That is not to say there are never cases of untracked entries or secretive travels, local leaders in all Ponds are expected to report on these activities to avoid unfortunate surprises at later dates.
~ * ~
Valene sighed as he looked over the never ending list of duties he was expected to attend to. The price of success he supposed, more work. And now he had to deliver a scolding to people he had once helped teach. Flipping through his EDN contacts he established a connection to his former students. They did not answer, nor did he expect them to. Instead he managed to reach one of their aides, someone he trusted to convey his message and ensure he got a response when they decided what they could safely share.
"I met your Goddaughter. I am not amused," he began.
"We all know you were taught to share any and all information regarding the movement of certain Awakened. Lysanya to show signs of that heritage means her mother met one within your territory. That her father's presence was never reported, that her heritage was never clarified, that you are on record as her Godparents," he paused, taking a deep breath to level his tone. "I can only overlook so much without being held accountable as well."
"Your joint successes in school and afterwards, both as Combat Awakened and as politicians, are likely the only reason I ask you for an accounting and do not demand it. You should have known better, and when the question is raised I hope you have a good answer."
He sighed, rubbing his forehead as he considered his words. To say he was displeased with their actions was an understatement. To say he could sympathize with what likely had happened was equally true. He did not envy the position they had placed themselves in, but he would give them what good news he could.
"Ignoring your apparent failure, Lysanya shows great potential. Her Holding gift turned out to be a Seed and her companion, a newly Awakened adult, seems appropriately devoted and comfortable in her presence. They suit each other. He accepts her as she truly is, even if I doubt he has yet understand what that means."
"I strongly suggest you keep an eye on their progress, I believe they will be putting effort into Diving in the near future. Should they advance at a suitable pace I encourage you to point them towards your Alma Mater, let them learn those lessons you did and find their way to further opportunities."
"I would greatly appreciate any information you might still have regarding her father. It might be 22 years too late but records should be maintained, and considering the attention a Seed will garner her, has already garnered her in fact, knowing what friends or foes her past might bring forth will help ensure balance is maintained."
Receiving acknowledgment that his words would be passed on, Valene closed the connection and sat back in his chair. Time would tell if anything came of those two, time and whatever information Phelann was able to share once she returned from Earth. Hopefully she would have good news.
~ * ~
"Your Highness, the letter for Anya's Godparents is ready to be sent. You requested to sign it?"
Lyselle looked up at her Seneschal as he handed her the letter. A single piece of paper and it would absolve the debt she owed them. It only took 22 years but she had finally done as they asked.
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Lysanya, independent Holder and named Heir of Holding Lys, has been ceded a residence outside the borders of our Holding with an appropriate Deep Low Construct attached to it.
This, along with access to her Inheritance Vault, constitutes the fulfillment of all obligations agreed upon with regards to her upbringing.
Looking the letter over she nodded and went to sign it before pausing, memories she thought long-buried intruding.
"Tomas," she began and saw him startle. For all that he never called her by name except to remind her of who she once was, she had not once been the one to break protocol. "Her father."
"Elle?" He sat across from her without prompting, without waiting for permission. Ever perceptive, she thought, he knew her better than she knew herself at times.
"You never asked, not once. Not when I used to vanish, when I would be gone for hours, days, even weeks at a time and you made sure everything ran smoothly. Not even when Carlos-"
"What does he have to do with anything?" Tomas interrupted. "Wait, his death coincided with the last time you were gone. Was he?"
"No, not once, not ever. He certainly would have, but no, there were no redeeming qualities about him other than his combat skill. Much like his brother Rios in retrospect."
"Why bring up the dead?"
Lyselle blinked, something in her eye. "He followed me that trip. He followed and he saw-" She rubbed her eye, why was it so irritated? "He caught up while I was with Anya's father. We were-" She couldn't finish, both her eyes were burning now.
Tomas said nothing, giving her the moment.
"He attacked. Her father was strong, stronger than me at his best, but caught by surprise and injured. Worse than Anya was in Court. Whatever his injuries were, they wouldn't heal, he wouldn't heal." She coughed, finally noticing the dampness on her sleeve from her face. "I had to stop Carlos, I had to. He attacked. Even if I had stood back, even if I had done nothing, he would have come back here, he would have-"
"Elle. What did you do."
She looked up at him, her pain swallowed up in that moment as she glared at him. "What I had to. I did what my heart and my duty required. Carlos did not return."
"Your duty? He was not of the Holding, you know the Court would never accept that."
"They will never know Tomas. Never. Carlos' parents have passed, his only family tried to kill my daughter and paid the same price for his actions. Anya is her own woman, she has her Holding and she has someone to support her. Someone who is there for her no matter what." She raised an eyebrow, fixing him with a stare and daring him to tell her she did not have the same.
"You shouldn't need to ask. I'm sorry if I made you think otherwise."
She sighed. "It's not your fault. I didn't expect to be thinking about this, and especially didn't expect it to hurt so much after all this time."
"After you dealt with Carlos, what happened?" he prompted.
Rubbing her eyes once more, she continued the story. "He'd been staying with her Godparents. How he met them, why they gave him shelter, where he came from, I never found out. I ran into him while Diving, while trying to understand this accursed Wall. He couldn't help me there, he knew the answer but told me I had to understand myself."
She hiccuped and glared at the desk as though it was to blame. "We returned to his housing. He- he had to leave, he couldn't stay. We knew he'd have to go but I never thought it would be so soon."
She paused, wiping her eyes and then looking down at the letter. "8 months later Lysanya was born. Even then she looked so much like him, she was a reminder. I couldn't tell her, couldn't explain. It hurt to see him in her, hurt to see the pain she went through. I hope she'll forgive me, that she'll understand."
Tomas hesitated than spoke. "I think she will."
"She doesn't know though."
"She knows a bit. I told her how panicked you were when you found out about Rios, I told her that you would have broken down her door if you weren't trying to honor her wishes. I told her and she reacted. Sebastian asked for a few moments of privacy, when I returned her eyes were slightly more red yet she did her best to seem collected."
"I'll tell her one day, hopefully she lets me."
Turning back to the letter she took up a pen and signed it, adding her own addendum below the formal words.
If her father still lives, if you know how to reach him. Let him know I still love him.
"Seal the letter, ensure it is sent tonight."
"As you will your Highness." Tomas said as he stood, taking his leave letter in hand.
Lyselle sat, alone in her chambers, her eyes burning as tears flowed down her face. Her shoulders shook and she did nothing to stop them. 22 years and still she felt this way. She had thought the pain dulled, thought the memories faded, yet as the room chilled around her she could remember his every detail.
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