Standing in front of Lavinia's door, the three of us stared at it, desperation clear on our faces.
"You said she's possibly in a bad mood, right, Leo?" Asher asked hesitantly.
"Damn right. I ain't knockin." He responded in a hushed voice.
"You think she's sleeping or… meditating?"
"Either way, she won't be happy being bothered."
"You two are such babies. I'll knock." Walking closer to the door, I raised my hand against the wood.
"Let's not be rash—" Asher tried to stop me, but I knocked before he could.
"Lavinia! It's Rin. Can we talk—"
"Go away!" She yelled from behind the door before I could even finish.
I stood there frozen for a few seconds. Asher and Leo walked off in defeat without hesitation.
Shaking off the rejection, I caught up to them in a quick walk.
"You couldn't have at least mentioned that we're all here?" Asher questioned in annoyance.
Leo jumped in. "Yeah, come on, seriously. 'It's Rin. Can we talk?'" He mimicked. "What kind of bretch strategy is that?
"I just—I meant—I thought—I'd hoped…Damn." I lowered my shoulders in defeat.
Walking back down the hall, we reached the stairs before one of us spoke again.
"So, what now?" I asked.
"We could always ask my brother…" Asher said.
Stopping mid-step, we looked at each other for a second. "No, no." Asher and I shook our heads in agreement.
Leo stared at us, confused. "What's wrong with asking Father?"
"Well, there's always my sister-in-law." Asher ignored Leo.
"Lady Phia? Would she even know anything about the Kieriki?" I asked.
"She… has her ways of gaining knowledge." Asher said in a mysterious tone.
Crossing the stairs, the three of us made our way to Lady Phia's office. Where, hopefully, this pointless adventure will find some footing.
Standing in front of Lady Phia's office door, the three of us stared at it desperately.
"So, what kinda mood'j'ya think she's in?" Asher asked warily.
"No idea. Hopefully a good one." Leo responded in a whisper.
"You think she's doing something important?"
"Either way, she probably won't be happy being bothered."
"You two are so childish, I'll knock." I said, reaching for the door.
Asher slapped my hand away, before it even rose above my waist.
"Must you repeat past grievances?!" He berated
"Allow me, gentlemen." Leo smiled, cracking his knuckles.
Rhythmically tapping against the door three times, he raised his voice loud enough for anyone inside to hear, "Ohhh Motherrr, It's your dearest son!" His voice was elegant and soft… and so fake I winced.
From behind the door, a cracked, slightly annoyed voice rose from the silence, "Step inside, you three!"
Asher forcefully gulped.
Leo, as the closest, gently opened the door. Waiting for all of us to move simultaneously, we shuffled inside as a group, bowing synchronously.
Lady Phia's office was the complete opposite of the house's design. As opposed to the houses' bright, welcoming colour, her office was dark and dreary. Filled with blacks and greys. The window, being the same as any room in the estate, had its shadow luminosity set to near the darkest setting, with heavy curtains lining the window, adding thick shadows over the room.
Her black wood desk was neatly organized with a few work parchments spread over the top. The left-hand wall was decorated with dark, night flora, fit for thriving in dark environments. The right-hand wall had a very soft-looking, cushioned couch.
"Pardon the intrusion, Mother," Leo said.
Following Leo, "Sister," Asher spoke.
"Lady Phia." I finished.
"You either have bad news, or you want something. Very well, spit it out." She said bluntly. Placing down her quill, she orderly shuffled the parchments to the side. Before adjusting herself into a more comfortable position.
Leo and Asher, without hesitation, cleared their throats. "Rin."
I looked to my left and right, glaring at the two.
They just threw me under the wagon!
I looked at Lady Phia, clearing my throat. It's not like I had anything to hide. "My apologies for interrupting you, Lady Phia. But if you had a minute, I would like to ask you a question about the letter I received earlier."
I don't think I've ever spoken so formally in my life.
She stared at me blankly for a moment. Taking in my words.
A smile slowly crept its way up her face. A sincere, bright smile that could attract any man, but at this moment, it felt darker than any scowl or sneer.
"Why don't you take a seat, child?" She gestured to the chair across her desk, her soft words flowing. Striking me with a wave of comfort. "I'm a little hurt you didn't come sooner, I've been waiting for you." She finished, flashing a slight frown.
Walking past Leo and Asher, I pulled the seat and sat comfortably in it. The other two stood there shuffling.
I sat up straight, projecting myself as respectfully as possible.
Speaking as soon as I settled in my seat, Lady Phia rested her head on her right hand. "What can you tell me about using my Will to show others I'm strong?"
Her smile widened, causing my heart to flutter. Even Leo's smile isn't so… welcoming?
"Dearest Rin. Strength doesn't just come from the Rank of one's Will, or the show of force you can unleash from it. Look at my husband, merely an Elite-Will Holder, yet he's sitting in a room with Lords, as near-equals." Her eyelids narrowed, pupils moving sporadically around my face, studying me. She was silent for half a dozen seconds, observing every little movement I made. "You wish to rush through things. Finding quick and simple solutions in a chaotic element. You can't rush something when you've only just started. Unique and creative ways to use the Will come naturally… through experience. You can't expect to impress the Lords in your current state. Ignore the letter. Ignore playing the fool. Nothing bad will transpire from your coming failure. And trust me… you will fail." Her words were light and soft, even reasonable, but there was an eerie shadow to them. Casting over me, adding weight.
My face fell.
My burdens bear heavy. Yet my choices stale. My will… is not my own. So, I must keep trying to prove myself wherever I can.
"I can see that is not the answer you were searching for. Of course not." She continued. Her smile didn't falter, but it seemed to widen with her eyes. "The largest jump in strength for a Holder is to Master their Will, or reach Secure Integration, or subsequently, Full Integration. Do you finally understand now? Your choices stale."
Did she just…?!
What was I thinking again? Oh, right.
"How do I Master my Will?" I asked.
"Child, as I am sure you have been told many times. I can not tell you how to Master your Will. You must figure it out yourself."
I cast my gaze down at my legs, disappointed. "Then… can you at least tell me the story of how you mastered your Will?" I shot my gaze back up, eyeing her intently.
Asher exhaled dramatically. Tired from standing, he sat on the couch. Leo, remaining standing, cast Asher a disappointed look.
"Very well, I'll make this quick." She took her head off her head, placing her arms crossed flat on the table. "When I was younger, around the time before the Dark Long Night. I wanted to know more about my Will, and the natural masters of the attribute. So, I spent many nights observing them. Watching how they moved, communicated, and hunted. I mastered their form, able to travel like them, communicate like them, and fight like them. I became so versed in their culture, I was able to disguise myself as them. Only physically, of course. I had to make sure to steer from getting too close to any of them, they could still sense my human Will. During my research, I felt my Will pulse with more energy than before, as if becoming like them was stimulating my essence and my body. I felt on the cusp of great power, but no matter how much I acted like them, it never came. Always out of my reach, blocked by a terrible light that repelled my shadow. It wasn't until I learned how to act like them so well, I was able to infiltrate their citadel. I could imitate to near perfection, but there was always something holding me back. What seemed to finally break that barrier… was seeing how they worshipped. Their Lords, the Tyrants, weren't just like Kings and Queens to them. Upon watching the Beasts, did I truly learn what it meant to be a Shadow. Shadows… don't get involved. They merely reflect and repeat. Their Lords never got involved; they left the Shadows to their own devices, not even providing wisdom or knowledge. I learned… to stay away from the world. Reflecting and repeating, never getting involved. However, my reaching mastery was not the same for all other Shadow Holders."
She stared at me blankly, reading my face. Her voice slowed, almost sluggish, "I can see you have become distracted, and are curious. No, I do not know why the Shadows attacked the kingdom during the Dark Long Night… perhaps, it wasn't even us they were fighting. But merely reflecting past events. I too, get lost during Long Nights." Her eyes went dark, unfocused with a faraway gaze. Whether she was dazed or lost, I didn't know. "I hope I have been of help."
Standing up from the chair, I gave a light bow, thanking her for the information. When I turned to leave, facing Leo and Asher, she spoke again, "Thank you for coming, Rin. I appreciate the time. I am sure you are better aware of your situation now."
Walking with the other two, we gave one final bow, Lady Phia flashing a gleaming smile, before we left.
Walking down the hall, Leo asked the question on everyone's minds, "Do you know what you are going to do?"
I nodded, a faint smile appearing over my lips, "Whether there's something I can do, or not. I'm not going to figure it out by doing nothing. While Lady Phia's information was insightful, it didn't do much for my situation." I came to a halt, halfway down the hall, forcing the other two to do the same. I glanced at Asher before locking eyes with Leo. "Leo, how would you like to duel?"
A wide grin spread over his face in an instant, a light chuckle playing in his throat. "I thought you'd never ask!"