"Working hard with combat techniques, I see," Marina said, gliding forward. Her dark blonde hair was pulled up into a complex bun with braids and twists, and she wore a rich emerald dress tailored to her slender figure. Her green eyes surveyed the room, missing no detail.

Sedric came to attention. "We were exploring the finer points of verbal battle, madam."

"Naturally." Marina smiled curtly. "Come, Cristoph. There is a matter your father must discuss with you."

"It's 'Cris,'" he corrected, despite failing with his hundreds of previous attempts.

"As you wish, my lord." The Court Advisor withdrew from the room.

When Marina was out of sight, Cris let out a slow breath and turned to Sedric. "I'm sorry for arguing. You're a wonderful teacher. I don't mean to be difficult." His throat constricted. You're the only one I'll miss... You always believed in me.

Sedric beamed. "Think nothing of it, my lord."

Marina returned to the doorway. "Come along. Your father is waiting." She disappeared again.

Cris smiled one last time at Sedric before he followed Marina, trying to ease the knot in his chest.

"I'm surprised my father sent you to fetch me. Now you're running errands for him?" Cris asked the Court Advisor as he approached. Since coming into the employ of the Sietinen Dynasty three years before, Marina was almost always posted in one of the administrative offices throughout the estate to oversee dynastic operations. Cris' twice-weekly telepathy lessons over the last year were one of the few exceptions.

Marina's brow twitched. "Actually, in light of a recent development, he wished me to terminate your telepathy instruction. I thought that best said in person."

Those lessons had been the one thing Cris was reluctant to give up when he thought about leaving his home. If that was being taken away, there was truly nothing left for him on Tararia. "I see."

"Such training was an unnecessary distraction," Marina continued. "It's time to focus on what matters."

Except, what mattered to Cris was of no concern to the rest of his family. All the more reason to leave now while I still can. He shook his head and looked down.

The Court Advisor pursed her lips. "What are you hiding?"

Cris quickly suppressed the thoughts of his upcoming departure. "Do you really want to know?"

Marina rolled her eyes and set off down the corridor. "Come along. We're late."

Cris stood his ground. "On second thought, I'm not in the mood for another lecture. I think I'll pass on the father-son chat."

Marina spun around on her heel to glare at Cris. "How can you be so flippant? You know he's busy. Someone has to tend to all of the political and economic issues you've never bothered to understand—"

Cris crossed his arms. Oh, don't I? Try quizzing me sometime and we'll see who knows what.

"—and to oversee this Region, all while leading the transportation industry for known civilization... You should be more appreciative of the time you get with him." She flourished her arms with exasperation. "Honestly, Cristoph, you become more insolent every time I see you."

That's because I can't take feeling like an outcast in my own family anymore. "Sorry. I guess I just have insurmountable faults in my personality."

Marina's eyes narrowed.

Cris glared back. "Since I'll apparently be berated anywhere I go, you may as well lead me straight to my father so I can get the worst of it out of the way."

The Court Advisor let out a huff and resumed striding down the hallway.

No snide response? I'll count that as a win. Cris followed her at a safe distance.

As he trailed Marina through the spacious corridors of the Sietinen mansion's southern wing, he glimpsed the landscaped grounds of the estate through towering windows overlooking the city of Sieten below and the great Lake Tiadon in the distance. Sieten, the capital city of the Third Region, was nestled in the breathtaking foothills of the Bethral Mountains. Its temperate climate was pleasant in the peaks of summer and winter even without weather modification, making it envied by Dynasties throughout the five other Regions of Tararia. Though it was the only home Cris had ever known, he still felt the need to get away and see what the galaxy had to offer. I'll come back eventually. I just want to find myself while I still have the chance.  

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