Farsch Alard was doing his best not to look surprised.
“Why Trent Vowler! My old friend! You should have called ahead and I would have shown you a grand welcoming.” The balding man tried to look around all of us. "Jenson! Cancel that security call, these are dear friends that I must have forgotten to put on my schedule!”
The man in the hallway nodded as he ran off.
Hye closed the doors behind us.
“I’m afraid I don’t have enough seats for everyone, maybe the conference room..?”
“We’re fine standing.” Hye crossed his arms as Suna sat in one of the seats across from the desk.
Justia sat in the one in the middle, while Gesai sat in the last one.
I was still amazed at how exactly like the memory this room was. It felt like I had already been here, even though this was my first time. Trent’s mental magic was awesome.
“Why don’t we skip formalities and get to why you are here.” Farsch sat down behind his desk.
“We know you were behind the kidnapping.” Trent folded his arms.
“I knew there was a kidnapping, but I didn’t know your family was involved. If I had, then I assure you, I would have…”
“Gesai was kidnapped too and you were given a ransom demand.” Hye cut him off. He slammed his fist on the table hard enough to leave cracks in the wood. Farsch eyed the damage. I was guessing that was a Tier Five desk.
“You sent a killer after my daughter. You sacrificed your own kin. For what? Pride? Because it looks bad that your niece isn’t part of your empire?” Hye gritted his teeth as he stared at the older man.
Farsch closed his eyes and tried to steady his breathing. "If we’re going to talk about family matters, then why are they here?”
“Because you had our daughter kidnapped to send a message to us.” Dacine put her arms around Oz.
“And my son too.” I felt Trent’s hand on my shoulders. They were heavy, but I knew that weight wasn’t a burden, but a weapon that would be used against my enemies. “And I got the message loud and clear…”
Farsch had started to get defensive when Dacine talked, but after Trent’s revelation, he was as white as Gesai’s gloves.
“I…I…I…I was just trying to motivate you to do the right thing. That man went too far and I couldn’t control him!” His eyes were locked on Trent. "I didn’t know you had any children… I… Congratulations?”
“Here’s how this is going to go.” Trent walked over to the other side of the desk. "You’re going to give up on this fantasy of having all your family members under your thumb. You’re going to leave the Publian Clinic alone and you’re going to rethink the way you do business. AND…!” He pointed at Gesai. "You’re going to listen to what she has to say.”
Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.
Farsch was still looking at Trent when Gesai cleared her throat.
Trent grabbed Farsch’s head and turned it to Gesai. "You. Are. Going. To. Listen.”
Farsch put up about a second of resistance before he realized it was useless.
“Go ahead.” Trent nodded at Gesai. "He’s listening.” Trent bent down so he could speak directly into Farsch’s ear. "Aren’t you?”
Farsch nodded vigorously.
“You treated me…” Gesai’s voice caught in her throat.
I moved over and put my hands on her shoulders. She patted my hand and started again.
“You treated me like a sacrificial pawn.” Gesai swallowed. "You sacrificed me for revenge against Aunt Suna for leaving, then threw me away because you thought I was nothing!’
She pulled off the glove on her left hand. Farsch gasped when he saw the burns and disfigurement. She tapped on her crystal band to display her stats.
Gesai Alard - Level 44
Age: 25, Hair: Red, Eye color: Green
Skin: Silver, Blood: White, Height: 5’3”
373,878.80 Exp
Sacrist
260 Power 96 Defense 260 Speed
120 Magic 320 Recovery 50 Aura
Skills: High Heal, Fire Slash, Ice Smash, Acid Stab, Water Sweep, High Cure
Passive: Silent Casting T4, Targeting T5, Sixth Sense T5, Regeneration T6, Dodge T5, Immovable T4, Grip T5
“Does this look like nothing!” Gesai dismissed the display and pulled off the other glove. "Does this look like I don’t have what it takes to persevere?!” She slammed her burnt fists on the table as she stood up, shaking my hands off. "ANSWER ME!”
“I..I.. Clearly misjudged you. I’m sure we can find…”
“I already have a job.” She looked at Trent. "I’m going to be a teacher at the Cathedral.”
“A teacher?!?! But isn’t that the job I gave you?!” Farsch looked flustered
“Yes. You sent me to be a teacher. Not for me to teach, but for me to DIE.” She took a deep breath. "This is a path that I chose. It was a job that I was OFFERED. I came here today to tell you that I’m done with you. Consider me to be out of the family and I hope I never see you again!”
Gesai stormed over to the doors and threw them open. She marched out and never looked back.
Trent released Farsch.
“You just lost another niece.” Suna shook her head. "How many more family members are you willing to sacrifice for your ego?” She got up with Justia. The other six walked out of the room, leaving me, Rix, and Trent alone with Farsch.
“Let’s cut to chase. I know you hate being told what to do, but here’s how it’s going to be.” Trent turned Farsch’s chair so that the other man was looking up at him. "You’re going to give a grand speech about how happy you are about the safe return of your niece and how excited you are about her new job. You are going to publically announce an Acknowledgement of the Publian Clinic and how you applaud their drive to help the Mundane. You are going to take down that gaudy sign from in front of their Clinic and…” Trent crossed his arms and pointed at me. "I don’t care if you know Harror herself. If you EVER, indirectly or directly, lay a finger on my kid or one of my students, I will march up here and give you flying lessons.” He eyed the other man. "Do we understand each other?”
Farsch nodded earnestly.
“Alright." He nodded towards the door. "Let’s go son.”