Endyr awoke with a hum, getting out of bed and gathering his suitcase. After checking he had everything of importance, he left the room and walked to the lobby of the house. There, Sia and Raphaniel were already waiting. Raphaniel had already told them they would have breakfast on the road the previous day.
Noticing his arrival, Raphaniel led her children outside where a carriage awaited. Inside sat Jace, slouched over with his hood up. He moved over to make room when Raphaniel opened the carriage door, but Sia hesitated to sit beside him. After several awkward seconds, Endyr sighed and pushed his sister out of the way, taking the window seat opposite Jace. After giving her brother a glare, Sia entered and sat beside him.
Jace and Raphaniel looked on with amusement before Raphaniel addressed her associate. "Remember your word Jace...keep them safe" she threatened. He gave a simple nod and maintained eye contact. "You have my word I will protect them." When that failed to appease her, he gave a wry smile and expanded. "Besides, thanks to you, Fallacy has "His" grips of my soul, and I don't fancy meeting the God of Secrets anytime soon."
The extra assurance seemed to work, as Raphaniel averted her eyes and nodded. She then turned to Sia and Endyr, who had watched the exchange with curious eyes. "This is goodbye for now, darlings. But I promise we will meet again, okay?"
Sia nodded vigorously while Endyr gave gave a simple huff in acknowledgement. Raphaniel smiled helplessly at her son's callous goodbye, but didn't call him out on it. "I hope you have a great time at Sky Cross Academy."
With everything said, the carriage began to pull away down the street. Raphaniel stood waving until she was out of sight. Once the carriage was gone, she dropped her arms and stood there silently. She then turned back into the house, her face slowly hardening and her eyes glowing a subtle red.
Endyr sat in the carriage, shifting as he tried to get comfortable. Outside the window, rows of houses passed. The street was relatively smooth for a society based on the later period of the Renaissance, but there was still some bumps here and there. He eagerly took in the scenery, comparing it to the little technology-based information he retained from his Denizen days. In his four years of life on Orvonia, he had grasp the current societal and technological state the world was in.
Society was divided nobles, commoners and slaves. Nearly all Nobles were Magi or powerful Ascenders, and it was seen as the symbol of status in Orvonia. Religion was omnipresent too, with the Archon Churches holding intense sway over the life of the people. In terms of influence, only Great Nobles like House Atrazark could defy the Churches, and even then they would suffer some suppression.
In terms of technology, society had devolved lopsidedly. The presence of Mana allowed for a greater understanding in medicine, comfort and warfare, yet also caused a caste system to prevail above all. There was stuff like Magic Scanners, showers and radar, yet no airplanes, tanks or submarines. Cars also didn't exist and horses were still used the most non-Magi, even by other Ascenders. Metal firearms also didn't exist, though something called Magic Artillery apparently did.
Most towns were spaced apart, and one's with 300,000 people were a hub of activity. The capital of the Gaia Continent only had a population of six million, which would be considered as on the smaller side on a planet like Earth. The overall population of the Gaia Continent itself was believed to be around 60 million, though it was largely uninhabited, especially with so many forests present.; All forest were under the domain of Dendron, the Orthodox God of Wood, so expansion was greatly limited.
After running over what he knew, Endyr turned his attention to Jace across from himself. Noticing his gaze, Jace raised an eyebrow. "What is it kid? I hope you don't expect me to entertain you on the journey." Endyr shook his head and leaned forward. "Tell me Jace...how did you and mother meet each other? And what's your relationship?"
Sia looked over, equally curious about the answer. Under the expectant gazes of two children, Jace let out a long sigh before slouching in his seat. He alternated looking between them, before settling his eyes on Endyr. "It's not really a story for kids like yourselves to hear, buddy" he refused. Endyr did not look away,. while Sia puffed up her cheeks.
"Who you calling a kid?! I'm 12 and have Ascended. That makes me an adult!"
Jace barked out laughter, before shaking his head. "You aren't nothing more than a pipsqueak darling. Ascending means nothing if you have the mind of a child, which you clearly do. Anyone in Orvonia will clearly state the same. Well...anyone except those Heretics or Netherists."
Endyr titled his head at the last of Jace's words. "What are those?" he asked. Jace adjusted his position before answering. "A Heretic is simple: someone who worships a Secret God like Polydorus or Chanteur. A Netherist is someone who uses Nether, so a Devil or Vampire. Those types of people are usually insane and have the highest population of Heretics. In fact, the two are often interchangeable in most lands."
"And they believe Ascending makes you an adult, regardless of age?"
"Yup, but that's not really a good idea. Letting kids run around with the power of Gods at their fingertips is one reason why Netherists are hated by everyone else. Countless people have died to psychopathic little brats with no one to reign them in."
Sia seemed slightly taken aback, but still determined to gain recognition from Jace. "Well, I have you and Mama to stop that from happening. And I'll grow up even more soon, so I will be an adult!"
In response, Jace gave a guttural chuckle. He gave a callous look at Sia's chest and legs, before chuckling again. "Yes, I'm sure you will grow VERY big in the future, darling."
The colour drained form Sia's face when she saw Jace's gaze, and she subconsciously shrank herself back. Endyr watched this with quiet discontent, and he clenched his fists as Jace dressed down his sister with his gaze. At that moment, he had to consciously stop himself from ripping out Jace's heart. "I think that's enough, Mr Jace" he interrupted coolly.
Jace clasped his hands and turned away from Sia. "Fine then, little girl. One last question: have you bled yet?"
At this abrupt and personal question, Sia froze before blushing profusely. She stammered and was unable to answer for several seconds, before Jace raised his hand to silence her. "I'll take that as a no. Well then, in lieu with the Doctrine of the Church of Life and Fertility, you are not an adult until you have your first period. That is the end of that."
Jace proceeded to lean back in his seat, crossing one leg over the other as he summoned a book from thin air and began reading.
'Space Magic?' Endyr narrowed his eyes at the sight and associated with the Space Element. "I didn't know you could sue Prana, Mr Jace" he casually stated. Jace looked up from his book and furrowed his eyebrows. "You don't know anything about me kid" he snorted dismissively.
Endyr smiled thinly in response. "No, I guess I don't. And you still haven't answered my original question, Mr Jace."
Jace scowled. "Drop the mister, boy. I don't need your patronising 'respect' for the rest of this journey. And I guess you wont shut up unless I tell you huh?" Endyr nodded and flashed a grin. "Correct."
Jace harrumphed in annoyance before putting his book aside. "Where do I even begin..."
"How about at the beginning?" Endyr offered snidely. Jace ignored him, then began narrating the story.
"A long time ago, I was a simple assassin tasked with a mission-"
"You are an assassin?!" Sia blurted out in horror. The memory of the man that tried to kill her only a few days ago was freshly present in her mind. Beside her, Endyr was similarly worried at the revelation of Jace's occupation.
Jace looked annoyed at the interruption and wagged his finger. "Speak up again, and I wont tell the story" he warned. Endyr shot his sister a glare and she timidly retreated in the corner. "Please continue" Endyr smiled pleasantly.
"As I was saying, I was an ordinary but promising young assassin. I was tasked with eliminating a young Noble with a colleague, an old friend of mine. The mission was just like any other, and I tried to carry it out. Believe it or not, my companion...was your father."
The two children gasped in shock at the news. "Father was an assassin?! That...that can be true" Sia exclaimed. Meanwhile, Endyr rapidly spun the information in his brain, drawing upon a conclusion and a strange though. He had an inkling as to who was the target...
"That's not all kids. The target your father and I were trying to kill...was your very own mother, Raphaniel Atrazark.