As always, the marketplace in the capital city was as bustling as ever. It was the largest city in Galadriel, so that was expected. Market stalls were set up all around, with the area being decently populated. Luckily, the two of them did not have to worry about being recognized. They very rarely left the estate after all; they needed to put too much time into training and studying at their father's behest.
But that was neither here nor there.
Strolling through the streets of the capital, William finished his crape desert as he glanced at his sister; she merely absent-mindedly stared ahead as they walked. Not making an effort to eat her own crape.
"Something on your mind, sis?" William questioned her, snapping her out of her slight stupor.
"It is nothing of importance." She murmured, taking a small bite out of her crape.
"Uh-huh, are you sure your mind is not on today?" He asked. "Father is going to be naming the house's future head after all." In response, Agatha merely sent her brother a bland gaze.
"If you knew what I was thinking, why bother asking?"
"Eh, common courtesy." He shrugged. "Anyhow, I can understand why you are nervous. It's obvious you are going to be his main pick. And there's going to be a lot of pressure on you as a result."
"I am not worried about the pressure." She clarified.
"Oh? Then what is it?" William questioned. She heaved a small sigh as she spoke.
"I'm not quite sure if I am up to it." William looked at her confusedly upon hearing her words.
"C'mon, not up to it?" He scoffed. "You're talented, Agatha; everyone can see it. And you're smart to boot. You are definitely up to it." She shook her head.
"Will others truly see it that way?" She frowned as she continued. "You and I only possess half the blessing of Isadora. We've tried, but we cannot even make use of the Familial Arts. We are incomplete, William. I am incomplete. Would others even respect me as our house head?" William opened his mouth to speak, but he closed it immediately after.
He did not know what to say to that. It was the truth after all; they were incomplete. Partial blessings, something irregular. Others might not even respect Agatha's authority, with her not even having the full blessing. House Gregory might lose status and reputation for such a thing.
"Who cares?" He finally spoke. "We're together; I am your other half."
"What nonsense are you even spouting?" She dryly asked.
"I'm saying you're not alone, you idiot." He blandly shot back. "I am still here, aren't I?" He shot her a smile as he continued. "You won't be alone just because you are the house head. If anyone makes trouble for you, I'll show them what's what."
"How brave." She chuckled. "You should become a knight with that mentality." She mused.
"Ha! No way." He immediately shot down the idea. "Giving up magic for a bit of strength? Not a chance; I might not be any good, but magic makes life easier."
"Of course that is all you are worried about." She grinned. "Making your life easier with convenient magic."
"Hey, don't judge. I am not the one using magic to tidy my hair every darn day." He defended as she merely smiled.
"Well, I have to look good if I am to be the future head, no?"
"Touché, Agatha."
"But I must thank you, William." She suddenly spoke again.
"Huh? For what?" The boy was questioned.
"Your idiocy never fails to cheer me up." She received a dry gaze for her backhanded compliment.
"Gee, thanks, sis."
"You are most welcome; now come, let us return home before Father discovers us."
-------------------
His father's office was as spacious as it was empty, with a few book racks leaned against the wall and his desk with his chair. Sometimes he questioned the need for an office, but currently that was hardly important.
Slightly weary, William's green eyes studied his father; the man's back was turned to him as he gazed out to the window of his office.
Upon having returned home, the servants of the household informed him that his father wanted to see him. Of course, he assumed it was because he and Agatha had left the estate without his knowledge. Naturally, he prepared himself for another bout of degrading or a lecture.
But his father was being eerily silent. Much too silent, his father was not one for many words, but his long silence was starting to agitate him. Luckily, that was soon to change.
"Tell me, boy..." Elijah suddenly started, surprising William. "Do you believe your sister has a future?" William blinked in confusion at the random question. He was failing to see the reason why it was asked or why his father had even asked for his presence.
"Well...yeah?" He answered unsurely, not because he did not believe Agatha had no future but because his father was hardly ever satisfied with his answers.
"Wrong." And there it was. Elijah turned to him, and William still felt unnerved by his unnaturally cold gaze that seemed to pierce his very being. It was not a gaze a father should harbor for his child. But that was simply how he was; they might have shared blood, but he was not his son, and he was not his father. The feeling was mutual.
"But Agatha is talented and smart." Elijah gave a childish answer, and Elijah seemed to resist the miniscule urge to roll his eyes. William could only gaze away in embarrassment at the dumb answer. Even he would acknowledge how stupid it sounded.
"I need not tell you that mere talent and knowledge will not suffice." His father stated it matter-of-factly tone. "Your sister shall fail." William frowned at his tone; he sounded so sure. "Your sister does possess a talent for magic, and she is a quick learner, but she will still fail. Do you know why that is?"
"Because of the blessing." He answered hesitantly. To his surprise, his father nodded his head.
"Precisely." No insult, no correction, and not a hint of annoyance. This was a first from his father; this was strange. "The two of you are Halflings, unnatural phenomena that shall not make it far in this world. And that is the simple reality of things; with your sister the way she is, she has no future."
William knew that. Of course he knew; he saw the gazes they received from others whenever they were at high-end parties. Hell, even the servants of the house threw them looks. It was as if they were a display at a circus; those looks irked him to no end. It was much the same for Agatha, no doubt. They were just not normal.
"But there is a way to remedy this situation." His father started, snapping him out of his train of thought. He blinked in surprise at his father's words.
"But I've never heard of anything that could help with our situation." William was perplexed. Was there truly something that could make him and Agatha whole? If that were the case, then this was huge, mainly for Agatha, but still.
"I would not expect you to have." Elijah merely stated this as he stared back out the window. "But it concerns a ritual."
"A ritual?" William questioned; he had read up about certain rituals. But to his knowledge, rituals were mainly used to summon something forth or imbue an object with magic. Was something like making a God's blessing whole really possible?
"This will make Agatha whole." His father continued, and immediately William noted the problem with his father's sentence. William narrowed his eyes slightly at his father as he spoke.
"Just Agatha?" He questioned, yet his father's solid, cold gaze just remained. As if he were expecting his question.
"You are useless, boy." Those words left his father's mouth naturally. William glared at the man, meeting his gaze. "Do not gaze at me so; you know it to be true."
"Screw you!" His father merely shook his head at the outburst. Seemingly disappointed but not surprised.
"Tell me, boy..." His father started; he was not sure he wanted to listen anymore, but the prospect of his sister having a chance at being whole kept him invested. "Do you wish for your sister to be happy?"
"Of course I do!" He answered without pause.
"Then give up your blessing."
"What?"
"You heard me." His father spoke, seemingly resisting the miniscule urge to roll his eyes at his son's incompetence. "The ritual functions by transferring your partial blessing to your sister, so she may be whole." William merely looked on, confused, not even knowing how such a thing could be possible. "But it is not my decision to make; if you wish to remain this way, so be it. But remember, you are not the one that matters here. Your sister will suffer for the choice you should make today."
A choice.
Which was the correct choice?