Tenebris Renasci: A World of Magic and Gunpowder

With a lighter conversation and the flow of pastries, the atmosphere around the table settled down. 

Alexander found himself quietly listening to Camilla and his mother talk about books, the city, and the ongoing expansion into the demon continent. Ben and Antoinette, who were seated at a nearby table, quietly talked amongst themselves, occasionally glancing at their respective responsibilities.

Louise quietly played with a wooden toy she had, it was a spinning top of sorts, with a string attached. She would occasionally glance at Alexander with a curious expression, though whenever he looked back, she would roll her eyes and avert her gaze.

As the sun began to lower in the sky, a warm oratory glow filtered through the café windows, creating a beautiful scene that looked to be reminiscent of a painting.

"Well, the sun is heading out, so I suppose we should too." Camilla said with a soft laugh, rising from her seat. "Though I must say, it was a pleasure to chat with you Mrs. Daname," she then smiled as she looked at Alexander. "And you, be sure to keep your head about you, because you are quite the little charmer."

Alexander softly smiled. "Thank you Ma'am but even though I won't always be little, I'll always have eyes for you."

Camilla smiled as she crossed her arms. "You are a dangerous little man aren't you."

"Ugh, if you're done wasting time with this foolish boy, I'm prepared to leave." Louise said with a haughty disdain. Hopping down from her chair.

Alexander sighed as he shook his head. 

Might as well chat her up too, couldn't hurt.

"Louise, if your tone matched your beauty, I'd have begged my father to bring down the moon, so that I could give it to you."

Louise paused for a moment, then slowly turned her gaze upon Alexander, her expression a mixture of irritation and a hint of curiosity. "I shall never accept a gift from the likes of you." She said while turning up her nose. "Besides, I deserve the sun…"

Welp, I tried.

Alexander's mother laughed softly as she ruffled his hair. "Was Camilla not enough?" She teased.

Camilla chuckled as she led the way towards the exit. The group followed behind her, moving towards the café's entrance.

Stepping outside the group was greeted with a chilly afternoon breeze, and a sky that was painted hues of orange and yellow.

Camilla narrowed her eyes as she looked around the sidewalk for a moment. She then locked eyes with a red and gray carriage, which was attached to a white and blue windwalker. It was parked on the opposite side of the street, guarded by a pathfinder who quickly sat in the driver's bench.

"Well, I suppose this is goodbye." Camilla said as she turned towards Alexander's mother, "after tonight, I'll be heading towards the front, and Louise will be going home."

"I suppose so." Alexander's mother said, smiling warmly at Camilla.

"Can't wait to get home for dinner." Ben said audibly, stepping beside Alexander's mother. "Speaking of which… What are you having for dinner Lady Camilla?" 

"Uhm, whatever Antoinette cooks I suppose." She answered with a finger to her chin.

Ben nodded. "The servants back at the mansion are wonderful cooks, truly a class of their own, I wish you could try it ma'am." His tone was respectful and his stance reserved, but even then, it was obvious what he was trying to pull.

You sly dog.

Alexander looked up to Ben with reverence and respect. The lengths he was willing to go just to talk to Antoinette a little longer was ridiculous, but admirable.

Camilla raised an eyebrow as Alexander's mother smiled. "Sir Ben, what did I say about playing games?" She teased.

Ben chuckled nervously as he scratched the back of his head. "Uhm, I guess what I mean to say is, would you mind coming over for dinner, Lady Camilla, so that I may talk to Dame Antoinette…" Ben began to trail off as he fumbled with his fingers.

Antoinette meanwhile was blushing hard as she tried her best to avoid everyone's gaze.

"I personally wouldn't mind having you over for dinner, as the mansion has been rather empty lately." Alexander's mother chimed in.

Camilla shrugged. "I don't mind, but you wouldn't mind us staying the night would you?" She asked, "I don't like moving once my stomach is full." She joked.

"Oh not at all." Alexander's mother replied, she then gave Ben a cheeky side-eye. "Besides, I think Sir Ben deserves a reward for all his help today."

Camilla glanced over at Ben, then smirked. "I see, very well then, I'll have my carriage follow yours." She said with a nod before heading across the street, Louise and Antoinette followed.

Ben led Alexander and his mother to their respective carriage, helping them inside before hopping in the driver's bench. 

With everyone settled, the carriage slowly moved off the sidewalk and onto the roads. 

Camilla's carriage followed closely behind.

Inside of Alexander's carriage, he and his mother quietly sat with each other. With her holding him in a embrace and Alexander nodding off to sleep.

The journey back to the mansion was an uneventful one.

Reaching the Mansion, the carriage parked near the stables and disembarked. Stepping outside into the cool air, Alexander yawned and stretched his arms. 

What a day…

Alexander's mother chuckled as she led the way towards the mansion. Stepping past the doors and into the foyer, Alexander was greeted with the sight of his home. 

"Quite the nice little place you got here." Camilla commented, her eyes dancing around as she stepped further inside. "It's cozy."

Alexander slightly shook his head as he pulled his lips back. 

"Little," she says… honestly.

Alexander rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he headed for the stairs. 

"Where are you going darling?" His mother asked curiously. 

"My room." Alexander answered, walking up the stairs with another yawn. 

"How rude." Louise muttered under her breath as she crossed her arms. 

Oh you're one to talk.

Alexander's mother sighed as she placed a hand on her hip, the other hand being occupied by the book she bought earlier. "I'll send Elise to fetch you for dinner." She called out to him. 

"Okay." Alexander replied. 

Reaching upstairs Alexander made his way down the corridor and towards his room. 

As he got closer towards it, he heard the sound of his radio playing a broadcast of some sort.

"… and that's another point for Pathfinder Academy Saran, making the score 0–2!" The broadcaster said with excitement. "If I were a student from Academy Aite, I'd hope for the defense to get its act together."

Stepping onto his room, Alexander was greeted with Marcus sitting on his bed reading through a book as he quietly listened to the radio.

"Why are you in my room?" Alexander asked, taking off his coat. "Don't you have your own?"

Marcus chuckled as he closed the book he was reading. "I do, but mine doesn't have a radio, and I was a little bored without you."

"You say that like you missed me." Alexander said with a chuckle. "But really you just didn't have anyone to harass or sit on." Alexander then pointed a finger to marcus. "That's what you missed."

Marcus laughed softly as he leaned back on Alexander's bed. Spreading his arms out as if he was making a snow angel. "You got me." he said with a laugh, "though…" Marcus slowly sat up, his gaze landing upon Marcus with a curious glint. "…you're the only person I'd do that to." he said softly.

Alexander felt his heart skip a beat as the words left Marcus's unusually soft lips. He paused in the removal of his clothes as he looked over to Marcus. 

Marcus was about nine years old, with long black hair and blue eyes. His skin was pale and his muscles were coming in well thanks to his training with elise. He was dressed in a long cloth shirt and tan pants, clothes which belonged to Alexander's older brother felix.

Marcus stared back at Alexander with that same curious gaze. His head was tilting slightly to the left, allowing for his long black hair to shift, revealing his long pointed ear, which was a warm red at the tip.

There was a moment of quiet observation from both parties, and it went on for what felt like hours, but was realistically only a few seconds.

Alexander gulped as he quickly averted his gaze from Marcus.

What the hell was that?

Alexander closed his eyes tight. His mind raced as he tried to process what had just transpired. There was just no way in hell Alexander found himself locking eyes with Marcus of all people. 

Firstly, Marcus was a guy, and Alexander knew for a fact he didn't swing for that team. Secondly, he was too young for such things, though he had memories of his past life, he was still a six-year-old who only cared about entertainment and money. 

And lastly, it was MARCUS of all people, that tall weirdo who looks like a girl.

There was just no way he would fall for that, not in a million, billion, or trillion years.

Clearly my brain is just exhausted from the lack of sleep, and it's now making major mistakes and lapses in judgment.

"Can you just get out?" Alexander said with a casual sigh, attempting to brush past what had just happened. "A noble mustn't change in front of the poor folk." 

Marcus chuckled as he hopped from Alexander's bed, "wow Alex, weird time to become all high and mighty." he said with a pout, he then approached alexander, placing his hand upon his head. 

Alexander felt a shiver run down his spine as Marcus ran his fingers through his hair. His touch was soft and gentle. "Don't forget it was you who grabbed me off the streets." Marcus teased, "anyway, I guess I'll catch up with you later." he said, before gently pushing Alexander's head to the side, then exiting the room.

After Marcus left, Alexander stood quietly in his room.

"Why does he always smell like flowers?" Alexander finally whispered to himself, his tone soft and filled with inquiry.

— — —

After changing his clothes and briefly resting, there was a knock on his door. 

"Lord Alexander, Dinner has been prepared and Lady Erica requests your presence." 

It was Elise.

"Coming." Alexander replied, slowly descending from his bed.

With a scratch to his cheek Alexander opened his door and was immediately greeted by Elise, who was dressed in her pathfinder uniform. 

Alexander looked up to Elise with a tired expression. He wordlessly raised his hands up as he closed his eyes. "Take me." He said softly.

Elise softly chuckled as she bent down to pick him up. "Oof, my lord…" she said with a strained chuckle, "you've grown."

Yea it's called aging, something Mrs. Dellwich clearly doesn't understand.

Elise adjusted Alexander in her arms, eventually settling with him riding her hip as she wrapped an arm around his back. 

Walking down the corridor and descending the stairs, Alexander could hear the sound of lively chatter between Marcus and Camilla. 

"…oh I certainly hope so." Marcus said with a laugh, "Elise and Alex's father said I'd make a great pathfinder, I just have to keep practicing."

Camilla chuckled warmly. "I see, well I'm sure house Daname would be proud to have someone like you, right Mrs. Daname?"

"Indeed, Marcus would be a great addition to our house." Alexander's mother said.

Upon entering the main dining room Alexander saw his family and guests sitting around a long dinner table, smiles on their faces and silverware in hand. Dishes lined the table filled with various foods and sauses. 

Alexander's mother turned to look at him, her gaze warm and tender. "Aren't you a little old to be carried around, my love?"

Alexander scoffed. "What an utterly ridiculous notion, what are you suggesting, that I'm fat?" Alexander turned his nose up, shifting his gaze from his mother to the ceiling.

Everyone around the table softly laughed or chuckled, with the obvious exclusion of louise.

Alexander's second mother, Oliva, chimed in. "You are quite the character Alex, sometimes I wonder if you're just your father reincarnated." she joked.

Camilla chucked. "Wouldn't that be something?" she asked with an excited glint in her eye. "A second Lord Lance, while the first is still alive."

Alexander raised an eyebrow in curiosity, was he truly as similar to his father as his mothers' seemed to suggest?

If so, then Alexander needed to talk with his old man sooner rather than later, just to see this for himself.