Korreth then said, "You are going to do as you like anyway; at least keep the boy out of my sight."
Sigora didn't even bother to look at Korreth, which irritated him. He clicked his tongue, and when he was about to say something, Meytiri placed a hand on his left palm, telling him not to say anything for now.
The twins whispered to each other throughout the meal, not bothering to hide their comments from Jorghan.
"Why does he even eat with us?" Lira murmured.
"Mother wastes her time with him," Morden replied. "Father should have never allowed it."
Sik'ra cleared his throat loudly, silencing them with a warning look.
As the meal ended, servants appeared to clear the plates.
Korreth stood, towering over everyone at the table.
"Sigora, a word before you retire," he said, his tone making it clear this was not a request.
Sigora nodded curtly. "Children, to your rooms. Tomorrow brings new tasks."
Jorghan rose with the others, but Sigora caught his eye. "Remember, Jorghan. After your morning lessons, come directly to me."
"Yes... mother," he said, the word still feeling strange on his tongue.
Sigora's expression softened momentarily before she turned to follow Korreth and Meytiri to another room.
As they climbed the stairs, Swana placed a protective arm around Jorghan's shoulders.
"Don't let Morden and Lira trouble you," she said. "They're just jealous of the attention Mother gives you."
It wasn't that Sigora didn't love her children; they had become too spoilt by their father, and that was the reason she was being harsh with them, trying to bring some sense into their heads.
"They've been 'just jealous' for three years," Sik'ra muttered.
When they reached the upstairs hallway, the twins had already disappeared into their rooms.
"What's happening tomorrow?" Swana asked when they were alone. "Mother seems unusually focused on your training."
Jorghan hesitated. "Just more practice, I think," he said, not meeting their eyes.
"Be careful, little brother," Sik'ra said with concern. "Whatever you're learning... don't push yourself too hard."
"I'll be careful," Jorghan promised.
He entered his small room and closed the door, feeling both isolated and relieved to be away from the family tensions. Despite six years here, dinners still felt like navigating a battlefield where he was never quite welcome.
He would just eat by himself, but Sigora wouldn't like that. He was grateful for her care and love, and that's why he heeded her words.
-
The morning sun cast golden light across the water pool where Jorghan sat alone. He had risen early, before anyone else in the household, and made his way to the small meditation pond near the edge of the floating island.
The water barely reached his waist as he sat cross-legged, his eyes closed, focusing on his breathing.
In and out. Slow and steady.
The nymoriel bath from yesterday had cleared his mind, making it easier to sense the flow of mana through his body. He could almost see it behind his closed eyelids—currents of energy moving through pathways, gathering at certain points before flowing onwards.
Sigora had taught him that understanding these flows was the first step to true control.
His concentration broke at the sound of voices approaching.
"Look what we have here. The little weakling is playing in the water."
Jorghan opened his eyes to see three figures standing at the pond's edge.
The twins, Morden and Lira, stood with matching smirks on their faces. Between them was a taller boy with sharp features and cold eyes—Kael'var. And he comes again, to torment Jorghan.
"Wasn't yesterday enough?" Jorghan said simply, trying to keep his voice steady.
"What the fuck do you want, Kael'var?"
Kael'var snorted. "Did I disturb your training? Well, what would you know about proper techniques? You're not even a real Nor'vack."
"He thinks he's so special because Mother gives him special training," Lira added, her voice dripping with disdain.
Jorghan stood up, water streaming down his clothes. He had worn simple garments for his meditation, knowing they would get wet. Now he wished he had worn something more substantial as he faced his three antagonists.
"You should just leave," he said, stepping out of the pond. "I have training to get to."
"And we have only one work, and that is to stop you," Kael'var said.
Jorghan sighed.
Kael'var crossed his arms, sneering. "You walk around with that proud little chin of yours, thinking you're something special. But you're nothing."