Chapter 18: ChangeSo time marched on in Aurora Skies. And as time does, it heals old wounds and softens change.
Oswin and Chin reconciled, and as Chin came to terms with his new form, his temper began to subside.
Leo, taking his new role to heart, grew into a handsome and formidable teenager, ready to take on the world and all the challenges that came with being his mother's heir.
And Oblique grew into an imaginative child with so much of his mother's Goodness it was practically worn on his chest like a badge.
His kind innocence was not so pleasing to all, however, and as soon as Oblique was old enough, his Aunt set a plan into motion. She did need to call in a few favors, but she would certainly not be stopped once her mind was made up. She was much like her mother that way.
"Jackie, dear. You are really so helpful. I couldn't have managed the task without you and your lack of a solid form. Walls and locked doors are certainly tricky for the living."
"Oh, Ms. Morgan... Ms. Knight? Ms..."
"Please, just call me Your Highness."
"It was my pleasure, Your Highness," Jackie said gently.
"I'll be in touch."
"Have a problem? There's really not much that can't be fix with a touch of magic."
It was later that evening that Solanine found Oblique in the hall sitting area. "I made a promise to you years ago, Obbie. And today I intend to keep it."
"What did you promise me, Auntie?"
"That I would help you find your place in this world. You don't let anyone tell you that you're a spare."
"Who would say that?"
"No one again."
"What's that?" He asked with sudden concern, taking a step back.
The glass shattered at his feet, and as the purple smoke rose around his ankles, the Oblique Daye that had stood there mere moments before was no more.
"It's "Goth" now," the boy told his "Uncle" Luther when he returned home from work.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Kid. You can't just call yourself Goth whenever you feel like it. At most, you're a Knight, and only at heart. But we can condition your mind to operate a little more efficiently as well."
Oblique smirked lightly as Luther took him upstairs to sharpen his mind. No Knight at heart was going to be as dull as Oswin was aiming to let Oblique grow up to be.
"Leo," Oblique said. "You're a star. A real winner, you know that? You're set to be King of this place, and you know, I totally support that. 100%. But there's one thing mom didn't tell you."
Leo frowned lightly, listening to his younger brother. "What is it? How do you know?"
"I heard her talking to dad. She said you can't take control unless you get a girl."
"Get a girl?"
"Yeah, yeah. You know. You need a Queen. How are you supposed to be King without a Queen? It's a real head-scratcher though."
Leo was just getting more and more confused. "It is? What is? How is it a head-scratcher."
"I mean, not to be rude or anything, but it's just that, at school and stuff, I think the good girls are all taken. So you might have to look else where."
"Like where?"
"You know, I think... no, I probably shouldn't say."
"No, come on, Obbie. You have to tell me."
"It's just that, there are a lot of great Ashen girls at West Hall. I hear they're kind of awesome. Not boring like the girls at our school."
"Oh, you mean at Delilah's school?" Leo asked him.
"Yeah, you should head over there after school one day and see what's going on," the younger brother suggested.
"Yeah, I guess," he said, but he had already had his eyes on someone else.
Meanwhile, Delilah was still hard at work, trying to hone her skills.
And it just wasn't getting any easier.
"Father. I don't understand why I'm not getting any better," Delilah said with a sigh, her heart heavy with her failures.
"Don't you worry, my love. I'm working on it."
