Last Born Of The Desdemona

”I know you’ve done nothing wrong. You were simply born as you are. You never chose it.”

Emrys stopped playing with his ball, staring at Theophane, his eyes going slightly wide, his heartbeat quickening.

This was only the second time, after Anesthesia, that someone had said something like that to him. And this time it hit even harder, because it came from his own aunt, his mother’s own sister.

Emrys clenched his jaw and turned his head away, his body trembling faintly.

Theophane watched him, and for one brief moment, she saw Emrys as Emrys: a boy born with power, used for it, hated by his own mother because of it.

She saw the lonely boy, abandoned by everyone around him, despite being surrounded by people his whole life.

She saw the boy trying to save a mother who hated him, with nowhere to turn, since everyone around him only wanted to use him, manipulate him, or kill him.

Even herself, she was no different.

Theophane Celeste felt pity for her nephew for the first time, because his situation reminded her too much of the day her sister had abandoned her.

’You left your sister for a man, and now you hate your own son because that man made you hate him. Ah, sister. Évangile... you... you really are the worst of the worst. And yet,’ she bit her lip, bowing her head, ’yet, despite everything, I miss you. I want to see you again. I want to save you. I... I...’

She closed the book, drawing further into herself,

’...I love you more than you deserve. And I hate your son, my own nephew, more than he deserves.’

Because she knew it was all because of the gods. Emrys was, in a way, innocent.

But it was too late for that now.

She’d already chosen to hate, because she needed that hatred. Without it, she’d fall apart, and if she fell apart, she might end up forgiving this whole family.

So she’d keep hating.

Because at this point in her life, hatred was easier than trying to love again. And to love again meant opening herself up again, and opening herself up again meant risking being hurt all over.

Again. And again.

’I’ve had enough of being the one who suffers.’ Her eyes turned cold. ’Now, I want to be the reason someone else does.’

”I, ahem, I’m sorry,” Emrys said, shaking his head to clear the lingering sadness. But his smile came back bright and unburdened. ”Thank you for saying that. You have no idea, but it means a lot to me. I thought I’d never hear something like that from my own family. Thanks again.”

Theophane nodded, smiling back, jaw clenched tight. ”Don’t thank me for that. It’s only natural.”

”You know, I could help you,” Emrys said, smiling freely.

”Help me?”

”Yeah,” he nodded. ”Your little follower, I don’t remember his name, the one Cassius killed during the Entrance Test.”

”Omar?” Theophane said.

”If that’s his name, then probably. I don’t bother remembering useless men.”

”Useless women, then?”

”Every woman’s useful, in her own way,” Emrys said with a grin.

’Guess some habits never change,’ Theophane thought, chuckling, then, ”What about him?”

”He’s being held by Head Teacher Sera. With my master’s help, I could get him released for you. You might need him.”

”Oh?” she exclaimed, thinking of Seraphim and her striking beauty, her expression darkening as her heartbeat quickened. ”I’d love that. It would help me a great deal.”

”Then don’t worry about it. I’ll handle it,” Emrys replied, and went back to playing with his ball.

Theophane stayed quiet for a couple of seconds before speaking again. ”You do know Anesthesia turned down the mission, don’t you? She took one with Prince Raven instead. They left today.”

”I know.”

”Doesn’t that bother you?”

”It does,” Emrys replied, and for a moment his eyes went dead cold, lightning crackling within them, before he steadied himself and regained his calm. ”But there’s nothing I can do about it right now. Besides, I’ve received a new mission of my own.”

”A mission, where?” Theophane asked, tilting her head.

”In the village of Kaizen, east of Castria City,” he replied. ”More precisely, in the Nest of Worms.”

”Oh? That’s a well-known, well-avoided spot infested with all kinds of dangerous worms. What are you doing there, and when do you leave?”

”For what, huh...” Emrys mused, glancing at the panel in front of him.

[Virgin Goddess of Hunt and Wisdom is looking at you with newly satisfied eyes.]

”I’m going there for a little hunt. And...” he replied, tossing the ball upward. It burst, and the lightning, water, and wind gathered into the shape of a woman holding a bow, a deer standing beside her.

”I’m leaving tomorrow.”