So many things to remember. It was a relief to have something so pressing to work on. Seren practiced a little magic that made it look like it was raining shiny coins but when people looked to grab them, they would vanish. But it looked beautiful. After that, Seren practiced another bit of magic that froze water mid-air. It felt wonderful to practice their magic recklessly. Even if they did have to keep mopping up the failed water and ice shards.

In between practicing magic, they reviewed the history of the royal family and the palace. Practiced their manners and courtesies in the mirror. They set out their bed like a grand dinner table and mimicked a polite dinner. So many things to keep track of, It was nearly overwhelming, however it kept all the hard feelings away from them which made it less overwhelming.

The speaker crackled;

“Come downstairs and show me what you’ve got.”

Seren ran for the door but paused at the mirror to straighten themself out. Then they ran down the stairs to the sitting room where Mr. Asche was sitting. He straightened when he heard Seren jump into the room.

“Is that how you plan on entering the ball?” He snapped. Seren stumbled back but gathered themself again. Running back and turning around. Strutting into the sitting room with their head up, airing a confidence they may or may not possess.

“Better.” Mr. Asche grumbled. He stood up and straightened himself out. “What magic do you want to showcase?” Seren grinned, with two broad practiced steps they threw their hand up in a grand arc. Showering the room with glittering silver coins raining like precious rain. For a second the stern look on Eric’s face vanished in a reflection of magical astonishment. Seren smiled and felt their eyes tear up a bit at the swell of pride they could see magnified in Eric’s glasses.

The silver coins fell to the floor and vanished. Seren took a well deserved bow. The serious face returned to Eric’s face.

“That’s perfect. You.” He hesitated. “You did well.”

“Thank you,” Seren smiled with the biggest grin they could possibly make.

“Right, topics of discussion. What do you know?” He asked, looking around the floor and finding the absence of a mess.

“Right!” Seren said excitedly and launched into what they learned about the entire history of the kingdom.

“All right, stop.” Mr. Asche sighed. “That’s not what I meant when I said discussion. Discussions are little topics of conversation. Like tiny back and forths. A question, a response, possible retort and the end.”

“That doesn’t sound very fun,” Seren said “What’s the point of talking to someone if you aren’t actually talking?”

“Easy, it’s a performance. Like in the theater.” Eric sat down and gestured for Seren to sit with him. Which Seren did with a jump. “These people aren’t interested in being your friend, a good majority of people you meet don’t want to be your friend. They just want you to look back and make them look good. You can’t let them play you for a fool. Instead, you keep up the facade that you and whoever you’re talking to are on friendly terms and wait for them to give you an opportunity to make them a fool.” Seren stared blankly.

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“This seems complicated.” They said. “Can’t I just be nice and polite and make people like me because I’m a nice and honest person?”

“That doesn’t always work.” Eric sighed irritably. “People are going to hate you for a million reasons. You’re nice and honest is one of them, but also you work too hard, or you don’t work hard enough, or you’re fae-touched, or not fae enough. People will hate you for hundreds of inane reasons and just want others to see you the way they do.”

“Like Miss Jass?” Seren interrupted.

“Yes! Exactly,” Eric said.

“I don’t like Miss Jass.” Seren shook their head with a sneer.

“Yes, but you have to pretend to like her.” Eric said, which made Seren fake a gag.

“I’d rather die.” Seren crossed her arms, Eric sighed.

“That’s not an option, you have to pretend to like her. It’s part of playing the game of business.” Eric tried to explain, Seren screwed up their face.

“It doesn’t sound like a very fun game.” Seren said.

“Too bad. You play it like everyone else.” Mr. Asche snapped. “And we’re done arguing about it! You will be nice to everyone or else!” Seren sat back as the sudden anger blindsided them. They clenched their teeth but it was too late, a few tears had already begun to spill out.

“Don’t cry. It makes you look weak. Are you fragile? So fragile a few words break you?” He snapped. Seren sniffed and tried to stop crying.

“No!” They yelled, the rage only making more tears fall.

“Then stop crying!”

“I CAN’T!” Seren stood up and stomped their foot. “STOP YELLING AT ME!”

“THEN STOP WHINING AND CRYING!” Mr. Asche stood up over Seren, his voice much louder than Seren’s.

“NO! YOU CAN’T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!” They yelled louder, their face grew hot with all the pressure behind it.

“YES I DAMN WELL CAN!” His voice rocked the strings of lights.

“NO YOU CAN’T! YOU AREN’T MY DAD!” Seren screamed, their voice shook their chandelier. The windows started to tremble.

“YOUR DAD’S GONE!”

Everything in the house stopped. Even Eric realized the misstep before the heat of the house vanished. The lights flickered. He could see his breath in the freezing cold.

“Serenity. I-” He started but Seren wasn’t having it. They stomped again and this time, it shattered the windows.

“Serenity, stop!” He commanded but they stomped again. Each light on the strings of yuletide decorations burst. The strings of pearls exploded.

“Serenity!” Mr. Asche grabbed their arms and shook them but he released as he felt the sting of cold impaling his hands. The sitting room filled with silvery mist that began freezing everything into ice.

Then Everything stopped.

(*)Seren opened their eyes, they’d felt the wind of the blow against their cheek. Felt the warmth of the strike stop just before it connected. Eric’s eyes were just as wide in shock as Seren’s. The tense wave of pain traveled up and down his arm from how forcefully he stopped his swing.

“Serenity,” he started, his mouth instantly dry. “Seren, I-” Seren didn’t wait for him to finish. Instead backing up and running for the stairs.

“Serenity! Wait!” He called but they were already up the first flight, a few moments later he heard the slam of their door. Eric looked about the trashed sitting room. His heart beating so hard it made him shake. The cold wind blew in from the shattered windows.

“I need to get those fixed.” He said, swallowing back the icy fear still holding him. “And this mess needs cleaning… a broom. I should grab a broom.”

Seren sat with their back to the door. Curled up into a ball, breathing so hard they thought they would throw up. They gagged a few times and ran to the trash can by their desk, Dry heaving into it, the pressure holding back their tears. Though it only held the floodgates for so long before they did devolve into heavy sobs. They sobbed and heaved until their head ached and they couldn’t keep their eyes open.

Seren curled into a little ball under the desk. Too tired to move or do anything other than sleep.