Chapter 1 : Her Side.. Start!
-
"What a disgrace"
She remembers that being the last phrase her family ever said to her.
Evelyn Flores, a pretty golden spoon with nothing to wish for, the daughter of house Flores, the most flourishing company that dominated the market of magical devices.
From small appliances such as microwaves being powered by lower grade crystals, to machinery for factories, House Flores was known for it's business exploits.
Something Evelyn never had passion for.
Whispers were inevitable when placed up on a throne, as the youngest child of house Flores, she had expectations shoved onto her from the day she was born.
In a world full of magic and advanced technology, the faster the market goes, the smarter one has to be to keep up. With most of the population having minor elemental powers, the pressure of performing well skyrocketed.
With her older brothers both excelling in either magic or academics like marketing or mechanical design, expectations of being smart fell on her as well.
From a young age, she remembers studying hard, despite getting confused on how to properly write a balance sheet, or an income sheet, she tirelessly practiced and understood how to handle financial documents.
Not to mention, the breathless days of forcing herself to eat to have enough energy to even practice magic, just with the hope of increasing her output.
Yet, maybe it just wasn't for her. Regardless of how hard she worked, how many sheets she prepared, how much her arms gave out from practice, she was always falling short.
From the start, maybe it was doomed. Trying so hard to meet expectations that didn't suit her.
House Flores is, as their last name implies, a house built on the connection with the flowers or more specifically, the ground. Their house was one that aligned with elements of the earth.
Her father. Anton Flores, an intelligent man that rose above his siblings and outside competitors, securing the spot of heir and in the top of the markets, one who was rumoured to be absolutely smitten with his wife that he would even give his whole fortune if she asked.
If not his business prowess, his physical and magical prowess don't lack behind, being one of the strongest terra wielders in the nation.
Her older brother. Miguel Flores, a strong and well connected man who lead the company's marketing with both his ideas and his own acting, a man who knows how to capture the attention of the nation.
Rough hands known to not shy on helping with physical labour when people are in need. He, like his house, wields terra with precision and enhances his limbs with it for a boost of strength and durability.
Her second older brother. Mateo Flores, an intelligent and eccentric man who had a passion for robotics and gemology. A sweetheart who adores helping his family's company while studying crystals and gems for his own wants.
Unlike his father or brother, his power was more mental, one that allows him to connect with the earth as it allows him to analyze natural material.
While the superficial details are accurate to an extent, like most families in the spotlight, there is always a hidden shadow.
Evelyn Flores, youngest daughter and the only one in the Flores family without the ability relating to earth. She was the only one that inherited any power from her mother's side.
Her mother, Althea Tala, from the house of stars, was known for her research on astronomy, a well known scholar back in the day. Rumours say her intelligence was what attracted the young Anton to her.
But rumours are always just that, rumours, for as long as Evelyn has been alive, she's barely heard her father even mention her mother. She could only recall one instance.
She was around 6, the time when abilities that to manifest, running to her father with a bright grin on her face as she called out to him.
"Father!! look! My hands are showing stars!"
Maybe she expected something happy, like when her teacher expressed amusement- or when the maids showed interest, but her father's face only scrunched in disappointment.
"Just like that woman. The power of the earth is a dominant gene. How did you end up with such a useless power"
Her father whispered to himself as he walked away, his aide next to his side bowing in apology to the young lady who stood at the hallway, dejected and on the verge of tears.
.
Maybe that's why when she showed up, it felt unfair.
From the start, her father looked at the blond child with kind eyes, something she always had to work for. Maybe she was childish, ridiculous even, but she hated her.
Hated how everything seemed to be easy for her, hated how kind she was, hated how regardless of how many times she pushed her down, she got back up and tried to reach out.
She hated how her brothers, who once they accepted her, followed her every word like a prayer. It was weird, why did they pay so much attention to her.
In hindsight, it was definitely jealousy.
But she didn't care, she just wanted any reason for them to look at her.
.
"Get a therapist girl? what the hell are you talking about"
The girl next to her in class deadpanned as she listened to her story. Evelyn blushed in embarrassment "what?! how dare-" "no like, seriously, you did shitty things-" "excuse me-" "-BUT, you were def traumatized by your family"
Evelyn couldn't believe her ears, for the first time, she was hearing that maybe her family was in the wrong? it felt surreal.
She stared at the girl with green eyes, they felt warm- for once. The green eyes' she was used to always felt cold.. or mocking.
"I uh.. can recommend you mine? she's really sweet"
The girl scratched her cheek, nervousness washing over her as the blue haired girl just sat in shock. Before either girls could respond, an white haired boy wrapped his arm around the girl with green eyes, ruffling her hair as he grinned.
"Hey Poppy! oh? is this your assigned partner? Hey! I'm Sora!"
"uhm.. Hello.."
Evelyn addressed awkwardly, not knowing how to contribute to the conversation. The girl, Poppy, sighed and shook her friend off her, she grabbed a piece of paper and wrote down a number, giving it to Evelyn as the lecture ended.
"Take it- my numbers on the back- so we can chat about the project.. and if you need uh,, help"
She got up and walked with her friend, leaving Evelyn dumbfounded at her desk. She looked at the piece of paper in her hand, folding it neatly before putting it in her pocket.
.
Evelyn put her hair in a braid as she dusted off her skirt, It's been a while since she thought about her family.
They basically threw her out after their last big fight, the one where her older brothers finally got sick of her snide remarks and they started listing off all her misconduct growing up, which heavily angered her father.
With no where else to go, she ran to her mother's family, an unfamiliar group that silently helped her. They didn't talk much, but even so, they helped pay for half of her tuition, and helped her find a job.
Evelyn took this chance to start a new- once she was practically rinsed by a college classmate that her mindset was utterly childish, she began reflecting on herself.
She worked a retail job while she started attending therapy, slowly working her issues out as she built a small but sturdy group of friends.
Poppy, a girl her age with ginger hair and emerald eyes, was her first friend. They got paired up for a group project, and somehow both spilled their personal lives, leading to them getting closer (and Poppy calling her personality out).
Sora, Poppy's childhood friend, a bright and extroverted guy majoring in astrophysics, when he found out her mother was the Althea Tala, he started rambling about his passion for astronomy while also adoring Evelyn's little star performances.
Those two slowly helped her change her perspective and allowed her to start being better, making friends and building courage to apologize to Leilah.
The last she heard about Leilah was through whispers from her aunt, apparently Leilah had gotten married to her boyfriend, Zander Ognev, her middle school crush.
Her father never remarried and passed on the company to Mateo who stayed devoted to his work. Lastly, Miguel, he moved on from the family business and became an actor.
From an outside perspective, they seemed like a perfect family- one that she was never meant to be in.
Evelyn shook her head as she tried to ignore the depressing thoughts that urged to creep in. Today was a special day.
It was Leilah's birthday, and she wanted to at least apologize for all her nonesense, Evelyn was prepared to be rejected, but before she could even get to her old neighbourhood, she ran into her father while buying a cake.
She held her head low as she tried to avoid his gaze, as if all the pep talk her friends gave her disappeared, it was like she was back to her childhood self who couldn't lift her head.
The man gave a scoff, and held out his hand to stop her from getting closer.
"Don't even think of showing up to ruin my daughter's party. I'm warning you. Our family has been living in peace without your disturbances, do not change that"
That was it she supposes.
Evelyn sat on a rock as she stared at the water, "stopped before I could even attempt an apology. Guess that serves me right" she mumbled as she picked up a small rock, tossing it on the water.
With a loud groan, her fists hit the rock she sat on, a frown on her face as she stared at her reflection in the water.
Navy peony hair and eyes that resembled bubble gum, she was often told she looked exactly like her mother. She never understood the resemblance until she met her maternal family.
At first, she resented her mother's genes, from her hair, to her eyes, and even to her ability, it was like her father didn't even exist in her dna.
Miguel had the same pink coloured eyes, but he inherited Anton's brown hair, whereas Mateo had both brown hair and green eyes, an exact copy of their father.
But as she went through a few sessions with her therapist, she came to accept the fact that her mother was the only one who didn't resent her. Maybe it was because she didn't live enough to see the villain that she became.
With a final sigh, Evelyn got up and dusted her skirt. She already wasted so much time sulking in the park, she ignored the small voice in her head that begged her to take revenge on her family- but in all honesty, why would she.
She often created the issues. Maybe it's time to fully let go.
Stretching her arms, she looked around and saw the beautiful night sky, a beautiful darkness that comforted the girl who walked over the bridge she crossed earlier.
As the street lights started to flicker, she lifted a hand, conjuring up a small star that illuminated her way.
Yeah, this was the right choice.
They can have their happy ending, and Evelyn was going to find hers.
Maybe she had a bit of regret, but it wasn't one she wanted to dwell on for long.
.
Was what she said, however, now she's facing that very same regret.
"Wah!!? A water spirit!!?"
A small child pointed at her as she sat up, completely drenched in water as she blinked in confusion.
-
Chapter 1 : Her side.. End!