Tenebris Renasci: A World of Magic and Gunpowder

Alexander watched as his father held and comforted Elise. 

Noticing him starting, Alexander's father looked up at Alexander. 

Alexander couldn't make out his father's expression from the distance, but he could tell he was just as emotional as Elise.

Why is Elise crying, and why is father?

Alexander struggled to process what could have made them so emotional.

His expression growing progressively perplexed as he ran through possible scenarios.

Alexander watched as his father lifted Elise into his arms, holding her close to his chest as he approached the mansion gates. 

The gates were opened by the Pathfinder who stood guard at the gate. 

his father continued following the path towards the mansion, the closer he got to the door, the better look Alexander got of him. 

When Alexander finally saw his father's face in full, he was greeted with a grim yet determined expression. 

His purple eyes glowing with an intensity that could rock mountains to their foundations.

As his Father entered the mansion, Alexander quickly rose from his bed and exited his room.

Running down the corridor that led towards the stairs, Alexander saw his father stepping through the foyer, his purple eyes darting around his home for the first time in three years.

Alexander's father looked up towards the second floor where he locked eyes with him. 

There was a tense silence between father and son, the two family members staring at each other in curiosity and longing. 

Finally, after what seemed like hours, Alexander's father spoke. "Where are your mothers and Marcus?" He asked, his tone deep and broken.

Alexander froze for a moment.

he was at a loss for words, both because he hadn't seen his father in three years, and because he hadn't left his room in three days.

"I… I don't know." Alexander replied as he dropped his head, grabbing his hands onto the cold metal railing of the stairs. "I hadn't left my room."

His father frowned briefly before sighing. "Come to the dining hall, I wish to talk with you, Alex." He said, before turning his attention away from Alexander and heading deeper into the mansion Elise, still in his arms.

Alexander watched as he father walked further into the mansion, his steps fading into the halls of the mansion, echoing off the walls.

Something bad is coming… I can feel it.

Alexander felt his stomach churn as he began descending the stairs.

Stepping down the stairs and meeting his father in the main dining hall, Alexander was greeted by his father and Elise quietly sitting at the long dining table side by side. 

Elise sat with her hands in her lap, her tears still warm and fresh on her cheeks. She did stop crying, however, now sitting with a regretful expression.

His father meanwhile sat with his hands above the table, his expression firm, yet caring. 

With a subtle point to the chair across from himself, Alexander's father gestured for him to sit down. 

Obeying his father, Alexander climbed into the seat and settled himself in it.

With a deep breath, Alexander's father tapped the table with his finger. "How has your training progressed?" He asked, his tone curious.

"It's been well I guess," Alexander muttered quietly, he was afraid to go into further detail, as in all honesty he barely had a physical grasp on world energy enchantment, and his skills with a sword were basic at best.

And after his first with Marcus a few days ago, Alexander knew for a fact that he was woefully underskilled. 

"I see, have you trained with guns yet?" He asked.

Alexander shook his head. "No sir, Elise said that came later after I became proficient with a sword and enchantment of my essence." He answered.

His father nodded before turning to face Elise. "Would you say his skills are proficient?"

Elise hitched her breath before wiping her eyes. "Lord Alexander… he shows a lot of potential, but as of now, he's lacking In almost every aspect, especially when compared to Marcus." She began, she then dropped her as she looked to Alexander's father. "I confirmed this three days ago when the two fought."

Alexander's father's eyes widened slightly, "they fought… as in sparring?"

Elise shook her head. "No, it was a genuine fight, and from its beginning until the moment I intervened, Alexander was on the back foot."

Alexander's father glanced at Marcus with a raised eyebrow before returning his attention to Elise. "Why did you intervene?" He asked, his tone full of confusion and curiosity.

"Because after a few choice words from Lord Alexander, Marcus stopped defending herself." Elise then frowned as she looked at Alexander, "he brought her to tears by expressing how much hatred she, and as she cried, lord Alexander prepared to continue the fight, so I intervened."

Her?

Alexander raised an eyebrow at Elise's words but remained silent, as for the most part, her words were the truth.

"Alexander, why?" His father asked with a disappointed frown. "Haven't you been raised to be better than that?"

Alexander averted his eyes from his father's disappointed gaze. He knew what he did was wrong that day, but he wasn't in the right headspace, and Marcus made things… complicated.

"I wanted to be left alone," Alexander answered. "But Marcus wouldn't go away, he just… he kept bothering me, so I got angry."

His father sighed as he closed his fist. "My son, senseless violence gets you nowhere." He explained, his voice soft but stern, "especially against those you hold dear, as in the end, they are all you truly have."

"I know," Alexander muttered, feeling as if he was a little kid being lectured. 

It wasn't that he didn't know it was wrong, as he felt more than enough regret for his actions.

"Have you apologized to Marcus yet?" His father asked.

Alexander shook his head. "No sir, I… I forgot to."

His father opened his mouth to respond, but that was when he got interrupted by the sounds of loud and joyous chatter.

"Oh Marcus, did I mention how good you look in that dress?" A happy and mischievous voice rang through the halls of the mansion.

"Yes Mrs Olivia, this is the sixth time, I counted." 

"Ugh, but I suppose even if you dress up an animal, it could look beautiful as well." A haughty voice said, followed by a chuckle.

"Lady Louise, that is disrespectful."

"Louise is just jealous darling, you look lovely."

"Thank you, Mrs Erica."

Turning around to see the entrance of the dining room, Alexander's eyes widened as he watched Marcus stepping into the dining room. 

He was dressed in a long and beautiful blue and white dress. His hair was long and wavy, his skin silky and smooth, their lips cherry red with a faint touch of blush on her cheeks.

It was then, as Alexander studied Marcus properly for the first time, that he realized Marcus was a girl.

A beautiful and talented young girl.

Alexander was speechless.

Upon seeing Alexander Marcus quickly averted her gaze, looking towards the floor with a bashful expression.

Suddenly Alexander was drawn out of the moment as his mothers gasped in unison.

"Lance!" His mother- Erica exclaimed in shock. 

"Lance!" His mother- Olivia said with a wide smile of relief and surprise.

Olivia rushed to Lance's side and wrapped her hands around his head, bringing him into her chest. "Oh Lance, you look so lost and dirty my love, awe I bet that was from defeating thousands of those nasty imperials, isn't it!" Olivia said in a high-pitched voice, the kind you'd use to comfort a baby. 

"My love, I…"

"Silence!" Olivia said with a giddy giggle, "And let me cuddle you."

Lance found himself chuckling as he fell silent, wrapping an arm around Olivia's waist. 

Alexander's birth mother- Erica, covered her mouth as tears began welling on her eyes. "O-oh my goddess, Lance…"

Lance reached out his other hand as he smiled warmly. "Come here Eri, I got enough room for you too."

Erica nodded as she quickly rushed to Lance's outstretched arm. Reaching him, Lance wrapped his arm around her waist and sat her in his lap. 

Erica shook uncontrollably as she sat in his lap. "You never wrote, I… why didn't you write!" Erica shouted as crossed her arms and pouted.

Lance, finally breaking free from Olivia's grasp, turned to Elise with a confident grin. "Because why waste the ink, when words on a page fail to carry my message." He replied, before kissing Erica.

Her cheeks turned pink as she softly giggled to herself. 

Olivia, not to be outdone, hopped onto Lance's lap and began to kiss his cheek. "Hey, don't you dare leave me hanging?" She said sternly.

Lance chuckled as he looked back to Olivia, he then kissed her passionately, causing Louise to audibly scoff.

"Disgusting." She muttered under her breath before turning to face Alexander, who continued to wordlessly gawk in awe at Marcus. "You see beauty every day in me, what could this girl possibly offer?"

"Lady Louise please, I think it's time we head to your room," Antoinette said with a hand outstretched towards her. 

Louise rolled her eyes as she accepted Antoinette's hand. "If we must." She muttered under her breath.

Ben, who had been quietly watching the unfolding scene with a grin, looked to Antoinette with a grin as he pointed towards Lance then himself, then her.

Antoinette blushed hard as she grabbed Ben's hand, pulling him out of the dining room.

Elise, who had been quietly sitting beside Lance with a small smile, rose from her seat. 

"I'll be in the stables if you need me, my lord." She said softly, whipping the last of her tears as she headed for the entrance.

Lance made sure to look Elise in the eye. "I'll talk with you later, okay?"

Elise widened her smile as she gave a quick nod. "Of course." She replied, before exiting the room entirely, she gave Alexander one last look.

It was a look of regret and pain, but there was also a hint of hope behind her weary eyes. A small smile followed before she looked at Marcus.

Giving Marcus the same glance, Elise then left the dining room entirely. 

The room's atmosphere had changed rather dramatically with the arrival of his family. 

The return of Alexander's father brought relief and joy, and despite the earlier tension, Alexander found himself relaxing slightly.

However, he was still confused, bewildered, and surprised at the fact that Marcus, who stood quietly before him, was a girl. 

He replayed every memory he had of her, and sure enough, the hints were obvious. 

"Alexander." His father said, drawing Alexander out of his confused head space.

Alexander turned to his father with wide eyes. "S-sir?" He stammered.

"You and Marcus should head upstairs to your room." He said with a calm, yet stern tone. "I want you to apologize and talk with her, because whether you like it or not, she's a part of this family, and that's because of you."

Alexander gulped audibly before hesitantly nodding.

"And be sure to compliment her beauty," Olivia said with a grin. 

"And her skill, because it's rare to find a woman of both skill and beauty," Erica added.

Lance chuckled as he looked to his wives, "yet somehow I found two."