“Uh it is an honor to finally meet you, Mrs. Linnaeus,” Penny said. “My name is Penny.”

Leucilis lowered her chin to look at Penny squarely.

“Leucilis, and there is no need to talk like that,” she said. “We trust you have been taking care of our daughter.”

“To the best of my ability, ma’am,” Penny said.

“We are sure.” She returned her attention to Amelia.

“Hello, mother,” Amelia said.

“We realize We should have visited earlier,” Leucilis said. “But matters back on Godwinson have been becoming dire and required special attention.”

“I understand,” Amelia said.

“Why? What’s happening?” Penny asked, curious.

“Liberalism,” Leucilis said, “of a sorts. Though related to issues of Genestrength, not of economic origin. In a way, similar to what seems to be occurring in this city.”

“It’s a mistake, isn’t it?” Penny said.

Leucilis beamed, a smile of hypnotic power.

“Of course, child. Any attempt to separate man and hero would be disastrous for both. But enough of this, are you not going to bring Us inside?”

“What about the,” Amelia began. The zeppelin was being lowered. Helicopters had arrived, ready to take the captured intruders away. Whatever their goals have been, it was over.

“Our dorms are this way,” Amelia said.

The panic the whole event had caused did not numb the students to the sight of the new. If not for the smooth, armored chitin, Amelia had no doubt she would be red from the attention they received as they walked through the campus grounds. The students did not seem to care she could hear their murmurs.

Humans were diverse, gifts more so. Everyone knew gifts manifested differently in boreal Europe. It could be argued gifts were more evolved there, more potent. Even in her reduced form, Leucilis towered above the students on straight, wiry legs. Her casual gait dug shallow scars into the pavement.

“Mother,” Amelia said.

“Hm? Ah.” Leucilis withdrew her talons. “Apologies, We have not walked in a while.”

She was not the most imposing figure there.

“Leucilis.” The ground trembled at Giantbane’s approach. He shrunk to meet her, stopping once he was only a head above her.

“Mark,” Leucilis said. “We hope things have been going well here under your stewardship.”

“Peachy keen, your highness,” Giantsbane said.

“Of course they are. Loved your appearance in the games.”

They separated from the crowd, leaving behind the prying eyes.

“Ah, they renovated,” Leucilis remarked, sweeping her attention over the dormitories. “Love the little gardens on the roofs.”

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

“The school’s planning to hide perimeter defense equipment in the ferns,” Penny said.

“Yes, due to the ‘Awakening’, no doubt,” Leucilis said. “Americans love their gaudy names. Admirable mentality. Never let a good crisis go to waste.”

“An ironic adage, mother,” Amelia said.

“Machiavellian, when applied to government. Downright ruthless when used to make money. That has always been the problem with free press is it not?”

“What?” Penny asked.

“A free press is free to do whatever they wish,” Leucilis answered. “One can only be so surprised when people wish for coin as opposed to oh what was the promise? Objectivity?”

“You’re so fascinating, Mrs. Linnaeus,” Penny said.

“We are glad you find Us amusing. Amelia? How has the West treated you?”

“Fine,” Amelia replied.

“Surely all those years culminated in more detail than that.”

“Shall we discuss it here?”

“We can wait.”

Penny walked with them all the way back. She had never been the quickest person on the uptake. She remembered whimsically the comments said of her by her teachers in grade school. They spoke of potential and talent, held back by a thick layer of aloofness and lackadaisical attitude. Peers were generally less willing to give a comprehensive report on social behaviors. So she tended to find herself alone after a time. Even from a young age, children understood sensitivity. She never did notice.

As they walked up the stairs to their rooms, she wondered why she was suddenly thinking about the past. Eventually, it came to her.

She stopped at the front door.

“I just remembered,” Penny said. “I left something at the fair. I’ll be back.”

“It was nice meeting you,” Leucilis said.

“You too.” Penny smiled cutely and hurried off.

Amelia’s expression did not change. Though she said nothing, she wished Penny had stayed.

She unlocked the door and held it open. Leucilis ducked to enter. With a finger Leucilis poked the ceiling. The tiles lifted, and where she touched there was a small cut.

“Careful,” Amelia said.

“Everything is so delicate here,” Leucilis remarked. “So much glass and plastic, and this dreadful substance in the walls.”

“Drywall?”

“How do you refrain from breaking everything you touch?”

“By paying attention.”

The tour took a minute. Amelia’s room was an island of order. Metal bookshelves full of school texts and novels about sail ships. Both Penny and Carrie’s doors were wide open, revealing a floor that was more clothing than carpet. What books that could be seen would have dramatically lessened resale value.

“Who lives in this one?” Leucilis asked.

“Lyssa,” Amelia said. “She keeps to herself.”

“Interesting roommate.”

“How do you know?”

“Even through the door We can smell it. The mentalic emanations run deep. Once you undergo your third molt We think your senses will sharpen enough to perceive it.”

“Maybe I will.”

“Let’s sit.”

They returned to the living room. Leucilis sat, resting an arm on the dining table. Amelia remained standing.

“What now?” She asked.

“We— I am waiting,” Leucilis said.

“For what?”

No answer. Silence hung for seconds.

“I do love you, Amelia,” Leucilis said.

“Then why did you leave me here for ten years!? Ten years you barely called. You never visited. What was so important here that you needed me to come? We had everything back home!”

“I am glad you enjoy it here.”

“It was not worth it.”

“You are only able to say that because Penny is not here.”

“Why was I sent here?”

“Because our ways are dying,” Leucilis said. “Or optimistically, they are weakening and face some danger. I sent you here in case the serfs revolt.”

“They are of no danger to us.”

“Not physical danger, no. The risk is the collapse of our way of life, and that which the citizenry is blind to: the danger of themselves. You were sent so if our family fails to restore order, you have a home here, reputation and honor intact.”

“I… I do not care about that!”

“That is because you are a child. I cannot fault you for validating maternal love by presence, rather than action.”

“That was not what I needed.”

“Wanted,” Leucilis corrected. “This was what you needed. You will understand its wisdom. Perhaps you already do.”

“I suppose you also know why we are arguing then.”

“I do. Would an apology really help?”

“You had time to be a part of my life. You did not do it because you calculated it would not be enough, so you just did not bother. Because that is simply the way you see everything, as a calculation. You spent father’s life like coin. You moved my life like a chess piece.”

Leucilis raised her hand off the table as she stood. It came with a rough clicking noise. Amelia noticed five fresh gashes on the wood.

“We will talk later in the evening,” Leucilis said. There was no change in her tone.

The balcony door was opened and with a single thrust she took to the air. Amelia flinched as the building rattled. Neighboring balconies opened as students came to see what that had been. Amelia stayed still for a while, stewing in thoughts she had hitherto succeeded in not having.