An Elf Called Fatry

Family meeting

A few days passed and Saturday came. Finral got ready for his second visit home before opening a portal to the dining room for breakfast.

"Good morning Captain Ya.... Visitor?" Finral said, surprised to see William Vangeance sitting at a table, talking to Yami.

"Hello. Finral, the spacial mage from the entrance exam, right?"

"Mhmm," Finral slowly nodded a single nod. He felt a mild ache in his chest and he knew something was off with Fatry.

"Yami's not working you to hard, is he? I know how lazy he can be at times."

"Who you calling lazy, Goldy Guts?!"

Vengeance ignored the question and waited for Finral's reply.

"N-no sir."

"Please, call me William. Julius asked me to join Yami on his mission today."

"You going to get over here and eat, kid? I though you had a little mission of your own today."

"I wouldn't call going home to visit a mission," Finral said.

"The way you looked when you got back to the hideout says otherwise," Yami replied setting a plate of food on the table across from Vangeance and Finral sat down.

"I told you, it was a long day, that's all. Anyway, I should probably get going. Father won't be happy if I'm late."

"You haven't even eaten yet," Yami replied.

"It's fine. Knowing my parents, they will probably have food ready when I get there."

"Alright. I probably won't get back tonight. Will you be fine on your own until sometime tomorrow?"

"Yeah."

"Don't forget to feed my precious pets."

"I won't. I'll see you tomorrow then." He stood up and turned to open a portal.

"One more thing," Yami said.

Finral turned around just in time to catch a thin cylinder object that Yami had tossed to him.

"What's this?"

"A magic communication device. If there's an emergency use it to contact me. I don't feel to comfortable leaving a kid here by himself."

"Thank you, but I probably won't need it. I'll be home most of today."

"Just take it and get out of here."

"I never said I didn't want it. I just said I don't think I'll need it, but I'd rather be safe then sorry. I mean I'm really not the best person to leave alone at a Magic Knight's hideout. Especially if it were to be attacked. Well guess I should go see what Father wants," he said before walking threw the now closing portal.

"What was that about, Yami?"

"That kid has absolutely no self confidence and it's driving me insane. So far the only thing that seems to motivate him is girls. I'm sure he's capable of fighting but he doesn't seem to believe it himself."

"Are you sure he'll be okay as a Magic Knight? Not having self confidence is a good way to get yourself killed."

"I know. But I think there's a reason for it. And I am certain it's got something to do with his father."

"You don't think he's abused, do you?"

"Not physically but definitely mentally and emotionally. You should have heard the bastard after the entrance exam."

"So then he just needs a confidence boost. Someone to contradict whatever his father put into his head."

"That's what I'm going to have to do because asking if he wants to talk sure as hell isn't working."

******

You okay, Fatry? Finral asked when he stepped out of the portal and into the garden of the Vaude house.

Yeah.... It's just... that man.... His voice sounded a bit like Licht's.

Captain Vangeance of the Golden Dawn? You don't think you're leader is possessing him, do you?

I don't know but I don't think so either.

"Hmm?" Finral interrupted their mental conversation when he spotted his younger brother across the garden. "Hi, Langris! You're training already this morning?"

"Father sent me out to wait for you so I thought I'd get in a bit of training. Father also asks that we wait out here until a maid comes to get us."

"That's odd. Do you know what this is about?"

"I know as much as you do. In other words, nothing. Not that it matters, we'll be finding out the meaning of this nonsense shortly.

"I-I figures as much," Finral chuckled. "But is it really nonsense? I mean Father wouldn't go through all this trouble if it wasn't something important."

"Maybe so. I don't really care. This whole thing is boring me."

"If that's so... maybe you and I could..."

"No. I've got better things to do then hang out with the shame of the family."

"Oh.... That's okay. I understand," Finral said looking to a rose bush, trying to appear distracted.

Well this is some day. First a man that sounds like Licht. And now it turns out you're little brother looks a bit like mine. But yours seems a bit more arrogant.

Yeah. I'm sorry I should have warned you about Langris. But really, he's not that bad.

"Umm Langris...? If you don't mind my asking... where were you the other day at dinner?"

"I went out. What does it matter to you?"

"I-I guess it doesn't.... I was just curious."

"Young Lord Finral. Young Lord Langris," A maid called from the door. "Lord Ledior is ready to see you now."

The maid lead them to the living room where Liliane and Ledior stood side by side.

"Finral. Langris," Ledior began. "As you both know, yesterday, Your mother and I went out for the day. Until today, we kept the details of yesterday's outing a secret from you both. We went to House Kira for a meeting with the King and a few other members of the royal family."

"You where at the castle?"

"Yes, Langris, Dear," Liliane smiled at him before shooting a quick glare in Finral's direction.

"We where making an arrangement with some other members of House Kira but the King wished to sit in on the meeting."

"An arrangement?" Finral asked skeptically.

"Do not interrupt your father," Liliane said calmly, but her expression wasn't calm in the slightest.

"Langris. Finral. I would like you both to meet, Lady Finesse of House Kira. The fiancée of the next head of House Vaude," Ledior said as he and Liliane stepped to the side in opposite directions.

"Pleased to meet you," The girl smiled at them.

"Due to her chronic illness, she is unable to go outside. But she comes from a long line of incredible magic power...!"