The Flower of Soline

If this is what it felt like going into war, then Aether could say he would never want to do this again. His father sat at the end of the table, sipping idly on what he assumed was tea. His mother sat to his fathers right, her gaze was piercing as she glared at him with displeasure. His brother sat to the left of his father and next to him was his sister who despite his entrance was eating her food like nothing had happened.

”Aether, it was about time you joined us, sit. ” His father didn even need to gesture for a maid to come up to the seat next to his sister and pull it out for him. Aether gave a small nod and sat next to his sister.

A plate was placed in front of him, the steaming food was a welcomed sight and he wasted no time in digging in.

”Why is he here? ” His mother spoke up. Her voice was smooth yet cold just like her eyes. He glanced quickly at his mother, avoiding her gaze as he did so. She was just as beautiful as he had thought, but her curly blonde hair and bright blue eyes really were a dead give away on who she was in the family. An outsider.

Those who marry into the Frenzel family will never live up to the potential of the Frenzel family, but their children will. Oftentimes the single thought that they wouldn be good enough drove them to death, but his mother was fierce and powerful. Which was the only reason she had been chosen by his father to be his wife. His father after all, wanted nothing more than to be the most powerful Frenzel and what better way than to have a wife who could mentally and physically stand by his side for longer than one child.

”Our youngest has proved his usefulness as a Frenzel. He will be joining us from here on out. ” His father emphasized our.

”I see. I was unaware of such a development. Tell me when did you find such talents? ” His mother raised her eyebrow in an attempt to look interested and confused at the same time.

”Last night. ”

”Hmm, and you didn think that I should know of such changes with our child? ”

His father placed his tea down, an ominous aura enveloping the room as he did so. ”Oh? Since when did you care for your youngest? ”

His mother didn back down. A frown on her face as she scoffed, ”If he has talents then his use for the household will be…appreciated, but only if his talents are useful. ” The jab to his non abilities didn go unnoticed.

His father laughed, ”Hahaha! His talents, ha! They are way more useful than you could imagine. This, ” He pointed to Aether, ”will be far more useful in other categories that our other two children don excel in. ”

There was a loud clunk as his sister finally decided to join in on the conversation. Her calm demeanor worried Aether. Unlike his brother, he couldn tell what she was thinking.

Aria Frenzel was the only girl in the Frenzel household and with that brought many challenges. In the novel, she was one of the only Frenzels to be talked about in more than one occasion due to her being a potential love interest. She was described as on par with the heroine when it came to appearances, but to Aether, his sister might be even more beautiful than her. She had long silver hair that was tied back into a ponytail. Her face was elegant and pale, it kind of reminded him of his face, which silently worried him on the inside, but he pushed that thought away for now. She looked softer, but the cold glare in her eyes said otherwise.

It made sense. Aria Frenzel was only sought after by the first prince as a potential bride because of her unique appearance and her unique ability. Despite being a Frenzel she has been dealt an unlucky hand since birth. One of her eyes had been blue, while the other was the usual bright red. To make matters worse her fist ability to show was water, just like her mother. It seemed to outsiders that she had taken after her mother instead of her father, like she should have. This caused others to see her as a tool for marriage and nothing more. Of course that all changed after her unique ability appeared, but the damage had already been done. Where there once was a nice girl, now stood a fierce and cold girl who wouldn bend to anyones wims.

He could see it now in the way she calmly observed him.

”Father, mother. ” She spoke calmly.

”Yes. ” His father raised an eyebrow; obviously this was not a common occurrence.

”May I check him? ”

Those words brought shivers down Aethers spine. He internally cringed and wanted nothing more than to leave the table, but at last he was stuck.

”Hmm, ” his father hummed, ”well I don think there will be anything different, but if you want then go ahead. ” His father gestured to Aether and Aether cried inside.

”Hand. ” Was all Aria said as she peered at him. Her eyes were just as cold as her voice.

Aether hesitantly gave her hand. He wasn expecting anything to happen. He knew that there was no possibility of him having an ability and even with her unique ability, the outcome would all be the same.

She placed her finger against his wrist and closed her eyes. The room was tense as she worked silently. Her fingers moved every now and ten, like she had found something interesting, then she would pause and move on. Those few minutes felt like death to Aether. Waiting for a verdict from his sister nonetheless brought too many worries for his liking.

”Hmm. ” His sister hummed while she opened her eyes. She let go of his wrist after another second and resumed eating her food.

”Well? ” His father asked.

”There was nothing alarming, nor anything…unchanging. ” her eyes squinted just a bit as she spoke, as if she were debating something serious while talking. Her strange behavior didn go unnoticed by their father.

”I see. We will speak after breakfast. ”

”Understood. ”

The rest of the breakfast passed quietly, until the end. ”Bert, grab my coat. ” His father stood up, Leon following suit shortly after.

”Oh? Are we heading somewhere today? ” His mother piped in.

”Yes, I have a previous engagement with the King today. ” His father said casually as he snapped on his coat with ease and pulled on some gloves.

”Over the agreement? ”

”Yes. ” His fathers smile turned twisted, ”I have won our little agreement, so he will be owing us. ”

”Make sure you get what we are owed. ” His mother smiled just like her husband.

”Of course. Ill ring out as much as I can. To the point where those other nobles won be able to say a damn thing when it comes to our decisions. ”

”Perfect. ”

”Bert, get Aether a coat. ” He looked at Aether up and down before adding, ”a warm one, he will need it. ” His nose scrunched up as he spoke.

Aether gave his father a quizzical look. Please, don tell me Im going as well. He silently laminated as Bert pulled him up and started to button a semi big coat on him.

”Will our youngest also be joining you on this journey? ” His mother was watching his every move as he got dressed.

”Of course. Since he helped in solving the little issue. ” He gave his wife a squeeze on her shoulder, ”his presence will just confirm that the Frenzel household is not one to mess with even if they do not have any abilities. ”

”I see. ”

”Father. ” Aria spoke up, ”Will our talk be happening before you leave. ”

”Of course. Leon, take your brother to the carriage. ”

Leon nodded and grabbed onto Aethers shoulder, escorting him out of the room before he could protest.

—–

Aria sat down her cup and gazed at her father. ”There was something strange with Aethers strings. ” She said calmly.

Both her parents flinched at her words and narrowed their eyes. ”His strings? How so? ” her father asked.

”They used to be pitch black, but now it was almost as if they were a light shade of grey instead. ”

”Grey? ” Her father repeated, a complicated look on his face.

”We can not determine what that means as of now. ” Her mother intervened before her father could get his hopes up, ”We have never dealt with a non-user before him, for all we know the strings turning different colors could be a normal occurrence for them. ”

Her mother had a point, but that was not what concerned her, ”The strings, they were strange. ” was all she said. She couldn explain it and her parents knew that if she did not explain further in detail then she herself could not interpret what she had seen.

”Aria, from now on, whenever you get a chance check his strings. Make sure they aren changing and if they do, bring him home immediately. ” her father said, his tone serious.

”Understood. ” She took another sip of her tea. She only hoped that this feeling of worry was wrong.