[5th of May 2064, Monday, 9:30 AM]

[Surprisingly, Art Moriarty agrees to have the Psychia of Lucas’ younger siblings tested on site. Afterwards, the Moriartys are invited to The Berendin Manor. The children play on the four-seater swing in the garden, under the watchful eye of their mother, Elizabeth. Meanwhile, at a nearby table, Mezil Thyme hosts his meeting with Art, his son Lucas, and his father Edmund. Tea, cream, sugar, and butter cookies are served to the guests.]

MEZIL
…It’s been a while, Art.

ART
A while, alright. Long enough to turn your hair completely grey. Guess the fantasy life is not so fantastical after all?

[Mezil sighs then takes a sip of his piping hot tea.]

MEZIL
The one living in a fantasy is you, I say.

EDMUND
Boys. Boys. You’ve not seen each other for years and this is how you greet each other?

ART
You know my opinions of the Magi, Ed. If it weren’t for Luc, I wouldn’t be caught dead in this palace of make-believe.

LUCAS
Sorry, Dad… I, uh, um, didn’t do it on purpose… really. I swear.

MEZIL
Plenty of fiction has hypothesised about life without magic. However, we are not living in such a fictional world. In our reality, magic was proven to be a force coexisting with established physics. Burying your head in the sand will not make the truth vanish like a fairytale fairy. Yesterday’s fallout is proof positive.

ART
Fine. I guess my son turned out to be a magical powerhouse. What do you suggest we do about it? You plan to train him or something?

MEZIL
That’s right.

ART
What a waste of time. You’ve disbanded the Crimson Keepers long ago. Why not seal away his powers and let him return to a normal life? Don’t ruin the boy’s future like you ruined yours. He still has a promising future ahead of him.

MEZIL
…Have you ever listened to your son, Art?

ART
We talk every day. Of course I listen to him.

MEZIL
Are you listening for the truth? Or only the truths you want to hear?

ART
What are you talking about, Mez?

MEZIL
Yesterday, I had offered Lucas the option of a seal, yet he himself wished otherwise. ‘It’d be a short-term comfort for a long-term amputation’, the boy said.

ART
W-what?! Son, you can’t be serious.

LUCAS
…He’s speaking the truth. He even told me about Grandpa’s choice.

ART
Why would you want to get involved in all that dangerous fantasy nonsense? I told you, being a Magus is a dead end!

MEZIL
Worse than being a clerk at a grocery store?

ART
About the same, if you ask me. Your secluded Magus society is like a children’s playground, devoid of any connection to the real world.

MEZIL
Tsk, that shows how outdated your perceptions are. Since the beginning of the millennium, The Magus Association had extended their collaboration to non-Magi networks. Healers with doctors, Artificers with scientists, Coordinators and Vanquishers with law enforcement… the list goes on. Our networking is robust enough.

ART
And yet, every single one of your collaborators owns a phone using my security system. You’re like fish in a lake. Meanwhile, I got the whole ocean under my belt!

Look. Not everyone gets to marry into a prestigious historical noble house like you. The Magus Association’s pay is about as good as a civil servant. On the other hand, my son is set to inherit a global business. His starting pay will be way beyond the majority of employees. I’m not gonna have my son live the wage slave life.

MEZIL
If that’s how you think about your own workforce, then they should quit en masse and posthaste.

ART
They get a fair salary. The same can’t be said for your organisation.

LUCAS
Dad? He paid the damages for us…

ART
I’ve read the bill, and it’s an amount we could have easily managed. Your uncle here jumped in because he wanted to LARP as the noble chivalrous hero. But I see what he’s doing; he’s trying to sweep everything that happened under the rug.

Which brings us to the next point: his reputation is at rock bottom. Do you have any idea how many enemies The Supreme Judge has? We’re talking about a mile long queue.

[Mezil remains silent, savouring his tea. He stares down into the cup for a moment. Then, he flicks a stern glare at his cousin.]

MEZIL
…Art. As is, you’ve already failed to protect your son. Not once, but twice.

LUCAS
Twice?

ART
W-what are you talking about? The stupid kidnapping happened only once.

MEZIL
Information is your area of expertise. Yet, someone with malicious intent discovered your son’s value before I did. You were so focused on keeping secrets from The Magi, you never stopped to consider who else might find out. They hired kidnappers, for goodness sake.

Do you still want to gamble your son’s life on your pride? This incident could repeat itself tomorrow, next year, or whenever.

Allow us to train his magical potential to its fullest. That way he can protect himself.

[Art slams the side of his fist on the table. Tea cups clatter from the impact. Alerted by the loud noise, Elizabeth snaps her gaze towards the table. His siblings also stop playing, following their mother’s example.]

ART
You…! Your cutthroat Association is the LEAST qualified to talk about protecting anyone! Your two most prominent Crimson Keepers are dead! James Pashowar was murdered in cold blood! Countless Magi die in the line of duty every year! And you! You’re one foot in the grave!

MY SON does NOT need to follow YOUR footsteps for HIS protection! What are you gonna tell him next? Completely cut off his family like YOU did???

LUCAS
Dad, please. Stop. Everyone is watching.

EDMUND
Uh… Luc? Your hair… it’s floating!

LUCAS
Oh no, fuck no! It’s happening again how do I stop this???

MEZIL
Open your palms. Focus. Breathe slowly.

[When Lucas opens his palms, a red spiral glows bright in his left hand. His Mark spins and shudders at first, but then it slows down as his focused breathing calms his heart.]

MEZIL
…Does the shape remind you of anything, Art?

ART
It’s… a spiral?

MEZIL
Correct. Know that a spiral represents several concepts, all quite deadly. A storm. A tornado. A black hole.

Magic reflects a person’s character. Your son is the kind of person who has a tendency to channel his emotions inwards, especially negative ones. The most common manifestation of such habits is self-blame. That’s exactly what he did ever since he arrived at my mansion: blaming himself for matters that are of no fault of his own.

What do you think will happen when all that pressure hits a critical point? It will explode, violently. By then, Lucas not only becomes a danger to everyone around him… but also to himself.

I ask again, Art Moriarty. Are you listening for the truth? Or only the truths you want to hear?

[Art remains silent in the face of that question. The pressure emanating from the spiral Mark begins to increase again, slowly yet surely. Noticing this, Art addresses Lucas instead.]

ART
Son.

LUCAS
Yes?

ART
What do you want to do?

LUCAS
………………

Actually, I was thinking… that, um, maybe…. Maybe I should stay with Uncle Mezil a little bit more. Until I get my act together.

I want to learn more about myself… about this power growing inside of me.

ART
…For exactly how long do you plan to try this Magus thing?

LUCAS
Um. Over the Summer? Before the new semester starts, I guess.

ART
Can’t you do that at home? I could hire a private tutor. I know an independent competitor from the Far West. Their track record is much better than your uncle’s Association.

[Art’s insistence aggravates The Mark. The whole tea set began to drag across the table, drawn in by the pull. Edmund does his best to secure them, making sure nothing tilts over and spills.]

LUCAS
Dad… I’m… I’m scared about what I could do…

ART
Exactly why you should come home where I can keep an eye on you.

[The garden swing’s iron hinges start to creak and bend. Elizabeth swipes her two younger children off their seats and rushes them into the safety of the mansion.]

LUCAS
…Aren’t YOU afraid of me?

ART
Why would I ever be afraid of you? I’m your father!

LUCAS
Well! You SHOULD be afraid of ME!!!

[At the height of his emotions, the garden swing twists and breaks into an unrecognisable scrap of metal. The pieces float overhead in their spiral orbit. Inside the mansion, the children begin crying, frightened instead of amused by what transpired.]

ART
Oh god… Mez, you’re a Magus! Aren’t you?! Stop this right now!

MEZIL
The only person who can stop this is you, Art.

For the last time, I ask you… Are you listening for the truth? Or only the truths you want to hear?

Decide. Now.

ART
Alright! Alright! I’m listening!

Lucas, go do whatever you plan to do! Have it your way!

[Art’s approval releases the tension. The power calms down. What’s left of the garden swing drops onto the grass and flower bushes.]

LUCAS
T-Thanks, Dad. I… um… I’m sorry?...

ART
It’s okay, Lucas. Let your mom know which clothes you want to bring over. Don’t forget the toiletries too.

Should you decide to quit at any time, you will be welcomed back home with no strings attached. Okay?

LUCAS
Okay… okay. Yeah. That’s good.

ART
Mez. Teach him well! If you don’t, I’m not gonna let you get away with it.

MEZIL
A fine proposal.

[END TRANSCRIPT]