"For the remainder of that week, the King of Nylym kept me under close watch. When I finally left in search of my mate, it was both a relief and a nightmare. It took me a year to find Anessa. By then, you had been born and she was married to that boar of a nymph." Galick finished as he began to pick up the table.
"I still can't believe that mother was your mate preferit! Of all the things I had expected, her being your mate was not it. Every time I saw the two of you interact, it was more friendly than broken hearted." Finnick said without much thought as he wrapped his mind around the story.
"Soul mates come in many forms and that was how our path turned out. We were what the other needed when we needed it. Other than when the mate pull was too much to deny, we were nothing more than good friends. Usually a mate bond would break with any potential fated mates but that did not happen. I believe it was because we had formed a bond before she was marked by another. There might have been another factor but it has yet to be verified." Galick answered and Finnick caught the underlying meanings. There was a good chance that Coridella was his child as well. It was only made more likely with the latest revelation of the two being mates. It was considered ten times more likely for the womb to accept sperm from a destined mate than a chosen mate; even if the person had already been claimed, the womb would still choose destined over chosen.
The room fell into uncomfortable silence, and after knowing the siblings for most of their lives, Galick knew how to read the room. Finnick began to stack up the used dishes but was stopped by Galick. The elder man used them as an excuse to get away and carted all the dishes into the kitchen. As he got to work cleaning them, Finnick had climbed out of his chair and knelt beside his sister. Finnick pulled the child to his chest once he saw tears in her big brown eyes. A single tear that ran down Cora's red cheek and plopped onto Finnick's arm. The teen tensed knowing his sister was crying and there was little that he could do to help her.
"What are you thinking, Dell's?" Finnick asked, his voice low and soothing to the girl. It was the voice of her brother, the boy who had basically raised her. When she pulled away from his loose hold on her to look up at him, she was not shocked to see worry on his face. Nor was Finnick surprised to see her eyes filled with a myriad of different emotions; Sadness, hope, and relief seemed to be the most prominent.
"It's no longer a question of doing the test, is it? We need to know where we stand between these two countries." Cora asked, though she knew the answer. The sigh Finnick released only confirmed her suspicion.
"Unfortunately, we are now royalty of the Nylym kingdom. Because of that, we need to know who our father is and what enemies we have just inherited. Especially if we are to go the the Slivet kingdom to live." Finnick responded in a tone Cora did not recognize. She did, however, recognize the word enemies.
"There are so many things, stressful things, that have been thrown at us lately. This choice no longer being a choice, takes some of that stress away for me. At least I don't have a choice to regret it later." Cora answered in a small voice and Finnick nodded along. The two talked things over for a bit longer before Finnick returned to his seat.
It was then that Galick walked back into the room with a calm mask. He sat with them and raised an eyebrow at Finnick. The young man sighed deeply before he explained what the two had spoken of. Finnick explained that they were still going to Slivet but the test had to be done before they left. Galick was quick to agree and the three began to make preparations for their last few days in the small village. That was how they spent the rest of the evening until Galick claimed it was time for bed.
As they each climbed into their beds and waited for sleep, thoughts of their promised future whirled around in their heads.
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Cora squealed enthusiastically from her place on Finnick's back as they headed toward their old home. Finnick half jogged down the path he knew by heart as Cora laughed along with him. Until suddenly, they came upon the familiar lake; not only did Finnick find the blue stone there but the siblings' mother had a memorial stone. The two fell silent as they enjoyed the morning air and the beautiful scenery around them.
"So, fa- Shetter is really gone?" Cora asked, her eyes glued to the lake they walked alongside. Finnick adjusted the pre-teen on his back as he walked as a scowl found its way onto his face.
"I personally kicked him out of the house but, if he returned… he is dumber than I originally thought. Especially knowing he would have to face me." Finnick said with a chill to his voice. The same one that accompanied any talk of the foul father figure. Cora didn't answer but patted her brother's hair affectionately in hopes it calmed him. Even though she was like his daughter, instead of sister, she did not have the same effect as a mother or a mate. He only slightly calmed due to his own fear of scaring the child on his back. Instead, he held in his blood lust as he trudged down the smaller path toward the front of the cottage.
"Brother! The cottage is gone!" Cora hollered as they made it to the small clearing where their home sat. Finnick nearly laughed, his foul mood disappearing quickly.
"Della, it is still there. Have you forgotten magic?" Finnick asked her with an amused expression. That seemed to shake the girl from her confusion as now she looked at the clearing; curiosity and annoyance swirling around in her brown eyes.
"Flipping magic…" Cora grumbled as they passed through the barrier. This time, Finnick could not hold back the boisterous laugh that escaped him. Annoyed, Cora squirmed off of Finnick's back and marched toward the familiar cottage.
Cora had only just begun to train in magician and self-defense when everything came to light. Her ability had yet to reach beyond levitating a single marble. More often than not, she stuck to the mundane way of doing things; forgetting magic was even an option. However, that was common in their small village. Very few had the aptitude for magic and those who did were taught one lesson from a young age; never rely solely on magic. This was due to a small cult within the Nylym kingdom called promedio; their sole purpose was to hunt down those with magic and exterminate them. They were only still around because there was no proof that it was a cult, let alone dangerous. Over the years, this group created various weapons and restraints specifically made for those with magic.
"Lets go pack up what we need and get back." Finnick offered and the pouting child followed him into the house. The two stood there wordlessly as they took in the sight. It was eerie and cold but nothing had truly changed since the last time they were there. Everything was in it's place and light filtered in through the windows as usual.
"C'mon, let's head upstairs. We aren't taking the furniture with us." Finnick announced but Cora didn't seem to be listening. Her eyes were glued to the chair that 'HE' would always be sitting in. However, there was no sadness in her eyes. Instead, her brown eyes held anger, pure rage. Finnick had not been there when things happened between Shetter and his sister.
"He did it, didn't he?" Finnick gasped, as though it physically pained him to say it aloud. Small brown eyes landed on him in what looked like fear and anxiety. It only seemed to confirm what he was thinking. His vision flickered between normal and red as she tried to calm his racing heart.
"FINALLY! Those two brats must have left town by now!" a familiar voice chattered happily to himself and the last string of sanity Finnick held, Snapped.
Finnick was no longer in control of himself as he stepped out of the house. In front of him was the one person who should have never stepped back into his line of sight, Shetter.