The Aura is With Us

Chapter 36: A Final Melody and the Harmony that Echoed

Sir Aaron walked through the large sweeping halls of the Gens' ancestral home, insomnia fueling his feet and mind. The mansion was by far the most luxurious place the knight had ever had the pleasure of staying at. Windows of fine crystal, floors of varnished wood so polished you could see your reflection in them, and he was certain that some of the pieces of furniture were worth more then all of Lady Ryn's jewels. Yet, despite is glamorous appearance, Sir Aaron couldn't help but pick up on a sense of sadness that lingered in this grand home.

As it wasn't really home. Sure, his niece and nephews lived here, but it wasn't a home. A home was more like Delia's house. Warm and inviting. This place. It was almost sterile. Even if two young boys roamed the grounds.

Constance and Carter, his youngest nephews, were delightful lads. Sir Aaron could tell they were dormants at the first glance of their souls, but he found he hardly minded. After spending the evening talking with them it was clear the boys were bright in their own ways. They were certainly smarter than Sir Aaron gave them credit for. They were little inventors in the making. Their room was covered in little tools or machines they had built from kits or designed themselves. It seemed as if they also inherited the technology inclined gene that Amanda was blessed with (at least that's how Sir Aaron thought genes worked).

Despite being practically identical in appearance, interests and mannerisms, there were thankfully some differences. Constance was the milder manner one, while Carter was a little more excitable. The former reading the instructions of any new build out loud, while the latter built said contraption with his hands. Though, if Sir Aaron was being honest, the only reason he hadn't mixed up the two was because of the boys different Pokémon partners.

Constance had followed in his sister's footsteps, pairing with an eevee. A sweet little fluff ball that had taken to riding on his human's head. Carter had gone off the beaten path like Riley, and selected to befriend a gibble, who was affectionally nick-named "Crunchy". Said boy would carry around the little dragon like a stuffed toy in an adorable manner.

Despite not understanding half of the technical terms that the twins said when talking about their projects, Sir Aaron rather enjoyed their company, and hoped to be part of the boys' lives after all this was over.

Sadly, the boys seemed to like him. They were rather awkward with their older brother. They seemed so stiff whenever Riley was around, like they needed to act formally. Which was a sharp contrast to how comfortable they were with their sister.

Speaking of his niece. Amanda's behavior in the home was more like that of Mrs. Rose as house staff then a resident. The moment the twins were settled with their homework that evening, she went to work helping Mrs. Rose prepare dinner, despite the elder woman's protests. Even with all the make-up she wore he knew his niece was exhausted. Yet, she went out of her way to prepare dinner, get the twins to bed and still get him a cup of tea without him asking.

Sir Aaron sighed rubbing his eyes. He hoped Amanda was getting the rest she deserved after getting them all settled for the night. Riley might have had a room here already, but rooms in the guest wing needed to be prepared for Sir Aaron, and the older lads.

The knight turned a corner, walking down a high hall deeper into the manor. The windows on the walls were quickly replaced with priceless paintings or works of art. Such as portraits of what Sir Aaron assumed were previous residents of the home. The people in them were all the same in a way. None of the faces were happy, all of them with stern looks and upturned noses like they were above the viewer. Sir Aaron glanced at each with a rather bored expression after a while, until he stumbled across a familiar face amongst the crowd of strangers.