"Calm down, boy. Elyon did not expose your anomalous nature. The guard that performed the language transference spell on you noticed your lacking SoulCurrent, and reported it to the head guard, then to the mayor, and finally me."
Cyrn relaxed — but only slightly. Elyon hadn't betrayed him, but the secret was still exposed.
"Do not stress, boy. Contrary to what Elyon might make you believe, I do want what's best for him, and I've never seen him defend a friend, besides one other, like this before. So I propose a deal to both of you."
Elyon's face tightened even further, while Cyrn was getting more confused by the second.
I thought this was supposed to be prejudiced, evil, bad guy number 1. Yet he's surprisingly accommodating. If not for Elyon's memories, I'd think he's a decent dad.
Alric continued, "In return for Elyon attending the academy, I shall also send you there, on my recommendation. I'll keep your secret safe, and speak with the headmaster about some 'special privileges' to hide the fact you have no SoulCurrent".
Elyon retorted, "You're disgusting, dragging someone who has no relation to the DeBeaumonts, other than being my friend, into our affairs and blackmailing him to force me into attending the academy! This is why I keep running, you filth."
Alric didn't even flinch. "On top of this, Elyon, whilst attending, you will maintain the top student position, and become the student council president as well. You are a future leader and must be prepared for such a role. If you fail on this front as well, I will finalize the marriage talks between the Ravenswood family and me."
Elyon froze in shock, then stood from his chair in a burst of rage, "DON'T YOU DARE INVOLVE VIRELYA IN THIS, AND DON'T YOU DARE MARRY HER OFF TO THAT SODOMIZING, RAPING PIECE OF SHIT OLDER BROTHER I HAVE".
Cyrn could see the ripples of uncontrolled power coming off of Elyon now. He was furious, red in the face, with heat emanating from his body like a campfire.
Alric didn't even bat an eye at the outburst, and calmly responded, "I don't want to, but if you do not fulfill your role, and fulfill it adequately, then I need something that will force you to. Since I clearly cannot myself."
Rage was bubbling over, clawing at Elyon's throat to be let out, to tear the poor excuse for a father across from him apart. Yet, he restrained himself. Took a deep breath and sat back down.
"I count the days until I will be powerful enough to wipe the noble population off the face of the planet."
"Sure, Elyon, Sure. Either way, the academy starts in a month, and you shall come home with your friend as a guest. We'll start training him in preparation, and finish yours as well."
With that, Alric stood and began to leave the room. His final words were, "A carriage shall be out front soon, within the hour." Alric then locks eyes with Cyrn, both analyzing the other. "I hope you enjoy your stay at the DeBeaumont estate…" He continued to look at Cyrn, as if searching for something.
It finally clicked in Cyrn's head, "Cyrn, my name is Cyrn".
"Cyrn then. I will see you soon."
With that, he departed. The door closed shut, and Elyon destroyed the arm of the chair he was sitting in. Then turned to Cyrn, with even more regret in his face.
"Cyrn, I'm so sorry for getting you involved in this. You know I would never want this to happen."
Cyrn took a deep breath, his frustration evident but trying to stay controlled, "I know, I'm not blaming you, just pissed I got stuck in noble politics is all. It'll be fine, let's just follow orders for now and play the role he wants us to."
Elyon smiled, something small but grateful. He smacked his face lightly with his hands and smiled.
"You're right, we can avoid everything, and while it's annoying, at least we can kill time in the academy. It keeps me away from the estate as well, so that's a bonus. It won't be that bad, right?"
"Bahh, it'll be fine," Cyrn replied, waving his hand back and forth with feigned great confidence.
Soon, both left the office and rode in a carriage to the DeBeaumont estate. It was a 3-day ride to the mansion, so Elyon and Cyrn were either talking or sleeping the whole time.
3 days later, they arrived at the DeBeaumont estate and the accompanying mansion.
"Holy fuck, dude, this is your house?" Cyrn said in pure awe
Elyon replied, voice dry with barely restrained resentment, "At least someone appreciates it, looks more like a prison to me now more than anything."
"Damn nicest prison I've ever seen. Lock me up, sir!" Cyrn said while holding his hands out in mock arrest, taunting Elyon, while the latter smacked them out of his face with a small smirk.
"Asshole."
Cyrn chuckles before the gates swing open, a massive procession of maids and knights line the path to the front entrance. Cyrn is still amazed by the sheer magnitude of this estate.
The carriage rolled to the front door before coming to a stop, Elyon and Cyrn exiting and being met with what looked to be the DeBeaumont Family.
Alric, whom Cyrn already met, was with what he could only assume as Elyon's mother. Shorter than Alric by a head, dressed as if she were attending a ball. She was a beautiful woman, classy and mature, but her face was cold as ice, leagues worse than whatever Alric could muster.
To her right was what Cyrn could only assume to be Elyon's older brother, the "Sodomizing, raping piece of shit" as Elyon described him. He had a small, polite, and entirely fake smile on his face.
Elyon's mother spoke up first, "Well, it seems my youngest has returned from his most recent 'expedition', how was it, my child?"
Elyon didn't even look at her before responding, "Blissful, until father interrupted".
Elyon's mother couldn't even muster a smile before responding, "Well, I'm glad it was good while it lasted."
Elyon's brother chimed in quickly, "You know, if you just stayed home and accepted your role in the family, then maybe things wouldn't be so challenging for you, little brother."
The statement was sarcastic and entirely meant to push Elyon's buttons, and it succeeded.
"Shut the fuck up, you disgusting piece of ugly trash. I wish there were more words I could demean you with, sadly, I've run out of those years ago."
Elyon's older brother simply chuckles, the insulting smirk never leaving his face. "So rude, little brother, we're family, aren't we supposed to love one another?"
"I love shit I scrape off my shoes more than I love you," Elyon said as he proceeded to spit in his older brother's direction.
His older brother only responded with a quiet "ouch" before silence fell upon the family.
Alric observed the whole interaction, standing quietly before saying, "Elyon, dinner is in an hour, and Cyrn is invited. Do as you will before then. Dismissed."
The three turn and walk away, leaving Elyon and Cyrn standing in the middle of the courtyard. Elyon is quivering in rage, and Cyrn places a hand on his shoulder as a sign of comfort.
"Seems like your family is particularly 'hard,'" Cyrn adds with a small chuckle.
Elyon lets out a defeated laugh before responding, "Tell me about it."
"Well, if it makes you feel better, it'll probably only get worse at dinner," Cyrn added with his best Car Salesmen Smile he could muster.
Elyon laughs a little more in response, "Yeah, soooo fucking excited". They soon enter the building, and Elyon shows Cyrn to the guest room. A room that is significantly larger and nicer than his entire previous apartment.
Elyon leaves to give him some privacy, and Cyrn collapses onto the bed face-first, incredibly happy to be on a proper bed in over a week.
"Gods, this is soft. Infinitely better than the bed I had back on earth."
Cyrn lay in the bed for the whole hour before dinner.
Finally, the hour arrived. Maids arrived in his room, attempting to change him into something suitable for a DeBeaumont family dinner, Cyrn refused to have some dress for himself, and decided to do it himself.
Soon, Cyrn arrived. He was the last to the table, sitting next to Elyon.
They sat together in silence, the table falling into an awkward lull.
The first course came out, and Elyon's older brother, Claus was his name, chimed in.
"So, Cyrn, I heard you came from a family of hermits. I'm sure a house like this is quite a shock to be in compared to the shack you are from."
The comment was clearly meant as a dig, either to provoke Cyrn or Elyon, or perhaps both.
Elyon's face went red with rage as he prepared a response. Yet Cyrn spoke before anyone else could.