House Minx
Tia sleeps for nearly two days, waking in the afternoon. Still sore, she takes a much appreciated bath before making her way downstairs.
You can stay up here. |
Tia wanders into the main hall of the manor. One grand U-shaped table is the centerpiece of the spacious room and two grand stair cases lead to the upper balcony straddling the second floor, hovering over the lower entrance to the hall and opposite the fireplace. The entrances to the manor's bedchambers line these walls before giving way to a vaulted ceiling. Polished tiles make up the floor and are dressed with elaborate carpets. The walls are home to tapestries, paintings and even bookshelves, all leading to a grand fireplace flanked on both sides by stained glass doors. One other set of doors sit along the left side of the hall. A pair of armchairs face the fireplace just past the grand table and a number of sofas and tables line the walls here and there. Evelyn is waiting for her by the fireplace, seeming to have been reading. Her face lights up as Tia descends. Tia is still surprised and nervous, unsure of how to interact properly with her unexpected new relation, grasping and scrunching the cloth of her dress.
Oh, don't be nervous! |
You can relax, dear. |
She gestures for Tia to sit in the padded chair adjacent to her. The stuffing is thick and Tia sinks into the satin gratefully.
Thank you... uhhh |
My name is Evelyn |
But you can call me Grandma, Granny, Nana or whatever you like! |
Could I call you... baa-chan...? |
Is that...? |
Of course, dear. |
As I said, whatever youl like! |
Are you... always in your form? |
Hm? |
Oh, yes! I often forget the two are separate at all, really. Our family's magic is something to be very proud of, dear! |
It's quite special. Has your father not told you anything about our family? |
I didn't know I had more family aside from my parents and... and mom's family, not that I ever saw them at all... |
It's all been a surprise. |
Evelyn makes a sour face thinking of Allen's predilection for surprises, closing her eyes and pitying Tia for that lot.
That boy… of course he didn't! |
I think he rather doesn't like being a part of this family, which is such a shame. Not everyone is as fortunate and blessed as we are! |
Here, follow me. |
Evelyn rises from the chair and steps swiftly along the east wall, stopping before a tapestry. A large emblem is the centerpiece of the tapestry and Tia recognizes it as the family crest. She hadn't seen it so large before and could now make out a creature comprising much of the image.
Evelyn reaches out and her fingers graze the two animals embroidered to the left and right of the emblem. On the right is a bob-tailed feline with fur-tipped ears and on the left is a falcon with spotted wings.
Do you know where our family name comes from? |
We are named after the creature our racial magic grants us the features of, the Minx. It is native to the Lacuna Heath of the Tenebrous Chain, which is amid our holdings. |
Tia asks DuffWhat is... a holding?
The King gave your family the land in that region.
Duff offers a curt explanation after an irritable sigh but Tia has trouble wrapping her mind around the concept
Their wealth stems from that.
Like a number of beasts in our world, |
Lunil blessed this creature with features of a secondary animal as half of its racial magic. It is called a Minx because it is a lynx with the features of a merlin, a kind of falcon. |
That's where the ears and wings come from? |
Generally, a minx has the hindquarters of a falcon, wings and the front portion of a lynx. Interestingly, |
The minx has the optical capabilities of both creatures. Excellent color perception, superb eyesight and night vision! |
Do we always have the same features? |
Most of the time but not always |
Most of us have two or more features, one from each animal, but which features you inherit are up to chance! The wings are fairly typical, however... |
Evelyn snaps the book shut and chuckles
I once had a boy with nothing but whiskers and little bird legs! |
Evelyn replaces the book carefully and continues towards the fireplace at the end of the hall. The wall they pass is decorated with various portraits, presumably her ancestors, with different combinations of minx features.
The minx is an apex predator of the heathlands which gave our family quite the advantage! |
Flight, claws, fangs, excellent vision and hearing, aerial agility and speed—we could even inherent a second racial magic in addition to all of this! Our ancestors quickly distinguished themselves in battle and earned our current station. |
She pauses and stares wistfully at the final portrait above the mantle. In it, Evelyn places a hand on the shoulder of a teenage girl with slate hair. She stands between Evelyn and Allen, perhaps in his early twenties.
Is that...? |
Yes |
That is your father, myself and your aunt Felicity—you'll get a chance to meet her later. |
Tia frowns at the painting of her father. His expression is stern and his eyes are dark and lifeless. She had never seen him so grim, seeming even malignant.
When I married your grandfather, |
He contributed a very suitable magic to our family line—Beranok's Aura |
She motions for Tia to sit again and they both settle in before anything else is said.
Now then, do tell me about yourself, sweetheart! |
Um, I mean... |
What do you want to know? |
Well... what was your life like in Nippon? |
We know so little about it here, they are so insulated! What was your mother like, what magic did you inherit? |
Tia dons a grudging smile at the mention of her mother
My mom... |
She's very beautiful. She always knew the right thing to say and she was naturally graceful. I-I'm afraid I'm not much like her. |
Tia seems apologetic, mystifying Evelyn. She hadn't allowed herself to think of or talk about her mother, she hadn't a moment to process it in private during their journey. Tia also didn't particularly want to tackle that mountain of emotions. Evelyn gasps and quickly produces a hankerchief from her purse.
I'm sorry, dear! |
You don't have to tell me anything that's going to upset you! |
She offers Tia the fabric. Tia takes it and scowls as she wipes her face. Evelyn shifts uncomfortably into the silence.
I'm sorry. |
Everything has just been happening so fast...! |
Sometimes I forget she's even gone. |
I know I'm a stranger to you |
But my ears are always open to you! |
After all, it is such a treasure finding out you exist! |
Tia blushes at the attention but laughs, staring down at the hankerchief
My mom left us |
I don't know why. When I looked up she was just... |
She's just gone. |
Tia feels tears rolling down her face again and her breath catches. She glares at the teardrops as they wet the fabric. Evelyn's hand hovers over Tia's shoulder a moment, uncertain of the gesture as her hand moves.
I'm... so sorry, dear. |
Let's think of happier things! |
You... wanted to know about my form? |
Do not tell her.
Duff stresses carefully, listening in from upstairs
Keeping this secret will keep you safe. Besides…
his tone shifts into stark bitterness
She's an agent of the crown. She may even expose you.
Ummmm... |
Tia imagines how Evelyn might react while observing her eager expression. Would her grandmother be disappointed by her original form? Should she even show her birth form or reveal how she has been changed? How did her father expect her to present herself? Tia's eyes catch again on the portrait on the mantle while her mind spins with questions and uncertainties.
IIII've got… Dad's magic! |
Oh, you must show me! |
Come, come! |
Evelyn steps to the left set of stained glass doors with Tia close behind her and flings them open. Wind bursts into the room and before them is a balcony which seems to hang off the edge of the city. Tia loses her breath, dizzy at the open height. She presses markedly against the wall, garnering confusion from her grandmother who stands comfortably against the banister.
I, u-um |
I-I don't actually know how to, uh... |
How to fly. I don't know how to fly! |
Oh! |
I... I'm sorry... |
Evelyn looks side to side, quickly guiding Tia to their left where the balcony falls back into a patio garden. Tia's breath shudders as they enter and she sits on the lip of a simple fountain, recomposing herself. Evelyn gestures for a servant.
Some tea, black for me. |
Green tea? |
In Nippon, |
Or at least in the capital, people don't really show their magic form to others. It was considered, um... |
Private. That's how dad worded it. |
That's terrible! |
Dad was busy at the palace and mom can't fly so... |
I never learned how to fly or to use the other… zappy thing. |
Evelyn shuts her eyes, shaking her head slowly in disbelief with her mouth held open. The servant reappears, moving a small table closer and placing the tray before them. Evelyn stirs in copious amounts of sugar and cream before sipping her tea while Tia blinks at the staff, watching the man disappear without a word. She still found such interactions unsettling.
Unbelievable! |
Magic is a part of who we are, and you never learned how to use your own? I've never heard of such a thing... what a ghastly tradition! |
I'm sorry, dear, it's just so… so different! |
In Accia we are proud of our forms, especially within noble families. Our ancestors were gifted these incredible abilities and we are lucky to inherit them. It is such an important part of our lives and vital to our very survival! |
Tia drinks her tea as is and enjoys the familiar bitter flavor.
I don't hate magic |
I think it's amazing what people can do and some of it is really beautiful! |
It's actually been one of the better surprises of coming here. |
But I still miss my old life...! |
I suppose, |
Everything has been flipped upside down for you. |
Nothing is the same! |
But it's kind of exciting too? In a way, I'm surprised I miss Nippon at all... |
That city felt like a cage. They all treated me like I didn't belong or, worse, like I didn't exist at all...! I only had one friend. |
I guess it's really him I miss... and my garden, the mountains, my books and my favorite places by the river... |
People will always find something to enjoy no matter where they are, especially children. |
But perhaps you'll find things to love here, too. And if you enjoy books and beautiful places, the kingdom won't disappoint you! |
Tia is quiet but listens intently
Our kingdom is vast and cultural, every corner holds something different |
A bright young woman like you will be swimming in cohorts and comrades. Oh! The adventures you'll have when you come of age! |
Now then, no need keep being shy. Let's see your form! |
Tia feels her face heat up but stands up and to the side regardless, letting herself shift. As her wings and ears emerge, Evelyn investigates Tia's form expertly. Tia is attentive, curious of the old woman's opinion.
Ears and wings have a suitable shape, despite the under-developed muscles. And Beranok's markings seem to cover most of your body... |
She snaps her fingers behind Tia's ears and seems satisfied with the way they flick towards the sound. She walks behind Tia and pauses.
How fortunate, |
Very handsome tailfeathers with spectacular length! Good, good... |
Tia glances behind and is surprised she hadn't noticed them sooner, lifting and lowering the feathers poking out the end of her dress with fascination. Evelyn looks closely into Tia's eyes.
Brilliant hue! |
How do the colors look? Can you focus your eyes? |
Um... |
Tia notices the increased vibrancy for the first time, giving a slight nod as she explores the intense hues.
Can you see the insects on the irises over there? |
Tia focuses carefully and her vision actually zooms in, gifting her incredibly detailed vision. Movements amid the flowers quickly draw her attention, honing in on a bee landing on the petals of an iris. Tia beams in response, Evelyn eying her fangs while her teeth are exposed.
Excellent! |
Now, let me see your hands. |
I-I don't really understand how to do the um, sparks. |
Evelyn applies careful pressure to her fingertips and, much to Tia's surprise, sharp claws extend out with the pressure.
Oh! |
She flexes her other hand and gaps at her newfound, natural weapons. She wishes she had these much sooner. Evelyn admires Tia with immense relief.
You really are just like your father! |
Out of all of my children, Allen had the finest form! |
Ah, praise from my own mother |
I never thought I'd hear it again! |
Evelyn whips around with a disapproving frown, shocked she hadn't heard him approach, but Allen's attention is on his daughter
Let me guess, |
She's been pestering you about your form all day and going on about the family? |
Evelyn glares at him, answered only by a deadpan expression.
Something you've told her nothing about! |
How dreadfully unprepared you've left her! However is she to catch up in t- |
She's not some livestock you're putting up for slaughter! |
And I don't appreciate you inspecting her as if she were. Besides, |
She learns quickly and is very adaptable! |
Well, we're lucky for our resources then! |
She's going to need tutors and trainers and supplies... |
Heavens Allen, you didn't even teach her how to fly! |
I'm right here! |
There is a tense silence until Tia's stomach begins to rumble. Allen laughs into Tia's embarrassment.
Come on, let's raid the kitchens! |
I'll bet they still keep the sweets tucked away in the same place! |
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