Loki explained everything that happened regarding Raven to Mars. Hearing Loki's words, the latter couldn't help but slowly shake his head. Indeed, he too was pierced by the jarring words of their fellow students, but he still had to maintain composure to avoid unnecessary drama. And now, Raven had done nothing but attract further unwanted attention to herself, while also putting her academics on the line for the sake of fleeting words.
"That girl really lacks self-control," Mars eventually said, heaving out a deep sigh. His steps then picked up, and once again, they continued their journey back to the castle. Loki had to stop himself from asking what was on the latter's mind. As much as he wanted to pry, he knew now wasn't the time to be a bother.
Upon making it to the entrance and stepping into the castle, they quickly made their way to their mother's chambers to see how she was doing. They were certain that the news Raven brought home with her wouldn't sit right with their mother, so they decided to have a word with her, hoping it would clear some of the tension.
Opening the doors of Vivian's chambers, they walked into the opulent space, and closed the doors behind them. They covered the distance to her bed, standing beside it as they looked down at their mother with somber expressions.
"Greetings, mother. How are you feeling today? I hope you are good?" Mars started off, his tone cordial, with an underlying hint of anxiety.
Vivian stared at Mars from a while, let out a heavy sigh, and took a sip from the glass cup placed on the table beside her bed. Her movements were graceful, but they did little to hid the hurricane brewing beneath. Her hands trembled as they grasped the glass cup, the luminescent liquid vibrating intensely within.
"Why didn't you stop her?" Was the first thing she said, her blank gaze amassing a harsh wave of intensity as it remained locked on Mars. "You could've held her back. Knocked some sense into her even, but you just let what happened happened. I'm sure if you'd interfered, Raven wouldn't be in this current mess. She wouldn't be suspended from the academy.
"Heck, knowing that wench, I'm sure she'll make sure Raven will never be allowed to attend the academy again. Every single member of this damned family is against us, and now that your father isn't around, they'll use every opportunity presented to them to lead us to ruin. And now look, your negligence has given them the perfect opportunity to ruin your sister's life. I hope you're proud of yourself!"
Mars didn't say anything in return. Whatever he wanted to say, those words were all ensnared within his spiralling mind. He stood there, absorbing her claims like a stalwart vacuum. A piercing pain assaulted his chest, the noise of his accelerating heartbeat reaching his ears. His body slightly shook, eyes fluttering as they struggled to grasp for reprieve within this harrowing moment.
'What was I even doing? The students were making fun of us, true, but I never expected Raven to actually respond to the insults. Why was she so reckless? Didn't she consider how this would affect herself and our mother? And to think she was the one who told me not to go out and search for father, only for her to go ahead and do something as foolish as this. Something must really be wrong with that girl."
He gritted his teeth, unable to look away from his mother. 'Still, she's right. If only I wasn't so caught up in my own feelings. If only I had paid more attention to what was going on, I could've prevented this from happening. It's my fault. I'm the oldest. I'm supposed to be a proper guardian for those two. Instead, I stood back and allowed my little sister to fall prey to these savages that call themselves royalty.
'I deserve all this blame. Even Loki did his best to keep her away from trouble, but in the end, it proved pointless. That girl's too stubborn to listen to a word he says. She wouldn't cooperate unless he beat her into submission. Still, something like that would only just land him in trouble as well. It was wise of him to step away when things got dire.'
The barrage of insults and blames finally came to an end.
Vivian's appearance looked far worse than when the both of them first step in. Prior to their entry, Vivian was already looking deeply distressed. However, after pouring out all her frustration on her eldest child, she looked far more dreadful. Her long black hair, which was once as straight as paper, was now deeply entangled and hazy. Her previously alluring eyes now resembled the pupils of a crazed beast, deep bags hanging underneath them as the marks of prickling trauma.
"...I'm sorry," Mars finally said, bowing his head to the ground. 'What do I do now? If Raven doesn't get back to school, what would this mean for her future? What more would these fiends do before they're finally satisfied?'
"You're sorry? Do you think an apology is going to fix what has happened? You fool, instead of apologizing, you should've prevented this from happening! I don't need your stupid apology! Get out, both of you!" Vivian barked, reaching for the now empty glass cup the next moment and hoisting it up. She swung her hand, tossing the glassware through the air, heading straight for Mars' head. However, the latter was quick to react, grabbing the cup before it could reach close to his face.
With pleading eyes, he reluctantly retraced his steps, heading to the large doors of her chambers. Loki followed closely behind him, his face hidden from his mother's gaze. Within seconds, Vivian found herself alone once more, the sound of her doors closing shut echoing across the large space as a malicious deluge of thoughts assaulted her mind once more.
...
Meanwhile, on the other side of their mother's bedroom, both brothers exchanged solemn glances. The sounds of their relatives chatting happily bounced off the walls, injecting Mars' soul with a seething mass of contempt.
'Dear Supreme Sovereign, if only I could rip these bastards limb from limb.
'My father is not here anymore, and instead of them to do what they can to find him, they're all far more concerned with living their conceited lives. Honestly, what is even the point of it all? What benefit would they gain from spending their years drinking and partying, remaining nonchalant towards those all around them? Would they carry their great wealth with them to the world beyond?
'Just take a look at Kaiser The Dragon. He was the most feared and powerful ruler of Nefaria. Yet despite his great wealth, despite his massive influence and power, when he died, he left everything he had in the hands of those who came after him. He couldn't take all his possessions with him to the other world.
'So then, why do these bastards place so much value on their material needs, as though it is the beginning and the end of their existential meaning in this world? Do they not see that it is all vanity?
'Their harshness. Their negligence for the needs of others. Such acts will only earn them damnation in the eyes of the Supreme Sovereign. They are blinded by their intoxicating wealth, corrupted by their surging power.
'And they prey on people like my father who is in contrast to their ways. They seek to ruin our lives because they see us as their enemy, as an insult to all that they stand for.
'Damn these wretches. I can't wait till the day father returns. I'm sure he'll rip every single one of them limb from limb for their abominable actions.'
"Loki, I'm sorry… I'm sorry for not being there when you needed me most… when she needed me most. If only I wasn't so caught up in my own head, I couldn't knocked some sense into her," Mars finally said, his voice filled with grief and resignation.
Loki sighed and shook his head, then said: "It's not completely your fault, though. You were pained more than anyone. I should've done better to keep her in check. Even if it meant hurting her, I should've done whatever it took to keep her out of trouble."
"No, that's not true. It wasn't your place to take responsibility, and it isn't now. I am you two's elder brother. I need to be looking out for you two when I can, not getting lost in my own head. Please, if there is ever anything bothering you, you and Raven can always come to me, I'll hear you guys out. And if it's something within my power, then I'll help you guys as best as I can.
"Remember, we're a family. We can't let what happened to father tear us apart. We can't let it affect mother more than it already has."