“You saved me Lila!” Lottie said joyfully, running up to her and giving her a large embrace.

“You brought her here too?” Sable said in disbelief, “You also bring all your lackies everywhere you go?”

Ignoring his sister he stared at Lila confusion, “How?” he demanded.

“How what?” Lila asked confused in her own right.

“How did you do that?!” Bryson yelled.

“With… the bracelet filled with magic?”

“That’s impossible!”

“What? You said it would activate if I commanded it to.” Lila said bewildered.

“It should only activate when people who can control magic use it! That’s the enchantment I used! That’s why I thought it would be fine to leave it with you!” Bryson said exasperated.

“Oh…” Lila said staring at the bracelet tentatively, “How much more power is still in this thing?” She asked worried.

“A decent amount still, even after destroying that guys shield. But I guess you can control it so it should be fine.” Bryson said with a shrug. Still trying to wrap his head around how and why she was able to use it.

“Are you okay?” Lila asked Lottie noticing her bruises.

“Nothing I can’t handle!” Lottie said confidently.

Lila shook her head, “Yeah you’re not sneaking out for a while.” She said pointedly.

“Boo.” Lila pouted.

“What even happened?” Bryson demanded loudly.

“What do you mean?” Lottie asked.

“What happened down here to cause them to attack?”

“We found a box.” Sable said.

“What?”

“A box.” She said pointing at a large plate that had managed to remain untouched during the fight.

Bryson looked around the room, it was a mess. Broken pieces of tables, glass and an alarming number of magic items were littered about the floor. Bryson wasn’t sure with all the magic items on the floor that the place was even safe.

“All this for a box?” Bryson said in disbelief, turning to Nico he ordered, “Open it.”

With a nod Nico walked over to the box and lifted the lid, tossing it to one side. Inside of the crate aside from the packaging were several small boxes. Taking one out Nico opened the box and pulled out a smooth violet crystal.

Bryson stared at the item in confusion. It was odd, the item seemed to be abnormally concentrated with mana, but it looked off to him, sickly almost.

“What is that?” He asked.

“It’s a corrupted mana stone.” Nico answered.

“A what?” Lila asked in confusion.

“A corrupted mana stone, it contains four times as much mana as a regular mana stone. But it can be extremely volatile and more importantly cause mana poisoning when used. It’s contraband within the kingdom.” Nico explained.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

Sifting through the crate, Nico uncovered several more boxes from within, “And it’s meant to be exceedingly rare. No wonder they panicked when you uncovered this stash.” Nico said as he glanced over to a still very unconscious Edvard.

“I’m going to detain them and call for backup, Lord Coldwater, I recommend that you along with the others get out of here, it’s not safe.” Nico said and as he did a piece of the ceiling broke apart and clattered onto the floor.

“You don’t say.” Bryson said dryly.

***

A couple hours later the group was outside waiting in the parking lot, a parking lot that was now full of cops and royal guards. After Nico reported the situation, the place was quickly filled with government officials.

In an all to familiar scene Bryson watched as members of the guard rounded up the culprits and paramedics looked over his sister and Nico. Except this time they swapped a Gilles for a Lottie.

By the way this is going, next time I’m involved with something stupid with Sable again, I will have to deal with another crazy magic man and another annoying person trying to help. Bryson thought as he looked around for his parents.

Noticing that they had not arrived just yet, Bryson thought that this would be a decent opportunity to prod Sable for some answers.

“Hey, can we speak in private?” Bryson whispered to Sable who rolled her eyes and followed him.

“Okay.” He said turning to Sable once they were alone, “So why exactly did you run away from home?”

“First off, why do you care, second why should I tell you?” Sable spat.

“One, I sort of saved your life, twice. So I think I deserve some answers for that. Second, I’m your brother.” Bryson countered.

“Pfft, yeah right.” She scoffed.

“What’s that suppose to mean?” Bryson asked, eyes furrowed.

“It means that we aren’t even related.” Sable said crossing her arms.

“Seriously? We’ve known each other for our entire lives.” Bryson said in disbelief.

“Do you? Do you really? Because as far as I am aware, you spend most of your time with the rest of the family. You know them, not me. In fact, they barely even know me. They spend their time knowing you.” Sable said, voice filled with disdain.

“What are you talking about?”

“You’ve talked to Gareth more than you have with me! He’s seven years older than us! You know that servant of yours better than me!” She yelled.

“That’s not true, Frost has only been around for a few months.” Bryson defended.

“My point exactly, people are more aware of someone who’s only been around for a few months than they are of me. Even if Viola doesn’t like that servant, she still has strong feelings about her! But guess what? She has no real feelings about me!” She argued.

“That’s… you know that they care.” Bryson said after a pause.

“Do they really? Because ever since you were discovered I was forgotten.”

“That’s not true.”

“My own parents gave you my room.” She spat out.

Bryson paused for a moment in confusion, “What?”

“You know how Gareth has the largest room, and Viola and Gilles have the second and third respectively?” Sable questioned.

“Yeah?” Bryson replied, not sure that he liked where this was going.

“Who has the bigger room between the two of us?”

“… Me.”

“Yes, even though I was already born when you were found. You replaced me.” Sable said, getting visibly angry, staring Bryson straight in the eye. Bryson was having a hard time staring back.

“That’s…” Bryson said, voice trailing off.

“And you know what?” Sable said her voice beginning to crack, “They were right.”

“What?!” Bryson exclaimed in shock.

“They were right to replace you for me.” She said eyes welling up, “I’m just average, you, your special.”

“What are talki-”

“I’ve seen you use your magic, and your eyes glow. You fell from the stars, sent by the goddess of heroes. You use magic better then most people twice our age. I’ve realized that I’m nothing compared to you.” She said as a tear rolled down her cheek.

“Sable.” Bryson said after a long moment of silence, “I’m sorry. I know father and mother always played favourites, but I never thought of it like this. I never really knew how you felt and I’m sorry for that.”

Looking down at his feet he continued, “I can’t help how our parents have treated us. But I can try and change how they will treat you.”

“Oh, sure like you can change father’s opinion.” Sable said sarcastically.

“Even if it won’t change a thing, I’m still going to try.” Bryson stated, “And I’ll understand if you hate me. But I’ll never hate you, because whether you like it or not, we’re both Coldwaters and Coldwaters always look out for each other. And more than anything, I’m sorry.”

As Bryson said that he noticed a very familiar limousine pull up to the parking lot, flanked on the sides with several other cars. As the limousine stopped, from it two very angry looking parents emerged from it.

Sable noticing them arrive as well, quickly whipped her eyes before giving Bryson one last quick glance before wordlessly walking toward their parents. Bryson watched her move ahead of him as he gave a sad sigh before following behind her.