As the Strum Family's butler shut the doors behind him, Tersia buried her beneath the covers with the sound of her fluttering ears and its soft fur waking Vauntuss. Rousing the exhausted young knight out of his slumber.
"I was let into their home and after one night I'm found in bed with their son!" She squealed as her erratic strength broke apart the supporting bed frame, shaking him out of bed, and he landed on a of summoned snow
"Is it morning already?" Scrambling from his pile of snow onto his feet. Peering out of the covers, Tersia watched Vauntuss, pouting and all in annoyance as the peach coloured flush grew from her cheeks to her ears
"Lamia...what is the matter, and why are your ears fluttering so? Are you so excited for a taste of Mr Wyndrest's cooking?" Moving to place his hand on her forehead, surprising her. The shock in her eyes by his concerned gesture was enough for Vauntuss to take notice, leaving him just as flush, with the two looking away.
"Your hands are so cold." Her blue eyes held a vibrant passion within them.
"I see. We should make our way to the dining hall or mother might come looking for us, and she...can be far more headstrong than Mr Wyndrest."
"All right, would you give a lady her privacy."
"…This is my–"
"..."
"I will ask Mr Wyndrest to guide you to the hall once you are ready." Leaving Lamia to her devices as he wore a black sweater with grey shorts from his cupboard.
Vauntuss made his way down the dawn-lit corridor with the faint sounds of discussion erupting from one of the doors ahead and slowly quieting the morning songs of lively Halcyons in the courtyard.
"Oh you're here, little brother. It's good to see you are well."
"Saevess?" Dressed in dark brown leggings and a loose silk white shirt, a tall and slender figure wearing silver rings to make the pin in her hair stood outside of the door. With fiercer eyes than Vauntuss' and most striking of all, pitch black hair that carried a single silver streak from root to tip.
"You can at least pretend to be excited to see me."
"Apologies, I had no idea you would be here, I thought you were in Sturmrinsel."
"That is true, I was on Sturmrinsel until I came to the Capital to pay our mother and father a visit."
"I see. The last time we saw you was at the Autumn Hearth Festival."
"Oh my, I honestly wish I could forget that time."
"Is Lord Noi still haunting you with his proposal?"
"I am a lady with youth, a title and a vast amount of influence. Lord Noi has become only one of hundreds of potential suitors that think they are worthy of me." She said with a
"Father had offered to matchmake you with several potential suitors…"
"I told him and mother I would sooner strangle myself than allow any of them to stand beside me. But it hasn't been all bad, not since I put in place a better system for vetting my would-be suitors."
"So I have heard. It seems that you managed to convince father to allow Vysandr to remain in the manor in exchange for his cooperation in acting as the doorman to your courtship."
"It's an arrangement that pays for itself."
"Would you not ask Validus for help instead? With how much he travels I am sure he has met someone to suit your tastes?"
"Well unlike a certain someone, we can't all go saving the world on a whim, there's responsibilities that come with being in our family. Anyways, we should go inside or mother will drag us in by the ear–"
"Saevess, my dear, we have a guest. I do believe that she shouldn't hear such harsh words from my own daughter, don't you think?" Lady Inro parted the doors to the dining room, revealing both the splendour of the meal and of her regality.
Both Vauntuss and his sister stammering from their comments at the sight of their mother's frightening glare, as she reached and grabbed both of her children by the cheeks.
The reddening and wincing pairs were saved by the intervention of Silver, coming in to alert the lady that the master of the house was already seated. Surprising Vauntuss after hearing those words.
The two quickly prepared themselves as they followed behind their mother into the room.
Across the long table, seated by the furthest seat with a chair adorned with redwood and dark timber that was embossed with gold and sapphire, in the colours of the House Strum topping the crown of the seat with their family crest.
Saevess and Vauntuss approached the silver-haired figure, bowing before he raised his hand in acknowledgement:
"The only person you should bow to is our beloved King, my children."
"Quite, father, it's good to see you all the same." Saevess responded as gave the standing figure a hug, bringing a grand bearded smile to him as he asked her how her trip went.
"You seem well, father..." Vauntuss approached the figure's seat, speaking in a abruptly formal manner after the light-hearted exchange he shared with his mother just moments ago.
"My duties keep me both fit and able. But you Vauntuss, how have you been, last you spoke to your mother or I, you had begun your entrance exams..."
"Oh dear, he has only been home for a day and you've already got him standing at attention. You may pick and prod him all you like after we've all eaten. We're only waiting on Vysandr and our little guest?"
"Luvia, my love, I merely wish to know how well the boy has fared in his time away, but I'll stay my intentions. Mr Wyndrest, would you be so kind as to retrieve my son for breakfast?"
The sagacious butler nodded at the request and made his way towards the mission given forth. Vauntuss took a break to feel some relief from the interaction that was cut short as his father brought on another equally challenging matter:
"Whom might our guest be?"
At his word, the doors opened to the dining hall. With one of the many servants serving in the manor leading Tersia into the room, as she struggled to take in the surroundings, she continued onwards, surprised but trying her best to not look taken aback.
"Apologies for disturbing your home with my arrival, Lord Impetus, my name is Tersia Lamiastell. Your son took it upon himself to ferry me home after my return to the Noble Square was delayed."
"Lady Lamiastell, it's an honour. It pleases me to hear of my son's deeds, he serves our name well. You are welcome to say as long as you like, dear, but I'm sure your family would welcome your presence soon."
"My family…has been notified of my current whereabouts and trust that I will be able to return home safely in your care."
"Then I would ask that you humbly accept our hospitality during your stay."
"I will, very much so, my Lord and my Lady." She added with a gentle smile towards Vauntuss leaving him unable to face her as he pulled out her seat, setting her down beside his mother, who seemed far too eager to learn more about her.
"Lord Impetus, young master Vysandr has joined us."
"Ah...Father, if you sought me you only needed to ask."
"If I wanted to wade through the scent of my son and his thralls in heat, I wouldn't have tried to leave you in your sister's care on Sturmrinsel."
"If you'd want me driven mad father..." The young man tossed back the black messy hair faintly obscuring his vision to take his seat beside the bearded figure.
"I shall take my leave and allow you to enjoy your meal." Mr Wyndrest gave a slight bow before removing himself from the room with a close of the doors.
"Oh, young master, you're here...I'm sure they'll be pleased to…"
"It's all right, Mr Wyndrest. I'll see myself in."
"Yes, but young master…" The meal took a halt when the murmurs grew loud enough to eclipse the entire corridor, funnelling into the dinning room.
"Mr Wyndrest, it'll be fine, you may take the rest of the morning off, father and mother won't mind. I took care of my luggage, so go enjoy yourself."
"As you wish, young master Strum."
Tersia wondered who might be so bold that they would interrupt the family's meal so casually, looking around the table only to find stunned expressions at the sound of the murmured voices pouring through the door.
"Whoah, I honestly didn't expect everyone to be up already, I was really just planning on getting something to eat before seeing everyone." The figure spoke casually as he entered the quieted room. Lifting the dark bangs out of his sharp sterling eyes into a knot similar to the seated Impetus, sharing an even more similar hue.
"Valdius–" Vauntuss shared in his father's shock.
"My dear, you're here?"
"Yes, and it's so good to see you, mother. I've missed being home."
"If that was true then you would visit more often." Lady Inro stood to greet her son with a warm embrace.
"Oh don't say that. I should greet father, FAE knows how long it's been since we last spoke."
"I'm glad to see that in your two years of absence you have not forgotten your manners." Lord Impetus responded as Validus bowed beside his seat.
"Father, our traditions run deep, you made sure of it. Now are the rest of you just going to sit there or are you going to say hello?"
"Idiot, you spend your time galavanting across the continent and not once did you come to say hello?" A pouting Saevess spoke up as he approached her seat though a hug from her older brother quickly brought out an expression of joy onto her face, despite how hard she tried to hide it.
"Sorry about that, dearest sister, congrats on taking over the home turf for father, I always knew you would be the best pick. So are you two lightning rods also mad at me?"
Vysandr fought against his brother's awkward hug as Validus chuckled before coming to rest his hand on Vauntuss, matting his fixed hair, the two exchanging a touching greeting with Validus congratulating him on his success in entering Trinity Cross Academy.
Whispering to him that he brought along a surprise from his travels but he wants to hear more about his adventurers now that he has enough of his own for them to sit down and share with one another, saying all of this with a charming yet mischievous expression about him.
Before he continued, Lady Inro called for her son's attention, reminding him not to be rude as they have a guest. Surprised to see them seated beside his obviously excited mother, Validus remarked:
"Mother, whose lovely bride has come to meet us, or could it be...Ves has been wed? Outstanding, just how long have I been gone?"
"Brother, your idiocy is showing." Vysandr clapped back at his stunned brother.
"Sadly Vysandr has not made any substantial progress on that endeavour, son. This is Lady Tersia Lamiastell, a guest in our home for the time being and a friend of your little brother."
"It's a pleasure, my lady. Forgive my brutish words and jest. I do hope Vauntuss has done nothing to tarnish our name as knights."
"I would not, brother—" Vauntuss spoke with a reddening visage.
"Nothing I have not grown accustomed to." Tersia added with a smirk.
Seeing their exchange brought a smirk to Validus, thanking her for her honesty as he requests the two to continue getting along while Valdus sat himself beside his father and mother, asking that they all enjoy this meal together.
The once quiet tone of the room never returned to its former state, instead taking on new life with an exchange of stories amongst the room and a surprising zeal so early in the day."
"Easy, Vauntuss, I'm just teasing."
Following their family breakfast, Lady Inro was all too excited to give Tersia a proper tour of the Manor, with Saevess standing up to join them, Vysandr would have slinked back to his room if Saevess hadn't dragged him along.
"How odd, your brother would never willingly submit to your sister's commands. Half this room would be burning from his resistance, which tells me that you seek to have an audience with me." Lord Impetus spoke with a growing rumble that could be heard outside.
"No need for that, father. I just want to talk to the both of you."
"You sought my attention, you have it." A crackling stroke shook the skies along with his response.
"I am going to do my best for us to have a calm conversation, can you do that?" Validus placed a firm hand on the table, causing an azure streak to burn through the dining table, splitting it in half.
"We are knights, a reasonable conversation is obviously something that we can manage."
"Fine, then we can have Vauntuss…Where did he go?"
A blue-glass solar could be found deep within the Thunder Lily Gardens, a sanctuary planted and cared for by the matrons of the Manor as a tradition for ensuring that their kin grow strong and healthily with storm-blood coursing through their veins.
It is here where the youngest of the storm-blooded children made a place for himself. Not to train, but to indulge his mind, away from what was required of him. It was here that he had a small study with Mr Wyndrest as his occasional tea guest.
"So, do you mind telling me what you're doing out here?" Tersia stepped through the courtyard and into the solar, passing through the illusory glass planes that mimicked the blood of Thunder Lilies, finding Vauntuss in quiet study within the garden.
"I am not going to ask how you managed to find me."
"Your scent is unmistakable."
"Oh. Father and Validus are speaking. Their talks tend to go on for quite some time."
"...Well if you wanted to join them that badly, why didn't you simply ask?"
"...I don't need to. If they needed me they would have asked for me."
"Hmmm, what aren't you saying?"
"Pardon me, I brought the refreshments." Mr Wyndrest entered the solar.
"Ah Lady Lamiastell. If you, young lady Saevess asked to see you." The butler opened the way for her pass through the veil.
He kept flipping through the book while she took off, with Vauntuss taking a glance as she made her way back into the manor.
"Young master, she simply sought to engage your thoughts." Mr Wyndrest walked past the noblewoman with a tray in hand of quite the delicious tea. Placing it beside Vauntuss and serving himself a cup alongside the young knight.
"Mr Wyndrest, please speak your mind." Closing his book and reaching for the cup only for his hand to be swatted away.
"What Ms Lamiastell said is true, if you seek an audience with your father and young master Validus, then you should."
"I should do what..."
"Worry not, your cup will be ready when you return." The butler held his gaze against Vauntuss, before he got up and headed into the Manor, passing a curious Tersia that was leaning against the wall inside, away from view.
Knock Knock.
"Enter!"
"Vauntuss, you're back." Said Validus with genuine surprise after realising how aggressive he sounded after letting him in.
"Son, is there something you need?" Their father's gaze shifted to the entering youth.
"No, I apologise for intruding, I simply thought that I could..."
"No no, it's fine, Erie you saved me the trouble of having to bring you here myself."
"And what is that supposed to mean, Validus? I am not done with you." Lord Impetus bellowed as he took a seat across his sons.
"What's there to discuss, you and I know that nothing has changed for me. I like being out there, on the front lines where I can see my efforts actually help people. I'm not suited to rule from within castles behind massive stonewalls, I'm not suited to rule at all." Validus said in an exhausted tone.
"You're the heir of our house. My eldest son, who is the one who inherited the greatest strength of our Storm Magic. Who else will lead in my stead, son? I should like to retire soon and the only way I can do that peacefully is for you to come home, take a bride and take my place."
"Well I'm glad you asked, if you want the best ruler then it's not me, and Saevess is currently in charge of our home back at Sturmrinsel while Vysandr…we both know that Ves has no interest in politics."
"My eldest son refuses, my only daughter cannot carry our name and it's as you said, Vysandr shows no interest in leading our family. What would you have me do knowing that my children refuse to honour their family?"
Validus let out a huff of frustration before nodding at Vauntuss who couldn't find a moment to speak.
"You speak of Vauntuss to be my heir? He's a mere child who only just had a taste of adolescence."
"And he's already one of the strongest Ice Magic users in the kingdom, selected personally by his majesty to guard his daughter and as far as I can recall, he hasn't lost a battle in the Royal Sword Hall."
"I...brother, why would you say that? Father, I don't understand what is going on but what is this talk about you retiring?"
"Silence the both of you. I dared listen to your mother when you decided to fight as a Guardian hoping that you would come to your senses. But no, you managed to drag Vauntuss along into your delusions."
"I am an old man, and soon I'll be a hundred years too old to effectively serve his majesty in my capacity as the leader of this house. When that time comes I need to have entrusted our duty to someone capable, and someone who will do the same when the time comes."
"Vauntuss is the only reasonable option, were he a decade older he would have been the strongest one at this table, he is the one you should choose, because I cannot do it.. What I do is just as important as any duty you honour, father. I cannot give it up."
"You would do well to watch your tone, Validus. Never presume to preach the nature of our duty to me. If the crown falls, then the realm follows, and then it doesn't matter if you're fighting inside or outside the Capital, all of it will be consumed by chaos."
"All due respect father, I have to disagree." Vauntuss chimed
"I have chosen to walk this path, but I have never allowed it to stop me from performing my duty. I will never betray the crown or you."
"Son, if you hold your brother's words so truly then why did you follow in his path? Can you honestly say that he hasn't influenced you to follow in his example?"
"I can. Validus…he showed me that a path one chooses for themselves can be just as meaningful as one you are born into. Father, you and mother both gave me a gift I have been unworthy of for the entirety of my life, and I only wish to honour it."
"Father..." Validus called.
"I might not be worthy of your consideration but if there is any way for me to honour you I will take it...even...even if I..." Watching Validus' stunned face, he excused himself and rushed back to his room.
"Erie, wait!" His brother called to him but he was gone.
"I hope you're happy."
"We both know you're responsible for bringing him into this."
"What the hell, didn't you hear what he said? There is a time to be a leader and to be a father, you should know that by now." Validus said as he too left the room.
"Where did he go...ah Lady Lamiastell." Stumbling upon the surprising figure, Validus approached with a curious expression.