Chapter 3...

"Hmm." Ingrice closely observed Treya's eyes. They were still a pale grey, but whenever she concentrated, she could turn them to pink, and see clear as day. "And she just woke up like this?" Ingrice turned to Vivian.

"It must be magic, but I never sensed it within her, even after she was born." Vivian shrugged with no answer.

"So, you are saying she can use, magic?" Ingrice asked once more, unsure. Treya was standing still as a statue, looking all over the house, she never saw.

"I don't see why not. If she can use it to see, why not for other uses?" Vivian smiled.

"What exactly happened, when you entered that forest, Treya?" Ingrice looked back at Treya, along with Vivian, seeking an answer to this sudden turn of events.

"I...I was running, and then I fell, and got cornered." She gripped her dress. "B-but then.."

"Go on." Ingrice urged.

"A...pretty lady, with long, blue hair, like clear water, appeared. She saved me..." She smiled slightly. "...but, I can't remember what happened after that..." She scratched her head, thinking hard on it.

"...a lady?" Vivian perked up. "Blue hair..." Vivian wore a deep in thought look. "Did she...say anything to you?" She asked.

"She...um, I think...something about grandmother..." As she said the word grandmother, Ingrice and Vivian were listening intently.

"What? What did she say about my mother?" Ingrice put her hands on her shoulders. "What does she know about our mother?!"

"I...can't remember-"

"You must remember something, child! Anything, no matter how insignificant it was, might have been said!" She shook Treya a bit. Demanding an answer.

"It...I-"

"Anything, Treya! It was last night, fresh in your mind! You can remember that much, I know you can!"

"I-I can't!" Treya's voice broke slightly.

"What do you mean you can't!?"

"Ingrice!" Vivian shouted. "Calm down! You are hurting her!" Vivian pointed out. Ingrice snapped out of her line of questioning, and slowly un-clenched her fingernails from Treya's small arms. Treya was taken aback, and had fear in her eyes. She hadn't seen a look like that from her mother before. She wasn't sure what to think of it. But depending on how she answered, would determine her mother's true intentions. Ingrice had a sign of desperation on her face, for a moment. But she began walking away from the two.

"Ingrice-"

"I need to go scout the forest. If someone's here I need to know." She said as she began heading to the door.

"Ingrice, I already did that, last night, and this morning. I found nothing out there-"

"You might have missed something! Something killed that pack last night, and I need to know who, or what did!" She argued back.

"Ingrice, you are not thinking clearly, if this is about what killed the wolves, I'll hire the local hunters to scour the entire -"

"IT ISN'T ABOUT THAT!" Ingrice shouted back, which surprised the both of them. She never raised her voice that much, but when she did, it was serious."...(pant)...I'll be right back." She growled.

"I-I'm sorry mothe-" Treya wanted to apologize, but her mother treated her as if she were never there.

(DOOR SLAMS)

"...oh my." Vivian sighed in frustration. "Now I know why mother told me to keep an eye on-hm?" She turned to Treya, who had tears dripping onto the floor, with her mouth shut, and a sense of guilt about her.

"(Sobs)..." Her eyes went back to the pale, empty color, and she was close to breaking down. Vivian bent down and offered her arms out to the small girl.

"Come here, young lady." She softly put. Treya approached her and sunk her face into her aunt's shoulder, with slight sobbing, and a sorrowful face. Vivian cradled her head, and slowly rubbed her back. "It's not your fault. You're not to blame for anything." She kissed the side of her head and softly whispered.

"Mother's angry at me...and she hates me.." Treya said as her eyes were filled up with tears and just continued to cry quietly.

"It's not you, child...it's herself." Vivian frowned, and said. "Come, lets draw a bath together. We'll start our day off nice and refreshed, okay?" She said as she picked her up and carried her niece to the bathroom.

Later...

"..." Ingrice was at the location the wolves died at, and was examining the wounds that were inflicted upon them. It was a lot easier to see the damage done in daylight, rather than moonlight. She turned the wolf corpse over and narrowed her eyes. "...if it was a spear, it'd be a smaller hole. This is similar to a stalagmite spike, but the entry was much smoother and...at a slanted angle. The point of attack..." As she deducted, she looked around the ground, and noticed disturbed earth near some of the wolves. She bent down and moved some of it with her hand. "...it came from the ground? Such a clean hit, from the ground?! All those wounds would have killed the vermin, instantly. This was not done by conventional means. That woman, Treya spoke of, must have used magic." She deduced after standing up.

"...and what would bring my mother into this?" She narrowed her eyes sharply. She decided to head back, and investigate this further at a later date.

"Well, lets figure out your method of activating magic." Vivian said as the two were at the stone garden. Since Ingrice went out to investigate the spot that Treya was at, Vivian figured they would try using magic.

"I just...think of seeing, and then I can see." Treya shrugged slightly. "But, I get kind of dizzy, when it's working for too long." She felt her head.

"It's to be expected. You've never used magic before, so your body needs time to adjust."

"Why?" Treya asked with a blank look.

"Mages have magic containers that hold reserve magic in order for them to cast, or use in conjunction with a magic tool. Once that supply runs low, the mage is incapable of such feats. Your dizziness is a result of having a small portion of magic, used up after a short while." Vivian taught. "Over time, your body will have an ever-expanding magic supply. The trick is though, there are certain methods that assist with speeding up the process, but they require two ways to work. You must have the ability to gather magic, and secondly, controlling how much you use at a time." She explained in detail.

"You know a lot about magic, aunt Vivian." Treya said as she fell back, and sat down on the ground with a interested expression on her face.

"Hmph, I am a wizard after all. Second to nothing, compared to your mother." She boasted with a proud smile.

"Is that so?" Ingrice said, as she came up behind them. "Perhaps I should remind you, who taught you what you know, before your head swells to an unbelievable size." She smiled with a scoff as she stood next to Treya who looked up at her with a surprised look.

"Magic is my forte, Ingrice. You know it, I know it, everyone knows it. Your ability to use yours, in conjunction with your fighting style, however, is beyond what I can do." Vivian shrugged.

"Ah yes, what was it everyone called you again? The Calm Storm?" She said as she crossed her arms under her chest and "Or was it, The Human Incarnate of Lighting? I can never remember." She sounded like she was teasing her.

"No one has a name that long." Vivian's sweat dropped.

"I can never remember what they called you among the Apex...ah yes, The Death Bolt." She snapped her fingers in remembrance. Vivian frowned at the mention of that nickname.

"I'd much rather not remember that." She said in a serious tone.

"You are not a child young sister, don't give me such an immature face." Ingrice smiled grimly as the two sisters stared at each other with tension between them.

"So you say, Ingrice. I'd rather you not go into further detail. I told you I do not want to remember that incident." Vivian walked up and sized up her sister, as they looked each other, dead in the eyes.

"A-aunt Vivian?" Treya asked with a nervous tone.

"Hmmm? Has my little sister grown to be arrogant?" Ingrice's smile didn't falter, but it looked like she was picking a fight. "I have not fought with you in a good while. Perhaps you'd like to play, like old times?"

"I don't feel as inclined to fight a pointless battle, as much as you do." She said back.

"Pointless? Vivian, you should know I don't waste my time, but more importantly, especially with you." She bent forth and looked her deep in the eye. "Yes, the old instinct is in there."

"You should know, I don't take kindly to instigation, Ingrice." Vivian slowly glared.

"Funny, how that same notion, earned you the title. "

"...very well then. I may have to remind you of my prowess once more." Vivain coldly put.

"Now you're talking. Beautiful expression." Ingrice smiled at the thought of taking her sister down a peg.

"...?" Treya was confused at what she was witnessing. She'd only seen the two fight ONE time, and it was more or less a training round. But these two were in leagues of their own. It could go either way.

"How about a friendly spar match? We can teach Treya a few things, while we're at it." Ingrice suggested.

"...Treya? Your mother and I are going give you another lesson." Vivian said as the tension sparked between them. "And I'm going to give HER one as well."

The two sisters stood away from each other. Each wearing a purple tube top, covering their breasts, and exposing their bellies, and skin tight black pants. Ingrice had skin tight black sleeves on her arms, and Vivian was sporting wrist bands. Their physiques were about on par, in terms of strength and flexibility. Ingrice was just a bit taller than Vivian, but that was the only thing that differed among the the two. Treya was sitting on the rock garden's wall, observing the two.

"It has been far too long. I seek a fine opponent in you. Don't disappoint me, Vivian." Ingrice flexed her wrist, and then cracked her knuckle.

"Your rash attitude is nothing but a farce. You've merely forgotten the fear of losing, Ingrice. Which I aim to remind you." Vivian puffed her chest out and stretched.

"May the best sister win." Ingrice placed her hands on her hips.

"And she shall." Vivian replied stood with her arms to her side. "Treya, I want you to observe this fight, through your eyes. It will help you adjust to using them." She ordered Treya.

"Yes, Aunt Vivian." She nodded and closed her eyes. She opened them, and now she was watching them in full view.

"I taught you about our main fighting style, Javelin. Do you recall?" Ingrice asked her daughter.

"Yes. Reacting to your opponents attacks, and striking him where he is unable to see." Treya recalled.

"Mm, this is my favorite type of style, that I am better at, than anyone." She then charged Vivian who held her hand up in front of her, and clenched her fist, near her head. Ingrice swung her leg at Vivian's head, and Vivian braced her arm, and brushed her leg away from her, And then threw a quick punch at Ingrice, who caught her fist and punched Vivian with her other hand at her stomach, but Vivian also caught her sister's fist, and the two were at a stand off.

"You adjusted." Ingrice grunted, the two were wrestling to overpower the other.

"And you always open with a high kick." Vivian gritted her teeth. She let go of Ingrice's hand, spun around, and attempted to swing her elbow into her face. Ingrice ducked, and knocked her off her feet, by sweeping with her leg. Vivian did the same when Ingrice stood up, and the two whipped their selves forward, and landed back on their feet. Treya was gasping at their quick movements. It was like a dance of strikes, that followed a pattern of fluid movements. Such finesse was in their blows to each other.

"Cheeky. I thought you followed up with a retreat, but you countered." Ingrice praised.

"Expecting your enemy to follow up with previous experience, is a short lived assumption." Vivian resumed her stance.

"Oh, says who?" Ingrice asked.

"You did!" Vivian declared before quickly punching at Ingrice. Ingrice was brushing her sister's punches aside, while attempting to get some of her own in. It almost looked like a blinding display of strikes, but to the seasoned eye, they were blocking, while at the same time, countering each other. Ingrice back flip kicked, and grazed Vivian's chest. When she landed, bending forward, while on one foot, she somersaulted forward, and landed a heel drop on Vivian, who blocked with both her arms. She brushed her back, and Ingrice charged forward, and then twisted her body so fast, that she land a triple kick on her sister's stomach, and then head.

"Agh!" Vivian fell back, from the quick blows. But quickly, rolled back, and on to her feet. She panted and was sporting a serious look, while the cut above her eye, was torn, slightly. "(Spits). That, you just witnessed, was a advance technique. Your mother's specialty." She said in a calm tone to Treya who was wide eyed at the flurry of kicks her mother displayed. "It breaks the guard, throws the target off balance, and then finishes with a strike to the temple. What makes this move dangerous, is the fact, it gains more power, as the body twists with more momentum." Vivian finished saying. " Did you see where the three strikes landed, Treya?" She asked, not taking her eyes off her sister's cocky expression.

"...y-yes. However I didn't see the second one." Treya voiced.

"That is the most tricky part. The second kick has to be used as leverage on your opponent's body, in order to execute the third. The first and the third are sure to hit, but it comes down to the second." Vivian pointed out.

"Hmph, you've gotten a bit sluggish, Vivian." Ingrice nodded her head up.

"However, it's a finisher, and is only used when conditions are right. Your mother, however, just uses it to showoff." Vivian scoffed, ignoring Ingrice's taunting..

"Getting a bit cautious, Vivi?" Ingrice said with a teasing look.

"Your pride will not win out the match, Ingrice. You're not going to get another hit in now." Vivian changed stance and planted her feet, firmly on the ground."I promise you."

"Show me then, dear sister~!" Ingrice charged forward, and arched her hand back, readying a quick punch. As she threw her fist toward Vivian's chest, Vivian narrowed her eyes, as time slowed down. She brushed Ingrice's punch aside, and then landed a knuckle to Ingricre's side. Ingrice grunted slightly, and attempted to strike down on her head with her elbow, but suddenly, Vivian twirled away, and got behind her, and then next thing Ingrice knew, her sister kicked up at her face, from her side. It missed, but suddenly, she clenched her leg around Ingrice's front, and over her shoulder, and then used Ingrice's body as leverage, to push herself above her, and then maneuvered herself around her body. She then struck the top of Ingrice's head with her knee, stumbling Ingrice back, and landing perfectly on the ground. Ingrice scowled at the bruise her younger sister put on her.

"That was a Deadfall technique. It's similar to grapple based arts, but used differently. It restricts your opponents ability to move, while landing strikes on the body. That would knock out a full grown man, but your mother is a bit more...sturdier than that." Vivian had a look of accomplishment, smirking, while Ingrice glared daggers at her.

"Wow...aunt Vivian, I didn't know you could do that to mom." Treya nodded in awe.

"ZIP IT." Ingrice glared back at her daughter. Treya complied and covered her mouth.

"I think I've already won." Vivian smiled. She was referring to Treya's reaction.

"Don't get cocky. That dignity of yours, is going to be pulverized." She said as an aura of a demonic queen, wreathed in flame appeared behind her.

"That isn't fear I detect, is it?" Vivian confidently said as an aura of a goddess, wrapped in storm clouds, appeared behind her.

"...is this...still a lesson?" Treya blinked with a confused look. The two charged, and their high kicks, matched each other, and a cloud of smoke kicked up, as the sounds of their grunting and battle cries, rang out. Treya just watched, clueless from the side lines. Hopefully, she would have something to take away from this.

"I'll feed you dirt, Vivi!"

"Struggle as much as you wish, Ingrice!"

...or not.

The Mansion...

"..."

"..."

"...?" Treya was at the dinner table with the two siblings, as they sported blank expressions while eating lunch. It seemed normal, but Treya couldn't help but feel, their auras were still clashing with each other. For some reason, they were able to put each other on the ground at the same time, so they called it quits, before it got out of hand.

At least to their standards.

"Draw?" Ingrice asked, after a long moment of silence.

"Draw." Vivian deadpanned.

"You're training wasn't neglected...I will admit that much." Ingrice said, hesitantly. "But I am serious about you getting slower." Ingrice felt the need to point out.

"That's your opinion." Vivian put calmly.

"Far from it. The most formidable foe you have had as of late, was that rat problem we had two months ago." Ingrice poured herself some wine.

"Hey, the scurrying little bastards are not to be underestimated. You know that better than anyone." Vivian was adjusting the bandage near her eye, as she listened.

"Heavens, the vermin ate out the underground cellar. I'm surprised we got them all in such a short time." Ingrice recalled with disgust.

"And your favorite dress." Vivian snorted slightly, as her violet eyes fixated toward her sister.

"Scourges of Earth-Land. There's a special place in damnation for creatures as vile as those. But beside the point, you should probably extend the training regiment you have." She suggested to Vivian.

"I do not require advice from you, sister. I am tasked with defending our house. Trust me, I can do that much." Vivian brushed her off, and began finishing off a plate of salad.

"If you want, I could show you-"

"Lets just save this for later, Ingrice." Vivian quickly said.

"Right.." Ingrice nodded. They proceeded to remain quiet, until Treya spoke up in a gentle voice.

"Um, you...are really strong, aunt Vivian. I never saw moves like that." Treya tried to clear the tension with a conversation.

"Where my prowess with Javelin fighting style exceeds others, my dear, younger sister, or your aunt, excels at Deadfall style." Ingrice pointed out. "But, that was for use against a serious opponent. Executed, fully, you could knock out anyone in less than five seconds." Ingrice put, with a smile on her face. "But, enough of our playful banter. I looked in the forest and noticed that the...woman, that saved you, is capable of using magic." Ingrice informed her. "I'm guessing she...somehow, made you capable of using magic. It's the only explanation. No weapon I know of, could kill all those Night Wolves, exactly where they stood." She deduced.

"..mm." Treya nodded.

"Well, at least it's something useful." Vivian pointed out.

"Soon we shall see." Ingrice nodded. "For I have a mission that I will be undertaking, in two weeks time, and I plan on taking you with me." Ingrice pointed to Treya. Treya was wide eyed when she said that. "However, I'm going to send you with Vivian to take care of another job, I recently picked up from a independent guild. It will do you some good, to get a feel for your surroundings." She instructed.

"May I ask, what you plan on doing?" Vivian raised her eyebrow.

"Y'know the Death Merchant I killed on my last mission? Well, he babbled about some sort of, hidden cache of poison he shipped, and claimed that thousands were going to meet the maker. So, I need to track it down. Should only take me a week." Ingrice sighed. "Cautious customers are bad for business, but dead ones are even worse." Ingrice made an annoyed scoff.

"And what, may I ask, is the request you pulled from the guild?" Vivian asked while placing her hands together and leaning back.

"It was a measly 600,000 jewel reward, but Treya, is going to complete it. And you will support her." Ingrice pointed at Vivian.

"600,000? What are we doing?" Vivian was curious.

"The request was from a church near Hargon called the Haven. Apparently, there has been a murder in the area, and no one has been looking into it, or does not simply care. The job is to find the murderer. 300,000 dead, 600,000 alive. You can handle that much, can't you?" Ingrice narrowed her pink eyes at Treya.

"..um...yes, mother." Treya nodded. She was a little nervous, because she was never given a task this important before. She only trained for half a year with her mother, and aunt, but never really, experienced the outside world. But the time she murdered that man in Crocus...was the most unpleasant feeling she ever had.

"Very good, young lady. This is something that you will be constantly doing when you get to be older, so, best to have Vivian show you the ropes." She took a drink from her wine glass.

"It will be fine Treya, I'll be with you every step of the way. I'll teach you how it works." Vivian promised. "Before you know it, you'll be well on your way to being a strong fighter. I can see it." Vivian smiled. "Then maybe mum, will be forced to acknowledge you." Vivian said as she turned to Ingrice.

"Acknowledge what? How she can stare fear into the enemy with those pale eyes of hers?" Ingrice snorted.

"..." Vivian made an annoyed expression.

"What?" Ingrice threw her arms up.

"..." Vivian jerked her head to Treya.

"..oh, last night..." Ingrice said under her breath. "...Treya?"

"Yes mother." Treya looked at her mother, instantly.

"I'm...displeased with how you...ran away...(clears throat). Ah, um.." Ingrice seemed to be struggling to say something, which made Treya confused for a second. That dominant expression she held over her for years, dropped slightly, into stammering sentences. Vivian motioned her hand for Ingrice to get on with it. "Don't run out of the house in the middle of the night. It's not safe, and if you die without...die without fulfilling my wishes-"

"Ingrice." Vivian voiced in a firm tone.

"I..(sigh). You dying would be an...inconvenience. So...do as I say." She began to feel uncomfortable. She crossed her arms and looked away with a frown.

"I'm..sorry. I won't do it again mother. I promise." Treya bowed her head respectively.

"OH, GODS! is the only adult here, Treya?! Ingrice, you're so close to saying it, don't chicken out!" Vivian pointed furiously at Ingrice.

"I-wha-I-am-what does it matter?!" Ingrice threw her arms out, as if she were out of moves. "She's my daughter! I don't need to say it!"

"That's precisely WHY you must say it, sister! Trust me! All the mothers that walk this Earth-Land, say it on a daily basis!"

"Okay, yes, but we are not everyone, Vivi!" Ingrice exclaimed while tossing her arms out toward her sister once more.

"It's just three simple words! Are you telling me that you are incapable of speaking THREE, simple words!" She stood up and stared her down.

"Erk...I-I-I cannot believe that you would force me to say such weak words!" Ingrice fumbled a bit before collecting herself.

"Words are not the issue! It is the one who is saying it!" Vivian fired back.

"I am not weak!" Ingrice stood up angrily. "Watch, I will do it right here, and right now, so you can stuff your gob!" She suddenly stomped around the table to Treya who was getting scared of what was happening. Her mother suddenly picked her up by the sides and looked her dead in the eyes with serious glare. Oh, the punishment that was being thought of, was clear in her eyes...to Treya anyway. It was silent, for a brief moment as Treya was shaking in her arms in fear.

"..I-i-is she going to throw me!?" Treya was about to faint from the fear of her mother lashing out at her. Discipline is a feared practice in the house of the Duella's, and Treya had become victim from spanking, to the occasional lash.

"Treya." She said firmly ."I want you to look deep in my eyes, and listen clearly." She ordered coldly.

"She's a child, not your target. Ease up." Vivian ordered her sister, she warned with a slight growl at Ingrice..

"..rrrggh..." Ingrice groaned, but it sounded like a beast, forewaring it's prey. "You...I..." Ingrice was trying to say.

"Wh-what is it, mother?" Treya whimpered.

"..." Ingrice flashed back to something.

"What is it, mother?"

"Ah, nothing my little Ingrice."

"You're bleeding very bad!"

"It's okay Ingrice. I knew this was going to happen, one day."

"Help! Help!-"

"Ingrice, listen. It's alright...you have let me go."

"No mother, (sobs)...don't go...I want you to stay!"

"You won't be-(Cough)-alone. Vivian is with you..."

"I'm so sorry...I couldn't save you in time! It's my fault!"

"Ingriceee..."

"Mother?"

"...I..love...I...you.."

"Mother!"

"..."

"No...no..."

"..." She suddenly placed Treya down on the floor slowly, and stood straight up with frown. Treya was still looking in her eyes. "I am...sorry." As the words left her mouth Treya had a shocked expression. NEVER, in her life, had her mother uttered that word. "I am...sorry, I was just...(sigh). I don't need you..to be a boy. I will...make do with how you are. But you need to listen, because...because.." Ingrice's expression turned to a depressed one. "...I need you to be useful..." She suddenly left the room with the two. Her expression hid from them.

"Ingrice..are you alright?" Vivian suddenly realized that she was quickening her pace to her room.

"I'm tired." She said as she closed the door down hall. Leaving the only two in the dining area.

"..." Treya was wide-eyed. She leaned slightly to look down the hallway at her mother's room door.

"...m..mother?" Treya said out loud, while slowly walking towards the hallway.

"...I told you..." Vivian frowned. Treya looked back at her aunt in confusion. "...it's not you, it's herself." Vivian got out of her chair and went to go stand by Treya. "I'm all she's got left. The only one left that can understand her. She has difficulty...being a mother is a concept she can't really pick up, that easily."

"I didn't think she hated me that much." Treya frowned.

"She doesn't hate you Treya." Vivian placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "She's finally looking for a reason not too...right, Ingrice?"

Vivian sighed and was feeling like she was in between something between Treya and Ingrice.

Only time would tell, if it was going to be for the best...

..or the worst.

"...I understand." Treya said which prompted a curious look from Vivian. "I...will be useful to mother. I promise." She had a slight determination that began to fester inside her. Her eyes turned pink and she had resolve to earn the recognition of her mother.

"...hmph, your mother gets that look whenever she sets her mind to something." Vivian smiled warmly at Treya. "You two are far closer than you think. If anyone can earn my sister's approval.." She bent down and looked Treya in the eyes. "..who better suited than her own daughter?" Treya responded with a nod.

"Yes, aunt Vivian."

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