Hey Descendants!

As promised, another chapter :)


The following Monday

Hyades sips her tea as she sits across from her favorite teacher. She really loved the time she was able to spend with the old man, had come to rely on his wisdom rather than the learning she was suppose to gain by attending school. In the end it just seemed more direct and easier to apply.

Tonight was a bit different though. Tonight she was... distracted. After her discussion with T she couldn't help but feel like all the work she'd put into her writing over the last few years was pointless. She didn't blame him for pointing it out; part of her was just scared he was right.

She had been sending letters for years, but there hadn't even been a mention of it on the King's Fireside chats. It was disheartening. She'd been positive in her response to T- Saying it was worth it because of how much her writing had improved. And it was true, but she still couldn't help her disappointment.

"It just doesn't seem like he's getting them Yensid." She pouts as she lowers the cup to it's matching saucer. "No matter how many I send- There's no response."

Yensid's silent for a moment as he picks up his own cup and takes a sip. "These things take time young one." He assures her, "And may I point out that he might very well be receiving them, but doesn't know who to send the response too. I've read your messages child. You make it nearly impossible to figure out who you are, much less where you live. There's a good chance the King isn't looking to sabotage your life by seeking you in such a public forum."

Hyades bites her bottom lip. She'd never considered how she would benefit, or the consequences she could face, from her writing. She kept herself removed from the writing because, though she believed with every ounce of her being that her friends didn't belong here, that most of the children of the isle of the lost didn't deserve to be here, she wasn't one of them. "Too late to change that now though…" She half heartedly points out. "It would be weird if I suddenly started signing them or something." She sighs.

"Would it be?" Yensid asks her skeptically. "Or is it more that you are feeling a certain way on the subject?"

"Well yeah… It might look suspicious, he might think someone else is writing, or won't trust anything if the writing changes-"

"Or you can inform him that it was my suggestion that you at the very least put a return address on them."

"But," She shifts awkwardly in her chair, "I'm the daughter of Hades."

"And I'm the son of Tlaw." Yensid shrugs, "That doesn't make you inherently evil. You are not your father any more than I am. And let's thank your father for that." He teases her.

Hyades half smiles, "I just didn't want to taint the words with any preconceptions."

"How very ethical of you..." Yensid chuckles, "But are you sure that's it, and not the fact that, for some reason, you feel like you are different than your friends?"

Hyades narrows her eyes, "Are you a mind reader?"

"No. Just very old and astute." Yensid laughs at her expression. "Just like you are young and curious, as you should be."

"It gets me in trouble a lot." Hyades sighs as she leans back in her chair, slumping down a little.

"And you think I've never gotten in trouble in all the years of my studies?" Yensid questions. "I wish I were that perfect."

"You walked a grey line." Hyades recalls.

"And you don't." Yensid states. "And hopefully will never have too. Your line is still very much white my young Hyades- Whether you can see it or not, I can."

"I don't think Auradon wants vks that can kill." Hyades whispers sadly.

Yensid frowns, "Killing doesn't necessarily make you evil, you know. I've been forced to kill many in my time, I'm afraid. Does that make me evil? A monster? A murderer?"

Hyades sits up so fast she nearly knocks her tea cup over, "You've killed?" Her eyes were wide as she stared at her hero.

Yensid nods his head. "To protect others or to defend myself. How do you think I got all the first generation here to leave me be? By asking politely?" He lets out a heavy sigh. "I'm afraid not."

Hyades blinks, "I… Guess I never thought about it." Her brow furrows, "I still don't know if I want to write my story."

"It is something to think about considering child." Yensid encourages her. "Lest you be forgotten when he does finally find them."

"I'd be sad-" Her heart aches at the thought of being left behind, the thought stopping her in her tracks.

"Your friends would never leave you behind." Yensid points out with a frown. "And what do you think will happen when that occurs?"

"They'd still be stuck here…" Hyades sighs.

"Bingo." Yensid nods in approval. "Which is exactly what you don't want."

"It's hard to write the way I do about my friends, I'm not sure I can even do that to myself." Hyades cringes at the idea, "I mean, the last one I sent was about Mal and her gang… If she were to read it I don't think she'd be happy with me…" To be fair, she was pretty sure Mal would want to strangle her, "But I wrote about everything that makes her- Her."

"So then, ask one of your friends to write a story about you, for you." Yensid suggests. "You've put in a lot of work writing about them through the years- Don't you think at least one of them would be willing to write part of your story."

Hyades pauses as she thinks about it. Mal. No. Evie? Maybe, but she hated writing… Jay? No. Carlos? No, he wasn't really a writer so much as a doer. Uma? She immediately shakes her head. Poor Uma never had any extra time. Harry? She blanches. She wouldn't want to see what he would write- At least not to send to the king. Gil? She perks up a little before she remembers her latest conversation with T and deflates all over again. Gil literally couldn't write. So that left T- "No!" She clears her throat, "I mean, I just went through the whole list and there's no one." T knew way too much about her to write anything official.

"Not a one?" Yensid frowns, looking skeptical.

"They're all either way too busy, hate writing, can't write, or know-" She blinks, "Know nothing really about me."

Yensid's eyes narrow as he studies her. "I see… Well in that case, I would love to write a letter on your behalf if you'd like. It won't be written in stone- but parchment should do the trick."

"You'd write a letter for me?" Hyades clasps her hands together under the table to stop them from shaking.

"Of course, can't have one of my favorite students left behind." Yensid kindly smiles at her as he picks up his mug again, taking a sip before he makes a face. "Do you mind?" He asks as he hands her the cup.

Hyades smiles, "I learned something new." She says excitedly.

Yensid sits up straighter at that. "Oh?" He asks with interest. "Let's see it then- Go on."

"I was trying to crisp the edge of a tart because it wasn't baking evenly, and look-" She holds one finger under his cup as she scrunches her face in concentration until a single flame dances across her finger tip.

Yensid claps jovially at her new found control. "You've made excellent progress. Has the books on meditation helped then?"

"I haven't had a lot of time to myself to meditate recently, but I have gotten to read the books. I don't understand everything in the one's about emotions though." She slowly brings his cup back to set in the saucer.

"There not meant to be understood in one reading." Yensid chuckles, "You learn that kind of stuff in layers. My suggestion is start with the base three. Happiness, Anger, and sadness. And then work your way up from there."

"Even those are confusing sometimes." Hyades pouts.

"Ah, but your learning to better recognize them." Yensid assures her. "And that's the first step you need to learn to control your abilities."

Hyades plays with her teacup as a question burns at her lips. But she wasn't sure how to ask, or if she'd get in trouble. Her indiecision makes her bite her lips as she swirls the remaining tea in her cup.

Yensid watches her over the rim of his mug. His expression neutral. He waits a good thirty seconds before he lowers his mug back to the table. "Something seems to be eating at you child… And I can only help if you ask for it. We already covered I'm no mind reader."

"Sorry." Hyades chuckles lightly before she takes a deep breath, "Do demigods get- Or manifest powers, like more than one? Over time?"

Yensid lets out a deep sigh, "Have you developed another ability already?" He asks curiously. "I thought you were still a bit young for the rest of your powers to wake…"

"So I will get more things I have to worry about?" Hyades sighs, her father had been right, she could get more abilities.

Yensid sighs, "Eventually yes," He admits, "but hopefully by then we'll have gotten your fire and strength under your own control."

"Hopefully." Hyades sighs again, she wasn't sure she wanted to know, but a part of her needed to, "Can things make it happen faster than it should?"

Yensid narrows his eyes thoughtfully, "I suppose under the right circumstances- Or rather wrong ones- A demi or full god for that matter- Could manifest their abilities sooner if the right stressors were being applied. Like if your life was in danger, there's a good chance another ability might kick in to save you, even at this age."

Hyades freezes for a moment, her heart in her throat. "But probably not younger right?" Is that what Ursula had been trying to do? Make her powers wake up? Is that why her father said it was a good idea to stay away from her? Or was he also trying to get her powers to wake up sooner than they should. He wanted the bracelets off so bad, would he really be willing to do that? Was that why she'd been avoiding home for so long?

"I suppose it would really have to deal with how life threatening the incident was and the will of the child I would hazard to guess." Yensid ponders out loud. "People of all ages can do extraordinary things when the right pressure is applied. That's how you get diamonds out of coal." He imparts to her.

"Oh." Hyades shakes her head. That was enough personal questions for the night… Maybe the whole year. Her mind was still reeling from her introspection. But then… "Do you still think my father doesn't belong here?"

Yensid sighs, "I think that is a complicated question. On some levels I believe it was a mistake taking a god and sticking him on this isle. On the other hand your father did some heinous things when he was free just to spite his brother. It's a complex situation with a lot of nuanced details that need to be taken into account."

Hyades slowly nods, "But, it's a good thing he's got the bracelets on."

"For the safety of those on the isle? Probably not. I would imagine once he is freed he wouldn't stay here long enough to do any damage." Yensid responds honestly.

"If he were freed." Hyades corrects as she tugs the ends of her hair with one hand.

"If." Yensid agrees. "If is good." He adds. "I would hate to have to eat that size of a crow if I were proven wrong anyways. It's just an assumption."

Hyades nods. Usually her evenings with Master Yensid were delightfully thought provoking, but tonight she felt like pain and panic were dancing on her brain. She lets out a sigh as she presses her fingers into her temples.

"Would you like a different tea?" Yensid offers, "I have one that is specifically good for headaches."

Hyades smiles as she inches her teacup towards him, "Yes please."

Yensid chuckles lightly, as he takes her cup. "Won't be but a moment." He assures her as he walks out of the room.

"Kay. Thank you." Hyades calls back politely, but stops when a strange motion in a window catches her eye. She leans forward, contemplating alerting Yensid before the shadowy figure presses a hand to the glass to shield his eyes from external light. It was T, peering into the window with a mixed look of confusion and frustration.

"T?" Hyades whispers as she waves her arms in an attempt to get his attention.

T seems to ignore her completely though. Instead he turns and lights a match, the flame flaring to life before he moves it closer to the window, trying to see in again. He moves it too quickly though, as it almost immediately goes out. He face palms before digging back into his bag, pulling out a flashlight.

Hyades half stands from the table, "Oh no, what are you-" She jerks her arms in a wide motion again.

Again he ignores her as he flips it on and presses it to the window with a look of confusion. His own face comically lights up, forcing T to instantly click the flashlight off with a look of surprise, followed by irritation and annoyance. "The fuck?" He growls.

Hyades presses her fingers back to her temples… She could hear him, which meant Yensid probably heard him too. She groans as she sinks back down in her chair.

"Almost done." Yensid calls over his shoulder.

"I'm going out on a limb here," Hyades rolls her eyes at T's newest antic, flat out pressing his face to the window, "but are your windows magicked?"

"You've never noticed?" Yensid questions, before he chuckles from the other room.

"I don't think I've ever looked in your windows."

"Would you like to invite your friend in?" Yensid offers as he walks back into the room with two fresh cups of tea.

"I honestly doubt I'd ever see him again if he knew I could see this." Hyades shakes her head, "That's T by the way."

Yensid chuckles, "Ah a face to the name. He does look the type… And I always wondered if that's who kept flashing a light on me and attempted to lock pick my door. Most gave up ages ago..."

Hyades grimaces, "Wait, he's been here before?"

Yensid nods, "About every third visit give or take. I was hoping he was a friend of yours...He is quite entertaining don't you think? Very creative, till he gives up and just fogs up my window."

"So he shows up when I'm here?" Hyades frowns, "I've never noticed him before."

"To be fair he also shows up at random hours of the night throughout the week trying to figure out what the hell is going on." Yensid grins, "His words mind you, albeit slightly amended." He adds in amusement. "I'm not sure he's realized this is a residence."

Hyades tilts her head to the side as she watches T pull out thin strips of metal before he starts jabbing them around the base of the window. "Fuckin' stupid ass windows."

Hyades eyes widen, "I see. Sounds like T."

"He's a creative swearer too if you give him long enough." Yensid adds mischievously.

"How have I never seen this? Or heard this?"

"He's not usually frustrated so early in his efforts." Yensid sips his tea. "He might actually have something to tell you tonight…"

"Oh…" Hyades eyes widen, "Oh!" She quickly stands, "Um, please excuse me for a moment."

"Of course take your time." Yensid assures her, "It's not like you can't reheat your tea. Or like I'm going to bed any time soon."

"Thank you." Hyades smiles as she walks to the door and slips out. She pauses for a moment, trying to look into the window next to the door, only to see nothing. "Huh." She shakes her head before she turns and walks down the alley a bit.

For the first time in her life, she sees T completely unaware of her. If her head wasn't aching she would have enjoyed getting revenge for all his jump scares on her, but for now it really was best to play dumb, "T?" She calls out, hoping her voice sounded properly confused.

T jumps, dropping the razor he'd been trying to scrape the window with. "Oh Deez, sup?" He asks as he steps on the razor blocking it.

"You apparently…" Hyades tilts her head to the side, "Why are you messing with the window?"

"Trying to get your attention." T shrugs. "While also figuring out what the fuck is up with this place."

"It's magicked. Boom, case solved-"

"On the isle?" T asks confused.

"He's Yensid, I don't question what he can do… I mean I do ask him a lot of questions and stuff, but yeah, magicked."

"Yensid?" T asks slowly as he turns to look back at the brick building, looking slightly mortified. "I thought that was your hideout from other people." He grumbles, as his ears burn with the intensity of his blush.

Hyades lifts an eyebrow, "No, but I've been coming here a lot since I dropped out of school. Yensid is the best teacher anyway, and since he's letting me bother him I learn more anyways. I thought I heard you swearing out here and wanted to warn you."

T's eyes widen, "You could hear that?" He jumps away from the building as if he'd been burned. He blanches, as he face palms with a groan.

"It was just a few swears, don't be a baby."

"Yeah just a few swears-Tonight." T laments as he covers his face in embarrassment. "Fuck man, I didn't know this was some old geezers fucking magicked ass house." He groans.

Hyades quickly slaps a hand to her mouth to cover the chuckle, "I'd ask if you want to take him up on his offer for tea, but it sounds like you don't."

"Accurate." T nods as he adjusts the straps on his bag, "But I told ya I'd let you know bout Gil," He shifts, "Before I knew whose house this was." He moves further away from the structure. Which was weird considering how many times he'd jumped on her while she was on literal fire.

"It's only if you yell T," Hyades shrugs. It could be true. "But what's going on with Gil?"

"Mhmm." T mumbles suspiciously. "His flute." He states anyways. "His douche brothers broke it."

Hyades entertainment at T's expense vanishes instantly, "His really nice one, the one he fixed?"

T nods, with a frown. "Explains why I haven't heard him play in ages."

"How did his brothers even get it?" She asks sadly.

T shrugs, "Guess it was in his pocket on the way back from or to somewhere." He adds vaguely. "Does it matter how?" He asks in annoyance. "Point is you wanted to know, and boom, now you know."

The beach. Hyades blinks. The last time she'd seen him play had been at the beach, for her. She slowly nods, "Thanks T."

"Yeah, no problem." T nods, before he turns and starts walking away.

"Any word about Fridays yet?" Hyades calls after him, desperate for some good news.

"It's a go." T waves behind him.

At least she had that. She sighs heavily before she walks back to the door and knocks again.

Yensid opens the door, two books in hand. "Welcome back." He greets her. "A little bird told me this might be useful." He offers her them.

Hyades takes it as she resumes her seat. One was a book about flutes. The other about glass blowing. She smiles up at him, "You think I can make him a flute?"

"I think you can make a lot of things you haven't tried to make." Yensid responds vaguely as he takes a sip of tea. "If you put your whole heart into it."


Hi again!

So what did you think of Yensid's interactions with Deez? Do you think he's giving her good advice? And how about T showing up and messing with the windows? Anything you found particularly interesting about this chapter? What did you think of Deez line of questioning? Let us know by leaving us a review! All the best fellow Descendants!