Chapter two :
Itachi let his muscles relax in the water while the snow around the tub was cooling it down.
He avoided putting his bandaged hand inside the water so there would be no risk of erasing the healing glyph on it.
He profited from his moment of rest to meditate on the events during the last days. He had to admit that he let himself go in this world. As far as he knows, Tou-san and Kaa-san would have been really disappointed to see how he was just a shadow of his former self.
There was no threat of a war nor was there ninja training for children in the isles and the fact that he spent far more time with his siblings rather than training didn't help.
Itachi looked at his hand and was not surprised to see it was a bit blurry, he used amaterasu and tsukuyomi and now he was paying the price for it. He was definitely going to ask to be trained in other forms of magic to fight since none of his old jutsus would be useful in a long term battle.
He could even teach a few skills to Amity. She may be good at abomination magic but so was his former opponent and he relied so much on his abominations that when he was by himself he got his mind shattered by tsukuyomi.
It may seem hypocritical of him to be happy that children don't have to be shinobi while planning to train Amity to be one but he wanted her to be safe and he knew that to live in peace you need the strength to keep it.
He already did too much by letting her with their parents for so long. The way they treated their children was a bit too similar to the way both he and Sasuke were raised. Maybe they weren't so bad and just misguided in how to raise their children but the same could be said about Mikoto and Fugaku…
Killing his tou-san and kaa-san was one of the most terrible things he has ever done but spending time in the isles and seeing how other families were (Like Willow and her parents or even Boscha and her moms) he could see how they were flawed
Unfortunately, neither Edric nor Emira wanted to follow him. Maybe it was because their little brother finished his studies before them or maybe it was because of how their parents divided their attention unfairly.
But even though Itachi wanted to have them come with him he didn't force them. He already tried to force Sasuke on the path to be a hero only for him to end up in one of darkness and vengeance.
He already had too many regrets in this life and now he just hoped to not make the same mistakes again.
Back at where it all started, Blight Manor. The parents were also thinking about the whole situation but for different reasons. The Matriarch, Odalia, was in her office, doing paper work but her mind wasn't into it.
She just couldn't forget what happened that day. Her child just decided to just because they were trying to make Amity realize her full potential! Lance was raised just like her and already entered history. Granted, they have shown more leniency toward Amity because her brother could help them with the sales but it should be another reason for her to stay.
Flash Back
Odalia was in Alador's lab while he was working on the new Abomination crossbow. The presentation to the investors was in a week but the products should be finished by now.
"Mother, Father. We have to talk." Lance entered the lab without any warning.
"Not now, we are busy." Odalia said dismissively while she was looking through some files.
"It's about Willow."
It was all he needed to say to get her attention. "What about that little tramp."
Lance frowned at the insult. "When I took Amity to the library. We saw Willow and not only Amity asked me to bring her back home but Willow seemed to be about to cry. So I'm asking you again. what. did. you. do?"
Even her husband took his eyes away from his project to see how the conversation would go.
She always forgot that despite his many accomplishments, Lance always had a weakness for the pests. "We just told her to stop her friendship with Willow or we would do it."
"Why?" Lance was showing no emotion but even she could tell he was losing his temper. She was a good business woman after all.
"Because she can't use magic. Amity is a Blight. She can't be associated with people like this half a witch. "
"So your reputation is more important than your daughter's happiness." Lance bluntly declared.
Odalia just made a silent sign to Aladdor, asking him to back her up.
"Your mother is right. We have a responsibility toward our name, our ancestor and this company. We gave you more freedom because of your talent but don't abuse it." Her husband told him.
"I see." Lance closed his eyes.
And then everything went wrong.
When Lance opened his eyes. She saw two red irises. Everything around her was consumed by darkness until all she could see were these red eyes.
The air around her was chilling, she was unable to move. "What are you doing… STOP IT RIGHT NOW!" What kind of illusion was that
"You will not compromise Willow's future or try anything against the arks in retaliation. You won't go after Amity in fact you will never try to mold your children in your images ever again."
"DON' T GIVE ME ORDER YOUNG MAN. WHEN THIS IS OVER YOU WILL BE …"
Lance disappeared in a flock of crows before she could finish her sentence.
"Lance!"
Odalia rushed upstair. Ignoring Aladdor. When she reached the living room she was surprised to see it was already the night.
"What…" No, she had to find Lance. She went to the children's room.
When she opened Lance's room all the weapons he had were gone while Amity's room was empty.
She finally went to the twin's room. She saw them lying on their beds, looking at the ceiling in contemplation.
"WHERE ARE YOUR SIBLINGS!?" The matriarche yelled.
"Gone." Her daughter, Emira, answered.
Flash back end
Odalia let out a deep sigh. She massaged her head to calm the headache she was starting to get. Her son will come back eventually. What could he do by himself?
Her crystal bowl blinked. So she activated it and to her surprise, it was Lilith Clawthorn. The head of the emperor's coven and an old… acquaintance.
"Lilith?"
"Hello Odalia, I know you are busy so I will be short. Your son has been accepted as a scout to serve the emperor."
The Blight matriarch almost dropped her pen at the news. What? How was it possible? Lance can't join the emperor's coven! he is only eleven!
"You can't take it seriously!" Odalia was so shocked that just this once she forgot Lilith's rank. She just wanted to know what happened to her children.
Just what kind of story was it? Her son registered to be a child soldier and everyone went along with it?!
Lance is a pacifist and refused every duel thrown at him while doing minimum damages to his opponent when he had no choice. Her son even admitted he wanted to become an illusion teacher before trying to apply for coven head so why did he join… the only coven who answered directly from the emperor.
Lilith had an unfazed expression while she talked. "Your 'son' proved that he had at least the minimum to join the emperor's ranks and he will be considered an adult as soon as he gets his brand. Just to be clear." Lilith was barely hiding her contempt now. "As far as the law is concerned you no longer have any authority over him and if the emperor agrees, and I know he will, Amity will be under his custody."
"You can't do this!"
The crystal ball shut down. Lilith didn't even bother to tell to Odalia more than the minimum.
But what in the world was happening?! Lance joined the emperor but he wanted to join the illusion's coven. Granted she and Alador decided he was too young at the time but he was assured to become the next coven head once he reached majority … Why did he become a scout…
Did he hate them to the point he would renounce his dreams just to get away from them?
She stayed there, looking at the crystal ball, trying to accept what she just learnt.
Meanwhile, Alador was working in his lab, he had work to do since the fire destroyed the abomination and he only got a week to make another one before the presentation of his products.
While most of his children looked more like his wife, Lance looked almost like a him in his younger years except for the chin he inherited from his mother
He was interrupted when his scroll vibrated. He took it out of curiosity and saw it was a PM from … Darius. As if his day wasn't bad enough.
Still, he opened it and saw a video of his son fighting monsters. Alador was speechless at the sight. Lance was slashing the beast with no care in the world … When did he learn construction magic and beast magic? It was forbidden to learn more than one track.
Then, after he saw his son covered in blood with a burned hand, Darius' text arrived : 'Care to explain?'
No, he could not explain at all.
flash back
"You will not compromise Willow's future or try anything against the arks in retaliation. You won't go after Amity in fact you will never try to mold your children in your images ever again."
Odlia was frozen, looking at the red eyes while Aladdor was speechless. Where did Lance learn that?
"Lance, stop this at once."
Lance stayed impassive.
"I'm sorry father but no, the truth is that I always felt like you were failing as parents and now that I know the truth I can not stay passive. None of you care about your children and while I can live like this I won't let you force that life on my siblings."
"I care about you!" Why would Lance think such a thing?
"Then I pity you." Lance was fading away. "I will leave and take my siblings but only if they wish to follow me. If you really love your children then don't fail this time"
He only regained consciousness when Lance and Amity were long gone
flash back end
The truth was that he couldn't explain why or rather when his son changed. He could just think about his eyes and what he said : 'you are unfit to raise children.'
It was too calm to be a rebellion or a tantrum. Alador knew that Lance was genuinely disappointed by him and Odalia.
He rushed upstair when the illusion was finally gone only to learn that his two youngest ran away from home
Amity didn't hesitate a second to come with him while he could tell the thought went through Edric and Emira's mind.
Aladdor didn't want to work anymore. He just thought about that day and thought 'Why would a child put his own parents under a spell?', 'When did he start to hate us?' and finally : 'When did Mitten decide she loved her brother more than us?'
Just… Maybe he spent too much time in his lab.
He found his wife in the living room. Odalia was drinking Apple Blood.
"Did something happen?" She is usually working at this time.
"I got a call from Lilith. Lance is joining the emperor's scouts tomorrow."
It would have probably surprised him a week ago but after everything that happened he barely reacted to the news.
Aladdor just asked his wife. "Are you okay?"
"Our son left the house to live by himself with our daughter. Joined the emperor's coven and threw away his future in the illusion coven. How do you think I am?" She bitterly replied.
"Probably unwell." He has never been good with people.
The matriarch sighed. "Sorry, it's just that… I can't believe our son just dropped everything to … to spite us."
"Well, Lance has always been the most mature of our children but he is also a little too much like me."
"A prodigy?"
"A loner." Aladdor replied. "He isn't really good at interacting with people, even if we present them to him, and except for petting the crows and looking after Amity I don't think he has any hobbies."
Truth to be told, none of them could remember their youngest son asking for something, he was quiet and did as they asked, he even dyed his hair green, so none of them had something to say about his behavior and even if he couldn't make friends well that was why he had siblings.
"We're going to find someone else for the presentation to the investors." Odalia warned her husband.
Their speciality was selling weapons based on abomination magic, usually Lance helped them but given their current situation it wasn't going to happen.
"We could ask one of the twins to help us for the demonstration." Aladdor proposed.
His wife just let out a fake laugh. "The goal is to show our worth to the investors. Not draw them away."
"Why not? They are quite good for their age. They are even doing great at Hexide."
Odalia just frowned at the mention of her remaining children's accomplishment "They have been trying to 'do well' since Lance entered Hexide and He did more in two years for this family than any of them will in their entire life."
"You're being a little harsh."
"Am I? Lance received many prizes for his skills in illusion and finished his studies in only two years TWO YEARS! and what can we be proud about the twins? the pieces of paper saying 'good job'? their social skills? or even better the calls we got from Bump and parents they angered!." The glass broke under pressure but she ignored it despite the blood leaking from her hand..
"They are our children." Aladdor may not be father of the year but it was going too far.
"And what did they do for this family?"
Well they skipped a grade in two months… no that was Lance. Saved a student from the sorting hat? No, Bump called them because Lance threw a knife at it. Improved the sales? No, he never took them with him to presentations. Maybe…. nothing. No matter how hard he searched in his memory. He couldn't find a proper answer. Not because they did nothing but because he could not remember talking to them except when it was to scold them… by staying at Odalia's side.
His wife just took his silence as a confirmation that she was right.
"That's what I thought." Odalia replied before she went to the bathroom to fix her hand. Aladdor went back to his lab shortly, still haunted by the realization that he may know nothing about his own children.
None of them noticed that one of their remaining children heard everything and left quietly as tears silently flowed on their face.
SO SORRY FOR THE WAIT, I was busy and I just entered college and it's going well.
Anyway, I'm not really good at feeling but the point of this chapter was to show that neither Aladdor nor Odalia were intentionally hurting their children. They DO love them but the thing is that none of them really know how to raise a child and just raise their children like they were raised while Itachi realized a long time ago that this mentality and how much he complied led to many of his problems back in his previous life. Itachi knows that it's his fault if Sasuke became obsessed with vengeance and how the whole "Uchiha Massacre" went too far because of both sides so he can't tolerate a situation similar to his uprising no matter how it is.
The thing is that Itachi spent eleven years in a world much better than the shinobi's world and had time to think about everything that happened and I think he would have imagined how things could have been different. Basically a lifetime of regrets (literally) still weighs on his conscience.
For Edric and Emira it's a bit tricky, both of them love their little siblings but while they are good Lance/Itachi was even better. Living with someone that was praised by their mother while their father asked him to come with him to his presentations which is way more than what he does with them.
And while it is canon that they are good at magic at Hexside they stopped trying to prove it because they deemed it was pointless with everything Lance did. Yes they are good but why should they spend time and effort to try to please their mother if she is just going to compare them to their little brother?
So not only did they stop trying to please their parents but Odalia was disappointed that they wasted their potential.
Basically, the whole family is bad at interacting with each other and in the long term it harms everyone.
Also, I started to write this chapter BEFORE I saw clouds in the horizon and there is a lot of change that I had to do after I saw the end of season 2.
Also, I started a discord, the link is : /yFP9Z3ah