the founder of Diluculum Aeternus herself.

“Oh, um… Ichchha! How's it going?” As Garland looked up to meet Ichchha's stern eye, she managed a wide, nervous grin.

Ichchha responded to Garland's apologetic expression with a sigh of shame before turning her attention to the cloaked man. “Well, then, I'm assuming this calls for some exotic explanation.”

The cloaked man swiftly kowtowed. “P—Please, master, this was all merely—”

“I got you a birthday present!” Garland cheekily interrupted, holding the box up to Ichchha's face.

Ichchha stared blanked at the gift. “A birthday… present? Is it my birthday already?”

“Really, Ichchha?” Garland chuckled.

Ichchha blushed slightly before unhanding Garland. “Well, I've been so active of late, it's just… hard to keep count of the days that pass. Is that all you've been running amuck today for?”

Garland nodded.

Ichchha let out a sigh before accepting the gift. “Thank you, Garland. Now could you please return to our sanctuary? We have something to discuss, if you'll wait for me there.”

“Right away, Ma'am!” And with that, Garland continued on her way without another word.

A Resolute Farewell
The moon lit the sky by the time Garland returned to her room within the 'sanctuary' of Diluculum Aeternus, waiting half-asleep on her bed. The sanctuary was a massive, multi-floored building shaped like a grand mansion, surrounded by an expansive garden tended to by Diluculum Aeternus' leaders themselves. The regal architecture of the mansion was no less impressive. Spiraling pillars lined against the russet walls of the wide hallways. The beige, marble-tiled flooring complimented the ceiling patterned with the covenant's insignia. Children prancing about the spacious halls and helpers cleaning every corner of the sanctuary with sorcery were among the most common sights.

Garland abruptly awoke to the sound of familiar footsteps from two individuals approaching her room. Before she could approach the door, the footsteps suddenly ceased, and a discussion began.