With the morning upon them, the Foresters gathered their supplies for the day. As Melissa's heist was put on hold, they intended to focus their energy on finding out the truth behind the Visconti family, Grim Deadlock, and the Cirque du Madness.
Melissa finished tying her new scarf around her neck before picking up a different piece of equipment. It was a metallic, rectangular scabbard with a silver coating and a cylindrical black hilt attached to the top. The sides showed the box wasn't completely solid, made up of interlocking parts with its purpose unknown to all but the creators and its wielder.
She pulled the black strap over her left shoulder and clicked it over the right side of her waist. After that, she threw a cloak on and nodded to the others. "Alright, I'm ready."
Jason pulled his hood up. "Everyone remember their part of the plan?" He turned to the others.
Wyatt, Avel, and the apprentices saluted him. "We'll investigate Castle Visconti and perform a thorough search of their activities, sir!" Wyatt exclaimed.
"And we'll try to deduce who among them is most like to be Grim Deadlock, whether it be a member of the staff or the royal children themselves," Avel added.
Lucient saluted as well. "And I'll be conducting an investigation of the circus to keep an eye on their activities."
Jason nodded. "Excellent. We move out now—" Melissa tapped his shoulder. "Hmm?"
"Uh, question." She pointed over her shoulder at the scowling Froslass tied up in the corner. "What do we do with her?"
"…Ah, right. Nearly forgot about her." Jason crossed his arms and sighed. "Leaving her here without supervision would draw unwanted attention from the innkeeper. Alright, you and I will have to drop her off with Zech. She's too much of a security risk to leave her with the Echo Bell authorities."
Melissa nodded. "Okay." She walked up and threw Junko onto her shoulder. "Wow, she's surprisingly light!"
"[I hate all of you so much…]" she grumbled.
"What did she say?" Melissa asked.
Lucient smiled dryly. "Oh, she said to smack her head against every obstacle you come across on the way over." Junko shot him a death glare.
Jason cracked the door open and peeked outside. "Coast is clear. Harlow and I will go ahead. Be back here before sundown."
"Yes, sir!"
He nodded Melissa over, and the two of them dashed outside. Once the others peeked outside, the duo were already gone. They locked the door behind them and made their way out of the inn to begin their missions.
Lucient weaved his way through the crowd gathering around the circus, peeking through his elaborate purple mask as the top of the stage came within sight. Muttering apologies as he bumped into bystanders, he made it up to the front just as a show began to commence.
The opening act consisted of the Alolan Sandslash duo juggling and spinning rings of fire between them, seemingly unbothered to be in close proximity of such a crippling element to them.
As the audience cheered on the performance, Lucient occupied his senses with observing everything around him. Much like the performance he observed a couple days ago, they showed to be skilled in their practice. He imagined it took dedication and training for the duo to perform their famous fire juggling act without serious repercussions. It spoke of the skill each of the performers carried. One was able to cause a disturbance yesterday. What were the rest capable of?
He noticed, as expected within his initial assumption, that the crowd downsized significantly compared to the numbers drawn in the last two days. By his guess, roughly forty-seven percent of their audience didn't show up, likely taking part in other activities around the city. The rumors of a Great Gate woman going on a rampage spooked the attendees. Those willing to show up and continue watching their performances were either huge fans or ignorant to the danger that transpired.
One other details Lucient took note of were some members at the front of the audience. A few men were cladded in heavy cloaks, though he could see a fraction of a weapon hidden on their backs: standard-issue Echo Bell broadswords used by the Echo Bell knights.
His eyes traveled up the surrounding buildings and noted a few more figures on top, though dressed more appropriately in their armor. He squinted to see they were each armed with loaded crossbows.
So, even the knights suspect something. Still, why continue the carnival? Lucient adjusted his mask. Perhaps to not start a panic. If word spread dangerous criminals were here, the chaos would be uncontrollable. They're waiting for the enemy to make the first strike. And yet, the rumors of a circus performer aren't enough to dissuade people from attending.
He narrowed his eyes and suppressed an annoyed sigh.
That's just like this kingdom to ignore problems just to keep up an image. It's how everyone in this kingdom acts.
"Daaaaaaddy! I can't see!"
Lucient glanced to his right and saw a Shroodle balancing on an adult Midday Lycanroc's head. The father seemed annoyed as his son kept kicking and standing on its hindlegs to get a better look of the show.
"Daddy! I can't see! Higher!"
The father growled. "You can see the stage just fine, kiddo."
"But—"
"If you keep complaining, we'll go home."
"Nnnooooooo!"
Lucient looked away and resumed observing the stage. He couldn't exactly blame the man for being annoyed. Children were the center of a parent's universe, but that didn't mean they weren't prone to getting irritated from their crying. The man sounded hostile on the outside, though Lucient could tell he was just tired and irritated. At least, that's what he hoped he was seeing.
Some people hide their emotions, and some wear their true emotions on their sleeves.
"Count Mires, I…I want to take you up on your proposal."
Lucient's mother had recently sent out a request to speak with the noble Quagsire in person regarding their last conversation. She brought along Lucient and Anastasia with her, both sitting on either side of their mother on the couch. The two Eevee exchanged curious looks with each other, wondering what will happen.
The noble Quagsire wasn't the only one joining them today, as a mighty Arcanine also sat in attendance: Count Mires' previously mentioned son. Though dressed nicely, he didn't display the same charismatic energy as his father. He sat in the armchair beside the viscount, hardly uttering a word from his stoic expression. It creeped the twins out.
Mires smiled. "You gave it some thought, Giannina?"
The Flareon mother nodded. "The livelihood of my children come first, and I'm afraid my responsibilities serving the Mires family leaves me little time to take care of them. As such, anything I can do to improve our living conditions would be beneficial." She bowed her head. "I humbly accept your request to marry into the Mires family."
Mires grinned. "Oh, I knew you would see reason, my dear. This'll be perfect for all of you!" He turned to his son. "The Mires have assisted in managing the markets of Avestoia for many years, and I want to make sure my son takes over the trade. Of course, he has had trouble securing himself a wife. Like this, you'll be able to help us while supporting your family."
Giannina nodded. "Of course, Count Mires."
"I'm sure you understand what this entails, madame," he continued. "We are a traditional family, so a blood heir is required. This won't be an issue, correct?"
She shook her head. "No, Count Mires. I understand the values of your family."
"Hmph," the Arcanine grumbled.
Mires glared at his son. "Behave yourself, Gastone. This is for the good of the family. If you wish to keep your inheritance, I expect you to put work into it. That also means maintaining tradition."
"…Yes, Father."
Lucient raised his paw. "Count Mires, sir."
The Quagsire raised his brow. "Yes, young man?"
"If my mom is going to marry into your family, will she still be required to work her usual hours? The reason she works so many jobs with the nobles around the town is to provide for my sister and me. If this marriage is solely to provide for us, would that leave her more time to take care of her family?"
Mires grinned. "My, my, you're quite the astute lad. How old are you, young man?"
"I'm eight, sir."
"Well, fret not over that. As a soon-to-be member of the Mires family, she won't be working under my payroll anymore. I can't speak to her obligations with other nobles like Viscount Musgrave and the like, but I assure you this new arrangement will allow her to spend more time with the two of you."
Giannina laughed awkwardly. "Forgive my son, he's—"
"No need to apologize, madame. I have heard the rumors of this young man. He has a bright future ahead of him, and such brilliance would be beneficial to the Mires family. A boy with his mind deserves the finest education and opportunities. He and his sister, with my recommendation, will get into the finest school here in Avestoia."
Giannina's eyes widened. "My word, uh…this is too much—"
"You will be family soon, my dear, and we look out for each other. You want your children to lead exemplary lives, yes?"
"Of course I do. I just…you have to understand, this is for my children. I wouldn't want to push them into something if they don't want to. I only want what's best for them and…" She paused as her children patted her shoulders.
"We said we would support your decision, Mom," Lucient said.
Anastasia nodded. "We know you're doing this for us. We just want to make sure you're happy with this decision."
"…" Giannina took a deep breath and smiled at the Mires. "I guess we're all in agreement."
Count Mires clapped. "Astounding! We'll move you all into the manor effective immediately. We'll get the documentation sorted out and have the courthouses officially register you and Gastone as wife and husband. No need for any ceremony."
Gastone rose from his chair and approached the poor family. Lucient and Anastasia sunk back into the cushions, and even their mother looked a little intimidated under his glower. The imposing Arcanine heaved a sigh and kneeled, taking her paw in his own.
"It is…an honor to have you a part of the family, Ms. Giannina."
She relaxed a bit and smiled. "I am…charmed as well, Gastone."
Lucient and Anastasia eased up and shared a look with each other. They both agreed in silence that this man would take some getting used to, having him as their stepfather. Even so, from that day onward, they never suspected any reason to fear the man, only that he was a tad aloof.
Regardless, things were starting to look brighter for them.
In the few months they've been living in the Mires Manor, the lives of Lucient and his family turned around. No longer living under a leaky roof and painstakingly budgeting their money just to survive, the family finally got a taste of living. Lucient and Anastasia got to experience such luxuries as hot water, exotic meals, and new attire. If it weren't for their mother's guidance, they might've gone mad with power.
They were able to get their own separate rooms, too. Lucient was quick to decorate his room with giant bookshelves to display his collection. With his newfound free time, he even took up a hobby collecting evolution stones, each with a varying luster, shape, and point of origin. He read in a book once that each evolution stone told a story about its natural creation, like how Water Stones are said to be the crystalized essence of the sea itself.
As promised by their new grandfather, Lucient and Anastasia were soon enrolled into a private school with the other noble children. When word of Lucient's incredible intelligence hit the scene, many struggling students came to him asking for help on their assignments. When Anastasia learned of the attention on her brother, she was quick to take advantage of it.
Lucient grimaced as hordes of his peers crowed around him and his sister, many of them waving their books and papers in the air. It was hard to make out what everyone was saying as they shouted over each other, but they quickly discerned it involved academia assistance.
Lucient raised his paws and exclaimed, "Hang on, hang on! I can't help everyone at once. One at a time, please—"
Anastasia pushed her brother out of the way and clapped, gaining the students' attention. "What he means to say is that this isn't how you conduct business, my dear classmates. Lucient Mires is a very busy guy and can't possibly handle this many requests without some incentive."
"Please, I'm desperate!" a Teddiursa shouted.
"I can't fail my classes! Mother and Father would be furious!" a Clauncher exclaimed, waving his textbook wildly.
Anastasia turned away from them. "Hmm, that does sound serious. But there's a price for everything…" She spun around and presented a small bag. "Five coins per person, people! Line up!" The students gasped and quickly organized themselves.
Lucient narrowed his eyes. "Ana, I would've helped them for free. Besides, we don't need the extra money."
She grinned. "Ah, but Count Mires says supply and demand is very important for business. I see a demand for your intelligence, therefore it requires a small fee."
He rolled his eyes. "You're unbelievable."
"Fine. I'll give the money back. And I was SO looking forward to swinging by the bookstore to do some browsing."
"…" Lucient sighed through his nose. "Well, I suppose some compensation is needed for my time."
"Now you're catching on!"
No matter the luxuries offered to the twins, the twins continued to be surprised by their new accommodations. Their mouths were practically drooling waterfalls at the spread lay out across the dinner table. They would be lucky to receive samples of these dishes whenever their mother returned from work, but to experience a full course meal…
Top of the line steak made from the finest salac berries, rich mashed potatoes that gleamed gold in the candlelight, mixed vegetables greener than any they've eaten in the past, and a glass of yache berry juice to top it off.
Giannina giggled at her children's starstruck reactions. "Oh, that never gets old. Don't let your food get cold, and don't forget to thank the chefs."
The twins smiled to the Mires' personal chef. "Thank you for this wonderful meal!" Lucient picked up his utensils (designed to be picked up by quadrupeds) and carefully cut into his steak while Anastasia dove face first into hers.
Gastone grimaced. "No manners from that one…"
Giannina patted his foreleg. "Kids will be kids. Let them enjoy themselves."
"…Hmph." He picked up his wine glass and took a sip.
Lucient and Anastasia curiously loomed over the pair of eggs nestled against their mother as she lay in bed sleepily. She smiled as her children gently pawed at them, feeling the warmth radiating inside them.
"They'll hatch into our new brothers or sisters?" Anastasia asked.
Giannina nodded. "That's right. One of these eggs will eventually grow up to take over the Mires Manor. When they hatch, I'm expecting you two to be their big brother and sister. They need someone kind and loving to instill good, honest values into them. I'm trusting you two to watch over them."
Lucient nodded. "Of course, Mom."
Anastasia patted the top of one egg before asking, "Where's Mr. Gastone? Doesn't he want to see the eggs?"
Giannina tried to hide her grimace with a forced smile. "He…He's very busy today. Said he'll check on them some other time."
"…" Lucient glanced at his mother. "Do you love him?"
Giannina frowned. "Lucient…" She sighed and looked away. "No, I don't. Your father still holds a spot in my heart. Nobody can replace him." She shook her head. "But I made a deal with the Mires family just so we can have a better life."
Lucient frowned. "I don't like Gastone. He seems…callous."
"I don't blame you. Truth be told, I doubt he ever wanted children. I think he only cares about inheriting ownership of the market street." She sat up and pulled her children in for a hug. "But as long as we stick together, there shouldn't be any problems."
"I don't know…"
Giannina smiled. "Besides, even if he doesn't want to be a part of your lives, that's on him. He doesn't see how wonderful you two are." She leaned down and nuzzled them. "You two have wonderful futures ahead of you. Make your mark on this world and take advantage of your new privileges."
Lucient and Anastasia smiled. "Yes, Mom!"
She grinned. "I just know you two are going to do amazing things when you get older. Use your gifts to make the world a better place. A beautiful world for our family."
"Lord Avestoia, I have finished organizing your documents and updating your schedule for the week."
The noble Venusaur looked up from his standing desk and set his ink quill aside. "Already? Outstanding work, Mires. I see those glowing recommendations weren't just stories."
The twelve-year-old Espeon bowed to the lord of Avestoia. "It is my honor to assist you, sir." He looked over and psychically retrieved a stack of letters. "I also took the liberty of picking up and organizing your mail during my lunchbreak. You have a dinner invite from one of the local counts today."
Avestoia retrieved the topmost letter and examined it. "Heavens above, that man needs to stop sending invites at the last minute. Is my schedule clear for tonight?"
Lucient nodded. "Yes, sir. If you are to finish your work on time, you should be able to attend the dinner at precisely 5:27. You do have a meeting at 8, so I recommend you leave no later than 7:30. It'll give you time to freshen up."
Avestoia laughed. "Do you have the entire schedule memorized?"
"It's been permanently engrained into my memory, sir."
"…Oh, you're not joking." He laughed again and walked out from around his desk. "Well, I can't thank you enough, my boy. You've done more than my personal assistants could manage in a couple hours. That kind of work effort is to be admired."
Lucient saluted. "Appreciated, sir."
"If I recall, you've been taking up odd jobs around my town, correct?"
"Affirmative, sir."
"If you're interested, I could recommend you to some of my acquaintances. They could use someone with your superior intelligence. In fact, how do you feel about teaching?"
"I consider it a potential career opportunity, sir, though I am still in school."
"Would you be interested in an early apprenticeship with a high-level professor? It would give you access to some resources a child of your age and aptitude could only dream of."
Lucient smiled. "I would love that, sir. Thank you!"
With the usage of Psychic, Lucient restocked the store shelves in less than a minute. Cans, bags, and other goods circled the air above him and expertly landed on the appropriate shelves in a uniform fashion. Not a single item out of place.
The elderly Delibird shopkeeper walked over and applauded the Espeon. "Nicely done, lad. That would've taken me at least twenty minutes."
Lucient adjusted his shirt's collar. "Just doing my part to help out."
The shopkeeper pulled out some coins and handed them over. "If you want, you can get a fulltime job here. I could use the manpower."
Lucient shook his head. "I appreciate the offer, but I want to focus on my studies first. Still, I'm glad to help out whenever I can."
The shopkeeper nodded. "Well, you've become a beacon of camaraderie around these parts. I can see why the people of this town call you De Solus. You truly have become the light of our world."
Lucient smiled awkwardly. "Uh, while the sentiment is appreciated, solus is old language for 'alone'. You might be confusing the word for 'sol.'"
The shopkeeper laughed. "Why can't it be both? The way I see it, you alone can do the work of a hundred men faster and better than the rest. A lone sun always shining down on us."
Lucient thought it over for a moment. "I…suppose when you say it like that, it sounds more meaningful. De Solus. Has a nice ring to it." He backed away and bowed his head. "I shall be taking my leave now. If you need anything, feel free to reach out."
"Of course, lad. And if you ever need anything from me, I'd be happy to lend a wing."
"I'd appreciate that, sir, thank you. Have a wonderful day." He turned and exited the shop.
The Delibird laughed. "What a bright young man."
"How could you lose him?!"
"I don't know! He wandered off while my back was turned!"
Lucient and Anastasia (now a twelve-year-old Umbreon) raced out of the manor and searched the yard for signs of their missing brother, Tito. Anastasia was supposed to be watching over him when the curious puppy escaped her sight. They raced around, checking through the bushes and under the porch.
"Tito!" Anastasia called out. "Come out, come out wherever you are! Big Sis is getting a tad worried, and she doesn't want to get in trouble!"
Lucient sighed. "Sometimes I feel like we need to tie a bell around him. Watching over Nicola and Taide was one thing, but now we have Tito making our jobs harder."
"Could've been worse," Anastasia said, checking under the welcome mat. "At least Cristina behaves herself."
Lucient cupped his paws around his mouth and yelled, "Tito! Where are you?!"
Anastasia popped her head up and pondered for a second. "Wait, we were playing hide-and-seek yesterday."
"So?"
"Remember what Tito said after we finished?"
Lucient closed his eyes and recollected the vivid memories. "Tito was bummed out that we couldn't continue playing. He also said he wanted to have a hiding spot like Nicola—" His eyes widened. "Backyard!"
"Yep!"
They raced around to the back of the manor, which had some outdoor toys laying around. Their target of interest was the large tree standing in the dead center. They slowed their pace before stopping under the branches. They perked their ears up, hearing the faint giggles of a mischievous toddler.
The twins shared a knowing look with each other. Anastasia rolled her eyes and smirked. "Gee Lucient, he doesn't seem to be back here, either." She mouthed something to him before walking around the base of the tree.
Lucient nodded. "Well, he's got to be here somewhere. We could check the bedrooms again. Maybe he's hiding under a bed. Or inside Mom and Gastone's walk-in closet." He perked his ears, hearing his sister climb up the tree.
"Oh heavens, dearest brother, may we never find our beloved Tito?!"
He put a paw to his forehead and sighed. "I'm afraid not. I miss him so. It's like I can still hear him laughing from the sky above—"
"BOO!"
"AAHH!"
Lucient heard the leaves rustling, and Anastasia came flying down with the young Growlithe wrapped in her forelegs. She landed hard on her back, knocking the wind out of her, and tilted onto her side in a daze.
Tito recovered from the scare and giggled. "You found me!"
Lucient sighed. "Ana…"
She finally found her voice and wheezed. "Slipped on a leaf when I grabbed him…"
"Lucy! I'm hungwy!"
Lucient's brow twitched as his younger Eevee sibling pawed at his side. He heard Anastasia giggling in the back of the kitchen while playing with their three Growlithe siblings. With their mom out on work and their stepfather hardly in their lives, the two thirteen-year-olds were in charge of babysitting their younger siblings. Raising two Growlithe in the beginning was hard enough, but they didn't except a third plus an Eevee a couple years after. Still, they did their duties as older siblings and cared for their little brothers and sisters.
Lucient took a deep breath and looked down at his younger Eevee brother. "Nicola, I told you, just call me Lucient."
"Lu…Lucy!"
"…" He took a deep breath again and patted his brother's head. "Luke. Call me Luke."
"Lu…cah. Luke!"
"There you go!"
"…I'm hungwy, Luke."
Lucient sighed. "Right, right, of course."
Anastasia scooped her other brother and sisters on her back, making them giggle. "Shouldn't we ask the chef to make something for them?"
"After the last eighteen requests we made the poor man suffer through? I think this calls for some older sibling intervention." Lucient cleared his throat, gaining their younger siblings' attentions. "Alright, who wants sandwiches?"
"Me, me, me, me!" they squealed.
"Great! Go play in the living room while Ana and I make them." He pushed Nicola along, and the rest of his siblings followed after the waddling Eevee.
Anastasia sighed. "Remind me never to have six kids."
Lucient smirked. "Assuming you ever find someone to settle down with."
"You mock me? I'm cute and charming." She posed, lighting up her ring patterns. "The boys at school are starting to take notice, too."
"Any offers?"
"None I'm interested in, but I enjoy the attention." She snickered. "I think I'll enjoy staying single until I have to marry."
Lucient psychically lowered sandwich ingredients. "No one says you have to marry, Ana."
"Count Mires thinks otherwise. If anything, he'd be telling me to cozy up to prospecting noblemen that could give House Mires a much-needed status boost."
"And you're taking his advice seriously?"
She smirked. "Nah. Just because I wear the name of Mires doesn't mean I'm going to follow in tradition. I want…expand my horizons a bit." She sighed and pulled up onto the counter alongside him. "You're lucky, though. Everyone in town loves you, and I need to put in the effort to get noticed. You have your whole life figured out, and I just spend all day…trying to find something I'm good at."
Lucient shook his head. "Don't sell yourself short. You have plenty of potential. I have my life figured out, but that just means you have more time to be a kid and figure that stuff out later." He sighed. "If anything, I envy you. A lot of expectations are thrusted onto my shoulders, and I'm just supposed to grin and bear it. I almost miss being a rumored genius."
Anastasia smiled. "Now who's selling themselves short?"
He smiled back. "Honestly, all I want to do is provide for my family and help our community. Lord Avestoia told me that I have a chance at becoming a royal advisor in the future, but I'm not sure."
"You kidding? That's a huge honor."
"But I much prefer helping out our little town of Avestoia. Maybe I should take up an administrative job here. I could just become a fulltime member of Lord Avestoia's council." He shrugged. "At the end of the day, I just want to do good by us."
Anastasia chuckled. "But just this one town? Ever thought of going bigger?"
"I can't imagine the scale of a project like that, but I suppose it's worth keeping options open."
"Hmm." She closed her eyes and sighed. "You're right about earlier. I should just focus on enjoying the now before I worry about that grownup stuff. And when the time comes, maybe I'll figure out what direction to take my life."
Lucient smiled. "And who knows? Maybe you could become a con artist."
She snorted. "Don't joke about that, I might take you seriously—"
They jumped as something crashed in the living room. The familiar crying of a young Eevee and the spooked whines of three Growlithe caught their attention. They peeked around the corner and saw an expensive vase had toppled over and shattered onto the floor.
"Oh dear…" Lucient mumbled.
Anastasia grimaced. "Uh, you finish with the sandwiches. I got this one." She jumped down and raced into the living room. "Ilenia, no! Don't touch that, it's sharp!"
Lucient sighed and resumed fixing up lunch. "She has the right idea. I think my limit is two kids."
The afternoon rolled by peacefully as the Mires siblings joined in the living room with Lucient reading a story to his younger siblings. They curled up around Anastasia and listened intently to their older brother while captivated by his masterful narration and expressive inflexions to capture the tone of the adventurous novel.
"As the hero climbed Mt. Doom, he faced the dreaded Miasma of Enigmas. His senses deteriorated, lost in the unknown as he aimlessly wandered, fighting against the corruptive atmosphere—" He paused as one of the Growlithe raised their paw. "Yes, Taide?"
"What de…detergentated mean?" she asked.
Anastasia giggled. "Deteriorated. It means it's becoming less or worse of something over time. Think of it like an ice cube melting, only it'd be really, really bad if a Pokémon was deteriorating."
"Ooohhh," she gasped.
Lucient chuckled. "Not how I would've explained it."
Anastasia grinned. "No, you would've gone on another one of your tangents and confused them further."
"There is no limit to knowledge, dear sister."
Before Lucient could continue reading, they heard the front door open. The younger siblings perked up as their mother wandered into the living room. They instantly crowded around her, jumping up and down and nuzzled against her side.
Anastasia's eyes widened. "Mom? You're home early. I thought you got off in another couple hours."
Giannina smiled wearily. "There was a bit of an accident at Viscount Musgrave's."
Lucient and Anastasia immediately identified the bandage wrapped around her right paw. "Ana, go get the medical kit." She nodded and bounded off to the kitchen. Lucient put the book aside and walked over to his mom, helping her onto the couch.
"Lucient, sweetie, I'm fine. A physician already checked on me. He said I'll be fine."
Lucient carefully undid her bandage. "A second opinion never hurts." He pulled enough of the gauze back to see the nasty cut across her sole. He winced. "Mom, how did this happen?"
She sighed. "I was transporting some old tools from Viscount Musgrave's shed to be disposed of. I wasn't looking where I was walking and stepped on a loose nail in the floorboards."
Lucient's eyes widened. "Stepped on?! Mom, there's a giant slash across your paw!"
She winced. "Yes, well…the physician said it should heal as long as I don't put too much pressure on it."
"You really should be more…careful…" Lucient narrowed his eyes and took a closer look at her paw. He noticed a reddish-brown stain hidden within her fur. He assumed it was dried blood, but the color wasn't quite right. "Mom. You said you were handling old tools. And you stepped on a loose nail."
Giannina frowned. "Lucient—"
"Mom. That nail didn't have rust on it, right? Right?"
"…" She looked away.
"M-Mom!"
"…" She closed her eyes and sighed. "The physician…told me to wait a couple weeks in case any symptoms showed."
Lucient's eyes widened. "N-No…" He fell back on his haunches and stared at the floor vacantly, all while his siblings looked between the two in confusion.
"Luke, what wrong?" Nicola asked.
"Momma…detergenating?" Taide asked.
Anastasia soon returned with the medical kit. "Alright, I got it. How does it look, Dr. Lucient?" she asked jokingly. She froze at the dour atmosphere filling the living room. She dropped the kit when she saw her brother's horrified expression. Her ears drooped. "W…What's wrong?"
A few months passed since the incident. Giannina had to take time off from work to stay at home. Lucient and Anastasia stopped going to school to take care of her. She objected at first, but figured there was no way to force them in her condition. She couldn't deny their help was appreciated.
Over the months, her body progressively got worse. Everything ached all over, and she occasionally suffered from terrible muscle spasms that only worsened the pain. Somedays she struggled to breathe, and others she had to deal with a splitting headache. Lucient and Anastasia had to assist her with everything just to get by.
The twins did everything from helping her to the bathroom, making her food, changing out the bedsheets, helping her go to sleep, and more. They did this on top of their prior responsibilities, like Lucient's various jobs or taking care of their other siblings. Their stepfather had to run the markets, so he was no help. They didn't care, they just wanted to focus on taking care of their family. It was the only thing they could do to keep their minds off the impending threat.
They tried to remain optimistic. A physician would come by every couple of days to check on her condition and work tirelessly to lessen the symptoms. The twins held onto hope that she would recover. It'd take several months, but if they can get through that…
Though a small chance by comparison, there was still a real threat of their efforts being in vain. It all depended on their mother staying strong.
Lucient sat beside his mother's side and fed her soup. The Flareon was feeling well enough to sit up, though with the assistance of a mound of pillows against her back. Anastasia returned to the room exhausted, wiping the sweat from her brow.
"I finally put the runts to sleep," she huffed. "They would not stop asking for a bedtime story."
Giannina smiled sadly. "Dear, there are servants in the manor that could've—"
"We did everything on our own before," Lucient interrupted. "That's not stopping no matter how rich we are." He fed her another spoonful of soup. "Besides, if anyone's going to take care of you, it's your own family. I'm not letting a servant do that for us."
She sighed. "I'm glad this life hasn't changed you two…"
Anastasia hopped onto the bed. "The physician dropped by earlier while you were sleeping. He and the local alchemists are still trying to come up with an antidote."
Giannina smiled. "Hopefully soon…"
Lucient set the soup bowl down and sighed. "You wouldn't be in this situation if Viscount Musgrave took better care of his junk."
"Lucient!" Giannina gasped.
"Well, it's true. When was the last time someone stepped inside that deathtrap of a shed? It's a miracle no one died stepping on rusty nails earlier!" He gritted his teeth and turned away. "And the only thing he has to say for himself is 'sorry'? Sorry?! That's all?!"
Giannina winced. "Lucient—"
"I…agree with him, Mom," Anastasia chirped in. "He's not even paying for the treatment as compensation. Why hasn't Count Mires said anything about this? I thought he was family."
"…" Giannina looked away from her children and sighed. "Nobles…work by their own rules. It's a tightknit community of secrets and favors. You don't receive power without everyone keeping an eye on you. So, if…certain things need to be kept quiet, certain houses will keep their silence."
"…" Lucient glared. "Are you saying Musgrave paid off his friends to not mention this was indirectly his fault?"
Giannina closed her eyes and carefully sank under her sheets. "I never told you kids this, but…working as a servant for so many different noble houses, you hear things that you shouldn't. I couldn't say anything because I had my own family to look out for. To keep the peace, you need to break some rules."
Lucient glared to the side. "That's what it takes to be nobility?"
"Don't let a few bad eggs spoil your views. There are those who work hard to get where they are, earning their keep as nobility. It's just…at some point, it becomes tempting to make questionable choices to stay on top. Many stay firm on their beliefs, and others are willing to look the other way."
"…" Lucient closed his eyes and sighed. "In other words, you're a victim of circumstance, and that's all it will ever be."
Giannina leaned her head back and tried to get comfortable. "Lucient, Anastasia. If the worse does happen, promise me one thing."
Anastasia frowned. "Don't say things like that. It scares us."
"Just…hear me out." She tilted her head to look up at her children. "If I don't make it, promise me you'll stick to your principles. If this world intends to do good in the future, it needs good people to lead it. You two have been gifted opportunities kids your age and upbringing could only dream of. Don't squander those opportunities, and never lose sight of where you came from. Whether as Mires…or as De Solus, use your talents to get ahead of everyone else and make a difference in this world. But most importantly, never stop being the greatest kids a mother could ask for."
Lucient and Anastasia looked at each other uneasily.
"Do you promise?"
The twins, staring to one another in silent conversation, finally faced their mother and held one of her paws each. "We promise, Mom."
She closed her eyes, tears dripping down her cheeks, and smiled. "I have nothing but faith in you two. Make me proud."
It seemed tragically fitting a storm rolled in on this day. Was it coincidence, or an omen from the gods? Lucient wasn't one to immediately turned to higher powers for an explanation, being a young man driven by science, though somedays he wished he could scream up at Arceus and ask why fate turned out as it did?
A sizable crowd gathered at the graveyard where the funeral was being officially held. Everyone from Giannina's employers to her friends to even a few coworkers. Lord Avestoia himself took time off to attend even though he hardly knew her, but he knew how much she meant to Lucient and his siblings. Count Mires and Gastone were present as well with heads hung low. Seated in the same row as them were Lucient, Anastasia, and their four half-siblings.
An open casket lay on stage with their mother laying peacefully inside, forelegs crossed together while wearing a beautiful white dress. It was hard to believe the Flareon inside wasn't just sleeping, a thought Lucient tried to stray from lest he breakdown.
It was harder having to explain to his half-siblings. They were still rather young, thus they couldn't understand why they were here or why their mother was asleep in a big box. Anastasia was having more trouble keeping herself together with tears on the brink of breaking the dam. Lucient patted his sister's paw, hoping it'd give some comfort.
Eventually, a Lunatone priest floated onto the stage and looked out to the mournful crowd. He took a deep breath and proceeded with his eulogy.
"Giannina Mires was a respected woman among our fair community of Avestoia. A hard worker who came from a simpler background, working day and night to care for her two children. There is no greater strength of character than wishing to provide for something so dear to the heart. She would find salvation from the generosity of House Mires, granting her and her children comfort from their unideal settings. Even after marrying into House Mires, she continued offering her services to the noble houses of our town. She never lost her honest ways, and she should be remembered for them.
"This tragedy reminds us of how fleeting life is. That any second, a mere insignificance of daily routine can turn deadly and strip us of our futures. We should be reminded to cherish life in the now, for that is the grace of Arceus. We…"
Lucient eventually tuned the eulogy out and focused on his mother. He hated how it was just a simple accident that did her in. The physicians and alchemists truly did everything in their power to provide proper treatment, but they lacked the means to kill the disease entirely. His mother stayed strong for as long as she could, but it eventually became too much for her body to handle. She didn't have the strength to keep fighting.
Life was chaos. It was unpredictable. No matter how well prepared one was for the future, something will always blindside the prepared and uproot their routine. Whether it be something as grand as a hurricane sweeping over the region or something as common as a nail.
But it wasn't his future he worried about. Everything was lined up for him just fine. He had every advantage out there. Anastasia and their half-siblings, however, weren't gifted like him. Would they have futures? Would they prepared for the next day?
Would he be able to protect them?
"You've had enough to drink. Hand them over."
Fourteen-year-old Lucient tried to confiscate his stepfather's bottle, but the significantly larger canine easily swatted his paw away. He growled at the teen. "Mind your own business, brat." He chugged down the last of his drink and unceremoniously dropped the bottle on the floor, causing it to shatter. "Call for someone to clean that up." He stepped over the glass and stumbled over it.
Lucient growled. "You're supposed to be going in for work today. You told me to keep you on schedule—"
"Go bother someone us. I'll head into work when I need—hic—to."
Before Lucient could retort, Nicola came running into the living room toward his father, much to the Espeon's horror. He spotted Anastasia rounding the corner and gasped when her little brother started tugging on Gastone's sleeve.
"Daddy! Can we play now? You promised you would play with me!"
Gastone growled. "I'm busy. Go bother someone else."
"But you promised—"
"I said BACK OFF!" He swung his foreleg and effortlessly knocked the Eevee backward.
Nicola tumbled over his face and stared at the floor in shock. Seconds after, he broke down into tears and sobbed into the rug. Anastasia ran over and pulled him into her embrace. As she patted the back of his head, she growled at her stepfather. "What the hell is wrong with you?! He's your son!"
Gastone scoffed. "I never wanted any DAMN kids in the first place. Too much of a hassle."
Lucient stepped in front of his sister. "No, because you just wanted your father's inheritance. You knew he wouldn't hand it over to you if there was no heir to pass it onto. You only married our mother just to fulfill Count Mires' demands."
Gastone rolled his eyes. "You want a gold star or something? That's life. Your mother was only good for giving me a bunch of useless children."
"Excuse me?!" Lucient yelled.
"I only tolerated it because she would be the one taking care of them while I worked the markets. Now it's just constant whining and complaining from you runts."
"Because you're their father!" Anastasia yelled. "You don't just toss your children around like trash!"
Lucient scoffed. "Don't give him too much credit. Since when was this louse ever a father?"
Gastone turned and marched up to the Espeon. "Want to say that again, boy?" His eyes flashed red.
Lucient involuntarily winced under the effects of Gastone's Intimidate, but he stayed his ground and raised his head high. "They may not be my full-blooded siblings, but they're still MY family. I won't have you bullying them around just because you're a greedy piece of—"
The Arcanine's paws swung faster than Lucient anticipated. Anastasia and Nicola gasped as their brother went flying back and crashed over a table, knocking over empty liquor bottles. The glass broke under his back when he hit the floor.
Gastone lifted his paw with some blood dripping off his exposed claws. "Let me teach you the facts of life, boy. As of now, I'm the master of this house. If you want to continue living here, you'll mind your manners and stay out of my business. It doesn't matter how smart you are. You're still just some brat who has a lot to learn about his privileges. Your mother knew what she was signing up for. The only thing that matters in nobility is rising above your station and exploiting the opportunities ahead."
Lucient struggled to picked himself off the floor. Glass shards dug into the back of his shirt with some blood staining through. It didn't compare to the blood dripping down his left ear. The strike tore out a piece of flesh. "Y-You…" He collapsed over himself and panted.
Gastone turned and walked away. "This is how you stay at the top. I don't need to waste my time with useless spawns. The only thing you'll be getting out of me is an inheritance, if you're lucky, and soon one of you will be taking my place to keep our family's status alive." He left the living room, and the last they heard was the sound of the front door opening and closing.
Lucient groaned and faceplanted into the floor as the last of his strength waned. Anastasia set Nicola down and ran over to him. "Lucient!" she gasped. She picked him up in her forelegs, unbothered by the blood getting on her dress. "Why did you do that?! You could've just walked away—"
"I…I refuse to let any of us end up like him," he growled. "He acted as if Mom was just some…tool! Some tool to build himself up." He stamped his paw down and shuddered. "Treating us like dirt. That…power is all that matters."
Anastasia frowned. "Lucient…"
"I won't let him treat our family like trash, and I won't accept this disgusting lack of morals." He pressed his paws down and leaned against his sister to stand, glaring at the broken glass on the floor. "And he'll pay for what he said about Mom."
"[Thank you, thank you! You've been a wonderful audience!]"
Lucient snapped out of his thoughts and looked around. The audience was clapping for the Heliolisk and his Magnemite crew, a completely different act to what he was watching a moment ago. He groaned and held his head.
I dazed off again without realizing.
He glanced curiously at the Midday Lycanroc and his Shroodle son. Things seemed to have calmed down as the father-son duo seemed to be in better spirits. The father seemed much more relaxed, and the son had calmed down some. They were even laughing together as they talked about the recent performance.
He remembered his mom telling him his dad was a Lycanroc. He only knew the man for being a kind and loving husband before he died. He wished he and Anastasia could've met him. They were too young to remember what he was like. Life just finds a way to strike unexpectedly and take something precious from the least assuming.
Lucient sighed and resumed his scouting mission, pawing at the notch in his left ear. Some people do horrible things because all they care about is themselves. But…some people also do horrible things because they care too much about their family. No one's perfect. Does this troupe consider each other family? If so, and if that bomb threat is indeed real, I'd hate to battle them. Someone fighting for the sake of their family is not someone you want to mess with.
