[Reynolds Dalathar]

“F-father I have 1 T-teaching.”

I simply stared at my son, disbelief etched on my face, I Reynolds Dalathar, Head of the House of Dalathar had given birth to a weakling. Had there ever been a man of 1 Teaching? The lowest I had heard of was 3, and that was for a simple peasant.

I regained my composure using [Emotion Control], an ability that I hadn’t needed to use since my father’s death. I glanced at my wife who glanced back at me, a million questions seemed to run through her eyes before she tore her gaze back to our son.

“Arden, return to your room,” I gritted through my teeth, “Miriam escort him and don’t return before we call for you.”

My daughter gripped Arden’s arm and dragged him towards his room.

[Arden Dalathar]

Miriam’s iron grip that bordered on pain manhandled me towards my room before throwing me in. She entered after me and closed the wooden door with a quivering hand. I slowly made my way towards my desk to sit on my chair, it creaked slightly as my weight was given to it. My sister was pacing the room like a madman, her brow creased with confusion, or was it worry, or was it all of them? She continued to walk like that for a minute before turning to face me, her face engraved with an inscrutable expression.

“Tell me your lying,” Miriam demanded, she crossed her arms and waited for an answer.

“I-its true Miri, b-but I don’t know how its h-happened!” I squealed.

“What do you mean you don’t fucking know,” my sister screamed “You are one of the Dalathars Arden, we are nearly the strongest House, our reputation is impeccable, but if it is known that we’ve sired a weakling like you, it won’t matter what we do, our reputation will be in tatters and it’s all your fault” She now regarded me as if I was her least favorite sock, her face morphed into an expression of disgust.

“But it isn’t my fault,” I retorted with a confidence I didn’t know I had, “You know there’s nothing you can do to improve your Teachings before you’re Awakened, i-it’s impossible!”

“You say that as if you can improve your Teachings after you’re Awakened, there’s nothing and no one you can turn to, you’ll at best be deemed a piece of dirt that’ll overlooked and trampled on.” Miriam countered, her voice quivering slightly. “Now get a fucking move on and shut up, Father is calling for us now and you know how he doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”

I didn’t have any time to ponder how she knew Father was calling due to the chill of fear that surrounded my heart, what was Father going to do? I followed my sister to the main hall, the threat of my Father looming near.

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[Reynolds Dalathar]

My wife and I, having finished our brief conversation, walked unhurriedly towards the main hall, wanting to delay the inevitable conversation we were about to have with our son. When we reached the Hall, we were greeted by the sight of a quivering and shuddering Arden. I chanced a glance towards my wife before returning my gaze towards my son,

“Arden Dalathar, look at me when I’m speaking to you,” I demanded as Arden jolted at being reprimanded, his face draining of color. His green eyes settled their gaze on me, and I continued,

“You are a failure of a Dalathar Arden. My blood has been diluted in you and you have become like those beggars down on the market.” His slouched back looked as if it slouched even more if it were possible. “We are Dalathars Arden, our status is akin to that of a god compared to the lesser and they rightfully regard us so as well. That is why we cannot allow a weakling to harm our reputation and possibly sow seeds of rebellion in the lessers’ minds by thinking us Noble are weak. That is why Arden, I Reynolds Dalathar declare you disowned from House Dalathar.”

[Arden]

“Disowned from House Dalathar.” My Father announced.

My mind blanked as any shred of hope tore themselves apart. Disowned? Even death is preferable to that fate, my life will now be that of the lesser. What will become of my friendship with Scarlet and Cran? Father continued,

“All titles, status, symbols, and names of yours lose all credibility, you are now not Arden Dalathar but Arden No-Name. Peasants may treat you as their own but in Nobles’ hearth you shall find no sanctuary nor refuge, all record of your existence as a Noble will be secreted away and burnt in secret none, shall know you as a Noble.”

Each word struck me like a knife to my back, each condemnation like a blade to the heart,

“You may retain no friendship nor conversation with any companions, you must treat them as life forms higher than yourselves. Word has been sent around of your dismissal and disowning. You shall be sent to Brisbane Village to live out the rest of your days. May the gods scorn you, Arden.” Father reached out to touch my forehead lightly. The last thing I could hear was my own screaming.

[Princess Andromeda Asclepius]

“But I don’t want to go!” I screamed at my maid “Tell Father that it is a waste of time, all he wants to do is flaunt me around like some prized jewel.”

“Mistress, you know how your father is, he wants to show the world the-,” before the maid could finish, a resounding knock abruptly ended the conversation.

“Come in!” I shouted.

“Is that a way to address your King?” a cold voice asked. My heart dropped and I was about to apologize before laughter could be heard outside,

“I got you didn’t I Ameda?” Raphael said as he burst through the door.

“Raph, you nearly gave me a heart attack,” I responded, trying not to laugh at the awestruck face of the maid.

“Shelly you’re dismissed,” I instructed my maid. Shelly regained her professional countenance before bowing deeply and heading towards the door,

“Mistress, please go or your father will be very disappointed.” The maid raised an eyebrow in a quite unprofessional way before leaving and closing the door behind her.

Silence reigned for all of one second before me and Raph burst into a fit of giggles.

“Now, is this the way the Awakened with the most Teachings in history should act?” Raph asked sarcastically, gasping for air. I tried laughing at his joke, but it came out a bit subdued. Raph, noticing this, changed the subject,

“Now, what was his His Majesty the Oh-So-Great-And-Powerful King asked for you to do?” I frowned before replying,

“Oh, the usual, he wants to flaunt me around like some prized mare except this time in Brisbane village.”

Raph seemed to think for a second before saying,

“Brisbane village…, isn’t that near Brisbane Dungeon?”

“Well, I think so, after all they share the same name.”

“Hmm maybe we could go?” He suggested. I stared at him in disbelief,

“What? You know what happens at those events I’d probably have to fend off an endless number of courtiers and act all regal-like.”

“Or we could sneak off and adventure the Dungeon. I heard there was a Transcendent Teacher spotted their, your father would be astounded if you came back with one!”

I pondered that idea, if I went, I would not only please my father but also go adventuring.

“Hmmm, why not?” I agreed. A huge smile split on Raph’s face,

“Well then, what are we waiting for?”