Chapter 20: Chapter 20
Master Lancel blinked. The girl looked at him wide-eyed while the boy raised his brows curiously. His uncle took his hands and cycled them in rotation. He was asking Dane to repeat himself.
"My flaw's description says that I cannot understand what others say."
His uncle slid a communicator out of his pocket and typed something in. Dane's communicator buzzed.
[Terrible flaw lol. You're going to die so quick T_T]
Dane smirked. His maternal uncle had always been a carefree man. When his parents died, Lancel reluctantly became the clan's Lord. Fourteen-year-old Eliana and four-year-old Dane were taken into his care for the following four years. And as soon as she was of age, he handed the reins to her and retreated to another Siege Capital. 'A well-deserved retirement,' he had called it.
After a few years of 'resting,' the man started getting involved in clan affairs again, but he always had one foot out. He didn't like commitment. That was made clear to Dane very quickly when he witnessed Lancel type a text message to refuse a marriage proposal with a Saint while watching a movie. He was not the most dutiful of men. But Dane would not blame him for it. For all his faults, he never allowed Dane to feel the loss of his father.
[They told me you got a True Name. What is it?] Lancel asked.
He said something aloud. When he saw Dane looking at him, he sent another text.
[Just repeating my question for them]
"Heart's Bane. Who are they?"
The girl started, straightening. The boy shot his sister a look and turned to Dane. "Sorry," he mouthed an apology. When his sister realized, she coughed.
Lancel kept the communicator in front of his mouth and spoke.
Nova's eyes narrowed disapprovingly. She seemed to have words to say, but she held her tongue. Nolan rolled his eyes. The messages rolled in right after he finished speaking.
[Meet Nova and Nolan, my wards]
[Congratulate me! I've finally got kids of my own!]
Dane chuckled softly. Wards? His uncle…wards? Had he changed, or was this even his uncle? "When you left the first time, you said that you'd never have kids," he said.
Lancel's smile waned.
[I only felt that way because I had to raise you. Eliana was no problem. Nolan's eleven, so I don't have to worry about screaming and kicking]
Dane coughed awkwardly. "Be serious. What changed?"
Lancel's eyes drifted toward the stone doors, and he waved his hand. The doors groaned open again. Servants entered, carrying a large spread of food. They placed them on the table and left silently. When the doors closed behind them, he spoke again.
[Help yourselves. We'll talk as we eat]
Nova said something, and Nolan wasted no time. The boy grabbed a plate of eggs and bacon. Dane reached for a bowl of fruit and a sandwich. Lancel went straight for a thick chunk of meat.
[How are you holding up? Now that Eliana…] he asked.
Dane swallowed a juicy berry and met his gaze. "...I've been better. And you?"
[I miss her] the Master said. His garbled voice was soft. Eliana and their uncle had been quite close despite his frequent disappearances. Whenever he visited, they were almost inseparable. Thicker than blood.
Dane missed her as well. The table felt empty without her, making everything feel so bleak. Dane hated that feeling and loathed that he had no one to blame but himself. As if sensing what he felt, Lancel typed a message out. Dane felt grateful that he didn't voice it out.
[It's not your fault]
[A cheap consolation] he texted back.
Nolan cleared his throat, getting his attention. He pointed at a sauceboat close to Dane and mouthed a 'please.' Dane leaned over the table and put it closer for him. The boy nodded in gratitude and poured a generous helping of maple syrup on his pancakes.
"You said you had news?" Dane changed the topic. "What is it?"
Lancel remained silent with his eyes closed, chewing. The light in the room was diminishing in the torturous silence. Lancel was devouring it, Dane knew. He often did that when emotional, involuntarily using his ability. When his eyes opened, they were full of fury. His tone sent shivers down Dane's spine, making him anxious to know what the Lord of the Gray Gust had said.
[Clan Song had Eliana murdered]
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone