“Beguiled and astray, does the crow fly far from home. 

Its kindred spirit shattered like its nest. 

Forgotten is its happy cries as its parched throat sings no more. 

For now, hunting is all it will ever know” 

-‘Deceit’ by Princess Sibylla of Endro

 “Where were you?” 

The human questioned furiously, his grip on Raymond’s sleeve tightening as his anger swelled at the lack of response. This was the second time he asked the same question. 

The boy held his stern gaze as his scowl deepend. If he doesn’t answer in the next 15 seconds- , but currently, Raymond was too occupied with another to garner an answer.  

Cy:  Of course you can't electrocute him! You're his brother!

 Excuse me? I’m this human’s what-!? Who IS this? 

Cy: This would be the hindrance we SHOULD’VE avoided. aka , Raymond’s second youngest sibling, Francis Gracis. 

Sibling? 

Cy: Right, you don’t have any clue what those are. Okay, uh, think of this human as like a code the user copied from your code, then pasted on the same platform and –

WATCH OUT!

Instinctively, he shifted to the side but the attack on his right shoe still managed to land. Raymond clenched his fists and grimaced as the human’s heel stomped directly on his foot, releasing spikes of pain. 

Cy: Ouch…are you ok? 

What do you think?

Raymond whirled on Francis, irritation taking the reins over sensibility.

“What the hell is wrong with you?!” he yelled ignoring the few humans who turned back to glance at them. Francis scoffed in outrage, further enraging Raymond.

“ME? You’re a deer in headlights! Did you hit your head somewhere?”

“Wha-? No!” 

“So then where on Rashul were you? Do you know how long we’ve been waiting for you to come back? In the sun too!” 

“‘Waiting’ for me? What do you-” Raymond short circuited once again as he took in the boy’s words. “Who’s we?” he grinded out. Cy!

Francis turned beet red at his brother’s nerve to dare act oblivious, but soon suppressed it. 

It’s useless with him, Francis. Just bring them both here to this idiot, and everything’s fine. Everything’s FINE.

However, while he turned away, he remained oblivious to the war raging within Raymond as the question was never directed towards Francis at all. 

THERE’S MORE?

Cy: H-hey now! C-c-calm down, it isn’t that bad. *sweats*

As if being an imposter and on the run wasn’t enough, this guy has MORE humans accompanying him AND they are all– what was it?

Cy: Family?

WHATEVER IT IS! Do I really have no option but to follow them? 

Cy: Technically, you’re the one leading them…which….might be a detail I should’ve mentioned prior….

If Cy was another human or physical presence, Raymond was confident it would be turned to pulp at the rate his tolerance was plummeting, and this was the last straw. 

Why? 

Cy: *gulp* Raymond was here today because he was to board a train and depart to the Tellowania District in Endro as a potential professor in Tellowania College- if he passed the interview. His younger siblings; seventeen-year-old Francis and ten-year-old Minerva have already been accepted as students following the recent peace treaty. 

Raymond massaged his temples as he sent back;

Is that ALL? 

Cy: um…..*loading* oh yes! The Gracis family has one remaining guardian who is also accompanying you today and speaking of her herself! Dead ahead. 

Raymond struggled to identify this ‘guardian’ amongst the vast crowd of passengers hurrying in all directions, even shoving him along with the flow of movement despite his resistance. It wasn’t until an annoyingly familiar tone roared his name amongst the chaos that Raymond saw.

“Over here!” Francis yelled, waving his arms frantically to make himself known from the sea of humans. Behind him, were two women; a young girl- that’s Minerva Cy supplied- held the arms of an elderly woman, both adorned in matching gold-hooped earrings and light grey trench coats, though the younger one’s was studded with black buttons, contrasting the elder’s white ones. When Raymond finally managed to reach the group after barging through the waves of people, he noticed more unique features particularly in Minerva. 

For one, she was starkly distinct from Raymond and Francis in appearance, with waves of curly black hair until her waist, captivating sapphire eyes as opposed to their molten amber ones and slightly grey-tinged lips. Her elegant posture and entracing features could have posed her as a ceramic doll–not that Raymond understood Cy’s simile. 

Furthermore, unlike Francis’s bold showdown, upon Raymond’s approach she twitched before bowing her head to the floor, refusing to let their gazes meet. She didn’t even say hello.  

Is this a normal greeting amongst humanity? 

Cy: Would you rather have ‘Round Two: Shattered Toes!’ edition? Now quit gawking and present the most concerned and loving elder brother and grandson a runaway could act out. 

Before he could speak however, Francis rolled his eyes scoffing, 

“See? I swear his head has been done in-OW!”

He winced, rubbing his shoe whilst glaring at the elder woman, whose vacant grey eyes now stared down the fiery teen. Her walking cane was slightly raised, threatening a repeat. Raymond smirked wickedly. Feel the pain. The woman chided Francis as one would a toddler regardless of the fact he practically towered over her. Even Minerva reached slightly above her. 

“Come on Francis, show some respect for your brother hm? It’s been a long day for all of us. You alright Ray?” She raised her head and before anyone could stop her, tapped the shoulder of a stranger next to her who reeled in shock before backing away.

“Oi!”  Minerva stepped up bowing profusely in apology to them whilst Francis turned the old woman to face Raymond. 

“Gran’, Ray’s this way.” 

“Ah, thank you Francis. Ray? Are you alright?” Raymond watched the exchange in silence as the blind woman reached out to caress his cheek softly. He flinched at first, trying to inch away. His muscles turned into stone as Raymond stood still, monitoring this show of affection the woman displayed. 

What’s she doing? 

Cy: This is what humans call ‘care’, it’s especially frequent amongst most ‘familial’ and intimate groups and generally a good sign.

Raymond  nodded slowly, yet, in spite of whatever ‘good sign’ this was for humans, it simply set his nerves on fire and caused them to scream. They were desperate for a reflex, a shove, to run away, to do anything other than being idle. 

Cy: For goodness sake… *huff* Follow me, take her hand in yours and SMILE.

Raymond forced his lips to turn upwards– which Francis thought looked more as a wince– as his fingers twitched when he grasped the woman’s gloved hand.

Cy: Decent. Now, lower your voice, tilt your head just sliiightly. Perfect! Tell her: 

“I’m fine…Gran’”  Raymond whisphered Cy’s words. Was that right? 

Gran’s eyebrows shot up from the response but soon switched into a wide smile. 

“That’s good, you had me worried for a second! Your siblings as well- which includes you too Francis. I may be blind but I know you’re rolling your eyes right now, cheeky boy.” Gran laughed good-heartedly.

Francis paused mid-motion, staring at Gran wide eyes as his mouth opened and shut like a goldfish while Minerva burst into muffled laughter. He sputtered. 

“I was not-” 

“He was.” Ray and Minerva said simultaneously. They glanced at each other for a second before breaking contact hastily. While Minerva might have responded in regards to their potential sibling dynamic, Raymond developed an irresistible urge to get the brat into trouble as frequently as possible. For no justifiable reason as well. 

Cy: Welcome to your first experience of ‘pettiness’, while not the most optimal way of forging connections I do admit he looks hilarious when he’s ticked. Shall I take a photo? 

Indeed the look on Francis’s face was pure gold. Even with Gran coddling him, the glare he sent to Ray was scathing and only multiplied as Ray shot a smug smirk in return.  

Yes. 

Cy: Done. Now, as much as I’m glad you’re having fun being human,  we’re on the run and have a train to catch, remember? 

I’m NOT having fun-

Cy: Sure, sure. Keep being in denial. Head’s up, you have ten minutes to get to the boarding gate.  

Aggravating piece of-

Cy: I’m sorry, do you NOT want first class tickets? Because if you’d rather economy-

A new panel popped up and after double checking the family was occupied (as the women were ganging up on Francis) he opened it. The panel then morphed into a collage of pristine red leather seats and gold curtains, which when compared to the dusty tattered browns and greens Ray could tell which was which. 

Cy: Were you saying something? OvO

..No. 

Cy: Thought as much. Tickets should be in Ray’s Intra-Memo. 

Intra-Memo?

Cy: The silver necklace around your neck. 

Raymond pulled the string up and was intrigued at the small locket attached, its surface was decorated with illuminating blue symbols surrounding the turquoise gem in the center. How curious. 

Cy: The Intra-Memo is one of the most technologically advanced instruments Raschul has to offer, its capability even puts Endro’s and Neora’s versions to shame. It can create holographic video calls, enhanced privacy measures for messaging and user interface as well as vast amounts of data storage. We can bypass all the security though with our prowess, so there should be no complications with using it under Ray’s name and I already downloaded the instruction manual. Hurry, you only have six minutes until boarding stops. 

A map opened up to guide Raymond to his gate which at first he assumed to be near their location from the short lines scrawled…until he glanced at the time. 

[Estimated Time to Destination: 8 minutes

 Time Until Boarding Stops: 5 minutes 56 seconds] 

Cy: Chop, chop! 

Without hesitation he grabbed the suitcases from Minerva who was currently busy witnessing Gran pinching her brother’s cheeks whilst half-heartedly arguing with him, with the words ‘when I was your age…’ vaguely heard by Ray who was ushering Minerva ahead before wrenching the two apart. 

“Get your hands off me!” Francis yelled as he squirmed in his grasp. Which barely bothered Ray in the slightest. What a weak human… 

“Guide your Gran and follow Minera. Please, hurry.” Raymond urged as he pushed the pair behind Minera. 

“Quit shoving! It’s not like we’re going to miss it-” 

“Attention passengers. The Rasidian Empirial Express departing to Tellowania District will close boarding in five minutes.”

“Hey, that sounds like ours!” Gran chirped cheerily before her face fell at the silence from her family after which the realisation dawned upon her, 

“...That’s ours isn’t it?”