A new day had come, and the sun welcomed Lanthim, so he rose to meet the day. The sun was shining on his face as he lay sleeping. A slight breeze blew, allowing even more of the sun through. Slowly, as he moved about his bed, the door to his apartment opened quietly. Felyma had come to prepare him for breakfast with his morning attire in one hand and a brush in the other. She seemed ready for some serious work.
What do you intend to do with that? [Lanthim]
He asked, looking at her with a light smile.
"Your mother has asked that you take breakfast with her this morning. I have come to make sure you are presentable." [Felyma]
Felyma quietly stood, waiting for her master to leave his bed; Lanthim, on the other hand, was content with just sitting where he was. Nice as it sounded, his mother with all of her teachings. He had not allowed her to have a meal with him. For as long as he could remember, he had eaten alone with either Milty or Felyma. He did not mind the separation. It had helped him learn what he had about mana and magic before having it sealed away.
"Mother must have something she wants to discuss, asking this so suddenly." [Lanthim]
Said Lanthim, not moving from his place on the bed. He was plucked off his bed as he thought about any other meaning.
"Hey! What do you think you are doing?" [Lanthim]
Lanthim exclaimed as Felyma planted him on the floor, right in front of the room's only mirror and started working. After cleaning up, Lanthim alone made his way to a small parlour that his mother used most mornings for teaching or meals. He rarely found a reason to be in this part of the house. Usually, he would play with some servants who worked under Milty. Arriving at his required location, he looked at the door, thinking to himself.
'Damn! This inconvenience. I would have Milty try to get me out of the house today.' {Lanthim}
He was staring at the door, not wanting to even think of opening it himself. Noticing the doornob move slightly, he quickly removed himself from any chance of being hit by the door. A young girl not three years older than him by his eyes came out of the parlour where he was to meet his mother. Looking around, she seemed to be looking for something whatever. It could have been that he did not know. Then she looked in Lanthim's direction and spoke surprisedly, looking back into the parlour.
"Mother, he is here."
Lanthim stared at this girl, surprise now on both of their faces.
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"Lanthim quickly! The food will not stay warm for long."
A voice he did not know beckoned him to enter. Then, again, what this girl had said surprised him so much; he did not know what to think about his current situation. I joined the parlour slowly and peered into the room to see what else could be there. He could see that his mother had a meal prepared; there seemed to be more people there than he had expected.
"A so Felyma was able to get you out of bed without you causing too much fuss." [Litralia]
Litralia spoke with a smile. Lanthim could now see why the servant had acted so willfully earlier.
Looking about as he moved around the room, he thought there were more witches present than he had ever seen in all his life. True, at the testing, there had been a group of witches. But there were at least twenty people present at the moment.
Then he noticed something he had not when he had entered, aside from a few who wore their crest off their right shoulder. Everyone else was unmarried. His mother sat in the middle of the group. She was talking to a person who looked similar to her.
"Lanthim, you are here. Come, I will introduce you to everyone here."
She seemed excited by the idea, making her way to where he stood. The room seemed much more significant when everyone cleared the center of the parlour, with Lanthim in the middle feeling tiny.
"It has been a long time since all of you have had the opportunity to return home. Due to circumstances beyond our control, I am happy to introduce all of you to your little brother, Lanthim Frenost."
The whole room just looked at him. The shock he felt left him unable to speak. All of these people, his sisters really, just looking around the room. He could note twenty in total. He knew it was impossible for his mother, who had to be at least in her late thirties, to have so many children.
"Little brother, you okay?"
The girl he saw outside asked him, looking concerned.
"Yes, I am fine." [Lanthim]
He answered, looking to the girl who had spoken. Now that he looked, he could notice traces of Litralia, his mother, in her face, and it felt unsettling. This development was different from what he had expected for as long as he could remember. The idea that he was an only child felt right.
"You seemed confused, Lanthim. What is it that bothers you."
One of the older women in the room asked, kneeling before him and looking him in the eyes.
"I had no idea that I had any sisters until now. I don't know what else to say."
His words touched everyone. He looked his age for that moment.
"You do not need to feel confused, Lanthim. Now we are here to eat breakfast and get to know each other better."
She attempted to alleviate some of his concern, extending her hand to him, but the room became silent. Would he take it? He did not think she would hurt him, but he did not feel he could trust her smile.
"Sister, if I may ask, how old are you?"
Lanthim aimed a dangerous question. He could feel the entire room freeze for an instant.
'Ah! Yeah, I stepped into that one.' {Lanthim}
He spoke to himself, looking now at the floor while it was true. All his now sisters looked young, almost too young to his eyes. He felt he needed to know this simple question.
"I will not satisfy your question with an answer at this time. Now we eat."
Her response was as quick as the hand that grabbed him. Making sure not to resist, she had him sit beside her at the table. As the meal progressed and the number of dishes became less and less, eventually, the group moved to the gardens outside. The mood was peaceful, with everyone together like this. Lanthim truly felt like this was his family.