Illeuid was ready as soon as he heard the knock on his door.
When he heard the knocking, he stalked up to the door, wrenched it open, and met the other person with both of fists up. Only, they were not normal sized. They triple in size and were engulfed in leather curved gloves.
"Put 'em up," he demanded as he got into what he hoped was an intimidating fighting stance. Then he saw who was actually on the other side of the door.
Reilard could only look at him, his mouth slightly agape. His eyes blinked in quick succession, taking in the unexpected display. Then his brow rose as the younger boy's large, gloved hands had holes pop out of nowhere and let out a sad, whistling sound ass they shrunk in size. Not back to normal, but shrinking until they were deflated masses that drooped onto the floor. They stared at each other, Reilard in shock and Illeuid in restrained panic. None of them could manage to say anything.
"Um," Illeuid shifted awkwardly from foot to foot, giving a shaky smile. "Give me a sec." With that he closed his door with his foot. Reilard listened as his younger brother rush around his room. There were things knocked down, dragging sounds that had to have been caused by his deflated hands, and muttered curses. He heard him arguing to himself--though he was not able to make out all of the words. Only managing to pick up an complaint of "how do I shrink them"--before a sound of a pained yelp erupted in so sharp a decibel that it almost made Reilard forget his training and flinch. He became more concerned as panting filled the jarring silence before the door was wrenched open with the youngest trying, but mostly failing, to look nonchalant.
"Sup!" He said as brightly to hos older brother, still trying to catch his breath.
Reilard gave one slow blink. "What was that, young one?" He watched as his youngest brother flinched.
"Nothing," came his mumbled reply. "I thought it was Brakky or Prissy."
Reilard tried not to smile at the disdained nicknames for his other two siblings. He remembered the first time the youngest called them that. Illeuid had tried to hug each of them when they came back from their mission after being gone longer than expected. They were no amused and made their displeasure well known to him. The light feeling disappeared as the rest of the memories played in Reilard's head.
"Have they been bothering you more as of late?" Came the older man's question.
Illeuid shrugged. "It's the same amount of bullying. It's nothing new."
Reilard have always been surprised by the youngest's views. He never saw the "training" Priscilla and Brakus forced on him as anything other than abuse. He, even scared, would call out their treatment of him when he felt that they took it too far. But since he could never defend himself, he had no other course of action available to him but to cower or avoid the worst of their ire.
Reilard cleared his throat. "May I be allowed in?"
Illeuid looked up at him in surprise. It made sense as Reilard had never been in his room once in his entire existence at the Veilkerhurst residence. He nodded slowly and took a step back. As Reilard walked into his room, he was greeted by another floating rectangle. It was transparent for a moment before gaining clarity. It showed his own information. His full name, his age, height, weight and abilities. Reilard could understand why Priscilla had felt foreboding at the violation. If their enemies had access to this information, they would be able to utilize their weaknesses.
"Are you okay?" He did jump this time, cursing himself for his lack of propriety. He looked down at his younger brother. The boy had come up to him and had gripped his pant leg, worry filling his features. The rectangle had followed Reilard's sight and covered the face of the youngest. He was certain that his younger brother was going to ask about the strange apparition floating just a few feet above his upturned face, but the now translucent image remained unnoticed and he could see that the child was only focused on him.
Reilard gave a strained smile. "I am. I just...need a moment."
He focused his attention to the small hand still gripping his pant leg. Slowly, he reached down and grabbed it, folding his larger fingers around the smaller ones. He sensed the mana humming weakly underneath the skin, reminding him of one of his current tasks on hand. The mana most likely had been dispelled from his body throughout the day. Reilard wanted to see if he could transfuse some of his own into his youngest brother. He suspected that the child would feel violated, certain that his intentions were more underhanded than it was. He could simply ask the child, but damn him he did not know how. They have never held a conversation of any length until now. Reilard assumed it had to be due to the strangeness of the last few weeks that had his younger brother feeling more comfortable with him.
But he may have to put this lower on the docket. Seeing now that the child could not see this strange literary spectre, than he may have to make researching the phenomenon his current precedent. Yet he could not just let the young child continue to expel the needed mana. What if these strange afflictions were draining his body of health? What if there would be some long-term change that was detrimental to his health. It was not strange for any of Veilkerhurst to use magic to shapeshift. Reilard had just never seen anyone focus on shapeshifting only parts of their body. Maybe that was all his younger brother was capable of doing with his limited mana?
Reilard decided not to do anything for now. He would just continue to monitor the situation--and the youngest--until he could get to the bottom of this mystery that now was at the center of their family's residence. Reilard bent down, looking at his youngest brother in the eye and giving him a small smile.
"Excuse me for a bit." That was all of the warning Illeuid received before he was picked up by his eldest brother. He stilled, not sure how to react. Then his face flushed the deepest shade of red that was so vibrant his face was practically glowing. No, in fact his face was glowing. Reilard stared as not only did the red hue become more pronounced, but somehow steam was rising out from the top of the youngest head with the sound of a hissing tea kettle. Illeuid, not meeting his gaze, looked away as the red crept down his neck to the ends of his fingers and disappeared down into his sock cladded feet.
"I can walk..."the youngest mutter.
Reilard heard a sharp, short note. The floating page changed. It showed the small image of his younger brother with the replaced image of his current condition. Next to it was the strange measurement which reminded Reilard of a thermometer. There was an increase with a new number above it. The voice made the following announcement:
AP increased to 75%.
Reilard felt something shift in him. Not exactly joy, but there was a warmth in his chest. He adjusted his youngest brother, making sure that he was comfortable on his hip and left the room with him. In the transition of leaving the bedroom to entering the hall, Illeuid placed his head under Reilard's chin, resigned to being taken to wherever Reilard wanted to take him.
He at least knew that he would not be hurt this time.