In the grand meeting room of the Blackthorn estate, Lady Isadora, the eldest sister of Theon, stood with her mother, Lady Elara, and the master butler of the household, Reynold. Their faces were drawn with worry as they discussed the state of Theon, who lay motionless in his chamber, trapped in a deep and unsettling coma.

"How fares Theon, Reynolds?" Lady Elara inquired, her voice laced with concern.

Reynolds, a stoic figure clad in the dignified garb of the Blackthorn household, bowed respectfully before responding. "My lady, Master Theon's condition remains unchanged. He is stable, but his consciousness has yet to return."

Lady Isadora exchanged a troubled glance with her mother, her brow furrowed with worry. "troublesome brother... ," she murmured softly.

Lady Elara smiled in agreement, her eyes reflecting her daughter's distress. "Indeed, Isadora. Theon is strong, but even he can't endure consecutive attacks from Monarch masters."

Reynolds hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "If I may, my lady," he began cautiously, "there is another matter that requires your attention."

Lady Elara raised an eyebrow inquisitively. "What is it, Reynold?"

Reynolds took a deep breath before continuing. "The incident involving Master Theon and Peter has been concluded and the investigation does indeed point to Peter being a new lackey for The Obsidian Syndicate. Therefore the Central Republic and the Aurora Preparatory Academy sent their apologies and has deemed it necessary to reimburse us for the damages caused by the instructors involved in the altercation."

Lady Isadora's eyes widened in surprise. "Reimburse us? How much?"

Reynolds cleared his throat before responding. "Twenty million, my lady. And they have also provided us with a S Grade protective necklace as a token of their apology."

Lady Elara's expression darkened with anger, her frustration evident in the tense set of her shoulders. "Apology? This is outrageous!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with barely contained anger. "Our family's reputation has been tarnished, and all they offer is a mere trinket!"

Lady Isadora nodded in agreement, her gaze distant as she clenched her fists in frustration. "Indeed, Mother," she murmured, her tone subdued. "But what can we do? Our hands are tied, and we can't afford to go toe and toe with them."

Reynolds, the master butler of the house, stood nearby, his features etched with concern. "My ladies, while I share your outrage, we must consider the implications of challenging the Central Republic" he interjected, his voice calm yet firm. "We are now but a humble family, and they hold considerable sway over our future.

HIs words hung heavy in the air, a palpable tension suffusing the room as they grappled with the injustice upon their family. But despite their anger and frustration, they knew that they were powerless to challenge the authority that had wronged them. The Central Republic held sway over the fate of their family, especially as weak as they are right now and they could not afford to provoke further conflict.

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Lady Elara's jaw tightened with determination. "I understand, Reynolds," she replied, her tone resolute. "But that does not mean we must accept this injustice without question. Theon deserves better than this."

Reynolds nodded in agreement, his expression grave. "As you wish, my lady," he conceded. "I shall draft a formal complaint to the CR and the prep academy, expressing our grievances and demanding appropriate restitution."

As they pondered their next course of action, a maid burst into the room, her face flushed with excitement. "My ladies, Master Reynold!" she exclaimed breathlessly. "The young master has awoken!"

A wave of relief washed over them, momentarily dispelling the tension that had gripped them. Without a word, they hurried to Theon's chamber, their hearts filled with a mixture of hope and apprehension.

Entering the dimly lit chamber, they found Theon sitting on the edge of his bed, his eyes closed in quiet contemplation. Despite his serene appearance, a shadow of worry lingered in the depths of his gaze, a silent testament to the ordeal he had endured.

"My lord, you're awake," Reynolds greeted him, his voice tinged with relief as he approached Theon's side.

Theon opened his eyes slowly, his gaze meeting theirs with a mixture of of confusion and exhaustion. "Reynolds, Mother, Isadora," he acknowledged them quietly, his voice hoarse with disuse. "I'm... I'm alright."

Lady Elara's expression softened slightly as she approached her son, concern etched into every line of her face. "You had us all worried sick, Theon," she murmured, her voice gentle. "We thought the worst could have happened."

Theon managed a small nod, though the weight of his recent ordeal still hung heavily upon him. "I apologize for any problems caused to the family," he replied tiredly, his words a whispered apology for the trouble he had inadvertently caused.

Reynolds cleared his throat, his expression grave as he addressed Theon. "My lord, we must discuss what has happened," he said, his tone serious. "You've been wrongfully accused and expelled from the prep academy. This cannot go unanswered."

Lady Isadora nodded in agreement, her gaze distant as she echoed his sentiments. "Reynolds is right, Theon," she said, her voice firm. "We cannot allow our family's honor to be trampled upon in such a manner. We must seek justice for what has been done to you."

Theon, observed the conversation with a cold detachment. His gaze, icy and aloof, betrayed none of the emotions swirling within him. He had long grown accustomed to disappointment and betrayal, and the latest injustice served only to reinforce his cynicism.

"it's alright mother, we shall discuss that at a later time" said Theon.

"alright" lady Isadora reluctantly said. Noticing Theon's attempt to hide his current well being,

"Reynolds, gather some funds from the treasury and procure Soulbloom," Lady Isadora commanded, her voice carrying an air of authority. "It seems Theon is still not fully healed."

"Of course, my lady," Reynolds replied dutifully, already moving to carry out the task assigned to him.

Reynolds gaze flickered to Theon, a silent acknowledgment of his presence. "My lord," he began, addressing Theon with a respectful nod, "your well-being is of utmost importance. We shall pursue this later when you are fully back on your feet."

As the others continued to discuss their plans, Theon's mind drifted away from the conversation. He excused himself quietly, a polite but distant nod offered to his family as he retreated to the solitude of his bed.

... ... ...

Alone at last, Theon sank onto his bed, his thoughts a whirlwind of uncertainties. He pondered his next steps carefully, his mind racing with possibilities. The first priority, he decided, was to ensure the well-being of his family and their city. With that thought lingering in his mind, Theon drifted into a restful sleep, free of dreams and memories.