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JULES
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Evelyn’s shell-shocked. Dad finally stopped pacing. Probably strategizing, making all sorts of contingency plans before speaking.
B.S. Snelliott's The Sins of Our Fathers laid face-up on the dining room table. All four of them stared at it from their chairs surrounding it. Any sign of an interrupted sleep had been wiped clean off Jules’ parents’ faces. Jules didn’t dare look anyone in the eyes, not even Cyrus. It didn’t burn, but he felt tension around the Seal on his chest. The lump in his throat had returned. Evelyn crossed her arms and sighed. She muttered something Jules couldn’t make out, but Liam must have, judging by the glare he gave her. He looks so stressed, he could stroke out.
“If Cy knows," Liam said, "it's very likely Isolda does, too.” Jules and Cyrus glanced at each other. Both caught Liam saying the familiar Cy for the first time.
Evelyn loudly refilled her glass of wine, clanging glass bottle to glass stemware. She picked up the glass above her head and swirled it while she listlessly looked at her distorted reflection in the glass. “Cheers.” She both toasted and drank alone. “Your true nature was bound to come out sometime. Tired of hiding it, to be honest. Now I’ll have to bear it for the rest of my life. The shame. Of you.” She slouched down on the table, her glass empty again. Not holding anything back tonight, are you?
“That’s enough,” Liam cautioned her.
“I just wanted a normal child, a chance at a normal life." She went for a second refill. "Instead, I gave birth to an abomination who—”
Liam slammed a fist on the table. Wine splashed out of Evelyn’s glass onto the table. “Enough.” She just looked lazily at the wine that seeped into the wood. Staining it, tarnishing it…
“I am sorry it got out,” Jules said, “and to have put you all in this situation. I understand how—”
“You understand nothing!” Evelyn sat back up when she snapped at him. “Do you know what they’ll do to us? When they find out we’ve known?” She buried her head in her hands and moaned.
“No. I don’t,” Jules said. “But I do know what they’ll do to me.” Liam and Cyrus turned their attention to Jules, but Evelyn didn’t bother.
“That won’t happen to you, Son,” Liam said. “Not like Greed, not like Sloth. I’ll keep you safe to my dying breath.”
“Certainly not his,” Evelyn said with a laugh. The Tragedy of Sloth. The chilling thought repeated, reverberated in his mind.
“Cyrus…Cy,” Liam said. “How did you find this out? Leave nothing out.”
Cyrus told Mr. Tideshaper everything he’d encountered that led him to suspect Jules was Arcanic. Everything except the Shrine. Clearly not satisfied with Cyrus’ report, Liam pushed for more information. “The pieces aren’t adding up for me, yet.”
Cyrus shrugged in response and remained silent. Thanks for trying. Starting to see how you kept this secret for so long. “We," Jules said, "well—I made Cy, and it was my idea, but we found the Shrine. And the door.”
Liam stood up from the table, put both hands on it, and leaned close to them. A cloak of darkness ushered around them all. The lights of the candles all but extinguished. “Salvos damn your stupidity, Son. Strike it from yourself immediately. You too, Cy. Even before you knew about Jules, that was a terrible decision. If you ever do something so rash before considering how bad the consequences are, you will compromise this family.”
Jules gulped. “I understand, Dad."
“Understood, Liam,” Cyrus said. Also a first. To his face, at least.
“The Hydromages and Royal Navy are all over this town, and now you’re telling me the Navigators will be here. Leave that damn Shrine be, and don’t put yourself in any other dangerous situations while you’re at it.” Liam sat back down, sighed, and rubbed his temple. Jules noted how the darkness disappeared with his father's anger. “What about this door you mentioned?" Huh?
“What door?” Jules asked.
“You just said you found the Shrine and a door.” No, I didn’t—
Memories of his vision at the Shrine flooded his mind. The excruciating pain returned to his hand, and he checked it to make sure it was still unharmed. “It was sort of like my fever dreams, but a waking dream…and there was that fox, too.”
Liam perked up. “What fox? Was its fur white?”
“Uh, yeah. Yeah, it was. It felt like I knew it somehow.”
“Fucking fox and samurai ruined my life.” Evelyn downed the rest of her wine.
“Samurai?” Jules asked his father.
“Kanban,” Evelyn mocked.
“His name was Kaizen. He brought you that fox to help guide you, but we were separated. Her name is Rukia. I wonder why she didn’t follow you. Did she say anything to you?”
“Did the fox say anything…?" Jules asked slowly, confused. "And you said his name was Kaizen?”
“I’m not sure if he survived the fight at—" Liam paused. "When we fled our home.” Damn, he almost slipped. “And yes, didn’t she talk to you? She spoke to us. Certainly had a lot to say.”
“No, she just growled. I don’t know which way she went, but all of us scrambled, even the Warg.”
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“Well, when you find her again—or I should say when she finds you—bring her back here.”
“If you say so, but look.” Jules opened The Sins of Our Fathers to a passage.
> Excerpts from 'The Sins of Our Fathers' by B.S. Snelliott
>
> After the captivities of Greed and Sloth, and of course the fallout learnings from the Calamity of Charity, the esteemed researchers of the Iron Maidens were able to surmise two primary ways in which to identify Arcanics.
>
> Method The First
>
> The 'Seals,' as the Alters have officially declared them (Author’s Note: and rather forcibly demanded the world adhere to their edicts, as if they reign supreme against the great and renowned Church of Salvos), number each Sin 1-7 and each Virtue 1-7. The placement seems to be randomized at birth; however, all the identified Virtues are confirmed to have them (see photos attached in the Index of the four known Virtues, which of course excludes Charity, as the images are too gruesome to expose), as well as Greed and Sloth during their brief and prolonged, respectively, stints of imprisonment. The purpose of these Seals is still yet to be determined.
>
> Method The Second
>
> Each Arcanic is bestowed another marker to help us identify them, though find this one on their bodies, the reader will not. An animal is bonded to each Arcanic (and it is for this reason that in the 18th Year AFN, no Druids will be allowed to take Spirit Animals), presumably for life. The Virtues’ Familiars, as the Virtues themselves refer to them, have been confirmed. While Greed’s familiar was never discovered, Sloth’s certainly was—And the reader should have no question as to which animal this demon chose for his Familiar."
“It goes on,” Jules said, “but I can’t stand his pompous writing style. You get the idea. The only saving grace here is that the Iron Maidens don’t know that Arcanics can’t equip Scripts to our bodies.”
“You mean they don’t appear to,” Cyrus said. Put some attitude in that one. “Also, it’s not Arcanics, Jules, it’s just the Sins.”
“It could just be me.”
“I’d wager they don’t know,” Liam said. “They wouldn’t have given Greed or Sloth any Scripts. It would've been too dangerous.”
“They might have admitted it in their torture,” Cyrus said.
“Maybe,” Liam said. “They were both young when captured. It would be extraordinary to have learned any Runes that young, to have even tried them.”
“We are certainly not ordinary.” Jules pushed the book back to the center of the table. “So, who am I?”
“You are Jules, our son.” Funny, I said the same thing to Cy.
“Oh, just get it over with and tell him who he really is.”
“No, Evelyn. I will not. And neither will you. Have you forgotten our agreement?”
She glared back at her husband. “How could I? I regret it every day.” Agreement... Couldn't be, right?
“Jules,” Liam said. “I don’t know what it means. Any of it. All I know is that you are my son, and I decided to raise you into a man, not an Arcanic, not a Virtue, and certainly not a Sin.”
“But I am a Sin,” Jules said. “I need to know who I am so I can steer in the other direction.” Liam sighed.
“Jules… You are a human first. Actually, you’re a child first. My child. This world is hard enough to navigate as is. I needed to teach you how to handle that, because that’s what I know. And I protected you, and taught you how to protect yourself, though it appears I could have done better.” Cyrus looked away. “I say that because of Isolda, not you, Cy. We all agreed Jules would tell you before his System Unlock Day. Which is another reason I won’t tell you, Jules.”
“Yeah, I’ve never talked about it,” Jules said. “But it’s obvious. If we were born at the same time, then everyone Unlocks the same day. That’s why we lie about my birthday, like I’m sure the rest do. But why does that mean you have to wait?”
“Because I have a short timeline, only so many years to teach you how to survive, physically, mentally, financially, socially. The list goes on. And it’s better to choose your identity as an adult than a child. Trust me.”
Evelyn scoffed, then she laughed. “If only you knew who your father really was before I got pregnant.”
“And if only my father could see me now,” Liam snapped back. “If we told you who you are, all of your decisions would be based around that. But up until this point, you’ve had more free will to make your own, unbiased decisions.”
“So you do know,” Jules insisted. Evelyn’s laugh was all the answer Jules needed. “Fine. I think I understand what your agreement is, anyway." Won't get around a Binding Vow. "So what do we do now, flee?” To Aquilantis?
“No,” Liam looked at Evelyn as he spoke. “I swore we’d never do that again, never start over again.”
“I gave up my life and made a second one, Jules. What other sacrifice could you possibly want from me?” For the first time tonight, Evelyn’s words stung Jules. Never wanted to be born into this world, you…
It took all his self control to not snap back. “Do we find someone else? Someone who can help me?”
“Who can you trust?” Liam asked. “Sins are out of the question. The Virtues have a reputation of their own, but still, I doubt they’d help either.”
“They’d turn you over to the Iron Maidens,” Cyrus said. "Sworn enemies and all."
“And us along with you,” Evelyn added.
“So what about Isolda? We’re still assuming she knows, but she might not.” Jules looked at his father.
“Jules, I love you, but I said to cast your…naivety aside,” Liam said.
“Thanks for the euphemism. So what, do I get close to her? Pulling away would seem too obvious. Do we spy on her?”
“No,” Liam said. “I will spy on her.”
“She hasn’t reported her suspicions yet,” Cyrus said.
“Bah! You two, listen. You need to start thinking outside of the box, see the bigger picture here. She likely hasn’t reported him, yes. But maybe someone reported Jules to her, and she is an Iron Maiden infiltrator, building a case. There haven’t been raids in years after the protests and riots. They have clearly taken a stealthier approach. Or maybe…?”
That look. This is a teaching moment. Great. “Or maybe,” Jules said, “she’s independent, or with another group we don’t know about.”
“Good.” Liam appeared pleased. “Now you’re thinking. Concepts of known unknowns and unknown unknowns. Remember them, and apply them. We have no room for error here.”
“Then Dad—it’s unlikely, and I’m not going to assume it—but she could prove to be an ally. So do I get close or stay at the same distance?” The cruelty behind Liam's grin sent shivers up and down Jules' spine.
“Those Skills I told you about this morning, that make up a Gamesman? They apply to other Classes as well. I’ve kept you safe this long, and not by pure chance.”
Always taunting his past in front of me. I wanna know more, but he’s a stone wall, and at the moment it’s just another distraction. He might even be testing my resolve right now.
“OK. We will probably still have school tomorrow—I led those Hydromages straight to the Shrine. Surely they’ll have enough time to quarantine it. Isolda said she’s leaving soon for a trip, so tomorrow might be the last chance we get. We need a plan.”
Without excusing herself, Evelyn stood up and went to bed, leaving her wine stains on the table.
The other three drafted plans for another hour until Jules and Cyrus had to go to sleep. They’d barely gotten any rest in days, and needed to be fresh by morning. Cyrus bid them farewell and crept off into the dark. Liam warned him that he better not get caught on his way back to the orphanage. Jules retreated to his bedroom and shut the door. He placed his Ryoku crystal on his dresser and stared at it for some time with disappointment. Its hollowness and emptiness put him on edge, for some reason he couldn't explain.
> [New Quest Available: Hot for Teacher]
>
> [New Reward Available for Hot for Teacher: Identify an ally or a foe.]
>
> [Hot for Teacher — Quest Objective ADDED: Execute Liam’s Plan.]
>
> [Hot for Teacher — Quest Objective ADDED: Extract information from Isolda.]
Before Jules went to sleep, he looked in the mirror at his exposed back. The Trophy he'd equipped a few hours ago had already faded away.
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