Jackal Among Snakes

Epilogue 4.1: Family Reunion

A tall, black-haired man with a white eyepatch over his right eye stared out across the ocean. The eyepatch had a peculiarly round ruby embedded on the front, giving the faintest illusion of an eye in the socket. His good eye was gray as slate. The sapphire-blue waters of the shore washed at his feet, while a faint smile played about his lips.

“Vincent!”

Vincent turned his head toward the voice. There, Sophia of Vasquer waved at him as she ran carefreely. She had grown to be a vivacious woman, with bright red eyes, cheeks full of color, and a touch of innocence that hadn’t faded even after ninety-seven years. Seeing her, Vincent’s smile only widened. He walked up to greet her, giving her a hug.

“Missed you,” Vincent said.

Sophia pulled away and looked up at him. “You always say that.”

“It’s always true.” Vincent patted the top of her head. “Did the trip go okay? Anybody give you trouble?”

“Would that you would show such concern for our other siblings,” Sophia said dryly. “I’m fine. I always am. But enough about me—what do you think mom and dad have planned? Their invitation was a little ominous. ‘The world will change forevermore.’ They don’t tend to exaggerate.” Sophia began to walk away from the shore, back toward the estate.

Vincent inhaled, following Sophia calmly. “Perhaps they’re abdicating to you.”

“Pfft.” Sophia scoffed. “What would be the point? All they have to do these days is a bunch of ceremonies on one day, twice a year. Even if it was true, hardly world-changing.”

“Hmm.” Vincent looked around, spotting distant grand orchards and beautiful gardens in the approach to the of-yet out of sight mansion. “Perhaps they have another child on the way.”

Sophia inhaled through her teeth. “Could you imagine? Can they still, even? Mom’s an elf, and they have Raven… anything is possible.” She almost looked excited at the prospect, but further thinking ensured reality hit. “Still… it’s been a long, long while. Not sure they’d break discipline now. They don’t really know how to stop being disciplined.”

“Then I’m out of guesses.” Vincent shrugged.

“Really? You don’t know?” Sophia sounded genuinely surprised. “It always seems like you know everything.”

“I just loaf around all day. Why do you have such a high opinion of me?” Vincent asked.

“Do you remember when you were just a little baby, newly born?” Sophia looked at him.

his

feed. You had… well, the missing eye. Everyone thought there was something wrong with you, with your brain. But then I came, remember? And you cried, came alive, grabbed my finger with your little itty-bitty fingers… it was such a happy day. Mom and dad

me I was too stupid to feed, so

feed. You needed a little push.” Sophia grabbed his arm. “So, stop lying to me,

not a bad thing, Soph. Don’t

tell your wife about that time

“I’ll give you a little hint, but that’s all you’re getting. You’ve got a big mouth, and you can’t lie

“That’ll do,” Sophia conceded.

paused their walk. “They’ve decided to be a little selfish for once—to do what they want, instead of what’s best for the

soon enough its white walls. Goldrest was an elegant, four-story estate split into three sections by three islands bridged by serene walkways. Built entirely of stone and metal, it looked liable to last as long as

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into view as they carried on. Galamon and Orion stood by a gargantuan grill in the garden, where dozens of staff managed a tremendous variety of meats. The pair wrangled a bunch of white-haired and black-haired children who hungered early, drawn here by the smell of cooking meats. The children that had learned the lesson of delayed gratification waited under a pavilion with Elenore, who

gently as possible. The eldest son, Castro, oversaw some teenagers as they ‘sparred’ with simple F-rank spells. The majority of the other adults were chatting away

arm, pulling him away from his thoughts. “Hannelore’s found an audience.

hair. A few of

there’s more water in the world. Not only that, it

Vincent interrupted. “I think mom

nodded, then looked back to the kids. “I have to go. Just remember this. Fellhorn was misunderstood. He was actually trying to save us all by taking the water. It’s just his

to the children that Hannelore was a little overeager about those theories of hers. When Hannelore walked away, Vincent looked out to the rest of the family. In a nearby table, he spotted his wife, Christine. When they’d met, she’d looked like a red-haired version of his mother, which was… off-putting, to say the least. Now, she’d

rejoined Vincent. “I never could’ve imagined this when I was young. This wasn’t what a family was, to me.” Even as she spoke of the past,

nod. “A little dementia never hurt anyone. At the ripe age

laughed. “Don’t

only smiled, watching in silence as one of his nephews chased around

forever?” Sophia asked. “I mean… they can’t, can they? It’s just not possible. Enrico showed

agreement. “Though, good times, bad times… I think we can always be happy, at least. Our parents have built

all of this,” Sophia continued. “Can we enjoy life so liberally when another person on another continent

plenty. They’ve suffered plenty, too. Could you do more? Yeah, maybe. Everyone can. If every living person spent every second of theirs helping everyone,