Bent World: Chapter 22 Brother Meets Mother, Meets Sister (A Month Later: The First Day of School)

Chapter 22

Brother Meets Mother, Meets Sister

(A month Later: The First Day of School)

Summer had been cut short. Well not really, for summer was still as long as it always had been before. The only thing that changed was the way we all spent the last two weeks recuperating.

In retrospect, we likely did too much in one day to begin with, what with both unlocking the Pathfinder and Wayfarer glyphs. Then immediately going to try to take care of a larger rift.

By itself the larger rift would have been fine. The only problem was that the cascading rift that nearly killed Pandaline causing her to be injured. While her injuries were easily dealt with, thanks to Auntie’s intervention it did seem to cause some concern with the way the others acted.

I, just like everyone else on Andry lands, must wear gloves as is customary of us allegedly following the old ways. These gloves could be modified in multiple ways. Everything from allowing full finger exposure, as was the preferred model used by most layperson on the estate grounds. Followed by more formal gloves that allowed for full finger cover on the backside, while only requiring minor bands to keep the gloves in place over the fingers. As a male, it was this last option that was the minimum I was allowed to get away with, as the idea of a male of the Andry house wearing working gloves was a social faux pas. There were the full gloves that all aristocrats were expected to wear for formal settings, but these were the gloves we were allowed to wear during everyday life.

Honestly, I was okay with the gloves, particularly after I realized that they had holes designed to let air into the gloves. There were even movements one could do to generate slight breezes against your skin, a fact I found out by accident during my workouts, but they were still no less remarkable.

Oh, that was the last thing, and probably the greatest part of the new Pathfinder markings that I had achieved. For all intents and purposes, the marker seems to be a mini battery of sorts. I still don’t quite understand the process that goes into the marking. The only thing I do understand is that unlike all the other times after exploring a rift, where I felt the energy immediately impacting my body and muscles, forcing me to workout relentlessly until the energy was gone. I didn’t have to deal with any of that now.

There was a slow bleed effect that the Pathfinder glyph offered. First, as noted before it collected up all the ambient energy, which was verified by Auntie who confirmed with Ceecee and Pandaline both. Two people who apparently saw the distortion of energy, but only when it came into contact with my outstretched hand. Second, that energy just waited in reserve for me to use.

I did receive a new planetary marking on my hand. Just as I had a blue green orb that I distinctly knew to be this variation of Earth, Earth07, that we were all living on. I assumed the new darker planet was the one filled with shadow that the mutinous frogs lived at. While the glow of the new marking wasn’t as bright as that of Earth07’s, it never diminished, even as I sped through the remainder of the energy within my hand.

This of course led to a bunch of theories on my part, ones that I would have to try out and test to see if they came to fruition. First and foremost, did this mean that I would not be affected by exploding muscles due to energy absorption as had been an issue in the past? Just thinking about that reminded me of that time a year and a half ago where all but one other male from my class died. The other survivor Calen had managed to run away and hide at the first sign of trouble with our Profiling Ceremony.

At the time, I had thought Calen was a coward. But after seeing this world and how harsh it is, especially for males, I realize it was less about him being a coward, and more about him having good instincts.

There might have also been the notion that he clamored for the attention of the other females. Normally I wouldn’t mind this type of activity, to each their own, but it got annoying for me. Here I was well over forty years old inside a child’s body and the last thing I needed was to be hit on by children. All of whom thought they were God’s gift and that I should be thankful that they would even want to take care of me, even if only for a few childhood moments.

It was weird, I had only been in this world for seven years and I could already see the predatory gleam in the eyes of the females around me.

“You ready for your first day?” Sarina asked, nervous apprehension filling her voice as she looked down at me. This was the fifth time she had asked this exact question.

I nodded.

Sarina quivered nervously, she had apparently gone for a pair of opal white gloves, which signified a bodyguard type role. While she had the bodyguard gloves on, there was still a stylized ‘A’ on the back that denoted her being part of house Andry. My gloves also had this same moniker, as did Ceecee’s and the other staff members I met as I was allowed to move back into the west wing of the manor to start the new school season.

Part of me expected this to be just like every other year, where only Sarina and Ceecee would be around me to help me get to school on time. This was an important year for me, as it would be the year where I finally got to receive my results from my profiling ceremony, but even that was still months away. Meaning the earliest I should start expecting a change would be next year. However, I was clearly mistaken, for once Sarina and I had come from the far end of the west wing of the manor and made our way to the central meeting point where we would normally meet a resting Ceecee, I was instead met by another site entirely.

Suddenly everything made sense. The overly nervous tension that Sarina had been showing, the way all the servants were up and standing still as I passed by, rather than just continuing with their duties. The way even now I could see two servants standing stock still in the grand entryway, their faces forward as their body posture suggested rigidity. Minor things that individually don’t mean much of anything, until you piece them all together and realize those servants were likely looking at someone important. I assumed it would be Auntie, as she had been overly doting on me recently. Or at least as doting as Auntie could be towards anyone, she did care, that much was obvious.

Still, I didn’t have enough time to think about this change as I soon found myself right in the doorway that connected my distant wing of the manor to the main entryway and ultimately the superior female wing of the hallway. At least it was the most opulent of the noted wings available to enter while in the house, as well as being the better maintained wing. But here, right before one would be able to go more than halfway towards either side of the estate stood a row of four servants all in a line, all with their backs against the wall, seeming to want to meld with the wall if they could.

That was my first sign that something was truly wrong, either Auntie was well and truly ticked off, or something equally worse. As I entered the main hallway, all it took was a quick glance to see what exactly had happened. Namely there was a vast disturbance that threatened to upend the very fabric of my reality as I currently understood it.

“Hello darling, how are you?” The voice of a sharp and capable woman called out. Her voice brimming somehow with power, causing various crystalline structures lining the opulent entry way to vibrate to life and come to life with energy and vitality. Hearing the voice, I remembered her tone all too well. For this was my mother, perhaps for the first time since I was able to walk and move about on my own, showing interest in me as a person. Also, it seemed that no one was capable of standing up to my mother, even Auntie for all her power, prestige, and recent accomplishments seemed to take on a reserved role in the corner, while mother stole the limelight.

I was so caught up in the sight of the servants nestling against the wall, and a subdued Auntie taking a back role to mother that I almost missed Pandaline there. For her part, Pandaline stood straight, her shoulders showing a broadness that had been missing before our summer excursions. Now though, now she all but radiated a subtle power. Power that seemed to be squashed in the presence of mother’s overpowering presence.

I just nod, partly out of practice while being around Pandaline and partly because my throat is suddenly dry in her overwhelming presence. Power seems to radiate from her as I find myself pulling up to stand next to Pandaline, mainly due to the place where Sarina has pulled up.

Smiling.

Sarina is nearly brimming with excitement at getting to be so close to my mother. Seeing her sycophantic gaze, my mother does give a slightly warm smile to Sarina, which Sarina takes in like a flower would the first rays of the sun. Finally, with mother’s full attention away from me, I can breathe as the suffocating presence is suddenly dissipated, if even for a moment.

“Oh, just look at you two, how much you two have grown, and not even at your first profiling ceremonies either!” Mother just beamed with excitement, as she clasped her gloved hands together. This was not the stern female warrior that I had been believed to be my cold-hearted mother. Then again, it was only once we were back in the mansion that the other servants even seemed to acknowledge my presence. Before that time, I had just been a pesky shadow or minor character to sneer at while my back was turned. Now though, now it seemed that things had changed.

Gasp.

From my left side I heard Pandaline gasp as she not so subtly turned her head to face me. Glancing slightly to my left, I see that she has completely broken away from her stoic stature and is now staring at me with wide surprise as both hands cover her mouth in astonishment. I guess the cat’s out of the back now, as she clearly recognized my size and stature to be the very Pathfinder that she has been grouping up with every week this summer.

In a way, this makes things a little bit easier, as it means I don’t need to hide my true self, at least not from her anymore.

“I know, right, he is just so handsome,” mother declares as she steps forward and pinches my cheek like I am some kid. Then again, I guess I am her kid, which is why I just stand there and take it, staring at her with a disinterested gaze. Apparently, my play at disinterest works for she breaks away and pretends to pout.

“Oh, come on, don’t look at me like that,” she wines.

Sigh.

I exhale, but I try to do so in a light manner. Unfortunately, what I intended and what mother’s enhanced senses pick up are two different things.

“Ah, don’t be like that, you are still just as charming as ever,” mother continues, as she dabs at my cheek that is likely red from the minor pinch. Then turning to Sarina she boasts, “and congratulations to you for making sure he finally put on the cosmetics we got him, his skin looks flawless.”

Embarrassed.

Rather than just letting it be, taking the easy win and calling it a day, Sarina blushes ever so slightly as she nervously raises one finger to correct her.

“Actually, that was our compromise, he would wear the suit for his first day of class, but he did not have to wear the makeup.”

With that one statement, I felt the full on gaze and pressure of my mother come back to me with full force. Her gaze seemed to have a physical weight behind them as she stared at me, and then grabbed my chin and began to turn my face from side to side as if inspecting me for blemishes.

“With that chiseled chin, those sculped cheek bones and flawless skin. Not to mention that perfect tan,” mother muttered as she stared at me, then finally she exhaled and shrugged. “I guess getting him to not appear as a full Suegirl for one day is as much as can be expected. Good job.”

At that, Sarina seemed to buzz with excitement as her face was absolutely brimming from the minor praise. Seeing her reaction, I could only inwardly wince, as I knew this meant I would have a harder time getting away with wearing looser fitting clothing that could be moved around and worked out in.

The message was clear, I might have won this battle to not wear makeup, by conceding to wear the pompous clothing. Meaning that while I might have won a partial factor of this battle, I was already losing ground in the war.

I opted to remain silent, realizing that any arguing now would be pointless, the terms for this battle had already been wagered and set. All I could do now was calculate what horrors I might be subjected to tomorrow, and the next day. I’m hoping that this is just a first day of school thing, and that Mother will not be here to constantly fuss over me everyday before school. She would have to eventually grow tired of this, wouldn’t she?

Ding-ding-dong.

The large clock sprang to life, echoing its noises around the open room.

“Ah, it seems that it is already time for you two to go and begin your first day of this new year. Go on, and make me proud,” Mother exclaimed as she went over and stroked at Pandaline’s hair. Then coming over to me she paused as we both locked gazes. Her hand fluttered upward, clearly in confusion as to how to deal with me. In the end she just patted me gently on my still pinched red cheek.

“Well now, off you go,” mother said, and I could swear that I almost heard her sound anxious in that exchange, or maybe I was just mistaken. Regardless that entirely awkward moment was finally over as I was the first out the door, before a flustered Ceecee could break free of her temporary paralysis and chase after me. Sarina was next to follow, followed by Pandaline who seemed to be walking in a slightly confused daze, with her own bodyguard in tow.

I guess Pandaline’s actions seemed to be the most understandable, as she was likely confused by what to expect from her first day of school. I wanted to tell her that she would be okay, that I would be there to look out for her, should anyone dare try anything, but then realized she was likely at the top of her class in terms of physical characteristics, along with martial abilities. Then I realized if anyone was dumb enough to deal with her, then they would get what they had coming to them.

While I was the first to the near door, I was almost pushed out of the way by Ceecee, who seemed to be taking her role as lead driver very seriously.

“If I may,” Ceecee stated in a tone that denoted proper etiquette along with the fact that she would be in charge of opening my door whether I liked it or not. Sighing, I stepped aside and let Ceecee open the door for me. Once she did I nodded in thanks to her, before silently entering and sliding down the long row of seating. With so many people coming, I figured I would need to make room. And I was not wrong.

While Ceecee was in the driver’s seat, the back two rows became full quickly, with Sarina taking up the spot to my right, protecting me from flying out the right door apparently. While Pandaline’s guard came in and sat to my left, protecting me from little old Pandaline. Then to my surprise, Auntie sat across from me, with Pandaline sitting next to her, both of them facing the rear window. With five of us back here, it was going to be a long ride, hopefully the AC didn’t break, otherwise it would be completely miserable.

We all sat in an odd silence that was strangely calming, for me at least.

The two bodyguards sat in perfect posture poses, knees and feet facing forward, gloved hands firmly resting in their laps, fingers interlocked. Apparently, this was proper etiquette when sitting next to a male, so as not to show impropriety on their part.

Meanwhile, Pandaline kept staring at me as if she saw a ghost.

Chomp.

Auntie saw me, and then turning to her right saw Pandaline sitting with her mouth wide open as she continued to stare at me. That of course was when Auntie forcefully shut Pandaline’s mouth with her elegantly gloved hand.

“Drool attracts flies my dear, and you don’t want to eat flies now do you?” Auntie asked, her tone mockingly humorous, delivered with a severely dry sense of humor. Hearing her, I couldn’t help but smile slightly at the comment.

Pandaline who had been staring in fear at Auntie, turned to see me chuckling at her, only to get indignant and turn away to face out the window, watching the scenery pass us by.

With that last act down, it was just one long car right left, before a likely equally awkward first day of school began. At least with Landrina Oteranski finally at middle school, this year might not be quite so awkward, at least that was what I hoped.

***

Meanwhile, Pandaline Andry, youngest Wayfarer in a millennia felt her chest tighten as she stared out of the window. Only to realize that if she shifted her body back enough, and stared at just the right angle, she could see him calmly looking forward.

Pandaline had known she had a brother. She had even seen him once or twice while he was running around the estate. He never stayed in any one place long enough for her to get a good look, but she had been told by the other servants and staffers that he was quite pretty, especially for a male.

In addition to her constant martial trainings, and constant going out to unclosed rifts, she had been prepared for this year, as this would be the first year she would be actively inserted into a classroom with males. Yet, nothing she did could have prepared her for the sight of her brother, he was so big and broad shouldered. With a crisp symmetrical jawline and striking features, along with piercing blue eyes set to a muscular tan. He was beautiful, worse he was her brother, someone who she needed to be able to protect, for despite his outward appearance he would never be as strong as a female.

Yet, she could not take her eyes off of him. As she glimpsed at the impassively handsome boy, Pandaline realized one thing, if all boy were like Missala, then she would be in trouble. For she remembered the story that Auntie told her, about the very girl who tried to touch Missala, and how she was punished for touching a boy. Then remembering that story, Pandaline gnashed her teeth while clenching her fists, making sure no one else would touch her Missala.