Overworld: The generation of heroes Volume 1

6. Family Dinner

Meanwhile, Sandy and Oliver were busy playing and talking upstairs. "Do you remember when we stole my parents' clothes and pretended to be adults when we were younger?" said Oliver, laughing a little. "God, they were good days." "Yeah, I do," Sandy replied, smiling. "my parents still have pictures of it." Silence then hit, and Sandy then stared at her uncle's brooch sitting on the side of Oliver's bedside table. "Hey, isn't that your father's brooch?" she asked, Oliver looking up from his phone and seeing it. Of course he couldn't tell her about the talismans and definitely not about the airidans; she wouldn't be able to see them. "Y-yeah," replied Oliver, stuttering. "I found it in a box of his possessions recently, and I felt really intrigued by the design and value, so I have it here." "Ok then," Sandy stated, looking down at her phone. "How's Loomey?" "Lumina?" Oliver said. "Yeah her," replied Sandy. "She's good," Oliver replied back. "what about Jessica?" "Oh, she's doing well too," Sandy said softly, then looking sadly. "although she has recently been hanging out with the mean girls. So I'm kinda glad I'm here with you, Ollie."

Suddenly, a loud call came from the kitchen. "Dinner's ready!" shouted Farah. "Finally," groaned Oliver. "I'm starving!" The whole family were gathered around the dining table. Oliver, unfortunately, was sat next to his cousin Kane, who was very fussy and messy with food, but on the other hand he was next to Sandy and opposite his mother, who tried her best to sit as far away from Clarice. "Sooo," Clarice began in her usually fake optimistic tone. "isn't it so lovely and so generous for Farah to cook us dinner tonight!" "Yes, thank you, Clarice," replied Farah sarcastically. "I'm very honoured." "As your sister-in-law, I would like to begin this meal with a toast, to our beloved brother, in-law, uncle, husband and father, Nathaniel McRae. To Nathaniel!" "To Nathaniel," Farah and Edmund murmured. "To Uncle Nathan," the cousins said. "To dad..." Oliver whispered to himself. The adults, Oliver, Darla, and Sandy held up their glasses and drank, whilst Kane and Oscar drank from their straws and Delilah had her plastic cup. The family mostly ate in silence, but Clarice and Edmund talked a bit and the little cousins making noises filled it.

"So Oliver," purred Clarice. "how's school?" "Good, I guess," responded Oliver, eating potatoes. "I heard you picked Criminology as an A-level subject, you enjoying it?" "Well, yes," Oliver replied again. "It's fun, plus it's interesting learning about crime and-" "Basically, Ollie is doing well in school and loves his studies," Farah interrupted protectively. "Honey, he has a voice, and I'm his aunt, he can tell me anything he wants," stated Clarice, drinking her expensive red wine. "He's grieving his father," protested Farah, frowning. "I don't think he wants to talk." Oliver ate the rest of his food, annoyed that his mother and aunt were going to start arguing. "It's always you, your son and your damn husband," Clarice moaned. "you're so selfish, Farah." "Here we go again..." mumbled Edmund sadly, putting his hands over his face. "Selfish??" choked Farah. "I'm selfish, for standing up to my own son?!!" "YES!" snapped Clarice. "Why don't you ever stand up for me?!? Or Ed?! Or your own nieces and nephews??! They're your family too!" "How dare you talk about your husband and children like that!!!" Farah yelled. "You're just a little b-"

"Mom! Aunt Farah! Stop it!" cried Darla, before they started using bad language around the younger ones. "Can you both shut up! You'll scare the little kids, and you're annoying dad and Oliver!" The 2 ladies paused, then sat down silently. Darla looked at her mother, and added, "Mom, can I please leave the table? I need the toilet." "Sure, honey," Clarice smiled. "you go ahead." With that, Darla got up and quietly walked upstairs. Instead of going to the bathroom, she entered Farah's room, which was neat, quiet, and piled with possessions that belonged to her late husband, Darla's uncle. Darla immediately rummaged through the boxes, but gently, so nobody heard her. 'That box has to be here,' she thought, seeing nothing but emptiness. Sighing, Darla walked back out of the bedroom, but then looked into Oliver's room. Does she dare? 'It might be here, I'll give it a try.' With that, she entered Oliver's bedroom, without a noise...