The Ascendant Wizard

After the short conversation they had, it was a bit awkward to suddenly just start acting all normal, like a cheerful family with nothing going on. So, in an attempt to try and smooth things over, as well as gather her entire family for a conversation, she decided to hold a dinner gathering.

Ruffling the boy's hair with her hand, she stepped past him and motioned for him to follow along.

"Come let's go eat. I believe it's time the family had dinner together after such a long time."

The boy blinked at her, confusion flickering across his face. He hadn't expected the sudden suggestion, clearly, but he followed when she gestured for him to walk with her.

He stayed close so as to not get left behind, barely remembering the layout of the halls since it had been a long time since he walked them.

As they crossed the halls, Morena sent word for Adolf to prepare the table, and another servant was sent to fetch her sister, who was probably busy practicing her days away.

She, on the other hand, went to get her father who stayed in his room. When she reached her father's chambers, she knocked lightly to indicate that she was here, and pushed the unlocked door open.

Stepping inside, the boy followed behind her shyly.

Her father was awake in his chair, reading a book once more; however, the second they entered, he shifted his focus over to them instead. His eyes moved to her first, lingering only for a moment, but then to the boy who peeked out from behind her.

Shy and curious, those were the words Morena would use to describe her brother in this moment. He was curious about his father, whom he had rarely seen, rarely spent time with in recent years, and rarely had the chance to talk to.

And shy because of all those reasons as well.

The room was quiet for much too long, no one knew what to say, and Morena didn't feel like it would be right to speak first. Instead, she allowed her father to think, for him to close the book in his hand and set it down.

"...Lorian."

He called the boy's name like he had never stopped calling it, a hint of emotion in his voice that Morena had rarely seen before. At his words, the boy stiffened slightly.

"Father."

The man pushed off his chair slightly when he heard the response, with big steps, he arrived before the two, looking past Morena to the boy behind her.

Morena stepped to the side slightly, patting Lorian on his back to push him forward, as if telling him to go ahead; there was no reason to be afraid after all.

This was a good chance for both of them to speak, to discuss. She was sure that they both had a lot of things they wished to express and she didn't want to get in the middle of it.

But the boy was still much too shy, holding onto her clothing slightly even when she moved him forward.

He wasn't even close to her, they had only just met again after such a long time, but it seemed like he was much more nervous meeting their father than he was with her.

To the point where he would rather hide behind an unfamiliar big sister.

"It has been much too long since I've seen you."

Her father was the first to speak again, and he didn't finish this time.

"I know that I have wronged you in many ways. I shouldn't have let them take you; I should have come and found you when they did. I have failed you as a father; those are words I've always wanted to express."

Both Morena and Lorian were shocked at the words; neither of them had expected their father to suddenly bring up such a topic, let alone blame himself for it.

Perhaps the sight of the boy had brought his failures rushing to his mind, so much so that he couldn't stay silent about them any longer.

"You couldn't!"

Lorian replied in a loud voice. It was the first time Morena had heard him speak in such a loud, and assertive tone, it was almost surprising.

"It's not your fault, they wouldn't have listened."

Their father coughed slightly, lowering his eyes to look at the boy before him; realizing just how much he had grown, and how much he had missed out on.

"That doesn't mean I shouldn't have tried harder."

Morena felt the atmosphere tense a little too much as neither of them knew what to say to move forward, and she felt the need to step up here. Resting an arm on her brother's shoulder, she smiled and spoke.

"We might not be able to change the past, but that doesn't mean we can't decide the future. I'm holding a dinner for all of us. I came to have you attend. I already sent for Alina."

The man shifted his gaze from his son to his daughter, seeing her smile, and simply nodded in reply to her words.

"That is not a bad idea. It has been a while since we've dined as a family."

After that brief exchange, the walk to the dining hall was silent; no one spoke up and simply allowed the sound of their boots to echo in the wide hallways.

By the time they reached the dining hall, the table was already being set, candles lit, bowls and plates of food steaming, and bread laid out fresh.

Adolf had done his work well, as always, informing the kitchen staff to prepare meals in such a short time; she wasn't even sure how they had finished already.

It was impressive to say the least, maybe they had magic?

Alina arrived soon after they had, hair tied loosely back, still somewhat sweaty from her training. She stopped in the doorway when she saw Lorian seated at the table.

Her eyes quickly shifted to Morena, who had taken a seat already, moving closer, she sat next to her.

"...I didn't expect him to be here."

She whispered to her sister in a low voice, as if questioning how he was here.

"He's staying for some time."

Morena said simply in reply.

Alina's gaze moved from her to their father, to the boy. Her expression wasn't cruel, just... awkward. To Morena, the boy was someone she had failed as an older sister, someone whom she wished she had done better for in her past.

But to Alina, the boy was much more, after all, unlike Morena, who was their half-sister; Lorian and Alina were full-blooded siblings. Yet even with that connection, even with her capabilities in the past that Morena lacked, she couldn't help the boy.

Of course, if their father couldn't do it, what could she do? But still, she never visited the boy, never tried to help him; some part of her saw that as abandoning him.

Even when she only did it because she knew it would be pointless to try.

She smoothed her hands over the tablecloth, trying to avoid the awkwardness of his stare; unwilling to speak to him in the moment.

The meal began quietly. Lorian sat stiff, picking at the bread with deliberate movements, as though he wasn't sure what was expected of him.

Their father was always a silent man in nature, so he only ate and drank without conversing. Never eating too much, or too quickly; the perfect practice of nobility that came with experience.

"You've grown into a fine young man."

He said, his eyes on Lorian.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there to see it."

The boy glanced up, startled.

"You don't need to be sorry."

"I do. Because it was my duty, but going forward I'll be sure that I won't miss anything."

Lorian didn't reply, but his lips pressed together tightly. Morena watched the exchange with mild interest, then dipped her spoon into her bowl.

"Eat more."

She said, her tone light.

"You'll like it, our chef here is pretty good. I'm sure it's better than anything the Council could possibly make."

The boy tried, and though his expression didn't change much, Morena caught the flicker in his eyes, the smallest surprise at the taste.

She smiled faintly and leaned back.

Alina finally spoke after several minutes of silence, her voice softer than usual.

"I'm sorry for not coming to see you, I couldn't."

Lorian's eyes lifted at that.

"You couldn't?"

"It's complicated, a story too long for dinner, but not visiting didn't mean I didn't care. You're my little brother after all. I cared. I care now. But then..."

The boy stared at her for a long moment, uncertain, then dropped his gaze again.

He didn't know how to reply, and he wasn't sure how to feel.

Their father sighed, pushing his bowl forward.

"That's how they work, always trying to divide us. But enough about them, enough about all these useless matters. I want to hear about you, Lorian."

Morena tapped her finger against the wood.

"He's right, let's not bother with a bunch of old men while we're eating."

The boy looked up, his eyes darting between the three of them, a slight smile on his face as he began to recount his stories in short sentences.