Fall of Autumn, Week 5, Day 2

"You will be leaving for the Callistan Empire at the end of Winter," Mallorica said offhandedly as if Theo had no say in it. As if he were merely a pawn for her to control.

A God will descend before I willingly go to that barbaric empire.

Theo was about to say as much, about to tell his mother what he really thought of this order. Of her even entertaining the thought—because he was meant to go to Oberon. Be a part of the Royal Court. Become a Court Scholar, with the power and connections that entailed. Not be a glorified prisoner for a borderline enemy nation.

"The Queen has asked for a child to represent Maeve and gave me the opportunity to choose just who it would be," she continued, her vibrant blue eyes narrowing as she examined Theo. Theo felt it was the look a predator would give their prey.

She was sizing him up, deciding how heavy of a hand she would have to use.

Theo opened his mouth, and his mother grinned, sharp and cold. Nothing like the woman she was when Theo had been but a babe fresh from her womb. Theo could remember, after all. Every moment of every day, even before his Awakening just under two years ago. If anything, his Awakening had actually dulled his mind by shifting his memory to be related to his Skills. It was simpler to organize his thoughts, to use them rather than be bombarded with them.

Such was the majesty of the [System]. It knew all her children needed, just as Troya had designed it to.

"Be careful what you say, Theodore," she said lightly, as if she were not about to sentence him to death. "This decision was presented to Queen Esther, and she made a Royal Decree. There is no refusal, no taking it back. The only question is if I had to force you into the carriage or if you'll step into it of your own accord."

Theo closed his open mouth, frowning. He grit his teeth, thinking. That was all he was good for, after all. It was the box his mother had put him in upon Awakening, and his courses had never shifted from that purpose. Brilliance in whatever field he settled on, so long as it was purely academic and did not touch his siblings' domains. No Magic Tower for Theo, no Sword Academy either. He had lecturers across different disciplines, from politics to science to mathematics. He had Skill training, both in and out of Twilight, but that was par for the course for [System] education.

"I want a chance to see what my aptitudes are. And a chance to train them over Winter," he said eventually. "And I want a farewell party. I will not be shipped off like I don't exist, like I am nothing."

The memory of Nora being here one day, gone the next, haunted him. In fact, she haunted him throughout the manor. Memories of him turning his back when Eve would lock her out of her room, when Lina would scold her far harsher than she'd ever scolded Theo, when Raph would send rocks flying her way. It had almost seemed a blessing to leave Nora alone. At least he wasn't hurting her.

Only, that's not really true, is it? Theo thought to himself wryly, thinking of the last time he saw Nora in Twilight. And the antagonism from Eve afterward.

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Now, Nora radiated power. Both magical and emotional.

It amazed Theo to see the difference from the old Nora. They say Awakening from Slumber changes people, but Theo himself didn't really change—he just became more of himself. But Nora? She was like a whole new person. An angry, bitter, mean person.

It truly made Theo jealous.

He could barely find it in himself to care about most things. His memory made every experience vividly refresh in his mind at even a stray thought, which inevitably lessened his experience of life as a whole. That was half the reason he was so interested in Nora now.

Nothing she did matched.

Not her facial expressions. Not her nervous tics. Not her voice—especially not her voice. The way she spoke was sharper, more like their mother, but not. More assured without being cruel. More painful to hear angry, though.

"We've got a deal, Theodore."

Mallorica's smile grew wider, showing too many teeth to make Theo comfortable.

"Fine." Theo shifted, suddenly uncomfortable in his own skin. "What else do I need to know?"

As it turned out, there was a great deal Theo had to take into account.

Not only would he be crossing into enemy territory, but there were a thousand different rules he had to follow when he got there.

"Oh, poor Theo, shipped off just like Nora," Eve said, her hand covering her mouth—but Theo could hear the wicked smile in her voice.

Theo glanced at his elder sister as he left his mother's office. She was perched against the wall, like a vulture. She loved to do this. Always had. Anytime anyone spoke to one of their parents, Eve was never far behind. Theo was half convinced it was why she kept Leah and Leonard so close—so that when the day came for their parents to meet with them, they'd tell Eve every detail.

With a blink, [Acting] fell into place around Theo. His eyes dulled, but his mouth quirked up into a facsimile of a smile.

"Leave it to the fly to know the human's business," Theo said the words lightly, and he watched as a malicious glint came into her eyes.

Eve snapped her fingers, and pale blue runes lit up around her. Within a breath, a ball of light launched itself out of the runes, aimed for Theo's head.

It met [Barrier of the Mind] and dispersed harmlessly.

"What a mighty buzz, Eve, did you hear that?" Theo laughed, stepping past the teenager.

He always hated seeing Eve. She was everything he hated about Raph, but she actually lived at the manor with him.

Silver lining, I won't have to see her soon. Theo grimaced internally. Too bad I won't be able to access Twilight either.

"I'd watch yourself if I were you. The Road may be safer, but it is not safe." Eve's voice sent a shiver down Theo's spine.

But still, he continued on, a dark smile on his face.

"Careful, sis, Mother might take that as a threat. Besides, it's not like anyone could even catch us on the Queen's Road."

And it was true.

The barrier-laden road across the Queendom could get one from the edge of Umbra's coast to the borderlands in mere weeks. From Nemo's farthest reaches to Poplar's deepest mines. There was nowhere you could not get to in a month's time with the Queen's Road.

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