Tia's Future

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Abandoned Chapel

Sunlight filters in past the curtains as a stray breeze cuts through the room. Allen grumbles, rolling over in the bed and reaching over to the other side with a tapping motion. His fingertips meet with the haunting vacancy beside him, a space more than a decade of habit has left him repeating. He lays there, breath frozen in his chest, and his hand fists over the empty sheets. The silence in the room permeates him and he feels tears break over his cheeks. Allen gasps, cupping both of his eyes and pressing his palms into his sockets as if to hold the tears inside but this does nothing to stall his emotions. He pops up abruptly, making his way to the window and running his hands through his hair as the wind brushes over his wetted face. There are no clouds today and he can see clear to the southern mountain range in the crisp spring air. He wonders if Mina was still somewhere within those forests or if she had travelled even further from him, from them.

Some time later, Allen trudges his way downstairs, unhappy to find his mother waiting for him. He grumbles a nearly inaudible greeting and sits in an armchair by the fireplace. At his gesture a staff scurries away to bring him breakfast. She waits, lips pursed, and lingers by the balcony doors. Allen waits until he has tea clasped in his hands to speak with her.

Go on.

Allen grumbles

What is it?

Evelyn scoffs at him before responding.

Tell me

Evelyn speaks bitterly and slowly

Would you say you care about your daughter's welfare?

Allen places his cup down with a clatter, cracking off the handle. He clenches his jaw and sighs.

I don't expect you to be able to recognize parental protection.

Allen spits, acid lacing his words

Everything I do is for my daughter!

You've protected her from nothing!

Evelyn accuses him, spinning around and glowering with heat in her eyes

You're coddling has left her grossly unprepared! She can't fly, she doesn't understand magic, she can't wield a weapon and she is wholly unfamiliar with Accian society or tradition!

She paces the room, gesturing with each distinction

How in Luxis' name do you expect her to survive service Allen?!

He glares past her, seemingly uninterested with her complaints

What kind of parent-

Who are you to criticize!

Allen snaps, raising his voice

How many of my siblings did you send off to die? Or do you even remember them?

Evelyn's eyes seem to glow with a hidden fire, orange markings searing across her body as she seethes. She digs her nails into the upholstery of the seat across from Allen as tears begin to form in her eyes, little embers burning them away and lingering about her eyes as she bears her fangs. She gasps suddenly, a seemingly misplaced fear washing over her and she turns away, fighting to compose herself. Evelyn opens the balcony doors and lets the wind cool her face. She runs claws through her hair like a comb, a mannerism the two of them share, and breathes deeply. The orange fades from her skin before she turns back to him, equipped with a flat expression.

I could never forget a single one of my children.

Evelyn answers with a surprisingly gentle but empty tone

I did everything possible to prepare each and every one of them.

She stares out at the clear horizon

Our world is cruel, Allen. No parent can protect their child forever!

She glances back to him, her voice growing firm

All we can do is prepare them for that cruelty, something you have utterly failed to do for Tia. That sweet girl is as innocent as a child!

As far as I was concerned

Allen claims with the same firmness

She was never going to face that same cruelty you cast us into! Nippon doesn't share the same barbaric customs.

They were barbaric enough to send you scrambling home.

Evelyn scoffs

There is no escaping enlistment!

She states slowly and clearly

No matter where you stashed her she would always find her way home!

If I had it my way,

Allen grates, his resent apparent

She would've never stepped foot in this place, let alone Accia at all!

You would keep her from her family?

Evelyn gasps

This isn't a family.

Allen denies, apathetic

You mill out children to be soldiers, handing them away to maintain your position!

They glare at each other in silence until Evelyn breaks away, a discontented frown tightening her face.

You can criticize my choices, if that pleases you, but you wouldn't have survived without the training I was able to provide you!

She sighs and pinches her brow

And none of our bickering is going to change Tia's future, Allen. Inevitably, she will be enlisted, she will train and she will go to war!

Allen clicks his tongue and looks away

What's your solution then?

Allen asks after some consideration

We use every resource we can muster, everything available to us, to catch her up.

Evelyn states emphatically

And we pray it's enough!

His eyes remain locked on the floor and she sighs

I'll make the arrangements. How much time does she have?

Evelyn is concerned immediately by his hesitation

Three weeks.

Allen answers her reluctantly

Assessments are in three weeks.

She's sixteen?!

Evelyn exclaims. He refuses to meet her gaze, turning his face away

Ambrose refused my request.

Allen explains in an unsteady tone, his exhaustion from fretting over the topic apparent

He granted us priority but no extension.

Evelyn fumes silently, tightening her posture gradually.

There isn't time for your hesitation!

Evelyn accuses him again, scrutinizing her son intensely

You... haven't even told her, have you?

He doesn't respond

Allen!

Evelyn scoffs

You're "protection" hurts her more than anything else!

She just lost her mother!

Allen shouts, breaking his silence and disarming Evelyn

I… just lost her.

Allen withers, his anger dropping away into sorrow

Tia won't even talk about what happened that night...!

Allen wisps, finding himself staring towards her chambers

Mina...

he breathes her name and buries his face in his hands

They were so close.

Evelyn deflates too, taking a seat across from him and studying Allen.

Why are you so reluctant to tell her?

Evelyn questions, her tone far gentler than before

You're hardly daft.

I-

Allen struggles with the words

Mina left us after I told her what to expect. About the war and Tia's impending enlistment. About the imprint placed on me.

Oh…

Evelyn peeps before her tone spikes

I see.

_{She was so scared}

Allen explains, barely audible

I thought she was scared for Tia... and... maybe she was. I don't know, she wouldn't talk to me! And now she's gone.

Allen speaks in a small voice, conflicting emotions passing over his face

We don't even know if she's-

He chokes and has to redirect

I can't lose Tia too.

I can't speak for your wife

Evelyn begins with a sour tone and can see Allen's irritation already

But in the little time I've spent with Tia, she has already shown resiliency and spirit.

I know how she is

Allen barks

I'm her father! She deserves some ounce of normalcy before everything changes again.

She deserves the chance to prepare for what's coming too.

Evelyn reasons and Allen groans

Fine.

Allen concedes

At least... At least let me be the one to tell her.

Evelyn sighs deeply but nods to him with a tight frown

Fine.

Evelyn echoes and rises to her feet

I'll arrange the tutors. Why don't you uh...

She spins her hand in thought

Take her to a concert or a museum or something in the meantime.

Allen watches her go before rising. As he makes his way out of the hall, a small black mouse fades into the shadows along the wall.

High Rannoc Village

Tia's eyes shine as they exit the concert hall and Allen soaks up her laughter.

I had no idea something like that existed!

Tia exclaims

Or thought they could use magic that way!

I thought you might like it.

Allen chuckles

It was so beautiful! Fire and colors and water, bursting and dancing to match the music...

Tia laughs

I think the people back home would keel over if they saw something like that...! What?

Tia pauses, her father staring at her and sighing

I don't know if I'll ever get used to your new look!

Allen admits, ruffling her hair and pinching the tip of her feline ear

Mother has you hooked already.

I dunno.

Tia answers, swatting away his fingers

I like being able to walk around like this. Its exciting! Well...

Tia glances at passerby, gawking at them and whispering as they go.

Except for that.

Well then,

Allen responds playfully

I suppose we may as well match!

Tia gasps, watching him shift. She had never once seen him transform fully. His wings are a steely slate, rather than brown, as are his ears and the furry sideburns which puff down his cheeks. Like Tia, streaks of yellow zig-zag across his body, most focused on his hands. He offers an arm to her with a wink and a charming grin, one wing extending in the opposite direction and his yellow-green eyes shining. Tia beams in response and hooks her arm into his.

Now, let's see if my favorite restaurant is still here!

Allen sighs and pulls her down the street

They sit at a table on a patio adjacent to the restaurant and tuck away their wings. A few passerby still stare, mostly whispering her father's name as they go.

It was rough getting here

Tia admits breathily, stirring her drink

And I don't really like all of these.... pretentious people.

She whispers and looks to others out and about

But it's not so bad here. I'm sorry I gave you such a hard time!

Allen forces a smile but Tia sees through it

What?

It comes at a steep price.

Allen admits, his wistful tone surprising Tia. He regards his daughter and laughs

But I don't think a single force in this world could douse your spark!

Tia giggles as he rolls a ball of electricity over his fingers like a coin

I meant to ask.

Tia cuts in

Why wasn't um... baa-chan... Still getting used to that!

She laughs but continues

She wasn't able to join us today?

Well,

Allen hums in response

She wanted to hire a few tutors for you.

Tutors?

Tia echoes

She is unsatisfied with how I raised you.

Allen divulges and Tia furrows her brows at him

Why are you two so terrible to each other?

Tia asks. Allen looks into his own drink and thinks before responding.

We haven't had a good relationship since I was a boy.

Allen explains

I've had many responsibilities throughout my life and she isn't satisfied with how I've addressed them—not after I retired from the military.

Tia listens to her father with a stern expression, still displeased with their squabbling

But don't you worry about that, snowdrop!

It just feels weird

Tia grumbles

She's so nice to me but so mean to you!

I don't know why

Allen muses with a touch of laughter

But the meanest parents are always the sweetest grandparents!

He laughs and Tia rolls her eyes

Anyway.

Allen continues

She doesn't feel I prepared you for life here—and I'll give her that at least. She's hiring a few tutors to catch you up.

I do feel a bit lost here...

Tia breathes, looking out at the plaza

Sometimes a lot lost. What kind of tutors are they?

She named a number of things she wanted you to learn.

Allen answers, a sly smile pulling at his lips

Politics, etiquette, history.

He pauses, amused by Tia's grimace

But also flying, magic, swordplay, Aura use and other things like that!

I get to learn how to fight and use magic??

Tia blurts, beaming. Allen nods and grins at her excitement.

It's going to be a bit exhausting but...

Allen examines her thrilled expression, having planned to mention her impending service, but hesitates to ruin her excitement

After that bandit attack

He redirects

And a number of other dangers out there, you ought to learn how to defend yourself.

Allen watches Tia practically bounce in place. Duff leers at him in the form of a snake from under her cloak, making Allen nearly jump out of his seat. Duff is attempting to give Allen a judgmental leer for his continued hesitation but this expression is impossible to convey in his serpentine form.

Oh!

Tia pauses, glancing down at Duff

I guess you haven't met him yet.

Tia gives Allen an apologetic, forced smile. Duff slides back into her clothing while holding Allen's gaze, further unsettling him. Tia looks around to make sure no one else has spotted him and Allen stares blankly where Duff had shown himself, palm over his pounding heart.