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In another state of Volenix.
When I say that news travels fast, I mean fast. After the report of the terrorist attack were sent to Averlion palace, it's only natural that the affected family get at least a gist of it. That means the Xue.
Not only that, he had also been informed by the butler that had been caring for the holiday manor in Kinsel about Yanyi and Eker's involvement. Even going to the length of describing Eker's current health.
Just after he returned home from Averlion Palace, he got hit with such news. Needless to say he is conflicted as a father and as a protector of Volenix.
He spent some quiet time in his office, contemplating his next move. But he can't seem to conjure up any ideas.
Defeated, he ought to seek refuge somewhere else.
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Ariani is sitting by the bay window in her study. The window that overlook the vast garden that she had spent her early marriage years cultivating. As well as the small yet memorable green house that houses her daughter's favourite flowers.
She is currently enjoying some desserts with a notebook in her lap. Trying to get inspiration for another novel idea.
It is then did her vibrant silver eyes catch the sight of the head of the family going inside of the small greenhouse. Confused and worried, she starts to slowly make her way down.
Xenzi had never acted like this unless it was about Yanyi specifically.
She knew him.
She's his wife.
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Xenzi opened the glass door and his sense of smell was stumped by the fragrant smell of the hundreds of Irises planted on the ground. All planted by his wife and daughter.
He never partakes in it as according to Ariani "You're only making it worse. The flowers are wilting because they didn't like you." Her pout is fresh in his mind.
He was quite down at that time but was soon lifted to joy as the 4 year old little girl latched herself onto his calf. "Papa! Papa can help water them! Yiyi want papa to join too!"
A smile so innocent that it could rival the purity of the temple even.
The image that he wishes to once again cradle is no longer there. The little girl vanished as her smile bore right into Xenzi's mind.
A hand then gently placed itself on his shoulder before calling out, with worry laced in the tone. "Dear, what's wrong?" He looked to his side and saw the same silver eyes that had vanished just seconds ago near his calf.
Xenzi didn't speak but took off his gloves and lace his hand with that of Ariani. The moment they held hands, Ariani was hesitant to look deeper.
But she get his permission explicitly.
As she did.
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After a couple of minutes passed, Ariani was also struck in a trance. She had read everything from his memories to his mind.
Her husband is currently fighting the decision between bringing their children back home for safety or leaving it alone for it is their daughter's duty. Even she would be conflicted with such a decision.
Without letting go of his wife, Xenzi slowly moves to the center of the greenhouse. A patch of green grass that is made for Yanyi's leisurely reading with her mother. He lay down on the grass while overlooking the roof of the glass greenhouse.
Ariani sat beside him, patting his hand as a gesture to hopefully quench his worried heart. "I am a bad father aren't I." To her shock a comment left his mouth.
Ariani — "What makes you say that?!"
Xenzi — "My love. I may be busy, but I won't forget everything easily. Especially when it comes to our children."
Ariani — "..."
Xenzi — "For the last 10 years… That moment has been haunting me…"
Ariani — "Dear…"
Xenzi — "Why… Why didn't I move… Why didn't I act… Wh-Why silence…"
Ariani knew what he was talking about. Even she questioned his actions at that moment. But you can't rewind time. "You can't rewind the past, but you can make amends, my dear. I'm sure Yiyi would love it."
"And that is what I am struggling with." His eyes are now closed. Hoping that time would stop and he would be brought back to his daughter's childhood moments.
As the partner of the love of her life, she didn't want to see Xenzi suffer anymore. He had suffered enough in his youth. But as a mother, she wishes for nothing but the happiness of her children.
She may not intervene most of the time, but she had seen the situation from a far.
How Yanyi and Xenzi would argue and yell.
How she would run from official house duty.
How she would refuse to come home and instead spend more days in the Averlion Palace with Devion.
But she had also heard all the pain that both parties had felt.
She heard the silent cries from Yanyi's walls.
She listened to the silent rant of regret from her husband when she was asleep.
She saw how both of them push each other away slowly as they fear of hurting not only themselves but the family as well.
Stubbornness runs in the family.
"Perhaps neither of them is the right choice." Ariani commented without a moment to think. She personally wouldn't wish for a cage nor an endless field for her daughter. She just wants a valley large enough for her to see and let her roam free.
"What do you mean, my love?" Xenzi asks as he continues to ponder out into the sky.
"Instead of forcing our love to her or neglecting her, why not show it slowly to her. Show that you care for her at her own pace."
"And how am I supposed to do that?" His eyes are now glued to the very woman whom he had fallen in love over and over again. Awaiting her advice to their disaster of a father and daughter relationship.
Ariani — "Send a group of our trusted people to her. But not to force her back. To check on her."
Xenzi — "I'm listening."
Ariani — "Observe her surroundings and make your own judgement. Set a boundary that she has to meet for both sides of her duty. Her life. If the surroundings are not viable enough to keep her from life threatening danger, then I will consent to your decision of bringing them back."
Xenzi — "..."
Ariani — "But if the surrounding is safe, the people she is with are safe and able to protect her. Then we let her roam free."
Xenzi — "Will that work?"
Ariani — "She's our daughter. It is our job to worry for her. But she's an adult with a duty. It is our job to respect her as well. Whether it will work or not depends on the situation. But I know one thing for sure, my dear. She will understand."
Xenzi smiles gently as he starts to imagine the joy that he had previously experienced with his daughter. He may be late. But he's not too late.
His head was then laid across Ariani's lap before bringing her hand that is still clamped to his own. Kissing the back of her hand and placing it before his forehead. Gratitude laced his face.
"Thank you for everything, my love. Being my wife and being their mother." He has no need to speak the three word sentence. The moment they laced their vow is the moment he will forever love the woman he is married to.
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While we are on the topic with Xue, I figure that it would be cleaner to continue with Yanyi's dear brothers. Aside from Jingyao, the youngest one.
Now, although the twins, Lixian and Qixiao both study at Soter Academy and have around 1 more year to finish, it is important that there are two important factions in the Academy.
The first one is more rounded. Focusing more towards the school's festival and students committee stuff. It's the Student Body Council. Lixian is the current President of.
Now the other factions are focussing more towards students discipline, overseeing the conduct of students across the Academy. They are, basic as it's, the Student Discipline Body. Qixiao is the Vice President who will be the next President when he reaches senior year.
Both of them have a significant role in the Academy and it is actually quite helpful as well. Since the Soter Academy is situated in Ashrin, most of the time, the approval required can be obtained from Marquess Xue.
Oh how easy it is to obtain when his children are in charge.
Anyway, they are currently nearing the state festival holiday and the Academy will conduct a festival that will use some portion of the city area. Thus, it is prevalent that they receive the consent of either 10 nobles, the Imperial family directly, or receive a signature consent from the Head of the State.
Which one is easy to choose?
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After returning home for the weekend, the first thing that Lixian and Qixiao did is to go over to their father's office and get the signature consent. Lixian needs it to send the permission slip to the Educational Board while Qixiao needs it to receive consent for the usage of students in that area.
They knew of the normal procedure and were ready to enter, leave the document on the coffee table and leave. They have no reason to be there for more than necessary.
Lixian opens the door and immediately plops down on the coach. He needs a bit of breather. "I'll just stay here for a minute or two. You can go ahead if you want." He said, documents already on the coffee table.
Qixiao didn't leave. Instead, as the curious cat he is, he starts to look around the room. It eventually caught Lixian when he started to move closer to their father's desk.
"What are you doing?" The warm reverb across Lixian's voice.
"Just looking around. It has been a while since we last explored this place anyway."
Lixian — "Quit it! There's a reason we can't come here willy nilly."
Qixiao — "Jie can. So why can't we?"
Lixian — "Because Jie is the next successor?"
Qixiao — "Doesn't seem like she wants to."
"Goodness!" Not wanting to deal with his younger twin anymore, Lixian lay flat on the couch. Leaving fate to deal with his brother's curiosity. "I hope father will smack you for your slippery fingers."
"I didn't steal anything, you dimwit." He defended his honor.
"Whatever." As he is told that, Qixiao discovers an official order paper at the corner of the table. Near their family photo.
Taking the said paper, he starts to read them.
Line by line.
Again and again.
"Holy Shit! Jie is coming back?!"
"Really?!" The one on the sofa launched himself to the study table. Snatching the paper before Qixiao's own hand he started to read between the lines and words.
Lixian — "Troops deployment? What the heck is this?"
Qixiao — "I don't know. I think my father wants to bring Jie back home immediately. That's great though. Our family will finally be one again and she will be safe."
Lixian — "Safe? Then what about the people she needs to protect? We have heard so much about Kinsel and how Jie is involved in saving that state. What is her duty?"
Qixiao — "They already have her long enough. She can help the people by staying in the capital. No need to travel out."
Lixian — "Dimwit through and through. You have no real understanding about social responsibility."
Qixiao — "HEY! I think about our family! Mother has been down in the dumpster the first few months of her disappearance! You want to see your mother like that again?! And what of A-Yao? He had been asking about Jie for how long?"
Lixian — "Then what of the people?! We all knew Jie's duty the moment she was declared as the Holy Maiden! Binding her for life in this house is not going to solve anything! Did you ever wonder why Jie runs away to Averlion Palace all the time?! No! None of us will understand. Because she will forever bear that burden alone. The very least we could do is understand her position and support her duty."
The tension is rising slowly but surely. That is when the door to the office was pushed open and in came the head of the family.
Xue Xenzi was focused on the papers in his hands before realizing the presence in his office. Seeing the two children tearing each other's eyes off with glare and yelling, he decided to break the tension.
"Ahem!" The two heads turn towards the door simultaneously. You can hear the 'gulp' from both of them.
"May father know why both of you are yelling at each other in my office?" Eyes that once glared daggers to each other are now surrendering under the gaze of their father. They both let out a silent "sorry" before making way for Xenzi to his office table.
After he sat down, Qixiao quit from his little puppy demeonor and immediately asked their father. "Papa! Is it true that you will bring Jie back? I saw the papers there." His index fingers pointing towards the papers he had read.
Before Xenzi could answer, Lixian interjected. "Idiot. It's just stating troops deployment approval. They don't even state the mission yet. How can you just think that it was to bring Jie back?"
And the bicker started yet again.
He has to wait for 5 minutes before the voice starts to slow down to make his statement. "The papers are not to bring your Jie back directly."
"See." Lixian gloated for his victory and prompted yet another fight.
Tired of the continuous word fight, Xenzi ended kicking the two out of his office. A father can only take so much of children's arguments. He is no less than that.
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The two eventually went their separate way to cool off a bit. This is not the first time they fight. In fact they had fought with each other since they were toddlers.
However most of them are easily put out thanks to Yanyi's interjection. She would try to be the middle man between the two of them which led to the two of them having huge respect and love for her.
But that's the thing right. Each person has a different perspective which is more important. To respect and understand or to love and care. That is exactly what their fights are all about.
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Lixian had gone to their old playroom where all four siblings would spend time playing with each other when they were younger. Although most of them are nearing adulthood, they still insist on keeping the toys and the room as it is.
For Lixian, this is where he would go to calm his mind from internal turmoil. Laying down on the soft mattress scattered throughout the room and stare at the ceiling as his mind went blank.
Clack!
The sound of the door didn't take him away from his blank state. Instead the one that did is the appearance of a very cute and innocent little guy before his eyes.
"Lixian gege, what are you doing?" His gentle tone brought a smile to his lips.
He raises his small hands to pat his older brother's forehead before sitting back on the mattress. Lixian didn't move his body but insisted on taking Jingyao's little hands on his own.
"Gege is thinking about Jie."
"Why?"
"Just because. A-Yao didn't want to think about Jie?"
To his shock, his younger brother actually shook his head. Confused, he turned around and faced the odd little boy. "Why not?" He asks, curious as to why his answer doesn't match the level of his worry.
"Because Jie is happy right now! Her heart and feelings are all sparkly!"
"!"
"Jie is happy that she met new people and made new friends. Oh! And met some old ones too! Like Uncle Jerad and brother Luyao!"
"A-Yao… How did you know all this?"
The little boy tilted his head to the side. He doesn't seem to understand that question but answered it nonetheless.
"Because when A-Yao takes nap nap, A-Yao can see Jie and Sister Irene activity. They came to A-Yao's dream!"
"Oh… My Aurils…Ma-Mama…MAMA!"
Without a haste, Lixian picks Jingyao up from the mattress and runs outside of the room. Frantically running around the house to search for their mother.
He bears a very fascinating news for the family.
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-~*~-