Illeuid was certain that his family was out to get him.
It started with Brakus pushing him the hallway, making sure to exchange a glare with his bewildered glance, before stalking up to their father's office door. Illeuid could only stare in shock when his second eldest brother did not even wait to be summoned, instead opting to wrench the door open and stalk into the room, letting the door fall shut behind him with a heavy thud.
What. The. Heck. Was the idiot trying to get killed? Yes, he may be the strongest Veilkerhurst as of now, but he still have to follow the proper order of things. Illeuid brightened at the thought of his brother possibly pushing their father to the point of getting punished. It would be a nice change of pace. His good mood did not last long though.
It evaporated when Priscilla rounded the corner, bolting down the hall to their father's office. She too wrenched the door open and rushed inside. Before he could register what was going on, he heard the familiar clops of his mothers shoes. Illeuid turned towards the approaching woman, taking in her calm demeanor and languid pace. She stopped in front of her husband's door. She turned to meet the youngest Veilkerhurst's gaze before sighing and knocking on the giant oak doors. He heard the murmur of her husband's summons. She opened one of the doors, serene as always as she stepped through before letting it click close softly behind her.
Illeuid's eyes about popped out of his sockets. He felt them protrude in an uncomfortable manner. The feeling was so foreign that he pressed his fingers against them, trying the settle them back into place with a grunt.
You're getting better at utilizing your new skills, dear player. The system intoned. He felt its presence solidified into one of its familiar forms. It became a mass that had the weight of light and felt as soft ass silk. It brushed against his face as if trying to bring him comfort. Though he felt too high strung to relax.
Do you know what is happening with my family? He asked it, hoping to all that was kind that this was not a turning point for his survival.
There has been a change of plans. There has been a new update that can be a turning point for your survival, came the unwanted answer.
He grabbed at his head, his body twisting in different contortions of agony. Did that mean that this damn system somehow pulled this accursed family into its machinations? He heard the whispers of the servants. His cheeks flushed. There was no time to worry about what they were planning. He most likely had a limited amount of time to save his own skin and he had to make due with the skills he was able to acquire. Which was not a lot.
Yep. It was decided.
He had to leave. There was nothing even remotely safe for him left here. He had a better chance surviving in the wild with the magic beasts.
But when he started walking down the hall, mumbling to himself as he ran his hand down his face, his fingers making grooves in his skin--the bottom lids of his eyes extended unnaturally down, causing the surrounding servants to stare in horror. they flinched when the lids snapped back into place with an audible slap!--he ran into a solid form. Stumbling back, he looked up to see who he ran into. He felt the color drain from his face--no, his entire body--when he saw who the person was.
Before him stood his eldest brother, Reilard Veilkerhurst.
Silence passed between them. He belatedly realized that Reilard had asked him a question. If he did not know any better, he would assume that the older man was worried about him.
Illeuid bursts into tears.
Just what was going on? Reilard barely came home, even for the missions. Their father would just send him a notice and it would contain just enough information for him to carry out said orders. He came home only for the most prestigious of celebrations and school graduations. Now he was here to convene with their other family members to possible kill their weakest link: Illeuid. That had to be it. Why else would he rush back here to the point that he did not bother changing out of his mage uniform? There was nothing here that he cared about. His ears perked up as he heard Reilard approach him, his steps slow. Somehow guarded. He heard his clothing shift as he leaned down to his height. then he felt him grab him from under his arms.
He did not even bother to struggle when Reilard picked him up, settling one of his arms under his legs and placing a hand on the back of his head. There have been times in his past lifetimes when the other man would jut scoop him up to either move him out of the way during a practice run in the woods or he would move carry him to his room in silence during one of his punishments. Reilard was the only one to not go out of his way to kill him. He still died by his hand as the man still followed the rules of the competition. But he never wanted to hurt Illeuid. The young boy could feel his eyes study him. Maybe he was also repulsed by his weak attitude. Then he felt him push down on his head to bring him closer. Illeuid felt his mind go blank when Reilard pressed his forehead to his.
The unexpected action caused Illeuid to immediately stopped crying.
The moment was ruined when Illeuid heard the doors behind him fly open. He pulled his head away from Reilard's, scrambled out of his arms, and booked it. Maybe it was due to the adrenaline fueled by his embarrassment, but he was able to cover the distance of the hallway in only a few leaps. He skidded to a halt at the end, his shoes making a screeching sound before he flew around the corner, leaving behind his stunned family members.
He may still have to run away. Just to save face.