"Hey, is there any food left for me?" Someone called out from the entrance of the cave; I turned and saw Arthur with Sylvie on his head.
"Big Brother!" Ellie shouted as she got up and ran to him.
"Hey, El." Arthur said as he embraced Ellie, all of us then made our way over and joined in on the hug. This was our first family hug in forever, I don't even remember the last time we did this. "It's good to see you all."
"Are you okay?" My mother asked Arthur.
"I'm fine, mom." Arthur smiled at her weirdly as we all separated from each other, then this pressure washed over all of us, it froze my entire family except for Arthur and I. We all turned and went wide eyed, it was Windsom. He looked as stoic as ever, I could see his galaxy eyes from here. "Windsom, can you hide your aura more?" The asura nodded his head. "Everyone, this is the person who save me, and will be my teacher."
"Master Windsom." Elder Rinia bowed from behind, Windsom just nodded his head.
"Your teacher?" My mother asked. "Actually, you are probably tired, how about we sit by the fire, and I'll get you a plate of food."
"That sounds good." Arthur smiled, and then turned to me. "We have to talk, Veer."
"They already know." I knew what he was talking about, if I had to guess Claire told him. I gave him a meaningful look. "I'm sorry, I kept it from you."
"What are you talking about?" Windsom spoke for the first time, and it sent shivers down my spine.
Arthur spoke. "He is a Blood Deviant." Windsom's face didn't change, but I think he was surprised.
As we walked toward the fire, Windsom looked at me. "You have the ability to control people's blood?"
"Yeah." I answered as I sat down next to Ellie.
"I've never heard of that ability before." Windsom now looked at me with curiosity, and I noticed that in his coat he was holding something. Oh my god, it was baby Boo. I couldn't see him, but this was where Ellie got him.
"How does it work?" Arthur asked as he sat next to my mother.
"Well, I can connect with people's blood, and basically do whatever I want with it." I watched as Arthur ate the food my mother got him. "I can rip blood out of people, control limbs, disrupt mana, and there is blood healing."
"Wow." Arthur said simply. "Does anyone else know?"
"I'm sure after the attack, a lot of people know, I was using it left and right, but Elder Virion knew. I told him when I was in Elenoir."
"What do you mean disrupt mana?" Windsom asked curiously, it seemed like the asura found me interesting.
"I can make it so a mage can't use magic." I told him straight up. "I disrupt the mana around their core, and then block off mana from traveling anywhere, preventing them from using magic."
"That's incredible." Arthur said with a tired smile. "I can't believe you have a power like that."
"Me neither, actually." As Windsom spoke, I felt for the blood in his body and connected to it. I couldn't control it though; he was too strong.
"I heard what you did to Lucas." Arthur smiled at me. "You did good, Veer, from what I heard you were a big reason why more people survived."
"Thanks, Arthur." I sent him a smile back. "I would have won, if I didn't use all mana in the fights earlier." I paused for a second and then continued. "Do you know who on the Disciplinary Committee was helping them?"
"If I had to guess, Kai." I nodded my head. "What happened to him? Did somebody stop him?"
I looked down at the ground. "I-I killed him." The cave went silent, it was hard to say out loud that I killed someone. "He killed Doradrea."
"Oh my god, Veer." My mom's voice had sorrow in it.
"I'm fine, it had to be done." I looked up at Arthur.
"I'm sorry you had to deal with that, Veer."
I shook my head. "It's not your fault." I paused and then laughed. "Haha."
"What's so funny?" Ellie asked from beside me.
"The leaders name was Draneeve, he absolutely destroyed Theodore in a fight in front of the whole school, but after he did it, I walked up and challenged him. I lost control over myself and thought that I could actually take him on in a fight." I looked at Arthur. "He made Lucas look like a red core mage."
"Veer." Ellie said my name calmly.
"I challenged this man and attempted to piss him off." I tilted my head with a smile. "I did piss him off, it was so easy."
"Is Theodore alive?" Arthur asked wearily as he looked at me.
"I think so." I didn't actually know; I was unconscious as well. "Draneeve was the one who took Elijah."
"I know." Arthur spoke. "I was informed by the council."
"He was the one that broke the barrier." Elijah was now officially Nico. "How was it meeting Lance Varay in person? I heard she was the strongest Lance." I tried to break the sad mood in the air.
"It was pretty much what you would aspect meeting a Lance, she was powerful and gave off a sense of confidence with every step." I couldn't wait to meet her; she'll be at the Floating Castle. "She definitely felt like the strongest Lance there, she stopped Sylv with a swing of her hand."
"Kyu!" Sylvie said from the top of Arthur's head.
Windsom looked at Arthur and gave him a let's go look. "Elder Rinia, is there some place private I could talk to my mom and dad?" Elder Rinia pointed at the door to her house. "Mom, dad, we have to talk."
I told myself that I needed to stop this, but I feel like Arthur needs this to push him to get stronger. There were other ways to save my father, this felt like something I couldn't interrupt, even though it will totally change my plans. If I took this moment away from them, it may be worse in the future.
"Oh, okay." My mom and dad followed Arthur into Elder Rinia's home and closed the door. It was now Ellie, Elder Rinia, Windsom, and I. Why was the atmosphere so awkward? Is it because no one knows what to talk about?
Is this the right call? If he tells them, my father and mother will join the war, if he doesn't, Arthur won't develop as much as a character. "Shit." I said out loud as I was trying to decide. It was probably too late now anyways.
"What?" Ellie asked from next to me.
"It's nothing." I looked up at Elder Rinia, and she shook her head.
"Your Blood Magic, can you use it on me?" Windsom spoke up with his godly voice.
"I can feel your blood, but since you have a stronger core than me, at best, I could probably control a limb for a mere second." I answered him honestly.
"It's base of your core then?" He gave me a knowing look. "If your core is higher than someone, the more control you had over their blood." I nodded my head, surprised he figured that out. "If someone with your abilities gets to white core, I can't imagine what you would be able to do."
"Pretty much the same things now." I chimed in.
"That's not true, even when you get to silver core, more abilities should be unlocked, since you will have more control over mana." I didn't think of it like that, I just thought I would be stronger with the spells I got. "You have the potential to become one of the strongest lessers." There it is, I was wondering when he was going to call someone a lesser.
"I hope." I answered as I looked toward Elder Rinia's home. "Windsom, how long is my brother leaving?"
"What?! Arthur is leaving! He just got back!" Ellie exclaimed, and I looked at Windsom.
"How do you kn--." He stopped talking and then went on. "A couple of years, before an unfortunate event starts." He's only gone for two years, I wonder what would have happened if he was there the whole time he was supposed to be, and I appreciate him trying not to say war, but come on.
"What!" Ellie still was upset. "I don't want Arthur to be gone for years!" Windsom didn't know how to respond to her.
"Ellie, he has to go doesn't he." I rested a hand on her shoulder. "It's because a war is coming, isn't that, right?"
"Yes." Windsom answered me, I'm happy he found me interesting.
"War?" Ellie looked at me. "With whom?"
"The other continent." I told her. "They are the ones who attack Xyrus." Agrona's plan is pretty darn amazing, if I didn't already know it, there would be no way to figure it out. My plan, hopefully, will counter his plan, I didn't really know though.
"And Arthur is going to fight in it?" Ellie asked with a sad tone of voice, I did the opposite shit! Little did she know that I was going to be fighting in it.
I placed my arm around Ellie. "Our brother is going to be fine, that's why he is going with Windsom here, so stop your whining big sister." I sent her a smile, as we made eye contact.
Ellie pushed me of the stone seat I was sitting on. "I'm not whining, and I know he'll be fine!"
I raised my arms up in defense. "There was no need for the shove, I was just trying to make you feel better."
"That's my job as your big sister!" She pouted and looked away.
"Hahaha." Elder Rinia laughed. "Sibling love is a fascinating thing."
"It is indeed." Windsom affirmed.
About thirty minutes later, Arthur and my father came walking out. Arthur didn't have an expression on his face, he just looked emotionless. My father seemed okay, but I could tell he was holding something back.
"El, Veer, go in with your mother." My father told us, and then started to walk down a tunnel in the cave.
"Arthur?" Ellie said, as she stood up. He sent Ellie a smile, then followed my dad.
"Let them go." I stood up as well and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Go make sure mom is okay."
"What are you going to do?" Ellie turned to me.
I looked at Elder Rinia as she was observing us, then too Ellie. "I'll be in there in a few."
"Okay." Ellie made her way into Elder Rinia's home. I stood and waited for Arthur and my father to come back.
Elder Rinia and Windsom were quiet, Arthur was going to be leaving, I wanted to say goodbye, and make sure he knew something.
Windsom got up and walked over to Elder Rinia. "This is a gift for the Leywin family." He handed her something, which I knew was Boo. I just ignored them and looked at the tunnel, waiting for them to come back.
"Oh my." Elder Rinia exclaimed. "This is --."
Arthur came walking out of the tunnel, and I walked to him. "Arthur." I said, as I stared at his expressionless face, that if I didn't know what just happened, it would worry me.
"Veer, I thought dad." He paused for a second, like that word dad hurt to say. "I thought you were told to go make sure mom was okay." I got closer to Arthur and hugged him. "Veer?" He said questioningly, as he wrapped his arms around me.
"Arthur listen to me." I said, pulling back away from the hug and looking up at him. "I don't know exactly what happened, but I can tell something is wrong." I sent him a smile. "Brother, you're leaving aren't you."
"Yes." He answered plainly.
"Then don't forget, no matter what has happened here today, we are all still a family. You will always be my big brother that I want to surpass, and you will always have my support. I read somewhere that when people are feeling lost in the world, thinking about your family is a good way to feel better. So, when you're gone, just think about us." He walked up and hugged me again, I never considered telling my family who I used to be, because in my old life I only lived really for eight years, and then my last two years I was in bed the whole time. Arthur is feeling not betrayed but hurt right now. I wasn't the best at making people feel better, but I think I did an alright job here. "I'll see you again."
"Thank you." He let go of me. "Stay safe, Veer."
"I will, don't worry." I didn't know if that was true or not. "You as well, big brother." He walked back to the fire, and I walked further down the tunnel. I was happy I got to say goodbye to him but being here in this moment felt so wrong. "Dad." I said as I found him standing against the wall, crying slightly. "Are you alright."
"What are you doing here, I thought I told you to check on your mother." I leaned against the wall right in front of him.
"Ellie did, I decided to check up on you and Arthur." He started to wipe away his tears, trying to act stronger in front of me. "You don't need to explain anything, but I just wanted to make sure you were okay"
"I'm." He paused. "I'm fine, did they leave?" I nodded my head, I assume by the time we walk back, Arthur and Windsom won't be there.
"We should go back, dad." I told him truthfully, being around mom and Ellie will help him. It hurt me to see my family divided like this. "Come on." I grabbed his hand and pulled him with me.
He picked up the pace and placed an arm around my shoulders. "Veer, you aren't hiding anything from us?" He said wearily, as he looked down on me. "Never mind, I rather not know if you are." My secrets will only hurt him more, and there is little reason to tell him.
We returned back and Arthur wasn't there, it was sad to see my brother gone, but I knew he had to go. My mother and Ellie were still in the house. "Mr. Leywin." Elder Rinia called out to him as we got closer. "Please take this."
We walked closer, and my father reached out his hands toward her. "What is it?" His eyes went wide as he looked the mana beast in the face. It was Boo, he was like a baby cub. "Is this---."
"It's a gift from Master Windsom." Elder Rinia spoke kindly, knowing that my father was going through something right now.
"This a mana beast." My father spoke as he held Boo, I saw the door open to Elder Rinia's home, and backed away from Boo. It was Ellie's bond in the novel, and it will stay like that.
Ellie looked at me, and then at father. "What's going on?" She walked up, and as my father turned toward her, my sister's face lit up as she saw Boo. "Oh my god, he is adorable!" That's when I noticed Ellie's and Boo's eyes light up like they were making a bond, and then disappeared.
"What just happe---?" My father was cut off by Elder Rinia.
"Looks like they formed a bond."
Ellie reached up and took the bear away from my father. "He is so stinking cute!" My father and Elder Rinia laughed a little. I looked over at Elder Rinia's home, I want to make sure my mom is okay. I know she isn't, but maybe my presence will ease her a little.
"Be careful." My father said.
"I'll call him Boo!" She exclaimed.
"Boo?" Elder Rinia and my father said questioningly.
I laughed a little and started to make my way into the house. "I'm going to check on mom."
"She was starting to calm down when I came out." Ellie told me as she held Boo up, looking at them together does make me want to have a bond. Arthur had Sylvie, Ellie now has Boo, and I got myself.
I opened the door and sitting on the couch was my mother. I could tell she was crying, because tear drop lines rain down her face, her hair was a mess, and she didn't look well. "Veer..." She said my name, as I got closer.
"Hey, mom." I sat down on the couch next to her and rested my head on her. "Arthur left." She flinched when I said his name.
"Oh." She wrapped her hand around me and hugged me from the side.
"Everything is going to be alright, mom." I told her as we continued to hug, I could feel a tear fall on my head. Shit, I made her cry again. "Don't cry, mom."
She just continued to sniffle, I felt bad for her, but Arthur is her son, she'll understand that eventually, I don't want to force it.
We just sat there in silence and hugged. "How about we go outside around the fire with dad and Ellie."
"Sure..." She said, and we got up and made our way out, we held each other's hands the whole time. We walked out, and my father shot to his feet.
"Are you feeling better?" He took mom from me, and I made my way over to Ellie and Boo.
"A little." She responded.
"Look mom!" Ellie held up the bear. "His name is Boo!"
"Boo?" My mother turned to my father, he shrugged.
I sat down next to Ellie. "Can I pet Boo?"
"Of course." Boo turned to me with a dull expression on his face, and I started to rub the top of his head. He was adorable at the moment, not as much when he grows up. "Isn't he cute?!"
"He is." I smiled at the bear, as my parents sat down with Elder Rinia.
"When can we leave?" Ellie asked as she continued to be mesmerized by Boo. "If Arthur is safe now, isn't everything cleared up?"
"When Elder Virion comes back, little one." Elder Rinia affirmed her. "Which reminds me, Virion, I would like to speak with you alone if possible."
I gave her a confused expression. "Alright?"
"Come with me." I got up from the seat I had just sat in and followed her into the house I had just made my way out of. "Sit anywhere." Elder Rinia took the one seater, so I sat down on the big couch. "Veer, a war is coming, I know you know this already."
"Yeah." I said wearily, weirded out by the start of this conversation.
"Virion, if you want to do what you desire, you will need to do one thing." She told me straight faced.
"You know, what you are doing would scare kids my age."
"Maybe, but it doesn't scare you." She sent me a smile. "Veer, I am going to give you advice, like I did for Arthur." She stopped and went back to having a serious expression. "You must abandon your old beliefs, or nothing you wish to happen will."
"Abandon my old beliefs?" I said questioningly.
"The only hope for Dicathen's survival lays with the Leywin brothers."
What does she mean, abandon my beliefs?
"Virion, just like your brother, the road ahead of you will be rough, but you must push through it." I knew that already; I was going to be fighting in a war.
"I figured, can't you shed a little more light?"
She shook her head. "Don't be afraid of the dark."
"What am I to you, one?" I said jokingly, and then got serious. "I understand, Elder Rinia, I'll remember your words." I stood up. "Is that all?"
"Little one, aren't you worried, or confused?"
"I've been preparing for this for a while, of course I'm worried, but I'm ready." I started to walk out. "Can you tell me if I actually change anything?"
"You will change this world." She got up. "For better or worse, that's up to you, and what you do." I took in her words, even though they didn't shed much light on me, besides I need to abandon my old beliefs. "You will be one of the legacies." I froze as I held the door handle.
"What?" I said slowly as I turned around.
"Nothing." She smiled and waved me to open the door.
I will be a legacy? What did that even mean? We walked out of her house, and I sent a smile to my mother who was looking at me. "Are you okay?" I wanted to shout no, but I couldn't for her sake.
"Yeah, mom." I told her as I sat back down next to Ellie, Boo was asleep in her arms. "He is cute."
"I know, right!"
Footsteps could be heard in the distance coming our way. We all watched as Elder Virion came walking into view.
"Elder Virion." My parents stood up.
"Mr. and Mrs. Leywin, it's time for you to leave this cave." He stared at Boo. "We are going to the Floating Castle."