'Soft texture, smooth mouthfeel, and no chunky pieces...'

Mutely chewing his food in the silent room, Ignavus continued his study.

'It's relatively easy on the eyes and produces no sound when gnawed on'

Swallowing the food contained within his stuffed cheeks, a final observation was made.

'It has all these positives before you even take into account its taste'

It made sense why some would die just to taste. Eating something like this was pure privilege.

Sitting on his mother's lap, Ignavus obediently consumed one spoon after another. It was the only way he could distract himself from the weird atmosphere in the room. A few days ago, Ignavus vowed to himself he would behave. He had more than eroded the trust others had in him; so, until he could find a way to increase it, he would lay low for now. Hence, it was for that reason, he prohibited himself from making any unnecessary remarks.

'Agh! What happened! Why won't someone just say something!!'

Not a word had been said since the start of breakfast. A highly unusual occurrence. Even if Ignavus had kept completely quiet, a conversation at least would've been had between the sisters. One full of arguments and barely veiled threats.

'Seriously? Is no one going to say anything?'

A slightly damp, large, white cloth was brought in front of Ignavus face. It briefly roamed his face, signalling the end of their breakfast.

'Nothing? Really?! Being left in the dark is so-'

Ignavus' trail of thought suddenly halted.

They were all staring at him.

'H-Huh?'

"Marie, bring it out." (G.Q)

"Yes, my Mistress." (M)

Marie's response carried its typical cheerful tone, but, for some reason, it felt even cheerier. Looking across the table, Ignavus met his aunt's bright smile.

If it weren't already obvious enough, clearly, something was going on.

Staring up at his mother revealed another smile, although subtle.

'What am I missing?'

Peering down at himself, Ignavus avoided their gaze.

'They're... happy?'

The sound of footsteps neared Ignavus, causing him to glance up. Standing before him, carrying a white pillow accented with golden frills, was Marie. She bore a smug smile.

'Is... is that the glass from the party?'

Tucked within the pillow's embrace lay a piece of deformed glassware. It resembled two leafless trees rising out of a plain. The trees reached into the sky, splintering off into tiny branches.

Ignavus stared at the abomination with lifeless eyes.

He was pretty sure he asked Marie to throw it away.

Suddenly, a pair of hands lifted Ignavus and set him down on the dining table. Almost immediately after, a face drew close to his own, tenderly nuzzling him before pulling away.

"What's the matter, my little one?" (G.Q)

Briefly glancing at monstrosity, Ignavus spoke,

"Why.... is that here?" (I)

Pointing at the offending item, Ignavus managed to keep his bitter tone from slipping out.

"To celebrate, naturally." (G.Q)

'Celebrate?'

With a questioning gaze, Ignavus glanced back towards his mother. An act that elicited the start of another tender nuzzling session.

"It is not every day a young Yalery makes their first Contruction." (C)

Aunt Cura chuckled lightly.

"To say it's a moment to celebrate is quite the understatement..." (C)

A playful eye leisurely inspected Ignavus.

"It is a belief held by some that an occurrence like this is the sign of a... maturing Yalery." (C)

A little tingle travelled through Ignavus. All at once, the glass figure seemed to shift and transcend mere acceptability, birthing forth a masterpiece. Indeed, there were few who could craft such an object, especially for their first attempt.

'Though... that's not really my first attempt, is it?'

If a person were to be technical about the matter, then Ignavus' first Contruction, as they called it, would be the log he used on the dangerous kid.

'She really didn't see that, huh?'

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Feeling the nuzzling slow, Ignavus faced his mother.

Today might just be a blessing.

"Training is postponed." (G.Q)

A real blessing.

"For it is time for you to lay your pedestal." (G.Q)

As the ominous words hanged, a hand lifted Ignavus and gently brought him to its chest.

It was time to leave.

The effort was pointless.

As they walked to... wherever they were going, Ignavus tried to map their path. An ultimately fruitless endeavour. After the first fifteen or so sequences of right and left, he simply lost count. The palace was massive; that fact alone was undeniable, but what wasn't was the sheer scale of its interior. Ignavus has seen the palace from above. The amount they walked was definitely greater than the occupied area. The palace was without a doubt under some kind of magic, leaving the question...

'Why do we even walk anywhere?'

Marie could plainly appear wherever she wanted. Ignavus didn't doubt that his Aunt and Mother were similarly able. If the palace was magic and already capable of such feats, then it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility for it to aid them enough not to have to walk. They had no business walking.

'They better not expect me to remember this...'

As Ignavus mused and played with his thoughts, a realisation struck him.

'Oh, is this why we haven't done any magic training?'

It would be a great relief if that were true. Since the guests left, Ignavus hadn't done any training besides etiquette and language. He had presumed this was the consequence of his admittedly poor performance during their short stay. The possibility of it not being true might offer a small amount of comfort.

'Ha... I shouldn't fool myself'

"Here!" (C)

Turning his attention towards his surroundings, Ignavus expected them to have arrived at a door. Instead, he was still greeted with the same long, dark corridor they had been walking. The corridor continued to extend until finally promptly ending in a wall of blackness.

'What the?'

It had been quite some time since Ignavus last saw true darkness, one reminiscent of the night. Although the entire palace had its windows bordered up, such a common facet of many lives escaped him. A resulting boon of his Yalery nature.

"Don't fret, my little one." (G.Q)

The head of the body carrying Ignavus lowered and softly rubbed his own.

'Eh?'

Gazing down, Ignavus felt his hands tremble as they clutched on the fabrics of his mother's clothing.

'My... hands?'

"Oh, Navy. Don't be scared! This is just... Uhm... N-Nyeusi!" (C)

'Did she really forget its name?'

The idea that someone could forget the name of such a thing was hard to believe, yet given who it was, Ignavus felt no shock. Admittedly, the nonchalance of the whole thing might reassure a scared individual, should they happen to be nearby.

"This little guy is just here to guard some things. Isn't that right, Nyeusi? How about you go give a greeting?" (C)

The wall of darkness seemed to shrink back before suddenly surging forth and at Ignavus.

"Eeeeeek!" (I)

"You can open your eyes now." (C)

Despite only hearing words, Ignavus knew the speaker of them was grinning madly.

'This no good...! I'll get her one day, I swear on my life!'

Crossing his arms, Ignavus buried his face into them. Having attended multiple celebrations on his behalf before, he knew damn well what to expect. Great food, good company, and, best of all, gifts! None of which had happened so far!

"I-It doesn't hurt to be nice sometimes, y'know?" (I)

"Eeeeh? What are you saying??" (C)

Two fingers started gingerly poking Ignavus, causing him to squirm in the grasp of his mother.

"Of course I know that! I'm the nicest person I know!!" (C)

A slap sound as a presence chased away the offending extremities.

"Open your eyes, Navy. There won't be any further interruptions." (G.Q)

The sharp, chilling voice was met with a sigh.

"You've really become no fun, you know that?" (C)

After taking just a moment to prepare himself, Ignavus forced his hands away and eyes open.

He took in the site, and what a site it was.

Floating in the air, like a miniature sun, was a big blue ball of radiant light. It bathed the room in a gleaming, shimmering brilliance, leaving not a shadow. The white-stained walls as well as the flooring common within the palace appeared to have adopted part of the lustre, turning a faint blue. Surrounded by all the opulence, but no less outstanding, were six rows of bone-white pedestals lined one after another. Each pedestal displaying items only deserving to be called works of art.

Amazed, Ignavus stared.

"This is our history." (G.Q)

Ignavus' mother walked forward, bringing Ignavus to the fifth row.

"Each row represents a generation of our kind, the pedestals their first Contruction." (G.Q)

Ignavus cast his gaze upon the pedestals. The first three rows contained a single pedestal; the second three two pedestals. A hand raised and pointed to the single pedestal on the first row.

"That piece belongs to your great, great grandmother." (G.Q)

Tucked within the embrace of a white, golden-trimmed pillow lay a silver wooden sculpture of a beast.

"That one, your great grandmother." (G.Q)

Ignavus carefully listened as they steadily went row by row. This continued until they finally reached the fourth row, the one just before where they stood.

"That one... is mine." (G.Q)

A bright green crystal-shaped palace rested on a white pillow like many before it. The highly detailed build shone with a slight light as if demanding attention. Looking at it, Ignavus sensed a deep familiarity. For, as one with able eyes would tell, it was currently the building they were all residing in.

'I really lucked out...'

In spite of his realisation, only one thought clouded his mind. If Aunt Cura had been watching like she was supposed to, then the only thing that would be resting on his pedestal would be a dumb log. Totally missing the elegant atmosphere this place carried.

"Navy, looky here." (C)

Before Ignavus could stop and process his course of action, his body had already turned.

'Damn it!'

Ignavus quickly turned back, but not before catching an eye of the tastefully decorated golden flower resting on a white pillow.

'I will not give her the satisfaction of even looking at her craft!'

Ignavus had been wilfully ignoring her presence since opening his eyes. Solely observing her from his peripheral vision as she gazed to the empty pedestal besides his.

"Today is the day you establish yourself as a Yalery." (G.Q)

Words filled with heavy intent crashed down on Ignavus, bringing him to the present.

Marie emerged next to them carrying, hands cradling Ignavus' Contruction. With a subtle nob from his Mother, she placed it upon the pedestal.

"Well done, my little one." (G.Q)

"Congratulations, my princess!" (M)

"Good work!" (C)

Unexpectedly encircled, Ignavus paused and let the moment sink in. His current situation in life was really unpredictable. It would be a lie if he said he was completely okay with, but, for now, in this moment very, it at least wasn't the worst.

"T-Thank you!" (I)

As they walked back into the corridor, certain questions started plaguing Ignavus' mind. Out of all of them, though, there were two pressing ones.

"Mommy, may I ask a question or, or questions?" (I)

A tiny smile was thrown Ignavus' way.

"W-Why were there six rows of pedestals?" (I)

If Ignavus understood it right, each row represented a generation of Yalery. He was on the fifth row, the latest. Why were they six? Not only that, but the pillar on the same row as Ignavus also had a pillar in front of it despite resting empty.

In a dismissive tone, Ignavus' mother answered,

"I'll inform you when you're older." (G.Q)

Not satisfied, Ignavus pressed.

"I-I might forget... Is it okay if you tell me now?" (I)

"Do you really want to know?" (G.Q)

"Yes!" (I)

Ignavus' mother brought her head close to his ear and whispered.

"ØΩÎ"

'What.... is.... wrong.... with.... me?'

Ignavus' vision started to swim as he felt the energy in his body rapidly drain.

'My.... my.... questions....'

Regretted started to sink in as Ignavus' eyelids slowly blinked.

'Should've.... asked.... other.... qwestion......'

After all, he was beyond curious to know where the other Yalery went.