My Multicolored Cloak

A Grand Journey

Benjamin continued trying to get his siblings' attention, but they all ignored him. 

Back when Dimentio was initially sold, they all hoped and dreamed that they would be their father's next favorite. Each and every one of them thought that it could be them, but no one suspected that their father would choose Benjamin, the powerless one. Benjamin was once everyone's favorite, but that's the thing about siblings. The parent's favorite can NEVER be the siblings' favorite.

At first, most people were happy for him. They couldn't think of anyone who deserved to be Caleb's favorite more than their innocent baby brother. However, as time went on, that joy turned to jealousy and spite. Benjamin didn't do anything to earn that title. He was powerless. He had no worthwhile talents, and everyone knew it. He was practically useless. Even his pixl had very few true purposes other than carrying him around and making him move faster. 

While none of the siblings told Benjamin of their shifted feelings toward him, he could feel it. In a way, that's where he differed from Dimentio. While Dimentio was oblivious to the hatred and jealousy surrounding him, Benjamin was practically blinded by it. It was all he could see, all he could think about. Every night, he would wish that his father would choose someone else because he loved his siblings and he didn't want their hatred. He tried to stay the same, he tried to smile constantly and be there for them in any way he could, but they stopped coming to him. They stopped speaking to him. 

They stopped caring about him. 

His room felt too big for him now. It was almost always empty. Even Theo, who he once considered his best friend in the world, wouldn't speak to him or look him in the eye. 

The attention his father gave him was nice, he'll admit. He liked being able to have conversations, and he learned more about his mother than he ever did when Dimentio was around. His father told him all kinds of stories about his life before his children.

But his father also wept a lot. Wept for his "dead" son, who he still loved dearly. Benjamin, being the new favorite, was always the one who had to comfort him. But it was hard comforting his crying father knowing that he was one of the main reasons Dimentio was gone in the first place. It was hard to take advantage of being the favorite without thinking of the others. 

"Guys, please," Benjamin begged, holding the letter up. "It's from the lady we sold Dimentio to."

Suddenly, the rest of the siblings fell silent and looked at him with almost terrified expressions. It was as if he said the letter was from Queen Jaydes herself.

He sighed, then shakily opened the envelope. He was trying to be careful not to rip it, but was unsuccessful and ended up cutting his fingers in the process. In the past, if he were to accidentally cut himself, at least three of his siblings would come rushing forward with bandages, but now no one would even bat an eye. Not that he was too bothered by it. He didn't need people to constantly take care of him, he wasn't a child anymore. He just liked knowing they cared...

He held the letter in front of himself and silently read over it. 

Deceased. 

The letter was headed with the word "Deceased."

"Dimentio's dead," Benjamin breathed, and his hands started to shake. He could feel tears forming and stinging the inner corners of his eyes.

"Wait, what?" Cedric asked, walking forward and ripping the paper from Benjamin's hands. Benjamin winced, then covered his mouth. His shoulders shook with his quiet sobs.

"He's dead. Dimmy... h-he's really gone," Benjamin whimpered.

A hush fell over the room as Cedric read, then nodded, confirming that Benjamin was speaking the truth.