Dominick had an unfamiliar feeling, one that he had never felt before. It felt like he was furious at me, yet he couldn't pinpoint the exact reason. It had only gotten worse after the assassination attempt.

He felt indifferent to the attempt in general. He didn't believe in a concept like sibling love. Only strength mattered to him. Being the strongest was the same as being loved; everyone will respect you. Be weak and everyone will spit on you.

Yet, contrary to his beliefs, our father didn't spit on me. Instead, he gave me a helping hand. He had guards assigned to watch me at all times and consistently checked in on me. He even took me to the council meeting.

Dominick felt this feeling every time he saw me. It turned even his best of moods into a bad one. And today was one such day.

Dominick was in front of our father's room. He had just received news that the Academy had finished renovations and opened up for students again. It would have the best of the best instructors and he had gotten into all their classes. Overall, he felt like a child about to tell his dad great news.

As he was about to enter, he had heard voices talking and decided to listen in.

"His progress has been going well." A voice said. Dominick recognized it as Leo.

"Good, good." Henry said. "Any signs of mana?"

"No sir, there have been no signs." Leo said. "Muscle development is far less than even an average kid."

Dominick heard a sigh. "Have you figured out his plans for all the wealth he gained?"

"No, he has taken extreme steps to hide or get away without anyone knowing." Leo said. "He's a master at misdirection."

There was a pause before Henry spoke up again. "At the very least, if we can't find him than it'll be harder for assassin to. Any more updates?"

"No sir." Leo said.

"Then you are dismissed." The door opened in front of Dominick's face as Leo began to emerge. Their eyes met before Leo began walking away to resume his duties.

Dominick took a deep breath before he entered. He saw father looking at several pieces of paper at the table beside the window. The sunlight shone a path starting at the door.

"Father." Dominick said as he walked closer. As he approached the table, he saw several papers. Some were sketches of me talking to different people and others had highlighted text written on it. "What's this?"

"I'm just monitoring your brother." Our father said before. "So, what do you want to talk about?"

"The Academy has reopened. I'm leaving in a month." Dominick said, his voice sounding dejected. "Not only that, but I got admitted into the best classes."

"Great." Henry said as he turned back to the papers. "Do you feel ready to go back?"

"I do."

"Hm, alright." Henry said as he began moving some papers around. Dominick stood there, waiting for the conversation to continue. When he realized it wouldn't, he left in a quiet rage.

That unfamiliar feeling began to creep back in. Dominick's fist was clenched as he began walking back to his room. When he entered, he found our mother.

"So, how did your meeting go?" She asked.

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"How do you know about it?" Dominick asked as he began to take a seat near his desk.

I know that you're excited to go back to the Academy." She stated. "My husband has been too invested in Zack, so I doubt he payed attention to you."

Dominick closed his eyes. "As always, you are correct."

A wicked smile formed on our mother's face. "What if I gave you a way to gain your father's adoration and attention back?"

"What?" Dominick asked in confusion.

"That's what you want, right?" She asked. "His approval?"

His face kept twitching. He thought about her words.

'Is that what this feeling is?' He wondered.

After a long moment, Dominick nodded.

The smile grew even bigger. "All you have to do is ..."

----------------------------------------

Although six months had passed, my room was still being repaired. Not only was it being repaired, but more protection spells were being added. As such, I had been living with Alex in his room.

Typically siblings hate sharing rooms, but Alex was happy to have me around. He was practically attached to me.

Alex was eager to have me live with him, but had one condition. It was that I played music for him. I didn't want to, yet it was the best option I had.

Alex was sitting beside me while I was sitting on the chair in front of the piano. My fingers began moving across it and pressing the keys with skill and grace. The sound was melodic as I began to sing out.

"Ami, entends-tu le vol noir des corbeaux sur nos plaines?" I sang out. "Ami, entends-tu les cris sourds du pays qu'on ench-"

"Can you sing in our language?" Alex interrupted hesitantly. "I-I mean it's good, don't get me wrong, but I just don't understand it."

"Come on, who doesn't love a good old resistance song?" I asked him playfully.

"It's a resistance song?" He asked, tilting his head.

"Le chant des partisan. It translates to the Song of the Partisans." I informed him. "It was a French resistance song."

"Who are the French?"

I sighed, trying to figure out an adequate description. "Just picture if crazy and fancy people had a country and you wouldn't be too far off."

He nodded his head and remained silent for a few seconds while coming up with a mental picture. "So can you sing in Avalonian?"

"Fine." I answered as I tried to translate in my mind. It had been a while since I heard this song. On top of that, my French was nowhere near as good as my Spanish or Italian. But it's not entirely my fault. French sounds are hard and unnatural. Not only that, but when I make one mistake they switch to English. They don't appreciate the effort!

Anyways, when I finished it, I began to play again. "My friend, do you hear the dark flight of the crows over our plains? My friend, do you hear the dulled cries of the country put in chains? Hey you, supporters, workers and farmers, this is the alarm bell! Tonight the enemy will know the price of blood and tears!"

Before I could continue more, the door began to open. It was Leah and Leo.

"Our lessons are about to begin." Leo said before we fully came into his view.

"Alright," I nodded before turning to Leah. "Why are you here?"

"Why are you always so skeptical?" Leah asked. "Can I not be here out of the kindness of my heart?"

I snorted. "And I'm a magician. You only talk to me when you need something. Either talk or go away."

Her eyebrows contorted. "I've been trying to get closer to you but every time you just ignore me!" She spoke in a raised voice.

"Gee, I wonder if that has something to do with you not having my back in front of mom." I said, my voice getting louder to match hers.

"I didn't have a choice!" She yelled back. "You know what would happen if I stood up for you!"

"And you were fine with just leaving me?" I asked.

"I was!" She yelled back. "I still regret it!"

"I don't care if you regret doing it or not. If I remember correctly, you kept alienating me until someone tried assassinating me. The only reason your trying to get closer is because you feel guilty for driving me away."

"T-that's not" She stammered out while on the verge of tears.

"Not true?" I completed the sentence. "Tell me what's not true ab-"

"STOP!" Alex interrupted, yelling out louder than the both of us combined. "Stop fighting! For god sakes, your siblings! You forgave me, why can't you do the same for her?"

We both stared at him. Oh, poor Alex. His world view is still so positive. Reality is going to hit him like a truck one day.

I put my hand on his shoulder. "You're an optimist and I respect that, but you were honest with me. Leah is not."

"Just apologize!" Alex yelled back. "Otherwise you can live with a butler."

I sighed. "Fine, but this is the last time I'm giving into your demands little terrorist."

I turned over to Leah and opened my mouth. "I humbl-" I began to speak out before getting interrupted by footsteps.

It got closer and closer to the door before a tall figure appeared.

Dominick.

He was standing tall and confident. He was carrying a sword on his right and using it as a cane. When he looked at me, his eyes seemed like they were lighting on fire.

I saw his eyes move to the left when they noticed Leah. "What are you doing here?"

"I had that same question." I responded. Dominick shook his head before looking back at me.

"I challenge you to a duel right now."

...

...

"What?"