“Sell!” Lastia yelled out as she spotted Sellitha walking over. She was sitting next to Felicia in the library section of the House of the Scrolls. “Did you go fight? Are you alright?”

  “I’m fine,” Sellitha said with a smile, “How did you find out about the battle?”

  Cyalis couldn’t let it be known in advance that they were going to intercept the troops going to fight in the Valis Kingdom, so even if Lastia and Felicia were close friends who she trusted, she wasn’t allowed to tell them anything until after everything was over.

  “Word has already spread. We figured that’s where you went,” Felicia said, “How was it?”

  “It was fine. The Academy was well-prepared, as always, so there is nothing to worry about. If any of our information had been wrong, we had plenty of Soul mages ready to act,” Sellitha said.

  “Don’t be careless, Sell. This is war,” Felicia said sternly.

  “I know, I know. I’m taking it seriously,” Sellitha said. She looked down at the table to see what they were reading and asked, “Are you preparing for the History exam?”

  “Yes. We can’t fight in the war so we have to focus on these things to earn credits,” Felicia said.

  “I guess I could use some catching up too,” Sellitha said, “But don’t forget to focus on your battle prowess. Strength is all that matters in the end, and it’s the best way to earn credits.”

  “Don’t worry. We’ve been training all morning,” Felicia said.

  “That’s good then,” Sellitha said and took a seat.

  She picked up one of the books on the table that Felicia and Lastia had brought and started reading.

  Unfortunately, her mind was elsewhere and she had a hard time focusing. She had just fought a battle with her life on the line, after all. And knowing that her mother was in the Academy wasn’t helping.

  Maybe I should have just stayed in my dorm room and waited for someone to get me.

  Sellitha gave reading another half hour before giving up, deciding to take a walk to calm herself down. She said goodbye to Lastia and Felcia and headed outside.

  Sellitha preferred staying around the House of the Scrolls, it was one of the most united Houses these days. It was one of the few Houses that didn’t have many complicated connections outside the Academy, basically all the previous members who had made something of themselves were now working for the Academy.

  It was more complicated for Houses like the Shields. They were part of the Academy and therefore had to fight against Heavenly Light, but they were also part of a larger collective outside the Academy where it wasn’t as clear what side to stand on. The patriarch of the Hesfym family was the leader of the Shields, and even if he hadn’t publicly stated that he was supporting Heavenly Light, he didn’t state he was on the side of the Academy either.

  Many other Houses found themselves in similar situations. They were too ingrained in the powerhouses of Shiora.

  The Alago Empire and Meloria wanted to stay out of the war, and a lot of students came from there and would return when they graduated, so they weren’t so keen on going out to fight.

  They didn’t have an option, though. The Academy had cracked down hard after Adion was kidnapped. Every student and teacher had been taken in for questioning. A few spies were found and locked up, and some who were sympathizers of Heavenly Light, like students from Onden’s part of the Delovan Empire, were expelled.

  But there were still a lot of students left who didn’t want to get involved at all, and people’s minds changed from one to another every day. It was impossible to keep track of.

  So tensions were running high.

  I’m glad I ended up joining the Scrolls. Even if they are more on the scholarly side and don’t care too much for fighting, they are at least loyal to the Academy.

  Sellitha walked around for an hour, letting her thoughts run around as they wished. After which, she headed back to her dorm room. The Headmaster had told her someone would come and take her to the Tower, so she couldn’t be out for too long in case they were looking for her.

  When she got back, she lay down on her bed and began thinking about what to say to her mother.

  I should just make my stand clear. I have the Headmaster as backing now, so I don’t need to keep up any pretenses.

  If they still insist on marrying me to the Hesfym family, I’ll give them a taste of my fire. It will let me vent.

  Too bad my mother is too strong for me. But I’m sure I’ll see some familiar annoying faces there that I’ve always wanted to beat up but never had the chance to before.

  It wasn’t until three whole hours later that someone finally came to get Sellitha. It was a young human woman who should be a worker at the Academy.

  Sellitha followed her out, and they took a carriage together to the Tower.

  Whatever they have to say, I’ll just speak my mind and then let go of this matter. I can’t afford to be distracted. Sellitha thought as she approached the Tower. She hadn’t gotten any practice in for the past hours as her mind was too occupied thinking about her family.

  I can’t afford any more days like this. I need to get stronger and find a way to help Adion.

  Sellitha stepped out of the carriage and was led to the West Wing, where her family was staying. She tried to calm her mind as she approached and entered her family’s living area.

  I haven’t seen Mother since I came to the Academy…Maybe she was forced by the Elders to act against me? Maybe she wanted to see me in order to apologize?

  No. That’s impossible.

  Sellitha shook her head silently but couldn’t help but have some small hope of having her mother on her side.

  “Your Highness, I have brought your daughter,” The woman who had brought her there called out as she knocked on the door to her mother’s living quarters.

  “Let her in,” A low voice sounded from the other side of the door. Sellitha recognized it as her mother’s.

  “Please,” The woman said as she opened the door for Sellitha and gestured for her to walk inside.

  Sellitha took a deep breath and entered. The room was bright thanks to the large windows lighting up the room. Sellitha immediately spotted her mother sitting by a small table at the far end of the room. The table had three cups of tea placed on it as well as some snacks. Opposite her mother, Seliitha saw her sister, who was looking toward her with a slightly nervous expression.

  Only Mother and Rell are here?

  Sellitha looked around but couldn’t see or feel anyone else around. She walked to the table as she scrutinized her mother.

  Her mother had silver hair, just like her sister. Even if she was well over 100 years old, she looked more like Rell’s sister than her mother.

  “Hello, Sell. How have you been?” Sellitha’s mother asked with a friendly smile. Sellitha doubted it was very genuine, though.

  “The Academy is nice as always,” Sellitha answered, “With the exception of having to worry about your kidnapping attempts, that is.”

  “Haah,” Her mother sighed, “That was all Lerretha’s idea. She was just told to bring you back home. I had no idea where she got the gall to knock you unconscious to bring you back.”

  Right. Sellitha scoffed inside.

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Her mother looked to Rell with a helpless smile, “It’s sure been a tumultuous couple of months.” She then looked back to Sellitha, “It’s been hard to get all the details all the way over in Amyss. Things were looking grim back then. No one could see the path forward clearly. We were sure Lord Hesfym was prepared to make a move. We felt the need to gather our strength and figure out how to deal with the situation, as a family.”

  “I thought you already had it all figured out?” Sellitha questioned calmly, “By forcing me to marry him.”

  “No, no,” Her mother denied with a soft chuckle, “We were way past that at that point. It seemed like the best option when we saw how our families could cooperate in the future, but the way the Hesfym family has…By Ganta, they are in cahoots with Heavenly Light, the same people who set fire to our city.

  “Anyway,” Sellitha’s mother shook her head, “Don’t stand over there, little Sell. Come and have some tea.”

  Sellitha looked at the empty chair and hesitated. She didn’t believe a word out of her mother’s mouth, of course. That was probably her stance on the matter now that everything had already happened, but she was sure her mother still planned on having her married off when she was taken away two months ago.

  I should really tell her off.

  Sellitha put that off for the moment and went to sit down. She always felt it was difficult to yell at her mother when she was like this. Smiling and acting like she had done nothing wrong. It made arguing far too tiring and unrewarding. Her mother surely did it on purpose.

  I’ll listen for now.

  “Rell told me you have been fighting Heavenly Light? I still can’t believe you have already become a Silver mage, it makes a mother proud,” Her mother said with a smile, “I brought some resources from home for you. It should speed up your progress going forward.”

  “What do you want, Mom?” Sellitha cut through her mother’s charade.

  “I just want to get along,” Her mother answered calmly, “Me and the rest of the family haven’t made it easy for you the last couple of years, so I’m trying to make up for it. That’s what families do, right? They fight, and they make up.”

  “Fight? You call this a fight? Mom, I mean…how,” Sellitha tried to find her words as she looked into her mother’s eyes, “How could you?”

  Her mother didn’t answer immediately, and Sellitha fought to keep tears from coming.

  Damn. Why do I still even care?

  “Sell, dear,” Her mother said with a sad smile, “I know I’m not a perfect mother. I’m not a perfect wife. I’m not a perfect ruler. I just try to do the best I can. When I find myself lacking, I try to make up for it. That’s all I can do.”

  “That’s…that’s not good enough, Mom,” Sellitha said with a shaky voice. She turned to her sister, who had been sitting quietly for the entire conversation.

  “Rell, don’t you agree? I mean, I mean, I was kidnapped!” Sellitha yelled the last words, surprising herself, “I was going to be married off against my will. Separated from Adion, who now is Ganta knows where.”

  “Well,” Rell looked towards their mother hesitantly, “I do agree with Sell, Mom. Our family has a lot to answer for. I don’t think it can just be shrugged off so casually.”

  Sellitha breathed out in relief that at least her sister hadn’t completely abandoned her. Their relationship had finally started to heal somewhat, and she was afraid Rell would take their mother’s side just like she had when she was first informed of her marriage to the Hesfym family.

  She still remembered how she had turned to her sister at that time, being certain that she would stick up for her and tell their mother that she was crazy. But she had instead turned to Sellitha, explaining how marrying into the Hesfym family was for the best.

  That’s right. Since that day, we stopped being a family.

  No matter what they say now, nothing can change the past.

  “I’m definitely not trying to shrug anything off, I’m trying to fix things,” Her mother said, “How do you think we should fix things between us, Sell?”

  “I don’t know,” Sellitha said with a sigh and slumped back in her chair.

  “Well,” Her mother said with a light smile, “I’m sure we’ll figure it out eventually. We can take it slow. Why don’t you tell me about this Adion boy? I’ve heard a lot about him. You like him, yes?”

  “I do,” Sellitha said with a nod.

  “What do you like about him?” Her mother asked, her smile widening.

  “I don’t know, I just do,” Sellitha answered and looked away from her mother awkwardly.

  “Haha,” Her mother laughed softly, “That’s nice. I’ve discussed it with the Elders in the family, and since you two seem to like each other so much, why don’t we set a date for a wedding?”

  “Wedding?” Sellitha asked, surprised.

  “Of course. From what I’ve heard, he’s more than impressive enough. We have to find him first, of course. The family will help as much as we can with that. When he’s back here, safe, we’ll discuss it with the Remori family.”

  Marry Adion?

  Sellitha had nothing against that idea. She couldn’t see herself with anyone else. But her mother brought it up so suddenly that she didn’t really know how to answer.

  “Well, well,” Sellitha hesitated, “That’s up to Adion to decide.”

  “And you too, no? What do you say?” Her mother asked.

  “I guess that’d be nice,” Sellitha answered shyly.

  Her mother smiled brightly, “That’s great, dear. I’m happy you found someone you wish to spend your life with.”

  This…Isn’t going the way I planned.

  Mom has always been good at controlling the conversation in the direction she wants.

  “Your little sister might get married before you do, Rell,” Her mother turned to Rell and said, “Unless you have also found someone you like here at the Academy?”

  “What? I…no?” Rell answered with a confused expression.

  Well, this is a new side of Mom I’ve never seen. Sellitha thought as she tuned out the conversation.

  Too bad it’s all fake.

  Sellitha found it strange how she suddenly had everything she had wished for. Her family was willing to bless her relationship with Adion. There was no longer any talk of marrying her away. She could have a family again.

  But she didn’t feel as happy as she had imagined.

  “Mom,” Rell suddenly interrupted their mother with a slightly serious voice all of a sudden.

  Sellitha looked over and saw Rell looking over at her with a hesitant look on her face.

  “I have something to say as part of the Amyss family and the future queen,” Rell said and turned to look at their mother.

  “Oh? That sounds serious. Let’s hear it,” Their mother answered.

  “I believe we really have to make an effort to make Sell part of our family again,” Rell said.

  “What are you talking about? She’s always been part of our family,” Their mother said.

  “Not really,” Rell said with a sigh, “She might have been once. But for the past couple of years, she has only been a tool. I don’t want to point fingers and direct blame on whose fault it is we ended up here, but now that we are, I believe we have to make a gesture as a family.

  “Sell is now in a position that is very important. She is a Silver mage despite only being in her first year, and a very powerful one at that. She is extremely close to Adion and, by extension, the headmaster. She is vital for our family to find support from the Academy now that the situation on Shiora is so unstable.”

  “Right,” Her mother nodded slowly, “I agree.”

  “So I believe we should spare no effort in searching for Adion, I believe it would go a long way in showing our sincerity. We should also open up the treasure vault and bring out our valuable resources that Sell can use. That way, she can grow stronger faster and help in more ways,” Rell said.

  I’m actually viewed as important by the family now?

  Sellitha hadn’t thought about it before, but she realized that what Rell said made sense. She was in a position of power for the first time, mainly by borrowing the prestige of the Headmaster, but also her own advancement.

  I guess it should have been obvious. My mother wouldn’t have acted like this otherwise. She has never been this accommodating in the past. If I were weak and had no connections, I’m sure I’d still be used as a pawn.

  “That’s obvious,” Her mother agreed, “Aren’t we already searching for Adion? And I have brought resources for Sell to use.”

  “Not enough. Now is not the time to save for the future. If we don’t make use of what we have, there might not be a future to worry about,” Rell said.

  “I suppose we could bring out some of the more rare resources,” Her mother nodded slowly. She turned to Sellitha with a smile, “I’ll send someone with more resources when I get back to Amyss.”

  “Not just the resources,” Rell said stubbornly, “We can’t expect the mages we have sent out to get much results when even the Academy has failed. I think we should activate all Elders in the family who are just focused on their own progress to search. Give each of them a team to control and spread out over Shiora. We should even send some to Quemer to look. I don’t believe we won’t be able to find something if we put the effort in,” Rell said.

  “That… might be difficult,” Her mother said with an awkward smile.

  “Is it really? It’s our only option if we wish to be seen as a genuine ally to the Academy. Don’t forget that Adion is not just Sell’s boyfriend. He is the disciple of the Headmaster,” Rell said.

  “I’ll see what I can do,” Her mother said with a nod after giving the matter some thought. “What do you think, Sell?”

  This isn’t going how I expected.

  “It’s something, I guess,” Sellitha answered with a sigh. She wasn’t able to turn away help like that.

  She still felt more empty than she expected. But at least she would be able to grow stronger faster now. And finding Adion seemed a little closer all of a sudden. That was comforting.

  I guess I won’t get the chance to set fire to the old bastards in the family.

  That’s too bad.