"What took you so long, Blanc?" started Sera, "I have to sit here all day, writing and signing documents for Father, teaching the little ones about everything, and you do what? Go hunting? Enjoy your life? While I rot in this place waiting to get married and be given away like a golden goose?"
"What a joy it is to hear your lovely voice, dear Sister," smiled Blanc, "But not to worry, I have a few bones to pick with you later. Look forward to enough entertainment to last four lifetimes."
"What do you -" started Sera, but stopped as one of the Matriarchs stood up.
"My dear boy," started Mera, Blanc and Sera's Birth Mother, "tell this mother of yours. How was the hunt? Did Kael succeed in harvesting Raw Vita?"
"Unfortunately, not, the stag proved to be more resilient than expected. And to ensure that Kael would not suffer any injuries in subduing the beast, I killed it and harvested it for myself."
"I see, well, that's a pity," said Auren, Valar, and the twins' Birth Mother.
But Kael wasn't present in their conversation, "And then Blanc's arrow pierced the heart of the stag, killing him just like that!"
"Wow… and then?" asked Lune, entranced by the story.
"KAEL!" yelled Sera, "your mother is speaking to you."
"Ah!" yelped Kael, both he and Lune scared by the sudden screaming, "What is it?" he asked, looking at his mother, who now, as well, was on her feet.
"A shame that you didn't manage to hunt your first Raw Vita, but do not get discouraged, more opportunities will arise in the future," comforted Auren, with a warm smile.
"Well said, sister," said Mera, "Your son is as gifted as the High Monarch itself," trying to comfort her wife-sister.
They were not blood-related after all. They were daughters of Noble Bloods, yet until 25 years ago, they barely knew each other.
Yet now, they were sisters. Sharing the same husband and duties.
"Yes mothers," nodded Kael, as he straightened his back, looking above their heads, "I will make sure to not disappoint your expectations in the future."
"Good," both sisters said in unison with a light nod.
"Was the screaming all that necessary?" asked Blanc.
"Hm," scoffed Sera, "they act like hearing is a difficult task. So, of course, I had to scream, otherwise, Mother Auren would still be waiting for a response from him."
"Next time you do it, I will make sure a tooth will be missing from your beautiful smile," added Blanc, with a smile on his face that ensured his threat was not a joke at all.
"Blanc, stop this nonsense this instant!" ordered Mera.
And he obeyed, giving a quick bow together with his response, "As the matriarch commands,"
"And you, Sera," started Auren, "If you are ever to be a mother, you need to tame this beast that stirs inside you."
"Yes…" muttered Sera, suddenly obedient.
Blanc knew his older sister's schemes, all her weak points, as well as her greatest abilities.
She was an angry dog barking at everything that moved. Always complaining about the smallest things.
But they were all an act to get what she wanted. For she was twenty already, yet not even the wind tried to court her.
She was beautiful, with dark gray eyes and black hair that seemed like it could swallow the sun itself, which she took after Mera, who was considered, at one point, to be one of the Jewels of the Senvia Empire.
So, Sera was considered more than beautiful, but her outbursts were known throughout the Empire, scaring potential suitors from even thinking of marrying her.
So, the mention of a marriage prospect would make her say yes to more or less anything, or make her obedient.
Blanc knew this and refused to use it. Because it was not like he hated his sister. He did not wish to use her weak point against her.
Yet, this was not the first time he wanted to slap that anger away from her.
"Is there anything else that is required of us?" asked Blanc, wishing to leave and retreat to his room as soon as possible.
"Yes, there is one more thing that needs to be talked about until your father and brother return," said Auren, "Lune dear, come, take a seat." she motioned for Lune to join them at the table as a maid, one of Drew's daughters, brought a chair for her.
Auren, just like Mera, was a beautiful woman, both her features and face, something only seen once in ancient books when people described Goddesses.
Auren always had a gentle heart, as kind and warm as a summer wind, even to the rest of the children, not just her own.
Yet, she was strong, and so was Blanc's mother. He never found out how strong they were, but one thing was clear to him.
Even if he were to absorb double as much Raw Vita as he did until now, he would not be able to defeat one of them.
"Yes, mother," nodded Lune, coming to the table in a light skip, her curiosity now satisfied by Kael's earlier story.
"Things have… happened in the last few days," started Auren, "And because of these things, our Blood as well as our standing is in danger," She paused, her expression tightening before she continued, "In such times, there are difficult, very difficult decisions to be made. And believe me, it breaks both mine and Mera's hearts, as well as your father's, to make them."
"What is this all about?" asked Blanc, panic crawling in his mind.
Mera inhaled as she got ready to speak, "Both Sera and Lune are to be married for alliances."
"What?" replied all four of the siblings in unison.
Blanc moved closer, putting his hands on the table near Lune, "I understand, Sera, but Lune? She is only eight for Vita's sake. Who in their right mind would marry or want to marry a child?"
"Mom…" said Lune, as tears began swelling in her eyes, "I don't want to leave home, I don't want to leave any of you, so why?"
"Mothers, if I may," began Kael, but couldn't get the words out as tears started escaping his eyes.
"And what is your problem, Blanc? So ready to get yourself rid of me?" asked Sera.
"Believe me, I would give half an arm for this to be the last time I lay eyes upon you and your poisoned mouth, but this is not the FUCKING TIME!" said Blanc as he raised his voice, and hit the table with both hands as hard as he could.
"You damn brat," muttered Sera as he got up from her seat.
Seeing this, Lune as well as Kael began crying, their cries now a sad tune for anyone to hear. It most surely broke everyone's heart. But not one of them came close to the destruction that was left of Blanc's heart.
"Come here, you too," Blanc said, kneeling to hug Lune as he motioned for Kael to join them. And so he did, both their heads now buried deep in Blanc's shoulder.
"I don't want Lune to leave us… to leave me," said Kael through uncontrollable sniffing.
"Everything will be alright, let your Big Brother solve this one," replied Blanc before giving both of them a small kiss on their foreheads as he got up.
While all of this happened, everyone present remained silent, their eyes locked onto the scene before them.
Since Lune and Kael's birth, they could never comfort them better than Blanc did. Nobody understood why they were so attached to him, nor why he loved them so dearly.
"And how do you plan on stopping this from happening?" asked Mera.
"Please, I want to hear as well," replied a voice from behind Blanc.
"Patriarch," replied Drew, before him, and everyone around, including a still weeping Lune and Kael, took a deep bow towards the Patriarch of Blood Denegis, Elion Denegis, and the heir of the Blood, Valar Denegis.
"Fuck…" thought Blanc to himself, as he, bowed the deepest.