The arcade was buzzing with laughter and the cacophony of game sound effects, but my attention was solely focused on Jake and Aurelius. Aurelius had been a thorn in my side for longer than I cared remember, always flaunting his supposed superiority and familial blood lines over everyone else. But now, as he faced off against Jake in a heated basketball shootout, his arrogance seemed to crumble before my eyes.
"Take that!" Jake shouted triumphantly as he sunk another basket on the buzzer, wiping the floor with Aurelius. On the rematch, Jake won by three times the points Aurelius managed to sink in his frustrated state.
I couldn't help but ask, "How did you get so good at this?"
Jake smiled and responded, starting the next game, not taking his eyes off the hoop as he effortlessly threw the ball in. "I was on the basketball team in junior high and high school. Once I got my distance and power in i can't miss." My cousin's casual confidence was infectious as i wached him dominate the game, round after round.
Aurelius, red-faced and seething, demanded another rematch. However, Jake claimed mercy rules and offered for him to try his hand against Julie instead. Aurelius scoffed at the idea but eventually agreed after Julie mocked him. After three games, Julie was up two to one victory. She beamed at me, her eyes shining with excitement. "I was on the co-ed basketball team in school too."
Aurelius conceded his losses and huffed. My cousins, friends, and I laughed and enjoyed his miseries.
As we went around the arcade, Jake and Julie took turns beating down my school friends in various mundane games. I had a strange sense of pleasure and pride from watching my cousins win game after game. Especially when they punished Aurelius. Not that this was going to fix his arrogance. Nothing ever fixed his arrogance. He was convinced that because his Dad was part of the ancient aristocracy, he was hot stuff, too... Even if he was illegitimate and lived in the boonies with us.
We continued our trek through the arcade, my cousins' victories piling up like tokens in a coin pusher machine. I marveled at their skill and how effortlessly they seemed to navigate the games and relationships with my friends. I always struggled with being social.
"Nice one, Julie!" I cheered as she sent another digital pinball hurtling towards the high score. Her eyes sparkled with determination, her fingers dancing on the buttons like a pianist hitting every note. Jake grinned from ear to ear, egging her on in friendly competition.
Aurelius stood off to the side, sulking and nursing his wounded ego. Though I knew our victories wouldn't change him or his attitude, it felt cathartic to see him humbled.
Temporary as it was.
The noon clock rang from the town hall in the square, its chimes echoing through the arcade and snapping me back to reality. I glanced at my watch and realized we had been here for hours already.
"Hey, we need to go," I called over to Jake and Julie, who were playing some sort of table game, smacking a puck back and forth in a four-way battle with Aurelius and Laura. "Your parents are coming soon."
Jake faltered, distracted by my words, and allowed a goal to come in from Aurelius, who cheered triumphantly. The game reset and Jake said, "Give me two minutes to finish this game." He then proceeded to land four shots in a row, not even letting Julie and Laura touch the puck. Julie leaned against the table, looking bored. She almost rolled her eyes, mumbling, "Show off."
"Alright, let's get going," I said, with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. We said our goodbyes to our friends, and Laura gave me a hug that made my heart skip a beat.
"Are you going to leave again soon?" she asked with a smile.
I hesitated, unsure of what to say, but Jake saved me with a wry smile. "We're here for today for sure. Then we'll see after," he said, throwing me a clever look before adding, "Did you want to do something?"
"Well, if you guys are free, we can hang out again," Laura replied, her voice filled with hope and warmth.
Walking away from Laura and the others, I couldn't help but hiss at Jake, "Why are you trying to embarrass me?"
He and Julie both smirked as they walked alongside me. "Dude, she was all eyes on you," Jake said, bumping my shoulder playfully. "I'm your best wingman."
Julie piped up, her voice bright and teasing. "She really likes you. She was standing next to you the whole time we were playing games."
I shook my head, feeling my cheeks heat up with embarrassment, the heat spreading to my ears and neck. "Whatever. She's the popular girl; I'm sure she has better prospects."
As we approached the exit of the arcade, Julie suddenly clutched her stomach and complained dramatically, "I'm hungry!"
Jake reached over to tussle her hair, grinning. "I'm sure Jake... Mom and Dad made food since our...parents are coming over. Mom would be upset if I let you spoil your lunch."
Julie pouted, but didn't complain further. As we left the front door of the arcade, I noticed John glancing around my small town, taking in the quaint buildings and cobblestone streets. With a sigh, he looked up at the ceiling of the realm, seemingly lost in thought.
"I'm starting to get used to it here," he mused quietly. "I kind of like this small town. It's better than our small town back home. But I think I'd get cabin fever quickly if I couldn't see the sky."
His words struck a chord in me. There was something about the open sky that felt like freedom. Even the largest realms felt like a box. The air smelled differently. The light felt differently. Jake's home town had the sky so big it was a reminder of the possibilities that lay beyond a limited life.
"John, Jake, Julie!" The familiar voices rang out from the portal station, jolting me from my thoughts. I whipped my head around to see our parents standing there, beaming at us. Dad's familiar standing at his side. Mom's was missing. Next to them were Uncle Paul and Aunt Fraya.
"Mom! Dad!" Julie squealed, her eyes lighting up as she sprinted towards Aunt Fraya and Uncle Paul, embracing them tightly.
Jake and I exchanged uneasy glances, rooted to the spot. With a sigh in unison, we stepped towards our parents. It was time to face the music and figure out the truth about our family.
As Julie hugged her parents, Aunt Fraya playfully chopped at her head. "Why didn't you tell us you had magic?" she asked, her voice teasing but laced with concern.
Uncle Paul rubbed the spot where the chop landed on Julie's head, his expression thoughtful. Julie buried her face in Aunt Freya's abdomen, her words muffled. "I didn't want to get yelled at. It's not something I knew how to handle or deal with..."
Aunt Fraya knelt down and hugged Julie close, her face softened by love. "It's okay, baby girl. You can always come to me."
Julie rubbed her teary eyes and sniffled. "But you get angry sometimes when I do," she said quietly, hesitance coloring her words.
Aunt Fraya scowled for a moment but then sighed and nodded, conceding the point. "I know I'm not perfect, but I'll try to be better, okay?"
Jake, my Dad and I exchanged un easy looks as My Mom chatted in fast pace with my aunt.
"Let's go home and eat lunch," Dad suggested, breaking the tense atmosphere. We all filed into a column with Jake and me at the back, Julie still clinging to her parents and my parents leading the way. As we walked, I wished the realm was larger so we could delay the conversation. Maybe we could have walked for 30 minutes instead of 3. Why did we make these choices to get here? Why didn't I just talk to Dad? Or Aunt Fraya? Or maybe just make the "adult" choice to deal with the problem with the parents instead of listening to a 12-year-old to make decisions for the three of us?
When we arrived home, Mom enlarged the dining table by activating a rune for spreading it out. Aunt Fraya and Mom bustled around, setting the table while Dad and Uncle Paul went to the grill with a stack of meat and buns.
"Hey," Mom said, noticing us three standing around with nothing to do. "Do you want to prepare the sides and vegetables?"
Jake nodded. "Looks like you're making burgers?"
My Mom beamed. "Yes, dear. Do you know how the vegetables get prepared?" Jake and Julie nodded, and I followed their example, grabbing a cutting board and knife.
As we chopped and sliced the vegetables, I focused on the simple task, trying to keep my mind off the difficult conversation looming over us. The smell of grilling meat wafted through the open sliding door on the air, making my stomach rumble with anticipation as anxiety tied it up into knots.
We arranged the sliced vegetables on a platter and set it on the table. The aroma in the room was mouthwatering, but the tension was palpable. Jake, Julie, and I took our seats, glancing at each other but not quite knowing how to start.
That didn't stop the passage of time or others from talking.
Aunt Fraya and Mom chatted about the most random things as they sat at the table. They discussed their favorite types of tea, new rune patterns that were discovered, and even the latest gossip from the market, capital and the non-magical realms. Their lighthearted conversation seemed out of place, given the tension in the room. Or was I the only one one feeling the tension. Was my stomach the only one in knots?
My mind grew darker and more chaotic with each passing moment. I glanced at Jake and saw that he was in the same frame of mind. We were both lost in our thoughts, dreading what was about to happen.
I glanced at Julie. She seemed to be oscillating between petting Silvia and KyGerNi and scrunching into a tiny space, looking at her parents with fear.
The sound of the door opening snapped me back to reality. Dad and Uncle Paul walked in carrying plates piled high with grilled meat and bread buns. Aunt Fraya's eyes widened at the sight, and she remarked, "Oh my...meat and the bread in the realms is always so different from where we live now." She slurped saliva, slapping her chin. "Oh my."
With the food on the table, the parents sat down and ate in silence. It wasn't because we didn't talk over food as a rule; I don't think any of us knew how to start the tough conversation that loomed ahead. Even Mom and Aunt Fraya ate in silence, exchanging looks and stealing glances at Jake and me.
"Can you pass the lettuce?" Julie asked, breaking the silence. I handed it to her.
"Thanks," she whispered, giving me a small smile. I returned the smile, not feeling it.
As I took my last bite of the burger, I could feel an uncomfortable knot still competing in my stomach for space in there. It wasn't the food; it was the anticipation of the conversation we were about to have. John and Julie finished eating at the same time as me, and for a moment, we just stared at our empty plates, the silence hanging heavy in the air.
"Okay," Dad said suddenly, setting down his empty cup on his empty plate. "I think it's time we talk about everything."
My heart skipped a beat, and I exchanged a nervous glance with Jake. This was it. The moment of truth. And there was no turning back.
KyGerNi, sensing Julie's unease, ambled over and placed two of his heads on her lap while the third licked her face. She couldn't help but smile at his affectionate gesture. Aunt Fraya cooed, "Well, I guess we should start the tough conversation."
My Dad nodded with a sigh, looking almost as tense as I felt. "First, I think it's best to discuss Julie's situation."
Uncle Paul turned to his daughter, his eyes filled with concern. "My Jewel, do you have magic?"
Julie glanced down at KyGerNi's heads in her lap, gently patting them before she looked back up at her father. She hesitated for a second, then softly nodded. "Yeah. I'm sorry."
In unison, Aunt Fraya, Mom, and Dad said, "Don't be sorry for being you." Aunt Fraya snickered, "Jinks! You both owe me a soda." Mom and Dad looked confused, but Aunt Fraya just giggled as she reached out to stroke Julie's cheek. "My lovely daughter. You are uniquely you. And whatever you are, I value and cherish you as my daughter." Tears welled up in Julie's eyes, and I could tell that she was touched by her mother's words.
The knot in my stomach tightened as I watched the scene unfold. I knew that after Julie's situation was addressed, it would be my and Jake's turn. I tried to focus on the conversation at hand, but my mind kept wandering to the inevitable confrontation.
"Thanks, Mom," Julie said softly, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.
I glanced at Jake, who was clenching his fists so hard that his knuckles turned white. He looked like he was on the verge of exploding, and I wished there was something I could do to ease his pain. But right now, all we could do was wait for our turn to speak and hope for the best.
My Mom glanced at me, catching my eyes, her eyes filled with concern, before taking over the conversation. "Julie, you know Aunt Fraya used to have magic but was injured? And humans are humans and can have kids. And there is a certain percentage chance of mutation for the child to have magic."
Aunt Fraya leaned back in her chair and took Uncle Paul's hand, her eyes softening. "After my injury, I thought I wasn't able to have kids, so when we had you, I was just over the moon. And it was likely you would be just human, so I never had you checked. But it would have been great for you to come to me with your problems."
Julie pouted, her lower lip trembling slightly. "I told you I didn't want to get in trouble." Uncle Paul reached out to squeeze her hand reassuringly. "My dear girl, you would not get in trouble. We all love you for who you are. We are all family."
As he spoke, I couldn't help but notice Jake sitting next to me, clenching his fists even harder. I could almost hear his knuckles cracking. I was certain his nails were buried in his palms by this point. He didn't say anything, but I could tell he was getting angry. I caught my Dad's eyes; he looked sad, shifting his gaze between me and Jake, and I knew he was just as worried about us as they were about Julie.
"Is it really true?" I blurted out, unable to hold it in any longer. "Are we...?"
The room fell silent, all eyes on me. My heart raced, and I felt like I'd just jumped off a cliff into uncharted waters. I wish I could magically shove the words back down my mouth to sit next to the burger and the knot of anxiety.
"John, we need to take this one step at a time," my Mom said gently. "Let's finish talking about Julie first, okay?"
"Right," I muttered, my cheeks burning with equal embarrassment and anger. "Sorry."
"Anyway," Aunt Fraya continued, her voice steady. "Julie, we want you to know that you can always come to us with any problems you have. We're here for you, no matter what."
"Thanks, Mom," Julie whispered, wiping away her tears with the back of her hand. She looked down at the heads of KyGerNi.
I looked as the parents exchanged glanes. They seemed like they where silently debating who was going to take the next line in the script.
"Alright," Julie said, turning her attention back to my Dad. "So what does it mean that I have magic?"
"Good question," Aunt Fraya said, looking at my Dad as well. "Zepher, mind explaining? You are the teacher in the room."
"Sure, sister." Dad cleared his throat and looked at Julie. "You basically have two options. One is to learn basic magic control and never use magic. It will just be a thing you have but no practical use for it. Your life will be a little strange, but that's a conversation for later." He sighed, glancing at Uncle Paul before continuing. "The other option is to get training for magic. This will teach you how to use magic and open options in the magical realms moving forward throughout your life."
Uncle Paul raised an eyebrow at my Dad. "Are you saying she needs to move to a magic realm?"
"That is one of the options," Dad replied slowly, shrugging. "Finding a local tutor is another option. That will need to be decided after we measure her magic and affinity and check her for any abnormalities."
I watched as Julie's eyes widened with a mix of excitement and fear, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. I wanted our parents to focus on explaining to us. To focus on Jake and me. But Julie needed the help first.
"Can I think about it?" Julie asked quietly, fidgeting with KyGerNi's ears.
"Of course, sweetheart," Aunt Fraya reassured her. "Take all the time you need."
Silence fell in the room again. It seemed like no one wanted to move to the next topic. I didn't have the bravery to allow my impulse to blurt something out win. I just stole glances at everyone at the table in turn. Glancing at Jake , I froze, seeing the veins bulge in his neck.
The silence in the room was suddenly shattered by the sound of water dripping onto the floor. I I blinked at Jake, whose fists were balled so tightly in his lap i could see red on his pant legs, tears were streaming down his face. He whispered, his voice cracking with emotion, "Abnormality like me?"
The room went back to silent again as everyone turned to look at Jake and me. Even Silvia and KyGerNi were quiet, their heads bowed in a rare moment of stillness from the two familiars in the family. My heart ached, switching between racing and freezing, blood pressure skyrocketing as my ear rang. I braved to look at Jake and saw the raw pain etched across my cousin's face. He was biting his lip to blood, fighting down his tears.
"Abnormalities like I have?" Jake said louder, his voice firmer but still trembling. "Something worth throwing away?"
The air seemed to thicken around us, heavy with emotions and questions. I could feel the collective tension from our parents, and my own chest tightened with a mixture of fear and protectiveness for Jake.
"Nobody is throwing you away, Jake. No one has ever thrown you away." Aunt Fraya said gently, her eyes filled with concern and tears. Uncle Paul nodded in agreement, his gaze unwavering from his son? I glanced at my Dad, his jaw set solid, his eyes narrowed and dangerous but somehow pained and sad. I glanced over to my Mom, tears flowing freely down her cheeks, grief and pain painted on her face without restraint.
I glanced over at Jake as his eyes flicked between the four adults, searching for any hint of insincerity or explanation. As the moments stretched on, I caught myself holding my breath, waiting for his response.
"Then why was I given away," he finally whispered, wiping away his tears with the back of his hand, blood dripping from his palm. He looked over at me, his eyes conveying a mix of pain and fear.
"To let you live," Mom managed through sniffles.