Chapter 32: Bad Omen

Gods shaped the history of our world. They are a major part of the world and ingrained into society. Churches are built for the gods, and they are continuously worshipped throughout the world. Gods vary, and so do their worshippers; some worship only specific gods, while others dedicate themselves to all gods. But back to the main point, the actions of gods in the past shaped the history of the world.

A prime example of such gods are the twin trickster gods, Anansi and Eshu. Devious twin gods that looked to gain satisfaction from their fellow gods annoyance. Their tricks varied, turning gods against each other with false information or even sabotaging them in various ways.

Distaste grew as their benevolence did as well. Even more so when the twin gods actions led to the death of the former god of navigation. Mere hate from their fellow gods led to any number of things. One of them being ill omens that came with twins, something that was proved upon the birth of twins. Sometimes it results in mutations in the twins or even their deaths.

All of this is because of a pair of prankster gods.

[15 years ago]

Cold green eyes bore into the two cribs. Two infants occupied the respective cribs, the two having the same bright emerald eyes as him and small patches of blonde hair on each of their heads. They were twins and fast asleep as the young man peered at them.

Though he was not the only one in the room, beside him was an older man. He too had a head of blonde hair, but he possessed bright blue eyes, and he was dressed in a white robe. He examined the two infants, and his gaze was focused as if there was something only he could see. A spawn of Almeric and a man of knowledge, a doctor.

Elijah looked at the two with an unreadable expression. He did not want children. But it was at his late father's behest. Even though he was merely seventeen years of age, he had an arranged marriage, and by custom, he needed to sire children. It was a common practice among the nobles. He was not quite fond of it, but he was rather lucky, funnily enough. Most would get married off at much younger ages, but he managed to prolong his freedom.

But eventually he was forced to marry a woman from the house, Stark.

Then, of course, there was this. His wife had given birth to twins, a bad omen.

"Fascinating." He heard the man beside him murmur as he turned to face him.

"What is it?" Elijah questioned.

"Their blessing is split." The doctor explained much to his confusion.

"Split? What do you speak off?" Elijah demanded, and the doctor quickly obliged with an answer.

"While rare, it is a known condition, though just amongst twins." He started. "Have you heard the myths of the twin trickster gods?" Elijah merely looked at him, befuddled.

"Speak plainly. What has a myth of the gods to do with this?" He questioned again.

"Hm, you are still young, I suppose. And myths aren't as important as they used to be." The doctor murmured before continuing. "Well, all you need to know is that birthing twins can result in a bad omen. In this case, the blessing of Isadora is only partial within both your children, as it is incomplete." Elijah merely looked at him, absolutely confused, trying to digest the information.

"Incomplete?" He repeated this as he looked at the two sleeping infants. "How is such a thing even possible?" He asked. "And are you even sure? How are you able to tell?"

"A blessing from my own God, a Familial Art." The doctor clarified. "It allows me to analyze individuals, showing me a variety of information. Be it at their name day, name of which blessing they possess and more." He explained.

"I see..." Elijah merely murmured absentmindedly. "What are the side effects now that they do not possess the full blessing?"

"From previous records, I can only confirm a few things." He started as his eyes glazed over the two. "Usually, it can result in any number of things; they might not receive traits from the goddess Isadora. Nor even Familial Arts." Elijah grimaced as the doctor finished informing him.

"Is there a remedy?" He asked with a small amount of hope laced in his tone. A pondering look adorned the doctor's face as he mulled over something.

"I have head tales of rituals that could make one of them whole." He started before shaking his head. "But I've heard of many negative side effects that could stem from such a ritual. It could damage their mind and body both."

"A ritual?" But from what the doctor said, only what could be whole, and there were side effects as well. That did not bode well, but this was a chance he would have to take if he wished for even one of them to succeed. "I wish for you to bring me more information about this supposed ritual. I want to know every minute detail."

"Very well, I shall do my utmost to recover anything worthwhile, young master." The doctor gave him a nod as he exited the room, leaving him alone with the two.

"One of you shall inherit my legacy." He spoke as his eyes glazed over the two. "And one of you shall be forgotten." They were his spawn, but he was a Gregory, and his lineage would always come first.

However cruel that may have been, it was simply the way things were. If the supposed ritual could work, then one of them would prosper and be the next head of the house, Gregory. And the other one would simply be forgotten, but which one?

"Agatha, William." He uttered their names as he stared at their innocent faces. A part of him did not want one of his children to merely be left behind. But he had a duty as the next head of house, Gregory. He could not let mere emotions cloud his judgment. Even if there was an ache in his heart, it did not matter; one would succeed and the other would fail.

As young as he was, he understood that. It was simply the way of things, and there was nothing he could do.

[9 years later]

Agatha and William—the difference between the two is as clear as day. Their situation was the same, but it was clear who possessed latent and natural talent. William was lazy and unmotivated. He would rather spend his time fooling around with nonsense. He was energetic, but all that energy just went to waste with his foolishness.

Agatha was the opposite, to some extent. Despite her predicament, her latent talent was not dulled in the least. Magic seemed to come naturally to her, as if it were a simple subject. She was prim and proper and knew just how to behave in specific situations, unlike her buffoon of a brother.

Twins, yet not the same in the least. Yet that did not stop the two from forming a bond, despite their being polar opposites. And there lies the problem: William was dragging her down. His antics affected her and her progress, but it did not matter.

Elijah gazed through the window of his office towards the courtyard where the two young twins were.

Today was the day his choice of successor would be solidified.

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"We really should be training, brother; we'll risk father's ire by slacking." Agatha advised her twin as they stood in the center of their large mansion courtyard.

"We've been doing nothing but training this whole day." William argued with a sigh. "And I doubt you would be the subject of father's wrath. He favors you after all." He murmured back, prompting his sister to resist rolling her eyes.

"Only because I train, dear brother." She smirked. "If you were not so lazy, father would favor you as well."

"I'm not lazy!" He denied. "Training is just so tiresome." He tried to clarify.

"A fancy way of confirming you are indeed lazy." She stated with a smug smile.

"Come now; you must find all this training and studying tedious as well, no?" William asked his sister, who merely mulled over his words momentarily.

"Mayhap, but I would rather do that than anger father." She informed.

"Understandable, I suppose." William murmured.

"Yes, yes, now come. Let us train." She suggested.

"Have we not practiced enough for the day?" William questioned.

"You know how father gets; there is simply no practicing enough with him." She spoke with a sigh sitting on her lips.

"Yeah, I suppose you are right." William agreed. "But we do not have to train, you know?"

"William, no."

"Come now, Agatha; I know you tire of this endless training as well. Why don't the two of us take a much-needed break?" He suggested as she merely shook her head.

"And risk father's ire?" She questioned incredulously.

"It will be a quick break; father will barely notice." He said trying to sway her.

"You also said that last time and father ended up catching us, I would rather not receive another punishment." She clarified.

"Then how about a trip instead?" She merely looked at him, confused.

"A trip?"

"Yes, let us venture around the city. We barely get to leave the estate after all." He suggested causing Agatha to look at him as if he were a fool.

"For good reason, you fool." She chastised. "If it is discovered we left the estate without permission, well, I would rather not even think of the consequences." She shuddered.

"Just a short venture." He clarified it with a smile. "Father will barely take note of our absence."

"I refuse to be a part of your foolish schemes." She huffed as she threw him a glare.

"It will just be a little while, sister. Please, I rather not go alone." He begged, and Agatha's glare faltered as she sighed.

"V-very well, but I shan't stay out long." She spoke as a smile immediately graced her brother's features.

"Great! You won't regret it, sis!"