image [https://i.imgur.com/Gl8cKtF.png]
After what felt like a grueling eternity, Carmen finally calmed down enough to continue the conversation.
“I guess, now I know why I was always stuck inside this castle growing up. Father was probably ashamed of me…” Carmen softly said, still looking down at the ground.
“No, don’t say that. I’m sure Father and Mother cared for you just as much as all of us. I promise that’s not the case at all.” Zalthia replied, trying to quell any further emotional outbursts. Nyanza and Tiaran agreed as well, however, Azhane remained silent while she sat at her desk.
Azhane knew the true reason for Carmen’s lack of privileges growing up. She knew that their parents didn’t care an ounce about Carmen or her well being. As her conversation with Nadine played back in her head, she quickly stood up with great determination. Azhane stared Carmen in the eyes and smiled warmly.
“Regardless of all this, you are still our sister! This information will never change that. We’ll love you the same as we always have and that love will never fade. I want to make that abundantly clear!” She exclaimed, bothered by her thoughts and wanting to set the record straight.
Tears streaked down Carmen’s face as she nodded, feeling moved by Azhane’s sudden declaration. Azhane, Zalthia, Tiaran, and Nyanza all gathered around Carmen and the five sisters tightly hugged one another. The strong bond and love between sisters was unshakeable. The room went quiet again as the warm embrace continued.
The meeting ended and everyone left the room after a few hours. Just before Carmen walked out, Azhane stopped her and placed some items in her hand. Carmen looked down at the small notebook, silver pendant, and the picture of Cecilia.
“I think you should take this stuff. I’m sure she would’ve wanted you to have it.” Azhane said with another warm smile.
Carmen nodded and thanked her, walking out with a lot on her mind.
She went to her room and laid on the bed, still feeling a bit numb from earlier. Carmen looked at the picture of Cecilia and stared into her mother’s eyes. The woman was the spitting image of her, only she was a mature Boundless woman with jet black hair.
“She looks so nice… I wish I could’ve met her.” Carmen muttered under her breath while a single tear raced down her cheek.
She reached over and grabbed the pendant, examining the many details on it. However, as she held it up, Carmen began to notice something very peculiar about it.
Carmen quickly sat up in her bed and pulled out Homura’s pendant from under her shirt. She stared at them both and slowly pressed them together, noticing that they were the opposite pieces to each other. Carmen’s eyes went wide as she began to realize what this meant.
‘Wait… Homura said she had a sister with a matching pendant… There’s no way.’
Carmen tried to recall the conversation they had before the Boundless were attacked, remembering that Homura had made mention of eventually reviving her sister.
“She was my aunt the entire time and we never knew it…”
Carmen wiped her eyes before continuing to examine the pendant, now seeing the letters C & H faintly inscribed on them. Carmen laid back down and began to laugh, not knowing what to believe anymore. The amount of emotions she felt at this time was overwhelming and she eventually fell asleep, exhausted from such a long night.
image [https://i.imgur.com/d60vRFl.png]
The sky was gray and overcast as afternoon rain clouds worked their way over the city. Carmen was staring blankly out of an open hallway window, looking at Ariana city off in the distance. Many thoughts were going through her mind and she was unsure of what to do next. While she stood there with her chin resting on the windowsill, she felt a hand patting her head.
“How’re you doing, child?” Solana asked warmly. Carmen simply shrugged and sighed.
“Fine, I guess… Still just taking it all in…” Carmen replied with an empty tone.
Solana nodded and looked out the window as well, not forcing the conversation.
“I never would’ve guessed I had a different mother, and for her to be a Boundless too… Just wild…”
“Yeah, well, that’s just how things go sometimes. Curve balls from every angle when you least expect them. Nothing is ever how it should be.” Solana replied, trying to give some wisdom in her own way.
Carmen made no reply as she continued to stare out the window.
“But even still, at least you have your sisters there for you. Your family dynamic should continue on the same as it always had, that is, if you let it.”
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Solana stepped back from the window and let out a yawn, stretching her arms and back in the process. Carmen faced Solana and nodded, her blank expression growing softer.
“Yeah, you’re right. I may not be able to meet my real mother, but that doesn’t mean I no longer have a family that’s still around. I won’t let this come between us or change who I am as a person.” Carmen replied with a half smile.
Solana smiled and gently placed her hand on Carmen’s shoulder.
“That’s the spirit! Plus, between me and you, being half Boundless is pretty cool, huh?”
Solana gave a hearty laugh, trying to keep the mood light.
“I mean, I guess. Not sure how that changes things..”
“Oh honey, honey. You have no idea. We Boundless have significantly stronger senses than Humans and Siestians, our bodies are much more resilient, we heal faster, we’re more agile, and we can manipulate Core Energy at a base level. In just about every way, we’re superior to everyone else.” Solana remarked with a proud smile.
Carmen took a second to think about what she said, trying to apply it to herself.
“Surely you’ve noticed how different you are from everyone else. You probably heard conversations from far away, noticed Core Energy patterns from long distances, or had quicker than normal movements at an early age. Not to mention that Dark Affinity of yours. Where else do you think you got it from? It certainly isn’t from you being a normal human kid.”
Carmen slowly began to realize just how different she was compared to others her age.
“Oh, I see. I had no idea that was from me being half Boundless. That’s crazy, now that I think about it.”
Solana chuckled at Carmen’s realization and gently took hold of the silver pendant around Carmen’s neck.
“It looks different from yesterday. Did you add another piece to it?” She asked with a curious look, noticing that it was a full circle now instead of its original half-crescent shape.
“Uhh, yeah. I got the other piece from Homura and I noticed that it fit the one I got from my Mother. Before the Boundless were attacked, Homura gave me a crescent pendant and said her sister had the other half to it. I refused to take it at first, but she insisted I keep it.” Carmen said, retelling the story of her time with the Boundless.
“Her sister? Hmmm, I do remember her mentioning something about that, but I never pried any deeper. Besides her obsession with Briddle, Homura rarely ever talked about her family life outside of the palace. Sorry I can’t provide any more information than that.” Solana replied as she let go of the pendant.
“That’s okay. It just sucks that I’ve lost both my mom and my aunt. It would’ve been nice to see them together. Oh well…” Carmen began to seem a little dejected.
Solana looked Carmen deep in her eyes and smiled.
“Keep your chin up, child. I’m sure they’re watching over you, especially Homura.” She said with a strangely soft tone, as though she knew something that Carmen didn’t.
Solana brought Carmen in for a hug and she looked out the window, focusing her gaze towards the furthest reaches of Resotera.
They eventually separated and Carmen smiled, feeling better now that she had talked through everything. Solana was preparing to leave until Carmen stopped her.
“Solana, wait… Are you going to just stay here at the castle or will you be leaving one day?” Carmen asked with a curious tone.
Solana took a second to think before giving her reply.
“Hmm, I’ll probably just stick around here to be honest. Everyone has been so welcoming so far, I see no reason to leave any time soon.” She simply replied.
“Besides, as long as your sister keeps giving me new romance novels to read, she’s going to have a tough time getting rid of me.”
Solana let out a hearty laugh, prompting Carmen to join in on the laughter. They eventually said their goodbyes and went their separate ways.
image [https://i.imgur.com/d60vRFl.png]
Snow lightly fell a few weeks after the turn of the year, adding even more chills to the already frigid temperatures. As the flurry intensified, Carmen was engaged in a frantic duel against Varric. They traded many blows and fought each other with great strength.
Carmen’s training had come a long way and since her first session two months ago, she had improved significantly. Her abilities were more potent, efficient, and how she used them was vastly different from before.
Ever since she returned from her winter break and started her second semester, a fire had been lit inside of her. Carmen wanted to do everything she could to keep improving.
Varric shot off various fire and light energy blasts towards her, using just enough of his power to pose a threat. Despite their strength, Carmen effortlessly blocked them with her gravity field. The volley continued until she flew into the air, aiming her Manifest down at him.
Black ink rose from the ground and grabbed at his ankles, moving like inky tendrils. Varric quickly forced them off and leapt upwards, rushing to Carmen’s location with great speed. She dodged out of the way and found herself behind him in an instant. Her burst of speed was significantly faster than Varric anticipated, causing him to flinch with great surprise.
As he shifted his body, Carmen was able to land a clean hit on his left side. She pierced his light barrier with her Manifest, and after adding her gravity manipulation to the blow, Varric was sent careening towards the ground. For the first time since she began training with him, she actually landed a hit.
Once the plume of dust and powdery snow subsided, Varric got to his feet without a scratch on him. His barrier had cushioned his fall completely, absorbing any damage he would have taken. However, he looked up at Carmen with a proud smirk and nod of the head.
As she floated in the air above him, staring with her red eyes, he couldn’t help but chuckle. The scene was all too familiar, reminding him of his fight with Azhane Belouis. They couldn’t have been more similar at this moment, the resemblance nigh uncanny.
“Get down here will ya!” He yelled out, as he crossed his arms.
Carmen quickly flew down to the ground and hurried over.
“I could’ve done much better right? My hit was way too shallow, huh? Crap.” She said, trying to think of a different way to approach that fight.
"Shallow? Not at all." He replied, revealing the small cut and frayed fabric on his winter cloak.
“You did good. You’ve been practicing hard, so It’s no miracle that you were able to hit me there. Be proud.”
Varric showed a rare smile as he flicked her on the forehead, not wanting her to overthink their fight. Carmen rubbed her head and followed Varric as he walked over to their belongings.
“Session is over for today, but I want you to meet me here at midnight.” He said as he handed Carmen her winter coat.
“Midnight? How come?”
“Just show up. No reason for me to explain.”
Varric’s tone quickly shifted to an annoyed one as he crossed his arms again. Carmen sighed and rolled her eyes, not knowing why he was always like this when she asked questions. Carmen agreed to his request and after gathering her things, she began her walk back to the LaVeda, wondering what would await her at midnight.