The Sun was gone long ago letting the starry veil of the night take over the sky. The weather was surprisingly clear tonight, unlike the previous night in which the dark clouds never wavered from their spot, roaring high up in the sky and keeping the raindrops falling the whole night.
Under this starry sky, there stood a wooden mansion which had the craftsmanship quite fitting for the nobles of the countryside to be residing in it. The dining table was adorned with many deliciously luxurious dishes. The reason for that was, the Lord and the Lady have guests over tonight.
In the living area of the seemingly luxurious mansion, Lord Valerius and his old friend sat facing each other taking bites of the delicious cuisine prepared by Lady Sophia herself, embracing the nostalgia from the past with smiles of fulfillment on their faces.
The old friend in question was a very trusted acquaintance of Lord Valerius for which they shared a past with both happiness and hardships with each other.
"Umm.. I've got to say this",The golden-brown haired man sat facing Lord Valerius seemingly enjoying the best of his meal, he said turning his head towards Lady Sophia who was standing beside her husband, "This is the best meal I've had in a long time."
"Please! Lord Victor" The lady replied with a subtle smile, "you give me too much credit."
"I say the truth" Victor replied, looking at his friend Lord Valerius for approval, "Isn't that right, My Lord?"
"Sure" Lord Valerius replied with a chuckle, "Well, what can I say? I married the best of all."
The cheeks of Lady Sophia grew a shade of pink after being subtly praised by her husband.
"That is indeed true" Victor said before helping himself to more of the delicious food.
— — —
Someplace far at the dinner table August sat watching this whole conversation between his parents and their guest. Well, he would've enjoyed this light hearted talk too, if this whole ordeal hadn't turned out like this for him.
His father was gone for a while, August only knew he was heading to the capital city and that today was the day of his return. As it turned out his father wasn't the only one coming back from the capital. His old friend, or as August knew him, Uncle Victor was also with his father who came from the capital in order to pay their family a visit. Which was quite fine actually, uncle Victor was a kind man with a good attitude.
For what August could remember from Lord Victor's visit from the past, he was someone August could actually get along well with. Uncle Victor always treated him nicely. Not to mention the gifts he brought along with him the last time he visited.
Uncle Victor was serving as a professor in one of the many prestigious academies at Capital City of Crownspire. From what August could remember about him, he had been serving there quite a while for now, up to the point that he had gained the seniority enough to be the director of the academy. Just because he wasn't a skilled mage or a warrior, the higher ups in the association were getting in his way of promotion.
But now when he had served for more than ten years faithfully, even they couldn't do anything about him becoming the director of the academy.
Well, this was the political stuff August had some information about, but he was genuinely happy that Uncle Victor had come to celebrate this occasion of happiness with them. This small gesture clearly showed the importance of the bond of friendship between Lord Victor and his father.
Eating his meal in silence, August took a sneaky glance at the rest of the guests.
Here they were, the supposedly noble siblings according to his earlier encounter with them of course. The polite, silver haired princess and her polar opposite twin brother sat on the dinner table beside Uncle Victor whom August failed to recognize as his children, earlier.
The girl named Marianne sat exactly as she was expected of, elegant and gracefully. On the other hand, her brother who came as quite a warrior to August earlier was behaving completely opposite of the version August met with.
For August however, this whole dinner became a bit awkward. Not like he harboured any feeling of resentment towards the young noble for striking him at the back of his head earlier, which was still aching …but nevermind. If anything, he was happy to have guests over after a long time. He wanted to have a proper conversation with these people too and make new friends but for some reason he was hesitant to take the first step.
August realised he had been staring at the girl quite a while for now, he immediately turned his gaze aside feeling a sense of embarrassment.
'What am I doing? Others will think I am bewildered by her beauty or something'
Then he returned to his food, after a moment when he lifted his head, suddenly his gaze met with the sharp and cold gaze of the boy Damian. Turning away August wondered what could he have possibly done to earn the hostility of this young noble even after their talks ended on a good note.
'I think I should go to bed'
"Ah, young Lord" August looked at Victor after hearing him call, "Forgive my rudeness please" for a moment August became the centre of attraction of all the eyes inside the room, " Your father and I go way back so, we had to catch up on a lot. But I think I am being too much of a stranger to you, no? Do you remember …Ah, silly me how could you. Obviously, you were too young to remember me at that time."
"No need for the formalities uncle Victor" August spoke before the guest whom he already knew had reintroduced himself, "May it be vaguely or in a hazy memory. I can't possibly forget the person who had given me an expensive relic as a birthday present."
Indeed, there was a relic that had the presence of a historical antique, that may very well be connected to the Fallen era —which was casually gifted by Lord Victor to August as a birthday present. Just because the relic was of use to a wide range of elemental aspects, August had hopes that one day when he would have a core element, the relic would naturally become a belonging of a great importance to him.
Alas! Fate has other plans for him. Lord Victor shared no blame for this though. It wasn't like he knew that August was destined to be an ambivalent and would suffer through the pain his whole life.
He gifted that to August as a sign of goodwill of course.
August also brought the issue of the relic matter of factly. Not like he was trying to make Lord Victor feel guilty for mocking his sorry state. Anything but that. August didn't even know if Victor was aware of his ambivalence. So how could he possibly blame him. If anything August was afraid of the response of Uncle Victor at his words which he had spoken without giving much of a thought. He feared, talking about the relic might make Victor ask about his elemental aspects and that would absolutely make him feel guilty for the gift he gave August.
"Oh! That?" Victor replied, keeping his politeness, "Compared to you. It's really nothing" before speaking the next words his smile grew wider, "I am indeed touched that you remembered this old man though."
Well, this was true that Victor was somewhat older than his father, but surprisingly, looks and the personality of the man seemed to betray his age. His skin was smooth, devoid of any wrinkles or lines that should've normally come with age. And the suit he was wearing complimented his youthful look well. With the looks of a man in his twenties added with the
August didn't reply to this harmless joke of his father he had made himself. All he did was give a playful smile.
His parents also let out a chuckle or two. He even heard a small glint of humour from Victor's daughter Marianne. And his Son, he seemed to be eating his food in silence.
"Oh! I've been informed that you've already met in the town?" Victor said carrying ahead the conversation, he looked at both of his kids one by one, "...and I don't know how you two behaved towards the young Lord" Victor waved his hand dismissively, "Forget about that interaction. Augustus, meet my children. Marianne and Damian, they both are the same age as you. So try to become good friends alright."
During his way back with the Fiona siblings August there were many awkward moments for him but he also got to know about them a lot. Like, they were twins, therefore the same age. He did talk about the other things too but there were some things he figured out by himself too.
August looked at both of his guests receiving a warm and gentle smile from the girl and an expression mixed with anger, guilt and …bit of a fear from the boy as well. He immediately figured the guilt of Damian must be the moment of a friendly smack he delivered to August, therefore he already feared that August might tell his father about the incident which would obviously put him in a difficult position.
The one emotion in his eyes in this moment August wasn't able to make a sense out of was a hint of anger.
'What could he possibly be mad about?'
He did hit August without thinking though.
Contrary to what Damian feared August gave out a pleasant smile and spoke genuinely continuing the polite tone of Uncle Victor,
"And I am Augustus. Nice to meet you two."
After that the mood became lighter, the interactions became lively and the conversation became interesting. The night passed slowly.
After dinner, children left for bed leaving the adults to relive their moments of past in a conversation filled with jokes and laughter.
August headed out followed by the siblings as Damian helped his sister with the wheelchair. That was something, August felt heartwarming. Watching a beautiful bond between brother and sister. Something he wandered about for a long time today.
What would it be like to have a brother or sister? To be with someone who had known you since birth. All August was able to gather, was the feeling of …loneliness.
Waving the unnecessary thoughts away, August turned towards his guest as they reached the stairs. Now was the time to ask the question he was so reluctant to ask.
Honestly, he was so preoccupied with his thoughts he almost failed to take the wheelchair of Miss Marianne into account.
The question was, how were they supposed to climb the stairs to reach their bedrooms at the floor above along with the wheelchair of the guest. August hated the kind of talk which pointed out someone's insecurities and he did know for a fact that Miss Marianne's inability to walk happens to be her biggest insecurity. He did read into the calm and cheerful expressions of his beautiful, polite and cheerful guest that the things weren't how she was trying to portray them to be.
He had read the facial expressions of many people and no one could be this much calm and collected. Not all cheerful at all times. August knew that she was forcing herself. To smile, to remain as though oblivious to all the problems. And on top of all that she was doing it for the sake of others.
August found out that the beautiful face of hers was giving away the impression of a person who had matured beyond her age. He knew that for a fact because she reminded him of someone. Not because of the maturity but because of hiding the pain beneath the smile.
Of himself.
He also was hiding the pain of echoes assaulting him from his parents after all.
— — — — —