Anthony rarely attended special occasions, preferring to stay in his personal study formulating new theories from his vast collection of self written books. Although he had written many, only his latest 7 he considered a working masterpiece, the accumulation of his 4 year quest to figure out the inner secrets of magic. Wearing his most formal attire, even brandishing the family crest of the miniature figurine wearing a crown of fire on its head, nobody seemed to recognize him as a son of the house Erebus.
“Did you know they had a son?” He heard one party goer say to her husband.
“I heard he works at the Library of something, it’s what the family arranged.” The husband said. “It’s a shame, they had to give him something considering he has no magic talent like his sisters.”
“Speaking of which, is it true that Helena is nearly the rank of Grand Master? That’s quite an accomplishment.”
“Ah, yes, I heard she’s returning from the Pyro-kinetic Institute, my old alma mater. The eldest is even returning from the front lines in the Free States for the occasion.”
It was the same conversation he had heard many times before, one of the reasons he preferred to stay in his room. However, since everyone was supposed to be in attendance his mother had insisted he attend, it didn’t bother him much so long as she met the one sister who never seemed to intimidate him about his lack of magical abilities.
“Brother!” He heard the melodious call of his 2nd eldest sister Vera, calling from across the room.
She wore her best form university gown, a brilliant shade of crimson rope draped around her right shoulder as a sign of her 2nd year in the institute. Although many alumni wore dress skirts to match, Vera preferred to wear pants despite the objection from the administrators. They only made an exception considering her family’s status and her mother’s endorsement as prize alumni from their hallowed halls. Anthony immediately went over to give her a tight embrace like a long time friend that he hadn’t seen in ages.
“Vivi.” He called her by her childhood nickname.
“Anti.” She called him by his, and after that moment of warm greetings they turned to each other, greeting more formally as peers as well as brethren.
“How long has it been Vivi? About 3 months?”
“Give or take, the Institute rarely allows time off, it’s like studying is the only thing they worry about. I thought I might impress them with some theories we’ve been talking about when I’m home, but you know how it is.”
“I figured they wouldn’t consider a theory unless they can prove it themselves.”
“They’re just old men, set in their old ways, you should come to the Institute sometime and have a discussion. I’m sure my mother and I could arrange something.”
“No thank you, I’m not even finished with my manuscripts, there's still a lot I can’t prove through practical application.”
“You know I’d be willing to help you prove it, when I reach the rank of Grand Master, but things are going a little...slower than I anticipated.”
“You made Master status, that’s not an easy feat of accomplishment. You should be proud of yourself, not compare yourself to other standards, especially you know who.”
“You still think Tundra dropped out because of Helena don’t you?”
“Don’t you?”
“She said she just wanted to serve our country when she reached the rank of master, you can’t deny the results now that’s moved up a rank, from fighting demons in the Free States.”
“Still, you know what happened to our uncles, mom’s still praying to the Flames that she’ll return safely each time she returns to the field.”
“At least she’s not on the mainland, let me tell you some of the things I’ve heard about the first continent.”
Suddenly they were muttering in the crowd as someone of great importance had entered the building. She wore the colors of the Imperial Marines, a decorated unit residing only in the capital, but called upon to protect the capital and any lands with high interest like the Free States. Across her shoulders she wore a sash made of goat, snake and lion skin, fused together as one that people knew was a Chimera skin. These coats were the mark of the Imperial marines, who were said to receive equipment of Chimera skin the moment they reached the rank of lieutenant, while lesser ranks could receive a set of bracers when even a sliver of this rare demon would be considered a prize medallion, to see a complete sash meant she was a soldier of merit. Both siblings realized who this soldier was who stepped into the room by attention she was getting from a large group of people.
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“Speak of the demon.” Anthony recognized his sister Tundra walking through the crowd as she casually passed them pleasantly shaking and exchanging casual greetings.
“Well, look who it is.” She approached the two in the crowd. “I thought you found these kinds of events rather boring, my dear brother. I’m surprised to see you out of your room at all.”
“Our father is retiring, I felt the need to call for it.” He looked into her eyes with a cold stoic stare that countered her cocky and sadistic smile.
“Do you like the sash?” She lifted it for him to see. “It’s not quite as impressive as father’s coat, but it’s a nice start don’t you think.”
Anthony knew of this kind of behavior since they were kids, she always had to show off her accomplishments to the only non-mage in the family to elevate her status above the others. Anthony had learned long ago to take this in stride but could tell she showed off only to him and not his other sisters.
“You know, we were just talking about your sister.” Vera interjected to break off the tension. “I heard you’ve been doing very well in the Free States, but all the real trouble is in the mainland.”
“Well, they need their best and brightest to be sent to the mainland.” She explained without missing a step. “Some might even parlay a position in the Capital protecting the emperor himself.”
“I know mother will feel safer knowing you’ll be closer to home.” Vera complimented.
“Actually, I’ve considered heading into the mainland with special coalition forces between the 5 nations in the mainland.”
“I doubt father would ever approve, since he lost two brothers in the mainland.” Anthony rebutted.
“I’m aware.” She returned to her smug and overconfident nature. “Father’s stories were always a cautionary tale of the demon infestation, but I heard things are much calmer since coalition committees allowed the second continent to intervene.”
“It wasn’t an intervention dear sister, it’s become a necessity since Demon populations are on the rise and show no sign of dwindling.” Vera clarified her research into the subject. “There’s even reports of demons spawning in Imperial terrain despite the Empire’s supposed security lines in the Free States.”
“You can’t blame a few random sightings for the superiority of the nation’s fire power.” She clenched her fist as if to illustrate the empire’s strong grip on its borders. “Have you forgotten what father told us that superior fire power wins every-time?”
“And mother says that when brute strength fails, it’s wiser to resort to ingenuity.” Anthony quote.
“Sounds like a fairytale, told by weaklings.” She scoffed. “All that time in the library has made you soft, brother.” She passed his shoulder intentionally bumping him on her way away from the group. “Excuse me, see my fellow soldiers mingling in the crowd.”
“She’s only trying to rattle you, Anti.” Vera immediately consoled him. “She knows that you’re still the first born male, which means that she has a lot to lose if she doesn’t make you look lesser.”
“I never consider myself lesser, dear sister.” He smiled, brushing off the bump on his shoulders. “Mother always told us that even an ant can be a king, if they work hard at it. If she hadn’t, we might never have been born.”
“Good point.” She chuckled.
It was then the crowd began to gather near the entrance of the chamber, all manner of guests from the lowly the highborn gather in attendance. From the crowd passing by, Vera and Anthony could hear the crowd mutter.
“Is that him?” One statesman said.
“It couldn’t be, he’s far too busy.” Another statesman confirmed.
“I hear he made an exception this one time.”
“Well, he comes to the main event.” Vera straightening her uniform.
“We better go pay our respects.”
The whole hall was in a panic trying desperately to get in the right position. The guards of Imperial Marines were first making way for anyone who looked too close or not in the proper attire to greet such important guests that were about to enter. They stepped in side by side, a trio of the most important military leaders in the Empire of Neoptolemus. They wore coats of the finest demon skins fashioned into military attire, three great generals of the Imperial Forces. The Army General Adam Deimos, wearing a coat made of earth dragon skin, known for its rough yellow reptilian design and imbedded with its precious metals that form from its diet that included precious minerals. The Air Force High Commander Baron Lin, wearing a coat made of bright blue sea serpent skin. It was more scaly in design but each scale was rumored to be as hard as a dagger's edge. Then there was Admiral Crimson Nyx, wearing a coat made of griffon skin. Although it was mostly lion, its feathers were used to decorate the shoulders and back of the coat to resemble eagle’s wings.
As they made way for the honored guest they formally saluted as all bowed to whom they would serve. Although custom dictated that everyone would not pay attention until the honor guest was accounted for, Anthony couldn’t help but wonder who had graced them with his appearance. His eyes nearly popped out of their socket, whom he first sighted.