The story starts to move, bit by bit!
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HERE WE GO!
Chapter 2 My only family, My only friend, My only mentor
From the time I was born into this (Type-Moon) world, I remember pain and anguish.
Pain from being unable to hold up the family standards. Anguish from how the other family members lost hope in me.
I remember their cold eyes when they look down at me as if I were rubbish, too filthy even to be mentioned. The shame of House El-Melloi. I don't know how many times I grit my teeth and curled into a ball, questioning myself why I'm still alive.
I remember asking my only 'family', Reines, why I was born. 'I should have died.', I had said. Reines slapped me in the face, HARD. She hugged me, sobbing as she softly caressed my head. At that time, I just cried. I didn't understand why Reines was so angry, so distressed.
When I was still a young boy, Reines would pick me up like a mother cradles her child. She would read bedtime stories to me, and show me magic. I didn't know why she was so good to me back then. Maybe I was too much of a coward to ask.
It was after I turned thirteen that she shared with me her small secret. When I was no more than four, I had gifted her a crown of flowers when she was utterly bored. At that time, she had spent her time with me simply because I was 'better' than the other 'lifeless aristocrats' in the main branch.
However, after that small incident, she started to pay more attention to my actions. She noticed how I was 'different' deep down, 'different' from everyone she had seen before as a magus.
'You value life and respect them.', she used to say. 'Though, at the same time, you want to 'devour' them to make yourself feel 'whole'. You are the kindest yet egoistic person I have ever seen.'
To this day, I'm still not sure whether she was praising me or scolding me. Was that a compliment, or a warning? I didn't ask her.
What I did know, was that she cared for me. That was all I needed to know.
I shook my head to clear those nostalgic thoughts as I followed her down the hallway. Reines, being the next lord of House El-Melloi, had her very own dining quarters. It was sort of a tradition between the two of us to have dinner together, secluded from the envious eyes of others.
We sat down, facing each other at the small table we used for a long time. The maids quickly prepared our meals, and left us with a quiet bow.
Reines leaned over, her golden hair spilling onto the white fabric. Her smile was still on her lips, though her eyes told a different story.
"What happened?", she asked. I gulped.
"W-what do you mean?", I stuttered. I bit my tongue in irritation. Reines rolled her eyes.
"James.", she said in a very soft tone. A tone she used when she knew that something was wrong with me. "Tell me what happened."
"I…I had a fight with…my classmates.", I replied. My throat felt dry. No one would believe that I suddenly had a crash-party with myself from a parallel world. (probably)
"Oh? Classmates? You mean those idiotic snobs from the other Lord family branches?", Reines asked. Her voice was surprisingly calm- a sea before a raging storm.
"Err…yes? Well, we had it all figured out! No need to worry, Reines.", I answered back. My voice quivered. Damn it.
"Good. You see, I am a little cross that my most beloved brother is hiding something from me."
I felt something heavy on my shoulders, an ill omen. Reines reached down into her pocket with deliberate slowness-
No, why did she have that!?
-and pulled out a flask that glowed dimly in silver light.
Reines shook the flask. The substances inside slushed up and down.
"Fascinating, don't you agree?", she murmured. "A modified version of enchanted mercury. Every single drop contains microscopic formations of Volumen Hydrargyrum, woven into the particles of water itself. A masterpiece, I dare say."
Reines looked up, a ferocious smile on her face.
" Wouldn't you agree, James?"
To put a long story short, I spilled the beans. I skipped the part where I had an internal trip between dimensions, but other than that, I told her everything.
Reines listened silently overall, occasionally nodding at my story. Her delicate fingers crushed the wine glass when I got to the part where I was bullied…it was then that I realized I had kept it a secret from her for an entire year.
In my defense, I didn't want to put more pressure on her. Her eyes told me otherwise. I shrank under her gaze, but continued nonetheless. She then gasped in surprise when I got to the part I controlled them, and how I sealed their fate as mine.
I finished my story, licking my dried lips in anticipation. Maybe she would forget about the bully part? She was a magus, after all.
"Intriguing.", she whispered. "We will talk about your 'classmates' later on.", she added when I couldn't help but heave a very small sigh of relief.
How did she know!? As is sensing my dismay, she huffed with an indignant pout.
"I am the next lord of the Clocktower, and the Head of El-Melloi. However, before all of that-"
Reines cupped my cheeks, a maternal smile on her lips.
"-I'm your family, silly.", she said affectionately.
I felt something warm fall from my eyes.
"Thank you.", I mumbled in a small voice. She kept smiling as she ran a finger through my hair.
"Remember, James. I'm always here for you."
Reines El-Melloi Archisorte sat in her office, her back resting against the impressive leather chair. Before her on the desk, there was a stone with a jewel embedded in it. The stone buzzed.
" About time, brother. Or should I call you-"
Reines dramatically waved one gloved hand in the air, as if she was a singer on stage.
"-Lord Big-Ben-London-Star?"
"Wait, who told you that accursed name!?"
Reines chuckled at the seemingly depressed voice of the man she called family.
"I have my ways, big brother. Now, onto business-"
Her eyes turned hard and cold as wrought iron. She folded her fingers in front of her face, her chest resting on them as she spoke.
"Did anybody else know about my brother's…' new-found specialty'?"
"Nobody, except the boys James had terrorized.", he answered briskly.
Reines nodded, her eyes closed in deep thought.
"…You aren't thinking about an assassination, are you?"
Reines snorted in a not very lady-like manner.
"I would love to, but I'm not so foolish as to let my emotions get to me."
"So…we let them be?"
Reines heaved a heavy sigh.
"I'm pretty sure that James had buried a stake deep in their hearts, literally, that is. Let him use them, my brother needs to learn how to be cold-blooded for once."
"…Agreed. Good night, Reines. Sleep tight."
"Good night, Number one Lady's man of the Clocktower."
"Hey, where did you get-"
Reines rubbed her eyes and flicked the stone into the drawer of her desk. She yawned. Even a prodigy needed her beauty sleep.
The next day after my coming-out started out pretty decent.
Nobody bothered me while I sat alone in class, minding my own business as always. My fingers tapped against the desk as I thought about yesterday. I was so deeply immersed in my own thoughts that I didn't notice a girl sit down next to me.
"Hello, James.", a clear voice greeted me. There were very few people who would greet me like this, and I knew who this voice belonged to.
I looked up to see Gray smiling at me, her iron-colored eyes lit with a warm glow. She was my best and only friend in the Clocktower, and one of the very few people I could freely talk to.
She was also the disciple of Mr. Waver…or big brother. Reines used to tease me on how I get embarrassed when I call him like that. Mr. Waver was a guide and a mentor for me. Heaven knows how much I learned from him.
If it wasn't for my damn house, I might as well have joined his classroom without batting an eye.
"Hello, Gray. Aren't you supposed to be with Mr. Wave- I mean, Lord El-MelloiⅡ?"
"Yes, about that.", she beamed at me, her eyes sparkling with joy.
"You are joining our classroom!"
I blinked. She blinked back. My lips quivered.
"What!?"
Aaaaaand wrap!
The stats of James is kept secret. Why? Dunno...maybe his family thought it to be too embarrassing?
X-kalibuuuur, over and out!