Act of manipulation

Lavender, at seventeen and a half, was a bit older than both Morvain and Eldric. Despite her age, she still looked out for the boys like a mix of a caring older sister and a mother, especially when it came to Morvain. With Eldric, it was more of a back-and-forth, but they still shared a special bond.

She had come a long way from the scrawny little girl who once struggled to make ends meet. Now, she had blossomed into a young woman, with all the graceful curves and beauty that came with it. This transformation occasionally brought a blush to the boys' cheeks when she was around. She was like a freshly bloomed flower, a testament to the strength and resilience that had carried her through years of challenges.

The inner turmoil weighed heavily on her mind. "When will that idiot gather the courage to propose to me?" The thought seemed to occupy her mind more often these days. She was, after all, a grown woman, and the other street urchins had started showing interest. She feared she might entertain their proposals if that shy boy, whom she adored, didn't make a move. But she couldn't bring herself to do it; she was hopelessly in love with him.

Being an awakened with magic as her primary power was a gift that many would kill for. The mere mention of it to imperials or High Lords could spell danger, as they'd likely try to seize her, perhaps even force her into a marriage with one of their heirs.

"Well, he's a noble too, so what's the issue? Unless... he's changed his mind, thinking he can have a proper noblewoman now?" Her frustration bubbled over, and she crumpled a shirt in her hands, only to smooth it out and inhale deeply. "Ah, it smells just like that idiot." A bashful smile spread across her face.

Her ears perked up, catching the commotion from the other room. The harsh, strained tones were unmistakably her father's.

"Why is he yelling? Have they returned already? Father must have caught them sneaking inside." Her smile returned, and she hurried to greet the two troublemakers.

"Look at you? Look at you, standing there, crying like a damn fuckin' fool after going through with this ridiculous plan."

As Lavender swung open the door to the main hall, her heart sank at the sight of her father. His face was a storm of anger, and his eyes were swollen and red from crying. She stood frozen, the smile wiped clean from her face as she absorbed the scene before her.

'What happened?' Her father never cried.

Morvain stood there, his head hung low, drenched from the rain. Lavender couldn't see his face clearly from behind, but she could hear his muffled words.

"...I... didn't know...I... didn't know..."

Alarm bells rang in her mind. 'What happened, and where is Eldric?' Something was seriously wrong.

Then it came, an unbearable sight. Her father's hand shot up, striking the frail, sickly boy across the face. Morvain crumpled to the ground, tears streaming down his face.

"Father!" Lavender's voice trembled with a mixture of shock and anger as she rushed towards Morvain, holding him tightly. "What are you doing?"

Her father, while often stern with his words, had never resorted to physical force against his children without good reason. And now...

?!

Lavender's heart sank as she looked at Morvain, immediately sensing something was terribly amiss. He was in tears. Morvain, the usually stoic and reserved guy, was now openly weeping and muttering, "I didn't know... I didn't know..."

Before she could process this, their father's voice pierced the air, filled with anger and sorrow. "Yes, you didn't know, and you killed him!" he thundered, his grip on his own hair displaying his despair. "You killed that boy! That's on you, and you'll have to carry that burden alone. I hope you remember this day for the rest of your miserable life."

Lavender's heart clenched. She turned to Morvain, needing to hear it from him, though she already had a dreadful inkling of what had transpired.

Their father, Gideon, spat on the ground and then turned away. "I wish it was you who died instead of my dear boy," he spat out, his words dripping with bitterness. With a limp, he left the room, leaving them alone in the suffocating silence.

Tears welled up in Lavender's eyes as she pressed Morvain for answers. "What happened, Morvain?"

"I didn't know..." His voice, though rough and strained from the tears, was now audible. "I didn't know it was going to be like this!"

Lavender's heart sank. "What are you saying, Mor? Where is Eldric? Where is he, Morvain?!"

"I didn't know... I didn't know..." Morvain's words became a mantra, his face still buried in his hands.

"Where is Eldric?!" Panic and desperation laced Lavender's voice as she shook Morvain by the shoulders. "Morvain, tell me! Where is Eldric?!"

Morvain's gaze met Lavender's, his once golden eyes now blurred and tear-streaked. "He killed him. He killed Eldric!"

"No... no... no..." Lavender's voice trembled, disbelief and anguish flooding her. She desperately wanted to believe this was all some cruel nightmare. She couldn't bear the thought of it being true.

"I didn't know he was going to die like this, Lavender. I truly didn't know."

"Why... why?" Her grip tightened on Morvain's collar, her own face now a mess of tears and anguish. "Why did you take this job, Morvain?! Why... Just why?!"

"I'm sorry..." Morvain's voice was barely above a whisper, his eyes bloodshot and puffy. He repeated the apology like a broken record.

Lavender released her hold on his collar and crumpled to the floor, her sobs wracking her body.

"I'm so sorry..." Morvain's voice echoed in the room, a heartbreaking refrain of regret.

The weight of the truth bore down on Lavender, her tears staining the freshly laundered fabric. With a heavy heart, she made her way to her room, closing the door behind her.

A faint, sliding sound hinted at her collapse near the entrance, overwhelmed by the enormity of the situation. The room seemed to close in around her, offering no solace from the pain.

…

Morvain stood up, his resolve returning, and made his way to his father's study. He turned the doorknob and entered.

His father was an aged figure, solid and stout. A paunch hinted at a life of privilege, but his resources were more akin to a street mongrel. Despite this, his presence commanded respect from all three of his adopted children.

The man sat in his chair, gazing out the window towards the back of the house, his arms resting on the armrests. Morvain closed the door behind him, the slight click alerting his father to his presence.

"You are improving," the old man remarked without turning around. "That was the best act you've ever pulled off, my son." He turned to face Morvain, a smile playing on his lips, just as Morvain produced a small bottle from his bag and placed it on the table.

The bottle featured two unsettling; round objects submerged in an alcohol liquid. Sinister tendrils twisted around the back of these spheres. In the centre of each, two circles glowed a chilling crimson.