🕯️Content Warning: Panic attack / emotional dysregulation
Keir
When I set my girlfriend and Dragonfly up to have breakfast together, I thought the best outcome would be them considering one day being friends. The result of the breakfast exceeded my expectations. They had decided to become sisters. Which is wonderful and all, but I'm not sure how to feel when Venus told me I better watch out, or my sister may try to steal her from me.
It should've been funny—hilarious even. But I know that look in Venus's eyes. That curious gleam that meant she was filing away ideas for future experimentation. And unfortunately, Dragonfly has been giving off chaos incarnate vibes lately so I can't trust that she wouldn't indulge her. For science of course.
Not wanting to take any chances, I pick up my fiancée throwing her over my shoulder in the process. As I walk past my grinning sister, I give her a kiss on the head, then head off to my bedroom. Venus squeals in protest, but I could already feel her energy curling around mine, soft and warm and dangerous in that way only she could manage. She'd wake up with a smile—and bruises she'd brag about.
"Get ready, Dragonfly. I'll meet you and Lux on the training field in 30-40 minutes. We will be doing a joint session today. Bring water and a snack. Lima knows where my guest room is." With those final words, I closed the doors.
Now I must satisfy my demon love…oh, what a troubling situation I have found myself in. If asked, I will admit I completely enjoy early morning sex. The fact that this will be our second round makes it even better. No better way to start the day. I grin as I throw Venus and myself on top of the bed. I am on a bit of a time crunch, so I will need to tire her out fast and throughly so she will sleep until I come back.
Nyxara
It wasn't until I was on my fifth cycle of katas that Keir showed up. He looked well relaxed with a satisfied energy vibe. He jumped right into the set with Lux and me. We did it five more times before we moved on to barrier training. Both were impressed that I improved so well so fast, even if I was using the amulets to help supplement my control. Their praise curled under my skin like a warm ember. I'm not just catching up—I'm keeping pace. We went through sensory training for a while, each testing my senses to their limits.
They agreed that my senses would soon reach my body's previous limit and wouldn't expand again significantly until Veil 1, when I would have to begin consolidating my path into either a spirit or body cultivation path. Whatever that means. The last 30 minutes of the session was them taking turns sparring with me. The one who was not sparring with me would point out where I could correct things.
Keir said he would teach me new moves on Tuesday, so I'd best try to learn my current moves well. "You won't be able to move forward onto the next set if you don't have these down well. It doesn't have to be perfect, but it does need to be ingrained well. When you enter the learning capsule tomorrow, it will help speed up the process of your training so we can keep moving forward." I nodded, trying not to let the sudden pressure coil too tight in my chest. If I wanted to protect myself, to survive the next twist of my story, I needed to be more than good—I needed to be undeniable.
Since we were done for the day, I wiped my face with the towel Lima handed me and drank from my water bottle. My brothers walked with me to the teleport pad, talking about how the learning capsule is basically a virtual learning machine that will help reinforce the lessons I learned yesterday and today. Because it is a deep immersion method, I will only use it on Sundays so I don't end up overloading my brain. When we made it back to my veranda, Korran was already waiting for me with lunch.
I guess I'm jumping straight into the lesson then. Since I wasn't in a dress, I chose a bow as my greeting. "Good morning, Patriarch. I thank you for the opportunity of your time." I kept my bow until he bid me to rise and sit down. We then proceeded to have an early lunch. He walked me through what to do during such light social appointments. Lunch is considered a light social appointment since it is a limited time frame, so typically heavy etiquette is not expected unless the host is strict.
Korran praised me for having little I needed to correct. He did let me relax halfway through after making me laugh about him being pleased that Azrail turned out to be the perfect person to help me refine everything I learn with the others. After lunch, Korran dismissed me to shower and have an hour break before my academic lesson with my tutor.
I took the quickest shower just so I could lay like a starfish on my bed. Letting my tiredness show for a moment, I asked Lima a question that had been forming in the back of my mind all morning.
"Every Saturday won't be like this, will it?"
"No, mistress, just today will be this jam packed because of the schedule adjustment to include two hours for Ms. Salgrave's tutoring. Typically, you would have 30 minutes to an hour each with the Patriarch, Scion, Master Keir, and Ms. Salgrave for this Saturday rotation. But because you will have your two-hour lesson with Ms. Salgrave today, everyone adjusted so you could get your lessons out of the way and still have some free time today." Even though my eyes were closed, I could tell Lima was leaning over me because of her minty metallic scent.
"It is time to dress and meet Ms. Salgrave in the Pavilion." I opened one eye and almost slapped Lima for being so close to my face. "Not so close. I was wondering why I could smell your metallic spearmint scent so well."
"Thank you for noticing. I'll be trying out different scents to determine which one we both find pleasing to our senses. Would you like me to stay with herbs or move on to fruit?" I rolled off the bed and threw my robe towards my bed. Lima caught it mid-air, then hung it over her arm.
"Random question, but okay, sure, fine, let's see what herbal scents you choose before switching categories." Lima curtsied, then draped my robe over the footstool at the end of my bed.
I pulled on a sweater dress, tights, and my boots before tugging my hair into a messy ponytail. Lima followed me as I stepped out, carrying my satchel packed with everything I'd need for the day's lesson.
But when we reached the living room, I paused mid-step.
Something felt off. That's when it hit me.
Turning toward Lima, I leaned lightly against the doorframe. "Why is the lesson not happening in my library?" I asked, brows drawing together. "Why in the Pavilion?"
"Ms. Salgrave mentioned she was not sure if you would want her in your personal space, so she chose an empty, small conference room in the Pavilion for your lessons together." Well, that is a curious consideration. Did she know Grey? I'm guessing they either weren't friends or she is friends with Minette and isn't sure how I would react to a robo-barbie in my space.
"Interesting. Then let us go meet Ms. Salgrave then." We were already halfway to the Pavilion when Lima dropped an unexpected detail that made me stop in my tracks.
"This will be more of a reunion for you in a way. Ms. Zenaida Salgrave was once your best friend along with Minette in your younger years, but you two drifted away for reasons unknown to me." I straight up stopped in the pathway to listen to this unbelievable information.
"She has, regardless, continued to be your classmate throughout your primary education years and is also a student trainee at the Sentinel academy with you. According to my records, she is training to be Sentinel support for a squad. These reasons are why she was deemed an adequate tutor for you. Plus, her family is one of the affiliate crest houses of the enclave, so we know anything she learns about your condition will not be spread."
Zenaida is here. Different last name, but it could be a version of the Zenaida I knew once upon a time. Before Earth Minette drove a wedge between us. I didn't even know until Zen didn't show up to school for two weeks that she had moved away back then. With tears and fake apologies, Minette handed over the letter she had promised Zen she would give me. Zen had asked to see me one more time before the move.
I missed getting to say goodbye because of Minette's schemes. That was the first and only time I didn't talk to Minette for a month. I was so angry with her. Eventually, the Dillards convinced me to forgive Minette. I can only guess now that Minette just got better at scheming against me after that since I never caught on that she hated me until that last incident with her and Koba.
The weight of this regret plus whatever this body was feeling sent me straight into hyperventilating before I could process that I was freaking out. I slowly began to calm down when I could hear someone guiding me to inhale through my nose for 4 seconds, hold for 2 seconds, and exhale through my mouth for 6 seconds.
When I finally could take note of my surroundings, I was sitting under the shade of a tree with a young woman who looked my age holding my hands. Her hazel eyes looked kindly but cautiously into mine. Her small smile grew one size when she saw I was aware again.
She squeezed my hands once before she released them. "Looks like it was a good thing, I was taking a walk in the courtyard. Your maid here seemed a bit anxious about how to assist you."
She rose with a graceful curtsy, appearing to be every inch the noble lady I was training to be." I've been briefed on you having selective amnesia, Lady Nyxara. So allow me to introduce myself. My name is Zenaida Salgrave. I am the 3rd lady of the Salgrave Crest House. It is my honor to be your tutor. If you would prefer, we can have our lesson here. It is a nice, warm autumn day to be outside."