The Grand Dining Hall was every bit as imposing as the rest of the estate.
A long table carved from polished blackwood stretched through the center of the room, its surface reflecting the warm glow of crystal chandeliers suspended overhead. Dark pillars rose toward the vaulted ceiling, while banners bearing the crest of House Bane hung neatly between tall windows overlooking the city of Bloodhaven, now bathed in the golden-red hues of the setting sun, slowly giving way to a gorgeous moonlit night.
Despite the hall's size, only three places had been prepared along one side of the table.
Well it was a family dinner and not a formal banquet.
As Ishmael stepped inside, every conversation ceased.
Aurelia was the first to speak. "There you are, I was beginning to think you'd sleep through yet another dinner." She said, a beautiful smile on her face.
"I did fall asleep," Ishmael admitted honestly.
Ezekiel looked up from his seat with an amused grin. "See? I told you."
Aurelia sighed.
"You actually placed a bet?" Ishmael deadpanned
"I said he'd sleep." Aurelia said, looking away
"I said he'd oversleep." Ezekiel shrugged. "So I was closer."
Alistair pinched the bridge of his nose. "…Young Master Ezekiel."
"Yes old man number two?"
"You made a wager over your brother's sleeping habits."
"It was an educated prediction." Ezekiel retorted, leaning further into his seat, a smug look on his face.
Aurelia rolled her eyes while Ishmael couldn't help laughing. "Some things really don't change."
"They don't," Aurelia replied warmly.
At the head of the table, the Duke observed the exchange in silence.
His expression remained composed as always, but he spoke the moment Ishmael approached.
"Sit."
There was no hostility.
No warmth either.
Simply an invitation.
Ishmael inclined his head slightly before taking the empty seat opposite Aurelia.
Ezekiel sat beside him, lazily leaning against the back of his chair as though noble etiquette had never existed.
Servants moved forward almost immediately. One by one, dishes were placed before them.
Roasted chicken.
Freshly baked bread.
Stewed vegetables.
Several dishes Ishmael hadn't tasted since childhood.
The aroma alone stirred distant memories.
For a few moments, everyone simply ate.
The atmosphere was noticeably quieter than before, but not uncomfortable.
It was the silence of people learning each other again.
Aurelia was the first to break it.
"So?"
Ishmael looked up.
"How was the bath?"
He blinked.
"…Unexpectedly life-changing."
Ezekiel nodded solemnly. "Haaaa….I remember my first bath after coming back" He sighed.
"You disappeared voluntarily," Aurelia reminded him.
"Details."
"You smelled terrible."
"I smelled adventurous."
"You smelled like a corpse."
"I smelled like freedom."
"You smelled like something Alistair would refuse letting into the estate."
Alistair coughed politely.
"I would never refuse Young Master entry."
A brief pause.
"I merely insisted he bathe before coming back to the main residence."
Ishmael laughed.
"I can actually picture that."
Ezekiel looked genuinely offended.
"I was betrayed by my own butler."
"Our butler," Aurelia corrected.
"Our traitorous butler."
Alistair simply smiled.
"I consider it one of my finer decisions."
Even the Duke's lips curved upward by the smallest margin.
The expression vanished almost as quickly as it appeared.
Still…
Everyone at the table noticed.
The conversation continued naturally after that.
Aurelia spoke about several recent developments within Bloodhaven and how she'd begun helping manage portions of the territory's internal affairs.
Ezekiel contributed only enough to interrupt her every few minutes.
Usually with completely unnecessary comments.
"I heard Father made you attend seven consecutive meetings."
"It was five."
"My condolences."
"They weren't that bad."
"You've changed."
"I've matured."
"You've become boring."
"I've become responsible."
"Worse."
Aurelia sighed.
"I liked you better when you disappeared."
"I know you missed me Lia." Ezekiel teased, his signature smile on his face.
"I didn't say that." Aurelia rebutted, trying to keep her composure and failing spectacularly.
"You implied it." Ezekiel pressed
"I absolutely did not." She scoffed.
Their exchange earned another laugh from Ishmael.
It felt…
Normal.
Strangely normal.
For someone who had spent months surrounded by monsters, battlefields and uncertainty, something as simple as listening to his siblings argue over nothing felt almost surreal.
Occasionally, the Duke contributed.
Never much.
A brief observation.
A short question directed toward Aurelia's tasks and it's progress.
A comment regarding reestablishing Bloodhaven's trade routes.
Nothing excessive.
Yet Ishmael gradually realized something.
His father wasn't leading the conversation.
He was listening.
Watching his children speak.
Allowing the atmosphere to settle naturally before saying anything important.
Eventually, the main course came to an end.
The servants cleared the table with practiced efficiency before returning moments later carrying silver trays filled with desserts.
Fruit tarts.
Honey pastries.
Vanilla sponge cake.
Berry pie.
And…
One generous slice of chocolate cake.
Without hesitation, the servant placed it directly before Ishmael.
He stared at it.
"…Chocolate cake?"
Aurelia smiled knowingly.
"I thought you'd appreciate that."
"I do…"
He looked at the dessert for a moment before glancing around the table.
"I didn't think anyone remembered."
"They didn't." The calm voice came from the head of the table.
Everyone instinctively looked towards their Father.
Augustus calmly lifted his teacup before speaking again. "I remembered."
Silence settled naturally across the dining hall.
Ishmael looked genuinely surprised.
The Duke's expression remained unreadable.
"When you were younger," he said evenly, "you rejected every dessert placed before you."
A brief pause.
"Unless it was chocolate."
Ezekiel smirked. "I remember that."
Aurelia laughed softly. "You used to throw tantrums whenever the kitchen ran out." She added warmly.
"I was six." Ishmael replied dryly
"You hid inside the pantry once." Alistair said, joining the conversation
"I have absolutely no recollection of that." Ishmael said, glaring at the old man.
"You were discovered covered in cocoa powder." Alistair added
"…I refuse to confirm or deny these allegations." Ishmael said, expression unreadable except for the faint twitching of his eyebrow
"I'll confirm them," Ezekiel said immediately.
"So will I," Aurelia added.
Alistair smiled politely. "I personally cleaned the pantry afterwards."
Ishmael sighed dramatically. "I've been outnumbered."
Soft laughter spread around the table.
Then, gradually…
The laughter faded.
Augustus placed his teacup back onto its saucer.
His red eyes settled on Ishmael.
"When you left…" he began, his voice remained as calm as ever.
"I did not want you to go."
The words caused the room to fall silent once again.
"I believed it was necessary."
"I still believe it was necessary."
"If faced with the same choice again…"
He met Ishmael's gaze directly.
"I would make the same decision."
There was no apology.
No attempt to soften the statement.
Only honesty.
"But."
His next words came more quietly.
"That does not mean I wished for it."
Ishmael remained silent.
For the first time, he understood something about the man sitting across from him.
His father had never confused necessity with desire, he simply chose duty whenever the two conflicted.
Augustus looked at all three of his children.
"There has been enough secrecy, you are no longer children."
"You have awakened your Spirit Bonds."
"You have encountered enemies that should not yet know of this world's existence."
His gaze briefly lingered on Ishmael.
"The events within the Onyx Veil have accelerated matters."
"I intended to wait longer."
"That is no longer possible."
He folded his hands together.
"It is time."
A heavy silence settled over the hall.
"It is time you learned why this family has prepared for the Apocalypse since before any of you could walk."
No one interrupted him.
"The history of House Bane and we Gregorians…"
"The true purpose of your training…"
"And the war that has been approaching this world for generations….The war this Ascension would bring."
He looked at each of them in turn.
"Tonight…"
"…we begin with the truth."