Algernon Black

(Chapter 76) Meaningless Pity

It didn't take but a few hours before Jared was called from his guest room to dinner. Devane had sent him away with a custom suit to fit such an occasion but Jared worried about the impression it would send his dinner partner when it turned out to be an exclusive evening for just the two of them.

"After all these years," Yosphine spoke, while a very abiding servant poured their wine. "I thought you wouldn't recognize me."

"Who could forget you," Jared replied with a genuine smile. Yoshpine blushed and it perfectly blended into her dark skin as Jared noticed there were no visible signs of any smile lines on her cheeks. After ten years apart he had hoped she would grow some.

"I had no idea you were part of Salaris's nobility," Jared said as a line of servants brought in trays of food.

"Well, it's not a particular bloodline that determines one's standing in our court," Yosephine divulged but glanced at every meal to make sure they reached her high standards.

"And what does?" Jared asked, as a sugar roasted duck was carved and plated for them.

As her reply, Yosphine simply lifted her hand's palm side up, causing the dish and glass to hover. She raised her hand ever so slightly more and the table and chairs, including Jared's own, lifted off the ground. Her magic was so impeccable when she released him back down he landed exactly in the place he started, while some dishes clangored down on a rockier decent.

"Wow," Jared remarked, espying the many stones laced into her jewelry and clothes glowing softly red until they died down. "I had no idea you became so practiced."

"Not just practiced," Yosphine amended, flexing her hand where a wide metal cuff of stones gave her wrist a slight ache.

"Powerful," Jared amended, looking at the priceless jewels that expanded her magic far past the average practitioner.

Yosphine nodded as the servants' jumped to reset the table back into perfect alignment.

"I'm glad," Jared said, remembering what a hard time she had in Attwood when she wasn't strong enough to fight against those that treated her so poorly. "I hope that means everyone has finally given you the respect you deserve."

"Respect or fear," Yosphine drawled, watching an antsy servant's nervous movements cause a teacup to clatter against its plate. "I've stopped being able to tell the difference."

Jared watched the servants being eyed down by Yosphine, as intimidating as she seemed he sensed the sorrow behind her voice and eyes. The staff made a quick exit soon after, just as music started to waft in. Chimes played on the eight hours of the night and went on for eight minutes in honor of the god of darkness in many countries, but in the long low-ceilings halls of the palace, it resonated in eerie beauty.

"What a coincidence," Jared said, standing up and coming to Yosphine to offer his hand down. She looked at it hesitatingly before accepting it.

Jared pulled her into a shabby repetition of movements that were the severely lacking extent of his dancing skills. "I don't think I've had a chance to dance with anyone since you took pity on me at the winter ball," Jared smiled nostalgically.

"You took pity on me." Yosphine corrected. "The only one that would." Jared's throat dried as he recalled the not-so-pleasant parts of their past. It was the start of his third year when the foreign freshman girl was immediately ostracized by everyone. The abuse is why he first noticed Yosphine and kept noticing her weeks into classes where she was always left by herself in the lunchroom or limping out of the nurse's office with fresh bandages on old scars that could never heal from ceaseless attacks. Jared sympathized with her because he understood how easily that could have been him. When he first came to Attwood many people treated him similarly, but Solace took him under his wings as did a very kind professor. A year after them, Aloysius started his education and a friendship with Jared. As an artifact user, he should have been granted immediate respect, but his odd personality caused their classmates' disapproval. Only Jared was smart enough to see his personality choice was intentional, to keep away fake friends and only Jared was kind enough to become the friend he needed. Eventually, everyone came to accept Jared's place in Attwood, or at least to his face they did. Behind his back, he still heard whispers of lies and criticism, but his friends' laughter drowned them out.